The moment Hikari's shadow clone and Esdeath appeared together, Moryo's fate was sealed.
Miroku and Kikyo both possessed the power to seal it but lacked the strength to defeat it outright. Esdeath, on the other hand, could overpower it completely but lacked the specialized sealing techniques needed to contain or kill it.
Together, they were Moryo's perfect counter.
The battle lasted mere minutes.
Hikari watched from the sidelines as Esdeath, alongside the two shrine maidens, pummeled Moryo into the ground. They bound its body with temporary sealing techniques, layer upon layer, before Esdeath encased it in a massive ice sculpture dozens of meters tall, bringing the fight to an end.
Even in its final moments before being frozen, Moryo glared at Hikari and the others with blood-red eyes, spitting venomous words. "Hmph, I miscalculated this time… I didn't expect Miroku to bring allies like you. But you can't kill me—no shrine maiden ever has! When I break free again, it'll be the end for all of you!"
"Yeah, yeah, got it," Hikari yawned, waving dismissively. "You talk too much."
In theory, Moryo could indeed break free again in a few centuries. But by then, Hikari, Esdeath, Kikyo, and the others might no longer be in this world. No need to worry about problems for descendants generations down the line.
That said…
"Lady Miroku, is there really no way to kill this thing?" Hikari asked.
"…No," Miroku replied after a brief silence, a wry smile on her face. "I'm sorry, it's beyond my ability. Moryo's power shares the same origin as mine, but it's far stronger. Sealing it is the best I can do."
"Same origin?" Hikari's brow furrowed. She'd heard the phrase before but now sensed something deeper. "Can you elaborate?"
"Well…" Miroku sighed. "You could roughly think of Moryo as a clone of the Land of Demons' first shrine maiden."
"?"
"This is the greatest secret of our land, known only to the shrine maidens of each generation. You and your companions helped seal Moryo, making you benefactors of our country, so I won't hide the truth. But it's a long story. Let's first transport Moryo to Sealed Demon Mountain to complete the final seal, and I'll explain everything afterward."
"Fair enough," Hikari nodded.
The group took a moment to regroup before setting off. It took half a day to transport the frozen Moryo to Sealed Demon Mountain, where Miroku activated the mountain's sealing array, sinking the ice sculpture deep into its core.
During the process, Hikari and Kikyo followed Miroku inside the mountain to observe the shrine maiden's sealing techniques.
"What do you think, Kikyo?" Hikari asked.
"…It's different from the sealing techniques I've learned, but I can discern some patterns," Kikyo said after a moment's thought.
The sealing techniques of the Naruto world naturally differed from those in Inuyasha. The distinction was like that between different languages—unique in script, pronunciation, and grammar, but a master linguist could grasp the underlying logic and quickly adapt. Kikyo was such a master.
Minato Namikaze was another.
[Unnamed: [Sealing Technique Diagrams.jpg]×20]
[Unnamed @ForeverCarryingSis: These are all the techniques Kikyo and I could observe. What's your take, Minato?]
[ForeverCarryingSis: …I've heard the shrine maiden lineage's sealing techniques are uniquely exquisite, and seeing them now, it's true. I've studied the Uzumaki clan's sealing arts with my wife, but these are hard to decipher right away. It'll take some time to analyze.]
[Unnamed: No problem. I'm sure Kikyo would love to discuss them with you.]
While Minato was fascinated by techniques, Bulma and others were more intrigued by Moryo itself.
[Bulma: Hikari, you and Eri talked about this "Moryo" thing—what does it look like? How strong is it? Why didn't you livestream it for us?!]
[Unnamed: Uh… forgot.]
[Unnamed: Its look? Kinda ugly-cool, I guess…]
To satisfy Bulma's curiosity, Hikari gave a verbal rundown of the battle.
She also checked in on Bulma's situation.
[Bulma: I'm back in the Dragon Ball world. Najenda gave me some Orichalcum, and I'm working with Dad to analyze its components to see if we can replicate or mass-produce it with tech. Yamato's here too.]
[GhostPrincess: Yup! Uncle Briefs and Aunt Bikini are so nice—they don't mind me being here at all! They've made tons of food, way better than what I got on Onigashima!]
[Unnamed: …]
The Briefs' acceptance of Yamato wasn't surprising. They were probably the most laid-back couple in the Dragon Ball world. A 2.6-meter-tall Yamato was no big deal—heck, even a 7.1-meter Kaido would probably just prompt them to ask if he struggles to find clothes.
Still, it seemed Yamato was planning to enjoy herself fully before returning to Onigashima. Like a kid running away from home, knowing a scolding awaits but wanting to make the most of it.
Then, the chat group was flooded with pictures.
[GhostPrincess: Oh, the photo button's here? That's so cool!]
[GhostPrincess: *[Almond Pudding.jpg], [Black Forest Cake.jpg], [Fresh Fruit Ice Cream.jpg]*… These are what I've eaten lately!]
