Mutagen

Day 365 - 12:30 PM - Sacrificial Cathedral, Auraboros Indonesia Branch, Murial Sacred Fortress, Mount Muria, Central Java, Indonesia

With the door broken through, the 9000 [Face Wearers] populating the larger cathedral could be seen.

There were pews as far as the eye could see. Large pillars supported the beautifully carved ceiling, and a giant red curtain was the backdraft of the heavily decorated podium. The ambiance of the entire place complemented the large number of [Face Wearers], who had charcoal-colored skin and golden ornaments.

General Wijaya was surprised as he stopped on his feet. Mark did tell him to prepare for a large battle, but this was too large compared to what he had expected.

But compared to General Wijaya, Mark was relatively calm. And instead of paying attention to the sea of black and gold before him, his eyes stared straight at the opposite door of the cathedral.

There, the group tasked to investigate the cave where the [Infected] horde came out of stood after Kana made a blunder.

The nervousness Mark could feel from them was also obvious in their faces. They might be [Mutators] and powerful individuals, but facing 9000 enemies in one battle would be too much for them, especially without any proper preparations. Not to mention, those enemies were no regular creatures either.

9000 [Face Wearers]. Just one of them was already a pain in the ass that the military could barely catch. This large number should already be able to overwhelm 75% of the remaining population of the fortress.

With this amount of power, it became a huge mystery as to why they would resort to deception when they could likely achieve more through sheer force.

What was the goal of the [Face Wearers]?

No one would be able to answer such a question aside from one single person.

Everyone kept their caution while Mark turned to Mei on the other side and smiled. The only ones keeping their calm demeanor there were Mei, Spera, and Amihan.

It was to no surprise. The main members of Evernight had gone through far more threatening battles to be intimidated by this one. Even Amihan, the most cowardly of their members, had gained enough confidence and courage after all her past experiences.

If Amihan was still her past self after being able to contend against the incarnation of Yamata-no-Orochi, Mark would definitely smack her head.

Now that Mark was here, it looked like the three on the other side were waiting for his command. However, Mark just tapped on his ring, telling Mei to wait.

It was because, despite the seemingly large number of enemies, there was no feeling of danger at all.

On the other hand, General Piliang, who turned into a monster, looked around. It seemed that he had no idea what was going on, but his monster-like instincts seemed to recognize the [Face Wearers] as his allies, showing them no aggression.

But still, General Piliang definitely had no idea about this massive gathering.

"ARG!"

General Piliang groaned, clutching his head painfully. His humanity was still contesting against the monstrosity he had become.

"You... Bastard... What have you... done to... me..."

Struggling, General Piliang spoke to someone. Looking at him, he was facing the altar of the cathedral.

Everyone's attention, even the [Face Wearers], turned in the same direction.

The guests became wary, but the [Face Wearers] fell to their knees, showing reverence and respect.

Standing at the center of the podium, a man wearing a hooded robe stood. No one noticed when he appeared, but they were sure he was not there when both groups arrived.

"Piliang. Isn't that your choice?"

The hooded man spoke in an amicable way. His voice made it feel like he was some nice neighbor greeting a passing child.

"You... turned me... into a... MONSTER!"

The old General's human self and monster-like rage began to intertwine while he questioned the hooded man.

"Piliang..." The hooded man shook his head. "A human like you had a limit to the amount of external power you can put in your hands. If you want more power, you have to stop being human. Only those who aren't human can surpass a human."

And as if his kindness turned into mocking, the hooded man continued.

"Your desires and mindset... To gain the power to control and lead from above. It stemmed from the fact that your genes leaned towards pure humans. Greedy, soceital, and thirsty for power. You wanted to be a silverback of your pack. I only granted your wish and gave you a power a pure human could not have naturally.

But a pure human had lesser potential for such power, unlike those who carried the created lineages. That was why you have to break out of that stuffy shell."

"You should be grateful that I granted you such opportunity."

The hooded man's eyes could not be seen through the shadows of his hood, but everyone could feel his mocking stare at General Piliang, who turned into a monster.

That exchange of words surprised the Luna and the leaders of the allied groups. The well-known Silver General was actually the pale-skinned monster that broke through the other door.

The old General, in thirst for power, became an abominable monster.

"RAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

General Piliang roared. He then kicked the ground and charged like a beast towards the hooded man. Bits and pieces of the destroyed stone door floated with him, using them as projectiles to attack his target.

Unfortunately, General Piliang froze mid-air without reaching the hooded man. Even the debris he controlled fell, some pelting the kneeling [Face Wearers].

"Piliang, Piliang... You seem to have forgotten. I gave you that power. And I can take it back."

The hooded stretched out his right hand, pulling General Piliang towards him.

However, General Piliang's instincts screamed of danger, causing him to struggle and explode his power outward. It caused the whole place to shake and even made the hooded man's grasp of him weaken.

Taking the first and last opportunity, General Piliang used his rampaging power to propel himself away from the hooded man, causing his body to fly backward like a cannonball.

