Kang Woo didn't smile. His eyes flicked briefly to the trembling dogs. "Can the dogs survive this night?" he asked quietly.
As if on cue, one of Makima's dogs—a brown, sleek-haired one named Tiramisu—suddenly gagged and puked right onto the polished floor, trembling as it stared at Kang Woo with wide, horrified eyes.
Makima winced, biting back a groan of frustration. Finally, she sighed and made her decision. "Give me a few minutes."
Closing her eyes, she held out both palms. Glowing, chains slithered from beneath her skin, writhing through the air like serpents. The chains darted out, coiling around each of her dogs, one by one.
Makima focused her will, delving into the thoughts of her seven loyal animals, seeking to soothe them.
Instead, a flurry of frantic images and impressions crashed into her mind from all seven directions—thoughts tangled in pure animal terror:
Why is this man here?
He's a monster.
He's killed a lot—I mean really a lot.
Look at his aura… he reeks of corruption and killing .
He's not Mortal or even devil .
Makima's eyes fluttered open, glistening faintly with unshed tears. She pulled the chains back into her palms, letting them fade away.
A whisper of thought curled through her mind like a cold wind. Is it true? she wondered. Kang Woo and I… are we truly on such different levels? Is there really no way I can understand him… even when the dogs can see exactly where they stand before him?
Suddenly, Kang Woo stepped forward. The moment he moved, all seven of Makima's dogs immediately dropped into a kneeling posture, heads lowered, tails tucked under their bodies in instinctive submission.
Kang Woo paused, looking down at them with a faint, almost patient expression. Then he lifted one hand and exhaled a breath of dark power, letting it ripple around his form. His voice came out softer, but resonant with a subtle, otherworldly authority as he activated his Authority of Language over his own body.
"You all don't have to worry," Kang Woo said gently, his voice carrying into the minds of the dogs like a soothing command. "I won't harm your master, Makima."
The dogs blinked, eyes wide and shining as they stared up at him, their terror slowly replaced by a cautious, grateful curiosity.
Kang Woo continued calmly, "Stop fearing me. That's the highest command from me."
The dogs stilled. Their bodies relaxed fractionally, though they kept a respectful distance, circling him warily but no longer trembling in terror.
Kang Woo turned his eyes to Makima, dark and unreadable.
"So… is this enough?" he asked quietly.
Makima stared at him, something soft flickering in her gaze. She exhaled, the tension easing from her shoulders.
"Yes… it's enough," she said finally, her voice softer than before. Her eyes drifted to the circle of dogs now calmly watching Kang Woo.
A faint smile curved her lips. "I've never seen them bow to anyone like that. Instinctively ."
She hesitated, as if debating how much more to admit. Then her eyes returned to his, clear and unwavering. "You… make even Loyalty and fear obey you, can't you?". "Maybe that's why I keep trying so hard… to keep you close."
A beat passed. Her smile turned a little sly. "Don't think this means you're allowed to leave tonight, though."
She reached out and lightly brushed her fingers against the back of his hand. "And… thanks for that."
Inside Makima's apartment, the atmosphere felt hushed and private. It was neat and very tidy—a modern space, but not ostentatious or dripping with luxury. Tall shelves lined one entire wall, crammed with books, creating the cozy feel of a small private library.
Makima sat curled up on her couch, surrounded by her seven dogs, who licked her hands and arms with affectionate little whimpers. She glanced up, a hint of a warm domestic glow in her eyes.
"Kang Woo… do you want black tea, green tea, or—"
She stopped abruptly. Because Kang Woo wasn't looking at her.
He was standing near the large window, his silhouette framed against the city lights. But his eyes were turned far, far beyond Tokyo—focused on some invisible horizon no ordinary mortal could see.
Beyond the glass, somewhere in the unseen reaches of space, the Central Finite Curve glowed faintly in Kang Woo's spiritual perception—a colossal interdimensional boundary, where countless universes brushed against one another like rippling silk. And within that unseen expanse, Kang Woo sensed tiny flickers of light—countless fragments of his own soul, scattered across existence and cultivated over time, carried and nurtured by the Ricks and Mortys of the Citadel.
Kang Woo's eyes glimmered like twin stars. He murmured under his breath: "The distributions I gave… they've died. You've done well, Evil Morty. You managed to spread part of myself. Now… return back to me. ALL of you."
As the words left his lips, something impossible happened. Countless specks of spiritual light, scattered throughout the hidden corridors of reality, suddenly turned and raced back toward him at breathtaking speed—like meteors reversing through the cosmos. Each fragment moved along cosmic pathways, reuniting into a vast spiritual current that slammed invisibly into Kang Woo's chest. He stood still as the torrent poured into him. His eyes burned bright, veins of Reishi flickering beneath his skin.
