The Dawn of the New World

"To the gate! We cannot allow any more of them to enter the city!"

A familiar voice could be heard giving orders to Hao Xuan's right. Head still ringing and waves of pain continuously coursing through his body, Hao Xuan grit his teeth and stood up.

He leaped over a nearby structure and landed on the roof, seeing a group of 15 or so individuals. They were running through the streets towards the south side of the city where the only entrance was.

On the way they dispatched several skinless crimson beasts before burning their bodies to cinders.

Hao Xuan recognized Princess Inara who was in the lead. Next to her was Ma Jiang, and the two female guards that always followed her around. Kart, black wolf demihuman was also there but Hao Xuan didn't recognize him since they had never met before.

But from the ones he was familiar with, they were much different from what he remembered. Princess Inara for example wasn't the meek little kitten she had been in front of Hao Xuan.

Her blade was covered in dried blood, just like the rest of her body. She had several small and large scars in various places that were quite fresh. She was also missing an eye.

Each of her moves was full of confidence as she elegantly danced around the crimson creatures with her shortsword in hand, cutting off limbs with brutal precision.

The female guards looked like they had been put through the wringer more than a few times. One of them was even missing a leg but she didn't let that stop her advance and stayed right behind Princess Inara.

Only Ma Jiang still looked remarkably similar. In fact if he didn't know any better he would think she was the same girl he had dropped off just a few minutes ago.

She floated half a meter off the ground in the middle of the group. Her hands and lips didn't stop moving for an instant as she repeatedly cast different healing and supporting spells.

The crimson beasts they were fighting seemed to be endless and highly resistant to most elemental attacks since even the spears of the female guards didn't burn their carcasses without some extra help from Ma Jiang.

*Tremble*

A minor earthquake shook the entire city as the sky darkened overhead. Hao Xuan raised his head to see two gargantuan beasts engaged in a fight in the air. The earthquake was caused by a fleshy limb at least 40 meters in length that had been torn off of one of them.

*ROOOOOOAAA-*

A second later an earth-shattering roar reverberated throughout the entire inner world. Hao Xuan quickly covered his ears that had already started bleeding but the next second everything stopped.

Hao Xuan blinked and found himself standing in a different place within the city. This time it was deathly silent. Not so much as a whisper could be heard on the brisk wind.

There was no fire and certainly no blood this time, only a defeating hush.

The city was enshrined within the cover of darkness that would not let up. Hao Xuan didn't need to even think about it to recognize what it was.

It was the same law that was within the catacombs that they had crossed to come over here. The one with the undead creatures.

Hao Xuan controlled his breathing and focused his senses but after listening for almost a full minute he couldn't catch any sound whatsoever.

*Tap*Tap*Tap*

He walked through the empty streets accompanied by nothing but the sound of his own footsteps, yet he knew deep within his heart that he wasn't alone. There were things in the darkness watching him, following him closely even though he couldn't see or hear them.

Hao Xuan slowly picked up speed until he was sprinting over the rooftops with everything he had. He had tried using his laws but it was like he had never even learned any of them. He couldn't access his Mind Palace or summon any of the severs.

He was completely and utterly on his own.

Recalling what little he remembered of the city's layout, Hao Xuan continuously changed his direction until he reached the forest that was located at the very back. With some luck he managed to find the dirt path and followed it through the woods but unfortunately, it was here that he was finally cut off.

The sound of clothes flapping in the wind came from right in front of Hao Xuan forcing him to change direction. The sound continued to follow him and only increased in intensity and numbers.

*ekekekekeke*

An eerie cackle sounded mere inches away from his ears. He could feel the hair on the back of his head stand up straight.

He channeled what little bit of energy he was saving towards his legs and pushed against the ground, shooting straight into the air.

He must have jumped at least 20 meters when through the cracked dome in the sky a bolt of lightning flashed within the clouds, lighting up his surroundings for an instant.

Hao Xuan's senses kicked into overdrive as he looked down.