Mutagen

Day 154 - 6:42 PM - Mountain area, Municipality of Algeria, Province of Cebu

Up the mountains northeast of Barangay Madrijelos, fierce beastly roars and loud sounds of gunshots echoed loudly.

"Damn! This is really a bad idea!"

Denver shouted as he sidestepped to evade an incoming attack.

And their enemies? It was a pack of evolved feral dogs that ambushed their group as they went up the mountains in the middle of the night.

"Just shut your mouth and fight!"

Caudillo roared as he grabbed the neck of a dog much larger than him. He then jumped over the dog's neck, twisting the dog's head clockwise. The huge body of the dog fell, and the fierce fisherman rushed towards the other enemies.

Following the arrangements that they decided on, the survivors of Liloan Settlement left the Madrijelos National High School and made their way up the mountains before sunset.

It was a tough endeavor and a huge gamble.

Normally, no one would want to travel through the mountains during the night ever since the apocalypse started. It was the time when more evolved animals hunt food, and for humans, the surroundings were hard to see. Thus, it would be easy for humans to fall into ambushes from packs of evolved animals.

However, they had to go under such a predicament at this moment. If not for them having guns and people from the military, things might have gone worse.

BAM!

Officer Emilio caused a loud sound as his stone-covered fist punched one of the dog's head into pulp.

"PUSH FORWARD! DON'T FALTER!"

The military officer roared, increasing everyone's morale.

"Damn..." Denver looked at Officer Emilio. "That guy's charisma as a leader is at an all-time high."

"That is why he is our leader, isn't it?" Caudillo smiled. "He was never able to show this talent of his back then, though."

"Yeah, I heard that one." Denver nodded. "One of his superiors saw this talent of his and tried to push him down due to competition in the army, right?"

"That's what they say." Caudillo replied. "We can't really know what happened since that superior died because of the tidal wave. What we know is Officer Emilio do have this talent."

Everyone was fighting fiercely to clear their way up the mountain. As their leader, Officer Emilio, was fighting in the front, none of them even tried to slack.

But all of a sudden...

BOOOM!!!

A loud explosion overshadowed the sounds of roars and gunshots. It was too loud that the feral dogs were startled frozen. The feral then became prey to the bullets as an unmoving target was easier to hit.

Still, after the last of the dogs fell dead, the people did not feel relieved. A lot of them were staring in one direction. It was the direction where the explosion came from.

The new moon had just passed, and it was early in the evening. The crescent moon still gave out a bit of light for everyone to see the thick wall of smoke floating up to the sky.

"Isn't that direction that town occupied by the Tamawos?"

Doctor Janice voiced out, making everyone in the know realize what was going on.

"They really did it," Denver spoke. "They really are attacking those vile creatures."

"What, you didn't believe it before?"

Caudillo questioned the handsome man.

"Just who in the right mind would believe that kind of thing, huh?" Denver retorted. "It's all of you guys who are weird to believe that a small group like that would storm a base of enemies with several times greater number compared to their members!"

No one was able to retort Denver. In the first place, the only reason they were inclined to believe was because of Doctor Janice and her findings of the strength of that group. If not for her, they would be like Denver, who was still skeptical.

In any case, they could only hope that those vile creatures that enslaved and ate humans were destroyed by Mark's group.

***

Day 154 - 6:50 PM - Town of Matutinao, Municipality of Badian, Province of Cebu

Up the sky of the town occupied by the Tamawos, Mark stared at the scene below. Using miasma to cover his body, he was basically undetectable under the night sky.

He turned towards the south, the direction of the high school that was now abandoned.

"They should be up the mountains, now, right? There is a slight sound of gunfire echoing in the mountains. If they were that far already, it's unlikely for them to get caught in the trouble we are going to start."

Mark then turned his eyes back to the town. In a few moments, the slaves would gather inside the elementary school for dinner before they go back to their dwellings. It was the best time to strike since most of the humans in the town were gathered in one place. After dinner, they would disperse once more since their dwellings were scattered all over the place. It was a countermeasure so that the humans would have less time interacting with each other and lowers the chance of them plotting an escape.

Soon, guarded by Tamawo Warriors, groups of human slaves arrived at the school for their rationed dinner.

"Well then..." Mark smirked. "It's time to start everything with a huge bang."

Mark then took out something huge from his ring. If anyone was to see this, they would feel their scalp feel numb in fear.

What Mark took out was a cluster of dynamites stuck together with duct tape. There were even other types of explosives mixed in. These were explosives that Mark's group took from the rebel's armory. It was not that many, but this amount could definitely blow up a house or two.

Yet, half of the explosives that Mark's group had were used to make this abomination of a disaster.

However, Mark had no regrets about doing this. In the first place, they were not doing anything like a covert operation in this town. He needed to get as much attention as possible.

Why?

The more commotion he created here, the higher the chance that the tribe of Tamawos would send their warriors to this place.

And thus...

Mark lit up the fuse of the frightening cluster of explosives. His eyes were gleaming sinisterly as his hands let go.

A few sharp-eyed Tamawos saw the large thing that was falling in the sky, specifically, its fuse that was emitting light like stars.

