The ability to traverse space had been imprinted upon Oboro's very soul during his time on the Dark Continent, utilizing the rules of the Wish‑Based category of powers.
Because of this, he had always possessed the capacity to cross the boundaries of space.
Yet, Oboro had deliberately refrained from using it until now.
Due to the unique and potent nature of his soul, frequent use carried a certain degree of danger.
If he were to stray carelessly into the currents of the space‑time continuum, he might never be able to return.
However, the Will of the Demon Slayer world itself was present to sustain him, and since he was only jumping within the boundaries of this single world, he was granted a measure of "protection."
Still, unless absolutely necessary, Oboro chose not to activate the ability.
He had been busy laying the groundwork in this world for so long, and there were still many resources he had yet to collect… It was always better to proceed with caution.
Having thoroughly familiarized himself with the signature of Muzan's soul, Oboro had placed a permanent marker upon it.
There was now literally nowhere Muzan could hide.
"Do not fear. It is not yet your time to die."
Oboro stepped across the threshold and walked calmly into the room.
He spoke softly, yet judging by the expression on Muzan's face, the Demon King did not believe a single word.
Forced into a corner, Muzan—even after his evolution—had no choice but to unleash his full power, despite knowing full well he was no match for Oboro.
In an instant, the ground beneath their feet, the structure of the house, and every material substance within began to transform into living flesh and tissue.
Gaping tears and fissures opened across the newly formed walls of meat, from which emerged hordes of short, grotesque, and malformed monsters.
These creatures possessed roughly humanoid shapes, yet their limbs and organs were twisted and misplaced, looking like failed prototypes kneaded together roughly and haphazardly.
"Incredible…"
Oboro's eyes lit up as he observed the scene, muttering to himself in appreciation.
Under the pressure of imminent death, Muzan had managed yet another "breakthrough."
This ability, resembling the creation of entirely new life forms, was essentially an extension of his cell‑division ability.
He had fractured and divided his own soul, creating countless "projections" or "avatars" completely under his control.
These "minions" were also wielding various weapons formed from hardened bone.
Generating living beings from blood, constructing skeletons from flesh… His soul was forcing his cells to undergo radical changes.
Considering how short a time Muzan had spent cultivating his soul, he was currently limited to reshaping cells only into the forms he knew best: "bone and flesh." But what lay in the future?
Currently, Blood Demon Arts relied entirely upon physical capacity. But in time, they might come to rely upon the soul itself, breaking free from the constraints of the body and evolving beyond such singular limitations.
Based on the soul, what new systems of power could be derived?
Many things. For example: psychokinesis, various supernatural abilities, or using cells as a medium to transform their very nature into elemental forces of every attribute.
Looking at the history and background of this world, many techniques—such as barrier arts or spell formations—along with the tools and objects required to channel them, could be created and manifested.
"Die!"
Muzan shrieked, his composure completely shattered.
Immediately, the swarm of monsters surged forward, rushing to engulf Oboro.
At the same moment, the archway and door behind Oboro—now entirely converted into meat—slammed shut instantly, sealing off his only path of retreat.
The room plunged into absolute darkness.
Giant hands emerged from the walls of flesh, grabbing Muzan's body and dragging him backward, sinking him deep into the surface until he too merged completely with it.
Even at this critical juncture, although Muzan had summoned his courage and seemingly resolved to fight to the death…
His instinctive reaction, deep down, was still to flee!
Ding!
A pleasant, resonating chime echoed out. A sound that did not exist in physical reality, yet was heard clearly by Muzan.
Because… it was a melody unique and exclusive to the soul.
The moment he heard it, Muzan—and every single one of the monsters spawned from his fractured psyche—were instantly "frozen" in place.
The scene inside the room looked as if time itself had been paused.
Oboro… had finally released his overwhelming spiritual pressure.
Muzan felt as though his very essence, stripped naked and defenseless, had been cast out into a vast ocean amidst violent, towering storms.
He could distinctly feel that, right now, Oboro was capable of perceiving every single thought passing through his mind, simply by observing and examining his soul.
Before this man, he possessed no secrets whatsoever.
He had absolutely no means to resist.
He could only let himself be battered and washed over by these terrifying waves.
If he harbored even the slightest thought of resistance, he knew that in the very next second, he would be completely swallowed up and submerged by this sea.
"Stand aside."
Oboro merely entertained the thought.
Immediately, the grotesque monsters surrounding him—previously animated and commanded by Muzan's will—seemed to change masters.
