Eliza immediately stood up. Her mind was racing.
The pressure coming from both sides was becoming unbearable. The Infinity Castle itself was trembling beneath their presence, and even the countless rooms that existed beyond their battlefield seemed to distort under the weight of their auras.
"It's wrong! If they fight, they will destroy the entire world. This infinity castle is too fragile for them… I won't even be there to heal the world."
Her eyes moved toward Jigen. His body was already beginning to deteriorate from his own power. Blood ran down his face, his black veins were still visible beneath his pale skin, and that terrifying presence continued leaking from somewhere deep inside him.
She took one step forward. Then stopped.
Fear gripped her. She looked at Jigen again. He was still walking toward Kokushibo. He wasn't hesitating.
He was actually willing to fight the strongest demon in existence just for them.
Eliza suddenly remembered her words from the night before. "The other demons don't respect us."
She thinks. "I am afraid… But Jigen-Sama is doing this for me. I ought to save him…"
Eliza stepped forward. Then another.
"No matter what. Even if I have to die…"
The moment she made that decision, her body moved before her mind could change it.
Jigen and Kokushibo were almost within striking distance. Their auras collided. The pressure was enough to make the floor beneath them fracture.
Then Eliza appeared between them. Her back faced Jigen. Her arms spread wide. She stood there alone, a fragile figure between two monsters.
"Both of you, stop it!"
The words echoed throughout the Infinity Castle. Both demons stopped.
Jigen's crimson eyes widened slightly. For the first time since the Hollow King's presence had emerged, his steps ceased. The darkness around him began to recede. "...T-That posture…"
His blackened left eye slowly returned to its normal crimson color, but the damage had already been done. His internal organs had been torn apart from the pressure of his own power. Blood suddenly spilled from his mouth.
He coughed, then again. More blood dripped from his nose.
Eliza noticed immediately. She slowly turned her head toward him.
"This isn't how you usually behave, Jigen-Sama. Kokushibo-Sama is our senior."
Eliza then turned toward Kokushibo. Even now, his transformed appearance remained terrifying. The Demon Slayer Mark covered his body, his elongated demonic katana was filled with countless eyes, and his six eyes remained fixed upon her with an unreadable coldness.
"You too, Kokushibo-Sama. I… I don't want to become the Upper Moon…"
Her voice became firmer. "...I'm not selfish."
Kokushibo stared at her, his six eyes narrowed. Then, his voice came cold, deep, absolute.
"Then tell Jigen to accept the position he earned… If another demon wins a Blood Demon Battle and then rejects the position because they simply dislike it, the hierarchy loses its meaning."
His grip tightened around his sword.
"The Upper Moons are not titles to be accepted when convenient."
Eliza didn't lower her arms.
"Oh, really? But this will never happen. Because becoming a Kizuki is much harder for anyone else, the time will never come when an ordinary demon reaches Jigen-Sama's level."
Her eyes hardened.
"So there will never be another demon capable of doing what he just did… meaning this position won't be rejected again."
Kokushibo's six eyes stared at her. For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Jigen stepped forward. "...Eliza."
His voice was quiet, mouth dripping with blood.
She looked back. Jigen gently placed his hand against her shoulder.
He moved her aside quietly, just enough to place himself between her and Kokushibo again.
His body was barely holding together. Blood continued dripping from his nose and mouth. Yet his voice remained calm.
"You shouldn't be here… I'll deal with them myself."
Eliza's eyes widened. "Jigen-Sama..."
His body suddenly staggered. Eliza immediately caught him. Jigen's weight fell against her. She held him carefully, her hands supporting his back.
He looked exhausted, not physically but something deeper.
Eliza's expression softened.
Then—
A voice entered Kokushibo's mind.
Kokushibo…
He immediately recognized it.
"Muzan-Sama."
Leave them…
Kokushibo's expression hardened. "Muzan-Sama, she is a traitor... She could betray you at any time."
The response came instantly.
Make Eliza the Upper Moon Four. We cannot afford to lose either of them… I have you to control them.
