THE DAWN OF THE NEW WORLD

Just one good look was enough for Han Rong to remember exactly who Hao Xuan was because for him it had only been a matter of days since they last met. And he clearly remembered hearing from Zou Huan that he had died in battle trying to save them.

For him, Hao Xuan was nothing shorter than a hero who had sacrificed his life for a chance to save theirs. And standing across from him how could he not recognize that face, the face he had dearly prayed for.

'But how is this possible?! You were fighting against the Puer, the nigh immortal puppet of the one chosen by hell itself...'

Thinking to this point his curiosity reached its absolute peak and he finally couldn't hold himself back anymore. His mind was simply not able to compute that Hao Xuan could beat the Puer in a one-on-one confrontation which left only one other option.

'Has he been corrupted? Has he fallen to darkness?'

That was the only logical conclusion and if so, he needed to be sure without a shadow of a doubt even though all the signs pointed in that direction. Coming back from death's door while fighting a demon with newfound incredible strength and abilities, was not unheard of.

But all those that did had become Champions of Hell.

'I'm sorry friend, but I must be sure.'

Han Rong reached out intending to enter Hao Xuan's mind palace which would prove him right or wrong depending on what he saw. Those that have given themselves up to the forces of hell always have a mark left on their souls.

But just before he could come into contact with him numerous shadowy arms shot out of every direction and locked him in place. He couldn't move even an inch further nor pull himself free.

'!!!'

And then as if out of nowhere countless dark figures materialized around him. He slowly turned his head to stare at the ones closest to him but could not make out much.

The hands began to melt into his spiritual form becoming one with him.

Han Rong's vision began to get blurry and the world started to spin. He was losing control of himself, of his very soul. He could feel the connection between his body and soul weakening by the second and there was nothing he could do about it.

All his strength was sapped away until the mere idea of running away seemed preposterous.

'I can't...think...' Han Rong's eyelids fluttered as a fog spread within his mind.

It was gone. Any resistance he could up simply melted away.

And only then, at the very last moment when he was about to slip away having completely given himself up to whatever or whoever this force was, everything stopped.

Han Rong slowly opened his eyes and saw the figures staring at him from a short distance away. They were everywhere, on the air above and the ground beside him. Only the space between him and Hao Xuan was empty.

Or at least that's what it felt like but when he looked at Hao Xuan he was able to notice another dark figure standing in front of him. It was always there, standing between them but he was only able to see him now.

It was of a male, a teenager from the looks of it although the features could not be made out.

But he was smiling at him, at Han Rong. It wasn't a derisive kind of smile and genuinely felt friendly.

Han Rong immediately put up his guard and began to loudly chant an incantation that created a white magic circle in front of his face. It was meant to reveal the true nature of all things by devolving and simplifying a person's thoughts, actions, inclinations, and even energies to just show different colors.

The full spell needed actual tools and some preparation to pull but this would be enough to give him a general idea.

If one was an average human the circle would be colorless. If they were particularly good-natured it would have a light blue color and if they had any wickedness in them it would be light orange.

But if one was associated with hell in any way it would turn bright red instantly.

The symbols on the magic circle moved clockwise once and anticlockwise thrice before coming to a stop. It was unchanged. There was no reading whatsoever.

'How is this possible?! Is...is it just an illusion?'

More confused than ever Han Rong moved the circle slightly higher up and looked at Hao Xuan this time.

When the symbols stopped moving the magic circle lost its color and became completely colorless. Han Rong let out a proverbial breath of relief and was about to cancel it when the symbols began moving by themselves once again.

'What's going on?'

This time they changed to light blue.

'That's not possible, one simply cannot change their-'

But before he could finish the thought the symbols started moving for the third time.

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