Mutagen

Day 193 - 12:15 PM - Night Everred Spirit Tree Subdimension, Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Province of Quezon

It was early lunchtime, but Mark was inside the Chiyo's subdimension with Brynhildr.

Yesterday, the activation of the two remaining golems was delayed due to the barrier reaching the end of its protection. Now, Mark was watching the two new golems move around and test their capabilities.

Like Brynhildr, he gave the two animal golems names and alias. The giant rabbit was given the name Inaba and alias Naba, while the canine-feline golem was given the name Cavall and the alias Vall.

The naming pattern of the three golems was quite clear. It might sound unnecessary at first, giving them aliases. However, it was something that Mark thought to be important. Crafted golems were not autonomous in most cases. In order for them to move, they needed to receive an order from either their creator or master. However, there could be situations that their longer names could be a hindrance. For example, emergencies. Even just a syllable short with their names could save time and be a huge thing to influence the situation because the golems moved a millisecond earlier.

As the two animal golems moved around, Mark closely observed their movements. Their legs, necks, joints, and even their tails, he stared at every part scrutinously. While the [Magic Circuits] might be functioning correctly, it did not mean that the body parts were the same. For example, a small nick of metal stuck in the joints could make the golem a bit stiff as it moved. However, the golems themselves would not know that was the case. As such, it was the creator's duty to observe and adjust the parts of the golems.

Mark wanted that when he presented the golems to the girls, they were perfect.

And now that the barriers were gone, he had to work on these golems more. Mark had to finish working on them as soon as possible.

With the barriers gone, there were fewer reasons for Mark to stay around. And there were more reasons to go out.

Yes, go out.

Staying in the base was fine and all.

The insides of the walls were safe, there was food and water, and taking baths was not a problem. Mark could even play games with his laptop and the few computers that Odelina and the others brought back.

However, Mark was blessed or maybe cursed to do things. Things that he did not imagine that he had to do in the past.

First was the task that Freed gave him. It was to find the remaining inheritors and determine if they were worthy of the psychic abilities that they received.

Freed also gave him an impossible task to find the source of the dilemma plaguing the galaxy at the moment. Of course, it was not something that he could do anytime soon. And as said, it could even be impossible. Besides, he already knew from the Eyes. The situation was a blunder created by the Observer of another planet. The mystery was already answered if Mark was to be asked. There might be no need to leave this planet anymore.

Aside from the tasks that Freed left him, Mark also needed to deal with the problem with Auraboros. So far, Mark's group had experienced four hostile interactions with this dark-world organization.

The first was when the individual called "The Great One" and his minions attacked Bay City's forces in Ninoy Aquino International Airport and even tried to abduct Mei.

The second time was when the very same forces attacked Bay City, sacrificing people and resurrecting the [Flame Demon] Gar'Vlam.

The third time was when the forces of Auroboros' China Branch located the Mountain Base and attacked it, with one of the Eyes that became "The Great One's" puppet joined the fray.

And lastly, during Chimetrice's resurrection, where several groups from different branches of Auraboros attacked them. Although it was instigated by Ninth as a test for Mark and Chimetrice, there was no doubt that the members of Auraboros were hostile from the start.

With such a worldwide organization lurking in the shadows, Mark could never feel safe. Not only for himself but for those that he cared for. It was especially since "The Great One" had a serious interest in Mei.

Sooner or later, Mark would make sure that this organization would vanish from the surface of this planet. Of course, it would not be easy, but it was not as impossible as flying to space to find the source of the pathogen where [Psypathogen] and [Mutagen], even the [Mechid Pathogen], came from.

These three tasks might already cost Mark a lifetime. But it was not all.

And in the far future, or maybe soon. Mark was expected by the Eyes and the Observer to become the incarnation of an Evil God. The very same foreign god whose drop of blood was the origin of the Blood Demon Race. When that time came, he would need to deal with the spirit of the Evil God for good. Of course, it was not something that he would tackle alone. However, it was still one of the tasks he was given. And the possibility of dying in this one compared to fighting the Auraboros was much higher.

Lastly, the situation in the Visayas. The mythological Deity, Sinogo, became a gigantic infected crocodile with godly powers. He needed to be dealt with as soon as possible to prevent him from growing stronger. In the process, Magwayen told him to find the location of Kahilwayan, which was now supposed to be an abandoned kingdom of Supreme God Kaptan.

It was not a task that anyone else gave him. He imposed it on himself. However, it was necessary if he did not want the events on the planet of Eriellis to repeat on Earth. It was not like he wanted to be a hero or something. He just did not like Earth to get destroyed now that he found a life he wanted to live in.

