216-220

Chapter 216: Time for Me to Take the Ghost King’s Throne! 

For Arasaka Yorinobu, all he needed to do was wait—wait for the day his old man, Arasaka Saburo, finally kicked the bucket. As the only male heir and Saburo’s direct son, Yorinobu was the undeniable successor once Saburo was gone. 

Sure, his sister Arasaka Hanako was the favorite, holding a hefty chunk of company shares and backed by the conservative faction. She seemed like Saburo’s chosen heir. But Yorinobu, who got along well with his sister, knew she’d never fight him for control. Those banking on Hanako to challenge him would be disappointed—they clearly didn’t know his shut-in sister’s personality. 

Still, Yorinobu was aware that when he started executing his real plan, Hanako could become an obstacle. It all depended on how well he hid his true intentions. He had to make sure no one saw through him. 

Once known as the “Anti-Arasaka Vanguard,” the “Rock Rebel,” and a fierce anti-corporate crusader, Yorinobu’s return to Arasaka looked like he’d sold out. In reality, he was playing the long game—biding his time to take down the empire from within. 

The 2023 war saw Arasaka’s defeat, but under Saburo’s leadership, they quickly crushed domestic opposition, rose from the ashes, and reclaimed their spot at the top of the world. That experience made Yorinobu realize something: taking down Arasaka from the outside was a pipe dream. As long as its leader wasn’t a complete fool, Arasaka’s sheer size and influence meant it could always bounce back. 

In that moment, Yorinobu saw just how terrifying Saburo was. His father had masterminded a global chessboard, and the game was already won. 

So, Yorinobu “came to his senses” and returned to Arasaka. The strongest fortress had to be broken from the inside. Now, he was working to inherit the empire, only to lead it to its downfall once he held the reins. 

“Hm? Arasaka Michiko?” 

Lost in thought, Yorinobu was interrupted by an incoming call. Seeing the caller ID, he frowned. He had no personal connection with his niece.  

Everyone knew Michiko’s father, Arasaka Kei, despised his rebellious half-brother Yorinobu. Their personalities clashed completely. Back when Yorinobu was the “Rock Rebel,” Kei had sent assassins after him to eliminate the Arasaka traitor. 

Kei even got played once. After killing a decoy, he thought he’d taken out Yorinobu and announced it publicly, only for Yorinobu to keep popping up, making Kei look like a clown. That incident even turned Hanako, who’d once respected Kei, against him. Family bonds meant everything to her, and she couldn’t stomach such betrayal. 

“Michiko? What’s up?” Yorinobu answered, eyeing the video window. The youthful, glamorous Michiko was puffing on a cigarette, her face tinged with inexplicable irritation. 

Despite being uncle and niece, their age gap was only thirteen years. It didn’t feel that wide. Yorinobu had been a heartthrob in his youth, and even now, pushing eighty, he exuded a mature charm. 

“Uncle Yorinobu, there’s something I think you need to know,” Michiko said, her tone resolute. A natural actress, she played the part flawlessly. Even Yorinobu couldn’t spot any cracks, though he found her sudden call odd. They weren’t close—why the theatrics? 

“What is it?” Yorinobu asked, a flicker of caution rising. He wanted to know what Michiko was up to. 

Without hesitation, Michiko relayed the info Riku had given her, omitting the source and claiming it came from her company insiders. 

“Anders Hellman, RELIC 2.0, revival vessel…” The terms flooded Yorinobu’s mind, overwhelming him. If Michiko was telling the truth, everything he’d been working for was a joke—a clown’s performance. 

If Saburo saw him as nothing but a vessel for revival, all his efforts were pointless. Saburo was probably laughing at his struggles. 

Yorinobu felt his blood boil, his ears ringing with “Warning, warning, warning.” 

“Any proof?” he asked, forcing himself to stay calm. This was just Michiko’s word—nothing concrete. 

He knew if Michiko wanted to climb the ranks, she’d need him, Saburo, and Hanako to tear each other apart. As the heir with the least chance, she had every reason to stir the pot. 

“I can’t guarantee it’s 100% true, but it’s close enough. You can look into it yourself. The security around this is insane—my people couldn’t dig deeper. It’s too dangerous, so I pulled them off,” Michiko replied confidently. She had no hard evidence, but since that person told her to point Yorinobu in this direction, they must be sure. Her words carried conviction. 

“…” 

Yorinobu stayed silent, leaning toward belief. Michiko’s info was specific—Anders Hellman, RELIC 2.0. True or false, it was easy enough to verify. There was no point in her lying—it’d only make an enemy of him for no gain. 

“Uncle Yorinobu, you get it. If this is true, it’s bad news for you, me, and Aunt Hanako. But for you, it’s the most urgent threat,” Michiko said bluntly. To take over Arasaka, Saburo had to die. If he didn’t, their squabbles meant nothing. 

For Michiko and Hanako, Saburo’s survival just meant the status quo. But for Yorinobu, it was different. Even if he wasn’t the revival vessel, Saburo’s refusal to die blocked his ambitions and dreams. 

This made the investigation critical for Yorinobu. The task naturally fell to him. 

With that, Michiko hung up. She wasn’t worried about failing—there was no way Yorinobu would sit idly by. He’d dig into it. 

“That woman…” Yorinobu gritted his teeth, his head pounding. This bombshell had thrown his plans into chaos, messing with his mindset. 

Before, he’d been the one waiting, in no rush. Now, Saburo was waiting, and Yorinobu had a Damocles’ sword hanging over him, ready to drop at any moment. 

“I need to get to the bottom of this. Anders Hellman—you’re my starting point,” Yorinobu decided swiftly. Even if this was Michiko’s scheme, he had no choice but to play along. She’d hit his weak spot, and he couldn’t just sit there. 

In Night City, Riku, Sasha, and Lucy had returned. After dropping the girls off, Riku began preparing his next move. 

With tactical nukes in hand, he was itching to act. He couldn’t wait to give Muzan Kibutsuji a taste of them. 

After sending a quick message to close friends about being out of town for a few days, Riku didn’t hesitate. He activated the traversal. 

[Traversal Complete] 

[Current World: Demon Slayer] 

The scene shifted, and Riku found himself back in the Demon Slayer world, inside the familiar Infinite Castle. 

