Mutagen

Day 148 - 8:15 PM - San Miguel Municipal Health Office, Quirino Highway, District II, Municipality of San Miguel, Catanduanes

The Healthcare Office of the Municipality of San Miguel was not a large one. The entire area only occupied about 900 square meters of land, with two medium-sized buildings being the entirety of the compound.

The first building facing the road was a single-floor one that served as an office and clinic for minor health issues. It was the second building at the back that had the other facilities and the hospital ward.

And, of course, it was the second building that Mark's group and the workers occupied.

For safety, the workers were to use the second floor while Mark's group would take the first floor. Knowing the possible dangers, the workers agreed. Of course, they also wanted to be of help, being the ones saved by Mark and the others. However, as they already saw the prowess of Mark's group along the way, they could not deny the fact that they would be more of baggage than help.

As such, the workers only did what they could do, and that was to focus on cleaning and, later on, cooking food for dinner.

With the beds thrown out, everyone would sleep on the floor. The workers laid down the blankets they managed to bring from the Rebel Base. They even offered Mark's group some blankets, but the latter declined for some reason they did not know.

Since Mark's group had children with them, the workers wanted to insist on giving the blankets. However, they did not do so. Unknown to them, they subconsciously developed a servile attitude toward those with power. They questioned things less in fear of being punished or receiving the ire of someone superior. It was a negative side effect from being captured and forced to work. All the while, the workers feared for the lives of their loved ones.

Thus, even when they were worried about where the children would sleep, they just went off without questioning why Mark declined.

Well, unknown to them, Mark had better bedding options for his family. He did not want those blankets not washed for who knows how long.

While the cleaning was ongoing, those tasked with food were also doing their work.

The workers did not dare claim ownership of the food that they managed to collect from the rebel base. As such, they were already expecting something like watered-down porridge for dinner. It was their usual food while living in the rebel base. It was also the reason for being undernourished.

If not for Mutagen's positive effects on the human body, things might have been worse.

The workers were surprised, however. Mark allowed the cooks to use the sacks of rice and canned goods for cooking. He even prepared large slices of octopus meat. Although they were confused as to where the fresh-looking octopus meat came from in the middle of the mountains, everyone was looking forward to a sumptuous dinner.

Cooking for this large number of people was taxing for the cooks. Nonetheless, looking at the food they were cooking, they did not feel tired at all. None of them could remember when was the last time they were able to eat a fulfilling amount of food for a meal. That thought alone made the cooks do their best.

The sun finally set, and the workers on the second floor gathered to get eat meals. Used cooking oil lamps and lit up the rooms, and everyone feasted on the best food they had for months.

Mark's group, on the other hand, stayed on the first floor for dinner. While Mark preferred this arrangement, it was not the main reason. It would be more comfortable for the workers to eat together. While Mark's group were their saviors, they were still unfamiliar people. Furthermore, Mark did not want to get too familiar with the workers for reasons more than one.

The food was delicious for the workers. However, for some, instead of becoming happy, they felt sadder. While looking at their food, they could not help but remember their children.

Were they still alive?

If they were, were they eating good food like this?

Those kinds of questions entered the minds of the lonely parents.

Soon, all the food was gone, and everyone's stomach was satisfied. After the workers sat down and chatted, letting their stomach digest the food for a bit, everyone should go to sleep. They would have an early day tomorrow, and by what Mark deduced, they might arrive at the Military Settlement during the afternoon.

Mark's group was the same. They took a small room near the emergency room for a place to sleep.

As it was now time to rest, Mark instructed everyone to turn off the lights. Of course, it would be inconvenient to be in the dark. However, keeping the lights on was more dangerous than turning it off.

If the lights were left on, not only would it waste fuel, but it would draw attention to the hospital. The surroundings outside were extremely dark, after all. Many dangerous things would be attracted to the light. Gigantic insects were only the least of it. It might also draw the attention of the remaining Rebels if there were some to lurk nearby.

Soon, the Municipal Hospital was dark and dead silent. But of course, not all the workers were asleep. Some volunteered to take shifts and guard near the stairs of the second floor.

It did not take long for almost everyone to fall asleep. For the first time, the workers managed to sleep freely without fear of what the Rebels could do to them in the future.

As for Mark's group, everyone was tired. The several kilometers journey after fighting a bunch of rebels definitely took a toll on them. The girls did not even insist on playing before sleeping and just laid down on their beds saying goodnight.

Like usual, Mark was not entirely asleep. He was watching over Mei and the girls as they sleep beside him. Sleeping together in a few soft and clean mattresses lined up together was not bad. However, Mark could not help but feel a bit glad that Emika was sleeping near the wall and kicking it instead of other things.

But then, two hours after everyone slept, Mark was stricken by an odd feeling.

Mark could not help but look around. Mei was asleep hugging him, and the girls were also sleeping. Amihan was still there on her pillow above a table.

