Mutagen

Although right now, the situation was the complete opposite. At this moment, only less than a third of its previous occupants and the members of the Neutral Faction of the rebels lived here.

During the start of the outbreak, the Military came here to evacuate people. Of course, not everyone would want to leave their homes. As there was also a lack of manpower and vehicles, the soldiers could not enforce a forced evacuation. Furthermore, unlike typhoons and earthquakes, there was barely any sign that the world was ending. Many people did not believe and refused to believe. As such, a lot of people remained.

Actually, it was the same for the rebels that were stationed in Catanduanes. At first, they thought that the evacuation and end of the world stuff were just government propaganda.

It was until the hard truth struck everyone when evolved animals soon attacked, and everyone was unprepared.

The remaining population of the barangay drastically lessened, forcing everyone to hole in their houses. It was all while the evolved animals roamed the streets. With barely any supply in hand, many more people died.

It was until the Neutral Faction of the Rebels occupied the barangay. They secured the compound of the Pandan District Hospital as their base.

And now, every person living in this barangay was inside that compound.

***

At the edge of the forest, east of the Pandan District Hospital, Mark landed with Chaflar.

Since the District Hospital was at the east edge of the Barangay, the only things that stood between the east forest and the barangay were a wide patch of farm fields and a river. As such, the base of the Neutral Faction was already within Mark\'s detection range. As Mark picked a place with higher elevation to land, he could also see a large part of the compound.

And to say, compared to the state of the Military Settlement, the state of the base here was disappointing.

Of course, comparing the two using manpower was unreasonable.

If comparing a small faction and the Military, there was no doubt that the latter surpassed the former. But of course, that was not what Mark was using as a basis.

It was just...

The walls that surrounded the compound looked sloppy.

It was tall, alright. Probably about five meters in height. However, everything seemed to be made of scrap.

That was right, scrap.

It was like those kinds of cheap walls one would see when playing zombie-base building games. The one that would make anyone question whether their base would be safe with those walls.

Nevertheless, since the base was still standing strong, these walls might actually serve their purpose, in the least.

However, it did not hide one fact. The Neutral Faction was not only undermanned but also lacked building materials to build a proper base.

Even in Mark\'s point of view, he could see many structures that appeared like something you would see in a squatters compound.

Fortunately, as Michael mentioned earlier, their parents, specifically their mother, was held in high regard. They were currently in one of the most secure places in the compound.

What surprised Mark, however, was that it was not only his family members who were here. He could also detect their other relatives. To be specific, their mother\'s siblings and their families. It was kind of strange for some reason. After all, from what he knew, they were all living scattered all over Catanduanes. Since the outbreak came too sudden and the Military conducted an evacuation, it was almost impossible to see them all in one place.

Mark could not help but think that there were other powers at play here. However, there were hidden circumstances of his family, specifically on his mother\'s side. As such, this situation was not impossible.

And to say, it seemed that the answer was not far from Mark at all.

Since they landed, Chaflar was already uneasy and was on tight guard.

Why?

"Is there really a need for all of you to surround us?"

Mark spoke using the local language, Bicolano. He asked that question while panning his eyes in the surroundings.

That was right. It was not only Mark, Chaflar, and the unconscious guys who were here. The moment they landed, they were slowly being surrounded.

It was not like Mark cared about it, though.

Nonetheless, there was something that even he did not expect.

And who surrounded Mark and Chaflar? No, what should be the more appropriate question.

They were already found out. As such, those that surrounded Mark and Chaflar slowly showed themselves.

Some slowly emerged from behind the trees. A few actually popped out of the ground. While some appeared like ghosts.

And to say, none of them were humans.

There were those black-skinned children that were lurking at the side. Some were races that Mark had seen before in the Spirit Dimension were also present. There were also Tamawos like Pefile among the crowd. However, Mark could tell that they were not related to Pefile at all. It was because they had the different colors and styles of the tribal markings on their bodies.

But the most unexpected were some creatures that looked totally out of place.

An example was a lady in white, a shadowy figure wearing western medieval armor, and even a ball of blue flames hovering in the air.

Nonetheless, while they were unexpected, their existence did not surprise Mark that much. The thing that surprised him the most was the woman standing beside one of the Tamawos that seemed to have a high position in this group.

Mark observed the surroundings. About fifty different creatures were surrounding him and Chaflar.

And there, slowly coming into existence, a beautiful woman donned in a white dress and flower accessories appeared. There was no doubt that she was the leader of these people.

Looking at the Diwata that appeared, Mark remembered one of the folklores he heard before.

There was a mountain in Catanduanes that locals call "Hiraya." And to say, it was a mountain filled with stories of wonders.

Even their closest Aunt shared her own story of how she accidentally entered an unfamiliar place in the mountain which looked like a sanctuary.

