Mutagen

<strong>Day 248 - 8:15 AM - Margaha Valley, Mount Canlaon, Municipality of Murcia, Negros Occidental</strong>

A week finally passed. The traces left by the battle against Sinogo dissipated even further.

The sky covered in darkness from that day had finally cleared up. Aside from specific areas where the most powerful attacks hit, most of the residual energy left by the battle had dissipated.

And most importantly, the stream of incoming [Infected], although far from stopping, had lessened to a degree where it was no longer deemed an immediate threat. In the first few days, having a thousand [Infected] arriving in the area was already low. It was reduced to a few hundred on the fifth day. And now, the number was significantly lower.

Of course, the lessened number would never demean the threat the [Infected] could bring. The [Infected] were always changing and unpredictable. Even a single weak-looking [Infected] could cause a person's death or even destroy an entire settlement.

Never underestimate the [Infected] no matter what number they had.

Well, even a large horde of [Infected] would not pose a threat if one was careful and alert enough. But there was no doubt that a smaller number was much less threatening and manageable.

With things around Mount Canlaon stabilizing, there was no need for Mark and his group to extend their already prolonged stay.

And this morning, Mark's group gathered in the valley with only four people to see them off.

Aside from Mark's group, only the [Diwatas] were allowed within the valley. There were only three on this mountain. Alawana, Tinala, and Binituin. This time, there were four. It was because, for some reason, Silim, the [Diwata] of Mount Madia-as, was informed of the departure of Mark's group.

"Just how did she know that we are leaving today?"

Mark asked himself while watching Silim and Magwayen bid each other farewell.

The question was reasonable. There were no signs that Silim showed any kind of long-distance communication magic or anything similar.

"Maybe she had clairvoyant abilities?" Spera answered the question with her own speculation. "You know, when we arrived outside their realm, she already had her army prepared to intercept us. She also appeared here a week ago during the fight."

Spera had a point. The actions Silim showed were too fast to be a response to the events. It was as if she was informed beforehand in one way or another.

It would not be strange if Silim had such abilities, though. Mark also had his [Future Sight], although mostly uncontrollable. It would be nice if he could control it, and it was fortunate that it was not triggered for a while now. After all, each time it was triggered, making him see the future, it was always a bad event that would happen.

If that was the case, Mark would rather not want to trigger it.

"Gege, everything is ready."

Mei approached Mark after preparing everything for departure.

There was nothing much to actually prepare. Since it was already planned since the start, most of the things they acquired this time were already sent back to the base through Spera's portal. The other day, Mark also went back to the base to prepare the coffin to store Sinogo and put his corpse far back inside the subspace of the Night Everred Pure Spirit Tree.

Since Mark and the others had been back and forth through Spera's portal, it was not wrong to say that they had already departed from this place several times. However, what was different this time?

Mark's initial group in this journey, along with Bella and Donna, would not leave through the portal this time. They planned to use the [Mini Cube] to travel to a few places before returning home.

It was Mark's intention from the start. He wanted to check back on the island of Catanduanes to see if his family was alright one last time. After their preparations, Mark would need to go to other countries to search for the [Inheritors]. There was no way that Mark would be able to check on the island of Catanduanes for a long time. While Spera's portal might help with this, Mark was not really keen on seeing them between short intervals. Once in a while should be enough, as long as he was not busy with something else.

Aephelia already had returned back to base. She was rather reluctant and wanted to accompany her current Master on his journeys. However, her services were far more needed back home. She returned with three [Infected Spiders] brought under her control. These spiders were children of the gigantic mother spider the other day. Aephelia initially tried to capture the mother spider. The metallic silk these spiders shot out seemed useful, especially since Aephelia had been studying sewing for a while now.

However, the mother spider had no ability to shoot metallic silk. Instead, her belly was filled with hundreds of gigantic eggs instead of glands to secrete webs. On the other hand, the offspring spiders could, and that was why Aephelia took the offspring spiders instead of the mother. After all, the number of [Infected] she could control was still limited despite the increased number.

With the three [Infected Spiders] Aephelia brought back, there would be more things they could create with the metallic silk they secrete. That would be for another time, however.

Jaeya and the baby, Theodore, also returned with Aephelia. There was nothing much for her to do here anymore, and even if Theodore was not a normal baby, it would still be tedious for him to join the travels.

As for Bella and Donna, the sisters asked Mark to join the group in their travels. It was not wrong to say that it could be their last journey. Once they returned to their new home, while not as suffocating as staying in that old village, the places they could go were still limited. Thus, the two took this opportunity. Besides, their abilities could be of help to the group in one way or another, considering that they even managed to help stop Sinogo's movements in his giant crocodile form.

Mark did not hesitate to allow the sisters to accompany them. In fact, he expected it. These sisters left the safe confines of Mount Madia-as, seeking freedom. It was not bad to give them what they wanted every now and then, considering the possible future contributions of the two to the base because of their unique [Mutator Abilities].

At this time, Magwayen floated towards Mark and the rest. Silim and the other three [Diwatas] followed behind the Goddess.

