Beyond the Barrier

Erik approached the edge of the invisible barrier. Beyond it was a golden sea of wheat, undulating like a blanket of gold.

With a deep breath, Erik stepped through the barrier. Luckily, the field was deserted, and no one should have seen him.

He began his trek back toward civilization while his mind raced with thoughts of the barrier and its gaping flaw—a massive hole that had somehow escaped the military's eyes.

How could such a vulnerability exist so close to something so meticulously monitored?

Erik found himself at a crossroads.

He considered hunting for brain crystals from thaids to boost his powers. The kills could make him stronger, but going after them would be dangerous.

With his limited experience in the wild, he knew this wasn't a decision to take lightly.

He paused to weigh his options.

"If I surrender to my fears, I'll get to nothing... It's time to face them. I owe it to myself."

He walked forward. The wheat field ended on a dirt path. He was finally on known paths.

"I made it."

Erik stood alone in the middle of the road. He hadn't checked his status yet and wanted to see what his current situation was.

—[Erik's Status]—

[Host Information]

NAME: Erik Romano

AGE: 16

POWER LEVEL: 29

SYSTEM LEVEL: 8

EXPERIENCE: 225/1,709

DNA POINTS: 410

HEALTH: 620/620

MANA: 530/530

{Attributes}

STRENGTH: 12

INTELLIGENCE: 10

DEXTERITY: 8

ENERGY: 26

Available attribute points: 5

{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.)

{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]—

<Five more attribute points.< p>

Erik was uncertain where to allocate them. Enhancing his strength would bolster his muscular build, yielding greater power and swiftness.

Opting to upgrade his dexterity would make him more nimble, refining his hand-eye coordination.

The training videos he had gained would be easier to practice with better coordination and reflexes and so would mimic Professor McAllister's moves.

Investing in energy would boost both his vitality and his mana reserves—resources he needed the most, considering his starting levels were notably deficient.

He wondered about intelligence, though. The benefits weren't obvious.

<System, can you tell me exactly what Intelligence boosts? It is not clear.>

[Intelligence boosts your ability to learn, solve problems, and understand and get complex ideas. It helps you plan, figure out better ways to do things, and understand how others feel. This helps with both studying and dealing with people. The higher your intelligence, the faster you can learn and the better you can use what you know.]

The system took a couple of seconds before going deeper into its explanation.

[However, there is something that must be taken into consideration. Greater intelligence can affect human behavior in various ways. Besides, it's important to realize that greater intelligence doesn't automatically equate to better decisions, as biases can still sway even the most intelligent among us. Further, emotional intelligence has a profound effect on social interactions. Individuals with high levels of emotional intelligence typically exhibit stronger relationship skills and are more adept in social settings, showing enhanced empathy and an ability to interpret emotions. On the flip side, exceptionally high IQs on the logical side, when at too high levels, correlate with increased anxiety and social discomfort, which may manifest as clumsy social behavior. This heightened awareness often leads to an overwhelming focus on social expectations and an exhaustive analysis of social nuances—a level of scrutiny that many find overwhelming. So, it can fundamentally change your behavior.]

"Fuck…"

In essence, increasing intelligence would make Erik's cognitive abilities better, allowing him to absorb and recall information with greater ease.

But he might change. Besides, getting information became easier with the biological supercomputer and its injection power.

<What to do…?>

Erik thought.

This change wasn't necessarily negative. The benefits of heightened intelligence—faster learning, improved memory, superior reasoning—were clear. They came with potential drawbacks, including the risk of feeling alienated from his former self and from others, but it wasn't like Erik wasn't already in such a situation.

Maybe he could change for the better.

Anyway, without a definitive answer, he decided the best thing to do was to boost his energy again.

<31 energy points. Great…>

…

…

…

Erik arrived at Mister Fox's farm and saw him working in the fields. He waved. Mister Fox looked up, stopped working, and smiled. "Taking your time today?"

"Morning, Mister Fox," Erik said.

The farmer rested on his hoe and studied Erik. "You seem different today."

"I need to tell you something. I found out I'm an awakener."

"You are what?"

"An awakener..."

"Are you kidding me? YOU, an awakener?"

"Is it so hard to believe it?" Erik asked.

That irked him. Why did people have this preconceived notion he was unworthy of improvement, of change? Why was it so hard to see that he, too, might one day be powerful? He didn't voice his frustration.

Mister Fox straightened up. "That's unexpected," he said. "Have you been tested by the military yet?"

"They checked my power yesterday."

"What did they find?"

"Eσ1D."

Mister Fox's expression tightened. "An E on the Ferebitz scale? For an awakened, that's... low."

Erik's posture stiffened. He let out a slow breath, trying to mask his frustration. "True, it's not that good, but my power ranks D on the Jorm scale. It's decent at least. With more neural links, mana won't be an issue for me anymore, and at least I got something useful."

Mister Fox's frown eased into a thoughtful look.

"Yeah. Always better than growing plants. You know, your power would have been desirable 300 years ago, but now... with our technology…"

"Despite everything, I'm happy," Erik said.

"If you say so. What is your power, anyway?"

Erik's lips curved into a half-smile. "I can sharpen anything."

The farmer's eyes widened. "Useful skill. Care to show?"

Erik nodded.

"Sure."

Erik reached for a branch and focused. The branch honed to a fine edge under his touch. With a swift motion, he tested it against the fence, leaving a clear mark.

"Looks like you've got a knack for this, kiddo. Now, put it to good use."

Mister Fox's practical response deflated Erik's enthusiasm. He had hoped for more encouragement from someone he had known and worked with for so long.

"Sure…"

Mister Fox looked at him. "You're due back at school soon after work, aren't you?"

"Yes, back to school at eighteen."

…

…

…

Erik worked alongside Mister Fox until the fields were done. After getting paid, he left with a quick goodbye.

On the train back, he sat by the window and watched the farmland fade into city buildings.

Back at school in the western district, he saw the usual scene—students training, practicing with brain crystals, and hanging out in groups.

Heading to the gym, he passed Nathaniel and his friends. Erik walked by without a word, avoiding trouble. Their eyes met for a moment before they went their separate ways.

After changing into gym clothes, he entered the hall and saw Floyd, Amber, and Gwen. Amber smiled and waved him over.

"Hi, Erik!"

He gave the girl a small smile in return. "Hey, Amber."

Erik shifted on his feet. Her warm greeting stirred a subtle unease within him because of his unfamiliarity with these feelings.

Erik enjoyed talking with Amber, which was a welcome change from his usual day. He gave her a real smile as they chatted.

Their conversation was then cut short by Professor McAllister.

"Are you done?"

He paused, looking at the two students.

"Time to start. Erik, you're with me for training. The rest of you proceed as usual. And Amber, remember to spar after your drills."

"Yes, sir."