Mutagen

Day 368 - 6:15 PM - Pudakpajung, Banyumanik, Semarang City, Central Java, Indonesia

The enormous dome of magma-like fire capable of swallowing a large town vanished as quickly as it appeared. What it left was a crater devoid of almost anything. The ruins of southern Semarang City disappeared along with the trees and landscape. Even the [World of Decay], a dome created with high concentrations of [Miasma], was punctured through, with a large hole on its northeastern side.

On the northern side of the crater, a wall of burnt flesh started to crumble, revealing the disgustingly squirming insides composed of all kinds of flesh organs from different creatures. Without the burnt outer layer, the insides began to spill out. Beyond that disgusting scene were the remaining body parts of the Deity of Soul Sacrifice.

More than half of his gigantic body got destroyed by the explosion, causing irreparable damage to the Deity.

"That bastard..."

The Deity of Soul Sacrifice cursed as he began moving the remaining parts of his body. Although the tentacles on the opposite side of the explosion survived with minimal damage, the other sides were gone. It caused the disgusting scene of different body parts, flesh, and organs to rain down on the ground in his attempt to move the remaining parts of his body.

All over the place, black mist only visible to the eye of a select few began to overflow. The corrupted souls the Deity of Soul Sacrifice fused into his body began to escape en mass.

Without a doubt, the Deity of Soul Sacrifice became severely weakened by the damage he received. It would be the best chance to take him down.

However...

In the sky, a ball of [Miasma] slowly dissolved to nothingness, revealing the [Spirit Child], whose entire body became riddled with all sorts of burns on different parts of her body. Her armor and clothes received severe damage, revealing parts of her flawless but now injured skin. Even the sword Ignis docked turned into scrap metal, leaving only Ignis intact.

The explosion did not only damage the Deity of Soul Sacrifice. Even the [Spirit Child] received damage. It would be hard to say if she could continue the fight.

Even though the [Aura of Death] and Mark's [Miasma] tried to protect her, an explosion caused by the self-destruction of a Deity's blessing was too much to handle upfront. The explosion and its heat tore through the barriers that tried to protect her.

However, the eyes of the [Spirit Child] did not waver. She stared at the enemy while catching her breath and enduring the pain. The pain she experienced in the past was far worse than these burns. There was no way an injury just this severe would stop her.

As long as it did not kill her, the [Spirit Child] had no intention of stopping. This was her first and last chance for revenge.

It was not only a revenge for her and her suffering. It was the revenge for all the victims who died at the hands of the Deity of Soul Sacrifice.

That was why...

The [Spirit Child] ignored her injuries and opened her arms wide.

"Come."

The [Spirit Child] uttered her first words in this world.

At the [Spirit Child's] behest, the overflowing mist of corrupted souls began to surge towards her.

Most of the corrupted souls were broken. Many of them were incapable of thinking and emotions. But all of them shared the same sentiment.

Revenge.

The waning aura of death began to flare once again. It covered her injured body like clothing.

At this time, the [Spirit Child's] widened. The sigh of the owner of the body she possessed echoed in her entire being.

"Kill that bastard quickly," The voice said. "I'm giving you this chance."

Then, the ring on her hand suddenly activated, swallowing the broken armor on her body and the melted sword she held. Ignis also got purged from the melted sword before resting his handle in her hand.

"[Manifest]."

Mark's voice echoed once again. And this time, the aura of death enveloping her body reacted. The ethereal aura slowly transformed and turned into tangible material. It then spread out further all over her body, including Ignis.

With a strong burst of malevolent energy, a battle dress appeared, exuding the aura of death and the authority of the Ferryman. Even Ignis turned into a sinister sword that emanated the aura of the death scythe wielded by the grim reaper.

The [Spirit Child] was now the embodiment of the end of life and the beginning of the journey to the afterlife.

Surprised, the [Spirit Child] could not help but look at her current appearance. She was definitely confused but also excited. Even the pain began to subside as the blood in her body began to destroy the burnt scabs, making way for the absurd regeneration of Mark's body to kick in.

"Ah, that's right..." Mark's voice echoed once again within her mind. "Your parents said they never had the opportunity to name you as they were killed soon after you were born."

"Your parents wished for me to name you."

"That is why, from now on, following the name of the [Angel of Death], you will be known as..."

"The [Death Spirit] Azra."

Mark declared.

"Azra..."

Finally having a name, the [Spirit Child], no, the [Death Spirit], Azra's eyes lit up as she murmured her name.

To [Spirits], names were extremely important. Their names were engraved into their very existence. Since [Spirits] were born as parts of aspects of nature, a nameless [Spirit] was nothing but a part of that aspect. It was no different to a creature that did not exist.

Most importantly, [Spirits] would not easily give their [True Names]. Knowing their [True Names] was equivalent to having a master-servant contract. A person who knew of a [Spirit's] [True Name] could command that [Spirit] unconditionally.

It was the same for nameless [Spirits] being named. Being nameless was no different from being punished. And to receive a name this way meant being a servant of the one who granted them their name.

But for Azra, she did not care about the master-servant stuff. She was given a name. She was not just some nameless soul of a poor [Spirit Child] anymore.

And there was one last important thing for a [Spirit] to have a name. Having a name would allow them to release more of their true potential.

Amidst her excitement, Azra heard Mark, no, her Master's voice once again.

"Rampage, Azra."

