"Elemental power, so it really is true! Since yours is lightning-based, that must mean others exist with different elemental affinities, right? Just like our Breathing Styles!"
"Correct... that's right."
Though not in this world.
"Excellent! I'm getting fired up! I want to fight those who wield elemental power too!"
"...Oh."
Weren't you already fired up this entire time? And as for fighting them—unless you somehow travel to Teyvat, that's impossible!
"To be honest, Raiden, when I first saw you, I knew nothing of your power. But when you defeated Sanemi before everyone's eyes, I realized it—your strength, without even wielding a Nichirin Blade, far surpasses any of ours! You're much stronger—by a wide margin! I don't know what others may think, but that's my belief!"
Having declared this, Rengoku immediately picked up another bento box.
Rip~!
He tore open the wrapping and began eating with unrestrained enthusiasm.
"Delicious!!"
Another wave of shock burst outward, crashing into her lightning shield.
"You exaggerate..."
She replied out of habit, her tone modest.
"No! I don't exaggerate! I only speak the truth! Also—may I ask, what school of swordsmanship do you hail from?"
At that, Rengoku paused mid-bite and stared at her intently, as though trying to read her soul.
"...My style is... inherited from my mother."
After a brief thought, she answered.
"Ah, I see. So it's your esteemed mother, then! Splendid! My own swordsmanship was passed down from my father!"
He nodded firmly before returning to his meal, eating as though possessed. Whether he was simply trying to clear the mountain of boxes before him or was genuinely starving was unclear—but seriously, was the bento really that good? The sushi earlier was indeed tasty... but this man? He was eating like a bottomless pit! Even she, a puppet, couldn't consume that much.
Clack...
Just then, a tall, thin man in a train attendant's uniform entered the carriage, his movements slow and lethargic. His pale face and lifeless eyes made him look like a walking corpse.
"Tickets... Passengers... please present... your tickets..."
His voice was dull and mechanical, utterly devoid of life—like that of an automaton.
"?"
The attendant's strange demeanor immediately caught her attention. She leaned slightly to get a better look. His footsteps were eerily quiet, almost ghostlike, and a faintly oppressive aura radiated from him. The carriage lights flickered intermittently, as though an unseen force was distorting the very space around them.
What puzzled her even more was that none of the nearby passengers reacted at all. They all sat slumped forward, heads hanging, completely unresponsive—as if asleep. Come to think of it... hadn't the carriage been completely silent except for her and Rengoku's voices for quite some time now?
How strange... The unsettling feeling she'd had since boarding this train was intensifying by the minute, sharpening her vigilance.
After checking each ticket one by one, the attendant finally reached their row—first Rengoku's, then hers.
Just as the man reached out to take her ticket, she swiftly pulled it back, leaving him grasping at empty air.
"..."
She said nothing, simply watching him coldly.
"...Is there... a problem?"
His tone remained the same—flat, lifeless—as he asked without emotion.
"..."
She glanced at Rengoku across from her.
(Shakes head)
Rengoku silently gave her a subtle look, shaking his head.
Ah, so that's the plan—to expose the demon by testing him, huh?
"No problem."
She replied briefly, then handed the ticket over herself.
"Thank... you... for cooperating."
Snip!
A sharp, slicing sound followed as the ticket was clipped. But she immediately noticed—the characters printed on the paper had begun to blur, gradually shifting into the words: "Tokyo Dream Line."
Her eyes met Rengoku's across the table. They exchanged a knowing look, and without speaking, both understood.
It's time.
Crackle~!
The lights in the carriage flickered violently with a screech of static electricity—then went out completely. Darkness engulfed the space, pitch-black and silent.
Clack!
When the lights flickered back on, the carriage was completely empty—aside from her. The seats, the passengers, even Rengoku himself were gone. Only the hollow, icy cabin remained, accompanied by the steady clunking of the train's wheels rolling along the tracks.
"..."
She felt no fear. Her sharp eyes calmly swept the surroundings. The eerie stillness extended throughout the car—likely the same for the others.
