Looking at each other in silence, only tears flowed

As the sun emerged, the other recovering evil demons, now reduced to charcoal, shrieked as they dissolved into foam and vanished.

After hearing the system's response, Senju Kyogawa let out a sigh. "Evil demons" followed their instincts to consume humans, yet before dying, they recalled every memory from their past lives, reincarnating with regret and hope.

Perhaps these "evil demons" were all ordinary, decent people who had been transformed by this sudden catastrophe, losing their memories and following instincts to harm others. Was this not a tragedy in its own right?

While Senju Kyogawa remained lost in thought, a boy with short, spiky black hair suddenly walked up to him and said, "Thank you."

Senju Kyogawa looked up and found that the boy before him had fair skin, delicate features, and beautiful black eyes; it was clear he would grow up to be a "great beauty."

Senju Kyogawa's obsession with aesthetics immediately flared up. He smiled and replied flippantly, "No need for thanks, it's what I should do. How could I sit idly by and watch a beauty get 'molested' by a monster's tongue!"

Hearing this, the boy's face, which had been pale from the prolonged battle, flushed a faint red with anger. He opened his mouth, but held back from cursing, hindered by the fact that Senju Kyogawa had just saved him.

The boy simply turned around, intending to part ways with Senju Kyogawa right there.

Having finally escaped the space-time rift only to find a living person, how could Senju Kyogawa let the boy leave? His Cuddle Points had been stuck at -200 for far too long!

That's right, "-200." Ever since Senju Kyogawa signed a contract with the Ugly Monster, the creature could no longer provide him with Cuddle Points. When Senju Kyogawa asked the system why, it simply replied: [After signing the contract, the Ugly Monster is classified as a part of Senju Kyogawa's own body; "self" cannot contribute Cuddle Points to "self."]

Though speechless, Senju Kyogawa had no way to defy the system's rules, so he had to accept it.

Now that he had finally escaped the space-time rift and encountered a living person, how could he let this golden opportunity to farm Cuddle Points slip away?

"Hey! Wait up, brother! It's too dangerous here, and since we're both on our own, why don't we team up? It'll be easier to deal with those monsters," Senju Kyogawa called out, chasing after the boy.

The boy pondered for a moment. He recalled how Senju Kyogawa had split the long-tongued evil demon in two with a single strike; even though Kyogawa looked only four or five years old, the boy dared not underestimate his strength.

Furthermore, he was indeed alone, and this small town filled with monsters was truly dangerous. If he encountered another situation like today's ambush, it would be difficult to handle alone. Thus, the boy agreed to Senju Kyogawa's invitation.

Senju Kyogawa smiled with satisfaction; he knew no one could resist his charm!

"I'm Kyogawa, and you?" Senju Kyogawa asked the boy.

"Madara," Madara replied concisely.

In these chaotic times, it was common for ninjas not to exchange surnames, and clearly, neither of them had any intention of asking for the other's.

"Madara, look, you have several wounds on you. That will hinder our movements, and the smell of blood might attract more monsters. Why don't I heal you?" Senju Kyogawa asked with a beaming smile.

He was certain Madara wouldn't refuse; after all, who would want to carry injuries while having to guard against potential dangers?

As expected, Madara did not refuse, though he eyed Senju Kyogawa suspiciously, clearly doubting his capabilities.

Senju Kyogawa's smile stiffened. He gripped Madara's arm with one hand and placed the other over the wound to cast Healing Jutsu. Accompanied by a faint green light, Madara felt a tingling warmth at the site of his stinging wound, and then, it was healed.

The process didn't even last a second.

Madara's eyes widened in shock. Now he believed the fact that Senju Kyogawa knew "Medical Ninjutsu" and was quite skilled at it, too.

Senju Kyogawa was also shocked, because...

The moment his hand touched Madara, the system notification chimed: [Cuddle Points +7]!

This was the first time Senju Kyogawa had gained "7" Cuddle Points just by touching someone.

Senju Kyogawa was shocked, Senju Kyogawa was confused, and then, Senju Kyogawa had an epiphany!

Could it be that Madara was the protagonist of the manga? But the system had previously said he had already met the protagonist...

Setting aside the two people who were shocked for different reasons.

Ever since the sun broke through and sunlight bathed every corner of the small town, many of the monsters wandering about had vanished, scorched by the sun.

The disappearance of the monsters provided a great relief to Senju Chenghe, who had been fighting hard.

Having not eaten for a day and a night, surviving only on Military Ration Pills, Senju Chenghe nearly wept at the sight of the falling sunlight.

At that moment, he had been locked in a stalemate with several monsters and was nearly bitten due to exhaustion, but fortunately, the sunlight had spilled down, and he survived the monsters' jaws.

Hungry, thirsty, and drained, Senju Chenghe just wanted to find a place to rest, bandage his wounds, and recover his strength before searching for the missing Senju Kyogawa.

In fact, while dodging monsters and searching for Senju Kyogawa, he had seen plenty of food, but he dared not touch it, fearing that eating this "poisoned food" of unknown origin—which might be the source of the monster virus—would turn him into one of them.

After resting, Senju Chenghe cautiously walked into the courtyard of a house, intending to scoop some water from the well to quench his thirst, only to notice movement inside the house behind him.

Thinking the monsters had returned, Senju Chenghe reflexively threw a kunai.

With a "ding," two kunai collided and fell to the ground.

Senju Chenghe turned around instantly, assuming a defensive stance, only to find...

"Hey! Brother Chenghe! It's you!" Senju Kyogawa ran over to Senju Chenghe in surprise, looking him up and down.

In just a few hours, Senju Chenghe had become quite disheveled; his hair was a mess, his face was covered in bloodstains and dust, and he had sustained various injuries, his clothes nearly shredded to rags.

Realizing the person was Kyogawa, Senju Chenghe hugged him tightly and choked out:

"Kyogawa! It's really you! Thank goodness you're alright! Ever since you were sucked away by that 'wall,' I've been on edge! Wuwuwu..."

Senju Kyogawa hadn't expected a grown man like Senju Chenghe to cry over him, and for a moment, he was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, feeling quite touched.

It was his own fault! He hadn't even stopped to think about how dangerous it was for Senju Chenghe to be left behind alone.

Senju Kyogawa had assumed it would be safe once the sun came out, never expecting the weather in the Land of Lightning to be so fickle.

Watching the two, one big and one small, hugging and crying, Madara couldn't help but rub his forehead in silence.