The Dawn of the New World

He gripped the back of the demon's head while shoving it deeper into the ground with all his strength, making sure not to accidentally pop it off in the process.

It tried to struggle but with no hands or legs to support itself with, there wasn't much it COULD do other than flap around like a headless chicken.

Covered in second-degree burns in over half of his body Hao Xuan bared his teeth at the demon, sensing an emptiness akin to a black hole naturally form within his gut followed by a deep hunger pang.

It was his body's natural reaction to the situation. Hao Xuan felt like he hadn't eaten in years and now he was staring at a full-course meal perhaps for the first time in his entire life.

His pupils widened, teeth grew and mouth began to salivate as the Lycan bloodline began to come into full effect of its own volition. He didn't feel like himself at that moment, at least not like the Hao Xuan he had known so far.

Something primal, something hidden deep within his blood was beginning to stir. It was a sensation unlike any that he had not known in this life or any of the others, a sense of an ancient predator that had roamed the lands since time immemorial.

A low, thundering roll reverberated through his parched throat, more bestial than even his appearance.

*Grooowl~*

For just a moment Hao Xuan could see himself ripping into its neck and feeling the sweet sweet pleasure as it struggled under his weight, while his teeth bore into its flesh, ripping, tearing, and drinking in merriment.

He could feel himself changing from the mere thought of it.

The demon was the prey and he was the predator that was willing to go to any lengths to get its mark. His abominable appearance was indisputable proof of it.

And as if that wasn't enough, a voice began to sound within his mind encouraging him to go through with it, pushing him further down a dimly lit path.

[Do it! Kill it! Eat it whole!]

He knew that it would change him forever but he still wanted to go through with it. His body began to grow, physically taking a more beastial form that accurately reflected his state of mind.

His mouth opened wide, wider than any human's ever could to reveal a row of beastly fangs facing the Heavens above and Hells below. His saliva dripped onto the demon's back making its flesh sizzle.

"AAAAAAAAH!"

It howled and wailed in two different voices simultaneously. One belonged to the guard and the other belonged to its true form. One human and one demon but both equally fearful of what was to come.

All of these changes transpired in mere seconds.

Hao Xuan leaned closer ready to bite its head off, completely unaware that his actions were being dictated by someone else.

Somewhere within the infinite layers of the Abyss, a small house sat quietly under a waterfall that flowed up a cliff and straight into the dark void above. The old witch sat by one of the windows, staring into a giant cauldron in front of her.

The cauldron contained a slimy green liquid bubbling with unknown objects bobbing up and down every time a giant wooden ladle flew past them.

Hao Xuan's image could be seen reflecting on its surface.

"One more push," the old witch whispered.

She swiftly thrust her entire arm into the loose robe that wrapped around her hunched frame to fish for something, pulling out the corpse of a newborn human baby after a few seconds.

With her twig-like fingers, she ripped off the left arm and the right leg before tossing them into the cauldron while carelessly flinging the rest of it aside. The pitter-patter of numerous small creatures came from one of the shadowy corners and the corpse was dragged out of sight immediately.

The Old Witch held her wretched hands over the cauldron while chanting a spell on repeat. At the same time, the voices in Hao Xuan's mind became louder and louder until he could hear nothing but them.

[Do it! DO IT! KILL IT! EAT IT! SWALLOW IT WHOLE!]

The corners of her cracked lips raised upwards, it was almost done.

But before he could take a bite an explosion of blinding iridescent light took place and a diaphanous figure appeared behind his back. The figure placed a hand on Hao Xuan's head, pouring most of its light into him.

It dimmed just enough to reveal the figure's true appearance, that of a seraphic beauty with a little less than two dozen wings behind her back that were beginning to cover them both entirely. But just before they could, she looked to the side and stared directly into the cloudy eyes of the Old Witch.

The ladle that was stirring the cauldron was thrown to the side, the slimy green liquid exploded and splattered all around while the cauldron cracked from the top.

The Old Witch stood rooted in the same spot for quite some time while many thoughts ran across her mind. The door opened and in walked the equine demon, neighing inquisitively.

Finally she let out a deep breath and spoke up in a raspy voice, "What an annoying little critter. This is the second time she has infringed on my territory. "

"Neigh!~"

"You are right, she will not stop and I can't take any direct actions without alerting the others. So be it, if she is intent on getting in the way then I will send him to a place where neither of us can reach him," she turned towards the equine demon with a somber expression, "Bring me the 'Lectum Mortis', the treasure of Hades."

The equine demon reared in place, stomping twice to ignite the abyssal flames around its legs that grew large enough to cover its entire figure. And when the fire died out it was already gone.

**

Back on the physical plane, Hao Xuan was brought out of the trance and quickly pulled himself back. His appearance returned to normal and even though he understood what had happened the 'why' was still a mystery.

'I almost lost control again, it was like I was back in the colosseum in the Mei kingdom.'

While lost in thought he felt the demon struggle under his foot and realized the deed was still not done.

"Oh, you."

[Devour!]

The demon's body twisted and turned into a mist that was absorbed by Hao Xuan down to the last molecule.