"Ei, are you still here?"
She stood up, stepping into the aisle, her voice laced with concern for her mother.
"I'm here. I'll always be here."
The warmth in Ei's tone eased her heart slightly.
Hum~
A moment later, Ei materialized beside her, arms crossed before her chest, still clad in her old Shadow outfit. Her presence was steadying.
"Good..."
The Shogun exhaled in relief. That was the strength of their bond—they would never be truly alone.
"This must be a sort of barrier... or perhaps the enemy has an ability to transfer individuals elsewhere."
Ei rested her chin on her hand, analyzing calmly.
"But... when exactly were we pulled in?"
"During the ticket check."
"Hmm? The ticket check?" Ei asked.
"The moment that man clipped our tickets—that was the trigger."
Meaning, whoever's ticket was taken got pulled into this space. Judging by the emptiness, though, it seemed this was an individual pocket realm, not a shared one.
Interesting.
"Let's move. We should look around..."
"Maybe we can find the others who've fallen unconscious."
"Mm."
But just as they began to step forward, something massive blocked their path—a grotesque figure emerging from the shadows.
It was huge, its body charred black as if burnt, with its upper half made of pulsing, tumor-like masses of flesh. Each bulge sprouted a rolling eyeball, twitching and oozing with revolting squelches.
Tap, tap...
The two women froze, staring wordlessly at the abomination before them.
"Ei... why do I not feel disgusted seeing this? Am I sick?"
The Shogun asked wearily.
"No, I feel the same... maybe we've just gotten used to it?"
"..." ×2
They exchanged glances—and both gave each other a pitying look.
"Pfft..." ×2
Then, in perfect sync, they broke into small smiles.
"ROAAAR!!!"
The creature, apparently offended by their indifference, unleashed a furious bellow. The shockwave rattled the glass around them, shaking the entire carriage. Then it lunged forward in rage.
Why are you yelling so loud~?
The two exchanged a glance once again—completely calm, almost amused—as they simultaneously drew their weapons: she with Engulfing Lightning, and Ei with Musou Isshin.
Crackle! Crackle! ×2
In an instant, twin streaks of violet lightning split across the darkness, their figures vanishing and reappearing as twin arcs crossing in perfect unison.
Tap, tap! ×2
They stopped behind the creature, back to back, casually flicking the blood from their blades before turning toward the exit.
As the carriage door slid shut behind them, two glowing slashes appeared across the monster's chest—searing purple lines that shone brilliantly.
Splurt! ×2
The cuts exploded with crackling lightning, the force dismembering the beast instantly.
Splash! ×N
Chunks of flesh fell to the floor before vanishing into thin air.
...
"Hehehe~ Yes, that's it~ Sleep~ Sleep deeply~ Drown in your beautiful dreams~"
Whoosh~
The rushing wind outside the train whipped at the speaker's black suit and the pink tips of his hair, filling him—Enmu, the newly promoted Lower Rank One—with a perverse delight.
He stood atop the leading car of the train, cold wind lashing against him as he basked in the atmosphere of countless passengers sinking into slumber.
"Hehe... To die within such sweet dreams—what a blessing that would be."
His slender fingers caressed his own cheek as his body swayed with eerie grace, his movements sensual, entranced by his own fantasies.
"The source of human strength... lies within the heart, the mind. Even the mightiest Demon Slayers are no exception."
Click!
Behind him came a faint scuttling sound. Without turning, he raised one hand casually.
Snap!
A crawling hand reattached itself neatly to his severed wrist, its back marked with the kanji for "Dream." The mouth embedded in the palm curled into a grin.
"Destroy the core of one's spirit, and their life is easily taken."
Clack!
Both hands rose, gripping his own neck as his expression flushed red with twisted pleasure. His gaze drifted skyward, drinking in the starlit sky.
"How fragile humans are... their hearts as brittle as glass—shattering with the slightest touch."
Tap, tap...
