It started with a good, happy moment with his family, then all of a sudden, it crashed and broke, merging into the scene of their beheaded heads… their blood… and his house.

Calus grabbed his sword as his shaking arm slowly calmed down.

He could never sleep because of this. For twenty years, he hadn't fully slept…

That was why he kept killing members of the organization, hoping his guilt would disappear.

He thought his heart might be quenched, that he could sleep soundly but no matter how many he killed…

No matter how much blood his sword drained… he just couldn't sleep.

Knock… knock…

Suddenly, a knock sounded, and he looked at the door.

"Mister… I'm sorry… but I'm scared… I… can I sleep with you?" Lina's voice trembled as Calus stood.

Opening the door, he saw Lina with her head bowed, a teddy tightly clutched in her arms. He could see some drops of tears on it.

"Alright, come in. Sleep on the bed; I'll sleep on the couch," Calus said. Lina nodded.

Walking to the couch, Calus watched as Lina climbed over. Her face was filled with sadness as she hugged his pillow.

Her body trembled slightly as Calus observed her. She hugged the pillow tighter as her teddy bear fell from her hand. Her eyes closed, and within a few moments, she slept.

Calus sighed. At least one of them was having a good sleep.

He couldn't help it, a small smile bloomed on his face.

Time passed slowly, and that smile turned into a frown… then anger.

"Please… I'm sorry, I didn't mean it…"

"No, sir… please… no…"

"I'll do it. I'm sorry for breaking it…"

"Sir… please… see… it hurts…"

"Ma'am, it wasn't me… she…"

With each word she mumbled, each sentence she whispered, Calus's anger built. This child… had suffered greatly. Her eyes were filled with tears, and her body trembled.

Calus stood and went closer to her. Her new nightwear he had brought lay a bit off her shoulders, revealing a gaping scar that seemed to spread from her shoulders to her back.

Calus unconsciously clenched his fist.

"What could a child do to warrant that?"

For the first time in a while, Calus couldn't help but ask.

Were the cult truly the monsters? Or were humans the monsters the cult used…?

Finally, Calus seemed to think for a bit. He remembered the nights Eva couldn't sleep… he would carry her on his chest, and she would sleep soundly.

Although Lina wasn't Eva, what if it helped?

With that thought, Calus took action. He climbed onto the bed and gently placed her head on his chest.

He could feel her body shaking, her temperature hot, her face covered in sweat but with each passing second, her body gradually calmed, and her breath finally stabilized.

"It worked?" Calus thought, a bright smile spreading across his face.

This was good. Even though Eva and Lina were different, a similar thing still worked.

Calus yawned as he felt her breath. Slowly, his eyes grew heavy, and very soon, he slept.

And so, the two souls scarred by the world fell asleep in each other's arms.

---

Soon, it was day, as the bright light of the sun hit Calus's face.

His eyes seemed to lose focus for a bit as he looked around… and then he felt a slight pressure on his head.

Looking down, he saw Lina sleeping soundly or at least that's how she faked it. But he knew she was wide awake.

The child must have been afraid to move suddenly, so she stayed still. He wondered how long she had been like that.

But Calus played along. He stood up and gently placed her head on the bed. Then he carried his sword, got dressed, and headed downstairs for breakfast.

Click…

Hearing the door close, Lina's eyes trembled slightly.

Part of the reason she hadn't woken was not to disturb Calus, but a bigger reason was that she was afraid it was all a dream. Maybe she was hallucinating.

Her small fists clenched together. She wished this wasn't a dream… that it was real… that this was her new reality.

Finally, with trembling eyes, she opened them and behold, she was in Calus's room. More importantly, her clothes were tattered, and she smelled clean for once.

She looked around, and a mirror caught her reflection.

Lina carefully walked toward it. A beautiful girl's face appeared before her.

"Is this… me?" Lina asked, in shock.

She could look this beautiful? She never believed it, not until now but who knew it could happen?

She smiled, feeling blissful. More importantly, she knew it was all because of Mister Calus.

With a smile, she left his room carefully and entered hers.

---

Far away, on the opposite side of the universe, a familiar figure stirred.

"I said I will eat dragon meat today, tell me

who can stop me?" Sun Wukong said arrogantly, laughing wildly as his aura spread.

Unrestrained, untouched, a wild, barbarian, ancient aura released everywhere. The Origin Dragon felt insulted. When had this ever happened to him? He was noble, the first of the dragons, respected everywhere he went and yet this monkey dared to insult him, claiming he would strike him.

Without hesitation, his long tail lashed out, carrying a force that could destroy hundreds of universes and break the third layer of space.

The tail whipped like a whip, arriving instantly in front of Sun Wukong.

But wait..., contrary to the fear the dragon expected, Sun Wukong had a smile on his face as he stretched out his palm.

The titans around all gasped. Is the monkey crazy?

Everyone knew how terrifyingly strong dragons were not to mention Origin Dragons, the first dragons in existence but this monkey wanted to grab the tail.

Their faces widened. They expected the monkey to be smashed into paste or at least for their lord's coming out to save the momeky's life. But to their surprise, the impossible happened.

Boom… boom… boom… Pohhhhh!

Even before the bodies collided, space ruptured, laws disintegrated, and the surroundings turned into a pool of extinction. Black and white encompassed everything, shaking everyone's soul and forcibly separating them from their bodies.

Bang!

The two collided. Sun Wukong felt the huge force rushing through and across his body, coughing up blood but a bold smile remained on his face.

This was it.

What he wanted.

Finally, a worthy opponent.