"Looks like you all got beaten pretty badly."
Cu Chulainn looked at the group resting and bandaging on the ground, speaking up.
He and his Master had just arrived, only to see the group supporting each other as they descended the mountain.
"Shut up!"
"Inuyasha, stop moving around."
Compared to those who'd gone up the mountain, Miroku's group was far more relaxed.
Those Demon Youkai had only fought with them briefly before dissolving into ash and disappearing.
So they'd only expended energy and stamina--nothing like the severity of those on the mountain.
"Kagome, you've worked hard."
Finishing the bandages on Kagome's thigh, Sango offered comfort.
Just from this wound alone, Sango understood the enemy's intent. Taking the shard was incidental--the real aim was limiting Kagome's mobility, making escape from Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon difficult.
After all, with almost no one present in good condition, each person unable to move increased the difficulty of fighting or escaping.
"Mm mm..."
"What's wrong, Master Jaken?"
"Fool, don't you understand how serious things are?!"
Lost in thought, Jaken was suddenly asked by Rin's cheerful voice. He immediately gestured wildly.
"Everyone else's Dragon Balls were taken. Once Kirinmaru gets Naraku and the Shikon no Tama's Dragon Balls, you'll be next."
"Having Lord Sesshomaru fight those two alone is simply impossible."
Hands tucked into his sleeves, Jaken was confident in Sesshomaru's strength but didn't believe he could match those two great youkai.
One might be manageable, but two together meant no chance of winning.
"Mm..."
Her small face thoughtful, Rin also understood Jaken's worry.
If possible, she didn't want Sesshomaru facing such danger either.
"Jaken..."
"Yes!"
"Don't say unnecessary things."
"Eh?"
Hearing Sesshomaru's call, Jaken jolted to attention, only to hear that calm reprimand.
Lord Sesshomaru was harsh on him as always...
"Huh?"
"What are you laughing at?"
Jaken recovered from his startled expression, turning to look at suddenly-laughing Rin with displeasure.
Was getting scolded really that amusing?!
"No, Master Jaken, we worried too much."
Sitting on a rock swinging her feet, Rin looked quite happy.
"?"
Not understanding this little girl's thinking, Jaken was confused.
"How could Lord Sesshomaru possibly lose?"
That trusting tone left Jaken speechless.
"Besides, I believe in Miss Akame... Also, isn't everyone here?"
"We can definitely defeat that youkai called Kirinmaru."
Looking around, those optimistic words came out.
"Mm..."
Swallowing, Jaken followed her gaze and felt inexplicable confidence rising.
Yes...
They had four Servants on their side.
Plenty of people who could fight directly.
Kirinmaru only brought a reluctant Great Dog Demon.
Couldn't they overturn him?
They could, definitely could!
Right!
Times had changed!
This was no longer the era when great youkai ruled everything.
"Tch, Sesshomaru, what are you planning to do next?"
"Without a proper sword, you can't fight Dad and that guy, right?"
"Go to Totosai for a makeshift blade?"
Lying on his back on the ground, Inuyasha looked up at Sesshomaru and asked.
He knew Sesshomaru hadn't given up either.
But Tenseiga had no combat power. Bare-handed Sesshomaru couldn't possibly win.
"Hmph, that's not for a half-youkai like you to worry about."
"At least I won't need Tessaiga."
The burn marks on his palm were already healing. Sesshomaru spoke coldly.
Thump thump...
The constant drumming and youkai power within him made him realize something.
The more he used Tessaiga, the more he felt it unnecessary.
Father's blades--besides Tenseiga, both So'unga and Tessaiga were useless to him.
His previous obsession with Tessaiga was just the fixation of a "rightful heir."
And Sesshomaru had understood...
What he needed wasn't Tessaiga or the title of heir.
The Great Dog Demon was the Great Dog Demon. He was himself.
No need to cling to that old era's "glory."
Because--
He, Sesshomaru, would surpass his father, the Great Dog Demon!
"!"
"?"
