Mutagen

Day 129 - 4:13 PM - Newton Lake, Veteran's Memorial Park, Oakly, Camden County, New Jersey, United States of America

Swaying his feet as he sat by the bench, the boy watched the mayhem he created unfold. Without a doubt, he was quite amazed that Mark, Mei, and Illia were able to hold on despite being swarmed by almost a hundred powerful beings. Furthermore, they were the ones having the advantage.

Of course, he was having fun watching this. And because of that, he wanted for it to not end fast.

"Thunderbird, attack."

The boy whispered directly into the bird's head.

That was when the strikes of lightning fell unto Mark's group, forcing him to take out the [Photokinesis Mental Crystal] and redirect the lightning by moving photons and electrons in the air. It made an invisible bridge that forced the lightning to change directions.

The boy gleefully watched as Mark managed to ward off the attack of the Thunderbird. He was also surprised to see Mark take out an energy crystal that contained some kind of ability to redirect those lightning.

Sure enough, Mark piqued his interest. The boy wanted to know how many things this enigma of the world was hiding. 

The boy looked above.

"Lesser Demons, use your curse ritual."

That was when the lesser demons that belonged to different groups coordinated strangely together and called out a large magic circle.

"Wendigos, attack those women and hold them back."

The boy whispered as he turned to the two Wendigos that were on standby.

Without a doubt, this boy was controlling everyone here with his whispers.

Fueling their negative emotions and invading their thoughts, that was this boy's ability.

And with this, all those with tainted but weak minds and hearts would end up submitting towards his whispers.

As Mark shattered the magic circle, it gave the boy another wave of surprises. The boy thought that Mark would attack the demons doing the ritual first to stop it. He never expected that Mark would shatter the magic circle instead.

Having these kinds of surprises was like ecstasy to this bored boy. He could not help but smile as he whispered his next commands.

That was when he noticed that the beautiful woman in Mark's group actually managed to kill a Wendigo. That was one thing that even he as an Eye would need some time doing. After all, he was not someone suited in physical combat.

There, the boy noticed something that made him smile even more.

It was the unstable mind of the elder after mulling over the death of two of the disciples that he brought with him. Because of this state, it became easier to get the elder under the boy's control.

"It's a pity they died." The boy whispered to the mind of the elder. "Why don't you take revenge. Those two women had their backs towards you. Why not make that man know the consequences?"

Fueling the elder's anger, he fell unto the boy's control. The elder then moved to make a sneak attack on Mei and Illia.

"Hmmm?" The boy suddenly looked up. "How did he notice it that fast?"

The boy murmured as he saw Mark move to intercept the elder.

"Witches, cursed chains."

The boy whispered to all the Witches in the area. Of course, not all the witches could use this magic. Those that could, however, targeted Mark, summoning chains around him.

Unexpectedly, the first chain was severed by Mark's scythe, like that Magic Circle of the Lesser Demons.

"Is that scythe some kind of Magic Cancelling Weapon?" The boy could not help but say before he whispered once more. "More chains. Constrict him."

The boy smiled as he was surprised once more. It was not the scythe. Mark was the one who could negate the magic being thrown at him.

There, more chains appeared to constrict Mark.

That was when the boy was given a surprise that he never expected. It was actually not an ability to negate magic. Instead, it was Miasma.

A person with a human body using Miasma was not unheard of. In cases that a human was possessed by a Formless Demon or a Miasmic Demon, they would be able to use Miasma. 

Of course, it was by the will of the Demon possessing them. And at that point, the consciousness of that human was already destroyed.

Mark, on the other hand, there was not a single sign of being possessed was on him.

"No way." The boy excitedly exclaimed as he stood up from the bench he sat on.

At that time, the elder's sneak attack had succeeded.

"Hahaha! I'm just starting! This is the consequence of killing the disciples of our sect!" The elder exclaimed, not knowing that he was under someone else's control.

The elder was about to chase after Mei and Illia that were thrown away because of his attack. It was when somehow, the temperature felt cold.

Even the boy could not help but feel it. The actual temperature of the surroundings never changed. In fact, the whole area was currently on fire, and they were supposed to feel hot.

And yet, they felt shivers.

The boy immediately looked at the sky.

"You got to be kidding me." The boy murmured.

***

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!

Everything slowed down in Mark's eyes as he saw Mei cough out a mouthful of blood and as she was flung away like a ragdoll. The only thing he could hear was the sounds of chains clinging unto his body as he hovered frozen.

Mark then heard what the elder said as he laughed sadistically.

Consequences of killing disciples of your sect?

No, it's not.

It was the consequence of Mark trying hard to hide his cards despite the actual need to use them.

He was being overcautious of the Eyes that was lurking around somewhere.

Being cautious was a good thing.

But being overcautious could also bring disaster.

'I get it now.' Mark thought as he slowly lost control of his supposed to be nonexistent emotions.

In many novels, especially Chinese ones, whenever the protagonist asked who their parents or their master's enemy were, they would tell the protagonist that it was not the right time for them to know, or they must become stronger first.

It was because it would affect their growth and decisions too early.

That was what Mark experienced.

