The Dawn of the New World

Some part of him wanted to turn around and run away but his legs did not stop moving forward even once, right into one short-lived lifetime after another.

The mind was in a daze but the body was different.

It had never been stronger than it was right now because every second of the last few days it was constantly battered and bruised, torn to shreds in a myriad of ways from inside out until every fiber of every muscle was stronger than steel wires.

And this was only possible because of his almost inexhaustible vital energy reserves that were now running alarmingly low.

Every step he took was a foot in another world but unlike before, it flew naturally this time, at least natural enough that he wouldn't lose his mind so easily.

Hao Xuan absentmindedly followed behind Eurig until they were standing in front of the old double-story building that was housing all the injured patients.

There were so many people that they couldn't even take one step without running into someone but Eurig didn't care at all. He shoved everyone aside until they were standing in front of the entrance where a couple of people were blocking their way.

Two men both dressed in white, healers from the looks of it.

"Stop! What are you doing?! Get back in line!" one of them shouted angrily but when Eurig showed him the condition of Wern and Alfen that were being carried like sacks of potatoes their expressions took a turn for the worse.

"Th- What happened to them?!"

"They fell. Now treat them," he replied callously before throwing them over to the men.

"Woa- Hey careful!"

Hearing the commotion Sundra arrived ready to yell at whoever was making trouble at this time but seeing her husband with one foot in the grave she melted like snow.

"Alfen! Can you hear me?! What happened to you?!"

He was fine just a few minutes ago but a lot had changed in that little time frame.

The barrier had been broken and more and more injured people were coming in every second and there was not much she could do to help them by herself.

She looked over towards the man who had brought him and noticed Hao Xuan standing right behind him with Arnett in his embrace in much the same condition if not even worse.

She didn't have to think for long before coming to the conclusion that most likely both of these men were with the people that had kept Arnett enslaved for so long and now they had found him and punished him and these two accordingly.

"Arrest them!" she ordered, leaving the nearby healers at a loss for words.

Not only that wasn't a part of their job but the city guards that were meant to be keeping peace were all called to the city gates.

"What are you waiting for!? These people are crimina-"

"No I'm not," Hao Xuan cut her off and came forward looking her right in the eyes, "I wouldn't have brought them here if I was. Where is Eva? His sister. They both need help."

He allowed Sundra to get a better look at Arnett's injuries and despite her many reservations she let him in.

"This is not over, you will have to explain what happened to them."

"Sure."

She took him over to the bed where Eva was and Hao Xuan put Arnett down beside her.

Arnett's condition was much worse than any of them thought because he had second-degree burns on most of his body. His breath was so shallow that it sounded like it could be the last.

But all Hao Xuan could hear were the same words being repeated over and over again.

'Eva...help Eva...'

Hao Xuan placed his hand over Arnett's forehead and circulated a bit of spiritual energy from the surroundings into his body. It surrounded his spine and brain, acting as a cushion between the extreme sensations of pain and fatigue momentarily.

"I will, I promise. She will be here soon, don't worry," he muttered the words under his breath before walking out of the building with Eurig close behind.

He stepped out onto the street while dozens of people ran back and forth under the ever-increasing looming threat of destruction.

In the back of his mind the memories of a great many lifetimes played out but they weren't enough to keep him occupied while in reality, he was looking at the countless other figures around him.

If he focused they could be tuned out but now that he had absorbed so many of them they weren't coming at him. Instead, they just stood in their place, out of his way while staring at him menacingly.

It looked like they were waiting for him to come to them.

Seeing him just staring into the air blankly Erurig spoke up.

"My Lord, what are your wishes? Should we finish the mortals? The savior will be arriving soon."

Hao Xuan closed his eyes momentarily and took in a deep breath. And when he opened them again the figures were a lot less obvious. Not completely gone but as long as he didn't focus on them they were easy to look past.

"Go back to that hole for now. I will come find you when I am done here."

"But would it not be better to work together-"

*Kuek*

Without any warning or forethought Hao Xuan's hand shot forward and gripped around his neck like a vice.

Eurig tried to struggle free but no matter how much he tried he couldn't move a single one of Hao Xuan's fingers. And then to his disbelief, Hao Xuan's hand incorporated into his skin and went inside as a feeling of impending doom took over.

"Do what you are told. I don't like to repeat myself. Understand?"

He looked up to meet Hao Xuan's gaze and when those piercing green eyes look at him he felt smaller than he had ever before.

"Y-YES!"