Mutagen

Day 251 - 1:35 PM - Unnamed Mountain, Municipality of Viga, Province of Catanduanes

The moment that the [Mechid's] attention turned to them, Mark could not help but feel a chill on his back. He was someone who never felt comfortable in front of a camera. And right now, they could confirm that they were being watched and definitely recorded.

It was an uncomfortable thought, not to mention dangerous.

This event should also be getting documented through the sensors of that strange [Mechid].

Thus, it was hard to just go and fight it using everything they got. If Mark's group used tactics that the [Giant Mechid] could possibly find a counter tactic to it, the future battles on this island against [Mechids] would only get harder and harder until they get rid of the [Giant Mechid].

As the attention of the [Mechid] turned to Mark, Mei, and Amihan, the surrounding warriors outside the barrier thought that it was a good chance. They shot their arrows supported by the [Wind Magic] of the [Sylphs], making the projectiles fly faster than a bullet.

Unfortunately, like before, none of the arrows reached the [Mechid's] body as everything they shot was blocked by the veil of light surrounding the pathogen-hacked robot.

Its attention might be focused on someone else, but the [Mechid] never put down its defenses. Instead, its functions increased as it saw the creatures it considered a threat.

In the current situation, it was clear that their help would be of no use. Thus, Diwata Iraya ordered the [Yasaws] and [Sylphs] to tell the warriors to stand down and not be a hindrance as Mark's group took the fight into their hands.

Mark, Mei, and Amihan approached the area encased by Diwata Iraya's barrier.

Without a word, Mark and Mei nodded at each other before running in separate directions.

Amihan went with Mei in a different direction while Mark went alone, running straight into the barrier.

And the moment Mark entered the barrier...

BOOM!

The area where Mark entered was suddenly covered with a cloud of dust and dirt, accompanied by the loud sound of something powerfully hitting the ground.

Everyone was surprised, and it was something they did not expect at all.

All the creatures around could see the towering figure of the four-meter tall [Mechid] extending both its bladed forelegs to where Mark stood before, now covered in a thick cloud of dust and dirt.

Since the start of the battle, the [Mechid] was more or less on the defensive. It attacked and killed anything that tried to approach it while defending against any other incoming attack. It only moved while traveling or evading magical attacks. This was the reason the area devastated by its blades was rather confined.

This was the first time they had seen the [Mechid] go on the full offensive, and it was faster than they had expected. It literally disappeared from its initial position and appeared where Mark had just entered.

While the [Mechid] was definitely not as fast as the [Yasaw], it could definitely compete with the [Tikbalangs], the horse-headed humanoids known for their unfathomable speed without the use of magic.

But before anyone could wonder what happened to Mark, the [Mechid] turned around and swung its blades behind it. There, they saw the cloud of dust get briefly blown away by the strong and swift swing, and inside it, Mark's figure, who evaded the swing by a hair's breadth.

Mark then jumped out of the cloud of dust, leaving a trail of it as he moved. However, the [Mechid] was relentlessly following him, swinging its blades at barely perceptible speed. In every swing, only a slight blur and the trail left behind by the shine of its metal blades could be seen. This speed was clearly the reason the warriors that tried to fight it in close quarters ended up in pieces.

What was amazing was that Mark was evading the swipes and slashes at a hair's breadth without breaking a sweat.

Still, the towering four-meter tall metal monster and a barely two-meter tall Demon fighting at such speeds sure was quite a sight to see.

But then, as Mark was about to dodge an incoming attack, some sort of compartment suddenly opened behind the right foreleg that was about to swing at him.

SHOOM!

A sudden sound was heard that anyone was barely able to react to.

Even Mark was caught off-guard as the speed of the swinging blade was increased twofold.

At the last moment, a hole in space appeared on Mark's right side, and he pulled out a black-colored shield with his left hand.

CLANG!

A deafening sound of metal was heard throughout the mountain as the bladed foreleg of the [Mechid] and Mark's [Blood Metal] shield, the [Defier], clashed with each other.

To no surprise, Mark was blown away by the impact, needing to stabilize himself several meters away. However, the [Mechid] did not go unscathed as it staggered backward.

Mark stared at the enemy several meters away while glancing at the surface of the [Defier]. The [Mechid's] attack left an awful mark on the surface, but it did not manage to penetrate the shield's defenses. The only problem was the difference in their mass, pushing Mark away from the impact.

It had been a while since Mark had the opportunity to use this strange shield of his, and it was nice to see it holding up to the strength of the [Mechid].

Mark could just evade the attack by turning into mist, but he was not keen on doing that early in the battle now that he knew that the enemy was learning their abilities and tactics and was capable of finding ways to counter it.

Besides...

Mark smiled.

It had been a while since Mark had an enemy he could fight toe to toe. A fight with just strength and speed without needing to rely on magical things.

After staggering backward, the [Mechid] stood still as it recovered. The lens of what seemed to be its eye moved, focusing on Mark's shield and the damage it managed to do. It was clear that it was trying to estimate something, and the likelihood of it being the properties of Mark's shield was quite high.

