One after another, the organization's headquarters fell, as fear spread across the land.

The Masked Butcher…

The Blood King…

The Man With No Emotion…

The Lifeless, Blood-soaked Beast…

All kinds of names circulated for years as he became a legend.

People suffered, and the king was forced to intervene. But no matter who he sent, from Peak King Realm experts to even awakening royal ancestors at the Half-Step God Realm. Calus defeated them all with ease, leaving them alive only as a warning.

He became a myth used to scare children to sleep…

…and a nightmare that gave the organization sleepless nights.

---

At that moment, inside a small inn…

A man placed a jagged sword on the table. It looked as though it had been crafted from bones.

He had a beard and appeared middle-aged. Handsome, yet rugged, he drew the attention of both young and old women as he calmly sipped his wine.

"Did you hear about what happened a few days ago?" one slightly drunk man asked his companion.

"N-no… I hic—don't…" the other replied, hiccuping.

"The Blood King is here. Someone saw that masked figure destroying one of those cult members."

Immediately, the drunk man's companion's eyes widened.

"Oh no… he's here? Damn, we should leave…"

Smack!

"Fool! Are you part of the cult? I heard he only kills those connected to them," the man whispered.

"Ahh… yes, you're right, hehe… then he's not really a killer…" the other said with a sloppy grin.

"Fool. He's killed nearly ten thousand people. He's far beyond that," the man replied.

"But… they were all proven to be part of the cult. Besides, I heard he was once one of the king's—"

"Shhh! You idiot! You're not supposed to talk about that!" the man hurriedly cut him off before he said something that could get them killed.

The man stood up and glanced around. Only after confirming no one had overheard them did he let out a breath of relief. He quickly dragged his partner along, paid, and left the inn.

Yet his heart still wasn't at ease.

What he didn't know…

Was that just a table away—

Sat the very man they were talking about.

---

Pah…

Calus calmly placed his cup down, his expression faintly tightening.

The sword beside him was indeed made of bone not just any bone, but the spines of multiple Half-Step God Realm experts from the cult.

It had absorbed so much blood that it had developed a faint evil spirit… one that devoured both flesh and blood.

But that wasn't why Calus frowned.

Nor was it because of what the two men had said.

It was because of his current situation.

His mask was off as he sat there drinking.

Over the years, the cult had begun hiding once more. It had become increasingly difficult to track them down. Perhaps… he had pushed them so far that they were too afraid to show themselves.

At this point, Calus had already reached the peak of the Half-Step God Realm.

The next step…

Was true godhood.

"You hide well…"

"Fre…"

Calus muttered as he stood and walked to the counter to pay.

He hadn't forgotten.

Fre's name had once been on the wall.

Which meant…

Fre hadn't died that day when his head was smashed.

He was alive.

He had murdered his family.

Yet over the years, no matter how many cult members Calus interrogated or tortured no one knew of him.

Either he was hidden that deeply…

Or he was truly gone.

Walking out of the inn, Calus glanced at the bright afternoon sun. His grip on his sword tightened as he walked away.

Then

A voice.

He froze.

"No… no… this is the last food I have… please…"

"Nooo—!"

Thud…

Calus felt like he was dreaming.

That voice…

When was the last time he heard it?

"Daddy, I love you…"

A memory surfaced.

A burning world.

Corpses everywhere.

Then

Reality returned.

Slowly, he turned toward the source of the voice.

From an alleyway, a small girl no older than ten stepped out, her head lowered.

Her clothes were tattered, her body thin. She looked around with disappointment as her stomach growled.

"She's gone, Calus… just a similar voice…"

Without even looking at her face, he muttered to himself and began to walk away.

But then

"Mister! Mister!"

Hurried footsteps approached.

Calus turned back.

The girl stood before him.

And for a moment…

His mind went blank.

Why?

Her voice was the same as Eva's.

And her face…

Though slightly older

Was almost identical.

His vision blurred as the two faces overlapped.

For the first time in years…

His cold, stone-like heart stirred.

An emotion.

Something he thought had died…

Awakened.

"You dropped this," the girl said, holding out a mask.

Calus stiffly took it, his gaze fixed on her.

Why did she look and sound so much like his daughter?

Could it be…

No.

What was he thinking?

It had been twenty years.

Eva would be a grown woman by now not a child.

So why…

Did he feel this?

Happiness.

Sadness.

Pain.

"Thank you," Calus said quietly.

The girl smiled brightly.

A pure, innocent smile.

Crack…

Something inside him broke.

That smile…

It was the same.

The same smile Mabi and Eva used to have.

Yet now…

This girl had it too.

Was it coincidence?

Or something more?

"You're welcome!" the girl said cheerfully.

Then she turned away.

Her smile faded as she clutched her stomach in hunger…

"Wait…" Calus spoke quickly.

He didn't know what was happening. He was confused, but…

He just knew he couldn't let this child leave.

"You helped me find this mask. It's important," Calus said, pointing at it.

It was the mask he usually wore, the horror-filled face of the first Half-Step God Realm cultist he had killed.

"I would like to thank you. Please don't refuse… come eat," Calus added, gesturing toward a nearby restaurant.

The girl pouted slightly.

Her eyes showed hesitation, but she still bowed.

"I'm sorry, sir… I didn't do it for money. I'm sorry," she said, turning to leave.

But then

A firm hand gently grabbed hers.

"I know," Calus said. "But I'm not someone who likes to owe others. So just allow me to treat you this once."

He stepped back slightly.

"Do you agree?" Calus asked, forcing a stiff, awkward smile.

The child didn't mind.

When was the last time he had smiled?

It had been twenty years…

He had almost forgotten how.

The girl seemed moved. Combined with his sincere though awkward expression, she slowly nodded.

After all, she had just lost her meal moments ago.

And she hadn't eaten for days.

If she refused this offer…

Who knew when she would eat again?

She might actually starve.

**********

9/10