Chapter 40: Venomous Mana Quills (1)
Erik's brow furrowed, satisfaction in his eyes. The ping of a sudden notification broke his concentration, drawing a sharp gaze from across the room.
"Erik!"
The young man snapped to attention. "Sir?"
"Training demands presence, not daydreams!"
Erik's face reddened. "Understood, sir."
They resumed their positions as the training continued. The session then ended.
Professor McAllister scanned the room, making eye contact with each student. "Listen up," he said. "We're approaching the end of the school year—just one month remains."
He walked in front of them. "Your training continues. You'll report here daily until you start the military academy."
He paused. "The academy won't be gentle. It's tough—tougher than anything you've faced here. There will be daily combat training and constant evaluations. The competition is intense. What's considered exceptional here is just a starting point there."
He stood straight, arms folded. "You'll compete against top students from everywhere. It's serious business. Is that clear?"
"YES, SIR!"
"Dismissed."
The students broke ranks, the sound of boots echoing as they headed for the showers. Erik joined the flow when a voice halted him.
"Erik..."
He turned. His teacher's eyes held him just as firmly.
"Sir?"
"Are you doing additional training outside our sessions, Erik?" The teacher's gaze fixed on him.
"No sir, I haven't done any extra training at home," Erik said.
"You are not lying to me, right?" the teacher asked.
"No, sir..." Erik said.
"Hmm." The teacher's eyes crinkled, a rare smile playing on his lips. "It looks like you are more talented than I expected."
"Ehm... If I may ask, why are you saying so, sir?" Erik was confused.
"Your form suggests months of more practice than you've had."
Erik kept his expression neutral, though inside he felt satisfied. The source of his rapid progress—his biological supercomputer and improved physical abilities—remained hidden.
"Don't get overconfident," the teacher said. "You still need lots of practice, especially with sparring."
"Yes, sir..."
"Just go now..."
"Yes, thank you, sir."
Erik finished his training and went to shower, letting the water wash away his fatigue. When he stepped out fully dressed, he found Amber, Gwen, and Floyd waiting by the wall.
"Hey, Erik!" Amber said.
"Hey…"
Floyd and Gwen looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Amber's behavior caught their attention—she was joking and chatting with Erik in a way they'd never seen before. Usually, except for Floyd, she kept her distance from others, particularly male students.
"Need a lift again?"
Erik hesitated, a flush creeping up his neck. "I mean, if it's not too much trouble..." He felt a little uncomfortable.
The group walked to the main entrance together, talking. Outside the gate, Erik noticed people watching them.
He was used to getting looks because of his condition and didn't think much of it at first. But the stares grew stronger, with people pointing and whispering.
Moments later, the pieces clicked for Erik—it was Amber's presence, causing the stir. Her beauty turned heads, and seeing her with him, who others looked down on as worthless, made an odd sight.
Suspicion crept into Erik's mind. Amber's timing puzzled him. Her sudden interest coincided with his new ability.
<System, connect to Amber's phone. I want to understand what she is doing.>.
[Understood. Connecting to Amber Joyce's phone. Connection established.]
—***—
Amber walked next to Erik, trying to start a conversation. Erik stayed quiet, using his supercomputer to check her phone for any mentions of him. He found nothing.
He was usually quiet around others, keeping conversations short and polite.
After passing through the gates, other students went to their cars while Erik and Amber walked to hers. As they got in, he heard other students talking nearby.
On the ride home, Erik barely spoke while Amber chatted. He felt uncomfortable the whole time.
It wasn't that he didn't want to talk; he just worried about saying something wrong and didn't exactly know what to say given his reservations against the young woman. The fact he found nothing on her phone didn't mean there was actually nothing.
The fear of saying the wrong thing, of revealing too much or too little, left him feeling as if the conversation was a minefield. Each word measured, each pause full of tension.
His silence was a shield, guarding against the embarrassment that often accompanied his attempts at conversation.
When they arrived, he said goodbye and went inside. Once alone, he let out a relieved breath.
