Mutagen

Day ▋▋ - ▋▋:47 PM - Kingdom of Black Duendes, Spirit Dimension

Luserio stared at the intruder in front of him, frowning deeply. Towards his offer, there was no reaction aside from whispering that he could not hear properly. There was, in fact, the feeling that this Demon was not paying attention to him at all.

And to a King that made his way out to confront an intruder himself, being ignored was an absolute insult. In any circumstance, when a King spoke to a person, not responding in kind was a crime.

"Why won't you speak?"

Luserio asked, irritated. However, it also seemed that he realized that it was no use talking to this intruder. And instead...

"Lumeria, why don't you come out now? Let me bring you back home."

He switched his attention to Lumeria, who was hiding on the intruder's body.

"I will promise you that nothing will happen to your homeland if you come back to me at this instant."

Those words of Luserio made Lumeria's heart falter.

Mark, who felt Lumeria's unsteady mind, whispered to Teremillio to translate it for him. Learning the meaning of Luserio's words, Mark whispered to Lumeria.

"You don't have to falter. There's no way that I will let you return after we've come this far. I won't let my efforts go wasted. Besides, if you agree to that, you're basically giving up on your son."

Lumeria could not help but look up to Mark. He was right. Even if she followed Luserio, Teremillio would be in danger.

At this point, Luserio was getting impatient. However, he caught some words from Mark's whispers and realized an odd thing.

"How come that a Demon like you is too fluent in human language."

This time, Luserio spoke to Mark without using the Demonic Language from before. It seemed that he was being suspicious whether Mark was a real Demon or not.

As Mark finally understood Luserio's words, he could finally reply.

"Because I'm not?"

With those words, Mark was smiling behind his mask. With a flap of his wings, he charged towards the King of Black Duendes.

This took everyone, as in everyone watching, by surprise.

Even Luserio did not expect that Mark would suddenly attack in the middle of the conversation.

It was what Mark was aiming for at this time. In the first place, there was no need to listen to the words of the enemy from the start. He just had to wait for Luserio to either lower his guard or get preoccupied with thinking about something confusing.

Being confused as to why Mark was using human language despite appearing like a Demon was a good one. As the opportunity showed itself, Mark charged in to attack.

Mark's movements were swift and relentless. He appeared in front of Luserio almost instantly and hacked his swords aiming to split the King's body in half.

Both the [Slicer] and [Divider] passed through Luserio's body.

"Tsk." Mark clicked his tongue. "It looks like it won't be easy."

Unfortunately, what the swords hacked was nothing but an afterimage.

It was one of the abilities inherent to Duendes. That absurd movement speed that at its peak could bend light enough for their image to multiply.

Luserio might have some delay in his reaction due to the unexpected attack. Still, his speed had compensated for that delay, and managed to dodge.

Even so, Mark was no disheartened. He looked at Luserio that was now hovering several meters further away. The front of Luserio's gaudy robe had an X-shaped cut, showing that the King did not entirely avoid his swords.

"Y-YOU!"

Luserio was utterly furious. Someone with good imagination would be able to see the fumes coming out of his nose and the flames on his eyes.

"INSOLENT BASTARD!"

The Playful Tyrant roared in anger.

With that roar, an oppressive aura enveloped the surroundings. Teremillio and Lumeria that were inside Mark's pocket felt suffocated. Not only them, but everyone in the Kingdom felt the same.

And as for Mark, who was the target of that aura, he was frozen still, staring blankly in the void.

"Hahahaha! Lumeria, you better come with me before it's too late. Even if this helper of yours is a Miasma Demon, he won't be able to do anything against my illusions!"

Luserio was sure proud of his powers. Physically, Black Duendes might be inferior to other races. However, pretty much like the White ones, their magical abilities were outstanding. And to deal with Miasma Demons, illusions were one of the best methods, specifically, an illusion that would manifest the target's inner emotions.

Miasma Demons had one trait that was inherent to their race. They were emotionally unstable. They easily get riled up as Miasma itself was born from negative energies. It would make them seek destruction wherever they go.

Using illusions to make their emotions chaotic was to turn their very existence itself unstable.

And to Luserio, that very kind of illusion was a piece of cake to pull off.

Lumeria and Teremillio became afraid of the situation. If Mark was really affected by that illusion, even if he was not a real Miasma Demon, his mentality would be severely affected.

But then, a voice entered the ears of the two, putting them in utter disbelief.

"Hey, what is he saying. I can't understand it. Translate it."

"B-boss! What?" Teremillio stuttered. "D-didn't you get caught in an illusion? You froze just now!"

"Huh? What illusion?" Mark was confused. "I stopped since I'm waiting for what will happen. But aside from that aura just now, there's nothing. I'm pretty disappointed. Really."

Lumeria and Teremillio could not believe what they were hearing.

And, of course, Luserio, who was proud of his illusions, was the same. And this time, Mark did not whisper at all. Luserio finally confirmed that Mark was unable to understand Demonic Language. It was truly strange. Furthermore, another voice was heard by him clearly.

"You are not a Demon."

Luserio said, this time, in human language.

