Mutagen

Day 204 - 1:25 PM - Taal Lake, Municipality of Talisay, Province of Batangas

After eating a simple lunch, sumptuous considering Earth's current state, Mark's group was ready to go. But before continuing towards their journey south, Mark decided to stop by the gigantic lava monster they saw surface from the lava lake of Taal Lake.

Whether that lava monster that appeared was a magical creature or a [Mutated Infected], who would not feel curious what it was? It was not every day that one would see a moving creature with a lava-like exterior.

The [Mini Cube] floated high up in the sky while Mark jumped down to look. He did not intend to engage the creature immediately. Mark just flew close enough that it was within his detection area. If it was some sort of magical creature, Mark might leave it alone. After all, magical creatures were not mindless beings. They would not pose much of a threat unless provoked first.

It was different if it was a [Mutated Infected], however.

And when Mark reached enough distance for him to sense the creature's emotional fluctuations...

There was none.

It meant that this gigantic lava monster was a [Mutated Infected].

These gigantic [Infected] were labeled as [Behemoth Class] from what Mark learned in Corregidor Military Settlement. A rare kind of [Infected] that mutated into ginormous proportions, enhancing their mutations and abilities far beyond other [Infected].

But as someone with knowledge of Freed and the mutation tiers from the planet Eriellis, Mark had a different term for these creatures. These gigantic [Infected] was called a [Variant Level 6 Infected] in Eriellis.

What made these giant [Infected] different and called variants was the line of mutation they went through.

After reaching [Level 4 Mutation], there was a chance for the mutation to jump off to [Level 6 Mutation], entirely skipping [Level 5 Mutation]. The reason was yet to be known, even in Eriellis. This, however, would result in the [Infected] growing differently. This would cause the body of the [Infected] to grow larger to contain the mutation that their previous body would not handle.

And to say, these variant mutations were rare for a reason. It was because they were extremely dangerous beings. From the growth spurt of these [Infected], the mutations on their bodies would just grow stronger, and their bodies larger.

The mutated [Eye] that destroyed Eriellis was actually suspected to be the variant mutation that was left to grow alone.

That was why like what Mark intended to do with Sinogo, Mark decided to deal with this [Lava Infected] immediately. Something like this with a lava-like body would pose a great threat, especially to the current Earth.

Earth was now mostly covered with forests and grasslands from the [Spirit Dimension]. If this [Lava Infected] started roaming within those forests, there would only be one expected outcome.

An uncontrollable forest fire all over the country.

Well, the trees from the [Spirit Dimension] seemed to have more resistance to fire than regular trees. There would be no need to worry if the source of the fire was something normal. However, this [Lava Infected] could move. It was basically a walking source of forest fires.

Although the reason was unknown, it was good that this [Lava Infected] had yet to leave its nest. Who knows what disaster it would cause if it left sooner before Mark's group stumbled upon it.

With those thoughts in mind, Mark returned to the [Mini Cube].

"How is it?"

Mei asked Mark upon his return.

"That thing is a [Mutated Infected]," Mark replied. "We should deal with that immediately before it starts to cause trouble."

Everyone here, of course, except Abbygale and Miracle, understood the threats that such a creature could bring.

However, considering that it was a [Mutated Infected] clad in lava, how would they kill it?

Bullets would have no effect on a gigantic creature like that. Even explosives probably would not. Looking at the creature, it seemed to be even larger than the ones they encountered the other day.

One of their options that could possibly do this time was Chimetrice, causing Spera and Feng Zhiruo to look at him. After all, this [Humanoid Chimera] showed his prowess during the fight the other day by toppling a [Behemoth Class] with his bare hands.

However, Chimetrice was not responding to those gazes. He was pretty confident that Mark understood that he was not that omnipotent. While he had quite a sturdy body, there was no way he would go unscathed touching a bunch of molten rock. In the first place, the creatures used in his creation did not have much resistance towards fire-based enemies.

In the first place, Mark was not looking at Chimetrice.

Instead...

"Huh?" Spera noticed Mark staring at her to her surprise. "No, wait. Why are you looking at me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Mark tilted his head. "You're going to deal with that thing there."

"Whe-wha?! Wait! I know I've been annoying you these past days but are you really going to make me fight that? I'm going to die, you know? OUCH!"

Spera panicked until something hit her forehead. She stared at Mark, only to see him looking at her strangely as his right hand was still outstretched after flicking her head.

"Use your brain, alright? Who said that I'm making you fight that?" Mark said. "You didn't learn anything from school?"

Spera stared at Mark. Her eyes looked angry but also helpless.

"Well, I'm sorry," Spera glared at Mark. "I've never gone to school so how would I know what you have in mind?"

The atmosphere took a dive.

Amihan, Ilia, Chimetrice, and Miracle aside, everyone here was human, at least in the past. Since school was a mandatory thing even to poor families, it was a common thing to assume that Spera had gone to school. It was coupled with the fact that Spera barely shared her past with anyone here. In the first place, who would be proud to say everything of their past when they were nothing but a helpless slave?

In any case, whether he was on the wrong or not, Mark did step on a land mine here.

Suddenly, Spera felt someone embracing her.

"Why are you hugging me..."

Spera asked Mei, who embraced her while giving Mark a complaining eye.

"Alright, my bad."

