The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1572

These 'individuals' ranged from floating heads with wings for ears to foot-tall neatly dressed goblins and fishmen with octopus heads and human bodies.

There was even a small stone gargoyle with a missing bottom half "standing" guard outside a shop.

And the reason why Hao Xuan was able to sense that feeling of kinship was because each and every creature here had a mark on it, be it of one of the Nine or the Old Gods.

But perhaps the strangest part was that he had never seen this section of the city before even though Luz had dragged him along to every place of interest.

It was entirely possible that knowledge of such a place was strictly regulated but Hao Xuan would have still sensed their marks, especially since there were so many of them and in such close proximity.

'What is this place?? How did I get here?'

He turned on his heels to trace his footsteps but came face to face with a grey brick wall blocking his path.

'The hell...'

Hao Xuan reached out with his right hand and upon coming into contact with the wall he passed through it as if it never existed in the first place.

The surroundings changed drastically as Hao Xuan found himself back in the city. That heavy stench of equal parts sweat and fear was unmistakable.

He looked over his shoulder and saw the same grey wall that appeared completely normal.

'I can't sense any marks now. Is this a barrier??'

This unexpected discovery left Hao Xuan fairly shocked. This time with some more mental preparation he touched the wall and walked through it.

It wasn't like the wall didn't exist, he could feel its solid surface at first but it quickly turned into a soft mush that swallowed him whole.

With just one step he was back in that mysterious alley again and this time he noticed a few other things like....the sky. It was there.

He could see the clear night sky filled with a handful of moons. There were even some larger creatures that were too big to move through the narrow street so they walked across the rooftops instead. (Reference Images in discord)

Hao Xuan watched the movement of the stars with great interest and although strange, it was not fake or manufactured by any spell or array that he was aware of.

'This isn't in the city, it's a completely independent space. That wall acts like a doorway connecting these two locations.

*Pull*

Hao Xuan felt something tug on his robe and when he looked down he saw a goblin looking up at him.

He was neatly dressed and well-groomed, holding up a small silver disc in hand.

"Greetings newcomer!" he flashed two rows of sharp teeth, "My name is Tamari Longtrouble and for a small small fee of one hundred cursed gold I can be your very own guide through this night market!"

Hao Xuan took the silver disc from his hand that had Longtrouble's name embossed on its surface alongside a list of (hopefully) made-up titles like the 'Snot Sommelier' and the 'Baron of Bedchambers'.

"I don't have any," Hao Xuan muttered lightly.

"Sorry?" Longtrouble stood on his tippy toes turning his pointy ear towards him, "I didn't catch that, friend."

"I said I don't have any gold. I don't even know how I got here-" he tried to explain through the confusion but Longtrouble snatched the silver disc from his hand and turned around to leave.

"Tsk, had a good feeling about this one but another dud," Longtrouble muttered to himself, "I should really pay a visit to the granny tomorrow and get myself checked out. Health comes first."

Seeing as this goblin was a guide who not only knew what this place but also about the dozens of shops that lined the sides Hao Xuan couldn't just let him go.

"Wait!" he called out.

Longtrouble lazily looked over his shoulder with an annoyed expression, "Time is money boyo. Here's some free advice- don't waste either, not mine or yours."

Hao Xuan could sense that Longtrouble's mark came from a lower class of the Old Gods so he went with the most obvious lure.

He called out the mark of the 'Silent Father' which had been used not too long ago for another person.

As expected Longtrouble's face fell and his knees buckled when he sensed it.

"Th-This is- IT CANT! How- why not m- this is so unfair!"

The Goblin went through all five stages of grief in about three seconds and with the acceptance he faced him yet again.

"Did you get robbed?" he asked somewhat unhappily, "But who would be stupid enough to rob someone like you? Maybe someone with the Crimson King's mark but still! How could you not have ANY gold at all??"

It seemed Longtrouble was having more trouble accepting Hao Xuan was broke than a mark bearer of the Nine.

***

Author's Notes:

All images are posted in the Official Discord.

Link: https: // discord. gg / AHdSBFQ