1339: Inner Demon

Inner Demon

Even his screams were beginning to sound different with every subsequent cycle and everyone in the room could see why. 0

In just a minute he had died more than 10 times and that speed was only ramping up as time went by. Every death was more brutal than the last, and every life he lived was even worse.

It was all playing out in the same loop and no matter how much he tried the only thing that could be changed was how he died and where.

"This is wrong...he won't make it! Stop this, pull him out or you will destroy his mind for good!" even Hyde couldn't bare to watch him go through such extreme and agonizing pain, "Even if he succeeds, he will never be the same afterward!"

But the Emperor was unbothered.

[He can and he must, for all our sakes. Through his suffering a new future will be born]

They watched on as Hao Xuan rushed out of the chamber at the start of every loop, trying his best to get to the camp before Dai Zhi's army but never really making it in time.

The first few times he was overwhelmed and killed even before reaching the camp because they already knew a lot about his abilities and how to counter them. Even [Umbra] did not work on them because of Dai Zhi's vampiric powers that had similar effects and could easily block him.

And by the time he would figure out a way to get to the camp it would already be in chaos. The few that could still put up a fight engaged the attackers immediately but they were pushed back with ease.

There was no place for them to run since Dai Zhi's soldiers were pouring in from every direction like cockroaches.

Within a matter of minutes they were all herded together like cattle and slaughtered one by one.

After that Hao Xuan switched his strategy and focused solely on escaping with the survivors but that was even more complicated and far more difficult to accomplish. Many of the survivors were ordinary mortals and they could not move fast enough no matter what he tried.

Jin Wang punched the wall as his anxiety shot through the roof near the three-minute mark and Hao Xuan's 50th death.

"Why does he keep trying to save all of them?! How many more times does he have to die to learn this lesson??"

[That is why we are here, old friend. He needs to accept the harsh truth and surrender himself to the new reality. Only then can he move on]

More than 70 deaths later Hao Xuan finally managed to escape with all of the survivors but not without paying a heavy price. He had to sacrifice one of his eyes by using the 'Fourth Gaze' one more time to create an opening for them.

Once they were out there was a little more hope but even that was temporary. The lands outside were littered with demons with no safe haven for their weary souls.

Hao Xuan led them through the Black Forest while Dai Zhi's army ceaselessly chased after them. He was able to track Princess Ceni's exact location and since Hao Xuan refused to leave her behind, it all ended one of two ways sooner or later.

Either they would be slowly picked off one by one by running into one demon horde after another or when Dai Zhi caught up to them, until it was only Hao Xuan left alive at which point he would be killed in combat.

OR, Princess Ceni would realize how they were being tracked down and would end up taking her own life soon after. Following that it was only a matter of time for the rest to fall because even though they didn't have an army breathing down their backs there was still no off the planet.

Eventually the survivors either died of starvation, demon attacks, or they just gave up and let themselves be killed. Because what was the point of running around needlessly while suffering through one trial after another? What would that achieve? A few more days or weeks of barely staying alive?

Hao Xuan was at an impasse and there did not seem to be a way out of this situation, not even after his 500th death. And after all of that, only 20 minutes had passed in real-time.

Almost half his hair had turned white from the stress and the crushing anxiety but he still refused to give up.

Finally Jin Wang could not stand it anymore and stepped in, "That's enough. There is no point in continuing this any longer."

[Indeed, but it must be his decision]

"He's lost his mind, can't you see?!" Jin Wang roared at the golden figure, "He blames himself for all of their deaths and cannot give up because of it. He will keep pushing himself until there is nothing left to give!"

[And it will be his choice. He knows what is at risk. If he does not accept it or learn to move past it, it will become an inner demon that he will never be able to defeat. It must be dealt with now!]

Another tendril of golden energy shot into Hao Xuan's body, making his skin turn bright red.

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