If such a magical sanctuary existed in the mountains, there was no doubt that it would be managed by a Diwata. Mount Banahaw was the same, after all.

And now, Mark was being surrounded by that Diwata and her entourage.

As the Diwata opened her eyes, the first thing she panned her eyes to were the five little people that were unconscious and tied on Chaflar\'s back. And another surprise came. She actually included Michael in her attention.

"What have you\'ve done to them, Demon?"

The Diwata asked with hostility.

That question was more than enough to make Mark realize the issue here.

Most Spirit and Elemental Races were hostile to Demons. The opposite was also the same. It was not surprising that they concluded that Mark had done and planned to do some ill things as a Demon.

Mark looked at the Diwata straight in the eye and shrugged. Taking his eyes away from her, he approached Chaflar. The movements he made surely pushed the surroundings to be on guard.

But then, Mark took off the chains that affixed the unconscious people on Chaflar\'s back.

Mark then looked at the Diwata.

"If you\'re worried about them, then take them back."

That gesture made the surroundings confused. They could not fathom what in the world was going on.

The Diwata was also wary. But as Mark removed the chains, she began to move.

She waved her hands like a conductor of an orchestra. And then, strong winds enveloped the surroundings before the wind focused on the five little people on Chaflar\'s back. Slowly, the five floated towards their companions, who eagerly received them.

And then, unexpectedly, Michael was also lifted away from Chaflar\'s back before he was caught by the Spirit wearing the Medieval armor.

But then, Mark spoke.

"Can\'t you take all of them?"

"Hah?"

The Diwata was appalled, staring at Mark incredulously.

"I came here to drop them off to the people there," Mark added while pointing his thumb at the base of the Neutral Faction. "Since you already took those, why not take them all?"

Sure enough, Mark\'s words were taken with confusion in the surroundings. Thus, Mark repeated.

"I just came here to return them. Can you take these other people too?"

The Diwata frowned.

"You don\'t have to repeat what you said using different words. I understood what you wanted to say."

"Then?"

Mark asked.

"Those humans are not our responsibility."

The Diwata said, glancing at the other unconscious men.

Mark shrugged. Sure enough, things were getting more and more interesting.

"I see."

Mark said before panning his eyes to the surroundings once more. Every individual that his stare landed on seemed to put on their guard in one way or another. They were definitely wary of Mark.

"Seriously, you all don\'t have to be that wary."

Mark said. He did not want to be in a hostile relationship with these people. After all, it was obvious that they had some connection with his family. There was no doubt about that.

Then, the Diwata spoke.

"If you really want to just drop off those humans, leave them in the field. We will make sure that the humans in that settlement will find them."

The Diwata pointed her finger at the open farmland.

She surely was also not fond of humans, it seemed. After all, the farmland was filled with mud since it was used to plant rice. There was no need to explain what would happen if these people were left there.

Well, Mark did not care either. As such, in his mind, he commanded Chaflar to drop the unconscious people there without hesitation.

As Chaflar moved forward, the encirclement also opened. It seemed that they were really afraid of Chaflar too considering their panic as they moved out of the way.

Now, Mark was the only one left in the encirclement. Nevertheless, it was hard to say who was at the edge here. After all, the one being encircled was calm, and those surrounding him were the nervous ones.

"Say, I want to ask something."

Mark said as his sight turned back to the Diwata.

"We are not answering any question from a Demon."

The Diwata firmly replied while frowning.

Mark did not entertain her words and still asked.

"I understand why you took them," Mark glanced at the five little people. "Then, why also him?"

Mark then glanced at Michael.

The Diwata did not reply, only glaring at Mark.

"You\'re really not going to answer?"

"This has nothing to do with you, Demon."

The Diwata replied with her frown deepening.

"I have, though?" Mark tilted his head. "That\'s my younger brother he is carrying there."

BAM!

The atmosphere froze.

Even the Diwata\'s eyes turned wide.

"W-who?" The Diwata seemed to have lost her composure. "Who is your younger brother?"

"Him." Mark pointed. "Michael."

Mark\'s confirmation turned the atmosphere even more panicked. No one expected and could accept the bomb that Mark had just dropped.

"NO. That is impossible! How can a Demon like you... You must be trying to trick us!"

Sure enough, they would not believe Mark easily. But then, Mark decided to say something that would very likely confirm his identity.

"Even though I can recognize my Aunt there?"

Mark glanced at the woman standing behind one of the Tamawos.

The Diwata turned to the woman.

"Is what this Demon said true?"

The woman could only shake her head. Of course, she did not recognize Mark.

"Don\'t ask her." Mark shrugged. " She won\'t recognize me. The last time she saw me was when I was five when we took a vacation here. I wasn\'t able to go to her funeral either."

Hearing those words, however, made the woman\'s eyes go wide. The more Mark spoke, the more his identity became credible.