Mutagen



Day 341 - 2:11 - Ruins of Harumi, Reclaimed City, Ruins of Tokyo

ROOOARR!!!

The deafening roar of the Serpent God echoed throughout Tokyo. However, this roar was different from the previous ones it let out.

Before, it roared in arrogance while it fought together with Gar'Vlam. Its roar contained pain and anger as it faced the retaliation of the people of the Reclaimed City.

But now, the roar of the Serpent God was different. It was far different.

There was no arrogance, no anger, and no pain.

All its roar had at this time was its struggle to break free and survive.

Break free from what?

ROOOARR!!!

The Serpent God roared again while releasing a barrage of attacks around it. Its target was the endless surge of jelly-like tentacles trying to grab its body. Each attack would destroy dozens of these tentacles. It showed how fragile these tentacles were. However, as these tentacles coiled around the Serpent God's body, it also showed how strong these tentacles could be, especially when a large amount of them gathered together.

After all, these very same fragile-looking tentacles were the ones that dragged the Serpent God from the sky to the ground.

ROOOAR!!!

The Serpent God tried to fly up. It was dangerous to remain on the ground, surrounded by the inky waters of the giant blob. But as it lifted its head, it suddenly froze, and its body got violently pulled back to the ground.

Each time the Serpent God shifted its attention, the tentacles would immediately take the opportunity to grab onto the Serpent God's body. Seeing the tentacles tightening around its tail, the Serpent God immediately unleashed its elemental breath and destroyed everything it touched.

But like before, new tentacles replaced the destroyed ones, which would try to grab onto the Serpent God's body again.

There was no escape unless the Serpent God destroyed the enemy before its eyes. The Serpent God knew of that fact. However, how would it defeat an enemy that could eat its direct attacks?

The Serpent God was finally in peril. It was clearly unhappy with such development.

ROOOOARRR!!!

The Serpent God let out another roar, aiming its breath at the ground. As the breath poured down, it spread to the surroundings, destroying as many tentacles as it could, and its attack spread out, reaching the barrier around Ariake.

***

Day 341 - 11:12 PM - Ariake, Reclaimed City, Ruins of Tokyo

While the Serpent God and Mark faced each other in their gargantuan battle, another confrontation was happening within Ariake.

The barriers flashed as the Serpent God's attacks hit them, but the barriers showed no sign of damage.

The cause of the barrier's sudden capability to deflect the Serpent God's attack was the sudden appearance of an otherworldly being.

It was the sudden appearance of Ancient Japan's Goddess of Light, Amaterasu.

As the Priestess and the residents of the Reclaimed City faced possible extinction, the Goddess of Light had no choice but to take the reins in protecting everyone.

However, as a Goddess from another realm, an outsider, Earth's protectors were not happy with her interference.

The two powerful beings involved in the Priestess' life stood face to face. And it was clear that the Priestess could not understand what was happening between the two.

Or maybe the Priestess had no idea about the exact happenings at the end of the Lost Era.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" Sixteenth aggressively asked Amaterasu. "What do you think you are doing?"

Sixteenth's aura flared, and that Godly aura began to suffocate everyone present.

"We already sent away the annoying outsides through a fair deal. We had already gotten rid of those who could take advantage of the current state of this world. Yet, why are you outsiders interfering now? GO BACK TO YOUR WORLDS!"

The [Eye of Amusement] was definitely not amused by the interference of otherworldly Gods on Earth.

However, despite the [Eye of Amusement's] outrage, the Goddess of Light gave a silent stare before she lowered her body and touched the staff the Priestess was holding. The moment she did, all the suffocating pressure that everyone felt vanished as if it never existed.

After the pressure vanished, Amaterasu finally spoke.

"You want us to go back?" Amaterasu asked calmly. "Then what will you do afterward? Watch the people here die?"

Sixteenth's eyes frowned upon the questioning of the Otherworld Goddess of Light.

"Bound by your creator's rules, you can't do anything but watch," Amaterasu continued. "I would not dare put the life of my seamstress into the hands of the unreliable protectors of this world."

"This is supposed to be their -"

Sixteenth tried to argue, but Amaterasu cut her off.

"Trial, am I correct?" Amaterasu said with a sigh. "A trial, a culling, those are what you protectors of this world say as an excuse for your incompetence, completely neglecting the fact that you cannot do anything but watch. I would not go out of my way if the cause is natural causes. But there is nothing natural about the incarnation of a monster that my brother had slain long ago. And yet, because of the rules left by the creator of this realm, you protectors could not do anything to protect the mortals you are supposed to protect."

Amaterasu then turned to the ongoing battle outside the barrier.

"The legend passed down was exaggerated. It might be because of the witnesses' distortion of the truth or because my brother did not want to show any weakness. But I knew. My brother struggled to fight that monster. There is no way his arrogance would make him treasure a sword from the tail of a weak creature." Amaterasu then turned back to Sixteenth. "And you are saying that a creature like that was the trial these mortals needed to face? It might just be an incarnation, but even if that snake there is five times weaker, there is no way these mortals would survive against it."

"This is no trial. It is you, protectors, driving these mortals to their demise. Stop with your delusions in trying to justify your realm's crooked rules."

Amaterasu added.

