"What is a higher-dimensional life form? Why did you choose to evolve at this time?"
Eichi asked the question that concerned him most.
As early as his previous life, when he watched the Hidden Inventory arc and heard that Tengen would evolve into a higher-dimensional being, Eichi had a question.
What state would Tengen be in after evolving into a higher-dimensional life form?
Curious, Eichi immediately searched online for information about Tengen.
He found many explanations, such as the one from the encyclopedia: "Becoming one with heaven and earth, both tangible and intangible, closer to Cursed Spirits than to humans."
If this statement were true, then the ultimate form of Tengen would become something akin to the Way, or a rule-like existence.
If such an existence became an enemy of humanity, it would undoubtedly be an unprecedented disaster.
Therefore, after Amanai Riko's death and Tengen's refusal to assimilate with a backup Star Plasma Vessel, Eichi had always suspected that Tengen might become the final boss.
At that time, he had even anticipated a scene where Satoru and Yuji teamed up to fight Tengen.
Unfortunately, Tengen's behavior had always been very puzzling, from the initial level of "omniscience" she was elevated to, to her continuous loss of credibility afterward.
Until finally, she went from omniscient to completely unreliable.
"A higher-dimensional life form... I don't know either."
Tengen fell silent for a moment, then spoke.
"You don't even know, and you still dare to carry out this plan?"
Eichi was speechless. He felt that Tengen might have been fooled by that person who could foresee the future.
But on second thought, it was understandable. For a woman at the most confused and helpless stage of her life, a man she could rely on entered her world.
It was understandable that Tengen would deeply believe that man's words.
"That person once told me that when everyone completes assimilation with me, humanity will shed the body burdened with original sin, or curses, be liberated from weakness and strife, and transform into a brand-new life, an individual capable of overcoming suffering and disaster, ultimately becoming a god."
When she said this, a trace of longing appeared on Tengen's face.
"As for what you asked, why choose to start evolving at this time... Perhaps it is because of fate."
After speaking, Tengen seemed to fall into reminiscence. Her four pupil-less eyes were clearly facing Eichi, yet they seemed to transcend time, looking into both the past and the future.
At this moment, many of Eichi's doubts were finally resolved.
For example, Tengen's purpose, and why she had established the empty Barriers across the country.
According to Tengen's description, this nationwide empty Barrier was likely a giant shell, an eggshell used to protect and incubate new life.
When Tengen and all the people of Japan completed assimilation, a higher-dimensional life form would begin to gestate within this eggshell until it finally broke free.
By now, Eichi also understood why Tengen and Kenjaku, despite one being the pillar of the righteous faction and the other being the main villain, had a strange tacit understanding in many areas.
In fact, many things Kenjaku did were not only left unstopped by Tengen, she even seemed to have pushed them along from behind.
If Tengen also approved of the birth of the billion-person Cursed Spirit and longed for that prophesied individual, who could become a god, to begin incubating with the billion-person Cursed Spirit as its foundation, then everything made sense.
This also included Amanai Riko.
There had been setbacks in the previous two assimilations of the Star Plasma Vessels, but Tengen ultimately chose to assimilate.
Only this time did Tengen choose not to assimilate.
This was because she believed that the karma severed by Toji was a hint from fate.
It was telling her that the time had come, and it was time to enter the next stage.
"One last question. Do Kenjaku and Abe no Seimei know about your plan?"
Eichi asked the question that concerned him most at this moment.
"Those two children...
I have met them before and spoken with them for a period of time, but I can't remember exactly what was said. Too much time has passed."
Tengen's tone was filled with age and weariness.
"Is that so."
Eichi narrowed his eyes.
He could feel that Tengen was not lying at this moment.
Thinking about the story Tengen had just told, Eichi felt that Tengen should originally have been a passive, ordinary person.
With her Immortal Cursed Technique, if she had not met that man, she might have started evolving a thousand years ago and would now be some kind of metaphysical existence.
This could be seen from how Tengen had retreated into seclusion for decades after the deaths of her family and friends.
But the appearance of that man had added a lighthouse to Tengen's world.
A lighthouse that guided her forward.
For this reason, Tengen began continuously establishing empty Barriers across the country, enduring loneliness for the arrival of the prophesied day.
It was also for this reason that, after Toji broke her cycle of karma with the Star Plasma Vessel, Tengen decisively abandoned assimilation and began evolving toward a higher-dimensional life form.
"I understand. Let's end our conversation here for today. I wish you sweet dreams."
With that, Eichi turned and left.
"Sweet dreams? How long has it been since I last dreamed?"
Tengen stared at the tea on the table, lost in thought.
After leaving the Tombs of the Star Corridor, Eichi instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling sunlight.
In Eichi's eyes, the sky was not merely vast and blue.
Between heaven and earth, there were layers upon layers of transparent Barriers, like glass.
Looking at the Barriers in the sky, Eichi had his next plan in mind...
Just as Eichi clarified his next plan, everyone dispatched to various places to carry out missions also gained significant rewards.
In the same hotel's presidential suite, Kenjaku and Tomie gathered once again.
"I heard your situation hasn't been very good lately."
Kenjaku leaned back in his chair, looking at Tomie with a smile.
"Indeed, it hasn't been great. I wonder if you have any way to help me?"
Tomie's long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and her sparkling eyes gradually filled with mist.
"I've been having a really hard time lately. Why is it that some people just can't stand to see others doing well?"
Tomie's face was full of distress, and she looked at Kenjaku pitifully.
"Our plan will be carried out on January 1st. I wonder if Young Miss Tomie will still be able to participate then?"
Kenjaku's gaze shifted downward, moving away from Tomie's face.
Kenjaku had merely tried to seize the initiative in the negotiation out of habit, but he had not expected that while this method worked on powerful individuals, for Tomie, it would instead become a condition for her to counter him.
After all, Tomie was not a traditional Jujutsu Sorcerer, and their philosophies were not the same.
"I will definitely be there to congratulate you."
With that, Tomie elegantly drained the red wine in her hand, then gestured to Kenjaku.
Kenjaku smiled, but showed no intention of drinking the red wine in front of him.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and Kenjaku quickly left the hotel.
Tomie stood before the large window of the presidential suite, her gaze coldly fixed on Kenjaku, who was leaving downstairs wearing a hat.
Upon seeing an inconspicuous person quietly follow Kenjaku, Tomie's lips curled into a cruel smile.
"Watching from the sidelines is not allowed, you know."
With that, Tomie, dressed in a red gown, elegantly turned around.
As she walked, her gossamer-thin clothes drifted to the floor, one by one.
When she reached the door of the presidential suite, a young and beautiful attendant was waiting there, holding a set of ordinary but clearly finely crafted casual clothes.
Soon, a beautiful young woman full of youthful vitality, like someone on vacation, left the hotel wearing a sun hat.
Meanwhile, the body of the attendant from moments ago twisted and transformed into Tomie's likeness, then put on the expensive gown from the floor.
That evening, Tokyo's evening news urgently broadcast a breaking story: Tokyo's XX Hotel suffered an explosion due to a gas leak, currently resulting in two deaths...
(To be continued.)