Mutagen

<strong>Day 147 - 6:21 PM - Langonoy Gulf, Bicol Region, Philippines</strong>

With a step after another, the army of infected unsteadily traversed the uneven seafloor. The evolved marine animals or the mutated corals and plants might have hindered them, and the strong underwater currents swept a lot of them away. Nevertheless, nothing stopped the infected's advance.

Many of the Type-1As, the Biters, and their mutated variants had drowned and died. With their bodies still living, the lack of breathable air was enough to kill them. But of course, they would not just lie down under the ocean floor. As they died, it allowed them to turn into Type-1Bs, the slower but living dead Eaters.

Unfortunately, while the Biters dying and turning into slow Eaters sounded like a good thing, it was the opposite. If they died in other ways, blood loss or injury might only turn them into their Eater variants. Their death under salty ocean water, however, hugely opened them an opportunity.

It was a dreadful opportunity for them to mutate according to their surroundings.

That was what was currently happening under the waters of Langonoy Gulf.

Most of the infected started to adapt underwater, mutating in different. Not only the saltwater became the catalyst of the infected's mutation. The corpses of the evolved marine animals, the water plants, and even the corals contributed to each unique changes.

To be able to move faster underwater, some started to grow webbed feet. Some Biters that survived became able to extract oxygen from seawater. Those that could not handle the strong currents had their bodies growing bigger.

As their bodies changed, their instincts followed.

Some started to swim like fish. Some learned to float. The infected gained new abilities as they traversed the gulf towards their destination.

***

Day 147 - 6:34 PM - North Codon Coast, Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes

At the campsite, the tents were pitched quickly. Unfolding and securing the tents were not some kind of complex task. It was even faster with everyone working together.

It also did not take long for Pefile to return with firewood. But it was not only firewood that he brought back. He returned, carrying a freshly killed boar on his back. This boar was definitely mutated with its tusk having a black color. However, it seemed that it was not powerful enough for Pefile as it was killed with a stab of a wooden spear on its neck.

Without a doubt, the menu for dinner was decided.

There was no need to process the whole boar. They only needed to cut a portion of its body for dinner. Draining the blood was not an issue either with Miracle around. Of course, she did not like absorbing blood from other sources aside from her Papa.

Slicing the parts and dipping them in seasoning, the wild pork was ready for grilling.

"Hey! Smelly uncle! Give me that slice!"

Emika complained as Mark took the meaty slice of meat from the grill over the campfire.

"It's mine." Mark retorted. "You can have the next one."

"But that's bigger!"

Emika pouted.

"Can't you just eat quietly? Look at my daughters. They are eating quietly. You should take them as an example."

Mark said, glancing at the three little girls sitting on a log by his side.

"But Miracle isn't even eating!"

As usual, Emika and Mark bickering over trivial things. Everyone welcomed these kinds of events with smiles. One of the very few times that Mark would show genuine emotions rather than his usual fake ones.

Berrak watched this scene, feeling amazed in his heart.

'Was this the very same guy that killed without second thoughts?'

That question passed by Berrak's mind as he saw this kind of playful Mark in front of him.

Nevertheless, what bothered him the most was the extreme difference of this group compared to most people he encountered since the apocalypse started.

Since the apocalypse started, everyone that Berrak saw was always at the edge. It did not matter whether they were just regular survivors or people like General Seguerra. No matter how they appeared outside, they were all afraid of the current Earth.

This group, Mark's group, however, looked like they were just on a fun vacation.

Nevertheless, it was not a bad atmosphere. Berrak felt more relaxed with this kind of thing around.

Slowly, Berrak's fear of Mark was lessening. Nevertheless, he was still not letting his guard down.

At the same time, however, Berrak could not help but notice someone who looked a bit sad in her eyes. Even her aura was a bit unstable.

***

As per usual, sleep time in the apocalypse was early. The little girls wanted to watch anime a bit more, but Mark told them that they would need to wake up early tomorrow. They obediently complied, well, aside from Emika, though. Unfortunately for the green-haired girl, she could not do anything since Mark was the one keeping the laptop.

Around the campfire, four tents were pitched. In the largest one, the four girls slept together. Mark and Mei were in another and the same for Edzel and Pearl. The last and smallest tent belonged to Berrak. As for Pefile, he was not using a tent but was resting on the branch of a large tree nearby.

Was everyone asleep? Not exactly. Mark was half-asleep while Pefile was keeping guard. Since it was Berrak's first night with the group, he could not sleep properly either.

There was also another person.

When she felt that Edzel was already asleep, she left the tent and sat on a rock while looking at the sea.

It was no other than Pearl. Of course, she knew that Mark, Pefile, and Berrak were still awake, but she knew that she would not bother them by going out like this.

To Berrak, however, he thought that it was already a good chance to ask her some questions.

And thus, he came out of his tent and followed her.

Unexpectedly, however...