Mark took a step back here. There was no way he would resist Mei's stare. Besides, although there was no one to directly blame here, he was the one who said the wrong things.

"What I wanted to say, is there's no need to fight that thing below." Mark continued. "You know your best ability, right? That's what we needed."

***

Finishing up the plan, everyone got ready. Well, it was not much of a plan, really.

There was only one thing to do, after all.

Below, the [Lava Infected] was moving around rather slowly. Although it might just be the exterior, its entire body was covered with hot, boiling, semi-liquid lava. Its body was too heavy and stiff to move around faster than it could right now.

Still, speed was the least of this [Infected's] concern. With its body structured like that, there were very few things around that could actually harm it. Not to mention that it was staying at the remains of Taal Volcano at the center of Taal Lake that turned into a giant lava lake. No dangers could come to it at all.

Well, none until now.

The [Lava Infected] was oblivious that it was about to get the largest shower of its life.

All of a sudden, a shadow loomed over the [Lava Infected]. It could not help but wonder why it suddenly became dark and looked around. Even the dumbest [Infected] would notice such a drastic change, not to mention something that mutated this advanced.

And then, the [Lava Infected] noticed the rather strong fluctuation of energy. The [Lava Infected] could only look up and finally found the reason for the sudden darkness that loomed over him.

A gigantic hole opened up in the sky. At first, it was all darkness inside the hole. It was until a torrential burst of water covered the darkness as it began to pour down.

Just in that initial burst of water, just how much was there? It was hard to tell. It was as if a metal drum with a mouth as wide as four city busses bunched with two parked side by side and the other two above the first pair had been toppled upside down.

It did not take long, the burst of water immediately turned into a pillar of water that fell unto the [Lava Infected].

And as dumb as the [Lava Infected] was, it stared blankly at the incoming pillar of water.

BOOOM!!!

Finally, the water poured unto the [Lava Infected], causing a large explosion. The heat of the [Infected's] body caused the water to drastically turn into steam, causing a large steam explosion. The explosion on the [Lava Infected's] body did not last too long, however, as more water poured unto it.

SIZZLE!

BOOM! BOOM!

Of course, the water would flow down the remains of Taal Volcano. As the flowing water touched the lava lake, sizzling sounds and more steam explosions ensued.

Almost immediately, the large part of the lake of lava was covered in foggy steam.

Finally, the hole in the sky closed down, causing the pillar of water to end from overflowing through it.

***

"And, that's it."

Mark said as they watched the result of their work. They were kilometers from the ground but they could still feel the searing heat of the steam rising towards the sky.

Spera sure was quite surprised with this. If it was just her, she would not think of connecting a portal underwater. Because of that, the water on the other side overflowed causing that pillar of water that caused the commotion below them. And the target of the portal? It was actually in Manila Bay since it was the most familiar mass of water to Spera since the world changed.

"What are we going to do next?"

Spera asked after closing her portal completely.

"Nothing really," Mark answered. "I mean, we need to wait until the steam dispersed. That won't take a short time."

That was true. The thick steam that now covered the lava lake would not disperse any sooner. There was no need to mention that even though the portal was already closed, the water that was poured unto the [Lava Infected] at the foot of Taal Volcano was still flowing down unto the lava lake.

***

Day 204 - 4:21 PM - Taal Lake, Municipality of Talisay, Province of Batangas

A few hours passed by. Finally, the thick steam became thin enough. With this, Mark decided to use the [Wind Manipulation Mental Crystal] together with Amihan's magic to blow away the remaining steam.

And as the strong wind swept across the lava lake, the result of their doings was unveiled.

There at the foot of Taal Volcano, a fifteen-meter tall stone statue had fallen unto the burnt ground. Its body parts had damage here and there probably due to the steam explosion, but it was mostly intact. Aside from the remains of the [Lava Infected], a patch of the lava lake surrounding the doused area had its surface solidified.

"What's next?"

Chimetrice asked Mark seeing the result.

And to say, Mark was scratching his head.

"I guess I'll go down and see if I can get something from that thing. We didn't get anything from the two [Behemoth Class] the other day, after all."

Mark was not really sure if he would get anything from this [Lava Infected]. After all, one factor that allowed Mark to know if he would be able to get a mutation from an [Infected] was its intelligence.

Furthermore, even if they were variant mutations, not all of them had [Mutagen Stones] inside their heads similar to other [Infected].

And this [Lava Infected] was clearly dumb. Mark was not expecting much from this one. In the first place, their goal in killing this guy was the threat it could pose.

Waving through the remaining heat of the lava lake, Mark half-heartedly flew down.

Mark observed the [Lava Infected]. It was clearly dead.

But then, Mark felt something. A familiar aura from the body of the [Lava Infected].

Mark could not help but touch it. Unexpectedly, the [PsyCrystal] reacted.

The new crystal formed in front of Mark's surprised eyes. Yes, a new crystal.

A crystal with an orb inside glowing like bellowing flames. Mark finally remembered this familiar aura.

"Gar'Vlam?" Mark murmured in confusion. "That guy's [Spirit Body] already escaped to Japan. Why did this guy have that [Flame Demon's] aura and [Magical Energy]?"

Mark was really surprised and confused. This [Lava Infected] actually bore the magical energy and aura of a deity level [Flame Demon].

This was really unexpected and something that was hard to understand.