Slurp~
He walked toward the very edge of the train's roof, tongue sliding across his finger as he gazed at the trees speeding by.
"The deeper they sink into their dreams, the more helpless they become~ no one can awaken from them... hehe~!"
It was unclear how much time had passed—
"Hmm?"
He began to sense that something was off. Frowning, he turned his gaze toward the train below.
"How strange... the progress is far too slow."
There had been no movement for quite a while now. He'd clearly told those children to act quickly, so why hadn't even a single spiritual core been destroyed yet? There were only two Demon Slayers aboard, weren't there?
"Did something go wrong?"
His left eye, marked with the kanji for "One," narrowed suspiciously.
"Heh... no matter. At least they've bought me enough time."
He didn't seem particularly concerned. After all, the result would be the same no matter how much they resisted. Sooner or later, their spiritual cores would be shattered.
...
[The range of a dream isn't infinite. It expands outward from the dream's owner as the center, and the spiritual core exists deep within a realm of subconscious thought—the innermost depths of the dreamer's heart.]
[Your task is simple—use my Blood Demon Art to infiltrate the dreamer's subconscious, find their spiritual core, and destroy it. Easy, right?]
[The spiritual core is extremely fragile. Once destroyed... the dreamer will become an empty shell. Then, you can all enjoy your own happy dreams forever.]
To be immersed in dreams forever—
"I... I'll enter the dream too. I want to be happy."
The girl sitting on the train's bench whispered to herself as she looked at the purple-haired beauty sleeping beside her. Though nervous—her heart pounding rapidly—she seemed determined.
The woman's sleeping face was breathtakingly beautiful, so much so that for a moment the girl forgot her mission entirely. Quickly regaining her composure, she gently lifted the woman's slender hand, which had been resting upon her own thigh, and slipped a thin cord loop around her wrist. The other end of the string was tied to her own wrist—just as the boy across the aisle had done with Rengoku.
"I-I'm sorry... sister..."
Biting her lip, the girl whispered her apology as she carefully placed the woman's hand back onto her lap. Then, leaning lightly against her side, she closed her eyes, ready to descend into the depths of the woman's soul.
Hum~
Sure enough, as soon as she closed her eyes, her consciousness drifted away—falling endlessly into a swirling void.
Whoosh!!
After an indeterminate amount of time—
When she finally opened her eyes again, the world around her had completely changed. Perhaps because it was her first time entering this kind of space, her vision was still blurry at first.
"!"
She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand until her surroundings came into focus.
"This is... huh?"
What she saw wasn't a blank, oppressive void as the demon had described. Instead, it was a bright and vivid landscape. Above her stretched a clear blue sky, beneath her a field of lush, green grass. Towering mountains surrounded her, and behind her stood a grove of cherry blossoms in full bloom. Before her lay a steep cliff, upon which grew a single massive sakura tree—several times larger than the ones behind her. Petals drifted down in a soft pink rain, carpeting the ground in a sea of color. The fresh scent of blossoms filled the air, so beautiful she momentarily forgot why she was there.
"So pretty..."
She murmured under her breath, her feet unconsciously moving forward toward the mountain path—toward the great sakura tree ahead.
Whoosh~
A warm breeze, carrying a flurry of petals, swept around her as if alive. The pink blizzard blurred her vision, forcing her to take a few steps back while waving her hands to clear the air.
This must be a protective barrier, she realized—it was trying to shield the spiritual core. Which meant... the "core" had to be beneath that sakura tree.
Reaffirming her goal, she gathered her courage and pushed through the wall of petals, advancing toward the radiant tree.
"'Blossoms adorn the spring's boughs in full bloom...'"
"...Who's there?!"
A clear, ethereal voice suddenly echoed through the air, making her freeze. She spun around, scanning the area, but saw no one.
"'Where clouds and dew entwine in harmony...'"
The voice continued—sweet, delicate, and as gentle as a spring breeze. From the sound alone, she could tell it belonged to a graceful woman.
"!"
