490 The Morning of Elders Death, Marks Decision about the Oracle and the Elder (1/2)

Day 126 - 9:23 AM - Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Quezon

Early in the morning, everyone woke up receiving a piece of bad news.

The Tribe Elder had passed away.

Mark, who was the owner of this base, organized an emergency meeting during breakfast. The passing of the Elder was the first news that he brought to them.

She, who guided the remaining members of her tribe to safely, had finally reached the end of the line.

Nevertheless, even though no one meant it in the wrong way, many people in the base were curious as to how the Elder lasted this long. Although no one asked, her appearance could tell anyone that she must have passed a hundred years old already even before the outbreak came.

After all, not everyone was able to see what was the actual reason.

One of the things that entered everyone's mind, however, was the fact that the Elder was the very first death among the members of the base since Mark established the base.

Nonetheless, no one could decide whether this was a bad or a good thing.

It was a bad thing because the Elder left her loved ones, especially her grandchildren.

On the other hand, she did not have to worry anymore about surviving in this world. The world was already moving towards destruction. Anyone could die anything. In the least, she did not die being torn apart by the teeth of the infected.

She died with her loved ones beside her, unlike the families of almost everyone here.

None of them even knew whether their loved ones that died still had their bodies intact.

Everyone wanted to do a funeral for the Elder.

Unfortunately, they did not know whether their current situation would allow it.

In the meeting, Mark did not hide that the enemies might be attacking today. This added to the tension that everyone felt from the death of the Elder.

Furthermore, Mark already told them that everyone, except the children and elderly, would be participating in this battle. It was to give everyone a good experience in defending the base.

But in the middle of Mark's announcement. He suddenly said that everyone except for some selected people would be retreating inside the space of the Spirit Tree.

The subspace existing inside Chiyo was not new to them. In fact, everyone here had already entered it since they started to build things inside, following Mark's instructions.

However, for the former plans to be changed at the last minute, everyone felt that something was not right.

It was not hard to guess that something was going on. However, Mark decided to hide the details of this one and did not say anything instead.

And after the announcement, there was no time to waste. Everyone was told to prepare to evacuate and transport most of the things into the subspace.

Thus, everyone became more active than any of the days they had in their lives. It was as if the scene of evacuation when a typhoon was coming repeated itself in the apocalypse.

Everyone here knew that Mark and his team were fierce. But if they said that everyone should evacuate despite their presence, the situation might really be dangerous. Thus, no one held back in preparing to leave.

Mark watched the situation as he made his way back to the Elder's dwelling. Without any place or time for a funeral, the Elder's body still lay on her bed.

Mei came with Mark this time. Quietly walking beside him.

The loss of the Elder was the loss of a great asset. Despite being cryptic, her Oracles could warn the base against danger.

In respect to the Elder, Mark decided on something.

Mark did not know whether it would be an honor or not. However, it was the best that he could treat the deceased old woman.

She was to be buried inside the subspace of the Night Everred Spirit Tree, forever protected from everything as long as the tree continued to exist.

Mark entered the room. It was being guarded by the remaining members of their tribe.

They bowed their heads upon Mark and Mei's entry.

At the bed that could be seen in the entrance, the body of the Elder could be seen. She was now dressed in different clothing and was surely cleaned diligently. Not even a trace of blood could be seen around despite what happened last night when the Elder coughed out blood, staining her clothes, the floor, and the bed.

Mark looked at the granddaughter whose eyes were not only swelling but was also a bit dark. It was very likely that she did not sleep a wink at all and took care of everything. As for her brother, it seemed that he was tired of crying. He was lying down on the bed beside her.

Without saying anything, Mark and Mei walked towards the body of the Elder.

No one said anything, either and just watched.

But then, Mark held his hand towards the forehead of the deceased Tribe Elder.

Then, the wind swirled around inside the room as if someone suddenly turned on an industrial fan.

Every cloth in the room fluttered with the wind.

The wind surged with Mark and the Elder at the center.

Although it was not present on his face, Mark was also quite surprised at the current phenomenon. Although he had done this before, this was the first time that something like this happened.

It was no different. Using an [Empty Mental Crystal], he was taking out the Elder's [Oracle] ability from her corpse before it dissipated.

He could have done it last night. Although he was not sure if he was able to take it, he could at least try. However, he decided to do it after the Elder died.

This ability that ran through their blood was the one that tried to maintain her life. If he chose to do it last night and succeeded, it would immediately end her life.

That would be unfair for her two grandchildren that she would leave behind.

But then...

CRACK!

The crystal on his hand shattered.

Mark frowned. Sure enough, the Elder's ability was different from normal ones.

Taking another [Empty Mental Crystal], he tried once more.

CRACK!

The second crystal also shattered into pieces.

Two marble-sized crystals already shattered to dust. If the Spirit Races knew of this, they would surely cry. Even Gods seem to value it, but two large pieces of it shattered into nothingness.

Despite that, Mark did not give up.