Mutagen

<strong>Day 240 - 11:15 AM - Barangay Ulay, Municipality of Vallehermoso, Province of Negross Oriental</strong>

The agitation in Fourth's behavior was clear, and it was not surprising.

From Mark's body, the strong presence and power of someone Fourth hated were being released.

Mark's absorption of the new crystal and the power inside it reached past the middle mark. And now, his body was about to undergo the final changes. This caused the energy inside his body to start circulating and transforming body.

And Fourth definitely recognized this flow of energy. There was no way she would forget the presence of the troublesome and hateful Demon Deity that she had failed to eliminate since immemorial.

The Earth Demon, Terrae. This troublesome entity escaped Fourth's judgment and hid from the [Eyes] for millenniums.

Fortunately, the troublesome entity was killed by Mark during their fight with the Tamawos. It was such a welcomed coincidence, especially now that two of Earth's dimensions had already fused.

Still, Fourth never expected that Mark actually acquired that troublesome Earth Demon's power.

Fourth did not know whether having such power would be a good or bad thing for Mark. However, if it worked out... If he could control this power...

Terrae's unique power might be one of the best things that Mark could acquire.

Everyone surrounding Mark started to feel the strange energy Mark was emitting. It included the two sisters, who were not really that accustomed to feeling magical energy, yet, they could feel the energy around Mark. That was how strong and strange it was.

<strong>PUFF!</strong>

But to everyone's surprise...

Mark suddenly vomited blood.

"Gege!"

"Papa!"

Mei and the girls approached Mark as quickly as they could. This scene was completely unnatural as this would be the first time they had seen Mark vomit blood after becoming a [Mutator].

"Master..."

Aephelia was also severely worried, thinking that swallowing that crystal might have been a bad action. She did wish that Mark would listen to the crystals, but she never thought swallowing it would be the answer.

To the side, Nineteenth silently watched Mark. The [Eye of Interest] sure was quite interested in the changes that Mark was currently experiencing.

The other members of Mark's group were showing worry. Silim and Magwayen watched at the side without making any noises.

As for the three [Diwatas] of Mount Canlaon, they watched Mark with wariness. Well, rather than just Mark, it was not wrong to say that they were wary of everyone present. They did receive help, but it did not mean that they would completely trust these strangers. The three were rather surprised to see Magwayen and Silim, however.

"Hey... You still good?"

Fourth asked, trying to take a peek at Mark's face from the side.

"Do you really have to ask that?"

Mark responded, annoyed, as he wiped the blood from his lips.

It was clear that Mark was not okay. The pain just suddenly spiked, twice or thrice as painful as before. Although he should take advantage of his [Regeneration] to hasten the changes in his body, he already chose to stop. Additional pain in his current state would likely cause more harm as he was in a state where he could faint if he had a lapse in his concentration.

The sudden spike in the pain he felt in his body was also the reason Mark lost control of his blood and vomited a mouthful of it. That sign was more than enough to show how much pain he was in, considering that he did not even bleed after getting swatted by Sinogo and breaking most of his muscles and bones earlier.

Enduring the pain in his body, Mark asked the two [Eyes] while pointing at the sky.

"Say... That would go and smite me again, won't it? I rather not have that kind of treatment right now."

"Unfortunately, what you wanted is not possible," Nineteenth replied. "A [Tribulation] is a fair trial for those trying to surpass things defying existence itself. And defying existence is what you are good at."

"Tsk."

Mark clicked his tongue as he gazed at the sky.

Once Mark fully integrated with the crystal he swallowed, the clouds in the sky would immediately fire a lightning bolt at him. It was a good opportunity for him to get another [Lightning Crystal], but he was not in the best condition to do so.

Not to mention that a large amount of his [Miasma] got erased. He did not know whether he got enough to block and absorb the lightning strike.

Mark might be able to endure the [Tribulation], but he would end up in a state where he would not be able to rejoin the battle immediately.

Closing his eyes, Mark started to feel his body. He could feel his muscles pulsating painfully. It was as if the crystal did not only give him another magical ability but was actually changing his body to a genetic level. Considering that he already had the ability to mutate and adapt to catalysts entering his body, the process was proceeding rather smoothly despite the pain.

If Mark did not have this [Mutator Ability], the very same ability that saved him from being consumed and killed by the Deity of Bloodshed's [Miasma], that sudden spike in pain should have rendered Mark unconscious.

Mark opened his eyes, sensing that the process was nearly done. He struggled to get up as the sky started to rumble.

"Gege, are you leaving already?"

Mei asked Mark while helping him stand up.

"Yeah. It's almost over," Mark replied. "Besides, I can't face that with all of you around me."

"You're worried about the [Tribulation] just now," Nineteenth chimed in. "Did you already resolve yourself to face it?"

At Nineteenth's question, Mark smirked despite his suffering.

"I'm not really keen on facing that in my current condition."

Then Mark stared at Sinogo's figure in the distance.

"I'm going to do something I'll call a pro-Xianxia move."

These words caused everyone around Mark to look at him with confusion.

***

<strong>Day 240 - 11:20 AM - Tañon Strait, Region VII, Central Visayas</strong>

The battle above the waters of Tañon Strait continued and became more and more earthshaking.

Lightning bolts rained from the sky and shot from Sinogo's hands.

Blades of wind and small tornadoes were conjured with the movements of Amihan's dance.

And with Chimetrice joining the fray once more, his evil aura soared as he used different attacks to try and take down the [Infected Giant].

The three Godly beings were locked in such a battle.

