No one answered.
Higashino Makoto reached out and took the ring from Muzan Kibutsuji's fingertip.
He had originally planned to kill him outright, but after seeing someone who resembled him, Higashino Makoto changed his mind.
He took a black chain from his backpack and put it around Muzan Kibutsuji's neck.
"Enslavement Chain"
In YGGDRASIL, this is a commonly used item by summoning players who follow the sacrifice playstyle. After chaining a monster, its life and actions will be completely controlled by the master.
Of course, as a price, the controlled monster's level will decrease by 10, and when the master's HP or MP drops to less than 10%, there is a chance it will backfire.
Of course, just to be on the safe side, Higashino Makoto also prepared "All-Race Charm" and "Dimensional Lock" to prevent the opponent from escaping.
However, it doesn't matter now that he's escaped. Once prey is "marked" by Muninn, unless he runs off to another world, he can easily be caught and brought back.
He stretched out his hand and snapped his fingers lightly.
Time resumed its flow.
Without giving Muzan Kibutsuji time to adjust, the order was given directly.
"Come, take me into the Infinity Castle."
Infinity Castle.
Higashino Makoto stood deep within that endless labyrinth, his golden eyes sweeping over the layers of spatial folds.
Momo stood behind him, her tail tightly wrapped around her wrist, her purple pupils reflecting the ever-changing walls around her.
The three butterfly sisters stood on either side, their hands resting on the hilts of their Nichirin Blade, their breathing heavy and their guard up.
This city is alive.
The walls seemed to breathe, the floor seemed to pulsate, and the corridors stretched and contracted silently, like the digestive organs of a sleeping behemoth.
Nakime.
Higashino Makoto's voice echoed in the empty space.
There was no response.
Only the faint sound of a piano drifted from afar.
The music, with its eerie rhythm, seemed to come from all directions at once.
"Not coming out? Then I'll find it myself."
Higashino Makoto raised his hand, and a jet-black sphere appeared in his palm.
Just when he was worried about not finding a suitable space to devour and enhance himself, now that he knew about Nakime's Infinity Castle, Higashino Makoto ordered Muzan Kibutsuji to notify the other party to send him to the Infinity Castle.
"Devour."
The sphere flew out, hovered in mid-air, and then began to expand.
Wherever the sphere passed, the spatial structure of the Infinity Castle began to collapse and was covered.
The rules of the small world are on a higher level than those of this labyrinth, and as he expected, they are practically innately restraining.
The walls began to crack, the floor began to collapse, and the ceiling began to fall off.
Those spatial folds manipulated by Nakime were as fragile as paper in the face of the rules of the small world.
"Found you."
Higashino Makoto's figure disappeared from the spot.
The next second, he appeared in the deepest part of the Infinity Castle.
Nakime sat on a chair made of bones and flesh, holding a koto in her arms.
The strings were connected to her fingers, and with each pluck, the entire Infinity Castle trembled.
Higashino Makoto didn't waste any words with her.
"Dominate."
Dark purple light flew from his palm, transforming into countless fine threads that wrapped around Nakime's body.
She tried to pluck the strings, attempting to manipulate space to escape, but the rules of the small world had already covered this area.
Her power was suppressed.
Control achieved.
"Keep your Infinity Castle stable until the day I completely relocate it."
Nakime's fingers gently plucked the strings of her harp.
The collapse of the Infinity Castle has slowed, but it is still ongoing.
One day is enough.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes and focused all his senses into the spatial fragments of the Creator.
The smaller world began to devour the Infinity Castle.
Starting from the outermost layer, proceed inwards layer by layer.
Those twisted corridors, those folded rooms, those secrets hidden in the gaps of space—all were swallowed up by the small world, turning into nourishment for the space.
Nakime's Blood Demon Art is more like spatial manipulation.
It's not a simple matter of teleporting or folding, but a more advanced form of control.
These are all things that Higashino Makoto wants.
As the last inch of space in the Infinity Castle was swallowed up by the smaller world, Nakime's body began to collapse.
"Pity."
Higashino Makoto watched her figure turn to ashes, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.
"You're so ugly, otherwise I might have let you live a little longer."
Momo chuckled softly behind him.
"Cheng-san, you really are..."
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I just feel that your obsession with beauty has truly remained consistent."
Higashino Makoto glanced at her but did not deny it.
"Let's go, it's time to head back."
He turned around and took a step forward.
The Infinity Castle swallowed by the small world transformed into a new spatial structure, suspended beneath that artificial sky.
The diameter of 7,778 kilometers did not increase, but the spatial complexity increased.
Folding, teleportation, spatial awareness.
These are fragments of abilities he extracted from Nakime's Blood Demon Art. Although they are not complete, every little bit helps.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes, sensing the newly incorporated rules.
They are like fine threads, wrapped around the edge of the small world, intertwined with the original concept of "door".
"Not enough."
He said in a low voice.
But it will be soon.
Ubuyashiki Estate, garden.
Moonlight spilled onto the cherry blossom trees, and petals drifted silently down in the night breeze.
Nine Pillars stood on either side of the courtyard, their hands on the hilts of their swords, their eyes fixed on the kneeling figure in the center of the courtyard.
Muzan Kibutsuji.
The thousand-year-old demon, the progenitor of all demons and humanity's greatest enemy, now kneels beneath a cherry blossom tree, a jet-black chain around its neck.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat in a wheelchair, his purple eyes fixed on Muzan Kibutsuji, his expression eerily calm.
"Mr. Higashino."
He spoke, his voice hoarse.
Are you sure he won't run away?
"Of course I'm sure."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Besides, even if he runs away, I can catch him. He has my mark on him; unless he escapes to another world, he can't get away."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
His gaze returned to Muzan Kibutsuji, his purple eyes swirling with complex emotions.
Anger, sadness, relief, and an indescribable weariness.
A thousand years of hatred, a thousand years of struggle, a thousand years of sacrifice.
Today, it's finally coming to an end.