Mutagen

Day 162 - 1:21 PM - Kitchen, Cliff House, Mountain Base, General Nakar, Province of Quezon

The next day, Mark used the morning and did another survey outside the barrier. As for the afternoon, he planned to do a few more checks around the base about what else they needed to do and the state of new structures they were currently building. Then, he would prepare since he was going to New Infanta Settlement with Major Bautista, Karlene, and Karla. 

This time, he was only going with a few people. Radiation was still a problem outside, and it would be hard to protect too many people from it at the same time.

At this moment, Mark sat in front of the dining table, spending time with everyone as they had just finished lunch.

Since managing the base and thinking about improvements was far too stressful, it was a good time for Mark to relax with his daughters and Odelina's children, playing a multiplayer game on their phones. Although, unlike the previous times, another two extras were playing together with them. Of course, it was Emika and Mikio, burrowing phones from Mark to join in.

Amihan was also around, sitting on Miracle's shoulder, watching her play.

Elise was also present. It had been this way since they returned.

It was pretty noisy, but it was relaxing and fun. Mark preferred this kind of environment instead of going around talking to people and checking for problems.

At this time, Spera passed by, taking the empty dishes off the dining table.

"Spera, wait for a second."

Mark put down his phone and called for her.

"What is it? Need something?"

Spera asked, confused. Both she and Mark were awkward people in terms of talking. Even if she was now living in his house, helping with chores, and now being one of Odelina's apprentices, they barely talk about personal things. Most of the time that Mark would talk to her was when he needed her to do something. In the least, he was not ordering her like a servant. It was more like a younger sister like Mei wanted. Of course, she was not too childish to seek attention from Mark, unlike someone.

"Have you tried opening a portal in the past few days?"

Mark asked.

Spera paused, thinking when was the last time.

"The last time is when we returned from Pennsylvania. I haven't really tried opening another one since there is no need to."

Mark shrugged. He should have told her to constantly practice since this place was not the Auraboros anymore. Back there, she always had to conserve her powers since it was the only thing she had and was needed there from her.

"Can you try opening a small one? I just want to confirm something."

Confused, Spera placed the stack of dishes back on the table.

"Where to?"

Spera asked.

"Anywhere as long as it's outside the base. Wait, try one in New Infanta."

Mark replied.

It should be a piece of cake for Spera. Without any other question, she tried to open a fist-sized portal between her two hands.

But then...

"Huh?"

Spera was confused.

There was a fist-sized hole that indicated that the portal was created. However, it was pitch black. It was not connecting to the place Spera intended to and could not be opened.

Spera thought that she made a mistake and concentrated deeper. However, the longer she tried to open the portal, the paler her face got. It was not because her magical energy was being drained drastically. She was increasingly getting nervous because her [Warp Portal], her only value, was failing.

"I knew it..."

Mark nodded with a sigh after seeing what happened.

And then...

"No... Why is it not working?!"

Spera began to panic. Her emotions were still uncontrollable. Fear and frustration were apparent on her face as tears fell from her eyes.

"..."

Mark turned to Spera, almost cursing.

Spera continuously tried to force open a portal. The color drained from her face as both panic and exhaustion of her energy began to kick in.

"Spera, stop!"

Mark yelled, but Spera was not listening. She was having a panic attack. He immediately stood up and rushed to her, grabbing her hands and stopping her from exerting her powers further.

It was like when Spera woke up with Mark taking her psychic ability away. An outburst of anxiety, thinking that she was nothing of value without it.

"No... No... I'm useless without it..."

Spera struggled.

"We'll dammit."

Mark groaned as his right hand glowed. He then grabbed her head, making her calm down. Unfortunately, the sudden outburst after a long while took quite a toll on her mind, and she fainted.

"What happened?"

Due to the noise, Mei, Odelina, and Hannah, who were in the kitchen, rushed into the dining room. Only to see Mark holding onto the unconscious Spera. 

At the table, the children watched everything. Siegfried, Odette, and Mikio seemed concerned. Iola and Abbygale were the same but looked calmer. Miracle was more curious than concerned as she did not understand what was happening. Amihan and Elise were staying quiet, but both of them were also worried. Lastly, Emika...

"Smelly Uncle made her cry!"

Emika yelled out loud.

Mark could only glare at the troublemaker, making her sit back on her chair quietly.

"Gege?"

Mei approached Spera and checked her with concern. She was like a younger sister to her, after all.

"Well, it's kinda my fault," Mark admitted. "Let's bring her to her room first."

Mark and Mei brought Spera to her bedroom, leaving the others to their businesses. He then told Mei what happened.

"She can't open a portal?"

Mei asked in surprise.

"It's not that she can't open one. It's just not connecting to the place she intended," Mark replied. "I should have explained things to her first if I knew that she will have a panic attack."

