Mutagen

Day 368 - 5:58 PM - Mountain Back, Balong, Pucakwangi, Pati Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

With the help of an unexpected miracle, the people suppressed by the Night Goddess' presence could finally stand up. However, it was not the end of the danger they were facing.

It was just the beginning.

"AH!"

A female survivor could not help but yell in surprise as a black tentacle quickly slithered around her right foot and started to pull her into the shadows.

SLASH!

Fortunately, Bajing arrived right before the female survivor's foot, slicing off the tentacle using her glowing daggers.

"Gather in one place as close as possible!" Bajing hurriedly said to the woman and the other people around. "We can't protect you all properly if all of you are scattered everywhere!"

It was not only Bajing. Everyone who could fight off the tentacles commanded the others to hurry up and gather in one place.

The tentacles the Night Goddess conjured were ethereal things in a sense. While the tentacles could grab and pull physical things, the opposite could not happen. As such, normal weapons and even bullets would only pass through the tentacles without harming them.

On the other hand, magical attacks and weapons imbued with magical enchantments worked like a charm. No matter what weapon or how strong its wielder was, the tentacles could easily be cut through like tofu.

In the current situation, only those who wielded weapons Mark created could fight off the tentacles. The only ones who could fight were the members of Mark's group, the leaders of Moon Chasers and General Wijaya, who received a pair of gauntlets from Mark just several hours ago.

As for everyone else, all they could do was to avoid being an obstacle. Of course, this simple task was not easy either since countless tentacles were springing out of everywhere.

"Hurry! Gather in one place!"

Estia, the leader of the 3rd Wave, yelled. While the other group leaders could not help fight off the tentacles, they could at least help gather the panicked survivors in one place.

But something unexpected happened.

"Estia!" Kela, the second in command of the 3rd Wave, approached Estia in a fluster. "Kana is missing!"

"What?"

Estia, shocked, began looking around. However, there was no sign of their bubbly friend. Although the surroundings were as dark as night because of the Night Goddess, there was no way they would not notice Kana's blue hair in the crowd of black-haired people.

After seeing that their friend was missing, Estia and Kana left the assistance of the other survivors to their team members and ran to the leaders of the Moon Chasers.

Estia and Kana immediately relayed the problem, only to realize that someone was missing from their side, too.

"Melfiss also vanished. The merchant earlier, too."

Nelia said.

"Did they get caught?"

Ellie nonchalantly voiced out as she smashed a couple of tentacles that were heading her way with her giant hammer. Of course, her ominous remark caused her to receive grave stares.

"No," Edge chimed in while slashing the tentacles before him with his greatsword. "I don't know about Kana and Devon, but there's only one place Melfiss will go to."

Edge then took in a deep breath.

"I'm going."

Without waiting for any reply, Edge charged toward the tentacles. Using his tower shield, he plowed through them and left the formation.

"Wait!"

Nelia shouted, but she was late to stop Edge.

"Just let him go," Limabela voiced out. "I also want to go where he is going, but I doubt my pistols can lead me there."

Where was Edge going? There was only one place. It was where Luna was. A hut a distance away from the area. The hut where Luna lay asleep.

***

"Uwaaa..."

A bubbly voice murmured her disgust as she watched the countless tentacles surrounding the survivors.

As she peeked down below, her blue hair drooped over the cliffside she sat on.

It was no other than the missing Kana, who was now watching everyone from a higher part of the mountain overlooking the camp area.

"I slipped out without thinking when I felt danger..." Kana sighed as she dangled her feet over the cliff edge. "They're definitely going to scold me later."

"They are doing better, thanks to that girl," Kana stared at Elise, whose body was covered in golden light, before turning to the members of Evernight. "And that group is really amazing. That little [Sylph] is doing most of the work, though. Without her, the tentacles could have swarmed them all already."

Kana then turned to Edge, who was charging out of the area.

"He's going to Luna, as expected," Kana shrugged. "There's no need, though. All of them are in far more danger than Luna, even if she's unconscious. That Keris girl is also there. We slipped out at the same time, after all."

Kana then raised her palm in front of her. The vapor in the air began to thicken and gather over her palm, turning into a floating ball of water.

"Should I help them?" Kana tilted her head. "But that dark hag is scary..."

"What should I do..." Kana mulled. "I can't even go at full power because there's no proper source of water nearby."

"Uuuuh."

Kana groaned. She wanted to help, but the fear within her weighed far greater.

Unknown to Kana, the fear she was feeling was not just from the pressure the Night Goddess emitted. It was straight from within her. Her very soul and bloodline were being pressed into submission due to her unique existence and constitution.

***

On the other side, the Night Goddess tilted her head as she watched the prey before her struggle with all their might. From time to time, she would look around, wary of something. But when she found nothing, her eyes would go back to watching her prey struggle.

The berserk status of the Night Goddess was going down as time passed by. So was her feral mind. It was the result after she began absorbing the souls of living creatures. As her soul grew, her mind also stabilized. However, due to her starting mentality after waking up and her incomplete soul, her nature grew brutal.

Toying with prey became her source of amusement. It was even if she was not supposed to, considering she was still being chased by her creator.

Still, the Night Goddess was confused. How were these insects able to stand up? How were they able to resist? Her eyes fell on the girl covered in golden light.