Like a violent tornado, Azra's strength surged. The corrupted souls in the surroundings roared in excitement as they excitedly flew into Azra's body.

And the more souls joined her, the stronger she became.

With a newfound strength, Azra set her eyes on the enemy.

"You... insolent bastards..."

The Deity of Soul Sacrifice grumbled in hatred as his gigantic body staggered due to his severe injuries. Worse, the souls that made up his current form began to escape and joined the enemy.

"With all my [Authority], as a Deity who created you all, I command. RETURN!"

The Deity of Soul Sacrifice chanted and roared. The escaping souls wavered. The command given by the Deity who corrupted them was not something they could ignore. Then, the souls stopped flying toward Azra, returning to the Deity despite their intentions.

But then, Azra uttered her second word in this world.

"Free... dom..."

And as if responding to her wish, her Master's [Spatial Ring] opened, and the [Butterfly of Knowledge] appeared. With her Master's order in her mind, she grabbed it and repeated his words as they appeared on the pages of the magical book.

"Oh souls of the departed, corrupted by pain and despair... I call..."

"Do not heed the whispers of the evil, fight the urge... I beseech..."

"There is no paradise in the abyss, there is no salvation for the tempted... I plead..."

"Help these poor souls, free them from the grasp of the plunderer... I pray..."

But then... there was a strange pause.

It was because the words that appeared on the pages of the [Butterfly of Knowledge] suddenly blurred like ink in the water suddenly stirred together.

The chant was already done. All that was left was to call upon the power summoned by the chant. However, with the name of the power being blurred, there was no way for Mark to relay the words to Azra, who could not read it.

But then, the [World of Decay] suddenly shattered. The [Miasma] Mark released to create the [World of Decay] turned into thick mist, which he immediately recalled with all his might since leaving the [Miasma] alone would cause more trouble than this battle.

It was when they all realized why the [World of Decay] crumbled.

Everyone turned to the sky, which was supposed to show the cloudy night.

There was a giant gate in the sky. Everyone trembled at its presence. The Deity of Soul Sacrifice was no exception.

It was a white gate decorated by gold fittings and a giant pair of black raven wings.

Slowly, the gate opened. The pair of wings appeared like a raven about to take flight.

It was when Azra, in a daze, opened her lips and spoke.

"[Authority of Death: Gate of Salvation]."

Those words opened the gate fully, causing a strong suction to come out of the gate. One after another, the souls of the dead on the battlefield flew towards the gate. It did not matter if it was a corrupted soul controlled by the Deity of Soul Sacrifice or the souls of the dead from the destroyed military camp. All of them were pulled into the giant gate floating in the sky.

Of course, it also included the souls Mark sheltered in his body.

***

"This..."

Mark was flabbergasted. The souls watching the outside world around him were vanishing one after another.

"Benefactor," The sister of the [Half-Spirit] siblings called out to Mark with a smile. "There is no need to worry. We feel that that gate will finally set us free. This will be our farewell."

"I see." Mark shrugged. "Don't get captured by another bastard in your next life."

"Thank you," The siblings bowed to Mark. "Goodbye. We will leave our daughter in your care."

"Huh?" Mark froze. "Wait!"

Unfortunately, the siblings only gave Mark one last smile as they vanished from his [Subconscious World]. Now, only Mark and Ignis were left here, watching the scene outside as he scratched his head in frustration.

***

The giant gate pulled the souls of the departed. It was like a scene from a sci-fi movie with a black hole sucking everything. The only difference was that it was sucking souls that should not belong to the mortal realm anymore.

"No! NO! STOP! STOP!"

The Deity of Souls Sacrifice roared. The remaining parts of his body began to crumble as the souls that composed his current being left his capture.

"With my [Authority]! RETURN! RETURN!"

The Deity of Soul Sacrifice desperately used his [Authority]. However, in the face of the giant gate, his [Authority] was useless.

It was because this gate was no ordinary gate.

For some reason, or maybe a miracle, the [Death Spirit], Azra, summoned the gate to the afterlife.

THOOOM!

The gates finally closed. Azra gasped air as she snapped out of her daze.

It was then that the gate vanished as if it never existed.

Teardrops trickled down from Azra's eyes. It was because, in her daze, she saw her parents. They apologized to her, thanked her, and bid her farewell.

There was one reason why these corrupted souls kept their sense of self despite supposedly being under the control of the Deity of Soul Sacrifice. It was because all this time, Azra had protected their existence.

It was no mere coincidence that Azra was given the title of [Death Spirit]. It was her fate, her destiny. It was her power since she was born in a place where the nature of death was prevalent.

A [Spirit] born with the wind was a [Wind Spirit]. A [Spirit] born in the middle of a battle would become a [War Spirit]. As for Azra, born in a laboratory filled with death and despair, she was destined to become a [Death Spirit].

But instead of a [Death Spirit] who harvests souls, Azra decided to become one who saves them. It was all despite the torture she went through under the evil hands of the Deity of Soul Sacrifice.

That was why all these corrupted souls kept their sense of self. That was why they all bore gratitude to her.

With Mark's order, Azra stored the [Butterfly of Knowledge] back into the [Spatial Ring]. She then grasped Ignis and stared below.

There, with a crazed look, the Deity of Soul Sacrifice glared in hatred.

Wiping her tears, Azra steeled herself as a childish smile emerged on her lips.

It was now time for the final bout against the detestable Deity.