The Dawn of the New World

It was a strapping young man in his early twenties coming in at around 2 meters tall. He was holding three massive logs over his shoulder with one hand and another six with the other.

His bulging muscles spoke volumes of his strength because even while carrying several tons of weight he wasn't distressed in the slightest.

He was looking at Hao Xuan with a raised eyebrow while shaking his head.

[Tsk, took you long enough. Why don't you go to sleep a little earlier so we don't have to go through this every day?]

"Salome?!" Hao Xuan unintentionally spat out.

The man in front of him appeared completely different at first glance when compared to the oafish Salome that Hao Xuan knew but upon closer inspection the similarities were incredible.

They both had the same features and facial structures and even the way he spoke and the tone of his voice was almost identical. It could be no one else BUT him.

For a moment Hao Xuan thought he was actually talking to him but before he could do anything about it a figure passed through him and walked out of the barn.

[Why don't you get off my back? Why don't we try that first?] he mumbled annoyingly and immediately ended up on the receiving end of Salome's ire.

[You little brat, is that any way to talk to your older brother?! Hey, come back here! Haz! Hasdruin don't ignore me!]

Completely ignoring Salome's shouting he walked to the back of the barn under countless disapproving gazes of the other villagers.

Hao Xuan's brow furrowed, he had never heard that name before but it rolled off the tongue as if he had said it a million times.

"Hasdruin?"

He followed after him trying to catch a glimpse of his mug but upon finding his own younger face staring back at him he fell silent.

It was him. A little younger, a little different with some small scars here and there but it was undeniably a much younger version of Hao Xuan himself.

He walked for a minute or so before arriving at a stone well with a wooden bucket hanging from its side. As he threw the bucket down a couple of girls around his age were passing by while talking to each other in whispers.

They were trying to keep their voices low but he could hear them with stark clarity.

[Tsk tsk, what a shame. How can they be so different when they are only three years apart?]

[There's always one bad apple you know. And it's not like it matters, brother Salome is ten times the man he could ever be]

[True. As long as brother Salome is around no one would even notice if he disappeared]

[That would be the only downside of marrying brother Salome, having a useless brother-in-law like him hahaha]

And they sauntered off while giggling to themselves.

Hasdruin finally pulled out the bucket and dumped it over his head. Hao Xuan could somehow feel ice-cold water as if it was running down his own back.

He threw the bucket away and wiped his face while turning towards the sun with a big smile.

[Delusional bitches. As if any of you are good enough to marry him]

Hao Xuan's mind was buzzing uncontrollably and his thoughts running amok.

"Its...true? This really happened? How is it even possible?"

In a stupor, he tried to back off but accidentally stepped on a nearby branch that actually broke under his weight.

Hasdruin's ears immediately perked up as he turned towards the source of the noise and ended up looking directly into Hao Xuan's eyes.

It felt like someone had taken a hammer to Hao Xuan's chest because he was suddenly pushed back with enough force to shatter his body in two.

And when he came to the tranquil scene had changed to one of utter death and destruction as the very next moment Hao Xuan found himself standing in front of a pile of severed heads while a roaring blaze consumed everything in the vicinity.

Hasdruin was standing next to him with an expressionless face while holding onto another severed human head. He tossed it onto the pile and watched in silence as it rolled down back to his feet.

The sound of hurried footsteps came from behind as a group of six to seven men arrived, led by none other than Salome.

He looked much older than before, maybe in his forties now. He was wearing a full set of iron armor just like the other men which were covered in fresh blood and sword marks. It looked like they too had just run back from a battlefield.

But their weary expression was swiftly replaced by one of shock and disgust as they witnessed the hellscape that awaited them.

The longsword fell from Salome's hands as he staggered forward.

[W-What have you done...Haz...what have you done?!]