Mutagen

<strong>Day 240 - 10:20 AM - Mount Canlaon, Municipality of Codcod, Province of Negros Occidental</strong>

Anger...

Many [Infected] creatures could show such an expression and emotion on their faces. However, it was due to the effects of [Mutagen] that turned them into such vile creatures.

Nonetheless, most [Infected] creatures were incapable of directing their anger towards any specific target.

It was a clear indication that not only the [Infected] Sinogo was intelligent but also gained sentience.

A complete indication that Sinogo had mutated into a mature [King Type Infected].

However, it was strange.

In the previous cases, the [Monarch Types] that Mark encountered were capable of speaking. Well, at least, those in the wild. Janette and Trish, who Mark met early and took into custody, seemed to have slower growth. Snow, who Mark acquired later, was able to utter some words after the [Queen Spider] was removed from her.

The mental growth of [Monarch Type Infected] was faster in the wild, as Mark observed. Yet, despite having sentience, Sinogo was still behaving like an animal.

It was rather strange.

"He is really angry, isn't he?"

The younger [Diwata], Binituin, grumbled, feeling the cold, furious aura from Sinogo's gaze. It was despite the fact that it was Mark and Chimetrice who were on the receiving end of that stare.

Beside Binituin, her older sister, Tinala, was silent. She could also feel the intensity of that stare.

How would it feel to be Mark and Chimetrice, who was on the receiving end of that furious glare?

"What a cold stare."

Mark shrugged. He felt like his surroundings were freezing.

"But staring is all he could do for now," Chimetrice spoke with a serious expression. "We managed to cause such damage to him, and he became warier of us. It is one of the backfires for having high intelligence and sentience for an [Infected]."

"True," Mark nodded. "Well, the arena is already prepared. We can go all out without worrying."

The arena... Mark was talking about the aftermath of the explosion. It was the five-kilometer radius around Sinogo where everything was obliterated.

With nothing left within that area but soil and rubble, Mark and Chimetrice would not have any problems going all out.

One of Mark's worries was the energy residue left after a battle fought using magical energy. Back in Bay City, it caused some trouble when the [Flaming Infected] and the [Miasma King Type] appeared after the battle between Mark and Gar'Vlam.

But what was the difference now? It definitely was not because magical energy was now abundant on Earth. It was also not because they had no choice since they were fighting Sinogo in this battle. Even in the previous attack, Mark did not use [Miasma] to at least reduce the damage from Sinogo's attack.

There was something else different in this particular scenario.

It was the surroundings.

Anything, items, structures, animals, or people, whether living or not, would absorb and emit energy from and to the surroundings. Heat and light were the most common energy types that undergo this process because these energies were everywhere.

It was the same for magical energies. They could be absorbed by things or people.

And this was very likely the reason why in Bay City, large amounts of magical residue were left after the battle. It was because the location was filled with buildings and people, especially within the vicinity of the fight. It accelerated the possible growth of the [Infected] within the surroundings, and the magically mutated [Infected] appeared sooner than expected.

Now, the explosion caused by Sinogo's failed attack cleared the surroundings of almost everything. Within this five-kilometer radius around Sinogo, only the ground could absorb the magical residues and would very less likely cause the [Infected] to mutate.

Thus... There was no need to hold back due to that reason.

Mark tapped the ring on his finger. Mei had been asking him if he was alright, and he immediately replied to assure her.

At this point, Mark was ready to continue the fight.

But then...

"Bro! We're here!"

The familiar voice of Jaeya echoed in Mark's mind. It made Mark freeze as her voice came loudly and out of nowhere. Mark might be mostly emotionless, but it did not mean that he could not feel surprised from time to time.

Even so, Mark sighed. With Jaeya and the rest arriving, they could proceed to the next plan.

Mark began communicating with Jaeya while they slowly moved towards Sinogo.

***

In the middle of the two opposing armies, the situation became far more chaotic than before.

Both sides were accumulating massive casualties rather fast.

"Retreat! RETREAT! Form the lines! Get the injured to the back!"

Of course, the magical army was at a disadvantage. Not to mention that most of the deaths they incur were added to the numbers of the enemies present on the battlefield.

They needed to reform their lines fast, even if it meant they were retreating their line of defense. It was far better than the current situation they were in.

At the rear of the magical army, the current guardian of Mount Canlaon, Alawana, watched the situation with great remorse. She and her people had fought the [Infected] before. Nevertheless, she never expected to face a calamity like this in the hands of the same monstrous creatures.

Unfortunately for Alawana, she used up almost all of her energy in the previous attack she made with the elemental spirits around her. That attack was their trump card, her last resort. Alawana gambled with that attack, yet, she lost the bet.

Right now, the most that Alawana could do was to assist the army from the rear and heal those injured and managed to survive.

The situation of the army aside, Alawana and her people at the rear witnessed the young woman that left through a portal return, bringing four other people and an infant back here. The three women looked a bit confused upon arrival, and they were clearly human. The other young woman and the infant, however... felt strange.

Alawana could not help but stare at the young woman wearing what seemed to be human servant clothing. She was surprised when the young woman began commanding several [Infected] that nearly reached the rear and used them to fight their own allies. The number she controlled was not that many. However, as those [Infected] were following commands from a more intelligent master, their movements were far different and more efficient compared to their brainless counterparts.

But that was not what Alawana was staring at her for...

Rather... It was the strange feeling of subservience. Alawana somehow felt that that young woman was above her.

Alawana... she could not understand what was happening...