Talking to people, especially girls, was hard for him. He never knew what to say and often ended up in awkward situations.
Erik then slouched on the couch and rested for ten minutes.
"System, start extracting the DNA and the brain crystal from the Bush Hedgehog."
[System ready. 100 DNA points used. Starting extraction. Host is advised to lie on a bed.]
Erik collapsed onto the couch, the system activating. He winced, feeling as though invisible forces tore at his limbs, the agony engulfing him.
"UGH! This never gets easy."
He endured the pain. Tears streaked his face while he stifled his cries to hoarse whispers. Moments later, his body convulsed. The pain decreased, and Erik rose to his feet, a notification chiming in his consciousness.
[Your DNA is now able to accommodate the Bush Hedgehog's brain crystal power.]
"Good, start the procedure," Erik said.
[Bush hedgehog's brain crystal already analyzed.]
[System ready. DNA points used. Starting extraction. Two hours and a half hours are required to complete the extraction. Host is advised to lie on a bed.]
The couch's familiar contours embraced Erik as he lay back. With a deep breath, he braced for the ordeal ahead of him, eyes closing in anticipation of getting a new brain crystal power and a new neural link. Erik closed his eyes and the process began.
For two hours and thirty minutes, the extraction progressed. Erik floated in the void of unconsciousness, oblivious to the metamorphosis his body was going through.
When the extraction ended, Erik's awareness crept back. He blinked open his eyes, expecting to be greeted by a rush of energy.
Instead, he felt nothing—just emptiness, which seemed strange after such an intense process.
Doubt flickered for a moment, but then he reached inward to access his status, searching for the subtle, yet undeniable, changes he knew had to be there.
—[Erik's Status]—
[Host Information]
NAME: Erik Romano
AGE: 16
POWER LEVEL: 29
SYSTEM LEVEL: 8
EXPERIENCE: 235/1,709
DNA POINTS: 220
HEALTH: 720/720
MANA: 630/630
{Attributes}
STRENGTH: 12
INTELLIGENCE: 10
DEXTERITY: 8
ENERGY: 31
Available Attributes points: -
{Powers}
[Biological Supercomputer Powers]
Brain Crystal Manipulation Brain Crystal Power Extraction (Allows the absorption of brain crystals, making the host able to gain the power contained within. Notice: The DNA must be changed in order to allow the body to use the power. See DNA extraction.) Brain Crystal Power Strengthening (Allows the gaining of the energy attribute points) (LOCKED) (LOCKED) (LOCKED) (LOCKED) DNA Manipulation
DNA Extraction (Allows the absorption of foreign DNA, making the host able to replicate it inside his own body. Notice: Changing the DNA is a slow process, and it is required to use new brain crystal powers.)
DNA Strengthening (Allows the gaining of the Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity attribute points) (LOCKED) (LOCKED) (LOCKED) (LOCKED) Analysis (Gives the host information about his surroundings, plants, creatures, and ores.) Brain Information Injector (It allows the injection of information directly to the brain. Based on touch) Device Manipulation (Allows the host to manipulate electrical and mana-driven devices. Based on touch)
[Host's Powers]
Plant Growth: Eσ2E-RANKED (This power allows plants to grow faster. The speed, the quality, and the size of whatever the user targets depend on the amount of mana used.)
Sharpening: Eσ1D-RANKED (Makes everything sharper according to the quantity of mana imbued into the item or body part.)
Venomous Mana Quills: Eσ1E-RANKED (Create ethereal, poisonous quills from the user's back. The amount of toxicity and the quill's length depend on the amount of mana used.)
{Skills}
Mathematics Knowledge (ADVANCED) Geography's Knowledge (MANNARD CONTINENT) (ADVANCED) History Knowledge (ADVANCED) Chemistry Knowledge (BASIC) Biology Knowledge (INTERMEDIATE) Literature Knowledge (ADVANCED) Art History Knowledge (BASIC) Economics Knowledge (INTERMEDIATE) Music Theory Knowledge (BASIC) Kyokar Hand-to-Hand Combat style (BASIC)
—[End]—
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone