Mutagen

<strong>Day 156 - 6:51 PM - Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Province of Quezon</strong>

Arriving at the base, the reaction of everyone from the New Infanta Settlement was the usual surprise and amazement. They were just regular humans before the outbreak, and they would think that something magical as Mark's base could exist.

However, the moment they arrived, Mark led everyone from New Infanta Settlement to the meeting room. Although Mark brought them here by the guise of a request, they still needed to know the actual reason, considering the ones present were connected with the people from his base in one way or another. Of course, the only thing Mark told them was about the incoming planetary debris hitting Earth. Other information about the Hidden Gods and Eyes intercepting the debris were not included, however.

The ones present were the people Mark had in mind to bring here.

First and foremost, Emika's family. Her mother, Rosamie, her younger brother, Mikio, and her uncle, Chervil.

The second one was Major Alfonso Bautista, Karlene's father.

Lastly, as a pair of bodyguards, the two former teammates of Karlene and Alana were present, Joash and Tyson. They were the ones that General Faustino sent as escorts. Well, they volunteered upon hearing what was happening instead of being ordered by the General. These two were competent enough and passed Mark's criterion of being familiar to him.

After the two volunteered, General Faustino decided not to push any other soldier as escorts. It was evident here that he did not want to be on Mark's bad side. Giving too many escorts on a supposedly safe endeavor would offend Mark was definitely what the General had in mind.

The two seeing Karlene and Alana after a while surely was a happy occasion. By what it seemed, Joash had already given up on trying to chase after Karlene. The way he looked at the latter was different from before. It was a good thing, considering that the man had no chance of succeeding.

Mark revealed what was really happening to the people in question. It was not surprising that they were shocked by Mark's announcement.

"Are you telling the truth? Why are you just saying this now?! Shouldn't we announce it to everyone? What about the people in the settlement?!"

That question would surely pop out in such a situation. This time, it was Joash who asked it.

However, before Mark could answer, Major Bautista stopped Joash from asking more with a shake of his head.

"There is no point in it." Major Bautista spoke. "This is a catastrophe on a worldwide scale. There is no way we would be able to do anything other than making people panic if it was known to everyone. In the worst case, the settlement would fall before the catastrophe even struck. Knowing that something they could not do anything about was to happen, it would create chaos."

That made Joash fall silent. What the Major said was true. Even so, he was unsatisfied with the answer.

Still, the Major had one question for Mark.

"Where did you get that information?"

"It's not something I can tell you." Mark shook his head. "While what you said is true, it's not the main reason why I did not report such a thing to the military. It's because someone else would have done it if any of you fit certain criteria."

This made Major Bautista and the others confused.

"Why so secretive? Is the person that told you this some sort of oracle giving God or something?"

Tyson, the most carefree of the group, spoke out loud.

His words, however, made the people in the know inside the room react. Those reactions served as a clue.

"No, way." Tyson was surprised. "You guys are joking, right?"

Of course, no one answered. However, it was clear to their reactions that Tyson was getting unto something.

Ignoring what was going on, Mark spoke.

"In any case, there's nothing we can do about it this situation. It's not like anyone of us can stop space debris from falling on Earth. All we can do is wait for a miracle. In the least, here, you guys are safer."

"If it's safer here, can't you rescue people from the settlement?"

Tyson added another question. This question, however, made Mark look at him as if he was an idiot.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm asking a proper question."

However, it seemed that even Joash understood the answer to this question, and he tapped Tyson's shoulder, shaking his head.

As Mark had better things to do than explain things to people who were technically not under him, he decided to end it here.

"I already told everything that you all needed to know," Mark spoke. "Just stay here for a few days. That is if we can pass the day tomorrow safely."

Seeing that Mark had no plans on telling more, Major Bautista urged Joash and Tyson that they should just stop here. With the conversation ending, Karlene and Alana guided everyone to where they would be staying.

Of course, there was someone who did not question Mark at all. She approached Mark with a slight bow.

"Thank you for allowing us to stay here."

Rosamie said before bringing her children with her and following Karlene and Alana.

Seeing the group leave, Mark sighed. He then turned to Mei.

"Mei'er, did you tell Odelina everything?"

"I did," Mei replied. "She also went and announced it to everyone while you were gone."

"Good." Mark made another sigh. "I'm already tired. I don't want to go gather everyone and tell them everything."

Hearing that, Aephelia, who was waiting at the side, spoke.

"If you are already tired, Master, I should then tell Morgan to meet you another time. It seemed that he wanted to personally thank you for saving them."

"Yeah, you do that." Mark nodded. "After a while, I wanted a peaceful sleep."

