<strong>Day 37 – 6:18 AM – Unused Warehouse, Port of Real Settlement, Barangay Ungos, Real, Quezon</strong>


    The revtion about na''s familial rtions with the Japanese biologist, Professor Masaki Suzuki, cleared up a lot of things about her. Especially about her facial features that was a mix of races.


    After hearing that exnation from na, Mark turned to Karlene.


    "So, you decided tag along with me, right?"


    Hearing those words from Mark totally surprised the two.


    "How did you know?"


    Karlene hesitantly asked.


    To her question, Mark also posed his question while ncing at na.


    "Have you told her already about Ka?"


    "No. Not yet. I don''t know if she will believe me either."


    Mark and Karlene''s conversation caused na to be confused.


    "Hey, you two. What are you talking about?"


    "Mizuki."


    Mark turned with a serious expression.


    "Uhm… Yes?"


    "Everything you will hear here. Do not tell it to anyone. Not even to your uncle."


    "What''s with all these seriousness? It''s creeping me out."


    Since na was the one that apanied Karlene, Mark decided to fill her with some of the information about Karlene''s circumstances. After all, Mark knew that na was a trustworthy person even before the outbreak. Still, she needed to keep it secret to everyone since the things she was going to hear were the circumstances of her best friend and if it spread, it could lead to various consequences not only to Karlene but also to Mark.


    Contrary to Mark and Karlene''s expectations, na epted the circumstances without problem.


    "After all, it''s not really surprising." na said after being questioned. "Bessie did not feel like Bessie when she goes berserk. She doesn''t even respond to everyone even her Dad. Not even a twitch."


    "Still, it''s amazing that she have to consciousness in her body, also for you to be able to know all that."


    na added as she looked at Mark. She seemed to be jealous that he knew more about Karlene''s circumstances even though Karlene was already like a sister to her.


    "Uhm… Mr. Mark… You knew that I woke up while, K-Ka is out right?"


    Karlene asked with a surprised expression.


    "Of course, I knew. I caused that after all as a side effect when I tried to calm Ka for the first time."


    Mark confirmed which made Karlene a little bashful.


    When Mark patted Ka''s head yesterday and channeled his white mental energy to calm her, the sleeping consciousness of Karlene was also subjected to the energy and woke up. Although Ka was still controlling the body, Karlene who was awake managed to see and watch everything that happened afterwards until she fell unconscious once more when she switched with Ka after the battle with the horde. Normally, she would be in a sleep state until her and Ka''s consciousness switched back causing her to know nothing about Ka''s actions.


    Hugging Mark and crying on his chest, holding his hand for a long time and acting like a total child in front of him, Karlene saw all that and that was all enough to turn her face red, even though she was ying seductively the other night behind Mark while riding on the motorcycle and she felt nothing.


    Inhaling deeply, Karlene looked at Mark.


    "I want to learn how to fight and how I can use Ka''s power. I don''t want to be a burden to dad all this time. Also, I know you already heard about my circumstances here. Due to Ka''s rampages before and getting caught up with the ouws, I''m on the verge of getting exiled from here. If that happened, I don''t want Dad to leave this settlement with me and wander around without any fixed destination. Even going to other settlements, out future won''t be clear. Also… You are the only person who can handle Ka. I will just trouble other people, even Dad if this continued."


    "Actually, there''s a faster method for you to be able to control Ka''s ability."


    Mark suddenly said which took the two by surprise.


    "How?"


    na asked for her best friend.


    "Erasing Ka from Karlene''s body and devouring her consciousness."


    "NO!" Karlene shouted. "I know, this is my body and I want to be able to use her ability but I don''t was to do it like that! I saw everything, even heard what you said about her. She''s innocent right? Even though it''s kind of troublesome, I don''t want to do something that cruel. She''s just afraid. If possible, I want to consider her as my little sister since I don''t have one."


    Hearing all those, Mark suddenly smiled.


    "You''re testing Bessie aren''t you?"


    na asked which also surprised Karlene.


    "Well, she passed. I don''t mind if you want to go with me but remember that wherever I go, it will be dangerous so I will beat you into shape. Also, it''s better if you get your father''s permission."


    Karlene stared at Mark wide eyed but the smile on her face could not be hidden anymore. na hugged her in glee. Unfortunately, na also wanted to apany Karlene but she would not be able to leave his uncle who would surely turn out to be worse if left alone. Scientists had different lifestyle frommon people after all.


    The three talked for about half an hour about things when...


    THROB!


    THROB!


    Throbbing sounds suddenly echoed inside the warehouse. It was too loud that it could be heard outside. The two happy girls froze and Mark also turned to the source of the sound.


    "What is that?"


    na said staring at the contraption in the center of the warehouse. They did not notice it since the two focused on Mark that was near the entrance since they entered.


    "Is that the lizard yesterday?"


    Karlene said with a gulp.


    In the center of the warehouse, the lizard that had grown twice its size before was curled into a spiral. In Mark, na and Karlene''s view, it looked like a wall of scales.


    THROB!


    THROB!


    The throbbing sound continued. It sounded like a beating heart.


    "The final phase is starting."


    Mark said in amazement.


    The skin of the lizard started to emit a fain glow likeva and its body started to emit heat. Then, its red rock like scales started to turn into a shade of reddish ck starting from the roots of the scales. It was the same color of Mark''s [Blood Metal].


