"You think the devil has horns.

"You think the devil is a human in monster form.

"You think the devil is a destroyer with a human heart.

"A misunderstood beast that charges into war."

Shazzzz…

Blood erupted as a head fell down.

"DUKE!!!"

"No, a devil is you and me.

"Dressed in suits, in beautiful dresses.

"A devil is a monster in human form.

"But is a devil not a human?

"But is a devil not a monster?

"A human is a monster.

"He laid down his life for you."

Boom…

Buildings collapsed as kids ran.

Tripppp…

A kid fell to the ground as his knee hit the ground hard.

But he only winced from the pain for a moment. Even with his leg still in pain, he stood up and ran, for if he didn't, he would die…

He wouldn't see his little sister again, nor his drunk father.

It was at this moment that the little kid realized that even with his father's terrible behavior, he still loved him.

Boom…

"Aren't we tired? Tired of working?

"Tired of pretending that everything is okay, that the world is okay?

"Let's strip it of its curtains and expose our very beautiful smiles."

Crack…

In an underground bunker, a group of fifteen huddled up, made up of kids, adults, and two old couples.

Crack…

In the darkness, fear gripped their hearts as they felt the wall that supported and protected them shake and tremble as the cracks increased.

Boom…

"Oh, how beautiful… how beautiful is a man's heart.

"The heart of a human is gorgeous indeed. I will drown in its joyous side forever.

"Come on bastards… attack me!!!"

"Kill me too. You took everything from me, my life, my wife, my family, my people… you demons!!!"

A Rank 2 expert shouted as galaxies trembled before him.

Space cracked as time slowed.

Snap…

Everything, including the galaxy this Rank 2 expert was in, disappeared.

"Leave without a trace, leave without anything holding you back.

"You are meant to do great things.

"Oh, what a soothing lie as my hand is covered in blood."

"Is this how much we meant to you?"

"Look at us, all left alone while you saved yourself."

A woman, with one hand, punched her husband's chest.

But as a Rank 1 being, her husband felt nothing. Her punches, no matter how much she clenched or how much power she put behind them, meant nothing to him but yet he felt pain, intense pain.

Here was his wife. On her back was the dead body of her two daughters, yet she refused to drop them, instead carrying them on her back.

Around her were faces of those he never knew, yet he had an idea that they had survived together.

But worse still, looking at how miserable his wife was—now with only one arm, having lost her two daughters and forced to survive alone while he ran off…

"I'm sorry."

Slap…

"Save your bullshit."

"Get out of here."

"Sara."

"GET OUT OF HERE!!!"

She shouted as she closed her eyes.

By the time she opened them, no one was there.

Tears fell from her face as she knelt on the ground.

"Anger… oh anger, how cruel are you.

"How much hate have you suffered? How much I despise you.

"Yet I ran to you for comfort, for bonding, for joy. I am a hypocrite."

"Charles… we will be safe, okay? Eat this meat."

A small kid with his ankle gone could be seen.

His right leg had been bandaged with clothes, and the white cloth had quickly turned red with blood. But the boy seemed not to mind and still had a smile on his face.

Beside him was a small dog as thin as a twig, wagging its tail excitedly as it looked at the mashed meat with bones poking out at the side.

Beside the boy was a sharp knife, now blunt and covered in blood.

Around them was silence, with ruins as far as the eye could see.

It was only them left in this surroundings.

"Oh anguish, how much we yearn for you.

"Oh how much I wanted to run.

"I will suffer as long as my lover enjoys.

" life is residing.

"I will be fine when I'm back, my love. Stay healthy…

"A moss of the end time. The beginning cannot be caught and the end cannot be seen.

"One day, the sun will rise once more," a man laughed as he stood beside his son.

The little kid hugged his father's leg and sobbed.

"What about Mom?" the kid asked.

"She will be back from the trip," the man smiled brightly.

He looked at his left arm, now gone, then at the boiling soup in front of him.

A strong meat smell filled the air.

"Come, it will soon be ready. Call your elder sister," the man said as the boy smiled.

As he left, the man looked at the large blade covered in blood at his side.

"My dear, love is pain. My dear , devil is a blessing, angels are a curse.

"Oh, the world has forgotten me.

"I have lost all, but at least I have you.

"What is the need for woods when we already have a drought?"

---

---

"How is it?"

In a dark room, a dim-lit candle could be seen barely illuminating the space.

Two figures spoke, their voices low.

"We lost them both."

"I'm sorry," the man added.

"No, no… maybe it is better this way. He should not be born into this world. It is better this way," the other man replied.

The first man sighed as he moved his hand.

The candle lost its light as the room returned into darkness.

---

---

A past unknown, a story untold—how much more do they have to suffer?

What do you gain with the pain you make them pass through? Where have their cries gone? Who have they prayed to, and how has their life turned to this after everything?

Regardless, one's story is a myth to another. One's past is another's future, and that is life. We are all okay with it. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Marshal Darius, drop the book…" Suddenly, a deep male voice was heard as a middle-aged man frowned.

"Heh, what is your business?" Darius asked, his face full of cold ice.

"Theron is dead," the general replied as Darius nodded.

"And so what? What can we do?" Darius asked as the general laughed.

"You can do nothing… Marshal."

"Ahhh…"

Darius woke up, his face full of sweat as he looked around. He was still on his bed. Everything was still okay. He looked to his right, and there was the picture of him and his sibling still there.

"So everything was a dream?" Darius asked, stunned.

"Hehe…"

"You wish it was. This is the beginning of your nightmare," a cold voice sounded as a huge palm covered Darius's face and pushed him down.

His bed disappeared as he felt the cold, chilling water cover him.

"Noooooooo…"