I loaded the geek game

The red thread trembled violently between Ashiya Dōman and Suzuhiko-hime.

Kamiya saw that the sliver of clarity on Doman's face had stabilized. At the same time, the gloom and distorted shadows of the underworld covering his face faded away at a visible speed.

Then, several energy fragments emitting strange light rapidly separated from Dao Man's body.

Against the backdrop of utter darkness, with only the faint glow of the gods of Takamagahara providing a few points of light, these fragments of light appeared exceptionally dazzling. The fragments of light detached from Doman's body, transforming into streams of pure energy that flowed seamlessly into his body, his soul, and his divine essence.

An indescribable sense of fulfillment welled up in Kamiya's heart.

Xu Fu once speculated—

Kamiya is qualified to replace Izanagi in writing new laws for the Izumo world. But before that, Kamiya seems to lack something crucial that would make his laws "complete." And this deficiency may very well be hidden in Ashiya Dōman, the "former quasi-first-generation demon god ruler."

At this moment, the strange energy fragments obtained from Daoman are probably the "final piece of the puzzle" that is needed.

As the fragments merged, Kamiya glimpsed several blurry flashbacks of memories lingering around the figure of a woman.

Daoman's memories.

In the context of the situation, these memories are probably Ashiya Dōman's answer to the question, "Have you ever really thought about why you want to ascend to the throne of Takamagahara?"

With the final piece of the puzzle in place, the shackles imposed on the Kamiya River by Ashiya Doman, which had clung to it like a malignant tumor, finally disappeared completely.

At the same time, the familiar, chilling, and destructive fluctuations that were on the verge of self-destruction also dissipated.

As if in a chain reaction, the boundless, viscous darkness symbolizing Izanami's final will, like the receding tide, began to rapidly shrink and dissipate.

The oppressive, suffocating silence quickly faded away.

Above, the countless stars and magnificent stellar spirals, like lights that have been relit, reappear one after another, one after another, shining brightly and rotating once more, casting their cool and eternal radiance upon us.

"The newborn king..."

Izanami's ethereal and fading voice echoed softly, like a feather gently falling.

"Everything you seize today will one day become the sweetest offering in the underworld. I await your weary soul in the deepest part of the underworld."

Knowing that all was lost, and seemingly foreseeing the upheaval that would soon follow Kamiyagawa's victory, the Mother Goddess of the Underworld left behind a whisper that sounded like both a curse and a prophecy. Her last remaining breath vanished completely into the newly illuminated sea of ​​stars, leaving no trace.

"Ha...then you'll have to wait until the end of time."

The enemy's harsh words?
He has never been afraid of this, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten to where he is today.

After a fierce battle, the devastation of Takamagahara was shocking.

Although the ascending steps and the supreme throne were firmly guarded and still emitted a faint, unyielding light, the once magnificent temple had been completely reduced to ruins. Countless broken beams, collapsed walls, and shattered statues, like a weightless cluster of tombstones, floated silently beneath the sea of ​​stars.

With Izanami's departure, the defiled creations that followed—the black torii gate and the shrine with white bones—also vanished, and even the remains turned into drifting black dust.

However, there is one being that originally belonged to the Yellow Springs, yet it remains here—

Ashiya Michiman.

His white hunting robes were already tattered and soaked with dark stains, and he lay quietly on his back on a piece of floating foundation rubble.

His chest rose and fell slightly, his breath as faint as a candle flickering in the wind.

Kamiyagawa gently returned Futsu-no-Mitama and Ame-no-Oe-no-Bara to the void beside him. With this movement, the gold-patterned haori stained with blood and the various wounds he sustained in the battle became more clearly visible. Blood dripped slowly from his fingertips, congealing into tiny droplets in the void.

But his posture remained as upright as a solitary peak.

After slowly exhaling a breath of foul air tinged with the lingering scent of blood and thunder, Kamiya approached Ashiya Dōman.

Behind him, the gods of Takamagahara followed silently.

On the left, Mary's tall figure stood still, surrounded by a mist of blood that no longer surged; on the right, Hannya's robes fluttered lightly, and several masks floated serenely; Inugami's mountain-like body strode with heavy steps, the karmic fire flickering uncertainly at his wounds; Urutengu's wings were slightly folded, his massive axe hanging low, the cracks on his mask shockingly visible; Kujira carefully held the conch shell and scepter, and the skeletal whale spirit swimming beside him also withdrew its ghostly blue soul fire; the Baku, with a languid expression but clear eyes, moved lightly; Onizuka Kiri Hotaru, holding the Red Bow of the Childhood Sun, also followed quietly.

However, when Kamiyagawa walked a few steps away from Doman, he did not turn around, but simply raised his blood-stained left hand and waved it gently behind him.

The gods of Takamagahara silently and solemnly stopped a few meters behind Kamiya River, leaving this last small space to their king and Ashiya Dōman, who should have been the former master of Takamagahara.

The starry sea is silent, and ruins float in the air.

Kamiya walked alone to Ashiya Doman, his tall figure casting a shadow that gently covered the latter's pale face.

“I saw your past memories…” Kamiya lowered his head, looking down at the dying former candidate for the supreme demon with a complex expression. “Is there anything I can do for you one last time?”

"Ho..."

Ashiya Dōman did not reply immediately.

His somewhat unfocused gaze lingered on Kamiya's face, then shifted to what lay behind him. There—

Mary's blood mist stopped churning, Hannya's mask floated still, Inugami lowered his body and barked softly, Tengu folded his wings, Kujira's conch shell fell silent, Baku restrained his lazy demeanor, and Onizuka also stopped and gazed.

The gods of Takamagahara, who have fought alongside Kamiyagawa until now, formed a semicircle behind him. They were all different in form and scarred, but without exception, they exuded a silent and majestic aura, like a silent and magnificent relief sculpture.

"Hehe, it's really lively..."

Ashiya Dōman forced a weak smile, a smile so pale it was almost ethereal.

"...If you are the ruler of all gods and spirits, that's fine too."

The last few words were so soft they were almost inaudible.

Ashiya Doman's gaze eventually fell on something further away, on Suzuhiko-hime, who stood there blankly like a delicate doll, her eyes vacant.

Immediately afterwards, Ashiya Dōman's body began to become transparent and thinner at a visible speed. Unlike Izanami, who retreated and shrank back into the projection of the Divine Nest, the aura of this first candidate for the supreme ruler of demons dissipated and could no longer be sensed.

Like a sandcastle completely disintegrating in the tide, its very existence is being erased from its roots.

Ashiya Michiman no longer exists.

(The main text is about to end. There are still a few plot holes in Daoman's backstory, which will be filled in the epilogue after the main text.) (End of this chapter)