"Little monster, you came with him, didn't you?"
Jaken trembled where he stood, staring up at the hulking village chief whose grin stretched far too wide.
The imp's eyes bulged. His legs gave out. And then—humiliation.
He urinated on the spot.
"I—I am willing to atone! I will atone for my sins!!!" Jaken shrieked, prostrating himself.
His young master Sesshōmaru had already been defeated, shackled like livestock. What hope did he have of resisting? To cling to pride was to court death.
Better to surrender now, even if it meant degradation.
"Tch… the master is so arrogant, but his underlings are pathetic. Truly boring."
The village chief sneered and waved his hand dismissively. From the shadows, chains of light slithered out, winding around Jaken's neck.
"Five years of service," the chief said coldly. "Earn your freedom then."
…
The Multiverse Chat Group
A notification chimed.
[Group Member: Priestess of Ji Se has uploaded a picture.]
Demon Sword Spirit: "What is this abomination? Looks vile… some sort of bone monster?"
Priestess Ji Se: "As expected of Sister Long, your insight is unmatched. This creature is called the Dragon Bone Spirit, a yokai formed from the bones of a dragon."
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "Hmph. To call such filth a dragon is an insult to the species. Looks more like chicken bones to me."
Daoist Dashan Chu: "Pfft! There you go again. If you're not eating, you're drinking. If you're not drinking, you're preaching. Truly, you're the very picture of a thieving monk."
Second Li: "He's no monk! Call him what he is: Bald! Bald donkey!"
Tanjiro: "Ahaha… Master Fahai has become rather famous lately."
Uncle of the Demon-Slaying Arts: "In truth, such a life sounds enviable. Wine at dusk, delicacies at dawn, travel when you please to spread your doctrine. A comfortable little life indeed."
He sighed. "Not like me. I must negotiate with the provincial capitals daily, a dog driven half to death by duties."
Tōsaka University: "Uuuhhh… why is everyone else living so well? Why am I the only one suffering under my goddess!?"
Junior Brother of Great Bamboo Peak: "Whoa! Are you offering sacrifices to the gods? Congratulations!!"
Demon Sword Spirit: "Congratulations!"
Vampire Queen: "Congratulations!"
Demon Hunter: "Congratulations!"
Tōsaka University: "Stop! Stop congratulating me! I haven't sacrificed anything. I only used the Holy Grail system ritual to summon a projection of my goddess."
Demon Hunter: "Then why weep? With your goddess's presence, she can resolve troubles beyond you. What a blessing."
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "Envy…"
For Peace: "If a goddess descended into my world, I'd eradicate every fool who opposed me! You don't know blessing when it's in your hands, Rin Tōsaka."
Sadly Reminded Lao Gao: "This is shameless Versailles boasting! Don't flaunt it!!"
Vampire Queen: "I agree. It sounds like you're just showing off. Though… I too wouldn't mind if a goddess visited my world."
Type-Moon World
Rin Tōsaka knelt on the tatami floor, sitting formally with her legs tucked beneath her. In her hands, she held a fruit plate, offering it up with a practiced smile.
Since the arrival of Wanwan—the so-called dark goddess—her life had been reduced to that of a maid.
She brewed tea. She poured water. She massaged shoulders. She scrubbed backs.
Every hour of every day, she catered to her goddess's whims.
It was driving her insane.
The worst part? There were others present—Ilya, Caren—yet for some reason, it was always Rin who bore the brunt of Wanwan's torment.
Tōsaka University: "Don't be jealous. My goddess is aligned with darkness. She torments me daily and refuses to work. Uuuuhhh… my poor heart can't take it."
Young Master Murong: "…Darkness, is it? No wonder…"
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "Dark goddess? Then you've drawn the rarest lot."
Second Li: "Hahaha! Don't worry. Even if she is a goddess of darkness, she won't torture you forever. Give it a few days and it will ease."
Tanjiro: "Yes, but… what's the goddess's name?"
Tōsaka University: "She… she said her name is Wanwan."
Silence.
Second Li: "…"
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "…"
Demon Sword Spirit: "@Second Li—your world is incredible. Both light and darkness made manifest."
Before Shi Feixuan descended, her holy radiance had left them in awe. Now, with Wanwan's arrival, a goddess of shadows stood revealed.
A true dichotomy.
Tōsaka University: "Help me… what should I do…"
Fox Who Only Loves Money: "Why not ask the gods directly?"
Priestess Ji Se: "Better not. This is trivial. Since the goddess descended, she won't remain long. Endure it, Sister Rin."
