The Dawn of the New World

Hao Xuan could tell at first glance that this wasn't random. The herbs were growing in long cylindrical patches with empty spaces between each one.

He walked up to the first one which wasn't that far off. The nearby herbs immediately became alert and their leaves stood in the air like tiny daggers.

"Shhh, it's okay I just want to check something. I won't hurt you or take anything away...I promise.."

He relayed the message verbally and clarified his intentions by sending out several golden threads of spiritual sense. When the herbs sensed his honesty they began to move aside.

The raised patch of land previously hidden underneath them came to light. Hao Xuan bent down on one side and carefully pushed aside the soil.

After moving only a few handfuls of dirt the white bone of a half-broken skull came into view. From the size and shape to the specific dimensions, there was no doubt about it. This belonged to an Orc.

Hao Xuan's stomach churned at the acknowledgment of this revelation.

He covered it back up and quickly moved to the next patch, doing the same thing nine more times and every single time unearthing an Orc skeleton buried just a couple of feet down.

He stood up with shaky legs to peer towards the far side, counting each grave in sight.

"509. There are five hundred and nine of them."

*Beep*

"Explanation required."

"It's the proof, the undeniable evidence of my handy work. Baracus, do you know what happens to the severs if they are too far from me for too long? If they are locked in a world that they cannot leave, a world that won't let them get stronger? I had a theory but this is the first real unmistakable confirmation of it."

"Negative."

"The body, the physical container for the soul that I have severed begins to rot with time. It gets old and weak but the soul...the soul remains strong! Their bodies continue to become frail and feeble, reaching a point where they are unable to even move by themselves."

"But since the souls are trapped because of this broken world they cannot move on. They cannot truly die, neither forget nor take their own lives. All they can do is watch themselves waste away bit by bit, locked in a rotting meat prison."

"It's a fate worse than death, one that I would not wish upon my worst enemies. Hah, if only they were my enemies then I wouldn't have to feel this way now."

"But what's even worse is-"

'-Now I know without a doubt that Baracus has been lying to me. About the Orcs, the wars, and god knows what else. But why? Why make the Orcs out to be the villains? Why go through so much trouble just to hide something that happened so long ago?'

Hao Xuan's thoughts were interrupted when the mountain shifted left and right. It felt like the entire world was turning upside down and when he looked at the sky the reason became clear.

There was an incomprehensibly large shadow slowly coming out from the right side. It was big enough to connect the sky and the ground before even revealing its complete form.

'This is what Nidhora was talking about! When her physical form perished a gate to the shadow world was created. She had been holding it shut but now that her soul shard is gone there is nothing to keep the monsters from the other side to come through here.'

"I have to leave now!"

Hao Xuan went up the mountain wall and began scribbling the row of Prime Letters. It only took a few seconds because he had ingrained the exact address in his mind.

But to his dismay when Hao Xuan tried to channel motes of internal energy into the letters they were forcefully dissipated by the worldly pressure.

"WHAT?! WHY??"

*GROOOAN*

*THUD*

Hao Xuan was thrown into the air when the land he was standing on splintered and flew into the air. The earth shook and moaned under the increasing pressure.

He pushed against a piece of rock flying in his direction and landed further away. His back was covered in a cold sweat when he realized why this was happening.

"The world is breaking apart! That fucking thing is too big for this place so it's coming apart at the seams! And I can't channel any Qi outside of my body because it gets dissipated by the darkness of the shadow world!"

*Beep*

"The central core of the settlement is able to act as a reality tether. As long as it stands the host will be able to re-open the portal and return."

Hao Xuan looked in the direction of the exit where the single Death Mold herb was still standing with the floodlight, keeping the countless smaller shadow beasts at bay.