Mutagen

There were those individuals who still had access to electricity. However, these people were only a select few and those who had to oversee the larger government-owned and military-owned settlements.

Of course, it was different at the mountain base in Mount Malabito.

Nighttime here was bright and lively. Most people were already asleep since they had to do work the next day. Still, there were those who wanted to stay a bit late at night.

At this time, a hole in space opened at the foot of the [Night Everred Pure Spirit Tree].

Six people went out of the hole, with the familiar man in the lead.

The man leading the group was, of course, Mark. He came back to bring the new recruits to the base.

Bella, Donna, Ilma, and the three children looked a little nauseous after passing through the portal. It was not surprising as it was only the second time they traveled through a portal. Not to mention that the first time was when they were inside the [Mini Cube], which lessened the effects for first-timers.

But when they noticed the surroundings... The newcomers forgot their nausea almost immediately.

"Wow..."

The children exclaimed as they looked up in amazement. Their eyes focused on the gigantic tree before them with its leaves and branches towering over their heads. The tree\'s red glowing leaves and the snow-like red lights immediately caught their attention.

It was not only the three children. It was the same for the three women. They had already seen the pictures that Mark showed them. Nonetheless, it still gave a different feeling after seeing the real thing.

The whole group paused in their steps, not only looking at the giant tree but also at the unfamiliar surroundings. This place was nothing like any place they had seen before.

"Boss!"

The voice of people broke the trance of the group. It was when Bella and the others saw people greeting Mark. Some of them seemed confused about why Mark returned, only to see their unfamiliar faces.

Then, far from the rather rough demeanor of their previous group, Bella and Donna saw happy expressions of the people after seeing their group. It was a welcoming atmosphere that they never knew they would experience in the current state of the world.

"They are tired, so set the greetings and introductions for tomorrow."

Mark said to the people passing by that wanted to greet the newcomers.

And since it was the order of the leader, everyone complied. These people were also understanding, knowing how tough it must have been to survive the current world until now.

"Uwa..."

One child exclaimed, immediately taking the attention of the adults.

"What happened?"

Donna asked the child. The child could only point at the man-made lake around the giant tree.

There, they saw a head of a woman peeking at them. When Donna locked eyes on the head, the woman scurried under the water, revealing her fish-like tail.

"A-a-a mermaid?!"

Donna exclaimed. It was not only Donna since Bella and Ilma also saw it.

"Don\'t shout." Mark shrugged. "Milliel is still nervous around humans. You\'re going to scare her."

The three women looked at Mark. They did not know what was going on anymore. Was this place really still on Earth? Well, they did see humans around...

Mark shook his head as he received the confused stares. It was when a voice echoed in his head.

"Brother? Why are you back already? Didn\'t you all leave just this morning?"

It was Jaeya\'s voice. She seemed to have sensed Mark\'s presence using the connection established between the two through her [Telephaty].

"You\'re still awake?"

Mark asked in response.

"I\'m still putting Theo to sleep. He\'s rather hyperactive these past few days." Jaeya answered. "Hey, answer my question too!"

"We found some decent survivors and brought them back. There\'s six of them," Mark finally answered Jaeya\'s question. "Can you call Huey and Odel? I need someone to guide these people since I need to go back immediately. Wait, Huey is already on the way. Just call Odel."

"Sis Odel is with her kids right now. Can I call someone else?"

Jaeya replied.

Mark understood what Jaeya meant. Odelina had been fulfilling her duties diligently to the point that she did not have time to spend with her kids. In this case, Mark agreed with Jaeya.

"Then, who\'s available?"

Mark asked.

"Hmm... Aephelia is in the stables to check on the [Infected] under her control. It should be fine to call her."

"Okay, call her."

Mark agreed with a sight yawn.

"I already told her. She\'s on the way." Jaeya replied with a slight change of tone. "Brother, are you okay?"

"I\'m fine. Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. Just asking."

Jaeya replied, seemingly suspicious.

"Um... Sir? Who are you talking to?"

Bella\'s voice entered Mark\'s ears. It seemed that he did not realize that he was talking audibly instead of transmitting his message through his thoughts. He might have looked weird to these confused women.

"I\'m calling someone to fetch you all. I can guide you to some extent, but I don\'t have the time to oversee everything. Besides, this place is developing even while I\'m not here. Although I\'m sure we have enough dwellings, I don\'t know which house or room is unused."

Mark explained.

Well, while Bella and the other two women understood what he was talking about, it was not what they were confused with. After all, Mark was talking with nothing but air.

"Master."

It did not take long, and Aephelia arrived.

"Boss!"

Huey also came a little later.

Although Huey noticed Mark\'s arrival first, his location at that time was further than the stables where Aephelia was. It was no surprise that Aephelia arrived first.

Still, hearing Aephelia, the good-looking woman in a maid uniform, call Mark master gave the newcomers a rather weird feeling. The three new women stared at Mark\'s back, imagining inappropriate things.

"I\'ll clear it to you girls first, but they are the ones that decided to call me that. So don\'t make some misunderstandings here."

Mark said at the girls behind, looking over his shoulder.

