章 6: Dreams Beyond Limits

Just then, students began entering the classroom.

"Did you see the video?"

"Yeah, I did, but why did they send it?"

"I don't know, but Logan had never been a normal guy!"

Erik grinned. His plan worked.

But Erik's grinning was a weird event. Several people noticed it, but Erik didn't mind. He felt too great for giving a damn about that.

"All right, guys," Mr. O'Leary said. He must have received the video, but the class had to start, and there was going to be someone addressing that matter right now. It wasn't his job to do that.

"We will spend the next hour trying to establish neural links. I want to remind you what a Neural link is, since not everyone clearly understood what they are." He gave a look at Erik.

"As I explained multiple times, neural links are important to increase ranks. Most of you are currently at the σ level on the Idor scale, which classifies the number of neural links you made. From one to three, you are at the σ rank; from four to six, you are at the ρ rank."

Mr. O'Leary said, while pacing around the room.

"To create a neural link, channel mana from the brain crystal. The goal is to create a bridge between the crystal and the brain. It is natural, this operation, I mean."

The teacher looked at Erik again. He knew Erik was the only student in class who hadn't progressed beyond the lowest power level, σ1. Most of Erik's classmates had already reached higher levels, like σ3 or even ρ1 or 3.

"I can't stress enough how important neural links are. They allow you to control your Brain Crystal Power easily and represent your overall power. Of course, you also need to consider the Ferebitz and Jorm scales to fully understand your power's quality, but everything starts with how you can use your power—not how much mana it can harness or how useful it is. Remember, the higher the number of neural links between the brain and the crystal, the greater the amount of mana that can flow through your body. This increased mana flow empowers your body, making you faster and stronger. It's a win-win!"

The teacher looked at the students with a severe look. "Now, let's channel mana again, all right?"

Everyone agreed and started using their mana to make a new neural link. This wasn't as easy as the teacher made it sound. It had taken the students months to get to their current level. Creating neural links was a natural affair, but it was still very difficult with the method they were using.

This shows how incredible people at the α level must have been, if they even existed. Many believed even Solomon Judd couldn't reach the α level, attributing his death to that.

Well, that and the thaid that chewed on his bones.

The strongest person in Frant currently was General Becker, who was "only" at the Aη2A.

Erik concentrated on the task. It was one of the few things he really tried hard to do whenever he went back home. He wanted to get stronger and escape his strenuous life. Even though it looked impossible for him to make one, he still hoped he would do it one day.

Erik tried harder than ever to accomplish the task. He tried to create the bridge the teacher talked about but couldn't. The flow of mana was too faint or nonexistent.

This always happened to Erik. He couldn't make a neural link because whenever he tried to use mana, he lost his connection to it for no clear reason. But this time, something different happened.

[Warning: A deformity of the brain crystal has been found. Usage of mana is strongly discouraged.]

<What?!> Erik almost shouted.

[Warning: A deformity of the brain crystal has been found. Usage of mana is strongly discouraged.]

[The host has a slightly deformed brain crystal. This deformity stops mana from flowing correctly. The host is encouraged to take action to remove the problem.]

<Stops mana from flowing correctly?> Realization dawned on the young man. Were all his problems due to this deformity? What if he was only F-ranked because of this?

<No. Even if I didn't have this problem, I would still be E-ranked. Making plants grow faster isn't a very good fighting ability. Though what the system says is true, I have hope.>

The young man thought for a while. <System, you said there is a solution. Do you mind clarifying?>

[Yes. I can modify the DNA and the brain crystal. The function is, though, locked, but the host can temporarily use the power by consuming DNA points.]

Erik felt a glimmer of hope. This was not just because he might be able to fix his brain crystal.

It was also because of what the biological supercomputer said.

Erik didn't fully understand what this meant or what it could lead to. But he couldn't stop thinking about it.

[DNA points represent the accumulation of genetic materials and energy. It is required to use the power of the biological supercomputer; energy doesn't come free after all.]

Erik understood he could get DNA points from quests, but he wondered if he could do it in other ways.

[Quests are simply tasks I give the user to push him to do things that would be beneficial to both the host and me. They do nothing, really. Most of the quests I will give will be related to killing, as every time a creature dies, it releases all its mana into the environment. Depending on the quantity released, I can store variable amounts of mana. Some will be kept to improve the DNA, hence why DNA points; some will increase the system's function; others will improve your body, hence why experience.]

<Killing?>

[Yes. There are other ways to gather mana since I can also take it from the environment, but that is slow and inefficient.]

[The host needs to collect a hundred DNA points to use the power and remove the deformity, based on my estimations. The system will do the rest.]

Erik had 20 DNA points. He could get 20 a day, meaning that in four days, he should be able to get rid of his problem.

…

After an hour, the lesson ended.

After that, Erik had his other classes. These included math, geography, and history. Erik didn't struggle with these subjects because he spent most of his free time studying. As a result, he had no trouble getting through the lessons.

Then lunch break began. The students rushed to the cafeteria.

Erik sat alone in the cafeteria's corner during lunch break. Today, he felt happier than usual for two reasons. First, for what the biological supercomputer said about his brain crystal problem and how to fix it. Second, he was happy as a kid on Christmas Eve because of Logan's troubles.

Erik had heard he was called to the principal's office for a long talk. No one knew what they discussed, but it seemed serious. When Logan and his friends came back, they looked upset.

The lunch break went by quickly. Soon, the last bell rang, and school ended. All the students left for the exit.

"Have you heard about Logan?"

"Yeah… He is done for now…"

"At least we will be able to play a little with the Plant Hugger!"

The last thing Erik needed was to solve a problem, only for another one to appear.

Erik left the school building. Most students his age usually stayed at the gym after school to work out and practice using their brain crystal powers. But Erik couldn't do that since he would just be beaten up by Logan. Usually, at least.

Besides, he had work to do. So he was headed toward Mr. Fox's farm. After that, he would try to complete his quests.

If everything went well, he could not only level up in four days but always fix his brain crystal deformity.

Erik needed to go to the northern part of the city. He had to take a train to get there, so he was walking to the station.

The city streets were busy. There were flying cars, trucks, and motorcycles in the air. On the ground, people walked. There were no paved roads there. Everything was a huge walking lane.

Most buildings looked new and had a military-style design.

<What a bad taste…> Erik didn't like how his country decorated things. <But at least they do something…> In truth, Becker was doing his best to modernize the city and the entire country. Before him, Frant wasn't in a really good situation. Poverty was worse than it currently was, with criminality at every corner.

It wasn't like he got rid of all of this, but there was a tremendous improvement, at least based on what his father told him.

As Erik walked, he saw other people going heading in the same way. He was still hurt, and some people looked at him. But no one offered to help.

<Well, with everything that goes down in this city, I bet a bleeding kid is nothing new…>

As he got closer to the train station, the city looked dirtier. There were more homeless people, beggars, and drug addicts. He saw a sizeable area full of trash. People who lived nearby were cleaning it up.

Erik soon reached the train station. He bought a ticket, just like he did every day, and boarded the train. He quickly got to the Northern District, where Mr. Fox's farm was located.

After a brief walk, Erik arrived at his destination. The farm was encircled by sturdy steel fences with tightly secured gates. Approaching, he fished out his keys from his hoodie pocket, unlocked the gate, and stepped inside.

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