Mutagen

<strong>Day 263 - 9:48 AM - Private Room, Stone Fortress, Eastern Mountains, General Nakar, Province of Quezon</strong>

Leaving the scrutinizing eyes and entering what remained of the Stone Fortress, Mark and Spera were led to a room different from what they had expected.

The last time they were here, all welcomes and meetings were more or less done within the throne room. This time, Mark and Spera were brought to a rather unfamiliar room. The room looked more or less simple. Something that one could see in castle fortresses made of stone. Nonetheless, it looked a bit more elegant due to the furniture that decorated it compared to the rest of the fortress, with the throne room as an exception.

What stood out the most in this room was the types of furniture that were neither carved nor built. There were several examples. One was a flower growing at the center of the ceiling. Though the sunlight shined through the window, the flower above their heads was the brightest light source in the room. Even the bed was not normal, as it was made of bright green vines.

"Please, stand guard outside," Diwata Danaya said to her escorts. "Also, call for the princess and her entourage."

In this scenario, one would think that the [Diwata's] escorts would blurt out lines of disagreement. After all, they knew Mark was a Demon. A pure-blood at that. However, contrary to expectations, the escorts respectfully bowed their heads and retreated without a word.

"They are pretty agreeable, aren't they?"

Spera voiced out without holding back.

Mark had the same thought. However, he had more control over his mouth.

"They obey all my words without question after the world changed. [Fusion of Dimensions] was it? I heard from the princess," Diwata Danaya bitterly explained. "All the leaders of the other tribes were either weakened or dead. Right now, I am the only lifeline of this refuge. As such, they were afraid to cause me any displeasure even more than in the past."

Mark nodded in understanding after hearing Diwata Danaya's explanation.

As Diwata Danaya had mentioned. The leaders of the tribes that Mark met before were either weakened or dead. That was how harsh the effects of the [Fusion of Dimensions] were to the inhabitants of the Spirit Dimension. After all, they did not receive the protection of the [Eyes]. The king and queen of the [Brown Duendes], also the leaders of this fortress, were in a weakened state. That was why their children were now leading the restoration of the fortress. They received as much authority as their parents.

"Before everything else," Diwata Danaya interrupted Mark's thoughts. "Welcome to my humble abode."

That was right. This room was Diwata Danaya's bedroom. While it might sound inappropriate to bring guests directly to one's bedroom, it was not like they had much choice. Her room was the most suitable place to receive important people in the current state of the fortress. There were other places to receive guests, but Mark was this important as the leader of another base nearby.

Diwata Danaya waved her hand. The vines that decorated the room grew and moved, creating a set of tables and chairs. She then guided her two guests to take a seat.

"So, should we start with the reason for your sudden visit?"

Diwata Danaya asked Mark.

It was not an unreasonable opening question. Mark and Spera came here without warning, after all.

"There's no important reason, really," Mark honestly replied. "I just decided to take a look around the settlements and refuge we consider allies before I stay put in my place for a while."

When Diwata Danaya heard that Mark considered this place their ally, she had a pleasant expression. In the current state of the world, it was something nice and amazing if one could make it on their own. Nonetheless, there were dangers that one needed help as going alone was more of a suicide than trying to survive.

"And rather than me needing something," Mark continued. "It's more like you are the ones needing help."

Diwata Danaya sighed. It was true, after all.

At this time, a knock was heard on the door.

"Come in."

Diwata Danaya spoke.

Invited by the [Diwata], the person outside the room opened the door and came in.

Mark looked at the familiar face he had not seen for a while.

It was Felenia. The first wife of Teremillio and the princess of the Stone Fortress. As a [Brown Duende], she was usually her original small stature. However, she came here in human size. Regular [Duendes] might not have this ability, but someone of royal blood like her did.

The moment Felenia entered, she looked at the three people inside. She looked a bit baffled as she looked at Mark.

On the other hand, Spera was also confused. Felenia was alone. She expected Teremillio and his harem to come with her.

"You're alone?"

Spera could not help but ask. It caused Felenia to have a bitter expression.

"Hold back, will you. Let the princess take a seat first."

Mark said, flicking Spera's forehead, making her cover her forehead while glaring at him. On the other hand, Mark's mention of Felenia's status made her aware that he was aware of what was happening.

"This is also about that giant, yes?"

Mark ignored Spera's glare and asked Felenia after she sat down.

In response to his question, Felenia lowered her head.

"As the Princess of the Stone Fortress, I would like to ask your help."

Felenia asked Mark, not as a member of his base but as the princess of her homeland.

It was something that she did not have to do, really.

Teremillio and everyone in the tribe he led before was already members of Mark's base. Of course, Felenia was among them as Teremilio's first wife. If she asked Mark for help, it was not wrong to say that Mark had a bit of responsibility to help. After all, she was one of his people, and he was not a tyrant.

Yet, Felenia asked Mark as the princess. She did not want to take advantage of Mark and put a crack in their relationship. Not to mention that it was a problem that her home should handle on its own.