[YotsuyaMiko: They look so tasty!]
[NishinakaTiger: Yeah, I wish I could try some.]
[GhostPrincess: Easy! I'll ask Aunt Bikini if she's okay with it. If she is, I'll put some in the group shop for you to buy and try.]
[NishinakaTiger: Sweet, I want the Black Forest Cake!]
[YotsuyaMiko: I'll take the almond pudding, thanks, Big Sis Yamato!]
Slurp…
The stream of dessert photos flashing through Hikari's mind made her a bit hungry.
She'd planned to ask Yuji Itadori about the progress in the Jujutsu Kaisen world and whether he needed help with cursed spirits. But seeing him eagerly chatting with Yamato and Miko about food, she figured nothing major was happening and decided to save the topic for later.
—Helping was partly an excuse to check out the special-grade cursed spirits, like Mahoraga and Mahito. Mahoraga's adaptability could theoretically counter Esdeath's time-stop, and Mahito's soul manipulation might help repair Kikyo's damaged soul—or at least inspire advancements in Yin-Yang Release.
Sukuna was another interest, but as a spirit residing in Yuji's body, dealing with him without harming the "human pillar" was tricky. Plus, with only a few of his twenty fingers recovered, killing him now felt like a waste. It required careful planning.
…
After completing Moryo's sealing ritual, Hikari's group followed Miroku back to the capital.
The crisis in the Land of Demons was mostly resolved, though some lingering puppets needed cleanup. That task carried separate pay and was straightforward—without Moryo's power, the puppets' regeneration was weaker, breaking apart permanently after a few hits.
Kakashi's team from Konoha took on the job.
Yugito Nii and her Cloud team, after collecting their reward for escorting Miroku, left immediately—either to return to the Cloud Village or to track Hidan.
Esdeath was a bit disappointed. "That blonde woman seemed pretty strong. I was hoping to spar with her."
"There'll be a chance," Hikari said. "Next time, I'll take you to her village. There are two other tough guys there who might catch your eye."
She meant the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee—both physical powerhouses, with Bee being a perfect Jinchuriki. Together, they could probably give Esdeath a good fight.
For now, Hikari was focused on Miroku's explanation of Moryo's origins.
As Miroku had hinted, Moryo was a "clone" derived from the first shrine maiden of the Land of Demons, created due to natural energy corruption.
"Natural energy corruption?" Hikari asked.
"Exactly," Miroku nodded. "The shrine maiden lineage dates back over a thousand years, before the Ninja Sect existed. Back then, there was no concept of chakra or ninjutsu—just the omnipresent energy of nature. Gifted individuals discovered this energy and learned to harness it, giving rise to the 'shrine maiden' role.
Long ago, there were multiple shrine maiden lineages, but most have faded over time. Today, only the Land of Demons' lineage remains."
"I see," Hikari said, rubbing her chin. "So, the 'spiritual power' of your lineage is essentially the same as the 'sage arts' of the Three Holy Lands?"
"You could say that," Miroku confirmed. "Our so-called 'spiritual power' is really sage chakra, refined from absorbing and processing natural energy. But not everyone can do it. I can because my bloodline, inherited from the first shrine maiden, gives me the potential.
Compared to humans, animals have a longer history of mastering natural energy. The most advanced among them became demon beasts and formed groups like the Three Holy Lands. Humans, limited by their physiology, have a lower capacity for natural energy. Even the most talented risk death or corruption during training, becoming puppets of that energy."
Miroku's explanation was understated.
Even the sage arts of the Three Holy Lands had high failure rates. The toad statues at Mount Myoboku were remnants of failed Sage Mode practitioners. Jiraiya's frog-like features in Sage Mode and Kabuto's later monstrous appearance were side effects of Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave's techniques.
Outside the Holy Lands, there was another clear example: Jugo.
Jugo, a natural sage, unconsciously absorbed natural energy. When it accumulated excessively, it overrode his will, turning him violent and murderous—actions he'd never commit in his calm state.
Likely, the first shrine maiden had a similar constitution. Unable to control the overwhelming natural energy she absorbed, she separated it and sealed it away, inadvertently creating Moryo, a demon that nearly brought catastrophe.
"Got it," Hikari said, finally grasping what Miroku meant by "same origin." Moryo and the shrine maidens were like Kami and Demon King Piccolo.
"One more question," Hikari said, taking a breath and looking at Miroku. "Can the shrine maiden method of refining natural energy be taught to others?"
"…" Miroku paused, then spoke slowly. "I'm… not sure.
As I mentioned, my ability to refine spiritual power comes largely from my bloodline. Since you're not of our lineage, even if I taught you the method, you might not be able to use it. But if you're willing to learn, I'll do my best to teach you. If we can analyze the principles and adapt them to your constitution, you might develop your own unique 'spiritual power' system."