Mutagen

<strong>Day 253 - 9:02 AM - Mountainous Crater, Municipality of Viga, Province of Catanduanes</strong>

Mark was busy fighting the strongest [Mechid], and the forces were holding the line in the northwest mountains.

On the other hand, Chimetrice was dealing with the ground forces of the [Mechids] inside the crater.

Lasers rained inside the corrupted forest, and the remaining forces of the [Mechids] within the mountainous crater were now gathered in one area, fighting Chimetrice in an all-out assault.

There should be at least a hundred [Mechids] fighting Chimetrice, with a third of it composed of the original ones that fell on Earth from space. It was a lineup that could destroy the settlements on this island and conquer it. However, they were all trapped inside this giant crater due to their space-adapted bodies being incapable of traversing the steep mountains surrounding it.

Or, maybe rather than wanting to go out, these [Mechids] were protecting something inside the crater instead.

The possibility that these [Mechids] were protecting something was rather high after seeing their actions when Chimetrice got closer to the center of the crater.

Chimetrice was only supposed to take care of the reinforcement [Mechids] while Mark fought the [Fighter Mechid] in the sky. However, as Chimetrice fought the [Mechids] on the ground, it could not be helped that the battle of this scale reached different areas of the crater.

That task was not difficult for Chimetrice, considering he could just brush off the lasers without taking any damage.

Using his [Wind Blades] from his left hand, Chimetrice took down the weaker [Mechids] that mimicked creatures from Earth. Using his other hand, Chimetrice conjured vines that shot towards the stronger [Mechids], lifting them off the ground and crushing them into metal scrap and splatter of black goo.

Chimetrice was a being that could withstand the powers of Gods. These kinds of enemies did not have the strength to even injure him. It was unfortunate that Chimetrice lacked the strength to kill Gods. Nonetheless, against weaker enemies like this, it would be nothing else but a one-sided massacre.

And this caused the [Mechids] within the crater to become seemingly desperate in trying to fend off Chimetrice in this slaughter of their kind.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

Another explosion occurred as Chimetrice pierced a hole in a rather large-sized [Mechid]. That [Mechid] was bombarding him with powerful lasers that could actually singe his hair. As such, he prioritized eliminating these rather powerful [Mechids].

Chimetrice glanced at the sky. He saw Mark struggling with the [Fighter Mechid] that was now clad in a reddish glow. Although the [Giant Mechid] was quite tough for Chimetrice to destroy with his strength due to how its body was structured, he was pretty sure he could handle Mark's current enemy without problems.

However, Chimetrice left that enemy to Mark as the latter wanted. It was not only the reason, however. Although Mark was far from fully recovering, he did not have much time to rest. With how the world changed, more powerful beings would appear whether Mark and his group liked it or not. As such, Mark needed experience that would be the foundation of the strength he needed in the future.

The [Fighter Mechid] might be a dangerous being. Nonetheless, it was nowhere as powerful as Sinogo. As such, it was a perfect opportunity for Mark to gain experience.

Of course, Chimetrice would lend a hand if things go awry for Mark. After all, he was far from his perfect state, and there was a huge leeway for failure.

Even so, Chimetrice knew that [Mechid] would not defeat Mark completely. After all, Mark managed to fight him toe to toe before. It might not have the same outcome now that Chimetrice was mostly recovered, though.

It was now wrong to say that the most powerful being in Mark's group was not Mark and not also Amihan, who now wielded a fraction of a Goddess' power.

The most powerful being in Mark's group was Chimetrice.

***

<strong>SWOOSH!</strong>

The [Fighter Mechid's] figure flickered with a red glow. It had already happened several times before, and another punch was thrown toward Mark's face.

It was not always Mark's face that was being targeted. As the fight went on longer, even the [Fighter Mechid] seemed to be "learning" and began changing the targets of its attack and the way it moved around.

Mark moved his body to the side, evading the incoming punch by a hair's breadth. His eyes could be seen twitching as he endured the searing heat emanating from the [Fighter Mechid's] body.

However, like before, the punch from the [Fighter Mechid] missed its mark. Furthermore,  no sign of panic or urgency could be seen in Mark's expression anymore.

Mark was already getting used to the [Fighter Mechid's] speed. Although contending with speed against something that could move faster than the speed of sound was pretty much impossible, dodging its attacks had gotten easier.

Of course, counterattacking was also another matter. The [Fighter Mechid's] speed was still too fast for Mark to be able to give a proper retaliation for its attacks.

But looking at Mark... It would not be too long.

While getting used to the [Fighter Mechid's] speed, Mark also tried some things. Thus, Mark had managed to learn more about this [Mechid's] capabilities.

This [Mechid] had the same detection capabilities as the [Strange Mechid] that Mark fought the other day. Using [Optical Camouflage] and hiding were useless against it as it seemed to be able to detect him using heat and movements.

Its transformable weapons could attach and detach at will, depending on the situation. After it turned red, it used its laser beams a few times when Mark had forced to create some distance between them using the [Wind Manipulation Mental Crystal] by exploding wind at close range. It meant that creating distance was not that much plausible as it was still capable of range attacks despite primarily using its fists for close combat.

However, ever since turning red, it never used any close-quarters weapons it had before. Not the claw blades, not the whip-blades, and neither the shield. But as Mark noticed, it was not surprising since the transformable weapons were being used to augment its speed further.

