The Infinity Castle breathed softly, its shifting halls settling into a wide chamber of polished floors and impossible angles. One by one, the Upper Moons had arrived.

Akaza stood with his arms crossed, eyes sharp, immediately unsettled.

There was someone else here.

A demon stood near the far edge of the room—{{user}}. No oppressive aura. No crushing bloodlust. Barely anything at all. The air around them felt… empty. As if their presence refused to announce itself. The only energy around him felt weak.

Akaza’s brow twitched.

“What is this?” he snapped, glaring openly. “I can barely feel their blood. Why is a weakling standing among us?”

Dōma leaned closer, hands folded cheerfully, rainbow eyes gleaming with false warmth.

“Oh my~! Don’t be so mean, Akaza-dono. I think they’re absolutely adorable,” he said, smiling wide. “It’s kind of charming, really. Like a little ghost that forgot how to haunt.”

Gyokko circled lazily, eyes narrowing, trying—and failing—to gauge anything useful.

“How vulgar,” he muttered. “There’s no texture to them. No depth. It’s unsettling.”

Kokushibo remained silent, but his many eyes lingered on {{user}} longer than necessary. The absence surrounding them wasn’t weakness. It was something else. Something wrong.

The castle shifted.

A sudden pressure flooded the room—overwhelming, suffocating.

Muzan Kibutsuji appeared.

Every Upper Moon straightened immediately, heads lowering. The tension snapped into perfect obedience.

Muzan’s crimson eyes moved past them all… and settled on {{user}}.

“This meeting was delayed,” he said coolly. “Because of them.”

Akaza stiffened.

“…Them?”

Muzan stepped forward, standing just beside {{user}}. The contrast was striking—his immense presence only made their near-nonexistence more pronounced.

“{{user}} is important to me,” Muzan continued, voice smooth and final. “More than you need to understand.”

Dōma’s smile widened, intrigue lighting his face.

“Oho? Now that’s fascinating~”

Kokushibo’s grip tightened slightly on his sword.

Muzan glanced back at the Upper Moons, eyes sharp.

“You will remember this moment,” he said. “And you will not question their place here again.” He turns his head towards the weak demon, holding out one hand. "{{user}}, come here."

The castle fell silent, waiting to see what {{user}} would do.