BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Seven days passed since the clones located the Blackguards' base at the SEP-01 Facility.

Erik and his army were hiding in the forest, observing the patrols moving around and the giant walls delimiting the base in the distance. As time passed, more of his clones arrived in the area. Being careful not to be spotted and trying to amass the number of puppets or undead thaids.

Erik turned to June and Rick, who crouched beside him, studying a rough map of the facility drawn by the clone who first found the base.

"The reports show five separate entry points," Rick said, pointing to markings on the map.

Each entry point led to different buildings within the facility, likely serving distinct purposes.

"The blackguards keep regular patrol rotations, but there are blind spots in their surveillance."

June nodded. "Our brother confirmed the security is the strongest at the largest building's entrance—since there are multiple layers of fire there. Getting to that entrance won't be easy without the new batches of Chimaeric Demons, and given our troops strength."

He paused. "If we had an army only made of Chimaeric Demons, we would have been able to do it."

Though the Dark Shape could try to break in by sending the thaids, that would force them to fight melee against the blackguards, which was anything but easy.

Erik studied the map. "How many blackguards are inside, and how many outside?"

"Since the Blackguards are around 100 thousand, I would say most of them are inside. There should be around 10,000 troops within the walls protecting the base and around 20,000 in the forest patrolling the area and killing any thaid they come across," Rick said.

Erik nodded. "I want the operation to start with as many casualties from the opponents as possible. We need to send your brothers inside and assassinate every single blackguard they find before we launch the main attack."

That would reduce the number of blackguards and make sure that the Dark Shapes eliminated their targets. In a one-on-one fight, Erik didn't know how things would turn, but assassinations increased the odds of success, and not by a thin margin.

June looked up from the map. "A stealth strike before the frontal assault?"

"Exactly," Erik said. "If we can reduce their numbers before starting our frontal assault, we'll have a significant advantage. We don't know the full scope of their abilities after all this time passed, and I don't want to take too many risks."

The others nodded and looked at the map more. They had to find a way to grant Erik's wish. Not that it was hard, shapeshifting was a great power for infiltration and assassination.

Rick pointed to several small markings on the map. "The ventilation system might work for infiltration. Our scout found access points here, here, and here. They're narrow, but we can shapeshift and enter inside."

He paused as Erik and June considered the idea and checked the map for potential problems.

"The ducts connect to multiple parts of the facility, including what we assume are the barracks, where most of the blackguards rest between shifts."

Erik examined the ventilation routes, wondering how lucky his clone had been to enter the compound and check it out completely undetected, despite the Veritas lenses.

"Good. We'll send the first wave through these points. How long will it take for them to reach the labs? I want those scientists dead."

Erik wasn't going to let such people live. It was a shame to kill scientists, but they could bring in surprises Erik didn't want to face.

"It will take ten minutes if the clones are careful," June said.

Erik nodded. "Prepare the teams that will need to head in. Try to send as many as possible, but be certain we have enough people to fight those outside, including the patrols. They will surely head back once they understand we are attacking."

June watched along the facility's outer wall. "There's something else. The Blackguards will have the Veritas Lenses. Any approach will trigger alarms unless we kill the ones wearing them first."

"We already know that," Rick said. "The clone who first checked the place found out who has them and how to recognize them. Our brothers have already been informed."

June looked up from the map. "Let's hope everything goes well."

"It should if we just wait for the others."

"I'm not going to wait a second more," Erik said.

Erik paused. The Chimaeric Demons were a significant tactical advantage with their ability to replenish mana indefinitely.

But it wasn't like the current army was weak. Even without them, they could start. They were going to join the battle soon anyway, and Erik doubted everything would end in twenty minutes.

"Yes, but the mind-controlled thaids and the undead can't exactly slip through ventilation shafts."

Erik had to admit June had a point, but…

"I know…"

Was Erik saying he was willing to send the clones to their deaths? An assassination would increase the kill ratio and the success chances, but the clones were most likely weaker than the Blackguards, at least the Dark Shapes. They could fight on equal ground only if supported by their puppets, which was not possible this time.

Erik knew this.

"I'll blast the entrance and the walls open when the time comes. Once the infiltrating team completes their initial strike, we'll launch a frontal assault, and their puppets will reach them. I will search for the first division commander to prevent any meddling."

While what Erik wanted to do was unnecessarily dangerous, at least he didn't want the clones to die. He was just asking them to take some risks. Besides, the Dark Shapes could simply be remade.

It took them less than five minutes to hatch and mature, and when the Chimaeric Demons reached the battlefield, Erik would be able to flood it with them.

"Our troop numbers are like those of the Blackguards if we include the undead thaids and the mind-controlled ones. They will tip the balance in our favor," June said. "But this won't be an easy battle."

But that much was clear: it was just that they were part of the clones' power, so they had to be considered as a single entity, in a certain sense.

It was even worse for the Dark Shapes, since they were weaker than the Chimaeric Demons.

Rick nodded, but concern remained in his eyes. "What about the Chimaeric Demons with Essence Flow? Where are they?"

"Twenty minutes from here," Erik said.

June looked at Erik. "I think we should just wait. If we start the infiltration now, we'll engage the main force before they arrive."

Although Erik was very reluctant, he still reconsidered his options. Waiting guaranteed their full strength, but every hour increased the risk of detection.

Erik would need to retreat from his army, but the more time they gave to the Blackguards, the more they had to make neural links or to strengthen their soldiers.

Besides, Erik couldn't really wait. In front of him was the last group of blackguards alive, aside from the stragglers that escaped his purge on Mannard. He wanted revenge for everything they put him through.

The blackguards might already suspect something; waiting too long could cost them the element of surprise.

"We proceed as planned," Erik said. "Go make those groups and start the infiltration in earnest."

Rick nodded. "I'll coordinate with the infiltration teams."

"Good," Erik said. "June, brief the thaid controllers that will be part of the first offensive wave. I want the mind-controlled forces to be the first to attack. They will be the first to die, but they will just be fresh troops for the Chimaeric Demons already here."

June nodded and left to deliver the instructions to the Dark Shapes controlling the thaids.

Erik turned his attention back to the facility in the distance. Finally, the time of retribution came. They had spent months searching, training, and planning, and now they were on the verge of bringing everything to an end.