Mutagen

Day 365 - 12:03 PM - Underground Passage, Muria Sacred Fortress, Mount Muria, Central Java, Indonesia

About half an hour ago...

"How deep is this staircase?"

An elite soldier following Mark and General Wijaya's lead could not help but question.

After entering the hidden passage under the dilapidated church, it led them to a winding staircase. The staircase was not exactly built but was carved into the stone floor of the tunnels dug by whoever made this place.

And since the staircase was carved in a spiral shape, seeing its end would be impossible.

However, ten minutes through the staircase brought them somewhere.

It was another church-like structure, but more grandiose and larger than the one on the surface.

Guns ready in hand, the group cautiously entered the place and observed.

The place looked double the size of the previous location. It was not wrong to call it a small-sized cathedral. There were also more pews, a chandelier with mysterious lights, and even a carpet laid at the center path. Compared to the crumbling walls of the previous one, the smoothed stone walls of this place looked far better.

Nonetheless, there was one thing that did not change.

It was the statue of the six-winged woman at the podium.

While looking at the statue, Mark could not help but frown. He could sense a stronger divine presence on the statue compared to the previous one.

"This place is empty."

General Wijaya said after observing the surroundings.

And as the General had said, there was no one in this place.

"Well, no one in sight, at least."

Mark said as he moved his head sideward.

A pencil-sized needle shot past his right shoulder, which should have been aimed at the center of his forehead. The needle struck the wall behind Mark, embedding more than half of its pointed body deep into the wall.

"To think you would even dodge that..."

A familiar voice echoed as the enemy came out of hiding.

"Piliang," General Wijaya called out with a frown. "You just won't give up."

"Give up?" General Piliang replied with a mocking smile. "It is too late for me just as it is too late for this country."

"This might be my last struggle," The silver-haired General continued. "It is whether I win and live or lose and die."

With those words declared, General Piliang raised both his arms.

It caused General Wijaya and his soldiers to tense up as they saw countless needles start floating all over the cathedral.

"Seems like you prepared a bit more this time."

Mark looked expressionless, however.

"Outsider... You are unfazed despite this..." General Piliang was rather unamazed by Mark's lacking reaction. "I know you are not from this country. You are a traveler from a different place. Why are you sticking your nose into our business? If you didn't appear...

Things would move according to plan. But you, your interference, is what ruined everything. Why?"

"Why? You ask?" Mark shrugged. "Well, I guess it's fine to answer."

Mark then stared straight at the old General.

"It's because Luna and her group needed help. It literally is why we came to this country. No other reason in particular. Unfortunately, it just happened to be you and your allies who were causing her the problems."

"Huh?" General Piliang was surprised by Mark's answer. "That woman? For what reason?"

It was not just the old General. Even General Wijaya and his soldiers forgot about the floating needles and stared at Mark, waiting for his answer.

"Hmmm, you see..." Mark decided to bomb everyone with the truth. "Because of the world's current crisis and humanity being on the verge of extinction, candidates to save, or at least preserve, humanity had been chosen. Unfortunately, the candidate of this country is struggling really hard because the humans she was supposed to lead were the ones oppressing her."

"Sir Mark..." It was General Wijaya who opened his mouth first. "Are you saying that Luna is..."

"Yep," Mark nodded. "Luna is the chosen candidate of this country. Not that all countries had one. Your country is just lucky to have her who passed the criterion. And in South East Asia, there are only two candidates. Most countries don't have one, and their people would definitely go extinct if they don't get their sh*t together.

See how lucky you people were?"

Everyone was speechless as they heard Mark's words. Whether it was General Wijaya and his soldiers or General Piliang, they could only stare at Mark, trying to digest what he had just said.

"Why?" General Piliang finally spoke. "Why is it that weird purple-haired brat? It should have been me! I can lead this country better than some cosplaying brat! Who the f*ck made her the candidate? Who gave her the right?"

Even if it was not Luna. If the candidate was someone else, there would have been no reason for this enigma of an outsider to interfere with their plans.

However, answering the old General's frustrations, Mark pointed his finger at the sky.

"Some beings above gave the criteria. If you're not chosen, it means you did not pass. Since you allied with a cult, you should understand it, right? What I meant when I say beings above. You are not destined to lead this place or this country. It's better for you to give up."

General Piliang was unsure but was frozen in place at the idea. Being above. It could mean Gods and Deities or entities of similar stature.

Those powerful beings had chosen Luna. That it spiraled to this mess because of that.

"Destiny..." General Piliang's voice was shaking. "My ideals lost to destiny."

"AS IF I WILL JUST SIT DOWN AND ACCEPT THAT!"

General Piliang roared. The countless needles floating in the air shot at Mark and the soldiers at bullet speed.

"Take cover!"

General Wijaya yelled, and the soldiers immediately jumped behind the pews to take cover.

"ACK!"

Unfortunately, one of the soldier's legs got pierced through with a needle.

Dragging the wounded soldier behind cover, the medic of the group immediately worked on the wound despite the rain of needles.

General Wijaya tanked the needles with his body while covering for his soldiers. Unfortunately, although he was unscathed by the countless needles pelting his body, he could still feel the pain and force behind each projectile.

As for Mark...

Mark just stood there. His body began to flicker as needles passed through his body as if he was a ghost.

After the barrage of needles, the whole place became a mess. The walls had needles sticking out, the pews were mostly broken, three soldiers were injured, and General Wijaya was in pain.

However...

"How is this possible..."

General Piliang voiced in uncertainty as he stared at Mark, who did not move away from his original place.