"And besides, what are you angry for?" Amaterasu asked the seething Sixteenth. "I obeyed your realm's crooked rules. I did not manifest any of my power to interfere with this so-called trial."

"What are you talking about?!" Sixteenth could not believe what Amaterasu was saying. "Did you already forget what you had just done?"

But before Amaterasu could say another word, someone else appeared.

"It is unfortunate, but she is right, Sixteenth. And you should cease your aggression. You will become subject to punishment if your aggressiveness ends up harming anyone here present."

Another [Eye] appeared and spoke. She was someone that some of the members of Evernight were familiar with.

She was the [Eye of Interest], Nineteenth, who came out of the door that opened in empty space. And she was not alone as the [Eye of Excitement], Thirteenth, followed behind her.

"What are you saying, Nineteenth?" Sixteenth frowned. "We should eliminate this intruder at once."

At those words, Nineteenth sighed.

"I know where you are coming from. However, you know that the intruder in front of you is nothing but an avatar, right? Dealing with them would just be a waste of time as they could come back as long as the carrier of her blessing is still alive." Nineteenth then turned to Magwayen. "And it is the same for her."

The Amaterasu and Magwayen present were just avatars channeled to this world through their blessed ones. If the [Eyes] wanted to oust them and cut their connection to this world, they needed to destroy their blessings. And that also meant killing the bearers of the blessings.

And killing anyone born of this world would definitely be against their rules, subjecting them to punishment from the world itself.

While the [Eyes] could destroy these avatars, it was just a waste of time and energy, especially now when the [Eyes] had limited energy due to the limited number of remaining humans on Earth.

But that was not the only reason at this time.

"We also have no time for them right now," Nineteenth continued. "An unexpected event happened, and we needed to prepare in case the worst happened."

And as Nineteenth said those words, her eyes focused on the gigantic blob currently fighting the Serpent God.

Realizing that it was useless to argue in this situation, Sixteenth sighed and followed Nineteenth's words. 

"I thought three protectors came to welcome me, but it seemed not to be the case," Amaterasu turned her head, also staring at the giant blob. "But, I guess it would not be so surprising for someone like that man to be under the observation of this world's protectors."

This time, Thirteenth turned to Mei.

"Mark's wife," Thirteenth called. "Is that ring working?"

What Thirteenth was talking about was the ring Mei was currently caressing. It was the ring on her finger she received from Bathala, the ring which should be connecting her to the other pair Mark was wearing.

But with a worried expression, Mei shook her head.

Seeing Mei's reply, Thirteenth reluctantly turned to Magwayen. And knowing what the [Eye of Excitement] wanted to inquire, Magwayen spoke.

"I also lost my connection with him. It seemed that Mark became isolated by his current state from any interference from outside."

"A complete isolation," Nineteenth shook her head while holding her book. "This would be a problem. Even I was unable to see through him. We could not tell whether he was conscious, lost control, or if he got taken over."

"So far, his attention is only focused on the enemy. We can only wait."

Nineteenth added.

But to the surprise of the [Eyes], Mei spoke.

"He is still fine."

"Are you sure?"

Thirteenth asked.

"Yes. I can feel it."

It seemed that Mei was only relying on her instinct. As such, the [Eyes] could not take her words for granted. In any case, they wished she was right. After all, they could not afford to fight the Evil God right now while in their weakened states.

With the attention of the [Eyes] shifting to Mark, Amaterasu lowered her body and helped the Priestess up.

"The fight is not over yet. I tapped into the inner core of the barrier, but it would not last too long. I need you to learn how to use it yourself, my seamstress."

Amaterasu said to the Priestess.

The Priestess stood up with Tsubasa behind her. However, the two, no, not only them. The Prime Minister, the Bureau Chief, and the Empress were also confused due to the sudden, unexpected development.

However, the two representatives of the Government felt their knees weaken due to the presence of the Godly Beings, unable to ask any questions. On the other hand, the Empress decided to stay silent, not wanting to garner the attention of these beings, especially the [Eyes].

In the end, it would be up to the Priestess to ask.

"My Goddess, just what is going on?" The Priestess also turned to the [Eye of Amusement]. "You too, Sixteenth. Can you explain what is happening?"

As Sixteenth received the question from her candidate, she turned to Nineteenth. The latter then nodded, giving permission for Sixteenth to answer.

And there, the Priestess felt appalled, finally learning that Mark was the same as her, a candidate to lead humanity to survival. But then afterward, confusion came. Why was he a candidate for human survival? Mark was a Demon, after all.

As the Priestess asked that question, the [Eyes] conveyed the truth that Mark was also a human just a few months ago. But as more information became available for everyone awake about Mark's bloodline and the coincidence where planted a Pure Spirt Tree, causing that bloodline to awaken and turn him into a Pureblood Demon, things began to make sense.

No wonder Mark was able to enter the partial state of [Manifestation] prematurely. He had the bloodline of an Evil God and had the possibility to become a vessel of that God's reincarnation.

These truths allowed Mark to become both an opportunity for humanity's survival and a threat giving way to humanity's extinction.

And that was also the cause of the [Eyes'] current wariness to the current situation.

Now, they could only wait while they watched Mark's fight with the Serpent God.