The Dawn of the New World

It stepped back with both hands raised but Hao Xuan could see its true form preparing to attack. The black clouds in the smaller creatures were moving faster and faster as if charging up for something.

"You don't want to fight?" Hao Xuan repeated the demon's words.

It nodded, "I just want to live."

"So you will let me go?"

"Of course, as long as you don't do anything to me I won't either."

"Thank you, I don't really want to fight either," Hao Xuan said smilingly and approached Wern. He bent down to pick him up, purposefully exposing his back to it.

As expected the demon moved quickly and silently, much faster than it had before to strike at his vital points.

But by the time its knife-like fingers landed Hao Xuan's figure was already gone.

"Blink," his voice came from somewhere behind the ruins.

The demon recoiled immediately surrounding itself with the smaller creatures from all sides, just in time for Hao Xuan to reappear in the same spot. He was expressionless and there was only coldness behind those piercing green eyes of his but to the demon, it was like looking at one of its many previous masters.

Hao Xuan looked like an amalgamation of unadulterated rage and bloodlust. It was so thick in fact that it was even creating illusions in the demon's mind. It could see blood dripping from his hand, its own blood.

"Now that he's out of the way, why don't we get this over with quickly?" Hao Xuan somberly stated.

The demon took a step back without thinking but quickly caught itself.

'Am I scared of him?! A mere human??!'

It was outraged by its own cowardice.

'How long has it been since I felt fear like this? And from HIM?!'

Its ugly face contorted even more, twisting under the increasing pressure of its true form trying to break free as it hissed at him.

"Do you think I am scared of YOU? A mere human?"

"Yes," Hao Xuan nodded as a matter of factly, "I can see it in your eyes, on your...faces. You are afraid."

"Hah! I am a DEMON who has served more than FOUR hundred years in the legions of hell. I have participated in the subjugation of tens of worlds and claimed countless souls. What makes you think you can do anything to me?"

Hao Xuan smirked, the first time he had shown any real emotion to the creature's antics.

"If you were here with your real body, in your true form then yeah. I probably wouldn't be able to do much to you."

The demon smiled victoriously, "Then beg for-" but Hao Xuan rudely cut it off.

"IF you were here in your true form but you are not. You are merely possessing a human body that is barely enough to channel a fraction of your real power. I don't know why you are even walking around in that state, you might as well be asking to be killed."

The demon knew Hao Xuan was right but there was a reason why it was so confidently walking around.

"Hahaha kill?! Do you think you can kill me?" it threw its head back cackling in a high-pitched voice.

"Even if you somehow manage to destroy this vessel that will not be the end of me! I will be sent back to hell only to come for your loved ones again and again until you are so damaged and broken that you will welcome me with open arms."

Hao Xuan looked at the demon through narrowed eyes admitting that there was truth behind its words.

Demons could not be so easily killed. They could be exorcised from the vessel or have it completely destroyed but that would only cast them back to hell. Not unless they were struck with a divine weapon that held the holy power of some righteous god. And it would have to be a strong one otherwise the demon would only be incapacitated for a few years or decades.

It had always been that way even in the other lives that he had experienced but now, HERE, that was not necessarily true.

The Immortal Devouring Demon Physique had its name for a reason. And even though it wasn't at full power but its most basic function was still working as intended.

"Is that right?"

Hao Xuan raised his hand in the demon's direction. They were more than six meters apart with tens of smaller creatures in the way but he still wanted to try it.

The demon smirked, "Is that supposed to scare m-"

[Devour!]

"GASP!"

The very breath from its lungs was ripped out as its true form was pulled towards Hao Xuan by some unknown force.

The demon staggered forward in shock but stopped after only a single step. It touched its face in bewilderment.