"Is everyone alright?!"
As the dust settled, Sango shielded Kohaku and looked around.
"Yes, we're fine..."
"But Rikuo and the others--not so sure."
Miroku waved his staff to disperse the smoke as he replied. They had moved a safe distance away when the battle began, giving them enough time to brace and buffer the impact.
"Thank you, Kirara."
Kagome looked at Kirara, who had shielded them from the front.
"Eeeyahhh!!"
"Where's Rin?!"
"I'm fine, Master Jaken."
Covered in dust, Jaken scrambled up from the ground, frantically searching for Rin.
Seeing her tucked behind A-Un, he breathed a sigh of relief.
If anything happened to her, Jaken would be in serious trouble with Sesshomaru.
...
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
Rikuo and Akame had already been distancing themselves from the epicenter. They had escaped the blast radius.
"What tremendous power. Neither of them can be unharmed after that."
Turning to look ahead, an enormous crater gaped before them--as if a chunk of flesh had been torn from the earth itself.
The explosion had occurred mid-air, yet the residual force had carved out this devastation. Anyone caught in that would have been vaporized.
Crack...
A faint scraping sound reached his ears. Rikuo dashed forward and peered into the pit--Cu Chulainn, drenched in blood, clung to the crater wall with his hands.
"Oh? Rikuo, is it?"
Despite his severe injuries, he still maintained that vitality.
"Heave-ho!"
Treating his wounds as if they were nothing, his legs pushed off the crater wall while his arms swung like a pendulum, body gently rocking back and forth. Then, with a 180-degree flip, he vaulted up and over the edge.
"Ahh, that was one hell of a fight."
Stretching his arms, he chuckled lightly as if nothing had happened.
The first half of this war had been rather nauseating with Naraku and the Shikon no Tama, but the latter half had truly let him cut loose.
"Hm?"
"!"
Before he could say more, Rikuo and Akame sensed the youki stirring in the crater. They snapped their heads around to see Kirinmaru floating in the air, his armor shattered.
"Remarkable power."
Hearing the praise, Rikuo realized Kirinmaru had sustained only minor scrapes.
'He protected himself with youki?'
'What staggering reserves.'
To exchange blows with Cu Chulainn's attack while simultaneously shielding himself--truly worthy of a great youkai's reputation.
"Unfortunately, this is as far as you go."
Sensing Cu Chulainn's nearly depleted magical energy, Kirinmaru raised his blade and pointed.
'Strong, yes--but still no chance of killing the Shikon no Tama.'
'So it must be with the remaining Servants or the miko, then?'
Having assessed Cu Chulainn, Kirinmaru kept his original objective in mind.
Fundamentally, he'd come to verify whether the information the Shikon no Tama had "let slip" was true. Discovering the Dragon Ball was just a bonus.
Lancer had formidable strength, but strength alone couldn't kill the Shikon no Tama as it currently existed.
'Could it be the Great Dog Demon's granddaughter?'
'No--merely channeling her grandfather's youki wouldn't be enough to kill the Shikon no Tama.'
He hadn't neglected to observe the battle on that side, but concluded that Moroha likewise lacked the capacity to slay the Shikon no Tama.
His gaze fell upon Akame and Rikuo.
Both were Servants... The girl radiated intense killing intent, suggesting she was steeped in slaughter.
The boy's aura was oddly weak...
'Only these two human Servants remain.'
'But...'
It was hard to imagine what kind of power they possessed. Kirinmaru furrowed his brow.
SHRING!
Yet in his vision, the girl had already drawn her blade and slashed--her stance unmistakable.
"Interesting--then I'll take you on one by one!"
"Let me see which of you can kill the Shikon no Tama!"
......
"Be careful, Moroha! Here comes [Gokuryuuha]!"
That raised hand and the youki gathering at the blade's tip radiated overwhelming power.
A turbid sphere of youki formed and advanced menacingly.
"Ha! Watch this!"
"[Crimson Bakuryuuha]!!"
Summoning equal-grade youki, Moroha showed no sign of panic.
Having awakened her "reversion" power, she had the confidence to face him head-on.
BOOM!
The youki spheres tangled together, then spiraled back as a raging vortex.
"How come your daughter seems stronger than you?"
Koga turned to Inuyasha, who gripped Tessaiga.
"Shut up!"