"I had just said that I'm not. Have you gone senile?"

Mark replied in a ridiculing manner as he absorbed the coat of Miasma that covered his body.

It revealed Mark's appearance, which was, in no doubt, human.

He might be wearing a sinister armor and mask. He even had the wings of a bat. However, the skin that was exposed on his neck, and his body shape revealed it all.

"Human? No. You're not. You have the aura of a Demon. And to have the ability to control Miasma with a human body. You're an unknown being."

Luserio deduced as he raised his cautiousness. To anything and everything in all dimensions, the worst enemy to fight was the unknown.

Those words from Luserio made Mark quite surprised. It was unexpected that, for the first time, someone immediately went to the conclusion that he was an unknown being instead of asking what he was.

"Well, whatever you think doesn't really matter. In the end, I'll have to kill you to prevent more troubles."

Mark said, pointing his swords at Luserio.

"Do you think that being an unknown being gives you what it takes to kill me?" The Playful Tyrant declared. "I am Luserio. I am the King of this Kingdom. This Kingdom will get destroyed first before I fall!"

But then, Mark replied.

"Good, that's also my intention."

And with those words as the signal, black flames burst out in the streets of the Kingdom. Like wildfire, it spread from street to street as if it was being led by something.

"AHHH!!!"

Bloodcurdling screams of Demons and Duendes entered their ears as those beings burned to dust in a matter of seconds.

And to the humans that were engulfed in flames, they did not even scream. They watched their bodies burn, finally embracing their freedom after death.

But while everyone was getting burned by flames, some slaves unexpectedly came out unscathed. They were in shock and relief that they were still alive.

And then, the uprising started.

One of the slaves that survived found the weapon that his master that had just burned to ashes carried. Even though the slave was emaciated, he picked up the weapon and started to attack the nearest Demon to him. That scene made the other slaves do the same. They all found weapons and started the rebellion against the Kingdom that enslaved them.

On the sky, Luserio stared at the situation that his Kingdom was in. He was in utter disbelief.

ROOOAR!!!

At this time, a loud roar echoed as a Black Dragon came approaching the Kingdom.

"Boss! They are..."

Teremillio called out, realizing who that roar came from.

"I called them," Mark replied. "I can't fight properly if you two are on my chest."

Mark looked at Chaflar that swooped down on the soldiers at the walls, breathing fire on them.

But then, Mark's attention suddenly focused on Luserio.

The King of Black Duendes was staring at Chaflar's direction in utter amazement.

Of course, it made Mark frown.

Luserio turned to Mark with a smile.

"Is that woman yours? I don't care if you take Lumeria or my Kingdom. Even my other queens. No even my daughters. You can do whatever you want to them! Just give that woman to me!"

Sure enough, this lustful bastard was aiming for Mei. And by the looks of it, it seemed that Luserio had a good estimate of Mei's value, enough that he was willing to give everything he had in exchange for her.

"I'm not interested."

Mark said as he signaled his hand. At this time, Ignis flew back to Mark, after setting the Kingdom on fire.

It was one of the reasons why he let go of Ignist after killing the Bladed Demon. It was to cause chaos below.

"Teremillio, Lumeria. Ride on Ignis first and join the others. I'll deal with things here."

Luserio saw what Mark was doing and his attention was focused on the familiar Duende beside Lumeria. The two Duendes look at Mark and Luserio as they were taken away by Ignis.

"So, it's actually my unfilial son. It's no wonder why it was Lumeria that was taken away by you." Luserio then glared at Mark. "It doesn't matter. I will take Lumeria back to punish her. I'll also take that woman."

"Unfortunately, I won't give you any chances."

Mark said as he vanished from his initial position.

Teremillio and Lumeria were not in his pocket anymore. His movement restrictions had been lifted.

BAM!

"GAH!"

Luserio gasped in pain as both of Mark's feet connected with his abdomen in a relentless kick.

The Kingdom was engulfed in black flames.

A Dragon was rampaging by the west walls.

The whole city was in chaos because of the slaves.

And those left watching the scene in the sky...

​ ...Saw how their King turned into a meteor that crashed into his castle.

"This is way better."

Mark said as he stretched his body.

He was holding back on his speed until now and only relied on his [Shadow Mist Movement]. It was because there was no way that Teremillio and Lumeria would be able to handle his movements while inside his pocket.

Now that the two were brought to safety, he could fight to his heart's content.

"Well then... Let's activate this too."

Mark said as his metal armor started to change shape. Bone like protrusions fused with his [Blood Metal] armor. His wings also changed in appearance and became covered in bone-like armor.

His veins then glowed brightly. The light even seeped on the open parts of his armor.

And lastly, the [Wind Manipulation Mental Crystal] glowed brightly while floating above his arm.

With all the preparations done, Mark flapped his wings hard.

BOOM!

Everyone heard the explosion of air in the sky as they saw space distort due to the shockwave.

Mark, who was the cause of that event, could be barely seen, as he charged towards the castle where Luserio fell.

At this time, Duendes had already gathered to protect the castle and the Royal Family.

In unison, they chanted.

And a barrage of magic flew towards the intruder's direction.