The Dawn of the New World



But like so many times before, the fate he was waiting for did not come true.

The moment Lucious crossed the boundary and entered his shadow's range the world was turned upside down.

Hao Xuan's shadow exploded into exactly two hundred fragments, each taking shape and physical form to manifest between the skeletons and Hao Xuan and blocking every single fist that came his way.

Hao Xuan felt the coldness from the rampant Yin energy wash over him but nothing else changed. He opened his eyes to the four familiar backs of Arthur, Malina, Olav, and Gamil all standing around him in perfect formation. (Mentioned around Ch 918-924)

And it wasn't just them, he recognized a lot of the others too because they still had their previous appearances. A little older than he remembered but it was still the same kids he had left here not too long ago.

They were surrounded by the same shimmering pale blue and white lights that the 'Death Moss' spiritual herbs were giving off.

An overwhelming sense of shame and guilt washed over him when he saw their ethereal figures being connected to his shadow. He could feel a faint connection to them thanks to the power of the 'Soul Severing Heavenly constitution' but it was getting weaker by the second.

They must have been with him ever since he came into contact with them on the way to meet Nidhora and only chose to reveal themselves now because they knew he would die otherwise. (Ch 1268 - Prickling)

Even back then Arthur had even tried to warn him not to go.

He reached out with a trembling hand, "A-Arthur...everyone...you were here-"

'You must go back!' two hundred voices sounded within his mind as one, 'We will protect, it is our duty.'

"IT'S NOT! I CAN SAVE YOU!" he roared back anxiously, "Your souls will perish if you keep this up, go back, that's an order!'

Arthur, who was blocking the attack of the first skeleton looked back at him with a smile, 'I taught him better than this but the long years must have twisted his mind. It is a parent's duty to educate their children, please allow me this opportunity, master.'

Wide-eyed, Hao Xuan looked at him and then at the skeleton in disbelief.

"That's...Lucious?"

Arthur nodded with a heavy heart, 'A part of him, only the bad part. They were all imprisoned in the shadow realm for centuries....we all were until you came. When you destroy the device their souls will be freed and they can move on.'

Hao Xuan realized that since the original two hundred Orcs were severed by him their souls could not be absorbed by the central matrix and so they wandered the lands even after death. That's how all those Death Moss herbs were born since they were unable to move on without his permission.

Meanwhile, all of their descendent's souls were absorbed into the central matrix and they lingered because of that.

"But if I destroy the device and you are not protected by my powers then all of you will be washed away too! That is true death!"

They were mere souls and shadows without the protection of their physical forms. It would be impossible for them to survive the blast on their own.

But Arthur was unfazed, how could he not be? They all knew this was going to happen.

'This is the way,' he replied as a matter of factly, and the rest repeated in unison.

'This is the way,' x199

"AAAAAAAAHHH!" Lucious let out an ear-piercing roar that brought their conversation to a halt.

He pulled back and got ready to strike again like all the other skeletons.

'There is no more time. We will hold them off!'

With their combined powers a barrier was erected around Hao Xuan that completely blocked him off from the outside world.

His heart wanted to order them to stand down but his rational mind knew this was the only way. Only with their protection would he be able to safely dig his way down and enter the main chamber without polluting it with the essence of the shadow realm.

With gritted teeth Hao Xuan turned around and began tearing the ground apart. It was pointless to stand here thinking about it and wasting the opportunity they had given him.

Without getting distracted it only took him a little over a minute to reach the side chamber. He pulled out the tubes connecting the cooling device to the main chamber and crawled through the vent and reached the main chamber without any issues.

The ground shook and dust fell from the ceiling as the fight between the original two hundred and the rest reached its apex.

*beep*

[Connection to the Central Matrix Established]

[Prepearing Download]

[Standby...]