"Don't distract me!"
Originally concentrating on channeling the power of "Fear," Koga's comment made a vein pop on Inuyasha's forehead as he snapped back.
"Nicely done..."
"But too hasty, Moroha!"
Watching Moroha engulf the Gokuryuuha's youki, the Great Dog Demon felt gratified yet also fired off a warning.
He drew Tessaiga and aimed a counter at the incoming vortex.
RUMBLE!!
"Huh?!"
"She used Bakuryuuha to send Bakuryuuha right back!!!"
Seeing this, Moroha panicked for an instant.
Only then did she remember that Grandfather could also use "Bakuryuuha."
The youki already merged with Gokuryuuha was now amplified and hurled back--things had taken a dangerous turn.
"But... I can't just run away!"
Watching the multiple vortexes bearing down, Moroha gritted her teeth and prepared to meet them.
So what if it was Bakuryuuha?
She'd just send it right back!
"Stop! Moroha, don't try to counter!"
"[Crimson Bakuryuuha]!!"
Maintaining her youki phantom, ignoring the Great Dog Demon's worried cry, Moroha raised her blade and brought it down on the oncoming vortex.
SIZZLE!!
But this time, she struggled immensely--nothing like the ease of before.
'How can this be...?'
'I can't return it?'
She even felt the sword might slip from her grasp. Shock washed over Moroha.
"Moroha, find a way out! That's beyond your ability to counter."
Watching her reckless move, the Great Dog Demon called out anxiously from nearby.
Bakuryuuha was inherently a counter technique--absorbing and redirecting an opponent's youki stream.
Layered with Gokuryuuha and Crimson Bakuryuuha's youki, this strike from the Great Dog Demon far exceeded the usual power. It couldn't be casually redirected.
"But..."
Hearing his words, Moroha realized her mistake.
She'd been too confident!
How could a doubly-stacked Bakuryuuha be so easily countered?
That colossal youki vortex--forget piercing through it, even enveloping it was difficult.
Her blade felt lodged in a mountain--immovable.
'I'm going to die!'
The youki vortex was already tearing past the blade's edge toward her. Moroha saw the outcome.
'Sorry, Dad, Mom, I--'
HRAAAAAH!!
As she closed her eyes, a familiar shout reached her ears.
A flash of red: Inuyasha descended from above, thrusting Tessaiga forward.
The advancing vortex met resistance and ground to a halt.
"Dad..."
Her eyes wavered, glistening as she beheld his back.
"Don't give up on your own, Moroha!!"
"We're right here with you!!"
"Go all out!"
Inuyasha's youki surged. Crimson demon markings even rippled across Tessaiga's blade.
"That's...?"
Hovering in the air, the Great Dog Demon watched in surprise.
Inuyasha's technique of wielding youki--
It was a type he'd never witnessed.
OHHHHH!!
Encouraged, Moroha's anxious heart steadied, replaced by determination.
Father and daughter cried out in unison.
"[Bakuryuuha]!!"
"[Crimson Bakuryuuha]!!"
Twin roars accompanied the fused youki explosion, instantly reversing the swelling vortex.
"Splendid teamwork..."
Witnessing this, the Great Dog Demon's earlier worry faded, a smile playing on his lips.
'Inuyasha's new power is mixed in there.'
'The youki is being interfered with.'
'Without understanding it, I can't use Bakuryuuha to counter again.'
This strike, he had to evade--he couldn't respond as before.
"Dad! We sent it back!"
After the successful counter, Moroha spun to Inuyasha excitedly.
"Heh, don't just give up and wait to die."
"You gotta be tougher than that..."
"Otherwise, your mom and I are gonna worry ourselves sick."
Admonishing her, Inuyasha maintained his altered state.
"Right!"
Responding, Moroha turned her attention to Inuyasha and Tessaiga.
Crimson demon markings adorned the blade; the youki felt distinctly different.
She couldn't quite understand what it was.
"Ah, I learned this from Rikuo."
"Something called 'Fear'--essentially a re-application of youki."
"You can derive new powers from it."
Sensing her confusion, Inuyasha explained softly.
"Ooh, sounds amazing!"
"Dad, can I learn it?"
"Let's talk about it after all this is over."
The harmonious exchange between father and daughter put the Great Dog Demon entirely at ease.
'Fear, I see.'
