"…Cherry blossoms?"
Akitoki Hōjō stared blankly at the pink petals drifting down from above, his voice filled with confusion.
"How…? Why are there cherry blossoms blooming here…?"
But unlike him—
Inuyasha and Miroku instantly tensed.
Without hesitation, they moved to shield Kagome, Hojo, and Shippo behind them.
"Watch out!"
Inuyasha drew Tessaiga in one swift motion, his eyes locking onto the dark forest ahead.
"Something's coming!"
Miroku's expression darkened as he felt it.
"…This aura…"
His voice tightened.
"It's overwhelming…"
A suffocating, ancient evil—
Was rapidly approaching.
Then—
A soft white glow appeared deep within the forest.
And a voice followed.
Clear.
Melodious.
Yet cold.
"When I departed, my feather robe brushed lightly behind me… my longing lingered, endless and distant…"
The air itself seemed to still.
And then—
She appeared.
Like a phantom beneath the moonlight.
Kaguya.
Her robes flowed gently, her beauty flawless, her presence wrapped in a pale, ethereal glow.
"Kaguya!"
Inuyasha raised Tessaiga, pointing it directly at her.
His demonic aura surged violently.
"So you really broke the seal…!"
His eyes burned with anger.
Especially as he noticed—
The missing sleeve of his Fire Rat Robe.
Miroku's expression tightened.
"…I didn't expect you to appear so soon…"
He had already read the warning left behind—
And knew exactly what kind of being stood before them.
Kaguya's gaze drifted across the group.
"…You again."
A faint trace of recognition crossed her eyes.
She remembered them.
From before.
When they interfered.
But she showed no concern.
Instead—
Her voice turned calm.
Absolute.
"Where is the Heavenly Robe?"
"…Heavenly Robe?" Kagome blinked, confused.
But behind her—
Akitoki Hōjō stiffened.
His arms instinctively tightened around the bundle he carried.
That small movement—
Was enough.
Kaguya's gaze locked onto him instantly.
"…So it's with you."
Her tone was calm.
As if the outcome were already decided.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted.
Too late.
Inuyasha had already moved.
"Wind Scar!"
He swung Tessaiga with full force.
A massive blade of energy tore through the air, accompanied by a roaring gale.
The ground shattered.
Trees were torn apart.
The attack surged forward like a storm—
Straight toward Kaguya.
But—
She didn't move.
A flicker of disdain passed through her eyes.
She raised her hand calmly, fingers forming a seal.
A faint ripple spread outward—
And the attack vanished.
Just like that.
Gone.
"…What?!"
Inuyasha froze.
His strongest attack—
Erased.
Without even touching her.
"I will not allow interference."
Kaguya raised the Mirror of Life.
In the next instant—
Blinding light burst forth.
Countless radiant ribbons shot outward, streaking across the battlefield.
"Move!"
Kagome shouted.
Everyone scattered.
Inuyasha dodged several—
But midair—
One struck him.
"—!"
Before he could react—
The light wrapped around him.
And transformed.
Into thick, twisting vines.
They slammed him against a tree, binding him tightly.
"…What the hell is this?!"
He struggled—
But the vines only tightened further.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried out.
Kaguya glanced at him coldly.
"…Pathetic."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"A half-yokai…?"
"So what if I am?!"
Inuyasha snarled, struggling harder.
Kaguya's expression didn't change.
"Hmph."
The vines suddenly sparked—
Lightning surged through them.
"GAAH—!"
Inuyasha's body convulsed as the current tore through him.
"I can't just watch this…!"
Miroku stepped forward, gritting his teeth.
"Wind Tunnel!"
He tore open the seal on his hand.
A powerful vortex erupted instantly—
Pulling in everything nearby.
Leaves.
Rocks.
Debris.
All dragged toward his palm.
Kaguya turned her gaze toward him.
"…Oh?"
A flicker of interest appeared.
She reached up—
And removed a golden hairpin.
It expanded instantly in her hand—
Transforming into a gleaming golden sword.
With one motion, she drove it into the ground.
The suction of the Wind Tunnel—
Stopped.
Held back.
"…The Wind Tunnel."
Her voice turned colder.
"So you are his descendant…"
Her eyes hardened.
"A half-yokai may be tolerated…"
"But a monk—"
"Should die."
The Mirror of Life flared again.
A concentrated beam of light shot forward—
"—!"
"BOOM!"
The ground exploded violently.
Earth and splintered wood blasted outward.
The shockwave hurled Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Hojo through the air.
They crashed hard against exposed roots, rolling before finally stopping.
"Miroku-sama!"
Ignoring the pain, they scrambled to look—
Smoke rose from a massive crater.
No sign of him.
"…Cough…"
A voice emerged.
Miroku staggered out from behind a shattered tree.
Dust-covered.
Blood at the corner of his mouth.
"…I expected as much…"
"Sango exhaled in relief.
"Thank goodness…"
Kaguya tilted her head slightly.
"…Still alive?"
Her expression remained indifferent.
"Let's try again."
The mirror began to glow once more.
"Sango!"
She reacted instantly.
"HIRAIKOTSU!"
With all her strength, she hurled the massive weapon.
It roared through the air toward Kaguya.
"…Annoying."
Without even turning—
Kaguya raised her sword.
*CLANG!*
The impact rang sharply.
With a flick of her wrist—
She sent it back.
Faster.
Stronger.
"—?!"
Sango's eyes widened.
She wasn't ready.
The returning Hiraikotsu tore through the air straight toward her.
She threw herself aside—
Barely avoiding it.
"SANGO!"
Miroku shouted.
Without hesitation—
He hurled his staff.
WHOOSH—!
It struck the spinning weapon midair.
The impact deflected it—
Just enough.
The Hiraikotsu grazed past Sango's hair—
Missing her by inches.
She landed hard, breathing heavily.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Kaguya stepped forward.
Unharmed.
Untouched.
Untouchable.
And the battle—
Had only just begun.