Mutagen

It was where a select few humans and magical beings lived in the safe confines of the base\'s walls.

Who would have thought that such a safe place existed within the dangerous mountains of the municipality of General Nakar? Unfortunately, even if they did, it was not like they would be able to traverse the forest-covered mountains. And even if they did manage to reach it, not just anyone would be able to enter and live within it.

Eight and a half months into the apocalypse.

About seven months since its construction began.

The Mountain Base was thriving.

Its earthen outer walls and black-colored inner walls stood tall and strong.

Food from the farms and hunting. Clean water from the underground spring.

Lighting and electricity that was available at any time of the day.

The gigantic centerpiece tree which did not only serve using its otherworldly beauty but also illuminated the night with its red, glowing leaves.

And most importantly, the strong individuals that kept the safety of everyone living in this place.

Compared to most of the remaining human and non-human refuges locations in this country, the Mountain Base was thriving.

Its establishment did not start in the most positive scenario. A lost [Mutator] in the mountains encountering the rudest and most annoying bunch of survivors chased by an [Evolved Tiger]. Who would think that it was such a start?

Nonetheless, the past was already eclipsed by what it became in the present.

Now, those bunch of survivors was under that lost [Mutator]. Due to the consequences of their actions, mostly their already dead comrades, they could not say no to the [Mutator]. However, that was the greatest thing that happened to them ever since the apocalypse started. They were now revered as the people with the highest hierarchy within the base. A position just below the leader, his family, and his direct servants.

Enough food to fill their stomachs to the brim and a place safe enough for other people to envy... It would be nice if one could forget everything outside the secure walls of the Mountain Base and live a carefree life.

If only that was possible.

However, as the people living in the Mountain Base gazed more and more unto the walls that surrounded them, the more they remembered how dangerous it was beyond the confines of the base. Every time the hunters returned home, sometimes with injuries, they could see what kind of monstrosity they encountered outside.

And who would forget the horrible experiences they went through way before coming to this place? Despite their current life, the frightening past they had still haunted them from time to time. The scenes where their loved ones turned crazy, craving for their flesh. Having blood on their hands, having no choice but to end their own family.

Those memories were impossible to forget.

That was why... within the home they now had, they would all live to the fullest.

It was the greatest foundation that the Mountain Base had for it to thrive.

***

Mark stepped out of the cliff house right after breakfast with a rather positive expression on his face. A meal at home sure did hit differently than one eaten outside.

It was the next day after they returned. While the others decided to have a good rest, Mark chose to walk around the base to see its current state, especially the changes while they were gone.

Since it was more or less like walking after a meal, it was fine if Mark did it alone.

As Mark thought about it, the last time he actually went back to do something here was more than two weeks ago when they transported Sinogo\'s remains. Although they had a few short stops afterward, there was really no time to look around or anything. Were two weeks short or long? Depending on the context, it could be both.

While two weeks was short for large structures to be built, it was already long for people to change.

In fact, the people\'s change was one of the first things Mark noticed when they returned yesterday.

Although the people in the base were happy living here, it was still far from making everyone feel content. It was not surprising. After all, even if they managed to settle in, they were still far from getting used to their new life. It was a life far from what they had before the apocalypse, not to mention a life where many of their loved ones did not make it.

But right now, although the discontent was still there, it was far more suppressed.

Mark tapped his chin, thinking of the correct analogy.

Then, it popped into Mark\'s mind.

If the people here were doing their best to make their lives better before, now, it was more like they were doing their best to not let their lives become worse. They had already come to terms with the fact that their lives would never return back to what it was before the apocalypse started. What they could do now was to do their best so that this place would not fall like what happened to the rest of the world.

With those thoughts in mind, Mark began his tour.

As usual, everyone that Mark passed by greeted him a good morning. It was their basic form of respect towards Mark, the leader of this place.

Mark nodded silently at the people greeting him as he continued on his way.

First was the central area, where most workshops, facilities, and storage were located. The only exceptions were the Cliff House and the other houses that belonged to those under Mark\'s direct command.

There were barely any changes within the central area of the base. It was not surprising since the central area was where everything in this place started. Most of the things here were in the final stages before they expanded. The final addition to the central area was actually Chiyo, the Night Everred Pure Spirit Tree, if the artificial lake around its roots was not counted. Well, the artificial lake was already planned before Chiyo was planted since Mark wanted it to be more or less a leisure area. As such, Chiyo was still the last addition to the central area.

The only changes in the central area were extensions of facilities like the workshop and warehouse. The warehouse extension was already planned since they needed to stock as many supplies and materials as they could gather. These materials were things harvested from the forest, like wood, but most of the items stored there were usable parts of hunted [Evolved Animals]. For example, bones, leather, fangs, and other kinds of stuff which could possibly be used for creating things.