"Sir Berrak, do you need something from me?"

Pearl asked, without even turning her head behind her.

This situation made Berrak surprised and embarrassed. It seemed that the most normal person in Mark's group was not some girl, either.

Berrak stood a few meters behind, not saying anything. That was when Pearl finally turned her head.

"Do Sir Berrak have questions for me too?"

She asked.

"Are you not afraid that I'm planning to do something bad?"

Berrak could not help but ask back as he saw her calm demeanor.

"My ability is to detect vibrations in the surroundings," Pearl replied. "Your heartbeat tells me that you are not thinking about something like that. And even if you would, Boss will stop you before you can do anything."

That reply made Berrak sigh. This group definitely bore a lot of trust in their Leader. They were not only following him for benefit. They were putting their lives in his hands.

Berrak was already caught. Scratching his head, he took a seat on another rock several steps away.

Without waiting for anything, Berrak asked his first question.

"I'm curious. Everyone is having fun, and that boy, Edzel, seemed to like you a lot. Yet, you don't seem to be too happy."

Pearl glanced at Berrak before turning her eyes back at the waves on the ocean.

"It's not like I'm not happy. I just don't deserve to be."

Those words made Berrak confused. At the same time, his heartbeat changed. Before he could ask his question, Pearl already started to answer.

"I did some stupid things in the past. I chose luxury over Edzel's love. I left him in front of many people." Pearl unconsciously touched the scar on her face. "Then, I paid a heavy price for it."

"Yet, even his life started to become better, he returned to me, wanting me to return to his side. I hurt Edzel's feelings before, dumped him away like trash. I became ugly and became the trash myself. And yet, he did not change his feelings. I just feel like I don't deserve all the happiness around me currently."

It was not hard for Berrak to understand what happened. He witnessed such happenings while traveling around the world. It was women choosing luxury over pure love. Sometimes, it was discreet. But there were also those thick faced ones that would humiliate their dumped partners for things that the man could not give them.

Berrak now understood while Pearl would make such a face whenever Edzel gave her affection or the group as having fun.

"So, you are saying that you would not mind if that boy hurt you because of what you did in the past?"

Berrak asked.

Pearl did not reply, but her answer was obvious.

"Don't be that stupid, you idiot girl," Berrak said, standing up as he decided to return to his tent. "The boy doesn't want to punish you for what you did. In the least, you knew your mistakes and already suffered from them. You're not some thick-faced b*tch that could not accept the stupidity of your actions. If you are really guilty about what you did to him, then the best thing you can do is be happy."

Those words made Pearl look at Berrak. That was when Berrak turned around, leaving Pearl with the last words.

"The more you show those sad eyes, the more you are hurting him. He wants you to be happy. So show him that you are happy. That is the best thing you can do for him to atone for your sins."

Berrak left, reentering his tent.

As the words sunk into her mind, tears fell from Pearl's eyes. She sobbed alone. She was facing her past with remorse, not thinking that she was hurting him more. It was the realization that came late but was not too late to amend.

***

At the side, two shadows watched the scene.

"That went well."

Mark said at Pefile.

"You actually used that guy's curiosity to your advantage, huh."

Pefile grumbled.

"To our advantage." Mark retorted. "That is your daughter-in-law that we are talking about here."

Pefile fell silent. He wanted to retort back, but he could not find any words to argue with his last sentence.

"We can tell her those words ourselves," Mark continued. "But she would not take it seriously unless it came from a stranger."

At that, Pefile could only nod.

If they were the ones that told them the same words, the impact would not be too much. Pearl would subconsciously think that they were doing this for other reasons. On the other hand, Berrak had nothing to benefit from her situation. A total stranger at this point in time. Thus, albeit the words being a bit harsh, the impact was several times stronger.

***

Realizing her faults, Pearl contemplated a bit more before returning to Edzel's side. At this time, her heart was lighter as she found her goal. With those thoughts, she fell asleep.

Mark and Pefile also returned to where they should be, not minding the surrounding eyes that continuously watched the spectacle.

But then, in another one and a half hours of rest, everyone was thrown awake.

Mark, Pefile, and Berrak aside, everyone was a bit groggy being wakened up too suddenly. They all hurried out of their tents, trying to find the cause of the disturbance.

What woke them up? It was the sound of gunfire.

Not only one, not even a dozen. A lot of guns started firing from afar. From what they could tell, the sound came from the Settlement.

At the same time, Mark, Pefile, and Pearl noticed the people observing them started to withdraw. It was obvious that they were called back by whoever they served due to the sudden situation.

"Just what in the world is going on?"

Berrak blurted out. It was still peaceful just several hours ago. But now, it sounded like chaos.

That was when the Summoner froze as Mark told him something unbelievable.

"You don't know what is going on, huh?" Mark asked. "The infected coming for you probably arrived already."

Those words did not sink in Berrak's mind immediately.