Aside from those things, Mark also thought of visiting Infanta and, more importantly, Bay City. With the barriers down, the situations in those places could be much worse.

Karlene's father was still in Infanta. Although she was not mentioning it, she extremely worried about her father's situation since yesterday.

As for Bay City, Mark's friends were still there. But more importantly, General Perez and his family. The General took good care of Mei and the others in his absence. He would not hesitate to return the favor and help them now.

Of course, there was still a problem. While New Infanta Settlement was just a few hours of flight from the base, and now, Spera could open a portal to go there instantly, Bay City Settlement was the complete opposite.

"Hahh..."

Mark sighed.

After all, he had a lot of things he wanted to do but also had difficult things that he had no choice but to do.

But thinking about it, these things were on his list because he was capable of doing them. Mark was unlike most people in the apocalypse. Most people could only freeze behind their walls in fear of the infected, questioning their possibility of surviving and live on for tomorrow.

Mark and his people had more leeway for survival than others. Thus, they had more opportunities to do things other than just trying to survive.

With those things in mind, Mark continued to do his work with the golems, keeping in mind what things he should take note of and what he needed to adjust. Pretty much things like replacing the springs on Inaba's right hind leg or adjusting Cavall's neck joints.

While on his work, however, someone entered Chiyo's subdimension.

Mark turned his head and saw Mei with a lunch box in her hands.

"You're trying to skip lunch again."

Mei said in a complaining tone the moment she arrived beside Mark.

The guilty Mark did not reply, making Mei sigh. He then received the lunch box from her and immediately ate under her watch. His eyes did not stop observing the two animal golems. The two walked around in the shape of an 8 repeatedly under his orders.

"They all looked good already. Gege should present them to the girls already. They were eager to see the golems you made."

Mei said as she looked at Brynhildr and the other two golems.

"They still need some more adjustments." Mark shrugged. "These are not just toys. They will help protect the girls."

Mei could only nod as she took a seat beside Mark. If these golems would keep the girls safe, there was no way that Mark would do careless work.

"You don't make it obvious, but you really love those three, don't you?"

Mei asked with a smile.

"Will you laugh if I say that I thought of wanting to have a daughter in the past?"

Mark suddenly said, making Mei look at him.

"Is it funny to be laughed at?" Mei asked back. "I think it's a good thing thinking about the future."

"A pretty impossible future at that time," Mark said. "Thinking about wanting a daughter is just stupid if I never even had a single girlfriend in my entire life."

"Now, you have three daughters, though," Mei said as she started to blush. "And someone to call your wife."

Mark then smiled. It was a genuine smile that carried his true emotions.

"Yeah, I guess I got lucky because the apocalypse came," Mark said. "If it didn't happen, I might be still stuck inside my house alone, waiting for anyone to contact me to make costume props for them. And then having problems whether I have enough budget for other things after I paid the house bills."

At Mark's remarks about himself, Mei could only smile. She was the same. If the apocalypse did not come, Mei might still be some puppet of her family waiting for her wedding to a person she never liked for the sake of money. Mei might have had some traumatic experiences at first, but that became the start of her better life in the apocalypse.

p Sitting side by side, Mei leaned her head on Mark's shoulder. The two then watched the golems for some time.

After a while, Mark already finished checking the golems for what to adjust. Soon, he would start readjusting things and creating new parts to replace those bad ones.

But before that, Mark spoke to Mei.

"After finishing the golems, I plan to leave the base."

Mei turned to Mark, but her expression showed that she was not surprised.

"Then, we will wait here. Leave the base to us."

Mei said. She did say that she wanted to be with Mark in his journeys. But she would not force it if Mark said that he wanted to be alone.

"What are you saying?" Mark asked, confused. "Odel and Huey can lead the base just fine. Although Odel will probably grumble being left behind again."

"We are coming too?"

Mei asked. After all, Mark's future travels would probably end up more dangerous than the ones in the past. It would not be surprising if Mark decided to leave them behind to be safe.

"Of course, you and the girls are," Mark said as if it was a matter of fact. "Although things are more dangerous, you and the girls are also getting stronger. I'm pretty sure we can just treat it as a kind of spicy outing."

Mei could only look at Mark with half-closed eyes. He would probably be the only person that would call his dangerous travels an outing.

In any case, Mei was happy. If it was dangerous, then just be more careful. And Mark would definitely not let them get into harm.

"But where are we going first?"

Mei asked so that she could prepare things for the journey.

"First would be New Infanta. Then we will go back to Bay City."

Mark replied.

Mei nodded in response. In fact, she was also worried about Paula and Angeline in Bay City. Those two were her first friends in the apocalypse, after all.