"Back to me again… once more."
A silent pulse swept through his body as he absorbed every soul fragment that had been cultivated in secret. He felt it immediately—a sharp rush of power. His senses expanded, perception deepening, memories folding into him like pages of a book he'd written long ago.
And in that moment, Kang Woo experienced precisely what Yhwach once felt—the profound, living connection to every piece of himself scattered across the universe.
But even as strength surged within him, Kang Woo's eyes dimmed slightly. He clenched his hand once, opening and closing his fingers as if testing them. My condition is improving. My Quincy power… it's growing.
But he also knew the truth. However… it only applies to my Quincy abilities. Not my demonic ability
He lowered his hand, exhaling a long, quiet breath. I still need that Kaisergesang ritual.
Makima tilted her head, her voice soft but edged with sharp curiosity. "Kang Woo… just now, you looked like you were miles away. And… you feel a bit better . can you share with me … what did you just bring back to yourself?"
Kang Woo turned to face her, a faint gleam in his eyes. He tilted his chin slightly, as though amused. "Oh… you saw it? What I lost… I'm starting to gain it back."
As he spoke, he lifted one hand, fingers slightly curved. In the center of his palm, threads of brilliant blue Reishi gathered, swirling in delicate patterns. Slowly, they coalesced into a shape—the unmistakable Quincy emblem, a gleaming five-pointed star-like cross radiating faint, cold light.
Makima watched it intently, her eyes reflecting the pale glow.
Kang Woo gazed at the symbol, his expression darkening just a hair. "The sealed Quincy King, "The one who died… always restores himself, little by little. Everything he gives away… he takes back again. For 999 years, he does it in silence."
He paused, his tone dipping into something both grim and almost reverent. "And when the last day comes…"
Kang Woo closed his fingers around the Quincy emblem. A brief flare of light leaked between his knuckles before he let his hand fall back to his side. "…he takes back all of it."
Then, with a casual flick of his hand, blue Reishi surged around him. Glowing particles spun and intertwined, forging a grand seat behind him—a throne of solid Reishi, etched with intricate Romanic emblems. Kang Woo settled himself onto it and closed his eyes, his posture serene and regal, eerily reminiscent of the Quincy King sleeping atop his own throne.
Makima blinked at the sudden transformation, her eyebrow twitching."This is my apartment, And there's a perfectly good couch."
Kang Woo cracked one eye open, lips curving into a mischievous grin. "Starting to have regrets about inviting me over?" he teased.
Makima folded her arms, a small huff escaping her lips. "Yeah… a bit. You're being a rude guest."
She tilted her head, eyes sharp and glimmering with curiosity. "This Quincy King… is he someone you admire?"
Kang Woo leaned back slightly on his throne of blue Reishi, eyes half-lidded. "No,. if I ever met him, I'd kill him. His ideals and mine… they cross paths. We'd definitely try to kill each other."
Makima blinked once, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "…Then. What exactly happened to the Quincy King… that makes you talk about him like this?"
Kang Woo's expression grew distant, his gaze dropping slightly. "…His father, "was dismembered into three body parts. Betrayed. And left as nothing."
Makima stayed silent, watching him.
Kang Woo continued "And his kind—the Quincy—they got the worst treatment, They were given great power, . But also humiliation. Scorn. Their existence nearly erased. And the world they live in… is built on lies."
Makima's eyes softened slightly, "That's horrible, Is that what happened to you, too? Is that why you always talk as if freedom exists only in death?"
Kang Woo let out a low exhale, tilting his head back. "Nope," It's just a shortcut for me… even if shortcuts don't truly exist."
He shifted as if preparing to sink into deeper sleep atop his throne of Reishi.
But Makima wasn't letting him go so easily. She leaned in, lifting her hand. Two fingers pressed together like a little gun, she aimed them at Kang Woo's forehead. Her voice dropped into a teasing purr. "I could shoot you, ," Right now, you're very vulnerable… staying in your adversary's apartment."
Kang Woo cracked one eye open, unfazed. "If you want to shoot… go ahead, I know you won't."
Makima's brow arched. "And why's that? Maybe I'm deceiving you. Lying to you."
Kang Woo's smile turned faint and somber. "When you try to follow me… is it Strength you're after? Or something you've lost?"
His gaze darkened slightly. "Though… I already know what you lack. The difference is, mine has long gone… and it will never return."