He’d left from here, so naturally, he returned here. But Muzan Kibutsuji wasn’t waiting to greet him. 

“Muzan Kibutsuji! Come out and face your death!” Riku bellowed, his voice echoing through the Infinite Castle like a megaphone. 

Buzz! 

A figure zoomed in—Muzan Kibutsuji, who wouldn’t let Narume move him. The Ghost King had switched to a female form, his face twisted with anger but hiding a trace of glee. 

“You dare come back, you bastard?!” Muzan growled, but inside, he was ecstatic. Riku’s quick return meant he hadn’t grown much. No matter how fast Riku’s progress was, he couldn’t have surpassed Muzan in such a short time! 

Last time Riku left, Muzan had been terrified, fearing he’d hide and grow for decades or centuries before coming back to crush him. With Riku’s insane growth rate, Muzan had no doubt he could pull it off. So, Muzan mobilized every demon to hunt Riku down, determined to leave him no room to develop. 

But his demons’ frequent activity got them slaughtered by the Demon Slayer Corps. Riku had nearly wiped out the Twelve Kizuki single-handedly, leaving Muzan with no capable subordinates. The only survivor, Lower Rank Five Rui, was useless and easily taken out by a Hashira, wasting the extra blood Muzan had given him. 

Muzan’s hunt for Riku was disrupted by the Corps’ activity. Frustrated, he shifted focus to wiping out the Demon Slayer Corps first, aiming to eliminate them for good. 

Many Corps members with known addresses were attacked. Some escaped, others died, throwing the Corps into chaos. They hadn’t expected Muzan to play so dirty. 

On Muzan’s orders, Narume tirelessly searched for the Corps’ headquarters, but their tightened security and sealed-off base made it impossible to find clues. 

With no progress, Muzan refocused on finding Riku. But before he could, Riku came to him. Perfect—this time, Muzan would make sure he stayed down! 

“You were looking for me? That desperate to die?” Riku asked, surprised. His words only fueled Muzan’s rage, who shifted into combat mode, whip-like tendrils sprouting from his arms, back, and legs, lashing at Riku. 

Riku dodged effortlessly, keeping his distance. His reaction made Muzan even more thrilled. 

“Look at you—no progress at all! You came back to die because I cornered you!” Muzan sneered, assuming his demons had boxed Riku in, forcing him into a desperate fight. 

“Huh? What?” Riku blinked, genuinely confused. 

“Won’t admit it? Doesn’t matter. The truth speaks for itself,” Muzan said, interpreting Riku’s reaction as denial. He thought Riku was backed into a corner with nowhere to go. 

“Dude, what are you so smug about? You’re acting like your brain’s fried. Perfect—a fried-brain Ghost King doesn’t deserve the throne. Step aside and let me take it,” Riku said, incredulous. He figured Muzan had been up to something, but it didn’t matter. 

This time, Riku had one goal: to dethrone Muzan Kibutsuji, the incompetent and immoral Ghost King. 

“Infinite Castle, let’s see how much you can handle,” Riku said with a nuclear-level grin, pulling out a tactical nuke without hesitation. Muzan, still smug, hadn’t yet realized the gravity of the situation. 

Chapter 217: The Birth of the Shadow Realm 

“What’s that thing?” Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, stared at the strange object in Riku’s hand, completely unfazed. Lacking any sense of danger, he didn’t see it as a weapon at all—it didn’t even look threatening. 

Why is the power of nuclear bombs often underestimated in debates? A big reason is their delivery speed and accuracy. Nobody just stands there waiting for a nuke to go off. Once you’re far from the blast’s epicenter, its destructive force drops sharply, especially in complex terrain where it’s further weakened. 

Tactical nukes were developed for faster, more precise deployment. But even in a high-tech world, let alone a supernatural one, their delivery speed still isn’t fast enough. That’s why strike teams infiltrate places like Arasaka Tower—can’t hit the target from afar? Just shove the bomb in and blow it up. 

Riku took a similar approach, going for a Tendo Joju (mutual destruction) tactic. He charged at Muzan with the nuke in hand. Muzan didn’t dodge, his fleshy tendrils whipping toward Riku. 

Click. 

Riku pressed the button and melted into the shadows. No way was he sticking around to feel what it’s like to be at the center of a nuclear blast. That kind of thrill was a bit too intense, even for him. 

BOOM! 

Muzan, completely unprepared, took the full force of the tactical nuke. Though its yield wasn’t massive, it was still far beyond what any ordinary carbon-based lifeform could withstand. Muzan, with no defensive traits, had no chance of shrugging off such an attack. 

In an instant, his body began to vaporize. But this fear-driven Demon King reacted instinctively, his body swelling into a grotesque, giant infant form at the blast’s epicenter. Driven by a primal survival instinct etched into his soul, Muzan’s flesh proliferated rapidly. 

Even as a fetus, Muzan had been so frail his heart stopped beating. Born as a stillborn, he clung to life through sheer, terrifying willpower. That survival instinct defined him, kicking in at critical moments, compelling him to do whatever it took to stay alive. 

In this monstrous infant form, Muzan’s body multiplied endlessly, allowing him to briefly withstand even sunlight, his natural enemy. The massive shell protected him, preventing instant vaporization. 

But a nuke’s power is undeniable. Despite his immediate countermeasures, Muzan was reduced to mere scraps of flesh. 

A mushroom cloud rose, and the shockwave radiated outward, obliterating Infinite Castle’s fragile structures in an instant. The buildings stood no chance. 

A nuke’s destructive power comes from three main sources: the shockwave, the intense heat at the blast’s core, and the radiation from radioactive elements. The heat is most devastating at the epicenter, fading quickly farther out. The shockwave covers a wider area, causing massive destruction. As for radiation, its spread is limited—grimly speaking, a nuke’s radiation is often less pervasive than a nuclear leak. 

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! 

The explosion turned Infinite Castle into a wasteland. Countless broken structures collapsed, floating in the unstable otherworldly space as the entire dimension trembled. 

As the blast subsided, Muzan’s remnants fought against lingering heat and radiation, stubbornly regenerating. 

At the edge of Infinite Castle’s ruins, Narutake watched in shock, her mouth agape, feeling like she was trapped in a dream. She’d been far enough from the blast and had teleported even farther when it hit, barely affected by the explosion. 