Vigorous green youkai power erupted. Sesshomaru was enveloped within it.
Everyone turned to look in shock, then witnessed the light extending from his severed arm.
"His left arm..."
Jaken's eyes went wide, jaw dropping in astonishment.
"This is...?"
That surging youkai power was far more intense than when they'd first met. Rikuo felt a hint of "fear."
"Whoosh..."
When all calmed, everyone saw Sesshomaru's slender arm now gripping an ornate blade.
"Bakusaiga!!"
Myoga stared at the sword in disbelief, never expecting to witness its creation.
Though Totosai had mentioned it, who would've thought it would appear like this?
This also meant Sesshomaru had completely severed his obsession with Tessaiga and being the Great Dog Demon's "heir."
Sesshomaru always had a demon blade suited to him--stronger than Tessaiga, So'unga, or Tenseiga.
But that blade lay dormant within him. Only when Sesshomaru truly "realized" would it emerge.
Knowing this, the Great Dog Demon never intended to leave Tessaiga or So'unga to Sesshomaru.
And when Sesshomaru obtained Bakusaiga, it proved he'd surpassed the living Great Dog Demon.
"What terrifying youkai energy..."
Even though it was quickly restrained, Miroku still found it astonishing.
Sesshomaru now exceeded anything before!
"Hmph..."
Holding the blade before his eyes, ignoring everyone's stares, Sesshomaru knew.
Next time they met, as he'd told his father...
He would defeat Kirinmaru!
...
"Heh..."
Flying alongside Kirinmaru, the Great Dog Demon seemed to sense something. He glanced back momentarily, then his lips curved upward.
"?"
"Can't sense any presence anywhere..."
"Did they hide inside the jewel?"
Kirinmaru glanced at him, finding it odd but not dwelling on it. Instead, he focused on tracking the Shikon no Tama and Naraku.
Thinking of the only possibility, Kirinmaru stopped flying.
"Probably preparing to emerge fully."
"But they can't hide forever."
Also stopping, the Great Dog Demon decided not to rush.
"Hmph, just another trip into another dimension to catch them."
Facing those two in hiding, Kirinmaru wasn't without options.
This world had plenty of ways to open dimensional paths.
The most direct method was entering the Meido to locate the Shikon no Tama.
But the Great Dog Demon wouldn't volunteer this information.
He'd rather buy more time for those children. The later Kirinmaru found the Shikon no Tama, the more rest they'd get.
...
"Looks like the result wasn't as beautiful as you imagined."
"Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon didn't kill their group."
"Your schemes ultimately can never amount to much, Naraku."
Hiding inside the jewel, the Shikon no Tama wore an amused expression, mocking Naraku.
"Hmph... doesn't matter."
Hearing this, Naraku's expression didn't change, responding with a light tone.
"The more you scheme, the more you realize uncontrollable situations arise."
"So that's why you're like this..."
"You should understand this better than anyone."
Speaking pointedly, the Shikon no Tama looked at Naraku meaningfully.
"Yes... so, now is the time to fulfill wishes."
"All the effort hasn't been for nothing."
Giving Byakuya and Kanna their final orders, Naraku turned to face the Shikon no Tama.
"Hehe, Naraku."
"There's something wrong."
Naraku's head was being absorbed into its body. The Shikon no Tama corrected dismissively.
"Even if you collect all the shards, your..."
"Wish... I won't grant it."
What finally reached Naraku's ears was that "broken promise."
"Is that so?"
That emotionless response surprised the Shikon no Tama.
No imagined rage, frenzy, loss, or grief.
Only an extremely calm demeanor with slight regret.
'If this is a destined deception... perhaps this is so-called karmic retribution?'
He'd sought the Shikon no Tama only to obtain Kikyo's "heart."
If the Shikon no Tama couldn't even grant such a simple wish, it only proved those great youkai were right to dismiss it.
Looking at the three Dragon Balls floating nearby, Naraku had one final thought.
'Is this too just a meaningless ritual?'
