「 On Belobog's square, a large number of citizens gathered. Bronya, despite her physical discomfort, announced Belobog's rebirth and the sacrifice of a Great Guardian to everyone.
Amidst the cheers of countless people, Bronya was crowned the Great Guardian.
After the ceremony, Stelle came to the Qlipoth Fort. After a brief congratulation, the group informed Bronya that Jarilo-VI would not return to normal in the short term.
But contrary to their expected disappointment, Bronya didn't show much sadness. She believed that without the Stellaron, this planet already had a future. Moreover, she deeply agreed with Mr. Welt's words; she believed in the will of the Belobog people and that this planet would once again flourish with vitality.
They would also always wait for the Trailblazer's return, even if it took another seven hundred years, the children of Belobog would continue to look up at the stars, full of hope.
Even if the ending wasn't perfect, it was enough.
Walking out of Qlipoth Fort, March 7th, suddenly asked curiously,
"Bronya said she's willing to wait another seven hundred years for us... Then, Dan Heng, how old can the longest-lived humans live?"
Dan Heng's tone suddenly grew solemn. He seemed to recall something, sighing, "...Endless. But, that can no longer be called human."」
「 .....」
~Frieren: Beyond Journey's End World~
"Oh? Could it be that this Dan Heng has seen us elves?"
Serie asked with slight surprise.
Elves' lives are almost eternal... This is also why demons have always wanted to kill all elves. Using nearly infinite life to research magic and accumulate experience makes these creatures extremely difficult to kill.
"Serie-sama... my opinion differs from yours,"
Sense said after a moment of thought.
"The universe where Stelle and the others reside contains many worlds, and different worlds must have different types of humans."
"Perhaps there exists a world... where their lifespans are similar to elves."
"Hmm, there is indeed such a possibility."
Serie narrowed her eyes.
"However, if we really encounter long-lived species... the top combat power of that world would likely be stronger than Seele, Bronya, and them. After all, the lives of Belobogians are still too short."
"Exquisite skills can only be turned into dust by time..."
Serie recalled Seele's astonishing skill. Looking across the entire continent, it would be hard to find a warrior with better skills than her.
Thinking that such a talent was also destined to grow old, her heart, as calm as an ancient well, couldn't help but ripple slightly.
~Demon Slayer World~
At the same moment, Muzan was instantly terrified by Dan Heng's words.
Endless life... wasn't that referring to them?
And they couldn't be called human, which also perfectly matched them as demons—though they wore human-like appearances, they had long since deviated from their human identity.
Could it be that Dan Heng knew about their world?
In an instant, Muzan's muscles tensed all over, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his eyes turned blood-red from extreme congestion, as if countless red spiders were baring their fangs inside—
He didn't want to face Dan Heng, Stelle, and the others... especially Welt and Himeko.
Muzan firmly believed that if they ever truly met in a narrow path, he was prepared to abandon all Upper Ranks, and even discard most of his body, as long as... it could buy him a glimmer of hope for survival!
—
「 After taking commemorative photos with Hook, Clara, and others, Stelle could finally return to the Goethe Hotel for a good night's sleep.
The next second, the scene on the light screen quickly shifted.
Sampo appeared in the center of the frame. Seen from a distance, he was talking volubly with someone.
"—That's right, it was truly a close call back then. Fortunately, Sampo had a flash of inspiration: 'Hey! I don't need to be the protagonist, do I? It's fine to be a masked jester, isn't it?' "
"It turns out, the Astral Express crew is even more interesting than I thought! Do you like it a lot? Really? Hahaha... It's truly a masterpiece."
The perspective shifted.
On the screen, he wasn't talking to anyone, but rather earnestly chatting with a broken television.
"No, no, I don't want to leave here yet. What? Apsel? What fun is there to be found in such a decadent place? 'The greater the joy that reflects human dignity, the higher the joy'—that's what's interesting!"
"Alright, bye. Say hello to my brothers and sisters at the tavern for me, and don't forget to tell them—just say that I, old Sampo, look forward to my next act! Now I'm taking my bow."
Saying this, Sampo suddenly turned around and bowed.
In an instant, green eyes smiled.
As if seeing through the light screen, seeing everyone in all worlds. He slightly narrowed his eyes... his iconic smile, displayed for the entire audience.
"This story is dedicated to you, dear viewer—I wonder if you've found a little joy in it?"
"—If you say no, ah, Sampo will be sad."」
「 .....」
~Demon Slayer World~
These two understated sentences instantly sent shivers down countless people's spines.
The first to be affected was Muzan, his entire body trembling at a visibly rapid frequency.
He trembled so violently that the other Upper Rank demons felt an inexplicable palpitation in unison.
"Mu, Muzan-sama..."
Doma took two steps forward, about to speak to comfort him, but suddenly Muzan's right arm rapidly swelled into a terrifying tentacle, sweeping across the floor in front of Doma with a "bang."
Accompanied by wisps of rising green smoke, Doma's lower body was instantly torn to shreds by the tentacle.
This was simply an outburst of venting.
Although this attack wouldn't kill Doma, its excessive nature still made several Upper Ranks break out in cold sweat.
Muzan's face was veined, and low growls emanated from his throat. The tentacle continuously pounded the ground, making deafening sounds:
"He's watching us! He must be hiding in some corner I don't know... watching us!"
"He, he's observing... No, he must have some ulterior motive..."
"...Search! Quickly, find him for me! You must find him!"
Muzan roared hysterically.
For hundreds of years, they had never seen Muzan in such a state of disarray.
The Upper Rank demons were all dumbfounded. Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, was already trembling and hiding. Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, though scared, still mustered his courage and asked:
"Master, that blue spider lily..."
Before he could finish, a tentacle had already shattered the pot beneath him, wrapped around his neck, and slowly lifted him from the pot.
In Muzan's eyes, that vivid crimson seemed to deepen even further.
"...What did you say?"
The tentacle tightened its grip, and the sound of bones cracking could faintly be heard.
Gyokko trembled all over, but he knew in his heart that even if his neck was twisted off at this moment, he couldn't resist, much less be disrespectful. He could only humbly emit a voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz, begging for forgiveness.
"Yes, yes, Master..."
—