He learned about the Observers and the Eyes too early when only those that stepped unto the ranks of Deities should know about them.

That was why...

'I don't care anymore.' Mark thought as a chain tightened on his neck.

Whether it be the Eyes, the Observer, Deities, or Gods.

'Just come at me if you want to.'

BAM!

A cloud of Miasma exploded around Mark, disintegrating all the magical chains that surrounded him.

In that explosion, many Lesser Demons were caught and fell down with their rotting bodies.

There, a black mist flew out of the Miasma, flying towards the elder as he rushed to Mei and Illia.

Mark then materialized in front of the elder, waving his scythe towards the enemy.

Of course, the elder would not go down that easily. The elder's flying sword parried Mark's scythe. Nevertheless, the elder had to retreat because of Mark's attack.

As the elder retreated, Mark turned to the other direction and rushed towards Mei.

Mark kneeled down, lifting Mei's limp body. Blood trickled from her mouth, her face was pale, and she was unconcious. The injury she received from the elder was not trivial.

On the contrary, although in severe pain between her wings, Illia was still conscious. Slowly, she got up and turned to Mei since both of them were flung away.

A demon's body was very sturdy. That was why Illia was still conscious. 

On the other hand, even though Mei seemed to be a Pureblood Demon, she still had a human body. The attack they both received must have several times more effect on her body.

As Illia turned to Mei, however, she froze at the scene she saw.

There, reddish colored liquid trickled from Mark's mouth as his lips touched Mei's. Holding her as carefully as he could, making her drink the contents of his mouth.

As his lips separated with Mei's, Mark caressed her head gently.

Illia was confused. If Mark was here, what happened to the enemies?

When Illia looked above, she was shocked.

The enemies never stopped attacking. Above them, magical fireballs, lightning attacks, and even magical chains continued to rush rain towards them.

Yet, none of the attacks reached as a film of black smoke circled around, covering them like a barrier. Each magical attack that touched the smoke was being absorbed by it.

Illia stared at Mark. Without a doubt, he was responsible for this.

Mark then stood up, carrying Mei on his arms. He glanced at Illia and moved his head slightly, telling her to follow.

With difficulty, Illia followed behind Mark, returning where Chimetrice sat. Unexpectedly, he was unharmed.

What was happening could never be any obvious. Even though Mark was in the sky and Mei and Illia were flung away, no one attacked Chimetrice. The attacks were only concentrated on the three for a reason.

Going back to where Chimetrice sat down, Mark handed Mei to Illia.

She understood what he wanted her to do. But why was Mark not talking?

Mark turned and walked away. With a wave of his hand, Mei, Illia, and Chimetrice were covered by that circling barrier made of Miasma.

Raising his head, Mark panned his eyes to all the enemies surrounding him, especially the elder.

Mark was totally furious that he felt like losing himself. Yet, he never felt so calm in his entire life.

RUMBLE!

Everyone froze as they all turned towards the sky.

Thick black clouds started to form, spiraling menacingly. Lightning flashed, and thunder echoed. It was as if a storm was coming.

Mark turned to the sky. He had not done anything yet, what was happening?

Nevertheless, the scene felt familiar.

That was right. It was the same event that happened when Mark regained his emphatic ability and gained Freed's psychic powers.

It was the way the world welcomed something that should not exist in this plane.

Mark closed his eyes.

"I see it now." Mark murmured. "This ability was never intended to reach this point, wasn't it?"

With those words, Mark's eyes glowed red. It was not the usual red glow but deeper in color. There were even red sparks of electricity escaping from his eyes.

CRASH!

Everyone froze as they heard something akin to shattered glass in their heads.

Their greed, anger, and unnecessary emotions vanished in an instant. All of them froze as they tried to recall what was happening.

They escaped from the Eye's control.

Mark's head felt heavy. He absorbed the negative emotions that everyone here had at this moment in one go.

There, he released it.

BAM!

Everyone froze in a different way.

Their bodies were shivering. Fear and terror engulfed their minds as they looked at Mark.

"Flee!"

That was what echoed in their minds repeatedly. However, they could barely move, not even a step.

RUMBLE!

At the sky, the lightning intensified.

BAM!

From the center of the clouds, a very thick tower of lightning fell towards Mark.

Because of the fear they were currently feeling, the enemies cheered and wished that Mark would turn to ash because of that lightning.

"Stop dreaming."

Mark's voice echoed inside the tower of lightning that continuously fell onto him, pouring cold water on the enemies' wishes.

Around Mark's arm, several crystals floated, glowing brightly. 

The lightning started to converge at one point. Everyone noticed that a crystal formed atop Mark's head.

As the lightning ended, the crystal fell on Mark's hand.

"I left the first one at home. I should thank the heavens for giving me another one."

Mark spoke with a sinister smile.

As that new crystal joined the others, the sky rumbled once more.

The enemies thought that another strike of lightning would fall unto Mark.

Then, it rained, not water, but branches of lightning.

There, all those that kept flying in the sky turned to charred corpses that littered the ground.

"I already told all of you to leave. But since none of you did, don't ever think of leaving."