Mutagen

<strong>Day 147 - 9:58 AM - Langonoy Gulf, Caramoan, Camarines Sur</strong>

A Military Parola-class Patrol Vessel being surrounded by eleven tourist speedboats. This was the current scene in the middle of the sea strait that separated the peninsula of Caramoan and the island of Catanduanes.

The Military boat might be a bit big, but the standard complement size in these boat models was only twenty-five people, five officers, and twenty enlists. That was the current number of soldiers on board, excluding Mark's group and the three that boarded the boat only for transport.

Comparing that number to ten eight-seater tourist boats filled with armed men, the side of the Military was definitely in a disadvantageous position.

Lieutenant Ignacio stepped out, facing what seemed to be the boat leading the enemies.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Lieutenant shouted. "Our camps had an agreement about this!"

Mark listened to the Lieutenant. Those that were not in the know would think that the Military was working with the rebels. But fortunately, that was not the case here. Land encounters on the island were one thing since it was already the circumstances even before the outbreak. On the other hand, there was an agreement between the Military and the NPA when it came to the encounters on water, especially in this area. As long as there was no ongoing skirmish, water transports were free to go in and out of the island. It applied to both parties. After all, supplies were needed by both parties, and those would only come from the mainland.

Cutting off supply routes would not be beneficial to both parties as it would impact their survival heavily. Thus, as long as the other party did not intrude on each other's ship docks, no one was supposed to attack the other party's supply boats. Both parties complied with this truce. It was because once one party started to cut off the supply route of the other, the opposite would do the same. It would lead to both perishing meaninglessly due to lack of supplies.

Not to mention that there were more things to worry about while traveling across these dangerous waters.

Thus, until now, nothing of this sort happened.

It was one of the things that Mark learned last night from Padua and Geronimo. And likewise, not reported to other settlements. Why? It was while smart people would allow this truce, the narrow-minded politicians in other settlements would not.

Of course, even if they knew, there was nothing they could do. However, in the minute chance that things go back to normal, there would be repercussions to face. That was why they decided to keep things like this for now without reporting it.

Unfortunately, there was no need to mention reporting. It seemed that the rebels already decided to break the agreement.

After the Lieutenant shouted, a man wearing a camouflage jacket stood up from that boat the former were facing.

"Lieutenant! It's nothing personal! We're just following orders!" The man shouted back with a snicker. "We heard that a group came carrying a package! Surrender that group and the package, and we'll let everyone else pass!"

Lieutenant Ignacio frowned. No wonder this situation happened at this time. Different from before, they were carrying people from Infanta carrying a package. And, of course, these rebels were not aiming for the supplies they were transporting.

"What are we going to do, Lieutenant?"

A soldier beside Lieutenant Ignacio asked. The situation was not favorable for them. It was either give up the people they were supposed to bring or fight to their deaths.

The Lieutenant closed his eyes, pinching his sinus due to stress. This was a tricky situation. In the first place, the fault here lay on the Military. It seemed that the spies in their ranks ratted out the arrival of this group and the package they were carrying.

If Lieutenant decided to give up the group and the package, the group would not end well, especially the beautiful girl. The package might also be crucial as it was sent by a General from another settlement.

To the side, Mark was waiting for the Lieutenant's decision. He then looked at his group.

"Get ready."

He said calmly.

The soldiers heard that and were confused. Get ready for what?

At this moment, the Lieutenant was at a total loss.

"Lieutenant! Hurry up! We don't have all day!"

The leader of the enemy group shouted from his boat.

But then, someone came out, standing beside the Lieutenant. He could not help but look and saw Mark, who came out.

"What are you doing here? It's dangerous. Please go back inside."

The Lieutenant warned.

"Don't mind me," Mark replied. "Just decide already."

Lieutenant Ignacio turned to Mark. The pressure in his mind strengthened.

Finally, Lieutenant Ignacio took another look at the enemies before making some signals with his hand behind his back. Receiving his orders, the soldiers stealthily prepared.

Seeing a person that did not seem to be a soldier came out, the leader of the enemies shouted.

"Are you the one carrying the package? Just go with us, and no one will get hurt!"

Mark stared at the guy with his eyes half-closed. He could tell that the guy was bluffing. Even if his group came with these guys, there was no way they would let these soldiers go. After all, the agreement was still in effect. If these soldiers died here, no one would be able to report what happened.

In any case, Lieutenant Ignacio already decided, and it was a positive decision.

As such, Mark shouted back.

"If you idiots leave now, no one will get hurt!"

Everyone froze.

What the hell was he saying?

Lieutenant Ignacio wanted to pull Mark away as the preparation of his men would be noticed if he continued.

On the other hand...

"Hahahaha! You all heard that?!"

The man laughed out loud, ridiculing Mark. A series of insulting laughter ensued as the rebels followed suit with the boisterous laughter.

And then, Mark spoke.