    Mark was not surprised by the change of color. He would also not be surprised if the rock like scales turned out to be as strong as his [Blood Metal]. After all, Mark also made the lizard ingest a fistful of his blood when he threw the crystal into its mouth. Since Mark''s body and blood was highlypatible with Mutagen, it would surely cause a reaction like what happened to I when he treated her. It was one of what Freed told him back then when he spent time inside his subconscious.


    A dragon flying in the sky would surely be vulnerable to attacks. With Mark''s blood, superficial wounds would not be a problem anymore. Although it should not be as fast as Mark''s since his blood had already changed from when he was an Evolver, it should still be fast.


    Mark suddenly froze, something unexpected happened.


    The lizard was about to wake up and he felt a connection with its mind. It had the same feeling as what he had with the [BloodChildren]. He really did not expect this to happen but this was a good thing.


    Behind Mark, Amihan who was awakened by the throbbing sound stared at the lizard that had undergone changes while keeping silent. As for the [BloodChildren] they were awake all this time since Mark stood up, they were just staying put due to Mark''s order.


    THROB!


    The loudest heartbeat echoed and the eyes of the lizard, no, dragon opened immediately.


    Inside the warehouse, the dragon with a bodyrger than a saltwater crocodile slowly stood up on all fours. The reddish ck scales looked majestic and its body was more muscled than before. Tworge bat like wings opened widely causing a gust of wind inside the warehouse. It raised its head and faced upwards.


    ROOOOAAAARRR!!!


    A roar reverberating across the whole settlement sounded early in the morning.


    ***


    "What is happening?!"


    Professor Suzuki rushed out of theboratory hearing that loud roar. Not only him but everyone in the settlement rushed out of their ces while those outside started to run in panic.


    No one knew what was happening but that roar would likely mean bad news for everyone.


    The soldiers immediately readied themselves forbat.


    "Where did that roare from?"


    Professor Suzuki asked a soldier guarding outside theboratory who seemed to be getting ready for the worst situation.


    "Professor, we don''t know yet but it seems toe from the east."


    "At the ocean?"


    "Most probably Professor."


    But then…


    BOOOM!!!


    A loud sound of roofing and concrete that copsed echoed at the eastern side of the military section.


    Everyone froze and stared at therge figure that flew at the sky.


    A lizard with reddish ck scales almost twice the size of a salt water crocodile flew up to the sky with its pair of bat like wings that spanned about the same length of its body.


    "I-i-is that a dragon?!"


    "Run away! Run away!"


    "Escape the area! Quick! Soldier''s ready for sortie!"


    Several screams echoed in the whole settlement after they saw the figure flying in the sky.


    There was no doubt that it looked like a dragon, no, it was really a dragon. No one would have expected that a creature in folklore, mythology and fantasy would suddenly appear in this settlement.


    On contrary to the people running away, Professor Suzuki followed the soldiers that were already running towards the ce that the dragon originated. There was no doubt that these soldiers were ready to defend against the dragon even if they had to sacrifice themselves.


    The dragon on the other hand flew in circles roaring and even breathing fire for who knows what reason.


    Reaching the eastern part of the port, the soldiers lined up in formation wielding their guns and even rocketunchers.


    "Men! Aim!"


    The officer on site shouted at the soldiers with rockets.


    "Stop! Stop! Don''t shoot!"


    When two girls filled with dust on their bodies came running and frantically shouting at the soldiers.


    Seeing that one of the girls was na, Professor Suzuki also tookmand to stop the soldiers from shooting. As the head scientist in the settlement, he had the authority tomand the soldiers to some extent.


    However, idents happen at times.


    One of the running people tripped bumped unto one of the soldiers aiming his RPG at the dragon in the sky. Since the soldier was quite nervous and was already waiting for themand to fire, his index finger was on the trigger. The soldier being bumped caused him to fire his rocket identally.


    Seeing the rocket that wasunched prematurely, everyone paled. na and Karlene paled since they knew what that dragon was while the soldiers paled because that preemptive rocket revealed which soldiers were the most dangerous. With some of the animals that evolved and gained intelligence that they encountered, a mishap like this caused the animals to pay attention to the most dangerous groups which made it harder to kill the animals.


    As the rocket flew however, it flew straight toward the dragon that seemed to be oblivious to it. It was every likely that it would hit.


    At that moment, ck wavy mist flew up towards the trajectory of the rocket and a human figure appeared before it. The figure that was wielding a katana shed the rocket into two and vanished leaving the me and smoke of the explosion. The soldiers dismayed at the oue of the rocket and thought that the person was also an enemy since they could not recognize him due to the distance.


    But then…


    The man appeared in front of the dragon and unleashed a downwards rolling kick on its face.


    Due to the force of the kick and to an unknown factor, the dragon fell down on a nose dive. The dragon fell in front of the soldiers and the man that turned into mist followed after. A dragon falling unto the concrete caused quite an impact and dust flew everywhere.


    Everyone then heard an angry voice in the midst of the dust.


    "Just who told you to show off?! Huh?!"


    BAM!


    "Look at the ruckus you made!"


    BAM!


    "You need to learn to behave!"


    BAM!


    The dust subsided and everyone was dumbfounded.


    In front of them, they saw Mark who was also covered in dust beating the dragon that was afraid to move with his spear.