This was a fair trade. And if not a pledge of allegiance, it was an establishment of a formal alliance.

"Then, if you two asked me like this, I reckon the price is already prepared."

Mark asked.

At this time, a presence was felt appearing within the room.

Mark looked at the empty space beside Diwata Danaya as an invisible figure emerged before their eyes.

Immediately, both Diwata Danaya and Felenia stood from their seats and kneeled down in respect.

Spera grabbed Mark's arm, a bit tense due to the unusual scene.

And Mark stared at the apparition that hated Demons to the core. He felt neither the necessity to kneel nor do anything.

The apparition fully emerged. It was the imprint of Diwata Luwalhati. She was the very same imprint that guarded the sealed room within the depths of the fortress.

Diwata Luwalhati was glaring at Mark like the last time they met. Nonetheless, the intensity of the glare was much weaker. She then turned her head towards the two women kneeling before her.

"Rise, the two of thou." Diwata Luwalhati spoke. "Is this demon forsooth trustworthy as thou imply?"

Diwata Danaya and Felenia raised their heads but did not leave their kneeling posture.

"Yes," Felenia replied. "I will wager my body and soul."

In Felenia's eyes, Mark was not a blindly good person. However, he was trustworthy to his allies and would not cause them any harm unless they were the ones to betray him first. It was what Felenia learned about him after living in the base he had built for some time.

"What is this about?"

Mark interjected. Since the imprint appeared when he mentioned payment, it must have something to do with it.

Diwata Danaya turned to Mark.

"We had already planned to establish contact with you, or at least, your base, to ask for help. Even if you did not come here, we might have come there or sent a message through the man named Berrak. And in exchange for your help, we decided to use the item sealed beneath the fortress. The last time... We remember that you are quite interested in it."

The item being sealed beneath the fortress... It was the flaming orb floating in the middle of nine magical pillars. The very reason why the Demons targeted this fortress previously.

"Well, that's surprising..." Mark said, realizing something. "There's something more to this, right?"

Both Diwata Danaya and Felenia had bitter expressions.

"We don't intend to hide it," Diwata Danaya explained. "The [Fusion of Dimensions] caused the sealing pillars to be damaged. None of us can fix it as it was an ancient contraption. Although we don't know how long it will last, the seal will be broken after some time. Since we don't have any way to reseal it, we figured we might as well use it as payment for your help. It was coveted by the Demons, so it might have some use. And since you seem to have a lot of absurd knowledge, you might figure something to use it for."

"Why is that thing even sealed here?" Mark asked. "And what will happen if the seal breaks?"

Mark turned to the imprint for the explanation, but it was clear that she did not want to talk to Mark, who was a Demon. That was why Diwata Danaya bitterly answered Mark's question.

"It is the core of a [Flame Demon Deity]. A Deity that was even able to escape the pursuit of several Gods. Sealing it was the most viable option since destroying it would cause massive destruction of the surroundings," Diwata Danaya glanced at the imprint of Diwata Luwalhati. "The Ancestor sacrificed herself to seal it since its power might even destroy a huge chunk of the northern regions of this country. That was how powerful it was. Although there's no immediately repercussions when the seal breaks, it would still become unstable."

Basically... It was more or less a nuclear bomb if it was destroyed.

A Deity-level [Flame Demon]. It caused Mark to remember Gar'Vlam, who was of the same race. Although using a different method, that guy was also sealed, separating his soul from his body. And when the seal of his body got broken, Taal Volcano and its surroundings became a hellish landscape inhabited by a gigantic Lava Infected that swallowed the body by coincidence.

Mark turned to Diwata Danaya and Felenia. Although it sounded like an interesting payment, it did not erase the fact that it felt like they were passing their responsibility of keeping the core to Mark. In a business negotiation, Diwata Danaya's explanation was unnecessary.

Even so, Mark would not complain.

Scam or not, it was a good trade if both parties were satisfied in the end.

Mark did not mind them passing the responsibility over the core to him. Instead, he was rather eager to get a new toy. Besides, he was the perfect person to get that core since energy explosions would be the least of his worry due to his [Miasma].

"Is it bad?" Felenia anxiously asked. "If not, we will prepare other things."

Not only Felenia. Even Diwata Danaya was anxiously waiting for Mark's reply.

Mark scratched his head. These two were too pure for these kinds of negotiations.

Then, Mark stood up to the confusion of everyone in the room.

"Ready the core," Mark said. "Spera, stay here for a bit."

"Where are you going?"

Spera asked.

"Well, this is a business trade. I need to fulfill my end first before getting paid."

Those words from Mark made the eyes of Diwata Danaya and Felenia light up in glee.

"Do you need any assistance?" Diwata Danaya asked Mark. "We will provide assistance if needed."

"No need," Mark shook his head. "I don't think this will take too long."

And in front of everyone, Mark vanished into a surge of mist.