Makima stared at him, her playful front faltering for just a heartbeat. Is he hinting… at love? she thought, her chest tightening. At intimacy…?
She cleared her throat, trying to pull herself back together. "You've impressed me today , You must have a wish. Maybe I could fulfill—"
But she trailed off. Because Kang Woo was already asleep.
Slumped slightly on his throne of glowing blue Reishi, eyes shut, head tilted to the side as though nothing in the world could trouble him. His breathing was steady, calm as starlight.
Makima's eye twitched. "…And he's asleep," Like he owns the place. Damn chunni."
But then something shifted. From Kang Woo's Reishi throne, radiant blue light began to pour downward like a gentle waterfall. It spilled across the floor in shimmering waves, filling the apartment with a cool, ethereal glow.
The dogs, who had once cowered in terror at Kang Woo's presence, slowly crept forward. One by one, they approached him.
They gathered around the throne, pressing close as if drawn by instinct. Several dogs pushed their muzzles against Kang Woo's legs, tails wagging slowly. A few even made soft, grateful whimpers, and one or two had tears glimmering in their eyes. The blue Reishi washed over them, soothing them, easing their fear.
Makima blinked, watching it all unfold. she thought. This blue substance that keeps pouring from him?
Almost without realizing it, she felt herself drawn forward too.
Quietly, carefully, she stepped closer to Kang Woo.
Then she sank down beside his throne… and rested her head on his lap.
For a moment, she simply lay there, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing. He's… soft, she thought, her cheeks warming slightly. Even though he's the most Confusing being I've ever met… he feels soft.
And there, surrounded by the glow of the falling Reishi and the quiet presence of the dogs, Makima let her eyes drift shut.
Meanwhile, as Kang Woo slumbered in silence upon his throne… Something else moved across the veil of worlds.
Far beyond human sight, through the layers of existence where cause and effect weave their threads, a shadow crept forward.
Nightmare—his loyal familiar—slipped from the darkness, a slithering mass of shifting tendrils . And in its clawed grasp, it carried two objects:
A single, battered penny, faintly stained with a dark sheen—a servant and herald of Death in the world of Final Destination. And beside it, a thin, well-worn book, the name embossed upon its cover in shimmering letters: Iris Campbell.
Nightmare deposited them gently into Kang Woo's palm as he slept.
But the instant his fingers closed around the penny… The sky above the world seemed to shudder.
A thick, black cloud boiled into existence, swirling violently, sparking with unseen forces. From within that roiling darkness, an eerie wind howled, shrieking with countless whispered voices.
Death from Final Destination had come. The entity, formless and monstrous, sought to strike Kang Woo in one of its twisted, ironic fashions—perhaps a falling beam, a shattered glass, a domino chain of accidents destined to kill. But before it could act…
Another presence descended. Reality froze as though the universe itself drew a sharp breath.
Every ticking second halted. The air solidified into stillness. The dogs stopped mid-wag, Reishi rain paused midair, droplets suspended like blue jewels.
All except Kang Woo. And before Death from Final Destination, another figure stood—a slender silhouette, cloaked in absolute black, skin pale as bone, eyes dark and endless as the void itself.
Lady Death. The Endless. One of the highest cosmic authorities, bound only by the will of her own existence and those who sit upon the Thrones of Hadou. ( img here )
Death from Final Destination, a mere force of fate, immediately collapsed before her, a black storm shrinking into a crawling wisp, kneeling low in trembling fear.
It is good to see you again… Akuto Sai, Lady Death thought silently, her eyes glinting with something between fondness and gravity.
Kang Woo's lips curved faintly, even as his eyes remained closed in deep sleep.
He knew precisely who stood before him. And in that frozen instant, with the entire world held breathless, he simply smiled.
Then, with a soft snap of Lady Death's pale fingers— Reality shifted. Kang Woo's consciousness was whisked away, as if plucked from a dream.
Suddenly he found himself sitting at a small wooden desk, under the glow of a modest desk lamp. The surrounding space was simple and quiet, a little pocket of reality carved out of the void.
Across from him, seated at a matching desk, was Death the Endless.
For a moment, the cosmic figure who had ended stars and cradled dying universes looked entirely… human.
Then she moved forward and wrapped her arms around Kang Woo in a gentle embrace, her black hair brushing against his cheek.
"It's good to see you again, ," she murmured, her voice soft and genuine. "Truly. It's been a very long time."
Kang Woo, caught in her hug, chuckled lightly. "Careful. Your boss Reinhard Heydrich—that Hadou God who loves everything—might get jealous."
