BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM-Chapter 1332: The Data (3)

[The footage confirms my hypothesis,] the system said.

[Each power creates different neural links, and without additional buffering capacity, these conflicts cause disastrous consequences. That is, if the specimen doesn't die because of the first one they got. The solution the Blackguards employed to have multiple neural links is quite ingenious. With the plants preventing brain decay, the brain crystal can actually change its job as a buffer and act as a channeler. This means that, in theory, brain crystals can do both jobs.]

The video resumed, showing Dr. Hayes looking older, addressing a small group of scientists.

"Project Awakening has failed in its original target. We cannot safely allow humans to use mana without brain crystals. We know that using mana without brain crystals is possible, but it is beyond our current capabilities. The genetic modifications we performed to achieve that resulted in unacceptable mutations in human subjects."

<The human abomination in Liberty Watch!> Erik said.

[Yeah.]

One scientist spoke up. "Should this mean we will have to give humans brain crystals?"

"Yes, but that would mean only getting one power, since we still didn't find a way to allow the crystals to handle more than one power and multiple mana loads."

"We haven't tested this enough on humans, Doctor."

"I know." She paused. "The risk of unstable results remains, and the interface with human neural tissue is problematic given the human brain's complexity."

<So,> Erik paused. <They not only failed to give the creatures the ability to use multiple powers but also failed to give humans a single one. At least back then.>

[They failed back then, yes, but think about it. We have seen thaids who had developed more powers. This must mean that they either were successful up to a certain point or that the thaids mutated further through time.]

<We also know they succeeded in giving powers to humans, but just one, at least if we do not take you into account.>

[Yes. I suppose I was a compromise of sorts. While theoretically brain crystals aren't necessary to use powers, the method was far beyond their capabilities. So, I think they found a way to use multiple powers by taking advantage of the brain crystals, and that ended up with my creation.]

The system paused.

[In theory, if a brain crystal can both act as a buffer and as a channeler, I think I was created to act as the latter. I don't have to provide mana. I need to rewire the mana stream to allow you to use two powers. The issue is that the use of powers is heavily influenced by genetics. They realized this when they saw the first monsters with powers, especially when they saw they were racial ones. That's why I can modify the DNA.]

Erik stared at the frozen image of Dr. Hayes, the woman who had accidentally created the chain of events that led to the world he knew.

<So you are a workaround, a technological solution because they couldn't solve the problem.>

[Precisely. I allow you to wield multiple powers without developing additional brain crystals. I'm just a Band-Aid solution, not the answer Silverline wanted of not using brain crystals at all like that guy did.]

<And that's precisely the problem. How could he do that without a brain crystal?>

[That's beyond me. It looks like there are mysteries in this world that go beyond science. If you think about it, mana is also quite an unknown thing. We don't know what makes it; we don't know how to use it without tools; we don't know why it brings death to those who use it without a brain crystal.]

It paused.

[There is one more recording you need to see. Perhaps the most significant.]

A new video appeared in Erik's mind. The date stamp showed it was recorded some years after the previous footage. The lab setting looked different—hastily arranged equipment, papers scattered across surfaces, and an air of urgency filled the lab.

Dr. Hayes stood before the camera. She was exhausted and worried. Her once-spotless lab coat was stained and wrinkled. Dr. Chen stood beside her, looking equally worn.

"This is Dr. Ella May Hayes. This will be my last update on Project Awakening," she said in a hollow and tired voice. "We've made a catastrophic error in judgment."

She ran a hand through her graying hair and sighed. The situation was tough and seemed to be getting more complicated as time went on.

"The containment protocols we used were not enough. Many specimens have escaped from their containing facilities—not just ours, but satellite labs across the continent."

Dr. Chen stepped forward. "The rate of reproduction among escaped specimens has exceeded all projections. They're adapting to environments faster than we anticipated, forming territories, and demonstrating sophisticated behaviors."

"More worrying," Hayes said, "is the accelerated evolution we're observing in the wild. The brain crystals are developing even faster without our intervention, and that's likely because of the ferocious competition in the wild. Third-generation specimens born outside containment show a 43% increase in efficiency in mana usage compared to lab-born counterparts."

Dr. Chen pointed to several concentrated areas on the map. It was a map of Mur. "We are currently here," she said.

Erik could do nothing but laugh.

<Wait!>

[That's right. She was in the Lorogia region, near the mountain range. I think the blackguards are there.]

<HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, THIS IS A FUCKING JACKPOT!>

[It is.] But the system couldn't share Erik's enthusiasm, for some reason. The video resumed.

"These zones have become particularly problematic," she said, pointing at the map. "The specimens are becoming increasingly difficult to kill. They are adapting to counter our tactics. They're learning, evolving in response to threats."

"It's becoming clear," Hayes' voice dropped, "that containment is no longer a viable long-term strategy. These creatures—these Thaids, as the field teams have taken to calling them—will eventually reach populated areas. When that happens..."

She paused, struggling with her next words.

"When that happens, conventional weapons won't be enough. Our only option may be to implement the Brain Crystal Initiative—giving brain crystals to human subjects and allowing them to develop abilities to fight the Thaids' threat."

"The very solution we sought to avoid," Dr. Chen said. "For two reasons. We wanted to give humans full access to mana, but we failed. The only way to access it is by giving them brain crystals, but that would mean they will only be able to use one power, and we don't know if that would be enough."

He paused. "The second reason is that we will need to experiment on humans. We conducted many experiments on animals, which resulted in man-eating monsters. Currently, we are unable to grant power to humans. The process is still flawed."

"Anyway, we will split and take care of different things on our own," Dr. Chen said.

Hayes nodded. "We don't have a choice. Time is running out."

Dr. Chen then started laughing. "Project Awakening was conceived to make sure humanity survived against an existential threat. Instead, we've created that very threat." He laughed even more.

"We sought to give humans extraordinary abilities without limitations. Now, we face a future where such abilities will be necessary just to survive what we've unleashed."

She looked into the camera, her eyes haunted. "If anyone finds this record in the future, know that we never wanted it to happen. We believed we were saving humanity."

The footage ended abruptly, the last frame freezing on Hayes' face—a portrait of scientific ambition collapsed into regret.

The biological supercomputer withdrew the transmission, leaving Erik's mind silent for a moment.

Then, the injection ended.