“Lord Muzan…” she whispered, her heart heavy with worry. In the face of such a terrifying, godlike power, was Lord Muzan still alive? 

Narutake couldn’t sense him. The instability in Infinite Castle’s space disrupted her abilities. She focused, pouring her energy into stabilizing the dimension—her very existence depended on it. Without Infinite Castle, she was nothing. 

She didn’t dare approach the blast’s epicenter. The residual energy was too dangerous, beyond her ability to withstand. Just looking at the explosion’s core had destroyed her eyes. In that moment, she thought, Is this what staring at the sun feels like? 

Riku re-entered Infinite Castle’s space, surveying the ruins with satisfaction. The nuke had done its job, achieving exactly what he wanted. As for radiation? It barely affected him. His cells could handle this level of contamination, and he was certain Muzan could too. 

“That Narutake sure bolted fast,” Riku noted, spotting her immediately. She was desperately trying to stabilize the fragile dimension. 

The nuke’s explosive force hadn’t shattered the space outright. With effort, Narutake could restore some stability. 

Riku zeroed in on her, ignoring the blast’s epicenter for now—it was still too hazardous. Taking out Narutake first would trap Muzan like a turtle in a jar. He was certain of it. 

“You! You’re completely unscathed!” Narutake’s face paled as Riku appeared. With Infinite Castle in ruins, she’d lost control over the space and hadn’t even sensed his arrival—or Muzan’s condition. 

“I’m not dumb enough to stand there and get blasted,” Riku said with a grin. Tendo Joju or not, he wasn’t about to stick around for the fireworks. 

Narutake’s expression shifted as she tried to activate her ability to escape. But with Infinite Castle in tatters, her powers faltered, filling her with despair. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Riku said. Before she could try again, he trapped her in a shadow wall, sealing the space around them. 

Riku’s favorite move was his Shadow Prison, creating an arena where his opponent had to defeat him to escape. For Narutake, beating Riku was impossible. Her Infinite Castle ability had just been obliterated, and now she was trapped in his shadow cage, utterly powerless. 

Splurch! 

Shadowy tendrils pierced Narutake, pinning her in place. Small shadow wolves emerged from the darkness, stalking toward her before tearing into her with their jaws. 

In moments, Narutake was devoured, her body—lacking the Demon King’s blood—turning to ash and vanishing. 

[Ding! Gained 900 experience points.] 

[Ding! Experience maxed out. Level increased to Lv16. Current experience: 125/2700.] 

[Gained 1 attribute point.] 

[Gained 1 skill point.] 

[Gained 1 skill optimization point.] 

The Limit System calculated the experience. While 900 points wasn’t much—less than some Lower Moon demons had given—it was enough to level Riku up. 

Beyond the level-up, the real prize was absorbing Narutake’s Blood Demon Art. That was what Riku cared about most. Narutake hadn’t provided any attribute points—her strength lay entirely in her Infinite Castle ability. 

As Riku felt the new power, his consciousness sank into the Shadow Space. It had transformed dramatically. Once a small, growing storage space, it was now a vast Shadow City. The area where he’d kept nukes and items was now just a tiny corner, barely noticeable. 

The term “Shadow City” referred only to its size—there were no actual buildings, just endless shadow. 

“As expected, I’ve fully claimed her ability,” Riku thought, pleased. “And now the Shadow Space can finally hold living things.” 

His control over the Shadow Space surpassed Narutake’s over Infinite Castle. He was a god in this realm, the Shadow Realm. With a thought, a mountain rose. Another thought, and a river flowed. In this space, he was an omnipotent creator, shaping the world as he pleased. 

Of course, anything created here became shadow outside. Living beings couldn’t drink the water or interact with the creations—they were all shadow in essence. 

“Could I create unique shadow lifeforms exclusive to this Shadow Realm?” Riku wondered. The power to shape a world naturally sparked thoughts of creating life. His shadow machine guards could interact with the mountains and rivers he’d made, so perhaps shadow lifeforms could thrive here. 

For now, though, that was beyond him. He could only craft natural landscapes, not life. 

“No rush. First, I need to finish off Infinite Castle and deal with Muzan,” Riku decided. He could sense the dimension collapsing—not just the structures, but the entire space merging with the real world. 

Without hesitation, he headed to the blast’s epicenter. The temperature had cooled enough to be manageable. 

“There you are,” Riku said, spotting Muzan’s writhing flesh remnants, already regenerating into grotesque new growths. 

“What terrifying vitality,” he marveled. Muzan’s conceptual resilience was unreal. The nuke’s core reached temperatures far exceeding the sun’s, yet Muzan, vulnerable to sunlight, survived a direct hit. Demons were truly incomprehensible. 

Riku swept the struggling flesh into his Shadow Space, then watched as Infinite Castle crashed into reality, its ruins merging with the real world. 

“Infinite Castle was like a dimension attached to the main world,” Riku mused, standing on solid ground amidst the wreckage. His consciousness returned to the Shadow Space, focusing on the writhing mass of Muzan’s flesh. 

“So, how’s the power of that blast, Muzan?” Riku’s voice echoed in the Shadow Space. Though he had no physical form here, he could speak and manipulate objects. 

Buzz buzz buzz! 

The flesh didn’t respond, still trying to reform. Muzan’s recovery was extraordinary, but a direct nuke hit had reduced him to a few stubborn cells. Even he couldn’t regenerate instantly. 

“I think you’ll agree it packed a punch. If not, I’ve got plenty more to test on you,” Riku said with a smile, noticing the flesh pause briefly before regenerating even faster. 

“Haha, don’t worry. This is my turf now. I’m not heartless enough to set off a nuke in my own domain,” Riku laughed, done taunting Muzan. He summoned his shadow wolves, which circled the flesh hungrily before digging in. 

The wolves’ feeding didn’t significantly reduce the flesh—Muzan’s regeneration was too strong. As expected of the Demon King. 

As the wolves consumed, notifications popped up: [Constitution +1], [Constitution +1]. The boosts kept coming, though they slowed over time. It seemed the wolves wouldn’t finish Muzan off anytime soon. 

Chapter 218: Muzan, the Immortal at the Top of the Sky-Piercing Tower? 

