Three names shimmered in front of Mathew like stars across the void:
[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba]
[Akame ga Kill / Red Eyes of Cutting]
[Inuyasha]
Mathew blinked in surprise. Of all the infinite worlds, he hadn't expected these three to appear first.
"Seriously? These are my starting picks?" His mind raced. "Did the system filter them based on Teyvat's weaknesses?"
As if answering his thoughts, the crisp mechanical voice rang out:
"Tip: According to the state of the host's world, priority targets are chosen to compensate for deficiencies in Teyvat's foundation."
Then came the breakdown.
The world of Demon Slayer. Annexation would improve the Eye of God system, increasing its efficiency by 5%. It would also grant the foundation of primary immortality and allow the Eye of God to transcend its single-attribute shackle, branching into multi-attribute powers.
The Red Eyes world. Annexation would strengthen Teyvat's world barrier, forming an initial buffer against erosion from the Quantum Sea. This alone would extend Teyvat's existence by 100,000 years.
The world of Inuyasha. Its complete underworld laws, reincarnation cycle, and rich ecology of demons and gods could make Teyvat's abyssal power safe, establish a working reincarnation system, and even complete Teyvat's fragmented godhood structure.
Finally, the system declared:
"When the three worlds are fully annexed, Teyvat's existence will be extended by 500,000 years."
Mathew's blood boiled. Just imagining this grand design stirred every reckless impulse he had.
To expand across dimensions. To seize entire worlds. To rebuild Teyvat from collapsing into dust.
The thought was intoxicating.
But excitement alone was worthless. "So," he asked, narrowing his eyes, "what's the actual plan for annexation? Talking big is easy. Execution is the hard part."
"Parsing… Analysis complete."
The voice listed the steps coldly:
Demon Slayer World: Spread the Eye of God system subtly into its mythology. Plant the idea of divine Visions and gods in the hearts of humanity. Once destiny itself was compiled under Teyvat's framework, the Original Dharma Ring could absorb all the world's laws. Annexation would follow, reducing Demon Slayer to a subordinate lower realm.
Mathew frowned, rubbing his temple. The language was convoluted, but he understood the gist. "So basically—hand out Visions, have ghost-hunters think they're borrowing divine power, sneak into their myths as gods, then snatch the world's authority once the people's belief cements it. You could've just said that."
"Noted. The system will simplify explanations."
Mathew waved his hand quickly. "No, no, leave it complicated. Saves my pride." No way was he admitting that half the jargon went over his head.
"Alright then. What's the plan for the Red Eyes world?"
"Solution similar to Demon Slayer. However, annexation requires deploying the host's Human Realm Force System. By gathering belief until it exceeds 80% of the population, authority will tilt fully to the host."
Mathew chuckled. "So it's about saving people at their lowest point? Easy. The empire in Red Eyes is a festering corpse of corruption. Ninety-nine percent of its people are desperate already. Send in a miracle, liberate the masses, and they'll worship whoever rescues them. Faith will pour in like a flood."
He could already see it: toppled tyrants, grateful crowds, an empire reshaped in his image.
"And Inuyasha?" Mathew asked, voice sharpening. "That world's framework is sturdier than Teyvat's, right?"
He wasn't wrong. Though Inuyasha's power ceiling was lower, its laws of reincarnation, the underworld, and its demon ecology were more complete. Top-level monsters leveled cities. Mountain-sized beasts rivaled low-grade demon gods. And gods had once walked openly among mortals.
Even if most true gods had already disappeared, annexing such a world wouldn't be simple.
"Plan: Normalize the Eye of God system, use the Human Realm Power to weave new Divine Thrones, divide control over the mortal and underworld realms, and then seize global authority. Annexation complete thereafter."
Mathew groaned. "So basically—restart the demon wars all over again."
It wasn't inaccurate. Inuyasha's realm mirrored Teyvat's old Demon God War, just weaker in scale. Still, it would be chaos—and chaos was fertile ground for conquest.
"Annexation sequence complete. Once the host assimilates these three, additional world coordinates will be searched."
Mathew exhaled slowly. "Alright then. A blueprint's worthless without action. Let's make this real."
Still, he couldn't rely on external conquests alone. He had to prepare Teyvat itself.
He reviewed the Seven Nations.
Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, and Fontaine: flawed, but their structures held. With adjustments, they could support annexation efforts.
Sumeru: rotten to the core, corruption spreading from top to bottom. Their leaders would tear each other apart fighting for scraps.
Natlan: embroiled in endless wars, unwilling to bow to anyone, too unstable to contribute.
Snezhnaya (Zhihdong): worst of all. Though the Tsaritsa herself was capable, her underlings had long hollowed out her authority. Give them foreign world-power, and they'd challenge him the moment they could.
"No way am I letting those vultures near this plan," Mathew muttered. He could already imagine their slogan: If an outsider can be Heavenly Law, why not us?
Fortunately, his divine seat allowed him to reach the archons as easily as browsing the internet. "Convenient," he mused, "like divine email."
But before anything else, one figure drew his gaze. The sleeping woman—the Maintainer of Heavenly Principles, Asmodeus. She had sacrificed her strength resisting abyssal corruption, and her breathing was faint, strained.
Mathew's expression softened. Despite his new throne, he was still unpolished—like a toddler gripping a weapon far too large. If he wanted stability, he needed Asmodeus awake.
"System," he asked, eyes flicking to her pale face, "any way to purge the abyss gnawing at her?"
"Analyzing… Analysis complete. Host may transfer the corruption of space governance into himself. The system will neutralize it."
Mathew froze. "Hold on. Phanes died because of that corruption. If I take it in, won't I just keel over instantly?"
"Correction: Host possesses system immunity. Negative forces cannot invade."
Mathew slapped his forehead. "You nearly gave me a heart attack. Try finishing sentences in one breath, damn it."
"Acknowledged. Adjusting phrasing."
He exhaled, then knelt beside the woman. "Alright then. Wake up, my little Sleeping Beauty…" His hand hovered for a moment before he pressed it gently against her chest.
A dark surge erupted. Cold, writhing abyssal power gushed out like black tentacles, piercing into his body.
"Warning! Abnormal energy intrusion. System initiating anti-virus mode."
The corruption struck, but was instantly dissolved into nothingness by the system's cleansing.
Asmodeus's improvement was immediate. Her pale skin regained color, her breathing steadied, and then—
Her golden eyes snapped open. They glowed with oppression and mystery, the gaze of one who was both protector and enforcer of cosmic law.
Mathew smiled faintly. The Law of Heaven was no longer alone.