Closing his eyes, Mark felt that the workers were still in the same positions aside from the volunteers that already changed shifts. Chaflar was also outside where the parking area for ambulances and was deeply asleep.

Nothing was odd, but Mark could not help but get overwhelmed by the strange feeling.

As such, Mark slowly moved Mei away, taking care that she would not wake up. He then walked out of the room.

Mark did not stop until he reached the emergency door and went out.

After looking around, everything still appeared normal. But the odd feeling could not be shaken off.

Mark bent his knees and took two jumps to reach the roof of the hospital building. The elevation of the two hospital buildings of the Municipal Hospital was different. This made it easier to reach the roof of the second one by jumping onto the roof of the smaller building.

However, even from the roof, everything looked normal. Yes, it was dark. Nonetheless, that was how it was supposed to be in the middle of the mountains during the apocalypse.

Mark continued to observe the surroundings. However, instead of lessening, the odd feeling continued to grow stronger.

It was until...

"Papa."

Mark heard Abbygale calling him.

"So, this is why, huh."

Mark frowned.

Abbygale continued to call unto him as if asking for help.

However, Mark could clearly feel that Abbygale was sound asleep inside their room.

Furthermore, the voice was coming from the southeast, the area behind the hospital facing the river.

And as the voice wanted, Mark walked toward it. However, Mark did not forget to wake up Chaflar and told the dragon to keep a lookout.

Soon, Mark stood in the middle of the muddy ricefields by the riverside. Of course, the whole place was devoid of rice and was filled with tall wild grass instead.

That was when the call stopped.

"It seems like you noticed I'm not hypnotized, huh?" Mark smiled. "COME OUT!"

Mark was feeling uncomfortable.

By instinct, he could feel that someone or something was lurking around. After all, he could feel the predatory thirst that could also be felt from feral animals and highly mutated infected. However, Mark could not sense anything from his [Empathic Detection].

However, it seemed that his shouting triggered the enemies into showing themselves.

One by one, mounds of mud in the ricefields appeared, bursting out of them were small humanoid figures.

Mark could not help but frown even deeper.

The enemies were covered with mud and there were about two hundred of them. But one thing that Mark could tell, they were not infected. And yet, Mark could not sense any emotional fluctuation from any of them. Moreover, by how they were hunched, growling at Mark like beasts, these enemies might not have a mind of their own.

And the worst thing above all, the enemies around Mark were all children.

It was not hard to assume things.

After all, where would one see a whole bunch of children on this island? From what Mark knew, there was only one event that could lead to this.

"KRRYYAAAA!!!"

A loud screech-like cry sounded out from somewhere in the ricefield.

With that cry, the children began moving.

Some dove into the mud once more while the others started running.

In a few seconds, Mark could not see any of them. The only thing that made him sure that he was still surrounded were the sounds of squelching mud and rustling grass. From what it appeared, each child was moving as fast as a cheetah while running across the grass-filled ricefield.

Running in different directions, they were trying to disorient their prey.

SWOOSH!

Mark then heard some fast movements behind him.

Immediately as the sound was heard, Mark turned around. What he saw was a mud-covered naked little girl already mid-air leaping at him.

Mark then moved.

Stepping sideways, Mark dodged the girl's claws that passed an inch away from his neck. He then grabbed the girl's wrists with his left hand and grabbed her neck before pinning her to the ground.

SCREECH! SCREECH!

The girl screeched loudly and flailed violently. However, this girl that appeared to be five years old had no way of getting away from the grasp of Mark.

Finally, Mark managed to get a clear look at the assailant.

Mark could not help but feel pity.

The girl was extremely thin. Even though Mark held her on her wrists and neck, it felt like he was only holding at a skeleton. However, that was not the only thing.

She had yellowish-green pupils that could reflect light like animals. Her teeth were extremely sharp like a piranha. And her nails were like the claws of a cat.

Suddenly, memories of the Deity of Bloodshed and even the Elder Cultivator whose soul was absorbed by him flashed in front of his eyes.

"TSK!"

Mark clicked his tongue. He finally knew what happened.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!

While Mark pinned the girl to the ground, several more sounds rushed towards Mark. Some came from bursts of mud while the others rushed out from the tall grasses.

Suddenly, about nine more children were already mid-air, leaping to attack his back.

"You brats."

Mark murmured as both his [Blood Whips] and wings appeared from his back.

CLANG!

Clanging sounds echoed as the [Blood Whips] that turned metal and Mark's wings blocked the claws of the children attacking him.

SCREECH!

The girl on Mark's hands continued to screech and flail while the others were thrown back from the impact of their attacks getting blocked.

Conjuring a [Blood Metal] cuffs, Mark restrained the arms and legs of the little-girl before standing up.

Mark looked around, the children were wary of him.

"Hah..." Mark sighed. "Just what the hell did the demons in this island do?"

Those words came out of Mark's mouth.

After all, these children surrounding him were no longer humans.

From the memories that flashed in Mark's eyes, these children were called...

"Feral Demons."