Mutagen

The bridging ruins of the Skytree might be far more fragile and unstable compared to its past state. However, it was still intact and stable enough to last longer without crumbling to pieces. Even explosives should take some time to collapse the ruins. Yet, the [Boss of Oshiage] instantly trampled the same ruins along with the nearby buildings in a single charge. It was a concrete testament to her strength.

Nonetheless, the [Infected], whose vision was unaffected by the cloud of dust, could only stare in confusion as Mark took flight. The [Night Stalkers] and other agile and high-jumping [Infected] tried to jump and reach Mark from the tallest ruin they could climb. However, none of them could reach him. Mark flapped his wings, overlooking the ants below him. Yet, he could not have a moment of rest.

Mark waved his hand, sending out several black fireballs, intercepting the same number of talisman-conjured fireballs from the Priestess.

A large horde of [Infected] had already gathered, and, unlike Mark, the Priestess was still being besieged by the [Ruin Stalkers]. However, despite all this, she was still committed to her contest of strength and skills against Mark.

Was this trait of the Priestess a good thing? Maybe. But definitely not in this situation.

In the first place, Mark was not too interested in this contest. If not for that strange unpolished stone that the Priestess had offered, he would rather go home and rest. And with the situation becoming too troublesome, his interest waned even more.

If there was something that was giving Mark any sort of interest now, it was the [Boss of Oshiage]. So far, only one kind of [Infected] could give Mark a filled [Physical Crystal]. It was an [Infected] with intelligence. However, Mark had a feeling that a [Patient Zero] could give him one too.

Miracle\'s mother gave Mark a crystal that gave Miracle her current humanoid body instead of her original blood-like appearance. But technically, Miracle\'s mother was a [Mutator] than an [Infected]. It was the same for Miracle\'s aunt, who gave Oracle, the [Clear Blood Child], her crystal clear appearance.

As for [Monarch Types], Mark had a feeling that he could get one from them too. However, Mark had not really killed any [Monarch Type] so far. Even the one that mutated due to his [Miasma] back in Bay City was still kept alive in his base for studies.

SHOOOM!

Mark\'s thoughts were interrupted by a bolt of lightning that passed over his shoulder and singed his armor a little bit.

"Haah... Let\'s just finish this..."

Mark murmured. While his interest in continuing the fight had waned, it did not mean he would concede.

Just as another volley of talismans turned into homing fireballs hurled at him, Mark flapped his wings.

BOOM!

A shockwave was created behind Mark as his figure turned into a blur, leaving a trail of reddish light.

Mark tore straight through the volley of elemental flames. He appeared just above the Priestess, swinging his sword down at her.

The Priestess seemed pretty surprised at Mark\'s sudden acceleration. Furthermore, she was still surrounded by the [Ruin Stalkers] that chased after her. Defending was not an option for her in this situation. With a tap of her wooden sandals, the Priestess vanished from her initial location.

Mark\'s sword did not hit the Priestess as he landed in the middle of the confused [Ruin Stalkers]. But he suddenly swung his sword around and kicked the ground mid-swing.

With an even more surprised expression, the Priestess hurriedly used her right-hand paper fan to block Mark\'s sword that appeared in front of her.

BAM!

The repelling force from the fan and the impact from the sword caused a loud sound and a shockwave that rattled the surroundings. This exchange made the two separate instantly due to the force of the clash.

However, Mark was not letting the first attack he exchanged with the Priestess go to waste. Immediately after getting separated by the clash, he kicked the ground and charged toward her.

The surprise the Priestess had just now immediately turned into a smile as she did the same, charging towards Mark with the paper fans in her hands.

BAM!

Not letting themselves get pushed away by the impact once more, the two crossed their weapons into a steady deadlock. Instead, everything around them, debris, dust, and even some of the [Infected], flew away unceremoniously.

"Finally taking it seriously?"

The Priestess asked Mark with a childish smile.

"I just want to end it already."

Mark said with an uninterested tone which made the Priestess pout a little.

Still, since Mark wanted to end it while not wanting to concede, the only choice he had to end the fight was to get a little bit serious. That was more than enough for the Priestess, who only wanted to test Mark and her own strength.

BOOM!

In the middle of the two\'s exchange, a giant claw tore through the ruins they stood on and shot upwards between the two.

Another large ruin of a building collapsed almost instantly, covering an even wider area with dust. Mark and the Priestess were forced away from each other once again. At the same time, a gigantic shadow tore through the cloud of dust as the [Boss of Oshiage] jumped out of the collapsing building.

At this moment, both Mark and the Priestess had the same idea as they both threw fireballs at the [Boss of Oshiage] from opposite sides.

And to the sudden attacks it was about to receive, the [Boss of Oshiage] had an unexpected response that surprised Mark and the Priestess.

The [Boss of Oshiage] lowered its upper body and positioned its shield-like right leg to face the fireballs from the Priestess. The fireballs from the talismans hit the foreleg, but its thick armor-like carapace only received a few scorch marks.

That action should have left it vulnerable to Mark\'s black-colored fireballs. But as the fireballs were a meter away from hitting the Boss\' lowered body, it suddenly stomped all of its left legs, causing dust and debris to fly and block the fireballs for it.

The [Boss of Oshiage\'s] intelligence might be lacking, but its instincts were outstanding.

