"Amazing! He actually made Naraku run away!!"
Shippo shouted with eyes wide and sparkling in joyful surprise.
There had been times before when Inuyasha and Kagome forced Naraku to retreat, but lately that had become increasingly difficult. Naraku was no fool—he'd grown stronger in targeted ways specifically to counter them.
The Naraku who once took wounds from the [Wind Scar] had gradually fortified himself step by step. Eventually, even the red Tessaiga specialized for barrier-breaking couldn't cut through his defenses anymore.
Only after Inuyasha obtained the [Kongousouha] could they breach his barriers again, yet even that dealt no fatal damage to Naraku himself.
But now? Rikuo had sliced right through that barrier and sent Naraku fleeing with a serious wound. Truly impressive.
"Now's our chance to finish Naraku for good!"
Miroku watched that fleeing trail and immediately called out.
From what he'd just witnessed, Rikuo's blade had clearly inflicted unexpected damage. Otherwise, knowing Naraku's personality, he would never have fled without even leaving a single mocking word behind.
The youkai power continuously streaming from that wound was quite devastating for any youkai. To put it in human terms, it was like blood constantly being drained. For youkai, their power was precisely that vital.
Even Naraku couldn't shrug off taking a hit like that.
"!"
Kagura watched Naraku flee without so much as issuing instructions, and she couldn't help clenching the paper fan in her hand.
'I misjudged him. That guy really does have the power to kill Naraku!'
She understood immediately what that meant. Looking up at Rikuo riding upon the clouds, she had never felt this exhilarated before.
This might be the closest Naraku had ever been to death!
As long as Kagome and the others pressed the attack, there was a real chance to destroy Naraku right here and now.
"Fortunately, we can still condense it back with youkai power."
Rikuo watched the fleeing Naraku without panic. As long as his Reality Marble remained active, normally no one could escape without his permission.
Rather, it was the shattered Nenekirimaru in his hand that drew his attention.
"Hah!"
"[Hiraikotsu]!"
Sounds of battle from below made Rikuo glance over.
Sango and Miroku had taken the initiative to engage Kagura and Kanna.
"Kagome-chan and Rikuo, go pursue Naraku! We'll hold these two here!"
Understanding Kagura and Kanna's situation, Rikuo also grasped Miroku and Sango's considerate intent.
If they simply asked Kagura and Kanna to step aside and let them pass, killing Naraku quickly would be ideal. But if they failed to finish the job in time, these youkai sisters whose lifelines Naraku controlled would inevitably face his wrath.
Rather than risk that outcome, it was better to actively tie them down so they couldn't support Naraku—giving them a valid excuse for their failure.
"To show such consideration even for enemy youkai... what a good group of people. I'm beginning to understand why she summoned me."
Moved by this sentiment, Rikuo found himself admiring their approach.
After all, a gap always existed between humans and youkai. Humans who could proactively bridge that divide and even think on behalf of youkai were rarer creatures than half-demons themselves.
Especially toward enemies—such magnanimity and gentleness wasn't something just anyone possessed.
WHOOSH!
A black cloud descended from the sky. Kagome eyed the Somersault Cloud that Rikuo had split off for her and immediately climbed on with Shippo.
Together, they chased after Naraku.
"Sorry, but we'll have to keep you occupied here."
Miroku faced Kanna and spoke with serious determination.
"Che... naive fools."
Kagura raised her fan to deflect Sango's Hiraikotsu, refusing to accept their kindness.
Until she witnessed Naraku's death with her own eyes, she didn't dare allow herself to hope.
"[Dance of the Dragon and Snake]!!"
Her counterattack came fierce and focused. Kagura appeared unusually serious.
"Kirara!"
Riding her trusted partner, Sango weaved through the dangerous winds.
"!"
But Miroku noticed that Kanna showed no intention of fighting whatsoever.
The expressionless girl simply held her mirror, gazing silently into the distance.
