Pandora left with the remaining 107 Evil Stars.
She needed to lead the Specters and undead skeletons to sweep the world, as in the last.
Peaceful rule?
Don't be silly!
For humans, only absolute power—beating them into submission—ensured obedience.
As a former human, Alistair felt qualified to say so.
Soon.
The women dispersed, and Alistair formed a dependent contract with Kanae Kocho.
Though.
The Evil Stars were his, and no contract was needed, but it was still proper to sign one.
Alistair walked with Kanae, now a dark purple orb.
"Kanae, anything you want to see?"
"Your Majesty, I'd like to see Shinobu and Kanao."
"Alright, the tasks are assigned. Let's take a walk."
Alistair chatted with Kanae.
One step.
He and Kanae vanished.
…
The Twelve Kizuki.
The twelve direct subordinates of the ghost progenitor, Muzan Kibutsuji.
Divided.
Into six Upper Ranks and six Lower Ranks.
However.
Compared to the boss-level Upper Ranks, the Lower Ranks were, at best, elite minions.
"Ah!"
A piercing scream under cursed poison.
Lower Rank: Rokuro.
Fell forever.
His body decayed rapidly.
Turning into a pool of blood.
But it didn't end.
Even the blood boiled violently, vanishing completely.
If.
The ghosts' souls weren't preserved at Ker's request.
Likely.
Under Murasame's strike, even their souls would've been cursed into oblivion.
"Sister."
Kurome approached Akame.
Akame said, "Kurome, Rokuro was the last Lower Rank. Have all six portions of world energy been collected?"
"Sister, they're all gathered."
Kurome raised her hand, six orbs of light blooming, then tucked them away.
"Let's go."
"Time for the Upper Ranks."
"Alright."
The sisters departed again.
Infinity Castle!
Accessible via Narutaka's ability, the castle twisted around her, its structure defying direction.
Here, Muzan Kibutsuji hid.
Muzan Kibutsuji.
The Ghost King.
Also called the King of Cowardice.
A master of survival.
If he sensed any danger, he could hide for centuries, millennia, ensuring no issues.
The moment the Lower and Upper Ranks began to fall.
Muzan sensed it.
"What's happening?"
He stood abruptly.
"Impossible."
"The Demon Slayer Corps lacks such power."
"What went wrong?"
"Could it be…"
"An outsider intervened?"
"No!"
Muzan prepared to flee Infinity Castle. He had to hide somewhere safe.
Otherwise.
He'd surely…
"Too late."
Ker slowly pushed open the door, gazing at Muzan's youthful face and plum-red eyes, her expression aloof, exuding superiority.
Don't be fooled by Ker's mild demeanor with Alistair and his dependents.
In truth.
As a goddess, facing outsiders, her inherent arrogance never wavered.
"Who are you?"
Muzan stared at Ker.
At that moment.
He felt intense dread. He hadn't sensed her presence at all.
How was that possible?
Someone entered Infinity Castle, and he noticed nothing.
Another monster like Yoriichi Tsugikuni?
The greatest monster, Muzan, calling another a monster?
Ironic, in a way.
"Who am I?"
Ker mused softly. "I bring a gift from His Majesty, the god of darkness, Muzan Kibutsuji. I hope you'll like it."
"A gift?"
Muzan sensed something wrong.
But.
Too late.
The next moment.
Infinity Castle vanished, as if it never existed.
Muzan was exposed to sunlight.
"Ah!"
A piercing scream echoed. Muzan thrashed, his rapid regeneration trying to form a giant puppet to retreat underground.
Indeed.
A Ghost King worthy of the name—unlike lesser ghosts, who'd die instantly in sunlight.
Ker watched his struggle calmly. "Like a vampire, but ghosts are weaker in essence. You, however, are special."
"Hm~~~"
Ker pondered briefly, continuing, "As a world's Ghost King, you're unique. Worth taking back for study."
Ker didn't underestimate anything born of a world.
Like the Teigu.
In the last world, minor tweaks turned them into infinitely evolving artifacts, like Evil Stars.
This taught Ker that the multiverse held countless wonders.
Like this Ghost King before her.
***
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