Death the Endless pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, amusement sparkling in her dark gaze. "His current name is no longer Reinhard, He goes by Rimuru Tempest now… though he's somehow mixed himself with Harry Potter and Issei Hyoudou."
Kang Woo blinked, then laughed under his breath. "I see. Three worlds as one. Makes sense. Same as mine… I'm a mixture of Chainsaw Man and The Boys, apparently."
Death the Endless leaned her cheek against her palm, sighing wistfully. "I prefer the world of Tensei Slime first, though. There's something… soothing about it."
She paused—and then snapped her fingers again. Reality twisted open beside her, like a shimmering veil being pulled aside. Through the rift, Kang Woo glimpsed brilliant bridges of light connecting realms he instantly recognized: the magical spires of Hogwarts, the demon energy of the DxD universe… and in the distance, a ripple of blue slime pulsing like a living star.
"Rimuru," Death murmured fondly, "has already begun building bridges between the world of Tensei Slime… and the fusion world of DxD and Harry Potter."
Kang Woo leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "Okay, let's shift the topic, "I want to speak with your boss."
Death the Endless gave him a flat stare, one elegant brow lifting. "No can do," One Hadou God can't just meet another whenever they please. For example—if you and Rimuru crossed paths in person, there goes all of existence. The moment six Hadou Gods gather in one place, they'll end up killing each other… and everyone gets erased. Including me."
Kang Woo tilted his head, his voice calm. "I don't want to exactly meet your boss. I want him to launch his Yetzirah—Longinuslanze Testament—at me."
Death the Endless blinked, her expression shifting to deadpan disbelief. "…No one can kill a Hadou God except another Hadou God. Are you having suicidal thoughts ?"
Kang Woo exhaled slowly. " I lack knowledge. the runes—Nordic runes—that Rimuru commands. His Ewigkeit Formula is top tier. No one can craft a Briah like Rimuru does. I'm sure his Gladsheimr Castle could create its own universe instantly if he wanted."
Death the Endless tilted her head, eyes sharp and knowing. "There's another reason, isn't there? If all you wanted was Nordic runes, you'd have found a way to learn them already."
Kang Woo was silent for a moment. Then, in a low voice, he said, "The other reason… is my own. Can you help me, Death the Endless?"
Death's gaze dropped to Kang Woo's shoulder. There, faint but visible in the ethereal light, were chained handcuffs glinting like blackened steel. Recognition sparked in her eyes.
She lifted her gaze back to his face. "Those chains, They belong to the Black King. Maybe you don't know—or maybe you've chosen to ignore it. But the Black King is fickle… almost like the Outer Gods themselves. Some even say the Black King is Azathoth."
Kang Woo gave a short, mirthless laugh. "Do you want to know who Azathoth is? It's Mercurius. He lifted his butt off the Fourth Throne, and every existence died in the aftermath as the Hadou Gods slaughtered each other."
Death the Endless arched a delicate brow, leaning back with an amused glimmer. "Every Outer God is still beneath the Hadou Gods . I'm just… adding a little personal touch to my own story."
Suddenly, golden letters ignited in the air between them—radiant, swirling script visible only to Death and Kang Woo.
It was Rimuru's writing.
I will launch my spear. Then we will trade.
I will impart my knowledge of the runes and all of Norse myth—including how Bifrost can be used or created—in exchange for your Greek knowledge, myths, and especially the creation of the Blade of Olympus.
Kang Woo read the glowing letters, then lifted his gaze with a faint smirk. "Also… ivaldi 's Gungnir. Mine's more like a demonic Gungnir. ."
A fresh swirl of golden writing blossomed in the air.
That coin you're holding… it's the signal for me to launch my golden Longinus. But be careful . My spear once impaled our kind . There's a chance—however small—that if it hits you… you might actually die for real.
Kang Woo gave a small, solemn nod, accepting the risk without a word.
The golden writing shimmered once more, then vanished like dust caught in a cosmic breeze.
He turned his eyes back to Death, voice calm. "So… are you the current sensory for Reinhard now?"
Death the Endless tilted her head, a faint smirk on her lips. "More like his emissary, from what I hear. Rimuru will hear this… though I didn't expect he'd actually respond. His schedule is… complicated."
Kang Woo only smiled, quietly amused. I guess when everyone chooses to incarnate themselves, even Reinhard… now as Rimuru… ends up a bit more stable.
Death the Endless snapped her fingers, a crisp sound that seemed to ripple through every layer of existence.
And Kang Woo's consciousness slipped away from the cosmic meeting—returning gently to where he sat, asleep upon his throne of glowing blue Reishi.