Furthermore, although subtle, the transformable weapons were releasing some kind of particle emission whenever the [Fighter Mechid] moved past the sound barrier. It was just too hard to see since Mark could barely make out the [Mechid's] movements with his naked eyes. It might also be the cause why these transformable weapons could fire far stronger lasers despite being smaller than the weapons of most [Mechids] they had seen so far.

The transformable weapons could not fire lasers at short intervals. So far, it only fired once per weapon, and it took another minute or two to fire the very same one.

And one last thing. While it was fast, there was a flaw in its movements. It could only move in a straight line. Yes, it could change its direction midway, but it would never move in a curve. And when it changed direction, it would vaguely appear, showing that it slowed down whenever that happened.

Mark was attacked several more times, with him only dodging the attacks. But as it continued, Mark noticed that there was nothing more to learn about the pattern of its attacks.

Thus, Mark finally decided to move.

<strong>SWOOSH! BOOM!</strong>

The [Fighter Mechid] charged at Mark once more. This time, it was attacking Mark's chest. It was clear it was aiming for Mark's vitals since the start.

However, Mark made sure to keep his attention in the direction it was moving. And the moment the [Fighter Mechid] appeared to his left...

<strong>BOOOM!</strong>

Another explosion of wind forced them apart.

At this moment, one transformable weapon detached from the [Fighter Mechid's] body and fired a strong laser beam. Of course, Mark dodged it, and the [Mechid] charged at Mark again, trying to take advantage that Mark was in the middle of stabilizing his flight after dodging.

However, another explosion of wind flung the two away from each other once more.

While using the previous exchanges as a basis, the [Fighter Mechid] was supposed to fire another beam at this point. However, it did not and charged at Mark once again.

Mark smirked. Looks like the lasers were still in the middle of charging.

Another punch was thrown at Mark, which he evaded by flipping his body. On his right hand, the crystals could already be seen glowing.

<strong>BOOOM!</strong>

Before the [Fighter Mechid] could chain another attack, it was blown away again.

But as the [Fighter Mechid] stabilized itself, it noticed...

Mark disappeared.

The [Mechid's] eyes began glowing brighter, switching to its detection mode. Mark was right. It could use both thermal and movement detection functions.

But then... The [Fighter Mechid] detected some anomaly.

The thermal detector could not detect the heat from Mark's body. Or rather, its detection functions were running at the full process because all it could see was the red. The surroundings of the [Fighter Mechid] were all red due to the fact that its surroundings were at high temperatures.

Since the surroundings were too hot for some unknown reason, it could not detect the heat from Mark's body that was being overlapped by the sudden rise in temperature.

Due to the "malfunction," it quickly switched to the movement detector. It was not detecting actual movement. It was actually scanning for vibrations in the surroundings, especially from the air that could be influenced even by the unseen.

But as it switched to its vibration scanner, it froze in the air.

For some unknown reason, vibrations were being detected everywhere. The air around the [Fighter Mechid] was shaking and blowing violently, making any other vibrations and movements hard to detect by its sensors.

Then...

<strong>CRACKLE!</strong>

A sudden surge of electricity was detected behind the [Fighter Mechid]. It tried to react, but due to its sensors not functioning properly, it was late to respond.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

A streak of black-colored lightning hit the [Fighter Mechid] on its back, sending it flying due to both force and magnetic pulse created by the impact.

The [Fighter Mechid] quickly stabilized itself and faced the direction where the lightning attack came from. But like before, it failed to detect its enemy.

Furthermore, thinner streaks of black lightning could be seen surging around the [Fighter Mechid's] body as the reddish glow of its body dimmed a bit.

On the optical sensors of the [Fighter Mechid], warning signs were blinking. Not only its detectors failed to locate the target, but its energy reserves suddenly experienced a drastic drain after getting hit by that black lightning.

<strong>CRACKLE!</strong>

Once again, a streak of black lightning hit the [Fighter Mechid] from behind, causing it to be blown away, drained of its energy.

By now, warning signs filled the optical sensors of the [Fighter Mechid], reminding it both of unexpected danger and malfunctions on its body as its energy began to disappear at a drastic rate.

The [Figther Mechid] stabilized its body one more time. However, instead of trying to locate its enemy once again, it turned around. Its body glowed brightly once more, and it turned into a blur as it retreated.

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

Another sonic boom occurred as the [Fighter Mechid] retreated at the speed of sound.

But then, just as the sonic boom occurred...

<strong>CRACKLE!</strong>

Another streak of black lightning hit the [Fighter Mechid] from above.

<strong>BAM!</strong>

Finally, Mark's figure appeared, with his veins glowing bright red, delivering a kick on the back of the [Fighter Mechid].

<strong>BOOM!</strong>

A loud boom was heard as the [Fighter Mechid] crashed to the ground. Even the trees and the black goo covering the soil did not manage to break its fall.

However, this attack was not something that would finish that [Mechid] off.

Mark stretched out his right arm towards the location the [Fighter Mechid] crashed. In his right hand, a familiar-looking staff could be seen. Black lightning began conjuring on the tip of the staff.

And as if it was not enough, Mark stretched out his left hand that was actually holding unto the [Butterfly of Knowledge].

Mark's eyes turned a bit empty as his mouth let out the chant.