Meanwhile, Insanity had just finished off a group of hunters who foolishly tried to kill him after he landed back on Earth. As one of the hunters begged for mercy, Insanity chuckled, his voice laced with mockery.
"Mercy?" Insanity sneered. "You’re hunting *me*, and you beg for mercy? What a joke."
Before the man could respond, Insanity swiftly finished him off, wiping his blade on the dead man's clothes. With a bored expression, he scanned the area, his mind wandering until he sensed a surge of power from a nearby city. Standing at the edge of a cliff, he gazed down at the changed world below. A wicked grin spread across his face as he leapt off the cliff, diving toward the city.
Landing smoothly, he began to walk the streets, masking his immense aura to avoid causing a scene. But there was a lingering thirst gnawing at him, a side effect from consuming Michael's blood. He sat down against a building, trying to suppress it, when suddenly, a few coins were thrown at him. Startled, he looked up and saw a woman standing there, her arms crossed and an amused smirk on her face.
"You should be thanking me," she said with a slight chuckle. "You look like you could use it, homeless man."
Insanity's blood boiled at her words. *Homeless?* He, one of the most powerful beings in existence, being insulted by a mere human? He stood up in a flash, his voice filled with fury. "You bitch! Do you even know who you're talking to?!"
The woman’s smirk vanished, replaced with cold, murderous eyes. "Watch your mouth."
Before Insanity could react, she struck him on the head, leaving him momentarily dazed. Rubbing the back of his head, he glared at her, but something about her calmness made him hesitate.
She sighed, looking at him with mild annoyance. "Get up, will you? I’m not going to hurt you, and frankly, you’re being more dramatic than you need to be."
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Confused but intrigued, Insanity stood up slowly, still gripping the hilts of his katanas. "Who the hell are you, and why do you think I shouldn’t gut you right now?"
The woman raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed by his threat. "You’re strong. I can sense that. And I know what you are, Insanity."
That made Insanity freeze for a moment. "*You know me?*" he asked, the anger fading, replaced by cautious curiosity.
"Yes," she said, her tone calm and controlled. "You’re not the first anomaly I’ve come across. And don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me." She glanced at his grip on his swords. "You can put those away. I’m not here to fight you."
Still wary, Insanity narrowed his eyes but let his hands fall to his sides, though he didn’t release his tension. "What’s your deal, then?"
The woman turned and began to walk away, speaking over her shoulder. "Follow me, and you’ll find out."
After a brief pause, Insanity begrudgingly followed her. His instincts screamed at him to be on guard, but curiosity got the better of him. They walked in silence through the bustling city streets, Insanity glancing around, feeling out of place in this new world. Eventually, they arrived at a tall apartment building.
The woman turned to face him again, her expression softening. "I’m Calypso," she said with a warm smile. "I’ve been expecting someone like you."
"Expecting me?" Insanity questioned, his voice gruff but tinged with suspicion. "What the hell does that mean?"
"People like you, anomalies, eventually show up," Calypso explained. "The world’s changed, but I’ve always known there would be remnants of the old days lurking around. You’re not the first I’ve encountered, but you’re… different."
Insanity tilted his head, still trying to figure her out. "Different, huh? And what do you want from me, Calypso?"
She shrugged. "Honestly? I don’t want anything from you. But I figured you’d like a place to stay while you’re here. Can’t imagine you’ll blend in well with the locals."
Insanity’s eyes narrowed again. "Why help me? What’s in it for you?"
Calypso met his gaze, her smile fading into a more serious expression. "Maybe I just don’t like seeing powerful people like you waste away. Or maybe I know more than you think. But let’s just say, for now, it’s a simple offer."
Insanity considered her words for a long moment before finally relaxing his stance. "Fine. I’ll take your offer. But don’t think for a second I trust you."
Calypso smirked again, this time with a bit more warmth. "Trust is earned, not given. I wouldn’t expect it any other way."
She turned and led him into the apartment, closing the door behind them.