Mutagen

<strong>Day 206 - 9:21 AM - Base of Mount Madia-as, Central Panay Mountain Range, Panay Island, Philippines</strong>

The Panay Island. It was one of many islands in the Philippines rich in ancient Filipino culture, history, and mythology. It was where the tribes that worshiped the Ancient Visayan Gods originated.

Those tribes resisted various terms of foreign occupation and refused to surrender their beliefs and religion. It was unfortunate that despite their loyalty to their faith, they ended up scattering to other places, in the end, burying most of their culture from the current history.

Nonetheless, despite most of those tribes leaving their homeland, the landmarks that represented their culture remained.

It was like how the second highest peak in the Visayas stood tall, the sleeping volcano, the Mount Madia-as.

This dormant volcano had its name in various spellings. It was either called Mt. Madia-as, Mt. Madja-as, Mt. Madya-as, and internationally, Mt. Madiac.

But aside from being the second-highest peak in the entire Visayas, this dormant volcano boasts a rich mythological culture.

Mt. Madia-as was said to be the home of various Visayan Gods.

Sidapa, the Visayan God of Death, was said to live in Mt. Madia-as. It was the same for the Visayan God of Meteors, Bulalakaw, before he chose to dwell in the sky to fulfill his role. The Visayan God of Second Chances, Pandaki, was also known to frequent the mountain to visit Sidapa.

And even the Visayan Supreme Goddess, Kanlaon, was said to live in Mt. Madia-as for some time before transferring her abode to another mountain, the mountain now called Mount Kanlaon.

Lastly, the Visayan Supreme Sky God, Kaptan, was said to pass by this very mountain every time he left his domain, the Kahilwayan, and go down to Earth.

And of course, the goal of Mark's group in this mountain, the passage to Kahilwayan.

But as it seemed, it was not someplace they could just go.

Mark's group arrived near Mt. Madia-as before sunset yesterday. At that time, they could just go and find a flat area near the peak of the mountain if they wanted to camp.

Yet, Mark's group decided to camp at the base of the mountain.

And the reason...

"A sacred ground is a sacred ground, after all."

Mark said, staring at the towering mountain before them.

Like Mount Banahaw, which was rumored to be a sacred mountain, Mount Madia-as was the same.

If Mark's group just went straight up the mountain, they would end up finding nothing unnatural. It would be a mountain, a dormant volcano, and that would be it. Nothing else.

But looking from below, Mark felt the same feeling when he brought Mei to Mount Banahaw. There was a secret domain in this place that not just anyone could enter.

"Look's like there is a barrier," Ilia said, looking at the same scenery as Mark. "Are we going to force it open?"

"Forcing it open would be easy for you."

Chimetrice said to Mark, agreeing with Ilia's suggestion.

In front of them was an invisible barrier. By the way, it looked, the invisible barrier encompassed the entire mountain from base to peak. However, it was not there to stop anyone from entering the mountain. Anyone could enter the mountain while passing through it. However, it would only lead to the physical mountain and not the hidden realm inside.

Forcing the barrier open was definitely easy for Mark. With a wave of his hand and a surge of [Miasma], he could create an irreparable hole through the invisible barrier. It was a viable way to get to their destination.

But, to the suggestion of the [Elder Succubus], Mark shook his head in disagreement.

"That will be faster, but it's better not to increase our enemies, right?" Mark stared in front. "We are not here to fight. The fighting comes later against that giant crocodile."

Mark would not mind fighting if it was the easiest way. However, there was nothing wrong with not instigating one in this situation. In the first place, they better conserve their energy for the bigger fight they would undergo soon.

The ones that maintained the barrier here were not the enemies. It was the [Infected God's Servant] they should fight.

"But how are we going to enter," Ilia asked. "I doubt they will just let us through."

"Let's see the situation first. Then take action depending on what happens."

Mark answered.

Of course, even though Mark said those words, he was sure of something. Them being Demons would definitely be welcomed with hostility.

"Let's call them first."

Mark said as he let out a crystal.

"Wait, you're not going to let it rain again, would you?"

Spera hurriedly asked, seeing the familiar crystal with a bluish glowing orb inside.

"Of course not." Mark shrugged while looking at Spera. "There is no need to, is there?"

And there, Mark released the magical energy of the [Storm Caller Mental Crystal]. Mark had the same reason as before. This crystal was not that suited for fighting. This made him not hesitate to release the crystal's magical energy for these kinds of things.

The strong magical energy enveloped the surroundings immediately. Even the barrier showed vibrations. Of course, it was far from breaking just from this. It was not the intention in the first place.

And as Mark wanted, the invisible barrier showed signs of movement.

Vibrations became visible in the empty space at the base of the mountain. It was as if the air became water, perturbed by a rock that fell in it.

Mark's group watched the scene. Slowly, the invisible barrier became visible, and like a very thin veil, it swayed sideward.

A woman came out, walking on the grassy ground bare-footed.

Seeing the woman, however, Mark could not help but feel weird.

It would not be surprising if the woman was another [Diwata]. After all, in Philippine Myths, [Diwatas] were known to rule sacred mountains.

