Erik stopped at the edge of the land he cleared from the presence of thaids, looking at where the unknown wilderness of Mur started.
It took him three days to reach that place.
I cleared more land than I expected.>
Erik had lost track of his exact location during his hunts, since most encounters turned into chases that led him far from his intended path. Aside from that, he also experinted with the Luminara Serpentis, hoping to not only kill all the surrounding thaids but also to prevent others from reaching it.
Erik planted clusters of the Luminara Serpentis at key locations about fifty ters apart. He wanted to know if the plant worked like most of the creatures on Mannard or if they would enrage them like it happened to the wyverns.
He set up temporary observation posts near the bulk of the cluster, using his shapeshifting ability to take the form of local thaids and his invisibility power to hide his presence.
The results were mixed, or better, it was like on Mannard, but much worse. Most of the thaids fled from the Luminara Serpentis, but unfortunately, not only wyverns, which luckily didn't appear, ran from the plant.
A creature had torn through an entire patch and destroyed the area in a fit of rage. The plant's presence provoked the predator and many others when Erik regrew the plant and ended up drawing them out of their territories to destroy it.
What kept him safe on Mannard was actually dangerous here on Mur.
The plant's scent and biochemical signals stimulated the thaids' aggressive instincts far more than expected.
If Erik hadn't used his invisibility power and shapeshifting abilities, the enraged thaids would have torn him apart. These creatures, with their massive claws and enhanced strength, were too powerful for him to engage in combat.
[That complicates things,] the biological computer said as Erik watched another powerful thaid demolish a test patch. [We can't use the Luminara to create safe passages. It would be like laying out a welco mat for every thaid in the area.]
The Luminara Serpentis plants lay destroyed, their luminescent sap seeping into the soil.
[We need another strategy,] the system said. [The Luminara attracts the kind of attention we're trying to avoid.]
Erik nodded, abandoning his plan to create a network of safe corridors for himself and the others. On Mur, it seed, there could be no truly safe paths—only carefully chosen routes and constant vigilance.
[Well, it's not like we have choices. We can only hope sothing like the Luminara Serpentis exists here on Mur. A plant that evolved in the sa way. After all, Mur's vegetation had to adapt to survive these predators exactly as plants did on Mannard.]
Erik asked. Erik said, watching as the last traces of luminescent sap disappeared into the soil.
[We might just keep it simple,] the system said. [Being careful, staying hidden, and choosing safe paths. It may not be fancy, like using plants as protection, but these basic thods work too.]
[Yeah, you are unlucky.]
The biological computer then remained silent, but Erik knew it was watching for danger around them.
He listened for the sound of ocean waves to figure out which way to go. He stayed under the trees where it was safer. He hoped his friends were sowhere ahead, staying alive until he could find them.
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