The Dawn of the New World

"Get back!" Zeng Wu shouted at Hou Chin who was still sitting between Sun Xiuying and the guards.

But her legs had already lost all strength. Streams of tears were coming down her face as she sat there, bewildered and confused.

"Xiuying'er was fine just a few minutes ago, why is this happening?" she mumbled.

Just as Zeng Wu was about to make a move himself, he saw Hyson run up and pick her up before quickly backing away.

Zeng Wu nodded before lifting his hand, "Burn it!" he ordered. Four Red Legion guards quickly stepped out with their weapons and slashed towards her. Four fire energies in the shapes of crescent moons shot forward.

Sun Xiuying didn't have time to dodge as she was set alight upon impact. But other than popping sounds coming from her body and the smell of burning flesh and hair, there was nothing else.

The group only saw a fiery figure slowly get up on its feet. Jin Wang's expression worsened and complexion turned even paler.

"Get out, we have to get out of here right this second," he said quickly.

"They are not simple undead."

Zeng Yu who was looking around silently, turned towards him, "Explain yourself. What's going on? What is that thing?"

Jin Wang shook his head, "We don't have time to dwell on such matters. You only need to know that we have to get out of this place as soon as possible."

Hou Chin was looking at her closest sister getting burnt alive and couldn't believe what was happening.

Sun Xiuying slowly turned towards her and a hideous smile appeared on her face. Her skin was already burnt to a crisp and when she smiled, crackling noises came from her face as the skin broke apart like charcoal. Calling it grotesque would be an understatement of epic proportions.

"He..hehe...." a raspy broken laugh came from her mouth, sending chills down the spines of everyone present.

Jin Wang who was looking for a way out, froze.

"Motherf*ker, it really is one.."

Zeng Wu heard what him and inquired, "What? What is it?"

Jin Wang sighed heavily and looked at Sun Xiuying, "A ghoul. A type of undead. The second worst kind."

"A Ghoul?!!" Zeng Yu and Zeng Wu both repeated, shocked.

"That's not possible! It can't be a ghoul," Zeng Yu shook his head hurriedly, not believing Jin Wang's claim at all.

Ghouls were one of over twenty different types of undead. And they were the third most powerful undead in existence.

The appearance of a ghoul in any world spelled its end. They were soulless creatures, created only to kill and devour until there was nothing left. And the biggest problem was that they could grow in power and numbers.

Anyone killed by their hands would turn into a ghoul as well. Not to mention there was no easy way to kill them. Even fire and lightning which were effective against most undead were useless against ghouls, for they had no souls...

"It doesn't matter, not anymore. Since she is a ghoul, we can't kill her. Not in this place, not so close to the 'Gate'," he looked at the half-opened black door on the other side of the room, where the statue used to be.

Jin Wang looked at Sun Xiuying one last time before walking away.

"Leave it, open the stone door. Whatever is out there can't be worse than these things. We must leave before the others awaken."

Sun Xiuying's smile vanished as she looked at Jin Wang's back in confusion. She could feel it, why was he different from the others?

Zeng Yu exchanged glances with Zeng Wu. If there was even a ten percent chance Jin Wang was right, they had to leave this world at once.

Because Ghouls were usually just the precursors to worse things.

"Gather up! We're leaving, NOW!" Zeng Yu shouted and threw out several punches towards the other 'walking dead', sending them flying hundreds of meters away.

Hyson dragged his party away, leaving Sun Xiuying standing there all alone. She didn't move either, only stared at their backs with a smile. There were no hair left on her body and her skin was burnt to a crisp which made her look even more terrifying.

The group gathered what they could and quickly made their way to the stone door nearby.

Zeng Yu stepped forward. He placed his right hand on the door and closed his eyes. A surge of thick aura erupted from his body and Six simple-looking palaces appeared above his head.

"Hmph."

His hand vibrated for an instant. It was so quick that only Jin Wang was able to see the actual movement.

*Crumble*

The area around his hand broke apart into numerous small pieces and a hole with a radius of about three meters appeared in the middle of the door, leaving the rest completely intact.

The other side was another long tunnel.

Zeng Yu then stood aside and looked at everyone, "Go, quickly!"

Within a minute the entire group had left the temple. Before departing, Zeng Yu took out his weapon and fired off a full-powered attack at the stone door, making the entire area collapse.

****

The seven figures Zeng Yu had punched away slowly made their way towards Sun Xiuying and knelt down. She looked at them and then at the rubble blocking the exit.

She smiled yet again and walked towards the other side of the room where the black door was and stepped through, disappearing into the darkness.

The other seven figures did the same.

When the last figure entered the door, with a loud creaking sound it closed shut.