Riku had no intention of letting Kibutsuji Muzan, the Demon King, die so easily. This guy's potential as a tool was way too valuable to waste. Riku hadn’t forgotten his earlier “gacha plan.” Sure, he’d gained his own gacha-like ability now, but the conditions for his draws were pretty strict. 

Kibutsuji Muzan’s gacha system wasn’t something just anyone could use either. Only a select few demons with exceptional talent could wield Kekkijutsu (Blood Demon Arts), and compared to Riku’s own ability, Muzan’s gacha clearly had a higher chance of pulling something good. 

For now, having Yoro, the shadow wolf, devour Muzan’s flesh was just a way to weaken him. Muzan’s regenerative abilities were absurdly strong—his only natural enemy was the sun. If this guy fully recovered, it’d be a long, messy fight all over again. Strike while he’s down, as the saying goes. At the very least, Riku needed to beat him half to death. A proper gacha machine doesn’t need self-awareness or the ability to act on its own—it just needs to spin when it’s time to pull. 

The notification of 【Constitution +1】 kept popping up. Watching his stats slowly climb while the pile of flesh that was Muzan barely changed, Riku couldn’t help but click his tongue in awe. Not bad, Demon King! 

This got him thinking. If he actually finished off Kibutsuji Muzan, how much experience would that net him? The thought alone was tantalizing. 

“Tch!” 

Riku sucked in a breath. What a delightful dilemma. Both options were tempting, but he could only pick one. 

After some internal debate, Riku decided to keep Muzan alive as his gacha machine. With his ability to traverse worlds, grinding experience for levels wasn’t too hard—there were plenty of powerhouses in other worlds. But a Kekkijutsu gacha machine? That was one-of-a-kind, and unique value always takes priority. 

His Constitution stat shot up like crazy, hitting 70 points in no time. Riku was momentarily speechless. It felt almost too easy, like he was living in a dream. He could feel the changes in his body—real, tangible changes. His recovery and endurance had leaped to a new level, and maybe because he’d chosen the 【Rock-Solid】 trait earlier, his physical defense was also getting a serious boost. 

When his Constitution reached 80, Riku signaled Yoro to stop chowing down. The writhing mass of flesh called “Kibutsuji Muzan” had gone still, no longer endlessly regenerating. 

Yoro backed off, and Riku stepped closer. One thing was certain: Muzan was definitely not dead. The 【Limit System】 hadn’t given him any experience settlement, and come on, this was the Demon King—they were nowhere near done.  

“Playing dead, huh?” Riku smirked. “Nice try, Kibutsuji Muzan. You really think you can fool me with that act? Not afraid Yoro will just gobble you up for real? You’ve figured out my plan, haven’t you?” 

Riku knew exactly what Muzan was thinking. The Demon King had noticed that Yoro was deliberately controlling the pace of its feeding. Whenever Muzan’s regeneration slowed, Yoro eased up too. Riku didn’t want to kill him, and Muzan had caught on to that. 

The fleshy mass squirmed, as if trying to convey something. Too bad Riku couldn’t exactly decipher the wriggling of a meat blob. 

“Can’t you at least grow a vocal cord or something first?” Riku said, half-joking. Then a new question hit him: if this thing didn’t have a mouth, could it even hear him? 

The flesh stopped moving for a moment, like it was stunned, then squirmed again and sprouted a mouth. 

“What the hell do you want?!” Muzan’s voice came through, laced with fear and confusion. He couldn’t wrap his head around Riku’s actions—neither killing him nor letting him fully regenerate. 

“Obviously, you’re still useful to me, Kibutsuji Muzan-san,” Riku said with a grin. Truth be told, the gacha plan needed Muzan’s cooperation to work. At least for now. Whether he could find a way to bypass that in the future depended on further research. 

Riku planned to take some of Muzan’s cells for study. If he could crack the code and replicate the gacha process through surgical modification, he wouldn’t need Muzan’s help anymore. 

“What use?!” Muzan roared, his toothy maw practically trembling with fear. This helpless feeling was worse than anything he’d faced before. Back then, he could at least run. Now, reduced to a tiny lump of flesh, even if he tried to split himself, he wouldn’t get far before Yoro and the other shadow wolves pounced. 

“No need to rush. I was just about to explain,” Riku said, pacing around the fleshy lump. As he watched, the mass slowly formed a human face—Muzan’s face, squeezed onto this tiny blob. It looked downright bizarre, like something straight out of a horror anime. 

Muzan didn’t regenerate further—no arms, no legs. He was terrified of being eaten again. The pain of being devoured and the loss of his power made him feel weaker than ever, like death was staring him in the face. 

“From now on, I’ll bring people to you,” Riku continued. “All you need to do is give them your blood—enough to awaken their potential.” 

Muzan’s face froze in confusion. He didn’t get it at all. “Why me? You could obviously do it yourself.” 

Riku’s expression didn’t change. He wasn’t about to explain the whole gacha thing. “No reason. Just say yes or no.” 

Muzan’s face twisted in obvious humiliation. Riku’s gaze felt like he was looking at some kind of livestock. “And if I refuse?” 

Riku chuckled. “You won’t. You’ll say yes because it means you get to live, even as a lump of flesh.” 

Muzan, the ultimate survivalist, wasn’t about to choose death for the sake of pride. This was the Kibutsuji Muzan, the Demon King whose will to live was etched into his very soul. For him, existence was everything. He’d do whatever it took to keep breathing. 

“…” 

Muzan’s face turned red—literally. The fleshy blob visibly flushed. He wanted to argue, but no words came out. Deep down, he knew Riku was right. He’d only dared to ask that question because he could tell Riku wanted him alive. 

“Little Muzan,” Riku said, grinning as he patted the face on the flesh blob. “Just stay here and work for me. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll kick the bucket, and you’ll get your freedom.” 

It was a big, empty promise, but it wasn’t impossible. If Riku ever died, the Shadow Realm might collapse, like Narutaka’s Infinite Castle, and Muzan could escape. 

“Damn you…” Muzan growled, glaring at Riku’s smug face. In his heart, he swore he’d outlast this jerk. The one who survives is the true winner. 

