When Hansen stepped out of the dimensional rift, the ground beneath his feet was no longer cold metal and concrete, but soft, damp earth.
A breath of air, mixed with the fresh scent of earth and vegetation, rushed into his nasal cavity, completely different from the air in the Naruto World, which was saturated with Chakra and natural energy.
The energy here was pitifully thin, yet mixed within it was a trace of... something very special.
It was a chilling, malicious energy, filled with pure hatred and greed towards life.
"Hmm? This energy... is interesting."
Sensing a peculiar energy fluctuation distinct from that of humans, Hansen closed his eyes, and his vast Divine Sense instantly unfolded.
In an instant, the outline of the entire planet formed in his mind.
Mountains, rivers, oceans... and the cities where humans gathered.
He also "saw" many creatures hidden in dark corners, emitting that chilling energy.
They varied in form, but their essence was the same: they all viewed humans as prey and sustenance.
"Demons... so it's this world!"
Hansen's memories as a transmigrator surfaced, immediately giving him a general understanding of this world's background.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a world where demons eat people and people slay demons.
Just then, the cube mark on the back of his hand warmed slightly, creating a faint resonance with a certain existence in this world.
Like free-moving microscopic particles guided by an observer, the network of divine power covering the entire surface of the planet followed that resonance, instantly locking onto a source.
"Found it."
It was a chilling energy full of hatred, forming a massive network across this world.
The central node of this network was an individual far stronger than all its peers.
At its core, it carried the second fragment he was searching for.
"Muzan Kibutsuji... Heh, the Scummy Boss?"
The corner of Hansen's mouth curved slightly, forming an arc of interest.
"Then I shall pay him a visit."
...Meanwhile, in the Infinity Castle.
In this distorted, grotesque dimensional labyrinth composed of space and architecture, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive.
Muzan Kibutsuji stood on high, coldly looking down with his crimson, plum-blossom eyes at the five kneeling Upper Rank Demons below.
"Doma, Akaza, Hantengu, Gyokko, Gyutaro... You are all powerful beings I personally selected."
His voice was elegant and cold, yet contained a terrifying pressure that made all the demons tremble.
"But, it has been over a hundred years! The Upper Rank Demons have not changed in the slightest. You are satisfied with the status quo, forgetting to search for the 'Blue Spider Lily,' and forgetting to completely eradicate the Demon Slayer Corps!"
"Your incompetence disgusts me!"
Below, whether it was the perpetually smiling Doma or the unwilling Akaza, they all lowered their heads deeper, daring not to offer any rebuttal.
Muzan's wrath was enough to reduce any Upper Rank Demon to ashes.
However, just as Muzan was engaging in his usual emotional abuse of his subordinates, preparing to further vent his dissatisfaction...
A fear that pierced bone and soul suddenly and without warning seized his throat!
What was that?!
It wasn't sunlight!
It wasn't a Nichirin Blade!
And it certainly wasn't any form of Breathing Technique!
It was a... gaze from a higher dimension!
It was as if a lofty deity had inadvertently cast his gaze upon an ant on the ground.
There was no killing intent, no hostility, or even any emotion in that gaze.
As if encountering a natural predator standing above the apex of the food chain, the mere fact of being seen caused every cell in Muzan's body to emit a primal, terrified scream!
His body froze uncontrollably, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.
That handsome face, usually marked by arrogance and cruelty, displayed incomprehensible terror for the first time.
"M-Muzan-sama?"
Kokushibo, Upper Rank One, who was closest to him, keenly noticed the progenitor's momentary abnormality with his six eyes.
He even saw the fingers hanging at Muzan's side trembling slightly and uncontrollably.
The other Upper Ranks also raised their heads, looking at their progenitor with apprehension and uncertainty.
In their memories, Muzan Kibutsuji was forever synonymous with power, confidence, and brutality; they had never seen him display even a trace of fear.
"...Silence!"
Muzan snapped back to his senses, his voice carrying a barely noticeable crack as he roared at them, masking his inner weakness with ferocity.
He forcibly suppressed the fear that nearly made him collapse to his knees, but the shock deep within his plum-blossom eyes could not be hidden.
What was that feeling just now?
Was it an illusion?
No, impossible!
Having lived for over a thousand years, he was supremely confident in his instincts as the perfect being.
Just now, an existence capable of easily wiping him out had appeared in this world!
"Get out, all of you!"
Muzan waved his hand irritably, losing all desire to continue reprimanding his subordinates.
He needed to be alone; he had to figure out the source of that terror!
The Upper Ranks dared not speak further, and their figures vanished one after another following the sound of Nakime's biwa.
Only Kokushibo remained, his six eyes gazing deeply at the still unsettled Muzan, deep in thought...
Hansen withdrew the thread of divine power perception that had spanned the space, finding it quite amusing.
That rather uniquely-featured Demon King was quite sensitive.
He had only brushed against him from a distance, yet it nearly caused him to break down.
However, Hansen was not in a hurry to confront him directly.
Before beating a new game, one must first familiarize themselves with the controls and the environment of the starting village.
He lifted his foot, and his figure instantly vanished from the spot, accompanied by faint spatial ripples.
The next second, Hansen appeared on a forest path late at night.
Not far away, from a wooden house with lights on, came terrified screams and beast-like growls.
"Help! It's a monster!"
"Hehehe... such fresh flesh and blood... so fragrant..."
Hansen strolled over and saw a ferocious-looking demon, drooling as it lunged toward a mother and child who were trembling in fear.
The demon's strength was ridiculously weak in his eyes, not even comparable to a regular Genin in the Naruto World.
He meant, not even the Genin from Konoha Village.
Hansen couldn't even be bothered to move.
He merely looked calmly at the demon with his platinum eyes.
"Huh?"
The demon, just about to enjoy its meal, suddenly froze.
It felt as if it had been targeted by something; an inexpressible, immense terror rose from the depths of its soul, instantly freezing its mind.
It turned its head blankly and saw Hansen standing under the moonlight not far away.
A common human?
No... that's wrong!
This person's eyes... The demon felt its soul completely freeze under that gaze, then shatter inch by inch.
It wanted to flee, but its body couldn't move.
It wanted to roar, but no sound came from its throat.
In its eyes, filled with dread, Hansen's figure seemed infinitely magnified, transforming into a shadow encompassing heaven and earth.
Poof—
With a soft sound, the demon's body instantly burst into a cloud of blood mist, like a punctured balloon, leaving not a single trace behind.
What caused all this was merely a trace of "Divine Authority" contained within Hansen's gaze.
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