"Oh oh, it's finished."
'Never thought the General's left-behind items would be useless.'
'Speaking of which, there's no point adding Meido Zangetsuha to Tenseiga now.'
Totosai handed Bakusaiga's sheath to Sesshomaru, feeling emotional.
Originally, the Great Dog Demon's "will" included having Sesshomaru train Meido Zangetsuha's proficiency with Tenseiga, then ultimately transfer it to Inuyasha's Tessaiga.
But in the current situation, Sesshomaru probably wouldn't bother.
Now that he had Bakusaiga and the confidence to defeat all enemies, why help Inuyasha train "Meido Zangetsuha"?
The moment he obtained Bakusaiga, Sesshomaru had surpassed the living Great Dog Demon--he had the capital to be willful.
Since Inuyasha couldn't train it up himself anyway, Totosai simply used it elsewhere.
"Mm..."
"Wait, Sesshomaru!"
Seeing him turn to leave, Totosai immediately called out.
"?"
Glancing back at Totosai, Sesshomaru paused.
"Take this with you too."
"Made a sheath for it while I was at it."
Tossing over a blade in its sheath, Totosai spoke.
Catch!
Catching it, Sesshomaru looked at this sword.
"That half-youkai Servant who belongs to Kagome, right?"
"Whoever forged this blade was remarkable."
"Different in nature, but similar to Tessaiga in approach..."
Totosai recalled the forging process, somewhat emotional.
Clearly a demon blade, yet it couldn't harm humans...
Moreover, its lethality against youkai was astonishing. Totosai had even discovered this blade seemed specifically created to kill "certain creatures."
Hard to imagine this was a weapon humans could make.
He'd worked two days and nights without rest to restore it, using quite a few rare materials.
This was only because of his acquaintance with Kagome and the others--otherwise he'd never do such a losing deal.
'But... truly a fine blade.'
Thinking so, Totosai was quite pleased.
"Oh, and pass along a message--might be slightly more useful than the original blade. Since neither you nor Inuyasha need it anymore, I stuffed some extras in."
"Though not the complete version, it's more than enough as a combat technique."
"Hmph..."
Sesshomaru said nothing, simply flying away.
"Ah ah, left just like that."
Looking toward a certain direction, Totosai grew worried.
Since Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon's presence vanished two days ago, he'd been uneasy.
Though he didn't think those two great youkai would lose, he couldn't help worrying.
"I should rest a bit too. Really exhausted myself."
"Hope this isn't my last sleep ever..."
...
"Hehe..."
"How many more times will you try?"
"How many more times will you kill me?"
"How many more times will you struggle?"
Mocking sounds came from all directions. The Shikon no Tama's voice echoed through the space.
"Tch..."
Kirinmaru's expression was terrible as he faced the enemy, yet helpless.
"Looks like neither Kirinmaru nor I can kill you anymore."
The Great Dog Demon saw things clearly and admitted it.
"You knew this early on--that's why you didn't waste youkai power like Kirinmaru, isn't it?"
"Compared to Kirinmaru, you're much more sensible."
Flesh continued reviving from its shattered state. The Shikon no Tama spoke with leisure.
Two days ago, Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon had found it and attacked its still-"transforming" body.
In Kirinmaru's thinking, the Shikon no Tama was still "converting"--it definitely wouldn't fight them, might even flee.
But completely unexpected...
The Shikon no Tama not only didn't run, but let them attack freely.
Didn't even defend...
Just took every attack and technique head-on.
Yet the result was simply the cycle of "shatter body → rapid regeneration → shatter body → rapid regeneration."
No matter what Kirinmaru threw at it, nothing worked.
'Dragon scales... shell... various youkai traits all gradually spreading throughout its body.'
The Great Dog Demon had stopped attacking for other reasons too.
These two days, he'd constantly observed the Shikon no Tama's changes.
Wounds healed with abnormal speed.
Clearly a massive improvement from before...
'But this shouldn't be from the transformation.'
Recalling when it had stalled him earlier, the Shikon no Tama had shown similar "desperate" behavior.
"Getting anxious?"
Mocking words issued forth. The Shikon no Tama watched Kirinmaru, who could only glare.
"Don't underestimate me!"
A massive dark purple youkai power sphere hurtled forward. The Shikon no Tama remained unmoved.
CRACK!
Flesh was pulverized, but instantly restored.
That appearance was as if wounds began healing the moment they appeared--leaving no trace of injury afterward.
"You can no longer kill me."
"You're just making futile attempts."
"Honestly, those people outside might actually have a chance to kill me."
Still digesting the internal mutations, the Shikon no Tama wasn't worried at all.
From the start, the plan designed with Naraku was three-in-one combined with Berserker's traits to evolve.
Devour Muzan, devour Naraku, then use themselves to modify Berserker.
Berserker's power was perfect for a youkai. Though initially weak, it grew increasingly powerful later.
Having died 6 times now... combined with unique abilities, it was enough to prevent Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon from killing it completely.
It knew these two great youkai's attack methods inside out.
No unexpected massive damage would "burst" it to death.
Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon had enough power to kill it, but Berserker's traits made them unable to.
Conversely, those people outside were weaker than Kirinmaru and the Great Dog Demon, yet their special unknown powers held the possibility of killing it.
That's why the Shikon no Tama found it so ironic...
But once evolution completed, that possibility would also become "zero."
After evolving, it still had two revival chances...
Being killed three more times while growing ever stronger?
The Shikon no Tama believed that was impossible.
"Tch!!"
Rapidly retreating, Kirinmaru turned and charged toward the rift.
Staying here was indeed wasting time. He had to find a way to kill the Shikon no Tama.
As the Great Dog Demon turned to leave, he heard the Shikon no Tama's chilling words.
"Kirinmaru, no matter what, you'll never escape being killed by something neither human nor youkai."
"Though it's also possible I'll personally fulfill that prophecy..."
"Until then, enjoy your lingering existence!"