A brief pause. Then, Muzan's voice became quieter.
Besides... we are not certain that we can defeat that thing inside Jigen's body. You are aware of it.
Kokushibo's expression changed slightly.
Kokushibo understood. He slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.
"Very well."
His gaze fell upon Eliza. "Eliza… You are now the Upper Moon Four."
She looked toward him. Eliza's expression remained blank.
Kokushibo's voice became colder.
"Muzan-Sama has approved of you, despite my objections…"
Eliza didn't celebrate. She didn't smile or even look proud. Instead, she looked down at Jigen.
He was still leaning against her, blood covered his face. Her new rank meant nothing to her.
Kokushibo turned away.
"Jigen… Remember this. If you challenge another demon again, you will accept the position you earn... No excuse."
Then, he vanished.
The oppressive aura disappeared with him. The Infinity Castle became strangely quiet.
Jigen remained standing for several seconds. His body trembled.
He looked down at his blood-covered hands. His crimson eyes became distant.
It was a bad idea… to let that thing overtake my body.
The next moment, the Infinity Castle was gone.
Jigen and Eliza appeared once again in the open field beside the river. It was the same place as yesterday. The same endless grass, the same quiet river flowing beneath the pale night sky. Yet it no longer felt the same.
Yesterday, the place had been filled with an unfamiliar peace. Tonight, it felt almost like a grave.
Jigen stood silently. His black robes were stained with blood. His snow-white skin looked almost unreal beneath the moonlight, but the black veins still crawled beneath it, spreading from his chest toward his neck like cracks through porcelain. Blood continued to drip from his left eye, slowly sliding down his cheek.
He raised his hand and wiped the blood from his mouth.
Eliza immediately turned toward him. Her azure eyes were wide, soft, and glassy.
"Jigen-Sama..."
She slowly raised her hand. Her fingers moved toward his face.
But before she could touch him, Jigen gently moved her hand away. "You should go now…"
Eliza's fingers remained suspended in the air.
Jigen looked toward the river.
"You said you would leave tonight."
Her lips trembled. "J-Jigen-Sama, I... I..."
She couldn't finish. A violent cough suddenly escaped Jigen. He covered his mouth, blood spilled between his fingers.
Eliza's expression changed instantly. "Jigen-Sama!"
She rushed forward and caught him before he could fall.
His body was heavier than she expected. For the first time, she could feel how badly damaged he actually was. His organs were still torn apart. His body was regenerating, but slowly.
Jigen lowered his head.
That thing… It's still trying to take over me. I must leave right now.
He couldn't let Eliza remain beside him, not when the Hollow King was awake. Not when he himself wasn't certain how long he could keep it contained.
Jigen pushed himself upright. Blood remained at the corner of his mouth. "Why don't you leave me? What do you want now?"
Eliza froze, her eyes widened. "...Jigen-Sama? What do you mean?"
Her voice was almost a whisper.
Jigen's expression didn't change, but his voice became colder.
"...You must be happy with it."
Eliza's heart stopped.
"Happiest with my death… You wanted me dead some days ago."
Her pupils trembled.
The world seemed to become silent. Even the river sounded distant. Eliza stared at him. ...Does he really mean that?
Her hands slowly clenched, anger rose inside her. But beneath that anger was something older, much more painful.
The fear she had carried when she first met him. The fear that he hated her. The fear that one day he would simply disappear and never return.
She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to tell him he was wrong. But the words wouldn't come.
Jigen turned away. He crouched beside the river and placed his hands into the cold water.
For a moment, he simply remained there. Then, he stood. He approached Eliza. She didn't move.
Jigen lifted his wet hands toward her face. And gently washed away his blood from her face.
Eliza blinked. His fingers were extraordinarily gentle, almost impossibly so. The same hands that had just torn apart an Upper Moon were now touching her face as though she were something sacred that could break beneath the slightest pressure.
He carefully wiped the blood from her cheek. Then, her forehead. Then beneath her eyes.
"I apologize..." His voice was quiet. "My filthy blood touched you again."
Eliza's breathing became unsteady.