With a thought, Riku raised a mountain from the ground, stretching toward the “sky” of the Shadow Realm. Though the realm had no true sky, it had a ceiling. The realm spanned about 1,500 square kilometers—roughly the size of a small city—but its height was limited to around 10,000 meters. 

Riku pushed the mountain up to 9,000 meters, creating a towering pillar with a small base, almost like Karin Tower from Dragon Ball. He stationed Muzan here, along with an army of mechanical guards and flesh puppets, plus a few shadow wolves to keep an eye on him. 

“Let’s call it the Sky-Piercing Tower,” Riku said with a grin. “Legend has it, anyone who climbs to the top with their own strength will meet an immortal who grants them power and eternal life.” 

It was a whimsical thought, but if the Shadow Realm ever developed native life, maybe this legend would take root, with Kibutsuji Muzan playing the role of Karin Sennin—though his combat power was nowhere near Karin’s 190, which would be considered OP in most worlds. 

For now, though, the Shadow Realm was just an empty shell of a world. Only beings like Riku or Muzan could survive here. Normal lifeforms would struggle with the air density, gravity, and other conditions. 

After gaining the ability to bring living things into the realm, it had developed basic air and physical laws, allowing Riku and Muzan to even have this conversation. It was starting to feel like a proper planet. These laws were hardcoded into the realm’s logic, and as its creator god, Riku could tweak them at will. 

“What a long road ahead,” Riku sighed. Creating a world wasn’t something you just snapped your fingers and finished. The rules were still incomplete, and it wasn’t exactly livable yet. 

Without hesitation, he adjusted the parameters to mimic Earth’s conditions. If he was going to bring people here, they wouldn’t all be freaks like him who could handle extreme environments. 

After playing around with his new world, Riku got a bit addicted to the god-like feeling. It was just a small city’s worth of space, but it was enough to lose himself in. 

“If I could just drag enemies in here, it’d be the ultimate home-field advantage,” he mused. “Pump out the oxygen, and most foes would be done for.” He didn’t need air to survive—heck, he could keep going even as a puddle of mush. 

“Too bad I can’t pull in anyone who’s got even a shred of resistance,” he sighed. That limited its combat utility. 

Still, it wasn’t a bad deal. Toss a nuke out there, hide in here, and most low-tier worlds wouldn’t have anyone who could counter that. High-tier worlds? Well, their attacks made nukes look like firecrackers. 

Riku left the Shadow Realm and returned to the Demon Slayer world. 

There was one big issue to tackle: the Ubuyashiki clan’s curse. When deciding whether to keep Muzan alive, this had been a factor, though not a huge one. Riku felt for the Ubuyashiki clan—they were a capable bunch—but giving up Muzan’s gacha potential for their sake? Nah, not quite. 

Still, now that he’d gone through with it, he felt a tiny bit guilty. Without his interference, the Ubuyashiki clan would’ve likely resolved the curse themselves. Plus, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had treated him with respect and trust. 

It didn’t sit right with Riku to leave things like this. He wasn’t one to let kindness go unrepaid. He had to find a way to break the curse, or this gacha machine would feel like stolen goods. 

Without wasting time, Riku headed to the Demon Slayer Corps’ headquarters. First, he’d check on Kagaya’s condition. Who knows? Maybe locking Muzan away in the Shadow Realm would trick whatever “kami” was behind the curse into thinking he was dead. 

Chapter 219: The Miraculous Curse Cells 

When Riku arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, he found the organization in a state of high alert, ready for battle. 

Previously, when Kibutsuji Muzan had been searching for Riku, the demons had become restless, prompting the Demon Slayer Corps to mobilize fully and take down a number of demons. At the time, they found it strange—why were there only small-fry demons? Not a single Upper Rank demon had appeared, and they’d only encountered one Lower Rank. 

If not for a sudden attack on their base that left a group of swordsmen blindsided and morale shattered, that operation could’ve been a historic victory. Unfortunately, the Demon King’s response forced them to pull back. 

“Is headquarters relocating?”  

In the courtyard of the Ubuyashiki estate, the towering Rock Pillar, Himejima Gyōmei, spoke up, his voice steady. Beside him, the other Pillars stood with serious expressions. Their concern wasn’t fear of an attack on headquarters but the safety of their leader, Ubuyashiki-sama, and his family. 

“No, we just need to stay vigilant. If Kibutsuji Muzan had already located this place, his last move wouldn’t have been to merely attack our swordsmen. Wouldn’t it have been easier for him to come here and kill me directly?”  

At the head of the group, Ubuyashiki Yōya sat calmly, exuding composure. He hadn’t received any warnings, which didn’t guarantee absolute safety but at least meant they didn’t need to be overly paranoid. There were no signs that Kibutsuji Muzan had pinpointed their location, so there was no rush to move headquarters. 

“Any news on Riku-san?”  

Ubuyashiki Yōya asked, a hint of worry crossing his face. Recently, they’d scaled back operations to avoid being picked off one by one by demons, but the Pillars were still out in the field. Some A- and B-rank swordsmen had also been dispatched, all tasked with searching for Riku. 

The demons’ strength had drastically weakened, with no Upper or Lower Ranks in sight. This meant strong swordsmen didn’t have to worry too much about being ambushed and could keep searching for information. 

“Nothing yet, but it seems the demons haven’t found him either,” said the Wind Pillar, Shinazugawa Sanemi, shaking his head. By now, he held genuine respect for Riku. That guy had driven the demons into a frenzy, searching for him like mad. Sanemi didn’t know what Riku had done, but it was clear he’d caused major trouble for Kibutsuji Muzan. 

“What in the world did Riku-san do?”  

The Flame Pillar, Rengoku Kyōjurō, usually so vibrant, looked unusually somber, clearly worried about Riku’s safety. 

“He might’ve taken out an Upper Rank,” said the Mist Pillar, Tokitō Muichirō, his face expressionless as he shared his theory. The last time he’d parted ways with Riku, it was clear Riku had clashed with an Upper Rank—and not only won but escaped unscathed. This left Muichirō stunned. 

Though he hadn’t seen it himself, Muichirō was certain that Riku had faced more than one Upper Rank. Thanks to Riku drawing their attention, Muichirō had managed to slip away with the other team members. After escaping, he rushed back to the scene but found only a devastated battlefield. When the other Pillars arrived and searched the area, they found no trace of Riku. The intensity of the battle had practically leveled the place, and Riku was gone. 

