Chapter 54.2

Kevin sighed inwardly. He knew that those who fell into a coma due to the godhead were lucky to be alive. The impact on their bodies was immense. In severe cases, it could take a year or two to wake up. In mild cases, it would still take at least a day.

But how long had it been for Sirius?

Kevin looked down at the huge wolf at his feet. Sirius was twitching violently in his sleep, his furry brow furrowed in a frown that was eerily similar to the emperor's.

The wolf's face was not as expressive as a human's, but Kevin could tell that Sirius was struggling. His breathing was becoming heavier and faster, as if he was trying to break free from the endless darkness.

This was not simply waking up from a dream. This was a human resisting the suppression of divine power.

Kevin knew that Sirius was strong, but he was not sure if he was strong enough to overcome the godhead. He could only wait and see.

The suppression of divine power was a process that was both physical and psychological.

Those who submitted to the suppression would find themselves in a comfortable and warm dream world, where they could forget all their troubles. But for those whose subconscious personal will was too strong, the suppression would manifest itself as nightmares.

The longer the nightmare went on, the more real it would seem. The dreamer would relive their worst fears, worries, and sufferings, as if they were really happening.

This process of resistance was more tormented than imagined, and it could drive even the strongest people to madness.

Those who woke up later were more likely to kneel at the feet of the gods, as they had been so traumatized by their nightmares that they were no longer able to resist the divine power.

But those who woke up sooner were more likely to retain their free will, even if they were still weakened by the experience.

But ultimately, the only way to overcome the suppression was to find the strength to resist, even when it seemed impossible.

Kevin had always known that Oswald was a tough individual. He had little faith in the unseen gods, and Kevin admired and approved of this.

But even Kevin had not expected that Oswald would be so resilient. In less than half a day, Oswald had shown signs of waking up.

Oswald's brow furrowed deeper and deeper, and a low growl rumbled from the depths of his throat. He bared his sharp wolf teeth, his body tensed, and his front paws scratched the ground eagerly.

The tip of his claw left deep marks in the thick stone ground, and even a little blood seeped out from the base of the claw.

"What is this dream?" Kevin squatted down, raised his hand, and pinched Oswald's front paw. He was about to see how badly the wound was when he felt a sudden surge of strength in his hand. Oswald's front paw instinctively patted Kevin's chest.

Kevin was relieved that he had reacted quickly enough to turn his head and avoid Oswald's claws. If he had not, he would have lost at least three pieces of flesh from his neck.

Oswald was extremely aggressive in the dream, and Kevin felt like he was fighting a trapped beast. He did not dare to move Oswald easily, but remained in a half-squatting position beside him, half-defending and half-protecting himself, lest Oswald become even more furious and cripple his entire paw.

Kevin's gaze shifted to Oswald's bared white wolf teeth, and he heard the tough man suddenly frown and let out a low howl. Kevin's eyebrows twitched in surprise.

Kevin's eyebrows twitched. He was used to the emperor's usual cold snorts, even when his arms and legs were broken. So when he heard such a low, almost inaudible howl, he felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.

It was as if a thorn had been tied around his heart, and the sharp thorns were twisting in the flesh. The pain was not too severe, but it was a dull ache.

He subconsciously reached out and patted Oswald's face, as if he had forgotten how he had almost been torn off by sharp claws just moments ago.

Kevin smiled and reached down to stroke Sirius's head. "Good boy," he said. "I'm glad you're about to awake."

The struggling giant beast was nearing the end of its dream. After Kevin slapped it, its front paws stirred, and its eyes suddenly opened.

The wolf's eyes, which were usually clear and almost devoid of impurities, were now covered in a thin layer of water vapor. They were bloodshot and tired-looking.

"Oswald? Are you awake?" Kevin frowned when he saw Sirius' eyes. He patted Sirius' face twice more and whispered.

The giant beast lying prone on the ground suddenly focused its eyes, as if it had been completely awakened by Kevin's voice. The bloodshot eyes suddenly became clear and focused, and they stared at Kevin's face for a long time, almost as if they were bleeding.

Kevin was taken aback by Oswald's eyes, and was about to say something when his vision blurred.

The huge monster rushed up and pressed its furry wolf head against Kevin's neck vigorously. The not-so-soft silver-white fur rubbed against Kevin's skin, almost painfully rough.

This was not the feeling of a pet jumping on its owner to play. Kevin felt a stronger sense of "trapped beast" in this almost rough action. The uneasiness and panic even brought a sense of aggression.

"What... did you dream about?" Kevin knew that resistance or jokes were not a good choice at this time. Contrary to his usual bastardly style, he gently patted the giant beast.

Oswald let out a low growl from the bottom of his throat, and then buried his head in Kevin's neck and panted heavily. It was as if he could not believe that he had escaped from the dream until now.

He was silent for a long time, and then spoke in a deep voice, "I dreamed that you were dead."

The words were simple, but they carried a weight that Kevin could not ignore. He could feel Oswald's fear and uncertainty, and he knew that the dream had shaken him to his core.

Kevin placed his hand on Oswald's head and stroked him gently. "I'm here," he said. "I'm not going anywhere."

Oswald lifted his head and looked at Kevin with his bloodshot eyes. "I know," he said. "But in the dream, you were gone. And I was all alone."