Mutagen

Day 204 - 8:21 AM - Molino III, City of Bacoor, Province of Cavite

Flying over the sky of Bacoor Cavite, it was the floating vessel, the [Mini Cube].

On the platform outside the door of the floating vessel, Mark sat down with Mei and the little girls, looking down at the scenery. Even Amihan was with them, sitting on Mark's head. Of everyone in Mark's group present in this vessel, it was only Mei and Abbygale that had seen this place before. Below them was the land where Mark grew up. Although Mark was not born in this place, he lived in Bacoor since he was five.

Mark witnessed how this place turned from a developing municipal area into a thriving city. Well, not thoroughly. Under his parent's watch, the places he could go were very limited in the past. In the least, he saw many crucial changes during the development of this place.

It was not like Mark was being sentimental or anything to pass by this place. However, he was indeed curious as to what changes happened to his hometown after the Fusion of Dimensions. Besides, their next destination was south towards the Visayas. Going on a slight detour southeast would not hurt.

And to say, Mark was kind of disappointed.

Mark wanted to see the current state of his hometown and compare it to the past. However, how could he do so when he could not tell where was what exactly?

The land changed too much. Places shifted, new mountains and hills appeared, forests covered most of the land, and all that was left of the past civilization were ruins.

Even if Mark had perfect memory due to being able to access his subconscious, it was useless. Finding an exact place now was extremely hard unless one was able to see a rather recognizable landmark.

However, what landmark could they find after an earthquake surpassing magnitude ten? All that was left from structures, even from the sturdiest buildings, were nothing but destroyed walls.

All that Mark could find was the general direction of Bacoor using Bay City as a landmark, but it was still not enough to pinpoint exact locations.

Too much had changed that this place did not feel like Mark's hometown any longer.

As the people said in the past, "it is what it is." There was nothing else that could be done. All that was left was to accept it.

Without anything else to do, Mark and the girls just went sightseeing. The [Infected] and [Mechids] aside, there were a lot of things to see from the sky. There were beautiful ones, ugly ones, but the most interesting things were those that came from the [Spirit Dimension].

Trees with crystal-like leaves, multi-colored glittering birds, and snakes with wings were just a few among the good examples.

Even though Mark did not manage to see what he was looking for below, it was not bad to just look around and appreciate the view.

While sightseeing, however...

"And what do you want now?"

Mark spoke, glancing at the roof of the [Mini Cube].

Of course, everyone's attention was turned to who Mark was talking to.

Sitting on the ledge was one of the [Eyes]. The [Eye of Interest], Nineteenth. No one noticed when she appeared. She even looked like she was joining Mark and the girls while sightseeing.

It had been a while since the [Eyes] appeared before Mark. It should be more than a month already. The last time was when Fourth showed up in her adult form during the arrival of the Second Wave.

Since then, the eyes did not make any appearance. For Nineteenth to appear here right now, something important might have happened.

It was not only Mark that noticed her, though.

"Is everything alright?"

From the door of the [Mini Cube], Chimetrice appeared. He immediately stared at Nineteenth the moment he stepped out. It was clear that he was ready to fight. After all, the aura emitted by the [Eyes] was similar to those of a god's.

However, to Chimetrice's readiness to fight, Mark replied.

"It's fine. That one is an [Eye]."

Chimetrice stared at the woman sitting on the ledge. She indeed had the features that only the [Eyes] had. Mark already mentioned to them before that the [Eyes] were their allies. However, as a weapon created to antagonize gods, Chimetrice was uncomfortable around one. It was even if they were not hostile.

"You don't have to worry. We are on the same side. I'll give my and my master's word for it." Finally, after staring back at Chimetrice, Nineteenth spoke. "You are someone created to fight godly beings. But as someone born in this world and created by its citizen, please direct that hostility to foreign gods trying to invade this world."

"For you to say that... It seems the issue about foreign gods and stuff aren't over yet."

Mark chimed in.

"It is something that will never be over." Nineteenth replied to Mark's words. "Not all gods can make a world of their own. However, many of those gods needed a world to rule. The only way for them is to invade another god's creation. And something like Earth that is not directly managed by its creator is a nice target for them."

"Even now, we have yet to find and oust all the hidden gods." Nineteenth continued. "I'm afraid they might start moving soon. That is why we are rather busy."

Then, Nineteenth stared at Mark.

"So, please. As someone not bound by destiny, don't create too many ripples."

Those words became a source of confusion for Mark and everyone present.

"What do you mean?"

Mark asked.

"Hahh..." Nineteenth sighed. "Are you really doing it without knowing? This is already the second time in one month. As it is something that could not be helped, we don't really mind you changing people's destinies. However, to change the destiny of several thousand people at once, there was no way it would not have drastic effects."

At this point, it dawned unto Mark what Nineteenth meant.