Then came the demons’ uproar. From their chatter, the Demon Slayer Corps learned the cause: they were searching for Riku. 

This shocked everyone. At first, they’d assumed Riku was dead—how could anyone survive being ambushed by multiple Upper Ranks in such a brutal fight? And if he had survived, why hadn’t he come back to them? After all, Ubuyashiki Yōya had shown him nothing but trust. 

But the demons’ actions confirmed it: Riku had escaped. Yet, for some reason, he hadn’t returned to the Demon Slayer Corps. 

The group could understand why. Riku was likely trying to avoid dragging them into his mess. Judging by the demons’ frenzy, Riku must’ve pulled off something huge—something that completely threw Kibutsuji Muzan off his game. 

“Keep searching,” Ubuyashiki Yōya ordered. They had to find Riku before Kibutsuji Muzan did. Riku had to survive. 

“Yes, sir!” the Pillars responded in unison, fully committed to the task. In their hearts, they couldn’t help but wonder: with all the Upper and Lower Ranks mysteriously gone, could it have something to do with Riku? 

“No need to look anymore.” 

Just as the meeting was wrapping up and the Pillars prepared to resume their search, a voice rang out, instantly putting them on high alert. 

“Riku-san?!” 

After a moment of shock and caution, someone recognized the voice—it was none other than Riku, the man they’d been searching for. 

“Hey there, Demon Slayer Corps!”  

Riku strolled into the courtyard, greeting the Pillars with a friendly smile. He looked perfectly fine, not at all the battered figure they’d imagined, which was a stark contrast to their expectations. 

“Riku-san, what’s going on?”  

Seeing Riku, Ubuyashiki Yōya immediately invited him to sit. The Pillars had no objections—by now, they were all eager to hear from someone who’d been through it all. The demons’ information was limited; they barely knew why they were acting the way they were, so how could they explain the situation? The Corps had been in the dark, clueless about why things had escalated so suddenly. Riku could finally shed light on it all. 

“Ubuyashiki-san, how’s your health holding up?”  

Instead of answering, Riku asked about Ubuyashiki’s condition, catching him off guard. 

“Uh, I’m feeling pretty good,” Ubuyashiki replied honestly. His health would still deteriorate rapidly, but it wasn’t happening so fast that it was obvious yet. He felt a bit worse than he had a few days ago, but compared to before his treatment, he was still in much better shape. 

“Any changes in the last couple of days?”  

Riku chose his words carefully, suspecting Ubuyashiki might not have noticed anything. He’d likely need to check himself. 

“Changes? What… kind of changes?”  

Ubuyashiki was confused, which confirmed Riku’s hunch. If Ubuyashiki had noticed the curse lifting, he’d have understood Riku’s question immediately. Of course, this didn’t mean the curse was still there—it was possible Ubuyashiki simply couldn’t sense it, especially since it hadn’t been long since Riku had dealt with Kibutsuji Muzan. 

“Let me check your condition.”  

Riku pulled out his equipment, channeling his inner Doraemon. As a budding tech expert, he now carried a portable operating table and a small generator, ready to perform a full-on surgery at a moment’s notice. 

“This…”  

Ubuyashiki was dumbfounded, and the Pillars were equally stunned. What was this? Why was he suddenly playing doctor?! 

“Riku-san, maybe explain the situation first?”  

Ubuyashiki spoke up, knowing that if he didn’t, the Pillars might hesitate to interrupt. After all, their leader’s health was a big deal, and no one wanted to seem dismissive. 

“No, we need to address this first,” Riku said, shaking his head. He couldn’t talk about Kibutsuji Muzan until he confirmed whether the curse was gone. If he claimed Muzan was dead but the curse remained, it’d be awkward. Better to check first. 

“Alright,” Ubuyashiki relented. He could offer suggestions, but if Riku wasn’t budging, he had no choice but to cooperate. 

Ubuyashiki lay on the operating table as Riku got to work. The multifunctional table, sourced through Old Wei, could handle most surgeries and diagnostics single-handedly—perfect for a solo cybernetic clinic. After the scan, the results appeared on the screen, and Riku was relieved to see that the curse cells had stopped attacking Ubuyashiki’s body. 

Did this mean the so-called gods had accepted the outcome? Did they believe Kibutsuji Muzan was dead? Or was it enough that Muzan was no longer in the main world? What about when he was in the Infinity Castle before?  

The results raised a flood of questions in Riku’s mind. Another possibility occurred to him: his Shadow Realm was clearly far more advanced than the Infinity Castle. Maybe the gods couldn’t detect Muzan’s presence there and assumed he was dead. 

“This feels a bit… mechanical,” Riku muttered, his eyes glinting. Any god with half a brain should’ve noticed he had a storage space. He hadn’t exactly hidden it, and his act of pulling Muzan into the Shadow Realm was pretty obvious. 

Yet, the gods still deemed Muzan dead, which led Riku to speculate: did these gods even exist, or were they just some kind of rule-based system? He considered releasing Muzan to test if the curse would return but hesitated. That would be too risky—practically taunting the gods. 

The gods hadn’t come looking for trouble and had given him the result he wanted. There was no need to stir things up, especially since he wasn’t confident he could take on a deity. 

“Good news. The curse is gone,” Riku said with a nod, exuding confidence as if everything was under control. 

Silence followed. Ubuyashiki froze, and the Pillars stared in shock, wondering if they’d misheard. They all knew what it meant for the curse to be gone—it was tied to the Demon King. 

“Gone…?”  

Ubuyashiki stammered, seeking confirmation, his face a mix of hope and disbelief. He desperately wanted it to be true. 

“Yep, the curse is gone. And those curse cells? They’ve turned into something beneficial. Ubuyashiki-san, you might just live a long, healthy life,” Riku confirmed, extracting some of the mutated cells for study. If gods were behind this, their biology was advanced—curse cells that could destroy bloodlines could also become longevity genes. It was mind-boggling and worth researching. 

“What about Kibutsuji Muzan?”  

Ubuyashiki didn’t care about longevity. His focus was on the Demon King. If the curse was truly gone, then… 

“I took him out,” Riku said simply. 