Jigen continued washing her face. "But I didn't do it on purpose…"
His eyes moved downward.
"...This time my blood ruined your entire body."
Her gown was drenched in crimson. His blood covered her hands, her arms, her feet. Even the hem of her white gown had turned red.
Jigen stared at it.
"I never intended to ruin your favourite gown… I never wanted to let anyone touch my blood again.
…You can kill me for this. Erase me, if you want."
Eliza's eyes widened.
Jigen coughed again. This time he immediately swallowed the blood. He didn't want another drop to touch her.
But Eliza couldn't take it anymore. She suddenly wrapped both arms around him.
Jigen stopped, his body became completely still. "Eliza...?"
Her face pressed against his chest. His blood soaked into her hair, her gown, her skin, everything.
Jigen looked down at her. "...My body is drenched with blood."
Eliza didn't answer. Her shoulders were trembling. Then, she raised her face. Her azure eyes were overflowing with tears.
"I-I am sorry..." Her voice broke.
"I am terribly sorry, Jigen-Sama..."
The cry echoed through the open field, across the river, into the empty night. It was so raw that even Jigen became silent.
Eliza clung to him harder.
"Please don't punish me for this..." Her voice shook violently.
"Please... don't be cruel..."
Jigen stared at her. He didn't understand.
Before he could ask what she meant, Eliza pulled him closer. Her lips met his. Jigen's crimson eyes widened.
For a moment, he simply stood there. The kiss wasn't graceful, it wasn't careful. It was desperate. All the things Eliza had been unable to say were there instead. Her guilt, fear, regret, and love. The terror of losing him.
Jigen instinctively wanted to push her away. Then, he stopped. He could feel her trembling. He could feel the tears against his skin. So he did nothing. He simply allowed her to hold him.
Her lips were incredibly soft and warm against his bloodied ones, as soft as the finest silk, almost painfully alive compared to the coldness that had surrounded him for so long.
Eliza had never kissed him before. Yet somehow, she kissed him as though she had been holding those feelings inside for years.
His blood stained her lips, it ran down her chin.
She didn't care, nothing about her appearance mattered anymore. The divine beauty that had once seemed untouchable was gone beneath tears and blood. She looked painfully human. And somehow, that made her more beautiful than ever.
Eventually, Eliza slowly pulled away. Her lips trembled. Her cheeks were wet with tears. Blood remained across her face.
She looked at Jigen and gave him the faintest smile.
"I-I don't hate you..." Her voice almost disappeared. "...I don't hate your blood."
She touched his cheek. Her delicate fingers gathered some of the blood remaining there. Instead of wiping it away, she touched it against her own cheek, then her neck. As if she wanted to erase the memory of ever being disgusted by it.
She looked at him through her tears.
"See… I-I love your blood. I..."
Her voice cracked. "...I love you."
Jigen said nothing.
Eliza suddenly collapsed to her knees. Her hands remained around him.
"Please..."
Her tears fell onto his feet.
"I request you… I beg you. Please don't ever say it again."
Jigen stared down at her. Her shoulders shook harder.
"Don't say that I hate your blood. Don't say that I hate you."
She looked up at him.
"Please... promise me."
Jigen's expression finally changed, only slightly.
Eliza's desperation had become almost unbearable to watch.
"I will do anything for you. Do you want to kill me? Go ahead. Do you want to use me?"
She spreads her thighs to him, her body trembling, tears spilling uncontrollably.
"Do it… Just… Don't ever say that I want you to die… please…"
Jigen crouched down. He wrapped his arms around her.
Eliza froze. Then, she buried herself against him.
Jigen held her quietly. There was nothing dramatic in his embrace, just warmth. His voice was low, calm, almost painfully gentle.
"...You don't have to go this far... Don't worry, I won't."
Eliza closed her eyes. For a long time, neither of them spoke.
The river continued flowing. The wind passed through the grass. Moonlight rested upon their blood-stained figures as though the night itself had chosen not to look away.
Eventually, they both stood.
Eliza wiped her tears. Her eyes were still red.