Mark was no different. After inspecting his shield, his attention fell on the opened compartment behind the right foreleg of the [Mechid]. It was not a compartment as it was emitting bluish light from inside. If it was the cause for the swing to speed up twofold, that equipment should be a booster or an accelerator.

And as if the booster on the right foreleg was not enough, several compartments opened all over the [Mechid's] body, causing its body to be basked with a bluish hue.

SHOOM!

The [Mechid] disappeared, moving faster than before. It was not even stepping on the ground as it swooshed towards Mark's position like a hoverboard.

At this point, the movement speed of the [Mechid] was barely discernable to the naked eye.

Mark, however, was already prepared. Seeing it boost the speed of its attack earlier, he already expected that it would have other boosters on its body.

Sure, these supersonic speed attacks were dangerous. But there would be one flaw.

It was how hard it was to control.

This kind of mechanism would work better in space. But on Earth, many factors would affect its control...

...Especially in their current situation where they were confined in a small space because of Diwata Iraya's barrier.

Furthermore, it would limit the [Mechid's] attack pattern to two base actions. It was either swoop past Mark with its blades or stop before Mark and slash.

And there would be one indicator of what the [Mechid] chose to use.

BOOM!

The [Mechid] appeared in front of Mark with a loud bang, as it used its legs to forcefully stop its accelerated movements. It then swung its blades at Mark at supersonic speeds.

And that loud bang was the indicator.

Mark preemptively moved backward before the blades were even swung, evading the attack with such ease.

It was surprising how Mark was able to dodge that, but if one looked at his left eye was already glowing purple, indicating that he was already using his [Future Sight], which allowed him to see moments into the future.

With the blades swung down, it was a good time for Mark to counterattack.

A hole in space opened to his left, where his right hand pulled a long, segmented blade.

BAM!

Mark slashed the [Mechid].

"Tsk."

However, Mark could only click his tongue as his slash diverted after hitting the activated [Kinetic Barrier] of the [Mechid].

SWOOSH!

The [Mechid] made its own counterattack and swung its right blade horizontally at Mark's legs.

It forced Mark to jump, and its other blade was already about to move Mark, who was supposed to be defenseless while mid-air.

But Mark did not seem flustered as the incoming blade swung at him from above. He was even smiling.

BANG! CLANG!

Something hit the blade hard, causing it to deviate from its original trajectory. The attack missed Mark, who retreated before another swing was made.

The sudden situation caused the [Mechid] to pause for a bit. It seemed that despite being a machine, Mark's peculiarities caused it to deviate its attention away from someone else.

That someone else was, without a doubt, Mei, waiting for the best chance to fire her weapon.

BANG! BANG!

Two shots of the [Shooting Moon Blade] sounded from behind the trees. Unfortunately, like all the other projectiles shot towards the [Mechid], the bullet bounced in another direction upon hitting the [Kinetic Barrier].

With those two shots of the sniper rifle, the [Mechid] realized where Mei was positioned. Unfortunately, it could not detect Mei, who was outside its detection range.

After all, there was no way a sniper would foolishly enter an enemy's detection range.

And those two shots were just a diversion as a soundless bullet flew towards the [Mechid] from behind.

CHING!

However, that soundless bullet ended up like the others, bouncing off the [Kinetic Barrier]. Even so, it caused the [Mechid] to pause to scan the surroundings as it was odd that the bullets came from different directions in short intervals.

But there was no time for the [Mechid] to idle around either as Mark began his attacks.

Nonetheless, Mark's attacks were being hindered by the [Kinetic Barrier]. It did not stop Mark from attacking with his sword, though.

In fact, everyone started to notice. Mark's intention was not to defeat the [Mechid] but to stall for time while enjoying himself.

Surrounded by the [Kinetic Barrier], the [Mechid] still tried to scan the surroundings to find Mei. However, it failed no matter how many times it did.

Thus, the [Mechid] could only turn back to Mark, who failed to break through the [Kinetic Barrier] with his sheer strength.

Despite failing, there was no discouragement in Mark's eyes as he stared at the enemy. In fact, he was smiling as if he was anticipating something.

The [Mechid] was covered with the bluish light once more as it opened its boosters one more time.

Would it repeat its previous attack or pass by Mark while trying to bisect him?

This time, no sound of impact was heard as the zooming sound of the [Mechid's] boosters echoed continuously.

But instead of dodging...

CLANG!

Another deafening sound of metal clashing entered everyone's ears.

At the center of the barrier of Diwata Iraya, Mark could be seen with his shield raised up and his foot heavily rooted to the ground. In front of him was the [Mechid], whose charge attack was stopped by Mark.

The shield and the blade continued to push one another, but no one was budging a single step. But it could be seen that Mark was struggling to maintain the same position and was on the verge of getting pushed back.

And at this time...

BANG!

Another bullet was shot, which unexpectedly came somewhere far behind Mark.

The [Mechid] was about to step away from its clash with Mark.

"No you don't."

Mark said as he kept his shield in contact with the [Mechid's] blade.

CLANG!

And to everyone's surprise, a metallic sound not from the shield and the blade was heard.

The [Mechid] staggered backwards with a dent on the front of its torso, hit by a sniper bullet after failing to activate its [Kinetic Barrier].

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