"Stomach."

At the drop of his word, a gunshot was heard from behind. With a beam-like flash, blood had splattered. The leader of the enemies was frozen stiff as all his body sensation was filled with pain. He managed to take a last look at his body and saw a fist-sized hole on his stomach. Shivering in fear, he touched the hole. He was hoping that it was just an illusion. Only when his hands were filled with his warm blood was when he realized that he was dying.

The leader of the enemies fell to the water. Everyone then saw that it was not only him. Three more people that were seated behind had already perished.

Everyone was in disarray as they searched for who made that shot. It was when the soldiers saw Mei with her snow-white sniper-sword poking out of the boat's window.

On the other side, the rebels lost their leader suddenly. Without someone leading them and with very little time for someone to take over, they all decided on one thing.

"SHOOT! SHOOT! KILL!"

The rebels shouted as they aimed their guns and fired.

"Take cover!"

Lieutenant Ignacio shouted in desperation. The events were too sudden. There was no time for anyone to hide at all.

Fear enveloped the soldiers. A rain of bullets was shot towards their boat along with the roars of the rebels to kill everyone.

It was all over for them. Even if some managed to survive the first volley and counterattacked, a boat filled with holes would not bring them to safety anymore.

As the soldiers scurried to find cover, some of them managed to glance at Mark. Unexpectedly, he did not move from the spot at all. Some thought that he was frozen stiff until he called out a name.

"Iola!"

Mark called out.

And there, the bullets...

Did not hit their boat. In fact, not a single metallic clanging or screams of pain were heard. As the soldiers came to their senses, their eyes opened wide.

They saw the rain of bullets stopping mid-air before falling to the water like a downpour. That was when everyone noticed that the whole boat was covered in some sort of invisible barrier.

On the other side, the rebels were frozen stiff.

What kind of technology was this?

That question filled their minds, thinking that the Military deployed some sort of futuristic weapon.

However, that was not the end of it.

Mei, like an agile cat, jumped onto the roof of the boat. She then started shooting the rebels with her sniper-sword, one by one.

The rebels tried to retaliate more. But like before, their bullets did not even reach the boat of the Military until each plopped into the water.

"SH*T! RETREAT! RETREAT!"

Screams were heard as the remaining rebels decided to escape. The engines of their motorboats roared loudly as they started them once more.

But then, Mark tapped his foot.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

With black sparks of electricity, the engines of the motorboats exploded one after another.

Shock, fear, and despair filled the hearts and minds of the rebels. The smarter ones immediately abandoned their boats. They started jumping into the water to evade the shots that Mei was firing.

The soldiers stared at the spectacle. They were not even able to do anything at all. Before their eyes, the situation took a drastic turnaround in their favor.

And it was all because of Mark's group. It was without a doubt.

"L-Lieutenant! What are we going to do now?"

A soldier called out to their frozen superior. Lieutenant Ignacio was staring at Mark, reevaluating him and his group. He was sure that he made a mistake during their introductions, thinking that the other members of their group were just baggage. Especially that beautiful girl with a sniper rifle, none of her shots were wasted.

Being called by his subordinate, the Lieutenant looked at the surroundings and noticed the rebels that were swimming away.

"Capture them! We should squeeze out who tipped the information!"

The Lieutenant gave his orders.

But then, Mark stretched out his arm, blocking the soldier that received the order.

"What are you-"

The soldier tried to ask Mark about his problem. But before he was able to finish, Mark cut him off.

"Restart the engine and go full speed if you still want to live."

The soldier was confused and turned back to his superior.

Lieutenant Ignacio was also confused until he saw Mark glancing at the water. He was suddenly filled with dread.

"Quick! Restart the engine! Full speed!"

With the urgent order of their leader, the soldiers moved. The engine was restarted, and the boat moved away as fast as possible.

The rebels that jumped into the water were relieved after seeing the Military boat leave.

But then, screams started to ensue, turning their relief into fear.

"AAAAHHH!! HELP!!!"

A rebel cried out as he desperately waved his hands. Nevertheless, it was futile. The rebel was dragged underwater by who knows what.

It did not end with that one guy. All those in the water were pulled underwater.

One rebel tried to swim back to the boats they abandoned. But then, he felt a painful sensation on his foot as his body was dragged into the water.

That was when the rebel saw what was happening.

Hundreds of fishes, about the size of a truck wheel, were attacking everyone. They were not just being bitten, but the mouths of the fishes were large enough to swallow a human limb in one go. It was the reason why everyone was being pulled into the water.

Some rebels were lucky and managed to return to their broken boats. Some even sacrificed their limbs, wailing in pain with their missing hand or foot.

However, it looked like they were destined to be killed here.

It was because, one by one, those that returned to the boats had their heads explode by the shots of a sniper rifle.

Soon, there was nothing left of the rebels but their broken boats left to drift aimlessly with the ocean current.