Tōsaka University: "Oh… I suppose you're right. Once the Holy Grail War concludes, she'll return."
Fox Who Only Loves Money: "By the way, has anyone noticed the images Xiao Feng uploaded? They don't look like real monsters. Something feels… off."
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "I sense it too. Odd indeed, though I can't pinpoint the flaw."
Demon Sword Spirit: "Xiao Feng, upload a video. Let us analyze it."
Priestess Ji Se: "Alright."
A new notification:
[Group Member: Priestess Ji Se has uploaded a video.]
Priestess Ji Se: "Also, my sister suspects something unusual about our world. It may be related."
Tanjiro: "Anomalies in the world itself? That warrants investigation."
As the new steward of the Divine Martial World, he had grown accustomed to handling such matters. Laws and the balance of souls were matters he understood keenly.
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "Have you noticed? Both the Dragon Bone Spirit and the patterned great white dog share a peculiarity."
Demon Sword Spirit: "Of course. I'm not blind. The flaw is obvious."
Fox Who Only Loves Money: "Yes. Their world has only four souls. Strange, isn't it?"
Priestess Ji Se: "What's strange? Our world has always been that way. A soul is four parts—everyone knows this."
Deliverer of Sentient Beings: "My world is three souls, six spirits."
Tanjiro: "The same in mine."
Dashan Chu: "And mine as well."
Priestess Ji Se: "…Then something is wrong with ours!!!"
For Peace: "Indeed. Each world differs in law, but if your souls lack parts, then your entire world's order is flawed. The missing fragment will be filled by corruption—miasma."
Junior Brother of Great Bamboo Peak: "Exactly. If the missing piece isn't restored, miasma takes its place. Is that what you're saying?"
Fox Who Only Loves Money: "Yes. The flaw lies in the underworld—the realm of the dead. If it is broken, reincarnation itself collapses."
Priestess Ji Se: "Wait, let me speak with my sister."
…
Soon after, Kikyo listened carefully as Xiaofeng relayed the chat group's insights.
Her eyes lit with realization.
"So that's why so many abominations arise. The flaw lies within the underworld."
Every world depended on its cycle of death and rebirth. If that cycle was disrupted, the entire cosmos would suffer.
Kikyo asked, "What else did they say? Inquire of Tushan Yaya."
Monsters best understood monsters.
Xiaofeng returned. "Sister Yaya says the great dog's soul appears more intact. She suggests we attempt Eternal Meditation with him, to see if it restores balance."
Compared to the Dragon Bone Spirit, Sesshōmaru's condition was far superior.
And in the myths of the East, Tengu were akin to divine beings.
"Very well," Kikyo said. "He has awakened. Let us test this truth upon him."
…
Sesshōmaru lay bound, suspended upside down like a lamb for slaughter. He had awoken half an hour earlier.
In that time, he had thought of countless things, all while the grating sound of knives being sharpened rang in his ears.
But salvation? None came to mind.
Arrogance, he realized, bore a steep price. His own thoughtless pride had reduced him to this.
Outside, butchers bantered merrily.
"Careful with the skin! The High Priestess wants this dog hide as a quilt."
"Relax. I've been slaughtering pigs for decades. One skinny dog is nothing!"
Click. Click.
The blades gleamed, honed to perfection.
"Alright! Hang him up and slice off the dog's whip first. Hotpot tonight!"
Sesshōmaru's face darkened. Castration? First?
A chill seized his loins.
He closed his eyes, bracing himself for humiliation worse than death.
"Wait. Leave us."
A voice like wind-borne bells.
The men bowed instantly. "Yes, Lady Envoy."
The room filled with a faint, fragrant breeze as Kikyo entered, her younger sister beside her.
With a flick of her finger, the seals on Sesshōmaru loosened slightly, enough for him to speak.
"If you intend to kill me, then do so. I will never surrender!"
"Such a foolish dog," Kikyo said flatly. "Do you think we lack test subjects? Castrate him, so he learns silence."
The butchers rushed back in, knives gleaming.
Sesshōmaru cursed himself. His own sharp tongue had doomed him.
The silver edge flashed closer—
At last, he broke. "Say what you want! Don't dishonor me so!!"
To suffer defeat was one thing. But if word spread that Sesshōmaru, son of the Great Dog Demon, had been emasculated… his father's legacy would crumble.
Even Inuyasha would laugh himself sick.
Every demon feared castration. He was no different.
Kikyo's gaze softened. "Then swear it. Become a believer. We have vital experiments to conduct. In return, your strength may yet grow."