Mutagen

Mark was pretty bothered about the unusual state of the Demons. Not to mention that sixteen-eyed silhouette he had seen after closely assessing the emotional state of the invading enemies.

There was something in the background that was beyond the knowledge of Mark. Even the Priestess and the Empress might not know about this either. If they did, or at least suspected to, they would have shared it in order to add it to their plans and schemes for this scenario.

But, no. The two leaders of the most powerful groups in current Japan clearly had no idea.

If Mark did not notice something was wrong, they would have been left out in the dark until it was too late.

Although the army\'s arrival did interrupt Mark\'s battle with Shin and the plan to drag out their fight, it gave Mark the opportunity to grab the [Yuki-Onna] out of the battlefield and investigate something.

Why the [Yuki-Onna] out of all the Demons? Considering the possibility that this [Yuki-Onna] was the same in the myths, then she would not be entirely hostile to humans. After all, that [Yuki-Onna] married a mortal and even had children with him.

And even if Mark was wrong and this [Yuki-Onna] was different from the one from the myth, it should not matter. [Yuki-Onnas] should have enough intellect to converse with humans, unlike some Demons who only rely on their instincts and regrets.

But seeing the current state of the [Yuki-Onna], not only Mark, even Tsubasa noticed that something was wrong.

After getting captured, the [Yuki-Onna] could have communicated, begged, or even tried to threaten Mark\'s group to free her. But that was not the case.

The [Yuki-Onna] just struggled to try and free herself from the restraints while growling and snarling like an animal.

This scene was not how a [Yuki-Onna] was supposed to behave in this situation. Tsubasa knew that much.

Thus, Mark decided to try something.

The familiar milky-white glow covered Mark\'s right hand. And then, he gently grabbed the head of the struggling [Yuki-Onna].

At first, the [Yuki-Onna] became even more violent. Unfortunately, she was unable to remove the special restraints constricting her.

Mark continued to hold her head despite her struggles. The growls and snarls then turned into screeches that were quite painful to the ear. However, Amihan was fast to react and sealed the voice of the [Yuki-Onna].

After a minute or so, the [Yuki-Onna] fell silent.

Seeing the change on the [Yuki-Onna], Mark could hear Tsubasa.

"No way..."

Tsubasa seemed really surprised for some reason.

Then, a gray haze was released from the [Yuki-Onna\'s] body, making everyone except Mark take a step back. 

Seeing the haze, Mark was surprised. Not because no one expected such a thing to happen, but because Mark felt the haze familiar.

Without hesitation, Mark used his left hand and waved through the haze, hiding the fact that he was absorbing it with his [Miasma]. The haze was sucked smoothly into his hand. There was no doubt. The haze was a different form of [Miasma].

It was different from Mark\'s [Miasma], which could corrupt and absorb. It seemed to be something that could affect the mental state of those affected. And possibly, even control the affected individuals.

But most importantly...

The conversion rate after Mark absorbed the haze was pretty high. By the looks of it, Mark was able to absorb around seventy percent of that [Miasma] into his own.

Mark was appalled. Did the Demons in this invasion release this haze once they were killed? No, Mark was sure they did not. If the Demons did, he would feel it since many of them died around him during his clash with Shin.

It meant that it was very likely that this haze would only be released when the Demons were freed from its influence, just like the [Yuki-Onna] in front of Mark.

After the haze came out of her body, the [Yuki-Onna] became calmer. However, she fell unconscious immediately afterward. As Mark\'s eyes glowed with a reddish sheen, he observed the [Yuki-Onna\'s] mental fluctuations. The aggression was gone for sure. Unfortunately, it seemed to have taken a huge toll on her mind and spirit. 

Once this [Yuki-Onna] regained her consciousness, they could possibly get some answers about what was happening with the Demons. For now, they should concentrate on repelling the invasion.

After Mark took his hand away from the [Yuki-Onna], Tsubasa could not help but ask after seeing the results of Mark\'s actions.

