Butterfly Mansion, Demon Slayer World
The moonlight poured in through the window, casting a soft silver glow on the floor.
Shinobu Kocho sat quietly, hugging her knees to her chest, as she whispered:
"If it takes my sacrifice to bring my sister back... I will do it."
Her delicate voice trembled slightly.
Her face bore a small, composed smile — a habit she had developed to hide the bitterness gnawing inside.
"My sister was ten times more beautiful than me. She was gentle, strong, and kind.
Unlike me..."
She lowered her head, voice growing faint.
"...with these small hands and feet... always powerless."
Memories flickered in her mind —
Kanae's smile, her warm hand on her head, her unwavering strength even in the face of death.
It had been so long, but the pain remained fresh.
The world had taken too much from her — her parents, her sister, her childhood.
And what had the world given in return?
Demons roaming freely.
Good people dying unjustly.
A bottomless hatred burned quietly in her chest.
Tanjirou, seeing the turmoil in her expression, stepped forward hurriedly.
"But... don't worry, Kocho-san," he said warmly.
"I'll tell you when the altar is ready."
"...Thank you, Tanjirou-kun," Shinobu whispered, her voice barely audible.
She stood up slowly, wiping the corners of her eyes, and left to assist in building the altar — her heart heavy but her steps determined.
—
Meanwhile, far across the seas—
Caribbean World: Port Royal
The bay stank of blood and salt.
Jack Sparrow had descended into a frenzy over the past three days.
Ever since the God of Eternity had caught him lying... he knew there was only one way left to survive.
He had gone mad with desperation.
First, he raided a wealthy port town, plundering all the gold and jewels he could find.
Then, he defeated the governor's forces and enslaved the island's craftsmen, forcing them to build a towering altar.
Now, on the third day, the altar stood completed — barely.
One meter tall and divided into six ornate tiers:
The base encrusted with pearls, the middle adorned with emeralds and rubies, and the pinnacle crowned with a single giant sapphire.
It glittered menacingly under the moonlight.
Jack, hair disheveled and eyes bloodshot from sleepless nights, checked his battered pocket watch with trembling hands.
"Three hours left..." he muttered, pacing anxiously.
If he failed...
He knew death would be the least of his worries.
A blind old crewman scuttled over, waving his hands excitedly.
"Cap'n! It's done! The altar's finished!!"
Jack's gaunt face twisted into a manic grin.
"Good," he rasped, snatching his tricorne hat and shoving it onto his head.
"Bring Elizabeth Swann to the altar... and prepare the prisoners."
Tonight, the blood sacrifice would begin.
—
Port Royal's Main Square
Thousands of terrified citizens had been herded into the square, forced to kneel before the grotesque altar.
Children sobbed.
Mothers clutched their families tightly.
The air reeked of fear.
At the forefront knelt Elizabeth Swann, clad in a pure white dress — a "gift" Jack had chosen personally.
Her beautiful blonde hair shimmered in the torchlight, her face pale but composed.
Behind her, hundreds of captured Royal Navy officers stood bound and gagged, their faces grim.
Elizabeth clenched her fists secretly, fury boiling in her chest.
She wanted to fight back.
She wanted to scream.
But after seeing what Jack did to Will Turner...
...She knew better.
She lowered her head obediently, swallowing her pride to protect what little remained of her family.
Jack swaggered up the steps of the altar, facing the sea of terrified faces.
"Ahoy there, fine ladies and gentlemen," Jack crooned, arms open wide in mockery.
"I know ye hate me. Some of ye may even want me dead."
He flashed a grin full of madness.
"But tell me... did your precious governors kill fewer of you?
Did they not hang thieves and starve the poor?"
Murmurs of confusion and anger rippled through the crowd.
Jack pointed dramatically at Elizabeth.
"And tonight... our White Swan, Elizabeth Swann herself, shall be offered to appease the anger of the God of Eternity!"
A shiver ran through the square.
At his signal, the first of the captured navy officers was dragged forward.
Without ceremony, Jack's men slit his throat — his blood splattering the base of the altar.
One after another, the executions began.
Screams and sobs filled the night.
Elizabeth bit her lip hard, tasting blood, but remained motionless.
For every life spilled, the altar seemed to pulse faintly — absorbing the blood, the fear, the despair.
Jack stared up at the sky, heart pounding.
Please... let this be enough.
—
High Above
Thunder rumbled ominously.
But this was no natural storm.
The heavens split open —
and from the breach poured three colossal bolts of lightning.
Purple. Gold. Blue.
They danced across the sky like angry serpents, tearing apart the very fabric of reality.
The sea itself churned violently, massive waves crashing against the shore.
Boulders cracked.
The ground trembled.
Fishermen fled their boats.
Merchants abandoned their wares.
Even the bravest pirates dropped to their knees, whimpering prayers.
A mother in the square hugged her child tightly.
"Mom... are we going to die...?"
the little boy whimpered.
Tears streaming down her face, she whispered,
"...Pray, my dear. Pray hard."
The sky exploded again — and from the heart of the lightning storm descended a blinding pillar of light.
It touched the altar like the finger of a god.
For one moment, everything — air, earth, sea, thought — froze.
Then...
BOOM.
Reality shook.
The second sun had risen — and its name was Eternity.
—
Atop the altar, Jack fell to his knees, trembling uncontrollably.
"Great God of Eternity!"
he cried out.
"I offer thee the souls of three thousand warriors and the fairest maiden of the seas!
Please, calm thy righteous fury!"
The air distorted under the pressure of the divine presence.
All across the Caribbean Sea —
from Tortuga to Nassau —
every creature, man or beast, felt the weight of an ancient, boundless power.
Even deep beneath the waves, sea monsters fled into the blackest abysses.
—