Meeting the military under those circumstances had been risky, but luckily, they didn't ask questions Erik couldn't answer.
Erik had no way of knowing and could only hope things had gone smoothly. Those thoughts, too, got replaced by more practical ones.
"Quests."
All that was left in Erik's mind was to make his last daily quest and get ten additional DNA points. This would bring his total to forty points, leaving him just one day shy of reaching his goal.
As Erik observed the quest list, he got up from his sofa and started working on the last quest.
Despite him not having started training for a lot of time, he was already showing signs of improvement, but it was still too early for others to see them too. In truth, Erik himself had to focus a lot to see them clearly, but even so, he felt like his strength was growing by leaps and bounds.
His stamina was also increasing steadily.
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
However, there was something more he had to do. His day wasn't going to end soon.
Erik wanted new neural links. Since the biological supercomputer fixed him, now he could work on them. The process worked as intended; Erik had no doubts about that. The system could be trusted.
Hours later, Erik fell asleep on the couch.
…
…
…
Erik woke up and checked the time.
He opened his quest list.
Erik couldn't believe it. Just one quest separated him from a new power. Erik rushed to the kitchen and prepared breakfast.
[QUEST COMPLETE.]
He had what he needed now.
"System, how much time do I need to unlock the Densoph's brain crystal power?"
[2:35 hours.]
"Will something happen to me if I use the DNA points to extract it?"
[You will be unconscious for the entire process unless you use more DNA points and provide the system with more energy to work. If not, I will need energy from you, and you will lose consciousness.]
He couldn't miss it, despite hating the place.
Erik went to prepare himself, and once he was done, he left the house. The trip to the train station and then to school was uneventful.
Everyone avoided it like the plague there, but that was how he liked it. Logan also kept a low profile. Erik was the first to arrive in class. The other followed, and the last to come was Professor O'Leary.
"Well, guys. This will be another training day for you," the teacher said.
All the students started their usual routine. They concentrated and channeled mana. Erik followed suit, feeling the soothing warmth of mana flowing through his body, spreading especially in his head.
Soon enough, Erik felt a tingling feeling spread across his entire head.
Once again, Erik was determined not to miss anything important during this phase. He focused not only on the mana inside his body but also on every subtle difference between now and before he fixed his deformity. As time passed, nothing major had occurred.
In the past, Erik would have lost the connection to mana, preventing him from making neural links.
This time, nothing of the sort occurred. Erik couldn't help but smile, despite having already tested this the previous day—a reaction Professor O'Leary didn't miss.
"Did something happen, Mister Romano?"
The other students turned to look at the young man.
"I think I found out how to channel mana properly, sir."
"Really? Glad you finally learned what other people learn at ten," he paused.
"Now stop wasting time and concentrate; you must make up for all the years you lost," Mister O'Leary said.
"Yes, professor…"
The day went on, with Erik getting bored. Since he injected the class topics already into his brain, he didn't even pay attention.
As school ended, Erik left for the farm.
Later in the night, Erik arrived.
It was now time to do the important stuff. Erik trembled in excitement. It came time for him to get something useful, for once.
The stars gleamed that night, and the sky was clear and full of light.
Erik gazed at the stars through his window, lost in contemplation. Though the Densoph's brain crystal power might not grant him extraordinary abilities, getting something different from his birth brain crystal power was already a significant milestone.
Previously, the young man asked the system if he could have more than two powers. The system told him a cap wasn't present, meaning that if he messed up with this, it would not be the end of the world.
"Status."
—STATUS—
[Host Information]
NAME: Erik Romano
AGE: 16
POWER LEVEL: 18
SYSTEM LEVEL: 3
EXPERIENCE: 40/225
DNA POINTS: 50
HEALTH: 220/220
MANA: 130/130
{Attributes}
STRENGTH: 8
INTELLIGENCE: 6
DEXTERITY: 4
ENERGY: 6
Available attribute points: -
{Powers}
[Biological Super Computer 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: Eσ1E-RANKED(This power allows to make plants grow faster. The speed, the quality, and the size of whatever the user targets 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)
Economic Knowledge (INTERMEDIATE)
Music Theory Knowledge (BASIC)
—END STATUS—
Erik leveled up two times already and got 10 attribute points. Five he spent on energy, the other five he spent them on strength, which was a pitiful three at the beginning. He still missed a lot before he would be able to get to level four, but with time, he would get there.
His eyes then went to his DNA points. He had fifty, just enough to use the system's power.
Erik lay on his couch.
< System, I'm ready.>
A robotic voice echoed inside the young man's head.
[Understood. System ready. DNA points used. Starting extraction. Host is advised to lay somewhere.]
Mana began swirling inside Erik's body like a hurricane ravaging his insides. Then a warm feeling blossomed in his stomach.
He felt the warmth spreading from his core to his extremities until it reached every part of his body. It spread through his whole being and into the surrounding air.
"It feels good," Erik said as he lay there, but then his head spun until his sight darkened. His eyes closed, and his consciousness faded away.