Ubuyashiki’s face was pure shock, his mind a jumbled mess. The Pillars were equally stunned, some skeptical. Was this for real? Kibutsuji Muzan, dead? By Riku’s hand alone? 

“Get up. Your next job is to clean up the remaining small-fry demons. After that, you can probably disband. No more demons to slay,” Riku said, packing up the operating table. He ignored Shinazugawa’s skeptical outburst and addressed Ubuyashiki, who still looked dazed. Understandably so—this was a massive bombshell. 

“Alright,” Ubuyashiki agreed. They’d definitely take care of the remaining demons. 

“Riku-san, is Kibutsuji Muzan… really dead?”  

Ubuyashiki asked again, still reeling. It was all so sudden. 

“Time will prove it,” Riku replied with a raised brow, understanding Ubuyashiki’s disbelief. A thousand-year family curse, a generational burden, had been kicked to the curb by Riku. It was normal to feel disoriented, especially since the Corps had no part in Muzan’s defeat. If they’d fought and died alongside him, they’d have no doubts. 

“I’m heading out if there’s nothing else,” Riku said, turning to leave. The issue was resolved, and he saw no reason to linger. As for the gods, if they weren’t causing trouble, he wouldn’t either. His focus was on getting stronger—power meant control. 

But before he could leave, someone stopped him. It was Himejima Gyōmei, tears streaming down his face despite his clear-headedness. 

“Riku-san, if all the demons are gone, what will you do? And what about the girl with the former Water Pillar?”  

Himejima’s low, steady voice carried heavy questions that made everyone tense. They all knew Riku was a demon—a unique one, but a demon nonetheless. A demon who’d killed the Demon King. If he wanted, couldn’t he easily become the next one? By strength alone, wasn’t he already the Demon King? 

“Gyōmei, that’s out of line,” Ubuyashiki interjected, frowning. This wasn’t the time to bring that up—it’d make things awkward for everyone. 

“No, my lord, I mean no disrespect. But we need an answer. How can the Demon Slayer Corps disband in peace without knowing?”  

Himejima bowed in apology but stood firm. He just wanted clarity on Riku’s intentions. Would this “unique demon” always stand with humanity? If not, what could they do about it? These were questions they had to face. 

Chapter 220: Tanjirō, Jobless Before Graduation 

The atmosphere grew awkward as the Pillars exchanged glances, wanting to speak but holding back. 

They understood Himejima Gyōmei’s concerns, but questioning Riku so directly felt a bit hasty. Sure, it was a practical issue they’d have to face eventually, but now wasn’t the time. Kibutsuji Muzan had just been defeated—single-handedly by Riku, no less—and they hadn’t even helped. To start grilling him now made them seem ungrateful, like a pack of white-eyed wolves. 

Besides, Ubuyashiki-sama was right there. Did Himejima really think their lord hadn’t considered this? There was no need for him to stick his neck out like that. 

“Himejima-san, if we could trust Riku-san before Kibutsuji Muzan was defeated, why can’t we trust him now that Muzan’s gone?”  

Breaking the tense silence, a voice rang out, brimming with enthusiasm. It was Rengoku Kyōjurō, the newly appointed Flame Pillar, his face beaming with his usual bright smile. There was no accusation in his words—just genuine puzzlement, as if he truly couldn’t understand the doubt. Having fought alongside Riku, he trusted him completely. 

“I didn’t mean to accuse him,” Himejima said, clearly aware his approach wasn’t the most tactful. But deep down, he couldn’t just let Riku walk away without addressing this. Riku was like a ticking time bomb, and if his power surpassed even Kibutsuji Muzan’s, what would happen if they lost contact with him? 

“What’s the point of asking? It’s not like we can beat him,” said Shinazugawa Sanemi, the Wind Pillar, his face sour. He thought Himejima was wasting his breath. Did they think they could just gang up and take Riku down right here? That was naive. It wasn’t even clear who’d win in a fight!  

Others might not know Riku’s strength, but Sanemi did. Riku had subdued him without even lifting a finger. He was probably the first to accept that Riku had taken out Kibutsuji Muzan. They weren’t on the same level. 

“Riku-san should be trustworthy, right?”  

The young Mist Pillar, Tokitō Muichirō, spoke up, his clear stance surprising everyone. It wasn’t like him to be so direct. But Riku had saved him and his team, and though Muichirō could be aloof, he wasn’t an ungrateful jerk. He believed someone who’d risk their life to save others wouldn’t fall to the level of a malicious demon. 

“I trust Urokodaki-sensei,” added Tomioka Giyū, the Water Pillar, who’d been standing silently. He felt the need to speak up, especially since Himejima had mentioned Urokodaki. 

The Sound Pillar, Uzui Tengen, and the Insect Pillar, Kocho Shinobu, stayed quiet. Tengen followed Ubuyashiki’s lead and wasn’t particularly fixated on demon-slaying. Shinobu, meanwhile, was still reeling—Upper Rank Two, Dōma, had been killed by Riku, leaving her feeling like her life’s purpose had vanished. 

With four of the seven Pillars openly supporting Riku, the tension eased. At least it didn’t feel like the Demon Slayer Corps was about to turn on him. Ubuyashiki Yōya let out a relieved sigh. 

He had no desire to clash with Riku. There was no need. Even if Riku was a demon, it no longer affected the Ubuyashiki clan. His existence wouldn’t perpetuate their curse, so why antagonize him? Riku didn’t eat humans—at least not now—so they had a foundation for friendship. Falling out over something that hadn’t happened, and might never happen, would only push him toward enmity. That wasn’t a smart move. 

“Himejima Gyōmei, what kind of answer do you want? My promise? A vow to never eat humans? Putting aside why I’d owe you that, would you even believe me if I said it?”  

Riku looked at the Rock Pillar, his voice calm, unfazed by the challenge. He understood the skepticism—it was natural. What surprised him was the support from the other Pillars. He hadn’t expected to leave such a good impression. 

Two had fought alongside him, one was simply won over by his strength, and another trusted him because of Urokodaki Sakonji. Regardless, being trusted felt good. 

But Riku might disappoint his supporters. He fully intended to keep creating demons in this world—wasting its resources would be foolish. In a way, Himejima’s suspicions were spot-on: Riku was indeed the new Demon King after Kibutsuji Muzan. The only difference? His demons didn’t need to eat humans—they could munch on all sorts of random stuff instead. 