"Fragment... Sword fragment..."
Then Miroku caught Kanna's cold, hollow words.
In his vision, Kanna walked to the side, crouched down, and picked something up.
"That's from Rikuo's... What are you trying to do?! Kanna!!"
Watching Kanna place that powder-sized fragment into her mirror, Miroku felt an ominous chill run down his spine.
That was a fragment from the blade Rikuo had just wielded...
The implications of Kanna deliberately collecting it—
"!"
'As expected... Naraku hasn't given up.'
Noticing Kanna's actions, Kagura realized Naraku must have given her orders.
Otherwise, Kanna wouldn't have deliberately done something like this on her own initiative. She lacked that kind of autonomous thought.
'No... if I say it... But...'
"You'd better stop her! Otherwise, the one getting cut by that strange demon sword next time might be Inuyasha!"
Unable to stay silent any longer, Kagura finally shouted out her warning.
"You?"
"?"
Sango and Miroku both froze, confused by her outburst.
"Kanna's mirror can steal and replicate things! Even if it's just a few fragments from that youkai Rikuo's sword, Kanna can restore it! If such a dangerous demon sword falls into Naraku's hands..."
Her words cut off mid-sentence as Kagura broke into cold sweat. She instantly collapsed to her knees—she felt it, the sensation of her heart being crushed!
"What?!"
Understanding the stakes now, Miroku and Sango immediately shifted their focus to the emotionless Kanna.
The fragments reflected in that mirror were unmistakable.
The two charged toward Kanna in unison.
...
"Kagura, you really do have a death wish... Are those people truly worth paying such a price?"
Youkai power continued flowing from his body. The situation was quite dire—even though the wound had healed over, it couldn't stop the drain.
But Naraku paid this no mind. Instead, his attention shifted elsewhere as he squeezed that beating heart with great displeasure.
He could have taken advantage of this opportunity to obtain a wonderful trump card...
Using that Servant's demon sword to cut Inuyasha and the others in the future—now that would have been entertaining.
But Kagura had exposed his scheme. Even Naraku wouldn't tolerate such blatant betrayal from her.
Appropriately squeezing her heart to inflict pain, Naraku chose not to kill her just yet.
He knew of the possibility of resurrection via Tenseiga.
If he truly wanted her dead, he would ensure she perished beyond even Tenseiga's reach.
WHOOSH!!
The familiar sound of a bow being drawn and loosed reached his ears. His heart vanished from his grip in an instant, his arm shot clean off. Naraku looked up.
"What a pity! So that was Kagura's heart..."
Watching Naraku store her heart somewhere unknown, Shippo and Kagome exchanged glances.
"I told you—you can't escape."
Rikuo looked down from above at Naraku cowering in the corner of a building and spoke coldly.
"Hmph hmph... I did indeed underestimate these so-called Servants too much. I thought ones like Kirinmaru were the exceptions..."
After all, with that useless Muzan as his benchmark, Naraku hadn't believed there would be any genuine threats besides Toga and Kirinmaru.
But now it seemed he had been far too arrogant. Fortunately, the situation wasn't beyond remedy.
"That bastard! Cornered with nowhere to run yet still acting so cocky!"
Shippo glared at Naraku's composed demeanor with visible irritation.
"Kagome... and Rikuo, was it? You win this round. But next time won't be so easy."
Looking up at the two hovering in the air, Naraku's body suddenly began to warp as he spoke.
"!"
"?"
His form gradually dissolved before their eyes.
"Naraku's using the same trick as that time in the underworld to escape again!"
Shippo stared at the scene and immediately cried out in alarm.
"He even has this kind of trick?"
Rikuo hadn't expected this youkai to be so cautious, having prepared escape methods in advance.
"I won't let you slip away!"
Kagome drew her bow once more, took aim, and fired.
But just as her spiritually-charged arrow shot toward Naraku, his distorted body dispersed completely.