The Dawn of the New World Chapter 1636

Gudmunder's confidence began to falter upon hearing those words. He stepped out onto a higher segment of the rock formation to get a better view of the cloudy sky.

"No no, that shouldn't happen!" exclaiming nervously he began inscribing more magic circles on his arms, "A pseudo-domain means its blood purity has hit a high enough level that it could be REALLY bad!"

Hao Xuan wanted to ease his nerves before the battle but he didn't know enough about this phenomenon to make an informed decision so he said what little he could.

"As long as it can't use any abilities then we should be fine. Without a True Demon controlling it or giving it strength from beyond the veil, it will be an empty husk more or less."

Gudmunder shook his head vigorously, "It won't JUST be an empty husk! It still has the body and instincts of its architect- not to mention the instability in its bloodline. It could go on a rampage without any regard for itself."

He paused, debating whether fighting was even a viable option at this stage.

His voice fell to a whisper, "At that point it will be akin to a natural disaster, an embodiment of wanton death and destruction. How can anyone contend against such an overwhelming force?"

He glanced at the southern side of the mine with slight hesitation, "We could...go. Just the two of us," he threw Hao Xuan a quick look, "It will go after the guards and the other slaves first before coming after us. I-If we ride those mounts there is a chance we will be fast enough to reach the city and get help-"

"Go."

Hao Xuan turned his back towards him without another thought, "Save yourself if you can, I won't stop you."

"...."

He was dumbfounded, "You...won't come??"

"No."

"Why the hells not?!" Gudmunder questioned furiously, "What's the point of dying together with these weaklings!? There is a good chance we could make it if we go together-"

"What's the point of living a life like that?" Hao Xuan spoke in a low but stern voice free of judgment, "Go! Leave now before it is too late."

He would never judge someone for trying to save themselves no matter how cowardly it seemed. Self-preservation was the most basic instinct of any living creature and it required no small amount of willpower and resolve to go against that kind of genetic programming.

"You will die!" Gudmunder warned.

"Maybe," Hao Xuan calmly replied, "At least I won't die with any more regrets. Plus it will be a good time, I've never fought a demon of this caliber before."

"You-You! That's madness...you're mad!"

"...."

"Maybe..."

*Ruuumble*

*Treeeemble*

The darkened sky rumbled ominously while the ground shook for the last time, giving birth to a five-meter-long pillar of hellfire and ash as it erupted from the pit in full force.

The air became heavy while the influences of the pseudo-domain came into effect. A feeling of dread, hopelessness, and panic set within the heart of every sapient being lingering under the shroud of darkness.

And Hao Xuan was no stranger to them. In fact he was only spurred on further. The more it tried to push him down the harder he wanted to resist.

Hao Xuan's blood boiled with anticipation, stampeding through his veins in a nervous delight. He wasn't even regulating it anymore since it was responding to an outside threat all on its own.

His skin took on a darker shade while his internal temperature rose higher and higher, evaporating the few beads of sweat hanging off his brow.

Hao Xuan let out a shallow breath creating a heat shimmer even in the wasteland's extreme heat.

'It's coming, I can feel it!'

"This is your last chance to run!" he warned Gudmunder but the magician had already made his choice.

"Hells with it, I want to see how this ends!" he said while biting his finger to draw out more blood for the magic circles.

"What's your plan?" he finally asked.

Hao Xuan chuckled lightheartedly, "What plan? Just lure it away from the mine and then do whatever you can to slow it down or weaken it. I'll handle the rest."

"That's a shitty fuckin' plan, you bastard," a crazed look took root in the magician's eyes as he drew an outline of a magic circle on his own face, "But I like it! Simple and easy to remember!"

Hao Xuan peeked over his shoulder at Gudmunder, "Ha! You got jokes!"

A skinless bloody hand suddenly reached out of the pit, catching both their attention.

It was bone and dripping flesh at first but the hellfire immediately set it alight as it pulled the rest of its body out.

The hellfire wrapped around the somewhat humanoid silhouette in a bid to solidify its shape.

It was pulling in all the energy from the surroundings trying to increase its power even more and that could not be overlooked. They were next to an actual mine of spirit stones so there was nearly limitless energy here.

"Alright I think that's enough," Hao Xuan muttered before the boulder he was standing on exploded.

He appeared next to the fiery silhouette in an instant, his leg cutting through the air like an axe.

*BOOOM*

A successful hit!

The demon bent in half while flying across the desert, shooting in the southwest direction from the mine.

Hao Xuan felt good about the hit especially because he managed to interrupt it before things got out of hand but before they could rejoice, an invisible force tugged at both of their feet.

"WHA-"