And the woman's aura was similar to the [Diwatas] Mark met so far.

However, this [Diwata] also looked and felt different. The [Diwatas] Mark met before all wore light, white dresses resembling purity and beauty. The one in front of them was the opposite, wearing a long, black gown that was dragged along the ground.

And more than anything else... While she did have the aura and [Magical Energy] of a [Diwata], she also carried a bit of the chilling aura of death.

The black-dressed [Diwata] was not the only one that came out of the barrier. As the opening of the barrier widened, it revealed many creatures following her. There was a wide variety of magical creatures, both known and unknown.

Among them, there were two magical races with the most number.

One race appeared to be a centaur. However, while having a human torso, their heads were still of a horse. Furthermore, their horse bodies had wings.

The other race seemed to be women, each having less than three feet in height. All of them floated in the air, exhibiting their long, flaming hair.

Aside from these strange creatures, there were also [Sylphs] and other races that Mark had seen in other places.

By the looks of it, there was no need for Mark to call them. They should have known that Mark's group had arrived outside their barrier. However, they did not go out immediately since they had to gather their forces for the welcome party.

It also seemed like she was really wary of Mark's group to call up an army like this.

"Look's like they really aren't friendly," Ilia said with a bitter smile. "What's with the line-up? Are they going to war or something?"

Ilia was not really afraid. With Chimetrice standing in front of her, there was no way she would be. Not to mention she was a good combatant herself. Everyone else could not help but feel a bit intimidated. They immediately readied in case a battle broke out without warning.

As for Mark, he stared at the magical races gathered in front of him.

"I kinda expected to see [Bentohangins] and [Buralakaws] since they are natives of this island, but there's quite a number here."

Mark murmured. Even so, most of his attention was on the strange-looking [Diwata].

The bodies of [Diwatas] were like other elemental and spiritual races. It was made of [Magical Energy], and their appearance and clothing would change depending on the [Magical Energy] they had.

One good example was Artenaris. The leader of the half-breeds. She was a [Half-Diwata] and a [Half-Demon], resulting in her odd appearance and clothing.

This [Diwata] that was in front of them, however... She did not have an aura belonging to a [Demon]. She literally had the chilling aura of death, which likely caused her unique appearance.

"What does a group of [Demons] need from our sacred grounds?" The [Diwata] asked with a chilling tone. "For [Demons] to dare brave a God's abode."

The [Diwata] sure sounded condescending, even though not everyone in Mark's group understood her. Like usual, these earthly deities looked down on [Demons]. Even though she was speaking using [Spirit Language], Mei and the others could sense her hostility.

Nonetheless, while she was not showing it, Mark could detect a high level of cautiousness in the woman, especially when her eyes fell on him and Chimetrice.

It seemed that this [Diwata] was quite adept in perceiving the strength of individuals in front of her, which could be why she immediately amassed this army of hers.

Mark stared at the [Diwata]. There was no need to beat around the bush.

"We want to pass through. Our destination is the realm of Kaptan, the Kahilwayan."

At Mark's statement, it was not only the [Diwata]. Every member of her entourage was surprised.

"I do not know what your intention in finding the Kahilwayan is, but there is no way we will let you [Demons] enter. Not in our sacred grounds, nor in the realm of the Supreme Sky God."

"Well, this could be rough."

Ilia murmured as she glanced at Mark. She had heard it from other magical creatures she knew in the past, but the earthly deities of the Philippines sure were stuck-up towards [Demons].

"Do you really want to fight us?" Mark asked. "I'm pretty sure that you know that you won't win. You will just uselessly waste the lives of your people protecting the abode of a dead god."

<strong>"IMPERTINENT! How dare you disrespect the Supreme Sky God!"</strong>

The [Diwata] sure was angry at Mark for calling Kaptan a dead god.

And to this, Mark smiled.

Well, he was not fond of getting shouted at or the like. It was just...

Mark determined that this [Diwata] was a devout servant of the Ancient Visayan Gods.

"It makes things easier then."

Mark said to the [Diwata]'s surprise and confusion.

While Mark said their intentions in a way that would tell he did not intend to fight, it was easier for [Demons] to fight than negotiate.

Thus, the [Diwata] readied to give the signal to her people.

However, Mark thought differently.

Instead, he outstretched his hand forward, revealing the item inside his enclosed fist.

"Hey, you're the one who suggested for us to go find Kahilwayan. Can you get your minions to make way?"

Mark spoke at the item making everyone, even the members of his group confused. After all, none of them knew of the item and why it was with him.

But then, the item on Mark's hand pulsated and began to float above his palm. The aura of death began to envelop the surroundings. It was the very same aura that the [Diwata] with a black dress bore.

And surely, feeling the aura, the [Diwata] began shaking. It was not in fear or anger. It was nostalgia.

At the center of the surging aura of death, a figure immerged. It was a woman, who also wore a black dress. She carried the same but a stronger aura of death.

Staring at the figure, the [Diwata] stared with her eyes widely opened in shock. It did not take long before the first tear fell from her eyes.

<strong>"Mother!"</strong>

The [Diwata] called out to the figure, causing surprise to everyone present.