The girl's movements grew more frantic, her pulse racing as she spun in circles, feeling that the voice surrounded her on all sides.
Whoosh!
Yet again, a flurry of falling cherry blossoms drifted before her eyes, catching her attention. The petals danced in a deliberate path, almost like an invisible hand was guiding them, leading her gaze—and her steps—toward the grand sakura tree in the distance. Her legs moved instinctively, drawn forward.
Whoosh~!
As the last of the petals scattered, she finally saw it—the figure kneeling gracefully beneath the tree.
Dressed in a pale white kimono with light lavender sleeves and a short hem, the woman's long, silky purple hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her beauty was almost unreal, so perfect it seemed divine. And yet... her face looked familiar.
That's right—the owner of this dream bore a striking resemblance to that purple-haired elder sister she knew. But this wasn't the same person. The woman before her radiated a softer, gentler aura, her features more tender and serene.
"...'To stand above the fragrant bloom, proud yet tender.'"
The woman recited the final verse of a poem in a clear, melodious voice, then gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Slowly, she turned her gaze toward the intruder standing before her.
"Oh? What a rare guest."
Her tone was neither alarmed nor angry; rather, she spoke with mild amusement, her words carrying an elegant, graceful warmth.
"!"
The girl stiffened—not from fear, but from the sheer weight of the woman's presence.
"To come here... was it by mistake, or by design?"
The woman's tone remained gentle, but there was an almost imperceptible undercurrent—a subtle questioning beneath the softness.
"..."
Could it be...? The spiritual core... was a living being? A person? The girl froze in disbelief. Did this mean she had to kill her?
"So... you've come here with ill intent, haven't you?"
"!!"
It was as if the woman had read her mind.
"Ah... to think someone would send you to disturb the child's peaceful sleep—it's truly sorrowful."
As she spoke of "that child," her violet eyes shimmered with affection, soft and maternal. She turned her gaze toward the massive cherry tree beside her, her expression filled with love.
"Who are you?! Are you her spiritual core?!"
The girl's patience snapped; her voice rose sharply with agitation.
"Me~? Hehe..."
The woman chuckled softly, covering her lips with slender fingers before meeting the girl's gaze once more.
"I am her 'heart,' and... her mother. As for this 'spiritual core' you speak of—my apologies, I've no memory of such a thing."
She shook her head slowly, her expression wistful.
"Stop pretending! You can't fool me! You are her spiritual core! If I destroy you, I can—"
Crackle!
Before she could finish, the woman merely lifted her hand. Instantly, the fallen petals surged upward, swirling like a storm around the girl, trapping her within a vortex of pink light.
"Wha—?! Damn it!"
The girl lashed out with the sharp awl in her hand, slashing wildly. But the petals were formless like water—no matter how many times she tore through them, they would simply reform.
The swirling blossoms tightened around her, enclosing her completely until not even a sliver of space remained.
"Go back. This is not a place you should tread. I have no wish to harm you."
The woman's voice drifted gently through the veil of petals. The girl continued to struggle, but her movements slowed as her consciousness began to blur.
"Oh yes—when you return, be sure to loosen the cord around the child's wrist. I would hate for it to leave a mark... it would pain me."
Those final words reached her fading mind just before she slipped into darkness.
Whoosh!
When the petals dispersed, the center was empty—she was gone.
"Phew..."
The woman exhaled softly, gazing at the drifting petals. Slowly, she rose to her feet, her shapely legs emerging from beneath her kimono. Her skin was fair and smooth, her feet clad in white silk stockings and traditional high-heeled sandals—the same kind worn by that mother and daughter.
She stepped toward the cliff's edge, raising her hand to catch a single petal that landed in her palm.
Her eyes shimmered with deep emotion, rippling like water.
"Ei... you've become quite the mother yourself, haven't you?"
Her voice was filled with tender affection, her lips curling into a gentle smile.
"Even here... I will continue to protect you, my dear Shogun."
She—Raiden Makoto—truly cherished her beloved daughter.