Mutagen

<strong>Day 239-1 - 11:18 PM - Secret Realm, Mount Madia-as, Panay Mountain Range, Province of Aklan, Island of Panay</strong>

Near midnight, a hole in the fabric of space opened in the sky above the sleeping [Pure Spirit Tree].

Of course, it was a portal.

In the first two times, this scene would cause surprise. At the third time, the sudden appearance of the already familiar portal did not cause much commotion compared to before.

Those nearby watched the hole in the sky as a familiar gigantic cube-shaped vessel flew through it into the Secret Realm.

The floating vessel landed near the sleeping [Pure Spirit Tree]. Before, no one would be able to approach the tree without permission. However, no one would question the actions of the owners of the vessel. Or rather, they were afraid to offend them.

Who would want to offend a group led by a person who defeated a Deity? Only a fool would do something as stupid as that.

Mark led his group as they went out of the floating vessel. They could not help but look around. After all, they left the Mountain Base early in the morning after breakfast. Yet, by the looks of it, it was barely midnight here. It was most likely the same day they left.

This kind of journey would surely make anyone's sense of time awfully twisted.

In any case, it seemed that the flow of time in this realm had already stabilized. Silim had very likely fixed the damaged barrier of this realm.

And speak of the devil.

"You all have returned."

Silim's voice entered their ears. The black-dressed [Diwata] just appeared without warning like a ghost.

Unexpectedly, the Ancient Visayan Goddess of the Underworld, Magwayen, was nowhere in sight.

Noticing that Mark and the rest seemed to be looking for someone, Silim spoke.

"Mother is a Goddess. Although her duties had lessened because of her world's stagnation, she still had to perform those duties from time to time."

And there, Silim approached Mark, handing the artifact of the [Tamawos], the [Mark of the King].

"Mother might be occupied for a few days. We had already bid our farewells in advance. We knew that your time was tight for you and your group and would not try to delay your plans any longer."

Mark accepted the artifact. He appreciated the consideration of the two. They were already delayed too much and could not spend more time dilly-dallying.

Well, Mark was also at fault for the delay. After all, he spent too much time inside the [Trial of Regrets]. Still, it would have been nice if Magwayen gave out a warning before the trial.

"Now that I got it back, we can leave immediately. We only came back to get this. Also, to check on the situation here. Look's like the barrier is stabilized already."

Mark said, looking at the surroundings.

"I managed to fix the barrier in the shortest time possible because of Mother's help," Silim said, looking in the direction where the barrier was damaged before. "Although the damage throughout the mountain and the mental state of my people will still need more time to recover."

"Well, that's not something you can rush."

Mark said, understanding the difficulties that the denizens of Mount Madia-as would face from now on in order to bring their lives back to normal. After all, even humans suffer this kind of struggle. Despite humans having more adaptability compared to other creatures, they needed a long time to recover from disasters. That was if they managed to not break down mentally, which was something many people were prone to.

"Then-"

Mark was about to bid Silim his farewell. But he was interrupted.

"They're at it again."

Spera said with a sigh, hearing the familiar voices shouting due to another argument within the old village nearby.

Everyone stared in the direction of the old village. It could be seen clearly from their current location. But somehow, the argument sounded a bit different. The last time, it sounded like a heated fight. Now, why did it sound like someone was begging for something?

"A few members of that group of humans decided to leave," Silim spoke. "What we are hearing now could be some of their members trying to convince them to stay."

Mark glanced at Silim. This development was something he already had expected with that group.

"Those that wanted to leave asked us to inform them if morning came in the mortal realm, so they could leave safely," Silim added. "Although I don't believe that a group of two women and three children would last long outside."

Mark and the rest could not help but frown a bit. Silim was right. A group with that kind of composition would end up as food for the [Infected] in no time.

There was no surprise that the two sisters were the ones that decided to leave. However, even Mark would not expect that the ones to follow the two were not the adults but three children instead.

Just how incompetent and untrustworthy were the other adults in their group?

It would not be a surprise if a child chose the safest option in the state the world was currently in. Of course, the children's view of the people around them would also influence their choice. In this case, those three children found that venturing outside with those sisters, which was far more dangerous, was way better than staying here with those adults.

Then... since they were leaving anyway...

"You want me to recruit them?"

Ilia asked, sensing Mark's stare.

So far, it was only Ilia who interacted with Bella and Donna. She was the most suited for recruiting the two.

"Well, why not."

Mark replied.

"I also agree on recruiting them," Spera chimed in. "Those two are [Mutators], right? They don't seem to have high combat ability, but those powder they could release seemed hella useful. They knocked out the rude guy without resistance."

"That's what I am thinking." Mark nodded. "They only have three [Mutators] in their group, and the guy could be a combat type. Yet, he can't retaliate against the two. If they only had to rely on that guy, they couldn't have survived until now. The core of their group is definitely those two sisters."

"They are the core to their survival, but the others are not willing to follow them."

Mei murmured.

"Well, who knows what they are thinking?" Mark shrugged. "It's also possible that the guy last time already grasped the personality of the other members of their group."

"With how that guy was yelling last time as if we owe them food, that's really possible."