Mark was thinking of what way he would bring Major Bautista back to New Infanta Settlement. The most convenient way should be Spera's portal since there would be no need to worry about the radiation if she was able to.

But as Mark expected, she could not connect the portal.

It was not a problem with her psychic ability, however. The problem was the current Earth.

Spera's portal could only be opened to places where she had been. Or she had personally seen. She should have a clear image of the location opening the portal in the coordinate she intended.

But why was that? Why does she have to see the place in person? If it was just a clear image, a picture could have worked.

However, that was not the actual case.

There was a reason why Spera could only open portals in places she had personally been or seen before. It was because she had to have a concrete spatial awareness of the location.

Distance, magnetic field, longitude, and latitude, those sorts of things.

In short, spatial awareness, albeit on a more complex level.

Not everyone could take notice of such complex and hard-to-determine details. It was one of the reasons why using warp portal-related abilities was not easy to use. 

It was also the reason why people with no sense of direction were highly incompatible with spatial abilities.

And that was what Mark meant when Spera had talent towards spatial psychic abilities. Unlike others that had to pay attention to such details, Spera could actually record such information subconsciously and open portals at the exact location she wanted.

The only problem now was that Earth had changed.

Although Spera remembered the direction and distance, the image of the location she had in mind was no longer there.

After Earth changed, the New Infanta Settlement was more or less twice the distance from the Mountain Base compared to before. In its previous location, there was nothing but a forest and even a new small mountain.

There was no need to mention that the places Spera saw in New Infanta Settlement were already destroyed.

Thus, Spera's portal could not connect to the other side.

Mark had a hunch that this would happen. There was the same issue in Eriellis before.

He should have explained it first before making Spera open a portal. It was such a blunder this time.

"You should explain it properly to her when she wakes up."

Mei told Mark strictly.

"Alright."

Mark shrugged.

He then looked at Spera.

"I guess I'll bring her with us tomorrow," Mark decided. "That way, she would be less anxious. It will also be easier to return."

"You better be."

Mei replied.

"You're angry?"

Mark asked.

"I..." Mei hesitated. "A little. Gege is too careless this time... Sorry..."

"Why are you sorry?" Mark sighed. "It's fine to be angry at me. It might be an accident, but it's my fault. Don't think that I will leave you just because you're a little angry. Geez."

Mark scratched his head. Most people in his place had mental problems... Well, including himself.

***

The rest of the day passed by, and Mark did explain what happened to Spera the moment she woke up. Hearing about the problem, Spera felt better. However, it seemed that she would not be able to sit idly while her psychic ability was unusable.

When Mark told her that he would be bringing her to New Infanta Settlement with him tomorrow, she was more than willing. To her, these [Warp Portals] were her lifeline. She felt worthless without it, even if she already found a place where she could live even without it.

***

Still, Spera's warp portal being unusable brought fort a few problems.

They would not be able to go to other places unless Spera revisited them. 

Earth was changed and reshaped. All the things that existed before were either destroyed or displaced.

It would be quite a hassle, but there was no way around it.

***

Day 163 - 8:15 AM - Mountain Base, General Nakar, Province of Quezon

The night passed by rather quickly.

At this time early in the day, Chaflar stood at the southern gate of the base. People gathered with Mark, Spera, Major Bautista, Karlene, and Karla, at the center.

The leader of the base was going on a dangerous journey once more. There was nothing wrong with everyone seeing them off.

In fact, almost everyone here was scared to explore the new Earth. It was the same familiar planet but now unfamiliar to them. Dangers were everywhere, and even a short journey was arduous.

They felt respect for Mark, who did not fear any danger outside. Every single time he discovered something outside that the people in the base should know, he would tell either Huey or Odelina to spread it to everyone. Or like when Mark found the [Mechid Latcher], he showed it himself.

Even if Mark's reason to go out this time was to bring Major Bautista and see the situation in New Infanta Settlement, he would definitely bring any news back, whether it was a piece of good or bad news.

In any case, everyone here was also curious about the situation outside.

Was there any intact sign of civilization left?

Or was it already infested by things not human?

Whether they were curious or not, they had no courage to just go outside the barrier and check.

They could only wait for any information that Mark would bring back.

***

With a little bit of goodbye, Mark's group for this journey boarded Chaflar's back.

Everyone stepped back as Chaflar began to flap his wings. With the surging wind from the giant wings of the dragon, they soared towards the sky.

Before passing through the barrier, Mark waved his hand. Miasma formed around Chaflar.

Mark only left a small window in front for them to see where they were going. And in this gap, Mark would use his new item to absorb the incoming radiation.

In front of Mark, a new crystal floated. It was different from other crystals he had before as it had an entirely greenish hue.

With all the preparations ready, they flew through the barrier, braving the new world outside.