The cluster of explosives fell on the area where most of the houses in the town were grouped.

And then...

BOOOM!!!

Flames rose up in the sky, engulfing several houses made of flammable materials. The explosion created a shockwave that was felt meters away. Tamawos guarding the place died immediately, without even knowing what was going on.

As the town was now covered in trees and vines because of the Tamawos, the fire began to spread out. Not to mention that the houses that were engulfed by the explosion immediately burst into flames, spreading to nearby structures.

All of a sudden, in a span of seconds, the whole town was in chaos.

The human slaves were scared to the core. The explosion happened just across the river and the school where they were eating was built by that same river. Some of the debris from the explosion flew in their direction. However, something strange happened. The debris flying towards them suddenly changed directions mid-air as if they were blown away by the wind.

But as if one explosion was not enough...

BOOM! BOOM!

More explosions happened all over the town.

It was because Mark flew around in the sky, throwing grenades and sticks of dynamites at places where he could see Tamawos running away.

That was when the Tamawos that witness the death of their tribesmen realized what was happening.

"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!! SOUND THE ALARM! SOUND THE ALARM! QUICK! SOUND THE-"

BOOOM!!!

One Tamawo issued orders to his tribesmen. It was clear that he had a higher position. It was his last order, however, since, after a sudden clunking sound by his feet, he was engulfed by a grenade explosion.

Mark threw the last explosive he intended to throw with satisfaction. Of course, he made sure to let go of some Tamawos to inform their tribe about what was going on.

And then...

TTUUUUUUUUOOOOOOMMMM!!!

The loud sound of a horn was heard. It was the alarm that the higher-ranking Tamawo that died ordered to sound.

Now, everyone in the town knew that they were under attack. Without further ado, Mark removed the Miasma that covered his body and landed on the roof of one building near the bridge of the town.

Everyone could see him in that location, whether it was the Tamawos scattered everywhere or the human slaves in the school.

And with their enemy showing himself, the Tamawos began to surround Mark. This, however, made him smile. So far, it was going according to plan.

***

Day 154 - 7:21 PM - Tamawo Ancentral Tribe, Hidden Realm, Municipality of Algeria, Province of Cebu

Inside the castle of the tribe of Tamawos, the current king, Artile, was walking back and forth in front of his wood-woven throne.

It had been several hours since the mark of the king started resonating with something. Yet, no answer was found out about the situation.

Not long, someone entered the throne room. It was the tall Tamawo and the right-hand man of the current king, Terville.

"How is it? Did that old bastard give an answer about the situation?"

Artile immediately asked as Terville entered.

"My apologies. That Erille might be old, but he is one of the people that is toughest to crack."

Terville answered, kneeling on the ground on one leg.

"Tsk..." Artile clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Did he even say anything that we can use as clues?"

"His mouth is tight shut, my King," Terville replied. "However, he seemed to be delighted after learning about what happened to the mark. And considering that old man, there might only be one possibility that could make him that happy."

Those words of Terville made Artile clench his fist in anger. The tall Tamawo was definitely correct. There was only one thing that could make that old man happy, and it was Artile's older brother, Pefile.

The current king's eyes almost turned red in anger. This situation was angering and humiliating.

He was the king at this moment. Yet the mark that he was supposed to wield never responded to his calls. And now, was it resonating with his brother? This situation meant that the mark recognized Pefile as the new king and not him!

"Where is that old man?"

Artile asked.

"In the dungeons, my king."

Terville replied immediately.

"Good. Make sure to make him suffer and regret his impertinence."

"Yes, my king."

With this exchange, the faith of the old man was sealed in the stone. It was way worse than being exiled, without a doubt.

But then...

A Tamawo warrior came running into the throne room without any regard to the people around him.

"My king! My king!"

The warrior repeatedly called out even though he was already standing in front of the king. It was clear that he was not in the right mind and was heavily panting in panic.

"You bastard, where is your respect? You are in front of the king!"

Terville pushed the warrior away. As the warrior was already tired, he immediately fell on his bottom. Nonetheless, he did not seem to feel the pain, and his eyes were focused on Artile.

"M-my king! The town! The town we occupied is under attack..."

And as the warrior felt relieved after relaying the news to their king, he collapsed. It seemed that the warrior forced himself to run from the town to here as fast as he could. Now, his stamina was fully depleted. After all, the distance of their realm from the town was not a short one.

"What in the world is happening this time?!" Artile growled as he stared at the unconscious warrior and turned to Terville. "Terville, gather our strongest warriors! I'm going to lead them to battle. Who or whatever is attacking our territory, I'll make them pay!"

Terville was silent for a bit, looking down at the unconscious warrior. He then raised his head and turned to the king.

"My king, let me lead the battle. It was better for you to stay here. I'm sure that whatever is happening in the town, it would reach our people. They would need you to pacify their worries."

Artile fell silent at Terville's words. He could not refute it, however.

"Alright, I'll heed your words." Artile nodded. "I'll stay here. Make sure to make my words come true. Make the enemies pay with their flesh and blood."

"Yes, my king."

Terville made a last kneel before storming out of the throne room.