Mutagen

<strong>Day 237 - 12:00 PM - Sacred Gates, Kahilwayan</strong>

Mark's group spent time gathering as many items as they could take from Kahilwayan. Even Mark's and Mei's [Spatial Rings] were full to the brim, mostly of logs and branches from the [Spirit Trees] they cut down. Even with both the rings full, the group still had bags they carried where the lighter herbs and crystals were stored. And lastly, Chimetrice, who was pulling a makeshift cart, carrying a cage with a few animals inside it.

They barely spent a week and a few days in Kahilwayan. However, on Earth, it was already exactly a month after they entered the abode of the Ancient Visayan Gods.

And today was the next time the passage between Kahilwayan and the Secret Realm in Mount Madia-as could be opened.

Going down from Kahilwayan was not as complicated as going up. The protective barrier of Kahilwayan was only working one way, and they could pass through it from inside. Thus, if one was capable of flight, they could go down from the floating islands, although it required effort due to the actual distance of Kahilwayan to the peak of Mount Madia-s.

Mark's group could do that at any given time. However, they still picked the time when the passage would be opened. After all, the passage would only make them a bit dizzy, and it would take them to the peak of Mount Madia-as almost instantly. It was even more preferable, considering they had heavy backpacks and a cage containing the animals.

Unfortunately, they could not use Spera's [Portal] to leave Kahilwayan. As Magwayen explained before, there was a protective barrier around Kahilwayan. It disabled entry aside from the designated passage. Teleportation from inside Kahilwayan was possible to exit it, but it would not work trying to enter the place. A portal, however, would not work, no matter what, as a portal connects both inside and outside. It was considered a form of entry even if used to exit Kahilwayan. Even so, using the portal going from place to place within Kahilwayan worked fine.

It was unfortunate for Spera, knowing that her abilities were barely of use inside places created with its own rules.

The group walked out of the gigantic gates, which immediately closed on their own after they all exited.

"It still moves on its own?"

Spera could not help but voice out. After all, Magwayen practically drained the [Magical Energy] in the place. Yet, the magical, gigantic gates still worked.

At that question, Magwayen answered.

"Do not treat these gates as a mere structure but as a living being."

That answer sure made the group look back at the gates. They did not expect that it was something alive.

"You can open the passage now, right?"

Mark asked Magwayen. She nodded before floating in front of everyone and facing the cliff in front of the gates.

Magwayen gave the same hymn that they heard from Silim before. It did not take long, and the similar mirage that reflected the scene at the peak of Mount Madia-as instead appeared.

Without further ado, the group entered the mirage.

***

The mirage, of course, transported them instantly to the peak of Mount Madia-as.

But before they could even make out their surroundings, the smell of something burning assaulted their noses.

And instead of a clear noon sky, what they saw was a darkened sky, covered by the rising black smoke.

Immediately, everyone ran towards an area that gave them a clear view of the mountain.

From there, they saw the blazing fire that had already swallowed the north and eastern side of the mountain.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

An explosion of energy ensued above the burning forest mid-way the mountain. Because of the distance, Mark's group could barely make out the silhouettes of two humanoids flying around the smoke-covered area.

This sight made Magwayen clearly disturbed. This mountain was one of the places she cared for the most. However, it was definitely in peril at this moment, and as an illusory avatar, there was nothing that she could do to help.

At this point, Magwayen turned to Mark behind her, who immediately noticed her actions.

There was no need to ask what she wanted. Mark shrugged and turned to his group, who were already waiting for his instructions.

"Spera, open a portal to the [Mini Cube]. Ilia, Chimetrice, go with Spera and get our stuff into the vessel. Then, bring the vessel here. We will need it."

"Okay."

Spera replied.

"No problem."

Ilia also answered while Chimetrice replied with a nod.

"The rest, we'll go down the mountain while assessing the situation. We don't know the full situation yet. We have to be careful."

Mark continued and then turned to Feng Zhiruo.

"You can fight, right?"

That question would have baffled anyone. After all, Feng Zhiruo was a Chinese Cultivator and a Sword Practitioner, and she was not injured or anything either. There was no way that she could not fight, and Mark clearly knew that.

However, Mark's group immediately understood that he was not questioning her in terms of ability but her mental state. Ever since she exited the [Trial of Regrets] and failed, she was already feeling down. No one within the group asked her why as what they encountered during the trial was something private. Not to mention that a person's regret could also be their greatest weakness.

Although Feng Zhiruo was doing her best to show that she was alright, it was not hard to see that she was just pushing herself to do so.

"I'm fine."

Feng Zhiruo replied to Mark. However, she was not looking at him but at the blazing flames swallowing the forest below the mountain. Fortunately, her eyes were firm as she stared at the flames as if something was ignited inside her.

Mark watched her, looking at her eyes. Feng Zhiruo was not looking at the flames in front of her. Instead, she was seemed to be looking at the flames in her memories.

However, compared to her expressions in the past few days, her expression right now was far better.

"Alright, leave the backpacks, and let's move."

Mark said as he began taking off his backpack.

