The Dawn of the New World

lightsΝοvel

"I can barely feel my soul...and the others, they have been suppressed by the marks..."

Hao Xuan's soul was essentially divided into three parts based on the most powerful soul shards, which, combined, would create the final version of 'The Emperor' that existed until just a few moments ago.

Right now he was back to his original self, albeit a much more powerful version compared to the past.

Hao Xuan felt like there was an empty hole where his soul should have been. It was obviously still there but it had been repressed and concealed to the point where the energy was barely a fraction of the original.

"It was necessary," Baba Jezda informed him, "This is the only way it can be hidden from the All-Seeing eye."

Hao Xuan's eyes narrowed, "Are you saying they can't track me anymore?"

It seemed a little too good to be true, and it was.

"No, the All-Father's hold on you has only lessened, not eliminated. But it will be removed for good once you enter the river of time, that is the only way he won't be able to keep track of you."

She let out a dismissive smirk, "You should be thanking me. This is a great learning opportunity for you. Not to mention it's only thanks to me that you have all of the marks of the Nine."

"Hmm, I remembered you being a better liar than that," Hao Xuan commented before changing the topic, "We both know this is more of a curse than a gift. What happens now?"

"Now we get you some tools that will allow you to fit into the time period you will be going into," she gestured behind him.

Hao Xuan turned around and came face to face with Mendax. Unlike his usual chipper self he was surprisingly quiet now.

"Looks like you got what you wanted, and yet again I fell for your schemes like a fool," Mendax looked in Baba Jezda's direction with mixed emotions.

It was true she had used and deceived him but it could not be avoided.

"Hmph, stop wasting time and take us to the armory."

She scoffed at the very idea of betrayal since she never considered him to be an ally in the first place, "I require the services."

Mendax glared at her for a second before turning around in defeat. With a wave of his hand a portal opened up in front of them and they walked through one by one.

The cacophony of sounds poured into Hao Xuan's ears even before his vision stabilized. The world was spinning around him and he almost fell but Mendax caught him just in time.

"Oh right, I forgot to warn you," he expressionlessly stated, "This is technically a separate dimension and coming here for the first time can cause some discomfort...especially if you have been dabbling in soul manipulation."

"Thank you, Lord Mendax. I-"

"Save it, it doesn't matter," he hastily pulled away.

Mendax was angry with them both and he made no effort to hide it, but he also didn't let it get in the way of his job.

Hao Xuan felt the hot air warm him up from all sides and only then noticed the stark difference between this new location.

They were standing in a massive hall that seemed to stretch on for ages. There were rivulets of lava flowing along the walls and every dozen meters or so there was a hooded figure hunched over a cauldron mixing something or hammering an object over an anvil.

Just from an initial glance Hao Xuan counted over two hundred beings of various shapes and sizes going about their day without a care in the world.

Some of them bowed to Mendax when they noticed him but the majority were too preoccupied to care.

"If that will be all I will take my leave," Mendax threw out the words and swiftly summoned another portal but Baba Jezda stopped him by blocking his path with the cane.

"Not just yet. I need to see the Ivory King, take me to him."

"The Ivory King?" he frowned, "Do you think he will help you if I ask him? Even after everything you did to him? You must have gone senile already."

"That is none of your concern. You will do your duty and help us in whatever way we need, that is all."

He swatted away her cane and began walking down the hall while angrily muttering to himself, openly cursing her but she did not seem to care in the least.

They walked for a few minutes before a large copper gate appeared on the left side. There was a line of more than forty individuals waiting outside but they cut directly to the front.

Even though several misshapen creatures hatefully glared at them, none had the gall to speak up.