BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

The Dark Shapes swarmed through the breach in the wall. They directed the mind-controlled thaids forward, using them as shields while they darted between cover.

A blackguard opened fire. Flames scorched the ground, electricity arced between targets, and blades of wind sliced through flesh. The mind-controlled thaids fell in droves, their bodies piling at their feet.

"Keep moving," Rick said to his brothers. "Use the thaids as cover!"

The Dark Shapes called for their thralls to charge the blackguard formation. As the defenders focused on the oncoming wave, the clones slipped around the flanks. They appeared behind the blackguards and attacked.

Blood sprayed as a clone's arm turned into a scythe and carved through a blackguard's neck. Another clone burst from the shadows, its fingers elongated into talons that shredded through armor and flesh.

The attacks were swift and merciless, as ruthless as the blackguards were with the innocent people they used for their experiments or with those who threatened their supremacy and were brutally killed.

Even as they fell, the Dark Shapes showed no hesitation. Their limbs became instruments of death - hooks, blades, and spears that were found , and that was just because Erik wished it. His orders were supreme, and so they found a way to slip past armor and tear flesh.

The blackguards died without seeing their attacker. A clone plunged its bladed arm through a blackguard's spine, then retracted it before the body hit the ground. More soldiers fell before the rest realized what was happening.

"Behind us!" a blackguard said, spinning to face the threat.

The defenders raised shields of hardened mana to deflect the clones' attacks, but the thaids were also attacking them from the opposite side. The situation was anything but easy, though; the blackguards were stronger than the dark shapes. The attack was only working thanks to the surprise effect.

They counterattacked, but their death toll mounted. A woman let out a stream of acid that melted three clones into puddles of writhing flesh. Another man stomped the ground, causing stone spikes to erupt beneath the feet of the clones and thaids alike.

Rick observed the carnage from behind a fallen wall section. The Dark Shapes had numbers, but the blackguards were stronger. If the Thaids hadn't been acting as tanks, it would have been inevitable for them to be wiped out.

"We're losing too many," June said, appearing beside him. His clothes were torn, and blood seeped from a wound in his shoulder. That wasn't a battle he could join, although he did his best.

Rick nodded. "The blackguards are stronger than we anticipated. Their neural links must have increased a lot during these months."

A massive explosion rocked the northern section of the compound. Bodies—both clones and blackguards—flew.

Through the smoke appeared the hulking forms of the Chimaeric Demons, turned into grotesque multi-armed figures, wielding mana swords in each hand, and reaping the blackguards as if they were gods of death.

Their bodies were a patchwork of different thaids—scales merged with fur, and tentacles sprouted alongside armored plates. Each one of them was controlling three undead thaids, which shambled forward on severed limbs.

A squad of blackguards redirected their fire toward the newcomers. Ice spears impaled the undead thaids, but the creatures continued their advance, unaffected by wounds that would kill living beings.

Behind them, the Chimaeric Demons unleashed their own ranged attacks. Starlight fireballs fell on the battlefield, but the blackguards weren't defenseless.

There were some with barrier masters' powers, some with other kinds of defensive abilities, and all of them had earth-controlling powers, which they used to create improvised shields and barriers.

"We need to get rid of the blackguards outside," June said. "Here they can fight to their heart's content; inside the lab they will have problems."

They had to avoid destroying their base, after all. Erik's idea of sending the Dark Shapes inside had been good.

The clones were weaker, but by making surprise attacks, they could level the field a little.

The problem was that without the thaids protecting them, the clones inside were getting slaughtered inside. But it wasn't a problem. Erik could make more of them. He just needed to wait for the latest batch of Chimaeric Demons, and he could flood the area.

The same could be said for the others. As soon as the new clones arrived, Amber could unleash her full power, and that was bound to make the situation turn quickly.

"How long before the others arrive?" June asked.

"Five minutes."

Rick signaled to the remaining Dark Shapes. "Focus on flanking maneuvers. Let the Chimaeric Demons draw their attention."

The clones obeyed, abandoning direct combat in favor of ambush tactics. They slipped between buildings, using the chaos of battle as cover. Whenever a blackguard focused on the larger threat, the Chimaeric Demons, a Dark Shapes would strike from behind, killing the target before withdrawing.

Erik stood with arms crossed, observing the battle. Blackguards who recognized him tried to attack, but none reached him.

Erik made a barrier powerful enough to stop every ranged attack from landing on his troops. He had to be careful with mana, though; that was why Erik allowed the blackguards to engage in melee. It eased the pressure on his mana reserves. Though he was not going to need to do that for long.

"Report," Erik said, and a clone reached his left side.

"We've secured the southern side," the clone said. "Casualties are high but acceptable. The Chimaeric Demons are almost there."

Erik nodded. "How is it going inside the facility?"

"The fights are still ongoing. There are many more blackguards inside, but the dark shapes are managing relatively well."

That too was good. Though Erik was more interested in the first division commander. Cut off the head of the army, and it will collapse.

"Have you seen the First Division Commander?" The clone nodded, but he didn't have a cheerful face.

"She is leading the defense. There are not just two or three blackguards inside; there are thousands. We need to get this over with outside and head in, or our brothers will keep dying."

"We will."

Erik turned onto the battlefield again. "Tell the Chimaeric Demons we are going to break through the main building and assist their brothers."