That light. It was uncomfortable. Irritating.

The Night Goddess stretched out her right arm. Her hand formed a claw with her palm facing the girl.

***

"!!!"

While fighting the tentacles with her knife, Elise suddenly felt a chill. By reflex, her eyes turned towards the Night Goddess. To Elise's horror, the enemy was pointing her hand at her.

All of a sudden, black spikes shot out of the ground, trying to clamp Elise inside it like a bear trap.

"Elise!"

Seeing her sister in danger, Felicia ran as fast as she could. Her cat-like mutations emerged, allowing her to accelerate further. And like a blur in the darkness, Felicia grabbed Elise before the spikes could trap her.

The black spikes clamped close without anything inside.

"Elise, are you okay?"

Felicia asked her younger sister. However, Elise just stared at her without answering. Or rather, she had no intention to answer at all. If anything, she looked at her in askance.

But as Felicia landed, similar spikes sprung out beneath her feet, forcing her to jump away in a hurry. After evading the second one, another one appeared where she landed to her frustration.

It was when Louis' voice called out to Felicia.

"Felicia, here!"

Louis shouted. He then moved his left hand as if he were flattening something under it, and the next set of spikes that appeared under Felicia got swallowed by the ground.

Felicia then ran towards Louis with Elise in tow. It seemed that everyone had finally gathered in one place.

However, what was the point of this? Would they just stand like this while under the siege of countless, neverending tentacles? That would not work. This would not stop until the source of the attack, the Night Goddess, was defeated.

It was when Mei yelled.

"Iola!"

Only then did they realize that at the center of everyone gathered, a lone girl stood. The eldest daughter of Mark was waiting there for everyone to gather.

With a wave of Iola's arms, a near-invisible dome covered everyone. Then, the tentacles began to burn after making contact with the dome. Even the tentacles emerging from their shadows stopped appearing.

Surprised and relieved, many survivors slumped to the ground as if their energy had been sapped out of their bodies.

It seemed that they were all safe for the time being. Of course, unless the Night Goddess began sending stronger attacks.

Even so, a barrier that was almost a hundred meters in diameter. It was something not possible for Iola in the past. This showed how much she had grown.

Most of the survivors could not help but look at Iola and the other members of Evernight. They all were exceptional. Even the animals did their part in this battle. Most of all, Elise. She suddenly showed an unexpected ability, which became the most crucial thing in this situation. Even now, the golden light enveloped Elise as Felicia checked on her.

CRASH!

All of a sudden, the dome shook. The tentacles began a stronger attack on the barrier.

"Spera," Mei called out. "Can you open a barrier? We need to bring everyone away."

"I'm already trying!" Spera answered in frustration. "But look at this?!"

Spera then tried to open a portal in front of Mei, only for the portal to immediately distort and vanish.

"This..."

Mei frowned. It seemed that escape through the portal was impossible.

It was when a familiar voice entered the ears of the two.

"This place is under her influence."

"!?"

Mei and Spera turned to the direction of the voice. There, they the visage of the Goddess of the Underworld they knew.

It was not just Mei and Spera. Everyone's attention had already gathered on the unknown visitor.

"What did you mean?"

Mei asked Magwayen while paying attention to the tentacles outside Iola's barrier.

"This darkness is not just some effect or ability. It is an establishment of a temporary domain. A territory of sorts. Although it would not affect other abilities too much, it would be difficult for space-related abilities to access the outside of the domain. It is due to the difference and distortion of natural rules between the inside and the outside of the affected location."

"But I did it before!"

Spera argued. After all, before returning here, Spera did open a portal to bring back the soldiers. The sky was already darkened that time, too. It also happened during the evacuation of Mount Muria. Although the sky turned as dark as night, Spera still managed to bring people to safety using her portals.

"It is the difference in location," Magwayen answered. "The previous times, you were not even close to the inner fourth of the domain. This time, the domain's owner is standing right before you. The intensity of the distortion was far different to your previous instances."

Magwayen then stared at the Night Goddess. Surprisingly, the Night Goddess did the same, albeit in utter confusion.

"Can't you do something about this?"

Spera said without holding back. She did not care if Magwayen was a Goddess. All she wanted was to get out of this dangerous situation.

"This is nothing but an avatar," Magwayen shrugged. "There is nothing I can do but give pointers."

"And also a message," Magwayen then turned to Mei. "Your husband is currently entangled with three Deities, so he barely had time to breathe, and sending a message through your ring was not even an option."

"He said that he will handle the three Deities, so the enemy Goddess will be up to you and these people," Magwayen smiled. "And he asks you to take care of everyone."

"That's a heavy message..."

Spera remarked.

"There is no need to worry. It was also why I am here. I might not be able to help directly, but I will give advice and instructions to defeat the enemy."

"And you there, Mark's self-proclaimed younger sister," Magwayen suddenly turned to Elise. "We will need your participation. Is that alright?"

Elise looked at Magwayen and then to Felicia. She then left the reluctant Felicia's side and approached Magwayen.

"What should I do?"

Elise asked with a resolute expression as the rainbow light in her eyes shone strongly.

Seeing that, Magwayen gave a delightful smile.

"Just follow my instructions."

The Goddess of the Underworld answered.