As for the gods, Riku wasn’t too worried. Look at how they handled Kibutsuji Muzan: cursing his relatives, the Ubuyashiki clan, and leaving them to sort it out. Riku had no family here, so what could the gods do? Conjure up some fake relatives? 

The gods didn’t seem like the type to get hands-on. As long as they stayed out of his way, Riku wasn’t afraid of their tricks. He was curious to see what they’d come up with. 

“…”  

Himejima was speechless, floored by Riku’s blunt honesty. He could only muster, “I’ll keep watching you!”  

Riku’s expression turned odd. He glanced at Himejima’s blind eyes and nodded. “If that makes you happy.”  

Suppressing a smirk, he replied casually. A blind man saying he’d keep an eye on him? Sorry, that was a new one. 

“Anyone else got something to say?”  

Riku scanned the Pillars and Ubuyashiki, waiting. After Himejima’s stunt, no one else seemed eager to stir the pot. 

“Riku-san, thank you for everything,” Ubuyashiki said sincerely. Of all people, the Ubuyashiki clan had the best impression of Riku—he’d freed them from a millennium-long curse. 

“No need. We can work together more in the future,” Riku said with a nod, his tone carrying a deeper meaning. Compared to the demon hunters, the Ubuyashiki clan was less emotional. Their sole goal had been to kill Kibutsuji Muzan and lift the curse. Now that it was done, they had no reason to oppose Riku. Ubuyashiki’s attitude showed as much. 

“I’d be delighted,” Ubuyashiki replied with a smile, nodding earnestly. Avoiding enmity was the best outcome, as long as Riku didn’t eat humans. 

Riku turned and left the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, heading for Sagiri Mountain to meet Urokodaki Sakonji and the Kamado siblings—mainly Nezuko, whose unique physiology was worth studying. 

After he left, the Ubuyashiki estate felt strange, as if they were all in a dream. 

“Let’s move!”  

Rengoku Kyōjurō’s spirited voice broke the silence, his face full of determination, ready to hunt down the remaining demons. 

“My lord, what’s our next step?” Uzui Tengen, who’d been quiet, asked Ubuyashiki. 

“As Kyōjurō said, let’s move,” Ubuyashiki replied, his face glowing with a rare lightness. Was this what freedom from the curse felt like? 

“But what if…” Tengen hesitated, wondering if Riku was lying. 

“Tengen, either way, we’re going to hunt demons, right? Whether it’s true or not, time will tell. My condition is the best proof,” Ubuyashiki cut in. His logic was simple and left the Pillars with little to argue. True or not, their job was to slay demons. Time would reveal the truth. 

The Demon Slayer Corps sprang into action, while Riku arrived at Sagiri Mountain, meeting Urokodaki Sakonji and Kamado Tanjirō. 

“Riku? You okay?”  

Urokodaki’s voice was filled with concern. He’d heard about Riku being hunted by demons. 

Tanjirō looked equally worried but also brimming with curiosity about what Riku had done. 

“Ahem, I’m fine. And I’ve got good news,” Riku said, clearing his throat and glancing at Tanjirō, wondering how he’d react. 

“What news?”  

Both Urokodaki and Tanjirō were stunned, and Riku’s next words left them floored. 

“I defeated Kibutsuji Muzan. He’s gone from this world. The era of the thousand-year Demon King is over.” 

Riku’s words were a bit cryptic, but both understood immediately. 

“Is… is that true?”  

Urokodaki could barely believe it, even doubting his own keen sense of smell, which told him Riku wasn’t lying. Since meeting Riku, he’d questioned his instincts more times than in his entire seventy-plus years. Riku always pulled off the wildest feats. 

Beneath his tengu mask, Urokodaki’s expression was dazed. He’d known Riku, the chosen one, was key to defeating Muzan, but so soon? It hadn’t been long at all! The Demon King who’d plagued them for a millennium was gone just like that?! 

“Kibutsuji Muzan is dead?”  

Tanjirō’s face went blank, his mind reeling. Did he still need to train? And if Muzan was dead, who could he take revenge on? Who could turn Nezuko back into a human? 

“Riku-san! Did you ask? About a way to turn her back?!”  

Tanjirō snapped out of it, looking at Riku with eyes full of hope. He knew Riku was searching for a way to revert demons to humans. If he’d beaten Muzan, surely he’d asked, right? 

“Sorry, Tanjirō. There’s no way. Even the Demon King couldn’t do it,” Riku said seriously. It was true—draining a demon’s blood would only kill them, not make them human again. 

“How… how can that be?!”  

Tanjirō’s face fell, hope turning to despair. He didn’t think Riku was lying, but the truth was crushing. His sister couldn’t become human again. 

“Don’t give up, Tanjirō. Remember what I told you?” Riku placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone firm. “Never give up. Keep going, and there’ll be a way.” 

Tanjirō murmured, calming down as he recalled their first meeting and Riku’s encouragement. Looking back, it felt like a lifetime ago. 

“Exactly. Just because Kibutsuji Muzan couldn’t do it doesn’t mean it’s impossible. He was just a strong demon who knew how to turn people into demons, not how to reverse it,” Riku said with a nod. He believed that with enough research into demon cells, they could find a way. 

“You’re right! We’ll find a way!”  

Tanjirō, never one to stay down, bounced back, fueled by determination to save his sister, no matter how hard it was. 

“Does Ubuyashiki-sama know?” Urokodaki asked, finally processing the news. Muzan’s death was a monumental shift. What was their lord’s reaction? 

“Of course. The cleanup of the remaining demons will start soon. Urokodaki-san, you can finally retire for real,” Riku teased with a grin. A seventy-something man still working so hard? The Demon Slayer Corps was too much like a capitalist machine! 

“Yeah, it’s all over. I never thought you’d fulfill this destiny so quickly,” Urokodaki said, exhaling deeply. He hadn’t expected to see this day in his lifetime. 

“Wait, is the Demon Slayer Corps still recruiting?”  

Tanjirō suddenly raised his hand. After mastering the Breath of the Sun, his skills had grown rapidly, and he was nearly ready to graduate. He’d been itching to take on Muzan, but now the Corps might disband?! 

(End of Chapter)