"A-are you a [Spirit Healer]? How is this possible?"

It seemed that Tsubasa was extremely shocked.

In any case, Tsubasa was partly right. While Mark was not a [Spirit Healer], he did inherit an ability from his ancestor. An ability that could heal the damage that Spirits and Elementals incurred. Of course, it could also stabilize mental state and even affect damaged souls.

However, Mark could not understand Tsubasa\'s shock.

"Is it a big deal?"

Mark asked.

"Of course it is!" Tsubasa exclaimed. "Magical Healers which could heal physical damage were uncommon, but there was a significant number of them. However, those who had the ability to heal spiritual damage are basically one in half a billion. They are basically near nonexistent. These people are really rare and important that even a weak [Spirit Healing] ability could land a person into a very important position in any secret organization."

"But you... How?" Tsubasa continued. "Not only your [Spirit Healing] seems powerful, but someone like your kind should not be able to wield that kind of ability."

Tsubasa had a mix of surprise and confusion as she spoke. She never expected to see such a rare ability from Mark, not to mention that he was a Demon.

"Hmmm," Mark was not hooked on what Tsubasa was saying. "Well, I know you are surprised, but better leave that for later."

Mark then pointed at the frozen river.

BOOOM! BOOOM!

Explosions echoed loudly. Tanks were bombarding the giant skeleton with shells, but it was not getting much damage. The most the tank shells and explosions could do was hinder it from moving forward.

The giant skeleton aside, the army was dealing significant damage to the horde of invading Demons with the explosions. However, killing was the least of their intention from what Mark was seeing. It was because most of the explosions kept happening in the same spots instead of targeting the enemies.

The results of the explosions finally began to appear. The sturdy magical ice covering the river started cracking open. While the cracks were still small, they would spread if the bombardment continued.

And because Mark had captured the main culprit for the blizzard and freezing the river, the army\'s actions should bear fruit soon.

"Did Shin leave?"

Mark took out his communicator and spoke after pressing a specific button on it.

And there, Mei\'s voice replied.

"He\'s still there, on the other side of the river. On top of the ruins beside the bridge."

The ruins beside the bridge. It was not hard to spot. Unfortunately, it was too far from Mark\'s naked eyes or his [Empath] abilities to reach. He could not help but wonder if the other side could see him and his group here.

Mark turned his head. From their current position, he could see the Bureau\'s Chairman, Shigeru, as he commanded the soldiers. It looked like the plan to shatter the frozen river was also his idea. It was a more efficient tactic than facing the horde of Demons head-on. If the frozen river was shattered, the Demons would lose mobility, and the only ones left to deal with were the flying ones, those that could swim, and the giant skeleton supposedly called [Gashadokuro].

However, would the Demons let that happen? They might have been under some influence, but they were still able to use their abilities. And in Japanese folklore and myths, the [Yuki-Onna] was just one of many Snow Yokais and Demons. Furthermore, there might be other [Yuki-Onnas] in existence.

And just as Mark had thought, it would not be easy.

The hole created by the emergence of the [Gashadokuro] and the cracks the explosions left began to reform. The water of the river was becoming frozen solid once again.

"Gege," Mei\'s voice echoed from Mark\'s communicator. "The ice freezing the river seems to be spreading from a group of Demons on the other side of the river."

"How do they look like?"

Mark asked.

"They..." Mei hesitated as she was unsure of what she was seeing. "They looked like giant heads of old women. They have arms and one leg. But... I don\'t see their bodies."

"Hmmm..." Tsubasa chimed in. "[Yukinbas]. They are not too strong, but it is bad if they are in groups."

"Shoot them."

Mark gave Mei the order, and multiple muffled sounds of a sniper gunshot soon followed, swallowed by the sound of explosions and guns from the soldiers.

Six shots for six [Yukinbas]. Mei made sure to kill the group in one go with her magically enhanced bullets.

