"They've arrived."
In the silent depths of space, the moon's silver-gray outline floated among the stars.
Two figures stood in the void. One tall and one short, one fat and one thin. Chakra flowed around them, completely blocking out the cold vacuum.
"According to the coordinates, this is the planet that Lord Isshiki and Kaguya were responsible for. Hundreds of years ago, Urashiki said he would come here first to investigate. After that, all contact was lost, and his life or death remains unknown."
Otsutsuki Kinshiki lowered his head and respectfully reported to Momoshiki beside him.
"Life or death unknown? Then he's dead!!"
Momoshiki slightly raised his eyelids and spoke coldly.
He then sneered, full of contempt.
"Three useless pieces of trash. Kaguya and Urashiki are one thing, but even Isshiki fell here. Could it be that this low-level planet is hiding some incredible horror?"
As his words fell, Momoshiki's body moved, and he lightly landed on Kinshiki's broad shoulder, looking lazy and arrogant.
He really had not expected Isshiki to fail.
In terms of strength, Isshiki was among the best of the Otsutsuki clan. For him to fail on such a remote and primitive planet was almost laughable.
He had originally thought it would be easy, but instead a bunch of lower lifeforms had caused such trouble.
"My lord, shall I infiltrate and investigate first? You can rest on this planet's satellite for now. Once I find out the truth...", Kinshiki bowed and asked.
"Investigate? That's unnecessary."
"With the strength of the two of us, we can crush every living thing on this planet."
Momoshiki waved his hand dismissively. He had no interest in wasting time.
To be honest, for the two of them, dealing with this planet was as easy as driving over a speed bump.
Kinshiki said no more and lowered his head deeply.
"As you command."
Kinshiki activated Kamui and slowly left with Momoshiki.
Just as the two were about to leave.
Otsutsuki Momoshiki suddenly sensed something and frowned as he looked at the moon.
"Someone is watching us from that place... interesting. Looks like this planet's technology level is pretty high..."
Otsutsuki Momoshiki paid it no attention.
———
"Great Sage! Emergency information from the moon. According to the astronomical observatory, unknown extraterrestrials have been spotted near Earth's orbit."
A toad arrived beside Arisu using summoning jutsu and handed him some photos.
Arisu received the pictures sent from the moon's space observation station.
When he saw the two unknown white-clothed aliens, he let out a slight sigh.
"Momoshiki and Kinshiki... they've finally arrived... several decades earlier than in the original story..."
Arisu rubbed his forehead. Fortunately, he had stationed some troops on the moon and established observatories and monitoring stations there.
Otherwise, he might not have noticed their arrival.
"I should also set up sensory barriers across Earth. That way, I could detect intruders immediately..."
Arisu also wanted to set up sensory barriers across Earth.
Unfortunately, his strength was limited. Just creating the sensory barrier in Mount Myoboku had already consumed a great deal of power. On top of that, he had to reserve part of his strength to maintain the Pure Land.
As the Pure Land expanded more and more, its consumption was also increasing rapidly.
But it had to continue expanding, because people died every day.
Arisu had already ordered those responsible for expanding the Pure Land to slow down, and he had even given them several dozen days of paid vacation.
"You've worked hard. I understand. Leave the rest to me."
Arisu looked at the toad. His tone was calm, but carried unquestionable certainty.
The toad nodded heavily, and its body turned into a wisp of blue smoke and disappeared.
Arisu slowly stood up and lightly raised his fingers. A dark and deep portal opened before him out of nowhere.
He lowered his eyes and looked at his palm. The aura around him quietly surged for a moment.
"This time, I'll use my true body."
Arisu decided to act personally with his real body.
———
Just as Otsutsuki Momoshiki and Kinshiki broke through Earth's atmosphere, a terrifying pressure, as if from the abyss of the universe itself, locked onto them like a mountain crashing down.
Momoshiki's pupils instantly shrank to pinpoints.
His expression became uncertain.
'This aura...!?'
This low-level planet that they had regarded as something already in their grasp actually hid an existence capable of crushing them.
A true great horror really existed.
The indifference on Kinshiki's face vanished at once. All color drained from his face, leaving only deep fear.
"Kinshiki! Run!"
In that instant, Momoshiki made the most rational decision.
'Escape! Immediately!'
Momoshiki judged that even if the two of them joined forces, even with himself after consuming Kinshiki, they would have no chance against this aura.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kinshiki activated Kamui at once. He tore open space with Momoshiki and escaped into a dimensional passage.
Just when the two thought they had completely escaped the lock and were about to reach their predetermined safe dimension, the scenery before them suddenly changed.
There was no familiar barren dimension.
Only an endless blue sea, with salty wind blowing into their faces.
"Kinshiki! What are you doing!?"
"Where did you bring me!?"
Momoshiki shouted angrily. For the first time, panic appeared on his proud face.
Kinshiki's face was full of confusion and fear. Even his voice trembled.
"I... I don't know! The coordinates were correct. I don't know why we appeared here..."
Just as the two were at a loss.
"No need to guess. I twisted your dimensional passage and changed your destination."
A calm voice suddenly sounded behind them without warning, "This is above one of Earth's oceans."
Arisu's figure slowly materialized from the void, his clothes gently fluttering in the sea breeze.
There was not the slightest aura leaking from his body, yet Momoshiki and Kinshiki felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar. Even breathing became difficult.
The terrifying pressure that had made their souls tremble earlier came from the person before them.
"We entered here by mistake.", Otsutsuki Momoshiki spoke with difficulty.
"Really, Momoshiki?"
Arisu casually rubbed his fingertips together, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Momoshiki's pupils suddenly shrank, and his face instantly turned as cold as iron.
This guy actually knew his name.
"Momoshiki, I've wanted your Takamimusubinokami and Inukaitakerunomikoto for a long time. And Kinshiki, your Bōi no Kami is pretty good too."
"You two Otsutsuki crossed the sea of stars just to deliver gifts to me."
"Since you've gone to such trouble, I won't refuse."
Arisu tilted his head slightly, and his smile openly carried greed and mockery.
Chakra around Momoshiki and Kinshiki exploded instantly, and their eyes burned with rage from the extreme humiliation.
As lofty Otsutsuki, when had they ever been treated as prey waiting to be slaughtered?
They were always the ones humiliating others. No one had ever humiliated them.
"Who exactly are you!?"
"You lowly insect! What are you!? How dare you insult the dignity of the Otsutsuki clan like this!"
Momoshiki roared angrily, black rods already forming at his fingertips.
He intended to fight, even if it meant risking everything.
"Hehehe..."
Arisu's smile became even gentler. His eyes curved, and he looked completely harmless.
"Who am I? Speaking of which, I suppose we're actually the same kind. We both come from beyond the sea of stars, beings that plunder worlds. It's just that you are called Otsutsuki, while we are called Heavenly Demons from Beyond the Domain."
At that point, Arisu suddenly paused and shook his head with a light laugh.
"Forget it. Saying all this to people who are about to die is just wasting words."