"Don't worry, Yomi. Fishing in troubled waters and snatching the sword amidst chaos? That's my speciality."
"After all, everyone knows Noriyuki Izuna excels at curse-breaking. A mere seal is nothing to me."
As they approached Tōga's remains, Yomi Isayama resisted the urge to cover her ears while listening to Noriyuki's self-praise.
Luring Noriyuki into accepting the mission had been absurdly simple.
Yomi had merely mentioned needing his assistance, and the man had immediately envisioned countless merits raining from the sky, making grand promises before they'd even begun.
This made Yomi fear Noriyuki might be eliminated before he could break Tessaiga's seal, prompting her warning:
"Don't get careless. Our opponents are the SDS elites. While the Black Reaper and LycoReco's two elite members will be held back by the Dog Demon and Divine General Shirayuki, anything can happen in this chaotic battle."
Noriyuki's eyes lit up at Yomi's words, but his focus veered completely off course:
"Oh? Is Shirayuki Hotogi joining us, too?"
"Come to think of it, when you were captured before, I actually provided directions to Miss Shirayuki. Though she deemed my participation in the rescue too dangerous and ordered me to stand by."
"Personally, I think she worried unnecessarily. While I'm no good at direct combat, I could've easily stalled that yokai with the staff."
'That happened?' Yomi blinked in surprise, suspicion creeping in.
'Had Noriyuki really sought Shirayuki's help to rescue her?'
'But why hadn't Shirayuki mentioned it?'
Though inwardly doubtful, Yomi showed nothing outwardly.
Regardless of anything else, Noriyuki had fled when she needed him most - an undeniable fact.
She couldn't trust a man who'd abandon even his fiancée as a human shield to save himself.
Cooperation might work for routine missions, but when facing real danger, such a backstabbing man's words were lucky to be 30% truthful.
"I see. So you went to find the Divine General beforehand? No wonder she arrived so promptly."
Yomi lied effortlessly while adding pointed advice:
"Stay alert during the coming chaos. If things go badly, move toward me. I'll try to protect you."
'You protect me? That's rich.'
Noriyuki barely suppressed his internal scoff.
Though Yomi was the Countermeasures Office's star elite - the so-called prodigy genius - talent didn't equal true strength.
Having seen Yomi fail to block even a single swipe from the Great Yokai Dog Demon, Noriyuki would never seek shelter near her.
If real danger came, he'd definitely head toward Shirayuki instead - might even get acquainted.
But Noriyuki wasn't stupid. While scheming internally, he nodded agreeably:
"I will. As soon as I obtain Tessaiga, I'll head towards you."
"This time, we must show the SDS what our Countermeasures Office is capable of."
Yomi Isayama remained silent as she watched Noriyuki Izuna's determined expression.
Noriyuki hadn't witnessed Sesshōmaru being bisected and didn't understand the situation, but she knew all too well - one of their Great Yokai had nearly been killed in a single encounter with the SDS forces.
And yet he still wanted to show off?
If not for the Dog Tribe's generous offer and Kuesu Jingūji, the witch guarding outside, she wouldn't even be involved in this mess.
"If you're so confident, then we'll be counting on you later."
With those words, Yomi said no more, leading Noriyuki to the rendezvous point before Tōga's skeletal remains.
"You've arrived."
Senhime Rin Getsu, standing before Tōga's remains, turned her head to observe the newcomers:
"You both understand what needs to be done?"
Noriyuki's eyes lit up upon seeing Senhime. He stepped forward eagerly, cutting in front of Yomi:
"Everything's clear, my lady! You can leave it to me!"
As he spoke, Noriyuki glanced at Tōga's bones, then somewhat guiltily averted his gaze.
"???"
Senhime looked at Noriyuki in confusion.
'This human actually seemed excited about a suicide mission? Rushing to his death?'
The thought made Senhime regard Yomi with newfound respect. This human seemed quite skilled at deception.
What a cunning species humans were.
"If everything's understood, then prepare yourselves."
As she spoke, Senhime raised her hands, forming the treasure vase mudra:
"I'll use Tōga's remains as a medium to erect a barrier. The final battle will take place within these bones."
Hearing that there was also barrier support, Noriyuki Izuna immediately perked up and responded loudly:
"Yes, madam!"
...
Inside Tōga's body.
Staring at the bone platform the size of half a football field, densely wrapped in fine skeletal structures, Inuyasha's eyes narrowed sharply.
Chisato Nishikigi, who had been surveying the area, remarked with awe:
"This space is almost comparable to the abyss where Kisara was sealed."
"But speaking of which, where exactly is Tessaiga sealed?"
"Don't let your guard down, Chisato. Leaving aside whatever contingencies Tōga might have left here, there might also be people waiting for us outside."
Her intuition told Takina Inoue that their retreat might be cut off, but seeing Luo Shu's unchanged expression, she understood the situation hadn't yet slipped beyond his control.
"It's inevitable that Tōga left some measures here, but the danger shouldn't be too high. After all, he wanted Inuyasha to inherit Tessaiga—he wouldn't set overly harsh trials."
At this, Luo Shu turned to the distracted Inuyasha:
"You should be able to sense something, right? Inuyasha."
Inuyasha fell silent for a moment before pointing toward the centre:
"I don't know why, but I feel like there's something over there."
Hearing this, Luo Shu glanced at Takina Inoue, who immediately understood. She drew her pistol from her thigh and fired several shots in the direction Inuyasha had indicated.
Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out.
A dark green barrier materialised at the bullet impacts, blocking the gunfire.
Simultaneously, within the translucent dark green barrier, everyone caught sight of a Demon Sword—proudly standing upright, its blade sheathed in a worn and weathered scabbard, embedded in a bone platform.
It was none other than Tessaiga, one of the Three Supreme Swords, representing humanity.
Seeing Tessaiga, Luo Shu immediately said, "Inuyasha, go retrieve the sword."
Myōga, perched on Inuyasha's shoulder, eagerly urged:
"Yes, Lord Inuyasha! Go and claim the sword. This is a trial you must undergo."
Gritting his teeth, Inuyasha strode forward.
Just then, a cold snort echoed from behind:
"A worthless half-yokai like you has no right to take Tessaiga."
Hearing this, Luo Shu frowned and turned around. Seeing Sesshōmaru standing unharmed behind him, he couldn't help but express surprise:
"It seems Senhime Rin Getsu still has quite a few treasures in her possession!"
Sesshōmaru coldly glared at Luo Shu, his voice icy:
"Treacherous human, your opponent now is me!"
With that, Sesshōmaru leapt into the air, his right hand forming a claw.
Five razor-sharp talons, wreathed in corrosive poison mist, tore through the air with a piercing shriek as they slashed toward Luo Shu!