Multiverse: Why does the world show a health bar? !

The Infinity Castle is a truly miraculous place. Here, space itself seems to twist and tangle into chaos. It is a grand structure that could only be created through Blood Demon Art.

If an ordinary person were to come here, they would marvel at its otherworldly craftsmanship. However, there are almost no visitors here, much like the inner sanctum of the shogunate during the Edo period. This is a place where no one is allowed to enter.

In the eyes of the master of this place, "food" has no right to step foot here.

The progenitor of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, is the master of this domain. While it is true that the one maintaining this place through her power is the newly appointed Upper Rank, Nakime, who was granted more of Muzan's blood after the death of the former Upper Rank Three, Akaza, and thus became an Upper Rank, ultimately taking the position of Upper Rank Five.

Nakime's combat abilities are not particularly strong, but she has earned Muzan's favor. Additionally, Gyutaro, with Daki as his liability, was ranked accordingly.

Kokushibo has returned here once again.

The last time he was here was three years ago, when he heard that a successor of Sun Breathing had appeared in the world. Unfortunately, that person had perished alongside Akaza.

According to later investigations, that person had achieved such strength without even activating his Demon Slayer Mark. How strong would he have been if he had?

But that was all just speculation.

What was the situation this time?

Kokushibo sat upright on the ground, observing the others in the room. Unlike the other Upper Ranks, he had been an Upper Rank since the formation of the Twelve Kizuki. Douma, Hantengu, and Gyokko were all his juniors.

Thus, within the Infinity Castle, he had a room of his own.

At this moment, five of the six Upper Ranks were present.

And considering what had happened three years ago...

Had Gyutaro already died?

This possibility wasn't just anticipated by Kokushibo. The other Upper Ranks present, upon noticing the absence of Gyutaro and Daki, had also come to this conclusion.

Nakime plucked the strings of her instrument.

And then, they saw him.

The progenitor of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji, appeared before them.

All of them immediately knelt on one knee.

"As you have guessed, that waste Gyutaro is already dead."

Muzan Kibutsuji was furious, his tone no longer calm.

Appearing in the guise of an elegant courtesan, his face was now filled with rage.

The Upper Ranks had almost never seen Muzan Kibutsuji like this. In their memories, Muzan-sama had always been composed, as if he had seen through the world. Never had he been so enraged.

Kokushibo was an exception.

He had lived for far too long. Among the current demons, he had been by Muzan's side the longest. The last time he had seen Muzan-sama so emotionally charged was hundreds of years ago.

Back then, Japan was still in the Warring States period. It was when his younger brother had emerged and Muzan-sama had reacted in such a way.

The only difference was that back then, Muzan-sama had been filled with fear and anxiety. Now, he was consumed by anger.

"Muzan-sama..."

"Silence! Did I permit you to speak?"

Gyokko had just begun to speak when Muzan Kibutsuji exploded his head. For a demon, such an injury was not fatal, but the implications were extraordinary.

Muzan Kibutsuji was in a state of uncontrollable rage.

"That waste is dead, and so be it. What's even more laughable is that last night, nearly a hundred demons in Tokyo were wiped out. An entire city, emptied. How ridiculous!!!"

In Japan, there was only one organization that opposed demons: the Demon Slayer Corps. Such a large-scale extermination of demons could only have been carried out by them.

"Such a massive operation, and yet I knew nothing about it. Ah, I finally understand just how useless you all are. So useless that you didn't even notice when you were being hunted down?

Really, why did I ever think I needed subordinates? All of you are nothing but failures.

The Blue Spider Lily hasn't been found, the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters haven't been found. Nothing has been accomplished, and instead, all you bring me is bad news.

I'm almost tempted to have you all commit suicide."

Having vented his anger, Muzan Kibutsuji's tone became calm again. But it was a cold, icy calm, as if he was seriously considering that cruel option.

"Muzan-sama, please calm down!!!"

The one who spoke was Hantengu.

After Akaza's death, he had become the new Upper Rank Three. Honest as he was, he had chosen to speak up immediately upon noticing the change in Muzan Kibutsuji's demeanor.

Remaining silent at this moment would have been suicidal.

"Calm down? How can I calm down? Fine, since you still have some use, I'll let it go. Hantengu, Gyokko, I have a task for you.

Investigate what exactly happened during the chaos in Tokyo!!!"

Muzan Kibutsuji spoke coldly.

Hantengu and Gyokko quickly acknowledged the order, and with Nakime's Blood Demon Art, the two of them left the Infinity Castle.

Watching all of this, Muzan Kibutsuji's eyes remained icy. In truth, his rage was not solely due to this. It was also because... the moment he sensed the deaths of those useless demons, he had opened the channel to receive information.

Even from a great distance, Muzan Kibutsuji could see the moments of their deaths. Of course, for ordinary demons, whose blood concentration was low, the information he received was limited. But for an Upper Rank like Gyutaro, it was different.

Upper Ranks contained a high concentration of his blood. When an Upper Rank died, he could see the moment of their death. Three years ago, when Akaza died, he had seen the man who used Sun Breathing.

When Gyutaro died, he should have received the images of his death. Muzan Kibutsuji should have been able to see how he died.

—That was how it should have been.

In reality, Muzan Kibutsuji had received nothing from Gyutaro's death. To be precise, he had received no information from the deaths of the hundreds of demons in Tokyo.

It was as if the information that was supposed to be transmitted had been cut off.

Damn it, who could have done such a thing?

This was the true source of Muzan Kibutsuji's fury.

He was not a man who believed in gods. Having lived since the Heian period, he had never seen a deity. If gods and Buddhas truly existed in this world, why had they not descended when Oda Nobunaga was destroying temples? If gods and Buddhas truly existed, why had there been no response when Oda Nobunaga died at Honno-ji? He was the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven!

But tonight, someone had severed his connection with his subordinates... Was it the work of gods and Buddhas, or... the advancement of scientific technology?

"Douma."

"Muzan-sama, I am here."

"Use your connections. From now on, you must locate the Demon Slayer Corps and also investigate the Blue Spider Lily. Kokushibo, you will assist him."

"Yes, Muzan-sama."

Douma had his own religious following, and religion was a means to infiltrate human society.

Muzan Kibutsuji himself had other matters to attend to.

He needed to find a way to become the "perfect being."