However...

WOOOOOM! RUMBLE!

A sudden surge of snow appeared out of nowhere from the other side of the river. It was an oddly controlled avalanche, forming a thick wall of snow in front of the [Yukinbas]. 

Mei\'s bullets were unable to penetrate through the conjured snow. And failing to kill the group mending the frozen river, it was entirely frozen once more, rendering all efforts to shatter the ice useless.

Atop the conjured wall of snow in front of the [Yukinbas], an old man in white clothes could be seen standing.

"No way..." Tsubasa could not believe what she was seeing. "Even a [Yuki Jiji]."

A [Yuki Jiji]. Another mythological being. Furthermore, he was a powerful creature, capable of conjuring snow and riding avalanches. Worse, a [Yuki Jiji] was regarded by ancient Japanese people as an ancient mountain god. While he was not an actual god, the worship he received should have been able to give them stronger power.

RUMBLE!

Once again, the sky darkened. Another bout of blizzard winds and snow started. This time, the winds were stronger, and the snow was heavier.

"This is getting annoying..."

Mark said, grasping his sword once again.

"Are we fighting again, Uncle?"

Emika asked Mark. It was not only her. Even the two youngest were eager to rejoin the fight after a bit of rest.

"Join the Black Lotus at the docks," Mark told the girls with a smile. "Same strategy. Don\'t let any enemy through."

With the order given, the girls readied to join the battle once more.

"How nice," Rinka, who was watching them, spoke. "Even the children are fighting. I\'m here only watching."

Unfortunately, even if her father was one of the few [Rank 5 Ability Holders], Rinka was just a regular person. She was trained to hold a pen and not a gun.

At Rinka\'s comment, Tsubasa smiled.

"The thought is enough," Tsubasa said. "There\'s a lot of people more powerful than you, but the same thoughts you have never even entered their minds."

"But you know..." Tsubasa stood in front of Rinka, facing the frozen river filled with Demons. "There is still something you can do."

"What is it?"

Rinka asked.

"Pray," Tsubasa answered. "A prayer not to the gods, but a prayer to send your beliefs to the people fighting. People think that such actions are useless. But to people like us... Such things are the best source of empowerment."

Mark listened to Tsubasa\'s words, and he agreed. 

Beliefs and worship. It was the source of power for those relying on religion and emotions to increase their abilities. It was the source of power for Deities and Gods. Why should it not be able to empower weaker beings? The answer was that it could.

It was just that mortals had no way to receive and utilize it directly.

But it was different for Demons and the like.

Especially for Mark.

With those thoughts in mind, Mark walked toward the docks with the rest of his group. But as he walked, he took out a talisman similar to what Tsubasa used for communicating with other Onmyojis.

But the talisman Mark had was different. It could only contact specific people.

And as the talisman glowed in his hand, Mark spoke.

"Continue hiding, but send reinforcements to other coastal areas. Powerful Demons are beginning to appear. We\'ll handle the ones in Kachidoki, but the other areas will be vulnerable. As for Gar\'Vlam, there\'s no sign of him yet. It looks like he also had something in store, so we have to be careful."

"I see..." A familiar voice entered Mark\'s mind from the talisman. "We will continue hiding, but I\'m going to monitor Toyosu. There\'s a concentration of malicious energy coming from there."

"Just monitor and don\'t interfere if possible," Mark replied. "You\'ll understand what is happening if you see it."

"If you said so," The voice agreed. "But if the damage is too much, I\'ll have to step in."

"Your choice," Mark did not argue through the talisman. "Anyway, I\'ll end it here. I still have work to do."

Mark then deactivated the talisman and took out his swords. But this time, it was different. He stared at the other side of the river.

Since the Defense Forces were bombarding the river, Mark needed to go further away from the river.

"To the other side, then."

Mark said as he finally spread his wings open. And there, he soared to the sky as the surprised soldiers gazed at him in awe.