468 Connections, The Eyes, The Observers, Psypathogen, and Mutagen (1/2)
Day ▋▋ - ▋▋:▋▋ ▋▋ - Underground Crystal Basin, Unknown Dimension
That stare of Bathala towards Mark and Mei made the two somewhat uncomfortable. It was a blatant declaration that they had the possibility of reaching Godhood. The thing that made them very uneasy was that the words came from a Godly being.
Even the others with the two felt strange. Bathala had already said that reaching Godhood in this world was almost impossible. For in all history that the ones that reached it could be counted on one hand, there was no need to tell how hopeless it was to reach that level.
And yet, it was clear that Bathala was pointing his words at Mark and Mei in his last sentence.
Bathala was not mindful of their strange gazes. Instead, he smiled even more.
”Do you all know the most important aspect if a person wanted to take a step towards Godhood?” The Old Man asked.
”Religion and Worship?”
Karlene blurted out. However, Bathala shook his head.
”Religion and Worship is the best way for Gods to reach a higher level. But without stepping into Godhood, no matter how many people worship an individual, it is useless.”
The Old Man explained before looking at everyone, waiting for another answer.
”The ability to defy destiny, isn't it?”
Mark spoke with a solemn expression. That was the only possibility that both he and Mei had. And to his answer, Bathala nodded.
”Destiny isn't just some book that dictates the fate of humanity. It is a force of guidance etched within the souls of every individual. When that guidance ends, it is also the end of the individual. Even if a person's lifeforce is still strong, they will die at the end of that line. The perfect example of this is when a mortal with a lethal illness would recover for sometime before their death, letting them spend their last burst of lifeforce. And because of that, there is no way for a person to reach Godhood without defying it.”
Bathala looked and Mark and Mei solemnly.
”The time for you two had long passed. Yet, you two are still here. Although it is quite apparent that it was an outside force that caused you two to derail from your destinies, it is a legitimate step towards Godhood.”
As Bathala explained further, the more that Karlene and the others became confused. They looked at Mark and Mei, who seemed to understand what the Old Man was saying. It made them feel awkward and out of place.
”Then, that giant, the one you called an Eye, appeared because we are there?”
Mark asked.
”The possibility is there, but not concretely. It might have attacked by coincidence. Or maybe because I am there. Who knows? The Eyes of the Observers are very unpredictable. Even the Observers could not control them after they were sent into this world. They are nothing but autonomous puppets that followed the last command given to them by their creators.”
”Then, Mutagen, the thing that is happening on Earth right now, is another form of Culling?”
Alana asked.
And to answer that, Bathala shook his head.
”I don't know if this disaster that is happening right now is another work of the Observers. But in my opinion, it is not.” Bathala looked at Mark, Aephelia, and Iola. ”The planet Amerillia and Verehillio sent their people are also subjected to a similar event, is it not? Forgive me for peeking into your memories. But if a planet got destroyed like that, the Observers can't do that. Even the Observers had rules to follow. One of the things they are forbidden to do is destroy a world created by who they worked for.”
As Bathala said that, the scene around them change, displaying the time where Mark fought the giant.
”Looking at this, I can say that the current Observer of Earth is taking advantage of things.”
The current Observer managing Earth wanted to remove the previous gods and stop the ascension and appearance of new ones. The reason was not clear. However, it would deviate from his goals if he sent the Eyes, which was basically at the level of Deities and Gods, that he wanted to remove.
Because of that, it restricted him from sending his Eyes. The Observer was restricted by the same rules he made. This was how the remaining gods on Earth, like Bathala, managed to exist even now.
This time, however, the appearance of Mutagen changed everything. Mutagen was hard to predict. Thus, summoning the Eyes in the bodies of the infected was not breaking his own rules.
Looking at the giant that Mark fought, it was not a creature summoned by the Observer. The best explanation that Bathala could give was that the Observer used the powers of the Eyes as a Catalyst for the Mutation of the Infected.
”Then what about that thing that destroyed our planet?”
Aephelia asked with all seriousness.
”There is no way for me to tell,” Bathala replied. ”Unless you three want to share your memories to me for a bit.”
That suggestion made Aephelia look at Mark with askance. Iola was the same. As there was no problem with it, Mark nodded.
Receiving the permission of the three, Bathala waved his staff, and the scene around them changed once more.
And Karlene and the others almost fled from their seats. What they saw was the scene where some people surrounded by thousands of corpses of hideous infected looking creatures. And in front of those people, was an army of Mutated Infected. Behind that frightening army, was an enormous creature that was taller than Mount Everest.
Even though they knew that it was just a scene created by Bathala, they felt the pressure and fear that this creature could bring.
Malaya even fell from her seat, and Mark had to catch her. She wanted to change positions as she felt uncomfortable, but because of the terror that she felt, her wings did not flap at all.
Seeing the creature, even Bathala was surprised. This being was not any less than a Higher God like him. Furthermore, even Bathala felt that if he had to fight this creature, the outcome would be unknown. It was kind of surprising that there was a group of mortals that tried to fight it.
Mei grasped Mark's hand tightly. Even Amihan, Abbygale, and Miracle stuck to him after seeing the creature. On the other hand, Aephelia and Iola were calm like Mark. After all, it was not the first time for them to see this.