'Enhanced Tessaiga's effectiveness?'
'Now Inuyasha and Moroha together can handle me without issue.'
Even if he slightly loosened his resistance to the Command Spell, there would be no major problem.
"Now then..."
His gaze shifted in a certain direction. The Great Dog Demon caught Sesshomaru's approaching scent.
Once that eldest son returned, it would be time to put a stop to Kirinmaru's rampage.
Surely Kirinmaru would be in for quite a shock?
......
"Is speed and concealment all you have?"
Kirinmaru watched the vanishing figure, unmoved.
SHRING!
A blade flashed. Kirinmaru stepped back just enough to let it scrape his battered armor.
'Apart from hiding her presence and moving quickly, I sense nothing special about her.'
'Assassin...'
'So it's all in the Noble Phantasm, then?'
Though the "Assassin" class supposedly had the weakest base specs of the seven, unable to compete in direct combat, there had to be corresponding "talents."
Just like the Lancer who'd fought so intensely with him--this Assassin surely possessed an offensive Noble Phantasm.
Compared to Kirinmaru, Akame was simply contemplating how to attack.
Without releasing her restraints, her capabilities were limited.
Ambushes would be fine, but fighting a guarded, powerful enemy head-on was fundamentally unsound.
Even with a one-hit-kill blade, failing to land a hit made it meaningless.
"Your opponent's guard is high."
Cu Chulainn stood behind, watching Akame's struggle.
"Not everyone deliberately lets enemies wound them."
Except for certain overconfident types, nobody purposely lets an opponent's strike land.
Especially against a Servant...
Even without knowing the enemy's powers and abilities, minimizing injuries was the priority.
"Hmph..."
"Still won't release your Noble Phantasm?"
Kirinmaru fixed Akame with a cold stare.
She neither affirmed nor denied--no intention of responding.
Her attitude irritated him.
"Fine--then I'll force you to use it!"
He began his offensive, closing in on Akame.
HRAAH!
Palm reaching for her face, Akame pivoted--her whole body shifting aside to evade--then attempted to swing her blade.
"Heh."
Being dodged and countered didn't faze him; he simply smirked.
Youki exploded from his palm.
Ugh!
As if struck by a heavy blow, Akame was sent flying by the shockwave.
Vision spinning, she barely stabilized and landed.
But in that same instant, Kirinmaru had closed the distance, fist descending.
WHOOSH!
Without looking, she drove her body backward by pure reflex.
BOOM!!
The fist hadn't even touched the ground, yet it cratered the earth.
'Youki...'
Taking a blow like that would probably turn her insides to mush.
'A chance...'
Dangerous as it was, this was also a prime opportunity for Akame.
While Kirinmaru had an opening, she could potentially land a hit.
'Now!'
"This time, you can't dodge."
Eyes fixed on the half-crouched Akame, Kirinmaru readied his right hand.
Any sign of evasion to the side, and he would pursue with a fatal strike.
'Hm?'
Yet this time, he saw no attempt to flee--she seemed to be waiting for something.
"Right here!"
The moment his fist discharged youki, Akame rode the shockwave and rose slightly.
Murasame danced in her hand--
BOOM!
GHAH!
The blade meant for his neck was knocked off course by the overwhelming force.
She had underestimated the power he'd prepared this time.
Her body felt like it would fall apart; her organs seemed to churn. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth; she was sent flying.
But--
Squelch...
The blade had grazed his left elbow, opening a small cut. Unfamiliar markings began spreading from the wound.
"What?!"
Sensing the change, Kirinmaru's shock turned to fury--and he severed his own left arm.
Thud...
The arm hit the ground and rotted away. Though his attack had succeeded, Kirinmaru broke into a cold sweat.
He hadn't expected this girl's weapon to be so deadly.
Curse poison.
A mere scratch carried such threat.
If the wound had been any larger, it would have been disastrous.
"You--!"
Rage flooding him, he charged toward Akame, who lay on the ground.
"Die!"
Just as he reached for his sword, an unfamiliar figure intercepted him.
"Even in a temper tantrum, there should be limits..."
"As a great youkai... aren't you ashamed?"
A snow-white ice blade pressed against his sword hilt.
"!"
Calming from his fury, Kirinmaru discerned the Servant's true nature.
"You're a hanyo?!"