Receiving the order, Aephelia immediately left the room to inform Morgan, who was the inheritor of her former ally.

"Earth is facing another destructive disaster, and what you wanted is a peaceful sleep. You're really something..."

Jaeya, who was also present with her adopted son, Theodore, spoke to Mark with a judging eye.

"What is wrong with that?" Mark complained. "Don't you think it's better to face the incoming worldwide change well-rested?"

"I guess I can't argue with that."

Jaeya shrugged as Mark had a point there.

Soon, Mark had a sumptuous dinner with everyone inside his house. It had been a while since they all ate at the same table. And to say, while Mark preferred to be alone most of the time, it was not bad to share the same table with a rowdy bunch.

And after a long while, Mark had a peaceful sleep inside his own home.

A home he created with everyone.

***

This night, the surroundings were suspiciously quiet.

Animals were nowhere to be seen outside the base.

The animals inside were staying in their pens and cages without making any noise. Animals were far more sensitive than humans. It was very likely that they were feeling the incoming danger. Still, they were supposed to be noisy, knowing how animals should behave in front of danger. It might be Annica's influence, but they might also know that they were already in the safest place they could be.

However, that was not the case in other places.

Animals were agitated, running everywhere like headless chickens. All of them wanted to find a safe place to avoid the danger they were feeling. However, no such thing existed, causing them to panic even more.

And around the world, a faint, almost nonexistent humming sound was present.

***

At a certain unidentified realm surrounded by nothing but brightness, an uncanny group of individuals gathered.

Some of them looked like ancient medieval soldiers, while others looked like tribal chieftains. There were a few that exhibited non-human characteristics, such as tails and wings. Some even had animal heads.

These existences far surpassed humanity. There was not a slight need to ask what they were.

Gods of the ancient eras. They were those that came to Earth due to the neglect of the previous Observer.

These Gods gathered inside this sub-dimension, but barely any of them were talking to each other. It was not hard to understand why. Gods of different realms and religions were known to not act together at all. It was already good that none of them appeared to be hostile.

This was not surprising. Most of the Gods that fought in the previous eras were well-known and powerful Gods. The ones gathered here were those from lower realms. Most of them were even lower and mid-level Gods.

The higher Gods, for example, Bathala, could be counted in one hand.

All of them were Gods, but all of them were weaker compared to their prime.

At this time, there were all waiting. They were gathered here for one purpose. It was to protect Earth for one last time. In exchange, they would be given the opportunity to leave this realm towards the higher realms.

Amidst the silence, a group of people phased into existence before them.

There were twenty-eight of them, being led by a woman standing at the center.

The woman was wearing a white robe that had a hood covering her head. However, even though her face should be clearly seen, all that once could see was pitch-black darkness.

As for the other individuals that arrived, they were all different in stature. Some wore modern clothing, some wore ancient ones. There were children, while one seemed to be an old man.

One thing stood out consistently among the group, however. It was their unusual eyes. Some had more than a pair, while some had oddly shaped pupils.

These people were the Observer and the Eyes.

"The time is coming near." The Observer's voice echoed inside everyone's ear. "I implore everyone to give thy utmost efforts in this endeavor. As agreed, we will allow thy ascension."

"Are you certain that all of us are enough?" A man with a crocodile head spoke. "Although I did not mind helping as it was also to the good of those still believing in my faith, we are severely weakened. We might be able to produce meager miracles but not destroying a structure nearly the size of the prevailing moon."

At the crocodile-headed man's question, the Observer replied.

"It did not matter. All thee needed to do is to release enough energy with everyone present here. Although the combined might would not be enough to completely vanquish the threat, it should be able to minimize the damage. From there, it would be left to us."

Then, the Observer explained.

"We might not be capable of completely eliminating the threat of the aftermath, but we should at least be capable of protecting our world from utter destruction."

"If only our powers did not dwindle, we might be able to do more than what you expect."

A handsome man with a shoulder made of ivory spoke. He might not be a known god in the myths, but he was still a son of a god. It was even if he was kicked out of the mountain because of his crazy father's deed.

"I believe that my apostles already recapitulated that it was not within our accountability." The Observer replied. "Thy only believed the ill words of other gods and stood against us instead of leaving this world in the past."

Many Gods were known to be arrogant beings. Even in this situation, some bothered to fearlessly complain to the Observer.

To the side, however, the Philippine's God of Creation only watched with a troubled expression. A kind God like him would not join such a troublesome banter.

Instead, Bathala sat in meditation. Even if it was just a tiny portion, he must recover more of his energy. If it could help this world before he left, it would be a good thing.