Spera also shrugged, remembering that night they stayed within that village. It sure was a disturbing experience.

Silim stared at the group in front of her as they planned to recruit the leaving group of young humans. They sure were a group of weird-minded people.

A group composed of a family of unique Demons, a [Sylph], two humans, and two ancient beings.

They sure were a weird bunch.

***

Bella and Donna packed up the meager amount of things they had. They could not even afford a proper bag and only had some stitched-up leather to store the food they saved.

Despite how much some of their group asked them to stay, the two were already keen on leaving. There was nothing that could change their mind any longer.

The two sisters looked at the three kids going to follow them. They did not want to drag these children into their dangerous future. However, these three kids did not want to leave their side. In the first place, these three children were already with the two since this apocalypse started. They saved the children, and these children mentally supported them.

It was the reason that even though it would be dangerous, Bella and Donna reluctantly agreed to let these three come with them. They did not want to separate from these children either. In any case, they could not stay here anymore either, especially when that piece of trash was with the group. Since the children were coming, they just have to keep them safe, even if it cost their lives.

"There's really no changing the minds of you two, aren't you?"

A rather chubby woman said as the two sisters stepped out of their old shack.

"Ilma, you're not really coming with us?"

Bella asked. Ilma was the last person closest to them in this group.

"I'm sorry." Ilma shook her head. "I'm already tired of running away. Although there seemed to be some accidents, we can live with less fear from those zombies in this place. As you see, I'm not really fit for running. I can't drag you two down any further."

Ilma emphasized her oversized body in a joking manner.

"But I really wished you two just stay here with us. I don't mind separating from those guys." Ilma added. "They're begging you two to stay, but who begs while shouting? They are stupid."

"You will be alone here," Donna said. "Those guys are not trustworthy."

"I don't mind." Ilma shrugged. "I've always been alone until I met you two. Without the help of you two, I might have already been food for those zombies long ago, alone."

It was a sad parting. But as Ilma said, she already hit her limit. She could not live longer, running away without stopping.

"Let me see you all, girls and kids, out," Ilma said, urging the sisters and children to leave already. "Seriously, those bastards. They won't even see you set off. Those ungrateful bastards."

That was true. Despite everything they did, the other members of their group would not even spend a bit of their time to send off the sisters and see them one last time.

"Don't bother them." Donna snarkily replied. "I rather not see them either."

Bella and Donna walked led the children out of the old village, with Ilma following behind their group.

With a few hugs and waves, they bid farewell to Ilma.

Outside the village, a female [Bentohangin] was already waiting to escort the sisters' group out of this magical realm.

But before they could even turn to leave...

"Do you girls have a minute?"

A foreign-sounding voice entered their ears.

None of them noticed her before she spoke. The familiar alluring woman just appeared there without warning.

<strong>"WAH!"</strong>

The children exclaimed in surprise.

Both Bella and Donna also became alert until they realized who the woman was.

"Please, don't jump on us like that." The calmer Bella complained. "It's pretty dark to see the surroundings."

"Oh, sorry," Ilia said as she flicked her right hand, conjuring a small ball of light over her shoulder. "Here, it's not dark anymore."

Surely, that action surprised the sisters and the children. Even Ilma, who was standing not far away from the gate of the village, saw the magical scene in astonishment.

"What do you want from us?"

Donna asked, stepping forward to shield the others.

Ilia, showing her magical abilities, caused a negative effect instead. In the first place, it was already suspicious that she would approach them without warning.

"You don't have to be that cautious. I don't intend to do harm or anything. If I do want to harm you..."

Ilia's voice paused as her figure blurred.

"You girls won't even have time to react."

Bella and Donna froze with cold sweat. The alluring woman vanished in front of them, and they could hear her voice behind them.

The sisters immediately turned behind them, but no one was there.

"Pfft. Where are you two looking?"

Ilia's voice entered their ears once more. It made Bella and Donna turn around once again, only to see that Ilia was standing at the same place where she was before.

"Are you playing with us?"

Donna, who had a shorter fuse compared to her older sister was not finding the situation funny.

"Alright, alright. Don't be angry." Ilia said with a shrug. "I only did that to prove that I don't mean any harm."

"You girls and those children are leaving this place, right?" Ilia continued. "Are you sure you will survive outside? The world had changed for the worse since the earthquake happened. You people probably won't last a day once you stepped outside. Well, you can probably last a few days, but even if you all managed to survive attacks, you'll probably die of exhaustion or starvation."

Bella and Donna looked confused. After all, they did not know anything that happened outside after the earthquake that brought them here.

"Is the world outside that dangerous?"

Bella stepped forward, taking Ilia's words seriously.

"I wish I am joking." Ilia shrugged. "But I'm not."

"Even if that is the case... we have no plans of staying here any longer."

Donna said, firm to her resolution.

"I'm not convincing you two to stay here." Ilia voiced out. "I'm here to invite you two and these children to join us."

"Join you... Your group?"

Donna asked, remembering Ilia's group that night.

"Yes." Ilia nodded. "Well, I'm not telling you to decide right away. Why not follow me and decide after hearing the details?"

Ilia then turned around, leaving Bella and Donna to stare at each other.