Perhaps nothing in this world could truly grant wishes...
Everything was just his one-sided delusion.
"You discarded your human heart and found it didn't work. Retrieved it and still didn't work..."
"In the end... you could only rely on wishes to fulfill that pitiful desire."
"How small and sad."
"But rest assured, I'll fulfill your other wish..."
"Though by then you won't see or feel it."
"Hahaha..."
Toward Naraku, it was full of criticism.
This half-youkai obsessed with Kikyo, in the end, discovered he couldn't escape that "love."
Before, he could comfort himself that Onigumo's human heart was influencing him, but in truth... he'd long since drowned.
Because he knew he couldn't obtain that feeling, he twisted. Because of jealousy, he wanted to destroy. Because he wanted to possess, he wished.
The body was mutating. The Shikon no Tama felt that wonderful "progress."
Indeed--
Muzan's power and Naraku's twisted heart were a perfect match.
"OOOOOH!!"
Unprecedented changes were occurring. The Shikon no Tama let out a joyous roar.
"The strongest youkai... is about to be born!!"
...
"Yare yare."
"Naraku's always ordering people around."
"Though we already cleaned out the dead souls nearby, this is too much."
Hiding in a cave, Byakuya looked at standing Kanna and sighed.
Patter...
Kanna walked forward with her small feet.
"Going now?"
"Better to wait until they start fighting."
"No matter what, you can't beat that group alone, right?"
Byakuya watched Kanna's movement and tried to dissuade her.
"Preparing..."
But Kanna's emotionless response left Byakuya stunned.
"Understood, I'll do it with you."
Following helplessly, Byakuya had no intention of leaving.
Even if Naraku was gone, they still had to carry out his final orders.
The hidden Byakuya and Kanna had a chance to succeed, especially when conflict erupted.
But once done, they'd instantly become targets for venting rage.
Death was inevitable...
And it would be ugly--possibly not even keeping their souls.
Yet Byakuya and Kanna didn't care.
For them, living or dying held little meaning.
Being born into this world was just Naraku's "whim."
Unlike rebellious "Kagura," Byakuya and Kanna harbored no resistance toward Naraku.
But thinking about what came next, Byakuya couldn't help sighing...
Such disgusting methods were indeed Naraku's style.
'During Inuyasha's group's battle with the Shikon no Tama, force Kagome or Kikyo to death.'
Byakuya knew exactly what Naraku was plotting.
Anyone dying near the Shikon no Tama now would have their soul devoured with almost no escape.
Having him and Kanna assassinate Kagome and Kikyo during Inuyasha's group's fight with the Shikon no Tama...
No brain needed to imagine the outcome.
"Even in death, you won't let the living rest in peace... Naraku."
...
"Tch, again, Rikuo!"
"Isn't this a bit too aggressive? Your wounds will reopen."
Rikuo watched Inuyasha holding Tessaiga with concern.
"No time!"
"I have to master it."
"Just a bit more... If I could've used it before, dealing with that guy wouldn't have been so hard."
His upper body wrapped in bandages, Inuyasha endured the pain and spoke.
Right, what he was counting on was using "fear."
That was the only way to improve himself in short time.
Before long, Kirinmaru would attack again to seize Rin's Dragon Ball.
He couldn't just watch that bastard act so arrogantly.
Holding that frustration, he had to master it no matter what.
"Lady Kikyo?"
"Kikyo!"
Rin and Kagome, leaning against a tree nearby, called out happily seeing Kikyo awaken.
"It seems... everyone's safe?"
Observing the surroundings, Kikyo murmured softly.
For some reason, she had an uneasy feeling.
"Mm..."
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Kikyo's odd expression, Kagome asked first.
The miasma still lingering in her body continued to erode her. The missing souls also affected her body's functions.
'Depletion...'
If this continued... her "time was truly running out."
Her gaze shifted to Kagome and Rin's faces, then drifted to Moroha sleeping on the ground nearby. She made a decision.