"Hahahaha!"
Hao Xuan threw his head back in a fit of laughter. The sudden realization that he had this ability all along but couldn't use it because there were no demons to absorb took him by surprise.
There was now another ray of hope in these dark tis.
He would have to wait around five minutes for Grey to reach him safely. Because of the Turtle demon rampaging in the middle Grey had to take a slight detour with Hao Xuan's guidance.
Now he could also "spectate" Grey for much longer before the fatigue started to set in.
Even while sitting there in so random spot surrounded by trees and bushes from all sides Hao Xuan still felt like he was sowhere else entirely.
"What should I na this ability? Any suggestions?"
*beep*
"Considering the scope, range, and spectrum of the ability is bound to evolve as it is further reinforced, an appropriate na should be adequately eclectic."
"Eclectic...? What does that an?"
"Broad. All-encompassing. Multifaceted-"
"Alright alright, I get it you can stop. I see where you're coming from but I'm gonna go with what sothing that feels good when I say it. So from now on...it will be called 'Arbiter' instead."
"As in Magistrate or Judge?"
"Yea, exactly like that. It sounds better than sothing like 'spectator' or sothing stupid like that. Plus I feel like this ability has a lot of potential for growth."
"If host thinks that is a viable reason."
"That reminds , when did you start calling the host? Or more importantly, why?"
"Host is a more suitable designation."
"A little cold though, don't you think? Makes sound like so kind of a lab experint."
"Would host prefer another identification marker?"
"No no, I don't care that much. Was just trying to make small talk until-Oh, there he is."
Hao Xuan stood up just as Grey ca into view. He walked up to him and brushed his hand through Grey's mane, sensing the extre state of weariness he was in from running all over the place at top speed.
"You did good, very good. I will try to find you sothing delicious to eat."
"Neigh!" x2
Grey's heads bobbed up and down rrily as he pulled Hao Xuan close affectionately.
"Good boy, let's go back to the mountain."
He jumped on and Grey was quickly on his way once more. They reached the mountain in a little over three minutes and this ti Grey sat down by the entrance to rest for a while.
Hao Xuan walked in absentmindedly, lost in thought trying to think of so safer ways of getting so more demonic cores when he reached the side room.
"I'm back," he announced nonchalantly but the mont he saw what was happening inside he froze on the spot.
The guard was down on all fours scribbling sothing on the floor. There was a trail of blood going from him to Wern...or rather what was left of Wern.
"What the fuck have you done?!"
Hao Xuan jumped over the guard to reach the stone bed. Wern's abdon was cut open and his intestines were pulled out. He checked for a pulse but there was far too much blood for even a healthy person to survive let alone soone that was as badly injured as him.
A squelching sound brought Hao Xuan back to reality. He turned around to face the source with a grim expression but most of his anger was quickly replaced by confusion when he saw the guard's state.
His entire body was covered in so kind of fungal thread with bulbous masses growing all over his face. He was using his fingers to etch sothing into the floor but the tips of his fingers had been ground down instead.
Hao Xuan's first instinct was to kill him on the spot but he kept his blood thirst in check and bent down to look at his face.
Only the guard's eyes were still unaffected because he was crying non-stop while whispering sothing in a barely audible tone. Hao Xuan had to focus his sense of hearing to listen to it without getting too close.
"Kill......please...kill....." he was repeating over and over again, one forced word at a ti.
"What happened to you? Who did this to you and Wern?"
"Hand...spirit...mark...can't...stop...please..."
Hao Xuan looked at the guard's right hand which actually appeared to be the source of all the corruption.
"The spirit? The one that tried to pull you into the underworld? It did this?"
But the guard only had one thought on its mind.
"Please....I...can't...anymore...kill......"
Hao Xuan could tell how much pain he was in at first glance.
"I'm sorry, I should have been more careful."
He took out the hamr and with one quick swing the guard's head was smashed to bits.
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