While having those thoughts, Alawaya saw the floating vessel take flight. The succubus, Ilia, took the floating vessel. She brought the two female humans that were brought here and the young woman that could open portals with her. The others were left on the ground to either provide support in the rear or fight the approaching [Infected].

***

In the rear of the magical army near the foot of Mount Canlaon, the ones left by the [Mini Cube] performed their duties.

"Sis... This situation is pretty chaotic." Jaeya spoke, carrying Theodore in her arms. "Are we safe here?"

"We should be fine here," Mei replied to Jaeya while making sure that there was no [Infected] that slipped towards them. "The danger here is nothing compared to the danger Gege is currently facing."

"So, big bro is there..." Jaeya looked far to the horizon. "So... That's Sinogo?"

Mei nodded in reply.

Jaeya was feeling a bit uncomfortable as she stared towards the eastern coast. The distance was pretty far, so she could not see Mark and the group that was fighting Sinogo. However, she could see Sinogo even from the base of the mountain. That was how gigantic the golden crocodile was.

At this time, Jaeya suddenly nodded before turning to Mei.

"Big bro said that they are already going to engage. They will try to divert Sinogo's attention away from here, but we should be careful of stray attacks just in case."

"I doubt Gege will let that happen, though."

Mei tilted her head, looking in Sinogo's direction. Jaeya might not be able to see what was happening there, but Mei could.

"Will that really work?"

Jaeya shifted the topic with a wry smile. She was amazed how Mei could place all her trust in Mark, but it was not her place to question it. Instead, she turned her head towards the sky, where the [Mini Cube] continued to rise.

"I don't know either," Mei shrugged. "But it's worth a try. Even if it failed, there's nothing to lose. It will be a big help if it succeded, though."

Jaeya nodded as what Mei said was true. Still, it was amazing how Mark could create sorts of ideas like the reason why he told Spera to call Bella and Donna to this place.

***

In the eastern flatlands near the coast, the staredown between Sinogo and Mark's group continued.

No, rather than a staredown, it was more like Sinogo was waiting for Mark's group to attack first. It was very likely that he wanted to either counterattack or act depending on the movements of his enemies.

Well... as if Mark would let Sinogo read their movements.

With a smile, Mark gave his signal to the group.

Chimetrice immediately went down to the ground.

Tinala and Binituin flew in separate directions.

Lastly, Mark waved his hand, taking something out of his ring... It was a pair of twenty-five-liter black liquid containers.

With a container in both hands, Mark summoned the [Photokinesis Mental Crystal] from the [PsyCrystal]. He then vanished from everyone's sight.

Sinogo sure was confused. Instead of the whole group attacking, the enemies separated. Worse, one of them vanished.

Once Mark vanished, the battle began.

Sinogo's attention was taken by Mark's sudden disappearance. The giant crocodile began looking around while being careful not to completely take away his eyes from the rest of the enemies.

However, Sinogo's current state was more than enough for Chimetrice to take advantage of.

With a flap of his crow wing, the presence of Chimetrice suddenly thinned.

It caused Sinogo to jump back. He already experienced this strategy earlier and suffered greatly. This, however, made Sinogo pay more attention to Chimetrice, giving the two [Diwatas] the chance.

GROOARR!!!

All of a sudden, Sinogo let out a painful roar. The roar sounded garbled and unstable due to him losing most of his snout and his flesh and blood clogging his throat.

And the cause of the sudden pain?

It was Tinala and Binituin.

Normally, the attacks from the two would not cause any damage to Sinogo at all. It was like before, where they only served as the distraction while their eldest sister served as the main attacker. If described straight, Tinala and Binituin were weak.

But Mark gave the two a certain task.

Since Sinogo was warier toward Mark and Chimetrice, it was easier for the two men to grab the giant crocodile's attention. And when they managed to get the attention away from the two [Diwatas]...

They were tasked to attack the wounds on Sinogo's legs, especially the open bleeding wounds.

One of their priorities was to avoid letting Sinogo move around too much. If possible, Mark wanted to immobilize Sinogo. This way, the range of attacks Sinogo could perform would be limited.

Of course, it would not be easy.

Even if Tinala and Binituin attacked the wounds on Sinogo's legs, aside from the pain, they were barely doing any damage.

But that was also enough. While the goal was to immobilize Sinogo, the two [Diwata] also served as another layer of distraction for the giant crocodile.

It was all while Mark did his own task.

<strong>PLOP! SWOOSH!</strong>

All of a sudden, a burst of foul-smelling liquid showered upon Sinogo's body. However, since Sinogo was busy trying to attack Chimetrice and the two [Diwatas], he did not pay the foul-smelling liquid any mind. Besides, the liquid only caused a small part of his body to feel wet and the wet sensation was nothing new to a crocodile creature like him.

But then...

<strong>TING!</strong>

Sounds of metal were heard clashing with Sinogo's scales...

And then...

<strong>BOOM!!!</strong>

<strong>ROOOOARR!!!</strong>

Several explosions occurred on Sinogo's head and back, causing his wounded body severe amounts of pain.

And worse...

The explosions caused the foul-smelling liquid to burst into flames.

Yes... that foul-smelling liquid was around fifty liters of gasoline poured unto Sinogo's head and back.

Mark appeared above Sinogo, playing with the pins of the grenades he threw just now.

And while Sinogo was squirming because of the explosion and the flames burning his body, Mark shot unto Sinogo's back.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

Mark landed with a loud bang. At the same time, the burst of black flames exploded on Sinogo's back. It began to engulf the flames from the gasoline, causing Sinogo's head and back to become covered with nasty black flames.