"Get out of my way!"
Seeing Jakotsu about to be cleaved in two, Bankotsu roared and burst forward, intercepting Inuyasha in an instant.
Clang,!
Savage Dragon slammed into Tessaiga.
The deafening clash of steel rang out, sparks exploding in all directions as the shockwave rippled through the air.
"Move!"
Bankotsu gritted his teeth and forced his strength forward, violently pushing Inuyasha back. At the same time, he reached out and caught Jakotsu mid-flight.
"Jakotsu, you alright?"
"Tch… I'm fine." Jakotsu rubbed his abdomen, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips. His tone remained light. "We're already dead men. This is nothing."
"Suikotsu!"
Renkotsu's panicked shout rang out from behind them.
Bankotsu and Jakotsu stiffened and turned,
Just in time to see it.
The moment Jakotsu had been kicked away, Suikotsu had already closed in on Kagetsu, his iron claws thrusting toward his throat.
But,to the Sharingan, his movements were painfully slow.
Kagetsu tilted his head slightly.
The claw grazed the edge of his mask, stirring only a faint breeze.
Suikotsu's pupils shrank.
He swung again,Missed.Again,Missed.
"Too slow."
The voice beneath the mask was calm… and utterly contemptuous.
"You,!"
Rage exploded in Suikotsu's eyes. He lashed out wildly, his claws striking like a storm.
But every attack,
missed.
Sidestep.
Slip.
Dodge.
Effortless.
Then,Kagetsu moved.
His hand shot out, gripping Suikotsu's wrist.
Crack!
A sickening snap echoed across the battlefield.
The arm bent at an impossible angle. Bone pierced through flesh as blood burst forth.
"AAAAH,!"
Before the scream could finish,
Kagetsu yanked upward.
The broken arm, still fitted with the iron claw, was driven straight through Suikotsu's throat,and burst out the back of his neck.
Silence.
"Second one."
He caught the spinning Shikon shard as it emerged, then casually tossed the corpse aside.
Suikotsu's body rapidly withered into dry bones.
"Suikotsu!"
Renkotsu's voice cracked with shock.
Bankotsu and Jakotsu turned,
just in time to see the last remnants crumble.
Their expressions darkened instantly.
Kagetsu rolled his wrist slightly, the Sharingan behind his mask gleaming coldly.
"So this is the so-called Band of Seven?"
A faint, mocking laugh escaped him.
"Pathetic. Just butchers who prey on the weak."
"Big Brother, go!" Jakotsu stepped forward, blocking Inuyasha's path. His expression was no longer playful,only serious. "Leave this to me."
"...Alright."
Bankotsu didn't hesitate. He cast one last glance at Inuyasha before charging toward Kagetsu.
"Don't run!"
Inuyasha lunged after him,
,but Jakotsu's blade snapped forward.
The chain wrapped tightly around Tessaiga, halting him in place.
"Your opponent is me, Inuyasha~"
"Tch!"
Inuyasha clicked his tongue, forced into combat.
"Should we help?" Miroku stepped forward instinctively.
"No." Kikyo raised a hand to stop him, her gaze steady. "Kagetsu isn't even serious yet."
She paused.
"If you go… you'll only get in his way."
"Everyone,attack together! Kill him!"
Bankotsu's voice rang out.
"Die!"
Mukotsu unleashed a new cloud of poison,
this time, a vivid blood-red mist.
"Even demons won't survive this!"
"Burn!"
Renkotsu followed instantly, releasing a torrent of flames that merged with the poison, forming a raging inferno.
"Boom!"
Ginkotsu's cannons roared.
Shells slammed into the flames one after another,
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions chained together, swallowing everything in fire and smoke.
"Hahaha! He's finished!" Ginkotsu laughed wildly.
Then,
"Susanoo."
A calm voice echoed from within the flames.
A massive skeletal arm burst out from the inferno,and seized Mukotsu in its grip.
The flames were blown apart.
The smoke parted.
A towering, pale-blue giant emerged.
Bones formed.
Muscles layered over it.
Armor sealed around its body.
Its eyes ignited with cold, radiant light.
The battlefield fell silent under its overwhelming pressure.
"W-What… are you…?" Bankotsu's voice tightened.
Susanoo's hand clenched.
Pfft,!
Mukotsu didn't even have time to scream.
His body was crushed instantly, bursting into blood that evaporated into ash.
Kagetsu, standing within the Susanoo, caught the shard effortlessly.
His Mangekyō Sharingan stared down at them.
"Third one."
"YOU BASTARD!"
Bankotsu roared, charging forward with everything he had.
Savage Dragon came crashing down,
Susanoo responded.
A massive chakra blade formed in its hand,
and swung.
Clang,!
The collision split the air.
Bankotsu was sent flying like a broken kite.
He slammed into the ground, dragging a deep trench before stopping, blood spilling from his mouth.
"…Damn it…"
"GO DIE!"
Ginkotsu unleashed everything.
Saw blades.
Cannons.
Explosions.
The battlefield trembled under the barrage,
But the Susanoo didn't move.
Not even a scratch.
"You're noisy."
Kagetsu's voice cut through the chaos.
Cold.
Final.
"You're the fourth."
Chakra gathered in the Susanoo's palm,
A blazing Magatama formed, spinning faster and faster, its light growing blinding.
"Yasaka no Magatama."