General Piliang was angry and in denial. But out of it all, he did not want to die. His instincts were screaming for survival despite turning into a monster.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Losing control of his flight, General Piliang stumbled and bounced across the center path of the cathedral as if he were a skipping stone in the middle of a lack.

"Piliang... Don't make it harder. After trying to bite the hand that fed you, there is no use for you anymore. Just accept your fate, your destiny."

"Destiny again... F*CK!"

General Piliang roared as he lifted himself up. He was being toyed with by destiny, and he would not accept even a little bit of such an outcome.

The old General's [Telekinesis] flared, causing a large invisible force to cover his surroundings. It immediately crushed the [Face Wearers] kneeling near him, turning them to ash. As he caused his powers to rampage, the stone pews and large pieces of the walls and floors came off, hovering around him.

"Piliang..." The hooded man sighed. "You should already know. It's futile."

The hooded man stretched his right hand forward with a grasping motion. And then, he clenched his hand into a fist.

"AAAAARRG!"

General Piliang's cry echoed as the things he tried to lift with his powers came crushing him. The invisible force covering his body collapsed instantly, and his entire body became a mangled mess as he fell to the ground with debris crushing his body.

Despite his body turning into a formidable monster, he was brought into his last breaths in an instant. His wings broke and torn, his arms dangling with crushed bones, his legs bent in the wrong direction, and his chest sunk in by the impact.

There was no doubt. General Piliang had no fighting chance against the hooded man. As the old General felt his life being snuffed out of his mangled body, tears fell from his eyes. He could do more than this. There was no way he would accept such an outcome. There was no way he would accept such a destiny.

But as the dying General lamented his fate, a voice entered his large bat-like ears.

"Destiny is such an open-ended thing. Everyone is always given a path to choose. You could have chosen a better path with a better outcome. Unfortunately, this is the end of the path you chose."

Someone calmly walked to the middle of the cathedral and approached the dying General, unafraid of all the enemies kneeling around them.

"F*ck..."

It was the last curse of the old General as any hint of life escaped his body. The old General died just like that, despite his will and struggle to continue living.

As he died, the old General stared at the owner of the voice. The reflection of that person could be seen through his open slit pupils.

Mark stood in front of the dead General Piliang. He then squatted, closing the latter's eyes, still wet with tears and blood.

"I did not expect our guest to show compassion to an enemy."

The hooded man seemingly smiled as he spoke to Mark.

Mark then stood up and faced the hooded man at the podium.

"It's not really compassion," Mark replied with a shrug. "I just want to approach him, that's all."

Everyone was confused with what Mark had said. What was in it for Mark to approach the dying General?

But Mark could not care for their confusion. Instead, he asked.

"This is the Indonesia branch of Auraboros, correct? Then you must be the [Deity of Soul Sacrifice]."

Mark's question clearly surprised the hooded man. But it was not only him. General Wijaya, who heard the name of a Taboo organization, was shocked.

The enemy was the notorious organization. Auraboros. Not many knew of this organization, but General Wijaya was in the position to know of such.

"This is much unexpected," The hooded man's surprise turned into amusement. "So, you came here knowing that much. Are you an enemy of ours? No wonder you came here with no hesitation. No wonder your group had such unusual members."

Mark stared at the hooded man. That was a Deity at the same level as Gar'Vlam.

How did Mark know? With the Japanese branch of Auraboros being allied with Mark's group to some extent, he was now privy to such information.

But there was one thing odd about the current situation.

Compared to other branch leaders of Auraboros, the [Deity of Soul Sacrifice] was far different.

It was because the Indonesian branch of Auraboros had only one fixed member, and it was this hooded Deity.

And considering that the [Deity of Soul Sacrifice] was someone obsessed with creation, there was no doubt that all the [Face Wearers] were his creations and not actual members.

" If you already knew of us," The [Deity of Soul Sacrifice] said gleefully. "Then you are just in time for the birth of my new creation."

The [Deity of Soul Sacrifice] raised his right hand and formed a fist with it. It caused the red curtain behind him to be torn into pieces, revealing what was behind it.

WHOOOOOM!

It seemed that the curtains had magical properties. The moment it was torn apart, a powerful, sealed presence spread throughout the entire cathedral.

Mark felt goosebumps. Everyone else felt their bodies shiver.

Standing behind the [Deity of Soul Sacrifice] was a magical capsule filled with white luminescent liquid, surrounded by runes glowing brightly.

Inside the capsule was a beautiful naked woman, with her six black wings wrapped around her body, hiding her smooth skin.

It was the figure represented by the statues Mark and General Wijaya came across earlier.

"Our guests. Royal Demons, Incarnation of a Lower Goddess, The Mutated, Young General of Humans, and the Bearers of Ancient Blood. I welcome you all to witness... THE BIRTH OF A NEW GODDESS."

Upon saying the greetings, runes began spreading across the entire cathedral. Following the flickers of the runes' eerie glow, the kneeling [Face Wearers] prostrated.

"Begin the final sacrifice!"

The [Deity of Soul Sacrifice] declared.

There, the [Face Wearers] began voicing an eerie song as they offered their souls to the birth of a new goddess.