demon beast

'I'm beginning to think that not the demon beasts are the infiltrating once on this world, but the humans are. Could that be possible? If so, that must mean that there is some kind of gateway into a different realm on this planet…

But why would the humans back then stop supporting those in this world from their origin world? Or was it maybe less of an expedition and more of an escape from something? Curious…' Hao thought, reabsorbing the Chi he had sent into the slowly dying demon beast before him to examine it more closely.

Besides it curious form that was as random as it came, this one being an actual rock with a face and a soft body on the inside, just like a human, only with a rock solid surface for protection.

After examining the beast for a few seconds, Hao had made the discovery that demon beasts did not have an advantage over humans when it came to the cultivation of Chi and Soul Force, or as he knew Soul Force as: Furyoku.

They did have a stronger body, that much was true, but their advantage, besides the body, was not in their ability to gather more and denser Chi and Soul Force. No. Their advantage seemed to solely lie in the ease with which they could collect it.

In fact, to Hao's senses, the world practically threw nature's Chi at them, and all they had to do was absorb it. They didn't even have to really guide it. The Chi they had absorbed seemed to find its own way of moving in a natural fashion.

This discovery had baffled Hao quite a bit, which led him to the theory that not the demon beasts were the intruders upon this world belonging to the humans but the humans having intruded upon a world made for demon beasts specifically!

'But this reason alone shouldn't be enough to cause those huge attacks by demon beasts upon the humans. If the humans only came here from a higher realm in order to flee from something, the demon beasts wouldn't be so aggressive towards them.

Of course, there also could be the possibility that the humans back then intruded upon the demon beast's territory, but such a feud should long have been settled.

Could it be that the humans came here to hunt the demon beasts in the past? After all, the demon beasts grow stronger here more so than any other place I know of, besides hell that is. That could certainly be the case and also presents me with an exquisite opportunity.' Hao thought with a less kind smile than usual.

After all, he no longer possessed the spirit of fire as his bound companion, and he no longer had the ability to commune with the great spirit while in this mortal shell, which meant he would need a new spirit for himself.

Of course, Hao had conditions that needed to be fulfilled when it came to his partner. Some mediocre spirit wouldn't do. And, of course, he would prefer if his partner had a main fire attribute. He had always preferred said element over all the others. There was something fascinating and strangely beautiful in burning things to ashes.

Now, that only left open the question, where to look for a fire attributed demon beast?

'The best scenario would probably either be a place filled with fire like an active volcano, where a fire spirit made its home, or a place where a fire spirit could consume to further its growth, like a forest for example…hmm, I think I'll have to check the maps inside the library and see how much the humans of Glory City have explored. Though, considering they haven't found a single human outside myself in all those years, the chances are pretty damn bad of them actually having explored very far.' Hao thought to himself, absentmindedly flexing his Soul force and setting the demon beasts, carcass on fire. To his surprise however, the demon beasts, after burning to ashes rather quickly, left something behind.

A small, stone like, gem with a deep brown colour. Intrigued, Hao picked up said crystal and observed it for a second, before realising that he felt a small pulsing from inside the crystal.

Now even more curious, Hao pushed some Chi into the crystal in his hands and was surprised to find the stone like demon beast's soul contained inside of it.

'Why in the world would the demon beast's soul wander into this crystal instead of passing on? Well, I suppose it could be possible that the crystal is a last effort on the demon beast's part to survive at any cost. Could it maybe even recreate its body in time? Heh, what a resilient little creature. I'll make sure to feed you to my future spirit companion. Such tenacity will not be wasted.' Hao thought with a rather cold smirk on his normally so serene face.

Afterwards he pocketed the demon beast crystal and disappeared through the trees canopy, back towards Glory City. He had some more research to conduct.