Due to the circumstances in Corregidor Military Settlement, Mark decided to take the settlement's matters into his own hands. In order to make sure that his friends and allies would live a better life there, he made the president step down before Mark killed his allies. Lastly, he put General Perez as the new leader of the settlement and was likely to be considered as the acting president of this country.

However, Mark was someone not bound by destiny. By doing all those things, he affected and changed the destinies of everyone involved.

Then, it meant that Mark's actions on a greater scale were affecting the destinies of people and drastically changing their futures.

But then, something entered Mark's mind.

"But why only now?" Mark asked. "I did the same when [Auraboros] tried to take Bay City under their control. It's not only me who got involved but also Mei'er. You and Fourth did not say anything about that."

"Because back then, it is different." Nineteenth answered. "You have yet to notice since it is still minuscule. But you're already gaining a very little amount of [Existential Energy]."

This made Mark even more confused. This was the first time he heard about this so-called [Existential Energy]. Was it a type of [Magical Energy]? Like [Mana], [Ether], and [Miasma]?

"[Existential Energy] you say?" Chimetrice spoke, seemingly surprised. "Isn't that the source of the powers of gods?"

Except for Nineteenth, everyone abruptly turned to Chimetrice. What he said was a bomb. Definitely a bomb.

And to supplement the words from Chimetrice, Nineteenth explained.

"[Existential Energy] is something that defines the strength of someone's existence. Most gods needed this energy to maintain their strength."

"Wait," Mark interjected. "Don't gods gain more energy through people's worship?"

Here, Nineteenth smiled.

"Seems like you got the gist of it."

"Oi, don't joke around like that." Mark frowned. "Since when did I present myself as a figure of worship?"

"The other [Eyes] might, but I am someone who doesn't find jokes as something interesting."

At this point, Mark was racking his brain. When? Where? How? Who?

Mark was really confused. He had never been confused like this even when his [Empath] abilities had yet to bloom.

"It looks like that it would be a good punishment for you." Nineteenth nodded. "I would not divulge any other information about this to you. So, make sure to contemplate."

After saying those words, Nineteenth stood up. It looked like she only appeared to tell Mark that message and warn him about his actions.

"You're just leaving without explaining further? Seriously? You're just here to give me a warning?"

Mark hurriedly spoke.

"I am done with my work here, why can't I leave? Besides, it is not really a warning but more of telling you the effects of your actions. We also have other things to do, but the ripples you are creating made it a bit harder for us to do our work." Nineteenth sighed once again. "Think of Earth as a pail of stagnant water. In order to find the other gods who are also not bound by fate, we had to find the minuscule ripples they might create. But then, a large ripple just appeared, drowning all the other ripples. And that ripple is you."

Nineteenth continued further.

"The hidden gods were trying hard to hide their ripples. Obviously, your ripple will stand out and drown theirs. I believe you understand how important for us to find those stragglers from other worlds. We do not mind you creating ripples from time to time but refrain from creating really big ones."

Knowing that Nineteenth had no intention to tell Mark about him getting worshipers and changing the topic, Mark gave up. Instead...

"Why are you the one here anyway?" Mark asked. "Isn't fourth the one in charge of me?"

"Since you can't get the answer from me, are you thinking of getting it from Fourth?" Nineteenth stared at Mark mischievously. "You don't have to worry, Fourth won't appear in front of you a long while. You are doing great but her other candidate isn't. Thus, she is there to guide her other candidate. And in any case, Fourth did not have even a single idea about your current state, so you will not get any answer from her."

Mark was getting annoyed. As someone that did not really want too much attention, knowing that he was a center of worship somewhere felt really uncomfortable.

"By the way." Something entered Mark's mind. "Our next plan is to deal with Sinogo. Won't that create the ripples you are talking about?"

"You have no need to worry about that one." Nineteenth replied. "Since it is something that we already knew beforehand, we could prepare things on our side. It is just the things you had done so far are too abrupt for use to do anything."

By the looks of it, things would be fine as long as the [Eyes] were informed beforehand. However, how would that be possible every time? The [Eyes] would only appear whenever they could, after all.

"Well then, I should depart." Nineteenth said. "Until next time."

And there, Nineteenth stepped backward with a door of light opening behind her.

"They really just come and go."

Amihan, who hid behind Mark the moment she saw Nineteenth, spoke.

"Well, I just got informed of something annoying."

Mark was not glad, however.

"It seems I don't have to congratulate you if you are that annoyed."

Chimetrice, who stood by the door said to Mark.

"Don't... Just don't..."

Mark was getting a headache.

"Gege, isn't it good?" Mei said. "If you are getting that [Existential Energy], doesn't it mean you'll get even more powerful?"

Mark turned to Mei. She was right. However, Mark really felt uncomfortable knowing this.

And if Nineteenth really wanted to punish Mark for making their work harder, she did succeed horribly.

"Haahhh..."

Mark let out an empty sigh. He wondered how this situation would end up.

Then, Mark scratched his head as he forgot to ask something.

Nineteenth said that what he did in Corregidor was the second one. Then, when was the first?