The Dawn of the New World

The ground abruptly shook and split apart only to be brought back together the very next moment.

Silence. So quiet that one could hear a pin drop from a mile away as countless faces looked left and right in shock, unsure if what they thought was actually happening.

But a second later every man and beast residing within the valley fell to its knees. Not because of the tremor but because of the illusionary figure that had appeared above the skull in the far north.

*BZZZT*

It exuded such immense pressure that even these demigods were nothing in front of it.

The sky darkened even more as all manner of vile undeads sprung to life from all corners of the wasteland.

From the old wraiths that danced through the air celebrating the awakening of their master to the most unwelcoming cackle of the soul eaters, from the simpleton lemures that stuck to the recently deceased corpses to the sniveling water fiends of the south.

All forms of corruption that existed within this region of the underworld had come to life, jumping with joy upon sensing that which had not been felt in many ages.

The awakening of an old one.

The figure slowly drifted through the air, landing wordlessly in front of the stone gate.

None that valued their lives raised their heads but there were some that could not let such an opportunity pass.

After all, this is why they were here. Every identical day and night was spent fighting within the Valley of Death just for the small chance that they might gain favor from this being, the same being that ruled over an entire region of the underworld.

As one of the strongest contenders, the crow beast was the first one to speak up. It kneeled on spot, throwing away all honor and acclaim that it had earned from countless years of fighting.

"O' master of the valley, O' keeper of death. Your humble servent bows to you. Let your wishes be known so your servent may serve you!"

With bated breath it waited for what should have been an inevitable death at the hands of this ancient being but...it never came.

'Maybe I have a chance!' it thought and raised its head slightly, just enough to sneak a quick peek.

It saw two jet-black beastly legs first. The skin looked like coal and blood like magma. Higher up was the first pair of arms near the abdomen with the second pair at the usual spot.

It looked like there was another pair of hands in the middle but they were now missing for whatever reason.

On its back was a bone structure jetting out with eight bright red blades on every end. He couldn't see the face because it was peering into the stone gate nor did he have the time to.

As soon as the crow beast took in its full image its head ballooned up to twice its size before exploding in a bloody mist.

The explosion seemed to have gotten the valley master's attention (at least to some degree). One of his upper hands pointed in the crow beast's direction and rotated anti-clockwise.

All the flesh and blood was pulled back to the original position until the entirety of his head was reformed.

*GAAASP*

He took in several mouthfuls of turbid air while droplets of sweat rolled down his body. He knew what had happened, and who had saved him.

"Thank you for showing this foolish one mercy, I will not let you dow-"

The crow beast repeatedly smashed his head on the ground thanking his savior but it was cut short when it spoke up.

"Do you know...how long have I waited..." a raspy voice asked.

The crow beast's eyes were almost sucked back into his head.

"I-I have only heard rumors, esteemed master. Long ago you were a Greater God in the mortal realms but were betrayed by someone. After your divinity was broken you fell to the underwor-"

"BANISHED!" he roared, "NOT FELL! I...never fell in battle, not once. They STOLE my divinity and banished me here for all of eternity...too afraid to even come kill me."

Trembling from head to toe the crow beast kowtowed, "Y-YES!"

The valley master continued, "I was a revered master of the arts with countless followers. Countless, truly, but not one of them came to my aid when I needed them the most. Only then did I know how truly alone I was..."

The crow beast did not know what to say but thankfully a moment later a peal of weak laughter arose, "Hahaha, but who would have thought that a passing gesture would come back to me like this, even after innumerable millennia."

Three blazing eyes stared at the image of Hao Xuan within the stone gate, "My weakest disciple has come to my aid!"

😉