Everyone aside from Spera, Ilia, and Chimetrice put down the things they were carrying and began heading down the mountain. Spera immediately opened a portal towards where they left the [Mini Cube] outside the Secret Realm.

Mark picked up Miracle in his arms and let out Cavall, the canine-feline golem, to let Abbygale and Iola ride on its back. With this, they all could increase their speed without anyone lagging behind.

Running down the mountain was much faster than climbing up. Coupled with the inhuman speed and strength of the people in Mark's group, they scaled down the mountain faster than one would expect.

As they went further down the mountain, the more they realized how dire the situation was.

The flames were spreading fast since a third of the mountain was covered in lush forests. It would not take long, and the flames from the northeastern side of the mountain would encircle the entire. The residents of the mountain would have no other choice but to climb further up. In the end, everyone would get trapped in the higher parts of the mountain without anywhere else to flee.

As Mark's group rushed down the mountain, they could see many magical races fleeing from the flames. Most of them seemed to be [Sylphs] and smaller fairy-like creatures, who were races unfit for battle.

Mark wanted to stop any of them to ask what was going on. However, the sight of Mark's group, which were already known to be [Demons], caused the creatures to flee from them instead.

There was no time to chase those fleeing magical races. Instead, Mark focused on going towards the location where they saw two silhouettes flying in the sky. He was sure that one of those two was actually Silim, the black-dressed [Diwata] and the guardian of his Secret Realm.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

A shockwave enveloped the area, making Mark's group stop to brace themselves. From the aura contained within the shockwave, Mark became even more sure that they were heading towards Silim.

<strong>"FUUUWOOOOH!!!"</strong>

<strong>CRASH!</strong>

Suddenly, a loud air-filled roar entered everyone's ears along with the sounds of trees crashing down.

Because of that roar, the thick smoke from the burning forest was disturbed and blown away slightly. It allowed Mark's group to see what caused that roar and saw a gigantic, four-legged creature. It seemed to be a tortoise due to its shape, but its shell was filled with holes releasing thick gray smoke. The five-meter-tall giant's body was also filled with cracks, but due to the high temperatures of its body, the cracks were glowing like burning magma.

Mark concentrated and expanded his detection range forwards. And there, he managed to conclude what the enemies were.

"[Infected]."

Mark said out loud as he did not detect any sign of consciousness from the gigantic creature in front of them.

By the looks of it, the [Infected] managed to reach Mount Madia-as and found a way to breach the illusory wall of the Secret Realm. It was not something too surprising. Sinogo managed to break and absorb the seal that Kaptan created after turning into an [Infected]. It meant that the other [Infected] had the possibility of doing the same.

Furthermore, the main defense of the Secret Realm of Mount Madia-as was its maze-like forest at the foot of the mountain. However, even that forest would not work if the enemy was a giant tortoise that burned everything around it.

Worst, the residents of the Secret Realm had no way to subdue the fire. The magical races in this place were mostly nature, wind, and fire elementals. Thus, the flames reached an uncontrollable degree in no time without anyone to combat it.

The wind elementals like [Sylphs] might have been able to stop it. However, they lacked the proper knowledge to do so.

<strong>GROAAA!!</strong>

Eerie roars could be heard alongside the sounds of battle.

Mark's group finally reached where the forces of Mount Madia-as were fighting the horde of [Infected] that breached the barrier.

Looking at the horde, Mark's group could not help but feel surprised.

There were at least a thousand [Infected] in front of them. Possibly more. Furthermore, all of them were mutated into something like moving charred creatures that could endure the flames without dying. It was clear that each of them had bodies with extremely high temperatures as their bodies released smoke after every step they took.

"This [Infected] horde mutated using that big guy as their catalyst."

Mark surmised the very possible scenario immediately.

A single [Mutated Infected] caused its entire horde to mutate. It was something with low possibility but not impossible to happen. It was even more likely to occur if the [Mutated Infected's] mutation could affect the entire horde constantly.

Looking at the situation, Magwayen could not help but feel remorse. There was nothing she could do to help at all. As they said, Gods were not omnipotent. They could even feel helpless on some occasions.

Magwayen was in her own world. There was no way she could affect Earth from where she was right now.

Fortunately, Mark intended to help. He was not a person who would forget favors. Although Magwayen was somehow irritating on how she seemed to manipulate and anticipate Mark's actions, she was still the one that guided them here and let them reap benefits.

It was unexpected that the chance to repay the favors came too soon. However, this opportunity was a fairly welcomed one as Mark did not want to owe anyone favors for too long.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

Once more, a shockwave enveloped the area, blowing away the flames and the smoke rising towards the sky.

Silim was definitely in a heated fight with someone or something. It was surprising that something that could contend against Silim, a Deity, appeared.

<strong>BAM!</strong>

Suddenly, Silim's figure shot nearby Mark's group and crashed to the ground, causing dust and dirt to scatter.

Unexpectedly, Silim was the one on the losing side.

"Hoh? What do we have here?"

A voice speaking in Spirit Language entered everyone's ears making them all look at the sky.

There, a handsome man floated with an annoying smirk on his face while he stared at Mark's group with eyes filled with interest and surprise.