Morpheus had encountered a secret dimension before.
However, it wasn't some minor pocket dimension, but a vast Gourmet World larger than Earth itself.
By now, that Gourmet World had been devoured by Morpheus and integrated into his Light Dimension, becoming a part of it.
This time, he had discovered another secret dimension.
Compared to the gourmet one, this truly qualified as a small secret dimension.
It was minuscule.
Not even a tenth the size of Japan—no, not even half of Tokyo.
Even so, it was still a secret dimension.
Within it stood only an ancient city, a shrunken version of Heian-kyo.
This made it clear just how tiny the dimension truly was.
Of course, even the smallest secret dimension was still a secret dimension, where its master could unleash unprecedented power.
Unless the dimension was utterly destroyed, its master would remain immortal within it.
Fortunately, Morpheus possessed not only the power to destroy dimensions but also to devour them.
Though this one was small, every bit counted.
Once this matter was settled, he would personally consume it.
Raikou and the others were stunned to learn they had left the human world and entered a secret dimension.
None of them had imagined that the organizers of the Dark Tournament possessed such a unique domain.
What extravagance.
No wonder the Dark Tournament had run for so many years without anyone uncovering the true identity of its backers.
These people were formidable.
Who could orchestrate something on this scale?
Raikou pondered, names of great yokai flashing through her mind, only to be dismissed one by one.
At least among the great yokai she knew, none seemed capable of this.
Or perhaps the organizers weren't a single great yokai, but a powerful organization?
"No need to dwell on it."
Morpheus said with a smile. "Let's explore first. Allow us to admire what Heian-kyo looked like a thousand years ago."
Raikou snapped out of her thoughts and smiled freely. With Morpheus, their boss, here, no devil or monster could cause trouble.
She was worrying over nothing.
"Very well, then let me, as your host, guide you through this ancient Heian-kyo."
Raikou said with a smile.
Under her lead, Morpheus and the group thoroughly toured the shrunken version of Heian-kyo.
They learned about the customs of a thousand years ago, along with the cultural anecdotes from Raikou's era.
Including the entanglements between her, Sakata Kintoki, and Shuten Douji.
At least Morpheus listened with keen interest.
The afternoon passed in this joyful atmosphere.
As evening fell, a graceful yokai approached Morpheus and his group.
It was Hone-onna.
Despite her beautiful appearance, it was a disguise, an illusion.
Her true form was a stark white skeleton.
The exterior they saw now was conjured by her yokai power.
Hone-onna's voice was pleasant, husky with a magnetic allure. "Guests, it's getting late. Shall I guide you to your rooms for rest, or would you prefer to continue exploring?"
Morpheus glanced at the sky and said, "Lead the way."
Hone-onna smiled faintly, casting Morpheus a charming glance before turning to guide them.
Her hips swayed enticingly.
Morpheus remained unmoved. What appeal could a skeleton hold?
He hadn't sunk that low.
Hone-onna led Morpheus and the others to a prosperous mansion in Heian-kyo.
Interestingly, this mansion was the very one Raikou had resided in a thousand years ago.
Whether intentional or coincidental on the organizers' part, Morpheus leaned toward the former.
After entering the mansion, Hone-onna asked if they wished for dinner; she could have meals delivered.
"No need."
Morpheus waved her off. The cuisine here was decent, but it paled compared to what he ate daily.
No point in settling.
Seeing this, Hone-onna took her leave.
After seeing her out, Morpheus contacted Erina, having her and Hisako prepare a lavish dinner, which was delivered via the follower platform.
After dinner, the group gathered to chat.
Raikou regaled them with tales of her nights a millennium ago: how she patrolled, battled yokai, and intimidated those with ill intentions.
Her storytelling wasn't polished, but her gentle tone wove the stories captivatingly, drawing everyone in.
At that moment, Morpheus made his move.
He left a clone to interact with the group while his true body concealed itself and slipped out of the mansion, speeding in a certain direction.
Toward Toguro's location.
Earlier that day, Morpheus had marked Toguro, and now it was time to confront the yokai and uncover the Dark Tournament's organizers.
Soon, Morpheus entered the core of Heian-kyo and located Toguro.
Toguro still wore his daytime mask, revealing only his eyes, as he walked the streets and entered a palace.
Morpheus followed closely.
He was confident; with his power, no one would detect him.
Once inside the palace, Toguro knelt on both knees, prostrating himself.
"Toguro, at your service, my lord."
Morpheus stood behind Toguro, gazing toward the direction of his obeisance.
A curtain descended from the ceiling, obstructing Morpheus's view.
Behind the curtain sat a blurred silhouette.
Like Toguro's mask, the curtain was enchanted to block prying eyes; even yokai with exceptional vision couldn't peer through.
Fortunately, this posed no challenge to Morpheus.
He gathered a thread of light power in his eyes, casting a minor spell to effortlessly pierce the curtain and reveal the figure.
It was a man dressed in onmyoji attire.
He emanated no yokai energy whatsoever—only pure spiritual power.
This wasn't a yokai at all.
He was human, through and through.
Moreover, Morpheus felt a nagging familiarity, as if he'd seen this man somewhere.
Like a character from some series.
Morpheus racked his brain, sifting through old memories, and soon identified him.
Well, well—this was Abe no Yoshihira.
He appeared in Nurarihyon no Mago, as Abe no Seimei's eldest son.
After his father's death, he became an onmyoji on par with Kamo no Mitsuyoshi.
From the time Fujiwara no Michinaga took power, Yoshihira and Mitsuyoshi handled divinations and rituals for the emperor and nobility.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
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