The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1550

By the time Hao Xuan managed to tear his eyes away from the monstrous sword Rain's undivided attention was already focused on him.

He stepped out of the fountain with an ugly expression, "Who sent you?"

Hao Xuan wanted to take a step back but the mark of the 'Forgotten Horror' was preventing any movement that may result in the distance between them increasing. He could feel the Old One's will being forcefully channeled into his body.

It was 'urging' him- provoking and forcing a conflict with every thread of its existence.

'What the HELL are you doing?? Are you trying to possess my body?!'

He could feel its influence trying to corrupt his thoughts, putting ideas in his head that were never there.

[The Sword! Take the Sword!] it screamed over and over again.

Seeing him suddenly freeze up like that, Rain took it as an admission of guilt- not that he needed one to begin with.

He lugged the greatsword behind him, "They sent you, didn't they?" he scowled.

Hao Xuan could tell this wasn't as simple of a 'contract' as he was led to believe. The Forgotten Horror wanted that sword more than anything else and Rain obviously knew why. He was prepared for just such a situation.

Gritting his teeth, Hao Xuan began channeling the entirety of his bloodline to break free of the Abyss God's influence, 'I know what you want and you will have it, but NOT LIKE THIS!'

*Whoosh*

The sudden increase in his blood purity brought forth a host of physiological changes, some of which Rain could clearly see and sense.

He could see the muscles wrapping around Hao Xuan's shoulders, arms, and legs as if they were a separate entity altogether. His face changing ever so slightly but still enough to make him appear as a different person.

His eyes narrowed, "What kind of an abomination are you?!"

Hao Xuan exhaled deeply as he swiftly communicated with Ryuk.

'The rotting stench greatly lessened. Ryuk! How many people are watching us right now? How many are around?'

'Two watching, many others around! If you fight they will come FAST. Some are stronger than the two funny cats at the gate!'

'That's what I expected. There won't be a fight today then.'

He quickly cracked a smile, "Many apologies esteemed sir, I seemed to have mistaken you for someone else."

But Rain was not having any of it.

"Mistaken me for someone else?" his head tilted sideways in mock confusion, "Then how did you know my name? Not many people know it anymore since I made sure to feed every last one of those bastards to him," he finished by gently patting the greatsword's handle.

'Him?' Hao Xuan's eyes jumped between the sword and him, 'It's a living weapon, that's what the smell was and why its effect greatly lessened once I channeled the Lycan bloodline! It was the overflowing energy of that monstrosity sealed by those raggy bandages! Even more of a reason not to continue this any longer.'

Hao Xuan threw him a casual shrug while turning away, "Think whatever you want. I'm already late for my next appointment."

He had hoped that by showing him his back Rain would take it as a sign of silent surrender and not push the matter further but that couldn't be further from the truth.

Rain laughed somberly and into himself, "Haha, I always knew one of his toys would find me but I never expected it to be here and now. Worry not, I am ready."

Hao Xuan's ears perked up while he listened to the orchestra commencing its performance inside Rain's body.

The faster thumping of his heart, the quickening of his blood flow as it pushed open every blood vessel to twice its size. The slight movement of his organs as a result of that and even the heat emanating off of his skin as it stretched and quaked with every flexing muscle group.

He didn't NEED to see him, with this much information Hao Xuan could create a pretty accurate picture of it in his mind.

"Don't do that, it's not worth it," he warned again but that only made Rain act faster.

He pulled the sword to the side and swung in an arc from the bottom right to the top left.

*Sigh*

'Fucking amatuars. Might as well be a goddamn child holding a sledgehammer!'

Hao Xuan lazily leaned left to avoid the fat blade still covered in rags, expertly avoiding the first strike without even looking. But his brow began to furrow when he heard gnawing sounds coming from the blade as it passed by his head before coming down twice as fast.

He sidestepped to the right and turned to face his angry mug.

"I am not going to attack if you just stop," he tried to give him a way out but Rain only grinned viciously in response and placed his other hand on the blade to twist it sideways.

Half-a-meter-long green spikes jutted out from the blade's spine as a result.