"Interesting!"
"I never expected such a powerful fighter among the Servants!"
Forced backward, Kirinmaru dodged Cu Chulainn's spear with rising excitement.
Opponents who could pressure him like this in close combat were exceptionally rare!
The last time he'd felt such surging exhilaration was during his battle with the Great Dog Demon.
HRAAH!
Swinging his blade to parry the spear, he pushed it aside with force, then thrust his sword tip toward Cu Chulainn's head.
Cu Chulainn twisted aside, evading the direct strike, and swept his deflected spear back around.
WHOOSH!
Leaping into the air, the spear swept beneath his feet. The instant Kirinmaru landed, he gathered a sphere of youki in his free hand and hurled it forward.
BOOM!!
A violent explosion sent dust billowing across the ground.
"Both of them are so strong..."
Still maintaining his human form, Rikuo watched intently, not missing a single detail.
Cu Chulainn's combat awareness and experience far exceeded his own and Akame's.
He'd sensed it from their sparring sessions and training.
If he had to put it into words... it was...!
A battle-hardened warrior refined to perfection.
Setting aside his two powerful Noble Phantasms, Cu Chulainn himself possessed formidable combat prowess.
Kagome had also shared his background and information with them.
'The hero of mythology... the demigod Cu Chulainn.'
Compared to those who merely called themselves "gods," this man was a true legend.
Even in terms of era, he had lived in an incredibly distant age.
Thinking back to how he'd rashly challenged Cu Chulainn and still lived to tell the tale--he'd truly been lucky.
Coming to this Dragon Ball War... had been a blessing!
Here, he could gain experience far more meaningful than ordinary training.
Something nearly impossible to obtain in his original world.
"Heheh..."
"My name is Kirinmaru!"
"Unknown warrior! State your name!"
Slashing through the dust cloud, Kirinmaru called out to Cu Chulainn with fervor.
"Heh--let's save that for after the fight!"
Eyes sharp, Cu Chulainn charged forward, relishing the intense battle.
Yes--
This was the confrontation he craved!
Bold and unrestrained, no petty tricks or schemes, just the pure "instinct" to fight with everything he had.
"Very well!"
Receiving no answer, Kirinmaru didn't grow angry or arrogant as he usually might.
He could tolerate such rudeness from the strong.
Meanwhile, on the other side--
HAH!
Raising his [Five Thunder Fingers] to block the Great Dog Demon's cleaving strike, Koga felt the tremendous force behind it the instant they connected.
Urgh...
His feet were practically welding themselves into the ground, his body sinking.
"Out of my way, scrawny wolf!"
"[Kongousouha]!"
Gripping Tessaiga, Inuyasha launched himself up, bringing down his ultimate technique from above.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!!
The barrage of adamant shards forced the Great Dog Demon to release his pressure on Koga and sweep his blade upward instead.
FWOOOM!
Sword pressure crisscrossed, shattering all the incoming adamant in an instant.
'As expected... Pops' sword pressure is even stronger than Sesshomaru's. One direct hit and it's over.'
Witnessing this, Inuyasha understood just how serious the consequences could be.
Even though his father was clearly holding back, he still struggled to cope.
"Young man of the wolf tribe, you and Inuyasha should fall back."
"Focus on supporting Moroha--just cover her."
"Getting in close is too dangerous."
While slowly working to circumvent the Command Spell's compulsion, the Great Dog Demon also guided the three before him.
If he were wielding Tessaiga, it would be fine. But with Soun'ga in hand, the situation would be dire.
"Hey, Gramps--here I come!"
Already having applied her lipstick, Moroha summoned her massive youki phantom and called out.
"Bring it!"
HAAAAH!!!
BOOM!!
Having retreated a safe distance and taken cover, Miroku and the others watched both battles unfold, not daring to let their guard down.
"Are you alright?"
Noticing Kikyo leaning against a tree and seeming unwell, Kagome asked with concern.
"..."
Shaking her head, Kikyo said nothing. She glanced at the fading Command Spells on the back of her hand, then at Inuyasha and Moroha in the distance.
She had already transferred Moroha's bond to Kagome. Everything she needed to do was done.
To be able to fight like this against the combined threat of Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon--
Leaving the rest to them shouldn't be a problem.
Her body grew increasingly unresponsive. Even lifting a hand was exhaustingly difficult.
Without timely replenishment of souls, the ever-worsening miasma toxins pushed this body to its breaking point.
'Nearly at my limit...'
Revealing neither excess regret nor pain, Kikyo maintained her usual composure.
Seeing that Kikyo was unwilling to say more, Kagome recalled the earlier request.
'Please look after Moroha.'
'And above all, do not hold back in the battle against the Shikon no Tama.'
'Even if you are killed, just ensure you don't die within its immediate vicinity.'
'Its range for harvesting souls must have limits.'
'If necessary, you'll need to be the one to figure that boundary for everyone.'
Though it was earnest advice and instruction, Kagome understood the underlying meaning.
If they truly couldn't defeat the Shikon no Tama, at least don't die within the range where it could devour souls.
Death was one thing, but having your soul consumed too would be the true end.
"Ah, when exactly will Lord Sesshomaru return?!"
"This is so nerve-wracking!"
Jaken and several others poked their heads up to watch the fierce battle ahead, anxiety plain on their faces.
Though it looked evenly matched, Jaken knew things weren't that simple.
Any lapse in the next second could spell disaster...
They had numbers on their side, but their opponents were no pushovers either.
"Look!"
"They're about to--"
Kohaku pointed toward Kirinmaru and Cu Chulainn's direction. Everyone turned to see visible pressure waves erupting before their eyes.
Youki and magical energy...
BANG BANG BANG!!
Craters and cracks appeared everywhere. The rising auras revealed both combatants' intent to settle matters.
"Here it comes!!"
Raising his spear and leaping high, Cu Chulainn soared into the sky, then twisted his torso, the upper body driving forward as he hurled the spear--its crimson-blazing tip streaking downward.
Gae Bolg--Soaring Spear that Strikes with Death!
HRAAAAAH!!
With a roar, Kirinmaru triggered a massive vortex of youki from within himself. The gathered energy coalesced like a deep-purple moon, shooting upward from the ground.
"Get back!! Take cover behind the trees--brace for impact!"
Miroku shouted frantically. Everyone scrambled to take action.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion erupted ahead. Violent shockwaves surged outward.
The crimson and violet energies collided, flashing across the earth, annihilating everything in their wake.