"Crack—!"
The ferocious crimson claw of the yokai tore through the air and struck Rinran's abdomen—but it was completely blocked by the Susanoo armor, wrapped in a layer of pale blue chakra. The sharp nails collided with the hardened chakra shell and shattered instantly, leaving not even a scratch behind.
Almost at the same moment, a heavy thud echoed.
Rinran's flaming paw, infused with the sharpness of a pale blue Susanoo claw, slammed violently into the yokai's head!
Empowered by immense chakra, her strike carved several deep, bone-exposing gashes across its face. One slash grazed its massive eye—murky blood splattered as the eyeball burst apart instantly.
"Agh—!!"
The yokai let out a shrill, agonized scream. Instinctively, it clutched its ruined eye and staggered backward.
"This is…?!!"
Rinran glanced down at the pale blue Susanoo armor covering her body. Her pupils lit up, excitement flooding her expression as she momentarily forgot the enemy before her.
She raised her claws, staring at the flowing chakra with wide, gleaming eyes. A bright grin spread uncontrollably across her face, her ears twitching with excitement.
"Kasage! You can use this Susanoo thing like this?!"
Her tail nearly wagged as she spoke, her voice brimming with delight.
She knew this ability all too well. Every time she had fought Uchiha Kasage, she had been completely overwhelmed by it—and she hated it!
Its immense strength, overwhelming size, and near-invulnerability made it feel like attacking an immovable mountain. Even in her true leopard yokai form, she had been utterly powerless against it.
But now… that same "invincible" power was covering her own body.
When the yokai struck her just now, she hadn't felt a thing. Instead, she had torn through its flesh with ease. In that instant, Rinran realized just how incredible Susanoo truly was.
"Stop staring and finish it!" Kasage's voice rang out.
Seeing her completely absorbed in examining the armor instead of fighting, he sighed and urged her forward.
"Alright!"
Snapping back to reality, Rinran's excitement surged. The sense of security from the Susanoo wrapping her entire body made her feel unstoppable.
She lifted her head, crimson beast-like eyes locking onto the horned yokai ahead. A fierce, eager grin curled at her lips.
"Awooo—!"
Her roar rang out, clear and domineering.
In the next instant, she ignored the incoming attack entirely, pushing off with all four limbs and launching forward. She leapt high and crashed down onto the yokai's massive body.
"Boom!!"
The ground trembled as the two enormous figures slammed down, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Before the yokai could react—
"Slap! Slap! Slap—!"
Rinran's front paws blurred into afterimages, unleashing a relentless barrage of strikes onto its face. Foul-smelling blood splattered like rain.
"Crack—!"
Suddenly, thunder roared. Lightning exploded beneath Rinran, blasting her body into the air.
Yet the Susanoo armor absorbed the impact completely.
Her massive leopard form twisted midair with surprising agility before landing smoothly on all fours. Her claws scraped across the ground, leaving deep marks as she dispersed the force.
The moment she landed, a fireball shot toward her!
Rinran leapt lightly aside. The fireball grazed the edge of her Susanoo and exploded, scorching the earth black.
"Damn you! You wretched cat yokai—how dare you injure me like this!"
The yokai finally staggered back, clutching its chest as it gasped, its voice filled with fury and pain.
It was in terrible condition.
A deep wound split open its chest, revealing its beating heart. Its head was covered in claw marks, flames still flickering along the edges. One horn was broken, and its remaining eye glared at Rinran with hatred.
Not far away, Kikyo narrowed her eyes.
Seeing the yokai's wounds rapidly healing under demonic energy, she raised her bow. Spiritual power gathered at her fingertips as she aimed at its chest.
Just as she was about to release—
"Wait. No need to intervene."
A hand gently stopped her.
Uchiha Kasage appeared beside her, his tone calm but firm.
"Let Rinran handle it."
Kikyo lowered her bow slightly, glancing at him. "Is that your clone… or your real body?"
"Shadow clone," Kasage replied. "My real body is still with Rinran."
His gaze remained fixed on the battlefield.
Rinran had already charged in again, engaging the yokai in close combat. Protected by Susanoo, she ignored its attacks entirely and unleashed another storm of claw strikes.
Her paws moved so fast they left trails of afterimages, carving countless wounds into the yokai's body as it screamed in agony.
Kasage sighed. "When she transforms, she fights purely on instinct. In human form, she uses techniques—but now she's forgotten all of them."
Kikyo watched as Rinran was blasted back by an attack, only to leap right back in with even more excitement.
A soft smile appeared on her face.
"She's enjoying this… like a child at play."
Kasage gave a faint, knowing look.
Rinran's hunting instincts had completely taken over.
This wasn't a battle anymore.
She was playing.
For nearly half an hour, the fight continued—if it could even be called that.
At first, the yokai still resisted, roaring and using its powers to push her back.
But gradually…
Its strength faded.
Its attacks weakened.
Its roars turned into pitiful cries.
Eventually, it could no longer use any demonic arts. Its energy was exhausted, its wounds no longer healing.
All it could do was raise its arms weakly, trying to block as Rinran continued to tear into it—again and again.
It looked like nothing more than prey.
Like a mouse caught by a cat… slowly played with to death.
Even Kasage couldn't help but feel a trace of pity.
For half an hour, the yokai had been relentlessly tortured—its body shredded, its blood soaking the ground, its presence fading with each passing second.
Its once powerful aura… was now barely there.