With Aephelia and Huey present, they left the central area to lead the newcomers to their dwellings. Since they were a group of three women and three children, it was decided that they would share a single large house for now. It was done in consideration of their mental well-being since they were unfamiliar with this place, especially the three children.

Bella appeared to be calm as they toured the place. The others could not hold unto their amazement, however.

They had not seen a place so bright in the night after the apocalypse started. It was a different place from the fearful environment they lived in until now.

All the people they passed by looked lively as they greeted Mark, Huey, and Aephelia. It gave Bella the idea of how well respected Mark was in this place. It was the same with those directly under his command.

The newcomers were brought to a house in the southern area of the inner district.

Bella and the others looked at the house. It was made of wood and stone with black metal supports and foundations. This house was far different from the shabby shelters and old huts they lived in.

The newcomers excitedly entered the house. It was only one story, but it was rather large for their group. There were even three rooms. One was the living room, and the other two were bedrooms. There was no kitchen, though. Nonetheless, it was already considered since food was still being rationed.

"Are we really going to live here?" Donna asked as she sat on one of the beds. "It\'s been long since we slept in a proper bed. And this one even had a mattress."

Bella and Donna came from a poor family. They were used to sleeping on wooden and bamboo beds. It could be said that the beds before them were a luxury for them.

"There are only two beds," Aephelia said in English. "I\'ll send people to bring spare beds later. Do you want individual beds?"

Due to the local language barrier, everyone present was speaking English at the moment. It was good since while most Filipinos have different local languages and dialects, they were familiar with speaking English.

Bella and the others talked for a bit and replied to Aephelia.

"Just one more bed for Ilma."

Donna said, looking at their friend.

It was also Ilma\'s suggestion. Her body was on the heavier side, so it would bother others if she shared a bed with them. Besides, the double beds were not too large. The three children could fit in one and the sisters in another. Well, it was already planned that the other bed would be lined beside Bella\'s and Donna\'s, so the three would still sleep together.

"Wait... it seems quiet."

Bella mentioned as she noticed that it was only the adults currently present.

"They\'re here."

Mark said, pointing at the other room.

Everyone peeked through the door. The three kids were already lying on the bed in rather disorganized positions. It seemed that they were just testing the bed when they inadvertently fell asleep.

It was not surprising that the kids fell asleep.

"I\'ll be leaving now," Mark told Bella and the others. "If you all need something, just ask them."

"We will. Thank you."

Donna replied with gratitude. Because Mark decided to invite them, they were now sure that their lives in the future would be far better than they had in the past.

"Huey, you fetch the bed. I\'ll see Master off."

Aephelia said to Huey as she escorted Mark.

Huey shrugged and told the newcomers to wait for the other bed as he also went out.

While walking towards the portal under the [Night Everred Pure Spirit Tree], Aephelia walked beside Mark, a step slightly behind.

It was when the loyal royal maid asked Mark.

"Master, are you okay?"

Mark turned to Aephelia. It was the second time he was asked this now.

"I\'m fine."

Aephelia looked at Mark\'s face with a frown. There was no way that Mark did not notice. However, he was saying that he was fine.

Thus, Aephelia shook her head slightly and said.

"Please, take some rest later."

"I will, I guess."

After that short conversation, Mark returned to Negros Occidental through the portal.

"Is he really fine?"

Aephelia murmured as the portal before her closed.

***

Day 239 - 10:11 PM - Barangay Salvacion, Municipality of Murcia, Province of Negros Occidental

It was about an hour since Mark returned. Around the campfire, a few figures sat.

Well, one was lying down.

"You look worried."

Spera asked Mei, who sat on the other side of the campfire. Her eyes then lowered, looking at the person sleeping on Mei\'s lap.

Mei caressed Mark\'s hair. The guy had fallen deep asleep on her lap after being forced to lay down.

"Gege is trying not to show it, but he looks like he\'s in a bad shape for a few days now."

Mei said.

"Now that you mention it, he\'s falling asleep rather easily these past days."

Spera said with a tilt of her head.

That was right. Mark, a person who could go for a few days with no sleep, was falling asleep very easily. And everyone had no clue what was going on.

In fact, Mark wanted to stay up and take guard for the night like usual. However, Mei forced Mark to lay on her lap and began caressing his hair. And Mark fell asleep in a few moments, which looked really unnatural.

In the first place, Crimson was guarding the camp. There was no need to stay up all night.

"If he doesn\'t want to say what is going on, let him," Spera shrugged. "Just make sure to take care of him. He might be overworking himself."

Mei nodded. Even so, she would prefer if Mark would tell her what was happening.

***

The next day came. Mark woke up and shrugged. He fell into Mei\'s trap. Not like he would blame her.

Mei, on the other hand, was carefully observing Mark. She noticed... his state did not recover with sleep at all. It really began to worry her.

The group had their breakfast. It was a pretty heavy one since they planned to travel the whole day today. They needed to find Sinogo as fast as possible.

But then... Halfway their meal...

Everyone shivered as they all turned to the sky southeast of their location.

A beam of light tore through the sky, passing over the peak of Mount Canlaon.

That beam of light and this suffocating feeling...

"Darn... Looks like the search is over before we even started."

Mark remarked.