"I will go now. If you really want me to go... then okay. I… I will never come again."
She turned. Before she could leave, Jigen spoke.
"You don't have to go anywhere..."
Eliza stopped.
He said in a calm, low voice. "It is me who needs to leave…"
She slowly turned around. "W-What...?"
Jigen looked toward the distant horizon.
"You said that you have no home… I am giving you a home now. I'll be leaving..."
Eliza stared at him. For a moment, she couldn't understand.
"You're giving me your home… while abandoning yours?"
Her voice became softer. "Why?"
A long silence followed. Then, Jigen answered.
"...I have no home."
Those words struck her harder than anything else he had said that night.
He began walking away. There was no dramatic farewell, no final glance, no confession. Only footsteps disappearing into the grass.
After several moments, his voice came from behind him.
"But whenever you need my help… I'll be there."
Eliza stood completely still. Then, she turned away as well.
And they walked in opposite directions.
Two figures beneath the same moon. Two shadows moving farther and farther apart. Neither looked back.
Eliza's tears returned.
He didn't even stop me… He really wants to be alone. Maybe he wants to be alone for eternity…
She pressed a hand against her chest. Her heart felt unbearably heavy.
My heart is cruel… There is only one request to myself, to my heart… to never love anyone ever again… Love is pain…"
Yet even after they were gone from one another's sight, Eliza's thoughts continued to wander.
Will I... ever meet him again? Neither do I want to…
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Nor does he want to. Once again… After a century…
I am alone.
———————————————————————
Now.
Decades later, in the current timeline. On the same night when Jigen fought Ren, almost died, the Hollow King awakened, and Eliza finally broke emotionally.
In their place, which now looked more like a palace, the night remained unusually quiet. Their room was illuminated by the pale moonlight entering through the tall windows, its silver glow falling across the luxurious furniture and the enormous white, king-sized bed. Unlike decades ago, there was nothing poor or simple about this place anymore. Everything around them carried the feeling of royalty, wealth, and the long years they had spent together.
Upon the bed, Jigen and Eliza lay together beneath the white blanket.
Eliza's doll-like body was clinging tightly to his, almost as if she were afraid to let him go even in her sleep. Her entire body was hidden beneath the blanket, while her head rested comfortably in the crook of Jigen's neck, her cheek against his biceps.
Jigen was topless. The moonlight illuminated his snow-white, flawless skin, making his body almost glow in the darkness. His long obsidian hair spilled down his waist and across the bed, while his bare torso, shoulders, neck, face, and even his lips were covered with the marks Eliza had left behind. Hickeys, faint bites, and other traces of their intimacy remained scattered across his perfect skin.
The air was still filled with the scent of sex and incense.
Jigen remained completely silent. "Why did she suddenly stop...? She ended it too early than usual…"
His crimson, jewel-like eyes stared into the darkness. He didn't understand why she stopped.
Eliza was usually much more persistent than this. But tonight, she suddenly became quiet.
Her body remained pressed against his, her arms wrapped around him as though he were the only thing she could hold onto. Then, from beside his neck, Eliza murmured softly, her voice broken.
"Please… Don't try to leave me again… Don't kill yourself again… I… I can't take it..."
Jigen didn't answer, he simply held her gently, almost sacredly.
He didn't move even an inch, as if doing so might disturb her sleep.
Eliza's eyes remained closed. Her cheeks still carried the faint traces of dried tears, while her mascara had become slightly messy beneath her eyes. Her crimson lipstick was spread around her lips, no longer as perfect as it usually was.
She looked exhausted. And for some reason, Jigen found her behavior strange.
She is too weird…
His arm tightened around her slightly.
She is acting pathetic now… I never saw her scared like this before.
Jigen didn't know what had changed inside her. But he didn't question it anymore. He simply held her closer.
Eliza remained asleep against him, her breathing gradually becoming quieter as she clung to his body beneath the white blanket.
Jigen, however, did not close his eyes. He didn't even blink. His crimson eyes continued glowing faintly in the darkness, watching over her beneath the cold moonlight.