Carving open space from both inside and outside--
Easy to say, but few could actually do it.
Without special abilities, only overwhelming power could shatter space.
"You want Sesshomaru to do it?"
"But if so, his youki will be massively depleted."
"In a dire battle situation, that could easily lead to accidents."
Kirinmaru turned to the Great Dog Demon and spoke. As far as he knew, aside from Sesshomaru possibly managing it through raw power, none of those trapped inside could slice through space.
"Meidou Zangetsuha" wasn't a technique everyone possessed.
"And randomly breaking through won't work either--both sides need to strike the same point for a path to form."
"If it's not from inside and outside together, it's wasted effort."
"Aside from Sesshomaru, there actually is someone who can cut open space."
But the Great Dog Demon's next words made Kirinmaru, Inuyasha, and Kagome all freeze.
"Rider, Kagome's Servant--his blade was once taken to Totosai for repairs."
"Totosai told me he took the liberty of forging the remnant of Meidou Zangetsuha into that blade."
"Though it can't produce a full circle, creating a space rift large enough for people to pass through is more than sufficient."
Hearing this, Kagome and Inuyasha brightened.
"I'll contact Rikuo-kun right away!"
......
CRACK!
Just after freezing a demon creature, Rikuo heard Kagome's message.
"Use Meidou Zangetsuha?"
"Understood."
Knowing her intent, Rikuo gripped Nenekirimaru.
"Is that Kagome?"
"Are she and that mutt okay?"
Koga overheard his muttering and asked.
"They're fine. They're just having trouble getting in and need some guidance."
"I'll ask you all to cover me--my next move might be big, and the Shikon no Tama probably won't let it slide."
"Heh, no problem."
"Sure, just do what you need."
Three Servants--Cu Chulainn, Moroha, and Akame--immediately surrounded him.
'Meidou...'
Feeling Nenekirimaru stir, channeling his youki, Rikuo watched the blade turn impossibly deep and black.
'First, I need to give Master and the others a fix on our location...'
Swinging toward an empty spot, a dark crescent like a moon appeared in the air.
"What?!"
Above, the Shikon no Tama--mid-battle with Sesshomaru--stared at Rikuo in shock and fury.
This hanyo!
Why did he know Meidou Zangetsuha?!
Absolutely unacceptable--he couldn't be allowed to interfere here.
Without even bothering about Sesshomaru, the Shikon no Tama shot straight toward Rikuo.
"It seems quite panicked."
Cu Chulainn watched the Shikon no Tama abandon Sesshomaru and immediately raised his spear to block.
"Don't get in my way!!"
Its wings coiled around the magic spear and hurled Cu Chulainn away with a flick.
"No entry allowed!!"
"[Maryuuha]!!"
Moroha instantly filled the gap, launching a pink dragon.
"Tch!!"
Ignoring the combined spiritual and youki blast, it pressed onward.
BAM!
A black shadow charging from the side slammed into its body--but only deflected it slightly.
"Annoying!"
"Ugh!"
It swatted Akame hard against her raised blade, sending her flying. Righting itself, it flew toward Rikuo again.
SPLAT!
But Sesshomaru's descending blade once more cleaved it in two.
SWISH!
"!"
Rikuo had been about to fire another Meidou Zangetsuha, but spotted black shapes emerging from the ground around him.
"No good... it won't let me fire a second one."
The mutated creatures could close in instantly. Forced to retreat, Rikuo found himself in a bind.
......
"How's it going, Kagome?"
"It's difficult. The Shikon no Tama keeps blocking Rikuo-kun."
"Since it doesn't need to worry about Sesshomaru and the others killing it, it can focus entirely on that hanyo Servant."
Though they'd managed an initial lock on the location, if Rikuo was pinned and couldn't fire a second Meidou Zangetsuha, they could only wait.
"The only solution is for someone to threaten it--ideally, kill it."
"That way, it'll be stuck in a revival window for at least some time."
"But who there can do that?"
Anxious, yet somewhat helpless.
The four of them could only wait for an opportunity.
......
"Damn it! That thing ignores us completely."
Moroha watched the Shikon no Tama relentlessly chase Rikuo, understanding its aim.
The Shikon no Tama didn't want Grandpa and Dad to get in.
"[Bakusaiga]!!"
For the umpteenth time, Sesshomaru shattered its hardened body--yet regeneration still outpaced Bakusaiga's destruction.
'I need to hit that same spot for Inuyasha and the others to get in.'
It wasn't about randomly slashing. He had to fix the coordinates and strike the same point where the Great Dog Demon's Meidou Zangetsuha would hit.
If both sides didn't work in tandem, it was pointless.
But right now, forget reaching that spot--even firing a second Meidou Zangetsuha was nearly impossible.
'Master...'
'Akame-san?'
Hearing Akame's call, Rin paused, then responded.
'I'm going to use that Noble Phantasm.'
'But... using it will cost you your humanity.'
Knowing what Akame meant, Rin spoke worriedly.
As a Master, she naturally knew her Servant's Noble Phantasms and trump cards--but Akame's ultimate Noble Phantasm came with a price.
'If I don't use it now, there's no other way.'
'Holding back any longer is meaningless.'
'Understood. I'll support you with a Command Spell.'
Feeling Rin's genuine concern and care, Akame rose and slashed her own body with Murasame.
SPLAT!
"Hey?"
"What are you doing?!"
Watching Akame's action, Moroha and Cu Chulainn stared in shock.
"Murasame... release!"
Crimson patterns began crawling across her entire body. Even the whites of her eyes turned black.
Ominous youki started erupting--
"This is youki?"
Sesshomaru glanced back at Akame, somewhat incredulous.
A human suddenly erupting with youki rivaling a great youkai--what kind of scene was this?
"Ngh!"
Enduring the pain of activation, Akame felt her body's capabilities skyrocket.
Murasame's ultimate secret technique--
"Youkai Transformation."
Abandoning her "human" identity and essence, she merged with the cursed blade Murasame--gaining all the power of every creature Murasame had ever killed.
Unless absolutely necessary, Akame would never resort to this.
WHOOSH!
Her figure moved faster than ever. In the blink of an eye, she was already pressing Murasame against the Shikon no Tama's main body's neck.
'No... she shouldn't be able to cut through my skin--'
The sheer speed had rattled it for a moment, but the Shikon no Tama quickly steadied itself.
SPLAT...
But the blade flashed like slicing through tofu, and its head separated completely from its body.
Pupils quivering, the Shikon no Tama couldn't believe it.
Its prided defense had been breached by someone other than Sesshomaru!
"Wha--?!"