Although the magical attacks that Mark and the Priestess had used so far seemed to be equal, it was not exactly the case. It was more like their opposing natural attributes were canceling out each other.

The Priestess\' natural attribute was light and purification due to her training as a Shinto Priestess and her bloodline carrying the aura of Amaterasu.

On the other hand, Mark\'s natural attributes were darkness, corruption, and chaos. It was all due to his [Miasma] and his bloodline as a Demon Race that originated from the blood of an Evil God.

As those attributes get carried by their magical attacks, the attacks would end up canceling each other upon contact.

But if the scenario was changed, the [Boss of Oshiage] receiving the attacks, for example, it was clear that Mark\'s black-colored fireballs would create more damage.

And by the looks of it, the [Boss of Oshiage\'s] instincts sensed that difference and acted accordingly.

Seeing that the [Boss of Oshiage] was not afraid of her attacks but wary of Mark\'s, the Priestess could not help but frown a little. It was clear that it was her loss in this regard, but she was not one to accept it easily.

The Priestess waved her arms with her fans, and five talismans flew out of her sleeves. The five talismans floated in front of her for a second, forming the corners of a star pentagram.

"Moku Ka Do Kin Sui!"

The Priestess chanted, causing the talismans to glow different colors.

With the pentagram facing outward from the Priestess, the talismans glowed with the chant. Greenish-sky blue for the top corner, reddish-orange for the left corner, brownish-yellow for the bottom-left corner, metallic-white for the bottom-right corner, and bluish-black for the right corner.

Each talisman and color represented the five elements of Onmyodo. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

It was clear that the Priestess was preparing for a more powerful attack.

"Imbue and kindle thy flames!"

With this line, the glow of four of the talismans began to diffuse one by one, starting from the Earth Talisman and moving clockwise. As each glow vanished, the next one glowed brighter. The Talismans also burned to ashes at the same time as the glow vanished. In the end, as the Wood Talisman turned to ashes, the Fire Talisman glowed brightly.

The [Boss of Oshiage] noticed what the Priestess was doing and targeted her.

However, the process of preparation only took three to four seconds. It was already late when the [Boss of Oshiage] made its move, not to mention that the Priestess was quite a distance away.

"Burn mine adversary!"

The Priestess roared, causing the blinding glow of the Fire Talisman to vanish as it burned into ashes.

And...

THOOOOOMMMM!!!

Like a dam opened up after a heavy rainfall, a massive surge of flames shot out from the center of the imaginary pentagram that the talismans formed.

The [Boss of Oshiage] could only stop in its tracks as a massive sea of flames enveloped it. That was not all, as the sea of flames swallowed several buildings, a whole street, and a massive chunk of the [Infected] Horde population gathering in the area.

Flames surged, dyeing the darkness of the night with a range of red to yellow colors. The flames were too massive that they could be seen from blocks away.

In the sky, Mark blinked his eyes without expression while he stared at the hell below that the Priestess conjured.

The ruins began to crumble even more as the metal foundations that kept them intact melted from the extreme temperature of the magical flames. Many [Infected] died instantly, and many more were still burning to death.

And the culprit...

"Try to block this then!"

The Priestess was shouting in glee like a mentally-challenged arsonist.

But then...

"UWA!"

The Priestess hurriedly retreated, canceling her continuous attack.

It was due to a massive blade that swung unto her from the sea of flames she conjured.

"KRRRRRRIEEEEEEEE!!!!"

The loud cry was heard once again. It caused a shockwave that extinguished most of the flames in the immediate vicinity of the source.

There, with her humanoid upper body showing varying degrees of burns, the [Boss of Oshiage] stared at the Priestess with rage.

"Huh?"

Mark showed a hint of surprise.

Yes, the [Boss of Oshiage], who was still just an empty husk relying on instinct until just now, showed signs of emotion.

Rage.

Furthermore, its carapace looked different too. It might be due to heat or something else, but parts of the carapace of the Boss\' lower body were showing a yellowish glow akin to metal reaching melting point.

"This b*tch!"

The Priestess yelled as she sent another quick volley of larger fireballs to the [Boss of Oshiage].

"Uwa... She\'s cursing... So much for being a Priestess..."

Mark murmured at the amusing scene before him.

The extra-sized fireballs hit the Boss before exploding. The explosion was quite strong as the [Boss of Oshiage] was forced a few steps back.

But those fireballs were clearly ineffective against the already scorched enemy. Instead, the [Boss of Oshiage] had her full attention of the Priestess.

BAM!

With a kick of her powerful insect-like legs, the [Boss of Oshiage] moved towards the Priestess, swinging her claws in a berserk frenzy.

Mark observed the two like a bystander. He could not help but notice that the [Boss of Oshiage] moved faster than before. In fact, it was slightly keeping up with the Priestess\' rapid use of [Sukuchi].

Unfortunately for the [Boss of Oshiage], the Priestess was still far more agile, not to mention her small size. The frenzied attacks were unable to hit the Priestess at all.

And then, the Boss made another unexpected move after it was stopped again by a bunch of explosions.

It...

BOOOM!

The back of the [Boss of Oshiage\'s] insect-like abdomen exploded open.

Was it hurt? Apparently, no.

The [Boss of Oshiage] reached another level of mutation as its body became clad in flames.