It was such an RPG-like thing, taking body parts of animals to make equipment and such. However, it was far more logical to make use of such things since they were far better than your everyday items back before the apocalypse began.

While walking, Mark passed by the large warehouse. It was large not because it had to store a lot of things. Instead, it was actually the temporary housing for Aimee before she was moved to the stables area where larger creatures like Chaflar, the [Mutator Dragon], could rest comfortably. Now that it was emptied, it became just another warehouse, although most of its interior was unused due to its size and because most of the supplies were inside Chiyo\'s subspace for safekeeping.

"Oh, good morning."

A surprised beautiful voice entered Mark\'s ear.

Mark nodded in reply as he gazed upon the beautiful-bodied, multi-eyed woman.

The woman was no other than Aimee, who regained her human form. Her body figure sure was something that would make many women envious if not for the fact that her current face was kind of terrifying.

Mark did not meet her by accident. He actually detected her and decided to check on her since she was nearby.

Aimee was sitting near the school house where the children of the base were currently receiving classes of subjects one needed to study in school. She was watching the children through the opened window, being careful not to get caught and scare them.

Mark shrugged. Aimee\'s actions showed her longing and regret as she was supposed to have a child, but the apocalypse messed up everything for her. His eyes fell on Aimee\'s lap, where the large stone-like egg lay while being carefully embraced by her.

By the looks of it, the egg was still in dormancy, if it was actually alive. Even now, Mark could not detect any consciousness within that egg.

Mark exchanged a few words with Aimee and continued on his way. His next stop was the artificial lake.

There, Mark found Milliel, the [Mermaid]. The half-girl, half-fish was already used to humans. However, she was still showing her timid side when less familiar people were around.

Greeting Milliel took an even shorter time than greeting Aimee. There was nothing much to say between the two, after all. However, Milliel seemed a bit lonely. It was not surprising. The two people closest to her, Karlene and Alana, should still be in Infanta Settlement.

With those thoughts in mind, Mark decided to check on Infanta Settlement on another day. Besides, he also needed to retrieve Ignis, which he sent to protect Karlene and Alana.

While walking, Mark stopped a bit as someone joined him in his walk.

It was the golden dog, Laelaps.

Other settlements definitely would not let animals roam freely within their premises. [Evolved Animals] were dangerous, after all. In the worst case, the animal would turn into dinner once spotted alone.

In the Mountain Base, some animals were free to roam around. Laelaps, for example.

The golden-furred dog was smart enough not to cause any trouble to the residents. In fact, she would even help with tasks she could do, like pulling carts or giving children some company.

Laelaps was the mascot of the base in one way or another. As the first animal under Mark\'s command, she did have the right to be one.

Together with Laelaps, Mark left the central area of the Mountain Base.

Mark headed to the north and climbed the black wall, now called the inner wall.

The northern area outside the inner wall was the farm fields.

Among every area of the Mountain Base, the northern fields should be the ones to have the most changes.

While looking at the fields before his eyes, Mark\'s expression lightened.

The fields were now mostly covered with different shades of green, along with a few other colors.

There was no doubt. The crops were growing nicely.

It was such a good thing that these crops grew without problems. Even Mark was initially afraid that the black dust left by the Great One would affect the soil even after the black dust was removed. Fortunately, it did not seem to have lingering effects on the soil. Or even if it did, it was minimal.

Mark looked around. Some fields already had fully grown crops. Some even began to bear fruits already. It looked like the first harvests would come soon.

After patting Laelaps\' head, Mark headed down the wall and walked towards the farm fields.

The farmers tending the fields hurriedly greeted Mark as he passed by. Similar to what he did with the other people, Mark responded with a nod as he continued to his destination.

It was the northeast area where instead of farm fields, an enclosed area with a barn and a coop was located.

Mark remembered the pair of [Evolved Cows] that Chaflar caught in the past. Those two should be in the barn, with the female providing milk to the base. A single cow would not be able to supply everyone with milk. Still, everyone could drink fresh milk from time to time. A luxury that even military settlements did not have.

Passing by the barn, Mark headed to the coop with a pond. Mark could not help but snicker when the startled grebe saw him.

It was the grebe that Mark caught when he came to in this mountains. It had already fully adapted to living like livestock. And now, it even had children with the pair the others managed to catch.

With a fearful quack, the grebe ran into the coop as if running on water. It clearly remembered Mark and was extremely afraid of him.

Mark shook his head with a smile and left with Laelaps.

From the north to the northeast, next was the eastern area. Mark decided to follow the outer walls and continue his tour of the outer areas of the Mountain Base.