-----
-----
Across countless worlds, the manifestation of "Hell" sparked an unprecedented wave of debate about philosophy and power.
This wasn't just a battle anymore.It was a direct answer to the ultimate question: what awaits after death?
Super God Universe, Styx Galaxy, Death Song Academy
The God of Death, Karth, set down his quill. For the first time, genuine curiosity appeared on his refined, delicate face.
"Interesting… truly interesting."
He raised a hand. The Void Engine hummed softly. In the dark expanse of space, countless ferocious wraiths were effortlessly summoned, circling his palm and shrieking.
"In this universe, souls usually rely on dark data to exist," Karth murmured, eyes fixed on the screen. "But the 'Death God World' shown in that video treats souls as independent, high-density energy entities."
He watched the sinners struggling in Hell, a spark of scholarly excitement flickering in his gaze.
"That Hell seems to operate on an automatic judgment system based on resentment and sin. No chief god. No supercomputer. The world itself enforces judgment. If I could unravel this mechanism, it might lead to a qualitative leap in Void research."
Angel Nebula, Merlo Heaven
Holy Keisha sat upon her throne, eyes deep and unreadable.
"Chaotic. Violent. Utterly despairing."
She looked at the endless torment unfolding in Hell and shook her head slightly.
"Though it punishes evil, the method itself reeks of evil. That world's concept of justice isn't built on order, but on a balance of brute force and spiritual pressure."
Demon One
"Hahahaha! Now that's Hell!"
Morgana lounged back with one leg crossed, watching with undisguised delight.
"Way better than that bitch Keisha's nonstop 'justice and order.' This Hell is brutal, sure, but it's honest. Those sinners… heh. If we could drag them over and tweak them a little, they'd be crazier than demons. Perfect soldiers."
"Queen, should we try to lock onto that universe?" Atto asked.
"Duh. Of course! A place that smells this much like fallen freedom was practically made for demons!"
Demon Slayer World
The reactions of the Demon Slayer Corps and Kibutsuji Muzan couldn't have been more different.
Infinity Castle, deep within
"No… impossible…"
Muzan hid in the shadows, his handsome face twisted with raw terror. His eyes were glued to the screen, watching sinners torn apart by Hell's guards, devoured, resurrected, and tortured all over again.
"That is… Hell?"
"That's the fate of those who sinned in life?"
His whole body trembled, nails digging deep into his flesh. As a demon king who had lived for a thousand years and slaughtered countless people, the implication hit him like a blade.
"If I die and end up there…"
"No. Absolutely not. I cannot die!"
Muzan screamed hysterically.
"I must conquer sunlight! I must become the perfect ultimate lifeform! As long as I never die, Hell can never claim me!"
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
"Namu Amida Butsu…"
Gyomei Himejima wept as he pressed his palms together.
"Cruel as it is, this is karma. After demons are slain, endless purgatory awaits them. For the innocent who died, this is the greatest comfort."
Shinobu Kocho watched with her signature smile, though it carried a chill.
"My, what a lovely place. If someone like Doma could be sent there, I'd be very happy."
Sanemi Shinazugawa, on the other hand, was practically burning with excitement.
"That kid, Kurosaki Ichigo! And that red-haired guy too! Nice work! Cut those monsters down! If we had power like that, wiping out all demons would be easy!"
The video shifted. The battle reached its boiling point.
Hell, First Layer
"ROOOOAR!"
Green Cliff (Gunjō) dragged himself out of the rubble, muscles bulging as he charged at Renji Abarai like a runaway tank.
"Tough bastards," Renji muttered, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth.
His eyes sharpened. His spiritual pressure surged to its absolute limit.
"If Shikai isn't enough… then I'll show you what a vice-captain can really do!"
He slammed Zabimaru into the ground. A crimson pillar of spiritual energy shot straight into the sky.
"Bankai!"
The earth thundered.
Gigantic serpent bones burst from underground, coiling around Renji. No longer a whip, but a massive skeletal snake formed from countless bone segments, draped in a red mane and radiating the terror of an ancient beast.
