Mutagen

<strong>Day  - 253 - 9:10 AM - Mountainous Crater, Municipality of Viga, Province of Catanduanes</strong>

With the two artifacts in both hands, Mark chanted the incomprehensible spell. The meaning of words that did not make sense to those who would hear floated inside his mind one by one.

"Oh, medium of world's judgment, tainted, turned, and corrupted. Vanquish my enemy, devour its origin of life."

The ominous-looking black-colored lighting surged around Mark, flowing toward the ball of lightning that floated in front of the tip of the [Crystal Staff].

However, compared to the lightning strike Mark used during the fight with Sinogo, the pressure and the surge of magical energy were far more contained in this one.

Nonetheless, it did not change the fact that the ball of black lightning that was currently being condensed felt stifling and terrifying. It did not feel destructive, but even the densest person would sense that a single touch of this attack would likely end their lives.

The ball of lightning grew and shrunk very quickly and unstably. It was as if the power within the ball was swelling and being forced to shrink.

Mark's eyes turned back to normal as the name of the attack was spoken on his lips.

"[Life Devouring Sphere]."

Everything happened quickly. The [Fighter Mechid] that crashed below was not given a chance to recover. Before it could even lift its body from the crater it laid inside, the black sphere of lightning, about the size of an adult human's fist, hit its torso.

<strong>CRACKLE!</strong>

A strong surge of black-colored lightning enveloped the [Fighter Mechid's] body and the wide area around it, forming a wide lightning field.

The [Figther Mechid] tried to struggle out of the lightning field created by Mark's magic attack. However, as if it was submerged in tar, it could barely move.

In the sky, Mark stared at the scene that was his doing.

During the time Mark was resting on Mount Canlaon, he had the time to study the artifacts he acquired by coincidence. The [Crystal Staff] was just a regular staff that increased efficiency and reduced energy consumption of magical spells. There was nothing much to explain about it. Well, aside from the fact that it was also sturdy and sharp enough to be used as a spear.

As for the [Butterfly of Knowledge], there were still things he needed to discover. So far, Mark found out that the user should have the correct image, enough knowledge, and talent to properly use it. "Image" was how the user could picture the magic they wanted. "Talent" included the person's affinity to the magic they were trying to cast and also the attribute of their magical energy. And lastly, "Knowledge" represented the user's knowledge about the magic they were trying to manifest.

Without the three in tandem, the magic cast using the [Butterfly of Knowledge] would likely fail or have less efficiency. In the worst case, the magic would become unstable.

And using these aspects, Mark used a new attack using both magical artifacts.

The [Life Devouring Sphere]. It was a sphere of [Miasmic Lightning] that combined the speed of lightning, electricity's properties to magnetize metal, and the [Miasma's] nature to devour and convert.

When the [Life Devouring Sphere] hit the [Fighter Mechid], its body was trapped within a magnetic field that slowly devoured any kind of energy inside it. And as the magnetic field absorbed the energies of everything inside, it grew stronger and spread out further from the origin.

As long as the target, the [Fighter Mechid], still had the energy to spare, the magnetic field would continue to exist, grow stronger, and spread further.

The [Fighter Mechid] struggled to escape from the magnetic bog that it was trapped in. However, the more it tried to escape, the harder it became. The energy within its core was being depleted at a rapid rate, causing malfunctions to occur within its body.

Being drained of energy, the first ones to fall were the transformable bits that attached themselves to the [Fighter Mechid's] body. One after another, they fell to the ground, losing their reddish glow. As for the [Fighter Mechid], its reddish glow was becoming unstable, flickering to red and blue at random intervals.

Mark watched the [Fighter Mechid] struggle. It was surprising that it managed to last longer than he expected. After all, aside from the [Fighter Mechid], everything within the electric field was dead. It included the corrupted trees. Even the black goo on the forest floor had already evaporated.

In fact, the black goo evaporating due to the electric field was something unexpected for Mark. So far, only fire had been proven bane to this black goo that all [Mechids] had within their bodies. Mark already used his black lightning against [Mechid] more than he could remember. However, it never showed this reaction at all.

This reaction between Mark's magical attack and the black goo should be investigated.

<strong>CRACKLE!</strong>

With a loud crackle, the lightning field vanished in an instant after spreading about a hundred meters away from the center. It was as if the lightning field had never existed. All it left was the dead trees, dry land, and the unmoving remains of the [Fighter Mechid].

Mark landed on the death-covered field, looking at the body of the [Fighter Mechid] that was completely intact. The sturdiness of this [Mechid] was amazing on its own. And seeing this, Mark was satisfied with the result. The [Life Devouring Sphere] erased all the black goo within the lightning field. Then, the body of the [Figther Mechid] was also now devoid of any black goo inside it. It would make a great specimen to study.

Stretching his hand to the body of the [Fighter Mechid], a black hole in space appeared and swallowed it. Mark successfully stored the body of the [Fighter Mechid] inside his ring along with its interesting weapons.

"Looks like you dealt with it nicely."

