The morning sun stretched over the mountains, warm light spilling into the gardens of the Butterfly Estate. Johan stood barefoot in the grass, feeling the dew between his toes, arms folded as he listened to the birds sing above.
For the first time since waking up in this world, his heart felt light.
[System Notification:New Quest Unlocked: The Demon King's FallTarget: Kibutsuji MuzanReward: World Travel Access + ???Side Objective: Prevent Key Timeline Deaths.]
He smiled slightly. So… it begins.
[System Notice: Earth-Origin Trauma—Released.Mental State: "Rebirth"Emotional Status: Balanced][New Trait: Cheerful Calm — Inner darkness stabilized.][Long-term Objective Updated: Change Fate. Save What Was Lost.]
In his room, Johan changed into his uniform slowly, thoughtfully. His fingers brushed the fabric like it was a fresh start.
Kanae appeared in the doorway with a tray of tea and snacks.
"You're up early," she noted.
"I didn't feel like sleeping in," Johan replied with a smile that surprised even her.
"You're… different this morning."
He looked at her, his gaze soft but unwavering. "I remembered who I used to be… and I'm choosing who I want to become."
They sat under the trees, sharing tea as petals fell around them like silent blessings.
"I used to think smiling was a waste of energy," he said. "Now it feels like breathing."
Kanae looked at him gently. "You feel brighter. Like you've come back from something."
"I have."
She watched him for a moment, her voice quieter. "Wherever you came from, whoever you were… I'm glad you're here now."
Their hands brushed.
He didn't pull away this time.
That night, Johan stood alone in a moonlit clearing. His mind opened—not to thought, but to instinct. The wind grew still.
Then—
Steel sang.
Within his soul, the crimson sky of Unlimited Blade Works stretched overhead. Blades stabbed the ground in eternal silence.
But this time, he didn't copy a weapon.
He created one.
Not forged from war—but from a vow.
A vow to protect. To rewrite fate. To smile again.
[New Unique Weapon Created: Fatecarver— Manifested only by the desire to save.— Most effective against enemies entangled in fatal destiny.]
He held the blade in both hands.
And he felt it.
The future shifting.
Far from the peace of the Butterfly Estate, deep underground, Kibutsuji Muzan sat in shadow.
He opened his eyes.
"A presence… familiar," he murmured, his gaze distant. "Like him…"
Yoriichi.
A memory that never faded. A scar burned into Muzan's soul.
"Could it be a descendant?" he whispered. "Or something worse?"
Not once did the thought cross Muzan's mind that this was an outsider—not of this world.
Not once did he consider Johan was something else entirely.
To Muzan, he was simply… another nightmare given flesh.