Amihan was almost hit several times, and a single attack could damage her severely.

Chimetrice was the same, but he was already hit by a few lightning bolts. But he could rely on the sturdiness of his body. It was something far surpassed even some of the Gods that existed in the past.

Sinogo, on the other hand, had no choice but to face the barrage of attacks coming his way. He could evade most of it using his speed, but Sinogo's gigantic body, despite its size being smaller than before, was still easier to hit than Amihan's small stature.

And since the air was everywhere, Sinogo could not escape Amihan's attacks entirely. His protective aura had been chipped away and was penetrated several times already, leaving wounds on his body.

If this continued, while it would take some time, Amihan could win this fight. That was, of course, if Sinogo did not manage to hit Amihan even just once. Just one hit and this situation could turn around. And it was Chimetrice's duty to stop that from happening as much as possible.

While the three were locked in their battle, they did not notice someone sneaking below them.

Using the [Photokinesis Mental Crystal], Mark hit his body with [Optical Camouflage]. He then flew unstably just a few inches above the violent waves of the waters of Tañon Strait.

In the sky right above Mark's position, the clouds brewing the [Tribulation] followed. These strange clouds would have been noticeable, but the dark clouds caused by the battle completely concealed it, not to mention the rumbling sounds it exuded sounded no different from the thunder caused by Sinogo's lightning attacks.

Mark watched the battle above him while unstably maintaining his flight. He noticed that compared to most magical attacks he had seen from the [Sylphs] before, Amihan was using quite a variety. And this was not because Amihan gained a fraction of the power of the Tagalog Goddess of the Wind. It was because Mark taught Amihan many things regarding wind and even its composition.

And to say, Amihan also watched some Animes with Mark, where some characters used wind attacks, which greatly influenced how she battled with her abilities in the present.

After all, the magical attacks of creatures in this country were bland and undeveloped. For [Sylphs], it was always wind spirals and wind blows and nothing else.

It was nice to see that Amihan was already deviating from the stagnant path of her race.

"Urg..."

Mark groaned. The final stages had arrived.

As sneakily as possible, Mark positioned himself below. And using the [Wind Manipulation Mental Crystal], Mark sent his voice to Amihan and Chimetrice, who were surprised.

Even so, the two followed his instructions.

It was to try and constrict Sinogo to one place in a few seconds or so. Then get away from the giant.

The two were confused as to why Mark gave such instructions, but they trusted him.

With the movements of her hand, Amihan gathered the wind in the surroundings. And as she crossed her arms and clenched her fists, the winds around Sinogo blew strong, creating a wall of wind blades, encasing the giant inside.

Sinogo felt the danger and tried to break the cage. However, Chimetrice, with his own abilities, helped strengthen it. After all, Chimetrice also had the ability to control and manipulate winds, although not to the extent that Amihan could.

And if it was not enough, Chimetrice hid his presence. Then, every time that Sinogo managed to tear a part of the wind cage, Sinogo would appear and attack the giant back inside.

Sinogo was trapped, though the giant was confused as to why the blades of wind did not seem to attack him.

And below, Mark gave the final signal to Amihan and Chimetrice, forcing the chimera to finally fly away from the wind cage.

Then...

<strong>THHOOOOM!!!</strong>

A pillar of lightning shot down from the sky. And to everyone's surprise, Sinogo was directly in its trajectory.

The instant that the pillar of lightning touched the wind cage, it was broken instantly. Sinogo felt the threat and tried to escape.

However, out of nowhere... Something grabbed unto the base of Sinogo's wings. It halted his attempt to escape.

It was Mark who charged toward Sinogo at the last moment and removed his [Optical Camouflage].

And the two were instantly swallowed by that giant pillar of lightning from the sky.

Everyone watched in awe at that pillar of lightning. It was akin to a sword that shot from the heavens to smite those below it.

This was not the first time for Chimetrice and Ilia to lay witness to such a terrifying scene. The two were present when Mark received the previous trial of the heavens when he reached the unprecedented level as an [Empath].

But even at that time, the pillar of lightning was not this threateningly strong.

And if one did not know, they would feel confused at the strength of this [Tribulation]. But Mark and the [Eyes] knew the reason.

A [Tribulation] should only be faced by the person receiving the trial of the heavens. If someone tried to interfere, it would grow stronger and try to eliminate those interlopers.

In this case, Mark forcefully dragged Sinogo into the position of the interloper, enhancing the strength of the [Tribulation] and letting it try to destroy Sinogo.

Everyone lost sight of Mark and Sinogo for a second or two. It was just how bright that pillar of lightning was.

And then...

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

A strong explosion occurred, covering the large area with smoke, vapor, and residue of magical energy.

As the pillar of lightning vanished, a figure emerged from that explosion.

To everyone's dismay and worry, the giant figure of Sinogo appeared. His protective aura was waning, and his whole body was covered in wounds and burns. One of his six wings was also torn off, while the remaining ones were torn and burnt. It must be the gravest injury he received since he gained his current form.

Amihan and Chimetrice immediately moved. However, it was not to attack Sinogo but to find Mark amidst that explosion.

But before the two could do so...

CRACKLE!

Loud crackling sounds were heard, and sparks of electricity began shooting out of the remaining residue of the explosion.

And there...

They heard...

"GRRR!!!"

<strong>BAM!</strong>

Sinogo was suddenly blown away as another giant figure emerged from the smoke.

It was a four to five-meter-tall figure, clad in black metallic armor and adorned with six dragon-like wings.

The giant figure stared at Sinogo as electricity crackled all over his body.