"Baboon King… Zabimaru!"
"Crush him!"
With a swing of Renji's blade, the colossal bone serpent opened its jaws and slammed into the charging Gunjō with unstoppable force.
BOOM!
Gunjō's powerful body looked pitifully small in comparison. He was sent flying, crashing deep into the water below and kicking up a sky-high wave.
Hell, Next Layer
The scenery shifted again.
The sky was an eerie blue. Below, sulfurous waters glowed with a sickly yellow light.
Kurosaki Ichigo and Black Blade sprinted forward.
"It's just ahead!" Black Blade pointed.
Then everything went wrong.
SPLASH!
The yellow water exploded upward. A massive blue hand, big enough to blot out the sky, burst forth and lunged straight for Ichigo.
Another Hell Guard.
And this one felt far more terrifying than the last.
"Watch out!"
Black Blade's eyes flashed. He shoved Ichigo aside, leaving himself exposed.
SMACK!
The giant hand slammed into him.
"Gah!"
Black Blade spat blood, his body flung away like a snapped kite, smashing hard into distant rocks.
"Black Blade!" Ichigo shouted.
The Hell Guard didn't stop. Its enormous body rose from the water, its chest splitting open as countless black chains shot out like venomous snakes, reaching for the gravely injured Black Blade, trying to drag him into the abyss.
That sight snapped something inside Ichigo.
"Bastard… how dare you hurt my companion right in front of me!"
The miasma of Hell resonated once more with the Hollow power inside him.
A white Hollow mask formed over his face.
In that instant, his speed shattered its limits. He became a black-and-red flash of lightning, crossing hundreds of meters in a heartbeat.
"Break… apart!"
Slash!
Tensa Zangetsu carved a black-red crescent through the air, cleaving into the Hell Guard's wrist.
Skin tough enough to withstand Kido tore like tofu under Hollowfied Ichigo's blade. The massive blue hand was severed cleanly.
Ichigo spun midair, gripping his sword with both hands, roaring:
"Getsuga… Tensho!"
BOOOOM!
A point-blank eruption of black-and-red energy blasted straight through the Hell Guard's chest, blowing its colossal body into fragments.
Instant kill.
Ichigo landed, his mask shattering away. He didn't pause to breathe, rushing over to Black Blade.
"Hey! Black Blade! Stay with me!"
Black Blade leaned against the rock, his chest caved in, blood spilling endlessly from his mouth.
Still, he forced a weak smile and pushed Ichigo away.
"Cough… don't worry about me… getting hurt in Hell is normal…"
"Go… your sister… she's just ahead…"
His voice was faint but urgent.
"Don't let my blood be wasted… go!"
Looking at Black Blade, nearly dying because he saved him, guilt and gratitude flooded Ichigo's chest.
"I'll save Yuzu. Then I'll come back and take you with me!"
Clenching his teeth, Ichigo turned and sprinted deeper into the fog.
And then—
The moment Ichigo's back vanished from sight…
The "gravely wounded" Black Blade slowly lowered his head.
The pain-twisted face curled into a cold, eerie smile.
That wasn't the look of someone who sacrificed himself to save another.
It was the look of a hunter watching prey fall into a trap.
"Go on, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Break those chains… for me."
Across countless worlds, the sharp-minded felt something was off.
Detective Conan World
"That's not right."
Conan adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing white.
"When Black Blade pushed Ichigo away, it looked like protection. But it was more like a deliberate move to get himself injured. A performance."
Ai Haibara spoke coldly.
"A classic self-inflicted wound scheme. He's exploiting Ichigo's guilt and sense of justice to push him into breaking something important. That guide might be the most dangerous 'demon' in Hell."
Naruto World
"That look in his eyes…"
Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Ah, how familiar. Manipulation. Deception. Inducement. Kurosaki Ichigo, you may possess immense power, but your heart is still too naïve. In Hell, the scariest thing isn't monsters."
"It's the human heart."
"....."