Chapter 553 - Another plane (1/2)

Hao Xuan turned around while remaining seated on the coarse rocky ground.

The person in front of him looked exactly like the Gavril he knew but there was something off about him.

”This feels strange....” Hao Xuan mumbled looking at him.

It was a strange feeling of deja vu but he knew for certain that this was the first time they had met like this.

Gavril seemed genuinely surprised by Hao Xuan's comment and unknowingly broke into a smile.

Ever since Hao Xuan severed him all those months ago, this was the first time he had seen him smile.

”W-What?” Hao Xuan asked as an uncomfortable feeling took him over.

But Gavril answered his question with one of his own.

”How does it feel strange?”

Hao Xuan squinted his eyes, contemplating, trying to put that feeling into words but a few seconds later he shook his head.

”I don't know. It just doesn't feel 'right'. I can't really explain it.”

Gavril's smile became even brighter.

”Looks like the tools that were gifted to you are even better than I imagined,” he remarked.

Hao Xuan's expression turned somber. It felt like he was being played around with and it was not a good feeling.

”Enough games! Tell me what's happening, right now!” he growled in anger.

Gavril didn't seem to mind Hao Xuan's harsh tone but he stopped messing about. With a wave of his hand an image was projected onto the cave wall next to him.

It showed Hao Xuan, asleep at the same spot in the entrance of the cave.

”That's you,” Gavril gestured with his chin, ”And this-” he looked around, ”is just a dream.”

”I'm....dreaming?” Hao Xuan repeated.

Gavril nodded, ”It's one of my abilities.”

Hao Xuan remained silent for a while, putting everything together.

”From the Old King?” he asked, getting another nod as confirmation.

Hao Xuan looked down at his hands and then at the surroundings. Everything still looked exactly the same, as real as it could get...perhaps even more so, which scared him a little.

He looked towards Gavril, conflicted. Hyde had told him a few things about the Old King but nothing in specific so he didn't even understand what kind of powers he had.

”Can you tell me...more?” Hao Xuan asked in a questioning tone.