The Dawn of the New World

It was lighting up the entire region for dozens of kilometers, far larger than even the city itself.

Hao Xuan could tell it was a mix of many things. From the strong negative emotions like fear and anxiousness to just pure vitality and energy created by so many people being herded so close to one another.

There were even a few ripples in space every now and then, making it look like a fluttering see-through curtain shrouding the entire region.

'It's even causing a disturbance within the Veil. To be so potent that even I can see it just with the help of my bloodline, I can only imagine what it must be like from the other side. All those creatures of the abyss will be swarming to it.'

"I have to find a way to cast some kind of protection or stealth spell to hide it. Otherwise, it will only bring in more trouble as time goes on. Baracus add it to the list."

*Beep*

"To-do list updated."

As Hao Xuan was about to jump off he received a sudden jolt from his right side.

"AH! What the fuck, the pain just became so much worse! Baracus, what's happening?!"

"Nanites running low on energy reserves. Cannot contain foreign energy particles."

"Suggestion: recoup internal energy as soon as possible."

Since the nanites mostly depended on Hao Xuan's own blood energy to function it became that much more difficult to maintain them because he was running dangerously low.

"Shit, why didn't you say so earlier??"

With some effort Hao Xuan leaned over the edge to peer into the forest below. His eyes shone with a brilliant green light as he tracked tens of different living creatures at once. He zeroed in on a small spiritual beast that looked like a small lion with branching white horns and a reptilian tail.

It was brimming with energy which made it look like a luminescent being in his eyes.

"Use whatever energy is left to contain the foreign energy. I need to focus for a minute."

The moment he gave the order a pit formed in his stomach making him feel like his body was about to collapse in on itself. But it was still better than the searing pain which made it hard to even think.

With a deep breath Hao Xuan jumped off the mountainside going straight down for a good 150 meters before slamming his clawed fist into the rocks to slow his descent.

He pushed against the mountain upon reaching the treeline and quickly prowled through the thick canopy until he was right above the grazing animal.

Its ears perked up the moment Hao Xuan got within five meters making him freeze on the spot.

The creature looked around warily, its long ears turning left and right while its eyes scoured the surroundings for the source of the disturbance but it couldn't pick up on anything.

Hao Xuan held his breath while his feet inched forward. Every biological function of his body had come to an abrupt halt, even his hearts.

His eyes were locked onto the beast, his senses so focused that he could even hear the faint thumping of its heart against the chest cavity. He could see the movement of the hair in front of its nostrils and slowly, by complete instinct, his own breathing aligned with the creatures.

*Ba-dump* x2

Both his hearts beat once, at the exact same time as taht of the beast. He waited two seconds before once again-

*Ba-dump* x2

His heartbeats coincided with the creatures and in that span of a fraction of a second, he loosened his grip around the branch and allowed his body to freefall.

Soundlessly like a leaf he fell straight down, swinging his left arm sideways before landing on his feet.

The beast fell at the same time. Its throat was cut open spurting warm blood everywhere.

It tried to get up again but Hao Xuan was already on top of it. His left arm wrapped around its neck, "Sshhh, it's okay. It's all over, go to sleep now," he whispered to the struggling creature as it tried to break free.

Even in that final moment it was desperately trying to flee.

Hao Xuan gritted his teeth before pulling back his arm in one swift motion, snapping its head clean off.

Its feet kept moving for almost two more minutes after that. Only when it had stopped completely did Hao Xuan place his hand over its body.

"Devour!" he uttered the word as an infernal hunger began to set in.

He was completely spent and needed to absorb every iota of energy possible. The beast's corpse began to disintegrate and turn into a white mist. The flesh, skin, bones, and even the blood that had already left its body were pulled in.

Hao Xuan closed his eyes and opened his mouth wide.