A male voice entered Mark's ear.

"I won't say it's nice. Although it had already healed, my wing still got torn. Are you done with the others?"

Mark replied, looking at Chimetrice, who had just arrived.

"The smaller ones are troublesome due to their number, but it was nothing too hard. That aside, you should pay attention there."

Chimetrice said, pointing toward the direction of the center of the mountainous crater.

Mark frowned. It seemed that there was some trouble.

Flapping his ethereal-looking wings, Mark flew up to the sky with Chimetrice. And looking at the center of the crater, Mark could only sigh while shrugging his shoulders.

While floating meters above the ground, five [Mechids] hovered in a line.

"Another five."

Mark murmured.

Five more [Fighter Mechids]. One was already troublesome and dangerous, not to mention five.

Nonetheless, Mark was not that surprised. What they were dealing with here was clearly a factory that created new [Mechids]. If one existed, there would be no surprise even if a hundred more were to appear.

Mark observed the new [Fighter Mechids]. All of them looked similar to the first one. Furthermore, they were all glowing read, seemingly wanting to start the battle already at their third phase. No, it should be their fourth as the [Fighter Mechids] were actually holding weapons while emitting that reddish glow. The weapons were also different from the first one. One of the five [Fighter Mechids] had a spear, another with a sword and shield, one with a double dagger, one with a bow, and the last with what seemed to be a pair of gauntlets.

"A fourth phase..."

Mark murmured, getting a good hint of what could be expected of those [Fighter Mechids].

The first [Fighter Mechid] had all its transformable bits attached to its body on the third phase, sacrificing attack power for increased speed. Then, these [Fighter Mechids] in the fourth phase should be faster than in the second phase but more deadly than in the third phase.

Considering that these [Mechids] seemed to copy the fighting styles of people the [Mechids] had seen, the spear and the bow might be the fighting style of the warriors under Diwata Iraya. The sword and shield also looked familiar, seemingly similar to the weapons of the [Cursed Armor], Morlkil. Mark was unsure about the double daggers and the gauntlet, however.

Now that Mark remembered, the first [Fighter Mechid] used a pair of claw-blades before, which was also unfamiliar to him.

"I guess I have to go all out?"

Mark voiced out to Chimetrice.

"It's better to do the best you can. Your body isn't like mine."

Chimetrice replied.

That was right. A single vital hit from the first [Fighter Mechid] could likely fatally injure Mark, not to mention the speed that broke the sound barrier. Although it was possible that these new [Fighter Mechid] were slower, it was better not to treat this assumption as fact. After all, the next part of the battle had yet to start.

"They are not attacking, aren't they?"

Mark noticed.

"I also noticed they were on the defensive. I got a glimpse of a structure at the center. They might be trying to protect that."

Chimetrice replied.

Mark nodded. It was good that the tide turned, and the [Mechids] were now on the defensive.

It was a good thing since they were given a chance to take a breather.

Mark held both artifacts in hand. He already took down the first one. The only challenge in facing the next enemies was their number. As for the method to fight them, a well-set magical attack should do it.

Still, Mark at least needed enough speed to cope fighting more than one [Fighter Mechid].

Mark closed his eyes. His body transformed.

It had been a while since Mark transformed into his [Pure-Blooded Blood Demon Form]. The last time, it was a bit troublesome. His body had golden marks, showing the blessing he got from the [Trial of Regrets], which actually hindered his body. He was unable to use his full strength at that time because of the blessing.

But this time, Mark was free of that restraint. He should be able to use the full potential of his [Demon Form]. It was even though he had yet to fully recover his strength and [Miasma].

That was what Mark expected.

However...

"Huh?"

Mark felt strange. There was a certain smell emanating from his body after he transformed. It was not a physical smell of sorts. If Mark was to say what it was, it was the smell of death. It was something Mark was familiar with.

But why was there a smell of death after Mark transformed?

"You..."

By the looks of it, Chimetrice was also surprised.

Mark raised his hand in front of his eyes. When transforming, Mark had markings on his body, especially the neck, ankles, and wrists. This kind of tattoo-like markings was also present in Chimetrice's body when he transforms. Even Goddess Magwayen and Sinogo had these kinds of markings, although different looking.

Similar to tribal people, these markings signified power and status. Although in this case, it was a status in spiritual terms. Gods, Deities, and other powerful beings were mostly depicted with these markings on their bodies.

As for Mark, these markings on his body did not signified his status as a god candidate. It was also because he was currently the owner of a [Pure Spirit Tree], the current leader of [Blood Demons], and, most importantly, because he absorbed the evil deity, the Deity of Bloodshed.

And depending on the powers and blessings Mark receive, these markings could change, like what happened before.

This time, Mark stared at the markings on his wrists.

The pitch black markings Mark had on his wrists now had a tinge of gray and red. Not to mention it emanated some sort of barely visible mist that carried the smell Mark sensed.

Mark could not understand what was going on. But there was one thing that he noticed aside from the smell of death he emanated.

His current [Demon Form] was way stronger than before.