"Sorry, but projectiles like this won't really hit me unless I allow it."

Mark said with both hands out in gesture.

Not willing to believe it easily, General Piliang controlled several more needles and shot them at Mark from different directions. Nonetheless, it was futile. Just like before, Mark's body became ghostlike, allowing the needles to pass through his body without resistance.

"Are you a [Psychic]?"

General Piliang asked, acknowledging Mark's ability.

"Sort of," Mark answered without hesitation. "Whether it was [Psychic] or [Esper], I fall into both categories. As for you, you're an [Esper], right? Your [Telekinesis] isn't awakened but acquired. Did the cult leader give it to you?"

Mark was beginning to spew some of his speculations.

[Psychics] and [Espers] were both kinds of people who had paranormal abilities. Most of the time, people use the terms interchangeably. After all, [Espers] can also be considered as [Psychics] following its meaning. However, not all [Psychics] could be called an [Esper].

The difference between the two could be easily distinguished by one question. How the person got the ability. And there were only two answers. Awakened or aquired.

[Psychics] pertain to people who have awakened abilities within them. It may be through training or other stimulus. [Empaths] were mostly in this category because most of these people had this ability since birth.

On the other hand, [Espers] were people who acquired paranormal abilities from outside. [Psycasts] from Planet Eriellis were a good example of this. They acquired abilities using outside interference, a.k.a. the [PsyPathogen].

Being in both categories, Mark's sensitivity to magical energy made him realize that General Piliang belonged to the second category.

Besides, General Piliang's control of his [Telekinetic] abilities was far too immature for something he had from the start.

In this case, where would he get such an ability? There was a great chance that it was something powerful.

And that would be the leader of the cult, who led the [Face Wearers].

General Piliang did not answer Mark's question and just stared.

And the reply of the old General was to rain more needles at Mark, even though it was to no effect.

However, General Piliang was just biding for a little more time.

The old General took out the vial he received from the hooded man and tried to drink it.

Mark frowned. He did not know what the vial contained and tried to make the old General stop.

With a fierce glare, Mark's eyes glowed red, and a full power [Emotion Induction] was placed on General Piliang. Normally, it was more than enough to freeze anyone stiff. They would even begin bleeding from their orifices due to the unstable emotions induced in their minds.

But the old General only froze for a second. Feeling something wrong with his body, he looked at Mark and saw the pair of red glowing eyes on him. With bleeding eyes, nose, and ears, General Piliang made a sneer. The old General let the rest of his body freeze but put all his focus on the arm holding the vial.

The old General's mentality focused on his ideals could not be stopped by Mark's [Empath] abilities.

And since Mark and General Piliang were standing at opposite ends of the cathedral, Mark would not make it even if he tried to stop the old General physically.

In the end, General Piliang put the vial in his mouth without even opening it. Then, he chewed on it, letting its contents spill into his mouth.

GULP!

General Piliang drank most of the vial's contents, but some spilled out because of his frozen body.

Nonetheless, the amount he drank was more than enough.

BADUMP!

General Piliang's heart began to beat loudly. It was so loud that even Mark and others heard it echoing inside the cathedral.

BADUMP! BADUMP!

The heartbeats echoed repeatedly. General Piliang was freed from the influence of Mark's mental attack.

"ARGH!!!"

General Piliang was in extreme pain as he began folding his body forward while clutching his chest. Even so, General Piliang remained standing, unwilling to fall down.

BADUMP! BADUMP! BADUMP!

The rhythm of General Piliang's heartbeat became faster and faster.

Mark tried to move forward but found out that there was an invisible wall now surrounding the old General. The invisible wall was General Piliang's [Telekinesis] expanding.

"How annoying."

Mark frowned as he began pushing the invisible wall back. It was not fixed to the terrain but centered around General Piliang. It was not something impossible to move.

And with his veins glowing brightly, Mark pushed.

RUMBLE!

As Mark pushed, the entire cathedral began shaking. General Pilang's feet began to skid along the floor as Mark started to move the invisible wall.

But an unexpected scene made Mark freeze as he stared in front of him.

The tinge of divinity in the statue at the podium began leaking, turning into a black, murky vapor, losing its divine presence.

And that disgusting-looking vapor entered General Piliang's body through the orifices on his head.

There, changes in the old General's body occurred. His skin turned pale white, his toned body became thin, his pupils turned into red slits, and fangs grew in his mouth. Six bat wings sprouted on his back, having the same number of wings as the statue.

But most importantly...

"RAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

General Piliang roared, causing the whole cathedral to shake violently and pushing Mark several steps back.

BOOM!

The cathedral could not hold on. Some pillars and parts of the ceiling fell. It was the same for the chandelier.

"Sirs! Our exit!"

One soldier called out, pointing at the door.

The door was also taken out, getting blocked by rocks and debris that collapsed.

"General," Mark turned to General Wijaya. "I know he's supposed to be your enemy, but it's already far from what you can handle. I'll fight this time."

"Can you win?"

General Wijaya accepted and asked.

"I fought many absurd enemies before," Mark answered. "This guy might be troublesome, but still a small fry compared to those."

"I see," General Wijaya saw Mark's confidence. "Then, our fates are in your hands."

Mark nodded and summoned Ignis. The soldiers who saw Mark calling a sword out of nowhere felt amazed.

But as Mark prepared to fight, General Piliang suddenly shouted.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!"

The old General was clearly flabbergasted by the situation. It seemed that even he did not expect the vial to turn him into an abominable monster.