Chapter 265

「The train suddenly accelerated in the violent shaking, accompanied by a piercing screech, and the entire train shot out of the gaping maw of a giant true hibernating insect! 」

「"Waahhh—!" Sanyue Qi clung tightly to the carriage handrail, her whole body almost flung out, but her eyes widened round, "Wait! What is that?!"」

「Outside the window——in the pitch-black universe, gorgeous fireworks suddenly burst open! 」

「Crimson, azure, and golden fireworks blossomed around the train like blooming nebulae, illuminating this dead region of space as if it were a celebration. 」

「"What the heck is this, did the train cause... a cosmic explosion?!" Sanyue Qi leaned against the window, staring in amazement at the breathtaking sight. 」

「"No, this is an illusion caused by the giant true hibernating insect." Walter adjusted his glasses, "With such a commotion, we will definitely all inhale its pollen."」

「"Ah? That insect is so——so——big! Could it also be an illusion? 」」

「"... What a pity, this is probably real. 」」

Thinking of the magnificent fireworks that Yinzhi couldn't see, Sanyue Qi felt deeply lonely.

「"The Pure Beauty Knights, a group accustomed to wandering alone through the star rivers, hard to understand. Their destination is essentially the starry sky; this fireworks display might also symbolize a medal for him." Jizi comforted, "He also has his own thoughts and hardships. After all, the Pure Beauty Star God... may very well have fallen. 」」

「"Ah? Is that Idelira that Yinzhi keeps muttering about? Isn't he still saying he wants to go find Idelira, fulfilling his knight's duty to protect Idelira? 」」

「"Idelira's fall is an accepted fact among some Pure Beauty Knights. Of course, some people refuse to believe it. Like the person we just met… he probably thinks Idelira is merely missing, hidden in some corner inaccessible to mortals. 」」

——

The Valkyrie of the Apocalypse.

Venus leaned lazily against the divine throne, her fingertips lightly caressing her perfect cheek, her eyes shimmering with an intoxicated glow.

「"Hmm~ if that Pure Beauty Star God really isn't here……" she lifted her lips slightly, her voice sweet as honey, "Perhaps I am her reincarnation~ after all, who in this universe could be more worthy of the words 'Pure Beauty' than me? 」」

Shakyamuni sat cross-legged nearby eating rice crackers, and upon hearing this burst into a hearty laugh.

「"Hehe, Venus, you foolish woman really dare to say that……" Shakyamuni wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes from laughing, "If those Pure Beauty Knights heard this, even if they have a good temper like Yinzhi, they'd surely have to pick up their guns and argue with you. 」」

Venus let out a light hum, twirling a strand of her golden hair, unmoved: 'How? Am I not beautiful enough? Which aspect of my appearance, figure, or demeanor does not deserve the words "Pure Beauty"?'

Shakyamuni spread his hands and shook his head with a smile: 'Whether beautiful or not, I won't discuss that first, but the "Pure Beauty" upheld by the Pure Beauty Knights is certainly not something propped up by self-admiration like yours.'

「"Oh?" Venus narrowed her eyes, her tone sounding displeased: "They've never even seen the Pure Beauty Star God, so how can you be so certain they won't acknowledge my beauty? 」」

「"No proof needed." Shakyamuni shrugged, "If you truly have any connection to Pure Beauty, even a thousandth of a link…… we gods would have long since bowed at your pomegranate skirt. 」」

「"What's more——」」

Shakyamuni slowly walked behind Venus, lowered his voice, and said word by word: 'Your narcissistic appearance is truly ugly.'

——

「After helping finish the train's big clean-up, the bored Xing suddenly received a message from the Black Tower, asking her to test the latest simulated universe. 」

「Upon hearing there were rewards to be had, Xing rushed nonstop to the Black Tower's office. 」

「This time the simulated universe has a new expansion called 《Universal Locust Plague》, with the timeframe locked to the period from the birth to the fall of the Insect Emperor Tayiz Yuros. Simply put, Xing's simulation this time will not only witness the birth of the Propagation Star God, but also witness its downfall. 」

「"Propagation……」」

「Thinking of how she had just been swallowed whole by a true hibernating insect not long ago, Xing instinctively wanted to refuse, but the Black Tower's offer was simply too tempting. 」

「"Perfect, Luo Sigu and Ruan Mei are about to arrive at the space station; the several collaborators of the simulated universe are all there, so if you have any issues, just give them feedback after your test and that's it. 」」

「"If there's nothing else, then go ahead and enter the simulated universe; I will connect with your consciousness to a certain extent inside. 」」

——

Jujutsu Kaisen

In the dim Japanese-style room, candlelight flickered, making the two twisted grinning faces of Sukuna appear even more distorted. His pupils reflected the Xing about to step into the simulated universe, the corners of his mouth nearly splitting to his ears.

「"Yes…… exactly like that, I'm also very interested in the birth of the Star God. 」」

Kenjaku sat upright beside him, fingertips lightly rubbing the rim of the teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips: 'By the way, you wouldn't actually have any designs on the Star God, would you? Fair warning—that kind of existence beyond our dimensions, I have no advice to give you.'

「"I certainly wouldn't have such thoughts." Sukuna chuckled low, his sharp fingertips scraping over the tatami, producing an unpleasant "hiss" sound. 」」

Kenjaku turned his face and rolled his eyes.

Over a thousand years have passed…… this guy still hasn't learned how to lie.

But upon reflection, the King of Curses never needed to lie; doing as he pleases is his style.

「"Sukuna's eyes shifted to him again: 'Kenjaku, do you really have no interest in Propagation?】」」

His tone carried a sense of conviction, as if from the very start he was certain he would never be indifferent to 【Propagation】.

……He guessed right.

Kenjaku's lips curled into a faint smile as he unhurriedly took a sip of tea.

「"I was just thinking……" his voice soft as a whisper, "If I could gain even a slight understanding of the truth about 【Propagation】 from this simulated universe, the 'proliferation' of curses…… might no longer be confined to theory. 」」

Sukuna stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly let out a low, muffled laugh.

「"Heh…… you guy, you're indeed greedier than I imagined. 」」