They retreated in perfect, synchronized order to make way.
"You gave away fragments of your weak and fragile soul to Doma and Kokushibo. Sooner or later, they will gradually become familiar with the power of the soul, find the key, and—just like you—push open the great door leading to its secrets… And then, they will pass this power on to others."
"The power of the soul will eventually spread across this entire land… And for those two, their ultimate goal is to overthrow you."
"Because they understand very clearly: as long as you remain alive, their troubles will never end."
"Your destiny is intertwined with theirs, yet it still remains in your own hands."
"Whether or not you survive… depends entirely on you…"
"Hurry up and use your soul as the seed. Before they catch up to you, build and organize your own followers and forces… Otherwise, when that day truly comes, your life will reach its end."
Oboro spoke as he walked toward the wall where Muzan's entire body had merged. He slowly bent his knees and crouched down before him.
Then, he raised one hand and reached toward the center of Muzan's forehead.
"I shall take away the most essential and concentrated portion of your blood and essence. Naturally, as a reward… I will grant you the chance to see that 'beautiful sight' you have yearned for and dreamed of for so long."
Oboro's fingertips—now resembling those of a demon—sliced open the skin of Muzan's forehead, causing fresh, crimson blood to flow from the wound.
It seemed like but a small amount, yet the "energy" contained within this drop was of a quality vastly superior to anything Muzan had previously distributed among the Upper Ranks.
Muzan did not wish to give it up… but right now, his body and soul no longer obeyed his own will.
Oboro had used his spiritual pressure to forcefully strip away "control over the self" from him.
Muzan watched with his own eyes as Oboro absorbed the essence of his blood directly into his body through his fingers.
Then, from within the shadows, Oboro—who had appeared aged and frail—began to grow young again, his head of white hair regaining its glossy black sheen.
Oboro's transformation was not nearly as dramatic or shocking as what Tanjiro would experience in the distant future.
For this kind of power… was child's play to him.
As the aura emanating from him shifted and changed, Muzan's heart trembled violently.
He realized that Oboro standing before him had achieved the very evolution… the very goal Muzan had strived for all his life.
Flesh and blood that could never die… true immortality.
Complete and utter immunity to sunlight…
Even with Oboro's immense soul power, it should have been impossible to reach this stage.
Because the key to it all was… the Blue Spider Lily.
Oboro clearly knew where to find it, and obviously… had already consumed it.
In fact, the moment Oboro had appeared within the Infinity Castle, Muzan had detected traces of his own cellular matter remaining within Oboro's body.
…
In just a matter of ten‑odd seconds, Oboro had returned to the peak of his youth.
Moments later, he stood up and walked toward the entrance. The walls of flesh parted and opened for him of their own accord.
Oboro stepped outside. Before leaving, he looked back at Muzan, who sat on the floor within the dim, shadowy room.
"If, in the end, it is you who survives… and not them… then I shall grant your wish. Consider it a reward and recognition of your achievement."
Outside the temple lay flat and open ground.
Muzan watched silently as Oboro's figure retreated into the distance.
At that same moment, on the horizon far away, the very first rays of golden sunlight shot upward, falling perfectly and gloriously upon Oboro's body.
Seeing this sight, Muzan froze completely.
This… was exactly the "thing" he had craved for all eternity.
"You… what exactly do you want?"
Muzan whispered to himself.
He was truly… still alive.
Everyone… absolutely everyone was being toyed with by Oboro. Himself, the Demon Slayers, and every living being in this world.
He could feel that within Oboro's words lay a deliberate intent to drive him forward, pushing him to "advance" in a specific direction.
Furthermore, Oboro had already prepared the stage for the final battle between Muzan and Kokushibo, Doma, and the other inheritors.
He could not refuse. He had no right or qualification to refuse.
Thinking back on everything Oboro had done throughout these years, it was obvious this man had been acting according to a long‑term plan.
But… what was the ultimate purpose of it all?
Was it simply to mock and humiliate all living things, merely observing from the sidelines for his own amusement?
"An Outsider… This world possesses other dimensions unknown to me… and furthermore… other forms of life."
Muzan declared with absolute certainty.
He was not merely the Progenitor of Demons, but also a scholar of vast knowledge across many fields.
Although he did not know where Oboro had come from, the mere fact that this man existed proved… that another space, another reality, definitely existed.
Only, for some reason, it was currently out of his reach.
The world he knew… was not everything there was.
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