More than thirty meters of the affected area around the attack collapsed in on itself.
The ground was covered in mud and it had been raining for several hours so it was pretty unstable already. Hao Xuan's feet touched the ground for an instant before it turned to mush and he fell further into the quagmire.
Hao Xuan tried to grab onto something for support to try and climb out but the energy from the last strike was still rippling through the ground, turning it upside down.
It looked like the earth was trying to swallow him whole, along with anything else caught within its radius.
Hao Xuan gasped for breath, powerless in the face of such intense energy. Before he realized only his hand was still out while the rest of him was buried under mounds of sludge, sinking deeper by the second.
But at the very last moment before his hand was about to disappear into the freshly dug soil, a hand reached out and gripped him firmly.
It pulled with such strength that Hao Xuan had only felt twice before and dragged him out of the churning slush.
Hao Xuan threw up a mouthful of dirt and glanced towards his savior.
It was a boy the same age as him, if not younger. He was extremely muscular and well built. His pronounced muscles looked like they held a lot more power than it showed, speaking volumes of the type of training he had undergone.
He was also bald and had a similar grey robe just like the other person that was surrounded by the golden light not far from them.
He peered towards Hao Xuan with a questioning gaze.
"Can you stand?"
Hao Xuan nodded wordlessly, trying to catch his breath.
"Can you fight?"
The creatures were already getting back on their feet and starting to surround them again.
Hao Xuan quickly checked the timer on the top left of his vision and shook his head. Just standing was all he could manage right now.
The boy nodded and extended his hand with a bright smile, "I'm Zou Huan. 709th Inner Disciple of Mount Cae."
"Hao…Xuan…"
Although the timing did seem a little strange to make such casual introductions considering they were still surrounded by a great many undead creatures, Hao Xuan still met his hand so as not to seem impolite.
But as soon as he did so, Zou Huan gripped his hand even tighter, "And away you go!" he said cheekily before throwing Hao Xuan over the throng of creatures to the other side where all the humans were gathered.
Hao Xuan was already out of strength so he couldn't resist at all and flew over like a ragdoll, landing in the middle right next to the other bald man who ran up to him.
"Are you alright brother?" he asked, examining his body for any injuries.
"Zou Huan, how many times have I told you to be more careful!" he barked towards Zou Huan after making sure there was nothing wrong with Hao Xuan.
Zou Huan's face suddenly turned red and he glared back in anger, "Han Rong, that is no way to talk to your senior brother!" he said sharply.
"You're only older by a DAY! How long will you keep bringing that up? You muscle-headed…"
While the Duo shouted back and forth, Hao Xuan felt like he had been hit by a hammer and couldn't even think straight since he had managed to somehow land face first.
His ears were ringing and he could barely hear anything, which was maybe for the best. His vision started to go blurry and he lost consciousness soon after.
By the time Hao Xuan regained his senses the fight had already been resumed for a little more than 10 minutes.
They were on the move, slowly fighting their way towards the center of the pit. Hao Xuan was being carried by two injured guards while the rest of them formed a circle around them to keep the creatures at bay.
It was a battle of attrition which the guards were losing. Only the two baldheaded inner disciples of Mount Cae, whatever the hell that was, were in relatively good condition.
Hao Xuan looked around from the back of the makeshift stretcher and saw Han Rong just a couple of feet beside him. His right hand was hovering over Hao Xuan as he mumbled something under his breath.
A dim golden light was constantly being projected from his palm, falling on Hao Xuan's body.
Hao Xuan could feel a warm and vibrant energy entering his body, healing his injuries and replenishing his blood energy.
Sounds of explosions and clanging were coming from the front. Hao Xuan raised his head with some effort and saw Zou Huan fighting a white undead creature but it was unlike any of the others he had seen so far.
This one had pasty white skin, its arms ended in a pair of claws with six bony growths on its upper back. Its legs were much bulkier than the rest of its body with deformed bone spurs erupting from the sides.
A three-foot-long tongue hanged loosely from its skinless skull, giving it an even more repulsive appearance. (reference Img attached)
****
Authors Notes:
Image link: https://urlzs.com/NYk7B