"Done with the farewells?"

Mark asked Magwayen.

The four [Diwatas] could only look at Mark with a sigh. The four highly respected the Visayan Goddess of the Underworld, especially Silim. However, not once did they see Mark or even Mei and their daughters show Magwayen any shred of reverence. It was better for Mei and the little girls since they did not really talk much to the Goddess, but Mark...

Mark was the one to communicate with Magwayen the most, aside from Ilia. But he always spoke like he was just talking with your annoyingly mischievous neighborhood auntie.

Silim could not complain about it, however. Magwayen never minded Mark's conduct in the first place. Furthermore, the Goddess seemed to like the fact that Mark treated her as an equal rather than a superior being. Not all Gods enjoyed being revered. After all, one could only have a truthfully enjoyable conversation with someone that would treat them as an equal.

Not to mention that in Magwayen's world, she was the only remaining Supreme God. Of course, not that anyone on Earth would know of this.

"It is not much of a farewell, to begin with," Magwayen answered Mark's question. "Silim and I had never seen each other for several thousand years. A few weeks or even years were nothing in comparison. Since you have that little lady to open portals, going back here is as easy as a flick of a finger."

Then, Magwayen turned to the [Diwatas].

"I will leave for now. Guard the sacred mountains well."

"Yes, Goddess."

The four [Diwatas] lowered their heads in respect as Magwayen's turned around and faced Mark.

"Just call for me if needed."

Magwayen's avatar then returned to the [Mark of the King] that Mark held.

The avatar Magwayen had through the artifact was ethereal and ghost-like. Thus, letting her inside the [Mini Cube] while floating would be inconvenient in many ways. If she did, it would not be a surprising sight if Magwayen's avatar ended up getting pushed through the wall since the floating vessel was on the move and she was not.

Furthermore, since the avatar was made of pure magical energy, her passing through the vessel's walls could affect the magical circuits of the [Mini Cube], causing it to malfunction. Thus, Magwayen could only disable her avatar while Mark and the others rode on the [Mini Cube].

Facing Mark, the three [Diwatas] of Mount Canlaon lowered their heads. Well... Tinala was reluctant to do so but could only follow her older and younger sisters.

"Once again, thank you for your aid in the crisis we faced," Alawana said to Mark. "Although you already explained that killing Sinogo was your goal since the start, we still owe you the favor for protecting our Sacred Mountain."

"Nah, it's fine. I already said it many times before," Mark shrugged. "Geez, forget it. I know you're too stubborn to just leave it be."

Having people owe Mark favors might be a good thing. However, there were times when it was just a pain in the arse. One of those times was happening right now.

Alawana was too sincere that one would feel bad making her owe something. But as Mark had said, this [Diwata] was too stubborn to just let it go.

Mark would not mind if Tinala owed him something, though. This [Diwata] was kind of annoying that he wanted to give her a smack or two.

But looking at it, the existence of these three sisters kept the balance of this mountain. The eldest was sincere and responsible. The second was untrusting and cautious. While the youngest was kind and friendly. It would still work even with one missing, but it was definitely better with three of them working together to protect this place.

"Alright, we're leaving."

Mark said, signaling everyone to board the [Mini Cube].

The four [Diwatas] watched as the [Mini Cube] rose to the sky. Then, a portal opened, in which the floating vessel entered.

***

The [Mini Cube] appeared on the east side of Mount Canlaon, bypassing the boundary of the Secret Realm and the real mountain.

Mark stood at the platform right outside the door of the [Mini Cube]. From here, he could see the eastern face of the mountain. He could also see the remains of the battle. The empty wasteland from a few kilometers from the base of the mountain to the eastern coast.

Who would think that a battle between Godly beings occurred here? No one would believe it aside from the witnesses present at that time.

In any case, that battle had already ended. Sinogo was dead. The immediate destruction of this country, and possibly the whole world, was averted. It was all due to the efforts of Mark and his crew.

It was a dangerous endeavor they managed to overcome.

Mark fearlessly sat on the platform, with his feet dangling mid-air.

That battle... They were just lucky to emerge victorious. They could have died if not for the [Infected Sinogo's] innate arrogance as a [King Type]. That arrogance bid Mark's group the time they needed to turn the tables around.

If Sinogo did not let his guard down and just tried to kill them straight off the bat, they would have no way of retaliating.

"We are just lucky..."

Mark said with bitter eyes as he looked at the barren wasteland.

"Gege, isn't it cold there?"

Mei called out, peeking through the door.

"Not really," Mark turned his head to Mei over his shoulder and replied. "Want to sit down beside me?"

Mei looked at Mark, tempted to accept his invitation. However, Mei still shook her head.

"The girls wanted to play games on their phones together. They want us to join them."

Mei said the reason she was looking for Mark.

"This early?" Mark shrugged. "Oh well, not like someone like me can say anything. Let's go."

Yes, someone like Mark, who would play for about twenty hours in his free days, would not be able to say anything about the girls wanting to play video games this early in the morning.