After knocking Monk Shinsen away, Midoriko encountered no further obstacles. Her gaze fixed calmly on the sealing stone before her as she tightened her grip on Banryū and swung it down with force. A massive blade of energy, wrapped in refined miko spiritual power, tore through the air and struck the seal directly.
A blinding flash erupted on impact.
In the next moment, the sacred shimenawa binding the stone snapped apart, and the entire boulder shattered with a thunderous roar. Fragments of rock scattered in all directions.
As the seal broke, the ground split open violently. Cracks spread outward, and from within them, raging flames surged upward, twisting the air with intense heat.
Midoriko stood unmoving within the sea of fire. An invisible repulsive force surrounded her body, pushing the flames away before they could even touch her.
"Oh no… the seal on Blazing Hoof has been broken!" Monk Shenquan struggled to his feet, his expression filled with shock and urgency. Gripping his vajra tightly, he stumbled forward toward the shrine despite his injuries.
A deafening explosion rang out.
The place where the sealing stone once stood erupted, and a towering pillar of fire shot into the sky.
A deep, savage roar echoed through the mountains. It did not resemble the cry of a horse, but rather the furious voice of a wild beast.
The flames gathered in the air, then slowly dispersed.
From within them, a figure emerged.
A snow-white steed floated in midair. Its mane burned crimson like living fire, flowing along its neck and tail. Its four hooves blazed intensely, each step leaving flickers of flame in the air.
Its blood-red eyes scanned everything below with cold hostility.
Blazing Hoof had awakened.
Midoriko looked up at it, her expression calm, almost indifferent. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she lightly swung Banryū, dispersing the surrounding flames with ease.
"I broke your seal and set you free," she said, her voice steady yet carrying quiet authority. "Submit to me… or die."
Blazing Hoof glanced at her briefly and let out a harsh neigh, filled with defiance. It completely ignored her words. Instead, its gaze shifted toward Monk Shenquan, and a violent killing intent flared in its eyes as it suddenly dove downward.
"Oh no!" Monk Shinsen's face tightened. He raised his vajra as spiritual power surged, forming a barrier around him.
Before the Yokai could strike, a crescent-shaped blade of energy cut through the air.
Blazing Hoof instinctively twisted its body, barely avoiding the attack. The blade grazed past its face and shot into the sky.
Monk Shinsen froze for a moment, his heart trembling. The power contained in that single strike was overwhelming.
Only now did he truly understand that the woman before him was no ordinary miko.
Midoriko lowered her blade slightly, her Rinnegan fixed firmly on Blazing Hoof. Her gaze sharpened with focus.
If it refused to submit, she would not hesitate to kill it.
A living mount was useful, but a corpse could still serve as a summon.
Blazing Hoof suddenly reared its head and let out a sharp cry. In the next instant, a massive pillar of fire burst from its mouth, sweeping toward her with destructive force.
Midoriko remained calm.
With a single swing of Banryū, the incoming flames were split apart instantly, scattering to either side.
The blade energy continued forward, but Blazing Hoof moved with astonishing speed, narrowly evading it.
"Fast," she murmured softly, a trace of interest appearing in her voice.
She swung again.
Then again.
Three blade arcs shot forward in quick succession, forming a triangular assault.
Blazing Hoof dodged each one, its movements swift and fluid despite the pressure.
A faint glimmer appeared in Midoriko's eyes.
"Good… that makes this worthwhile."
High above, Blazing Hoof suddenly stopped moving. Its demonic power surged violently as a concentrated mass of energy began gathering in its mouth, growing brighter with each passing moment.
It was preparing a decisive attack.
Midoriko watched quietly for a brief moment, then raised her hand.
"Too slow."
Her voice was cold.
"Banshō Tenin."
An invisible force erupted.
A massive boulder from the mountainside was torn free and lifted into the air.
Then, without pause, her hand shifted.
"Shinra Tensei."
The boulder halted for a split second before being launched forward like a cannon.
Blazing Hoof was forced to react. It released its attack prematurely, firing a blazing beam that collided with the incoming boulder.
The impact created a blinding explosion of light.
Before it could escape the aftermath—
"Banshō Tenin."
The gravitational force seized it completely.
For a brief moment, fear flashed in its crimson eyes as its body was dragged directly into the heart of the explosion.
A massive detonation followed.
The shockwave tore through the surrounding forest, snapping trees and scattering debris in all directions.
Yet Midoriko stood untouched, her repulsive barrier dispersing everything that approached her.
As the explosion faded, the shrine was left in ruins.
Blazing Hoof lay among the wreckage, its once-pristine body now scorched and bloodied. The flames on its hooves flickered weakly.
It struggled to stand, letting out a low, pained cry.
Then suddenly, it leapt into the air, attempting to escape.
"Banshō Tenin."
The cold voice rang out again.
Its body froze mid-flight, then was violently pulled back.
Before it could react—
Banryū struck.
The massive blade slammed into its body with crushing force, sending it flying backward.
It crashed heavily into a nearby rock, shattering it on impact.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Midoriko stepped forward slowly, her movements steady and unhurried. Banryū rested lightly in her hand, its blade still carrying a faint glow of spiritual power.
Her Rinnegan gazed down at the fallen Yokai.
"Submit… or die."
Her voice was quiet, but absolute.
Blazing Hoof trembled.
It met her gaze—and understood.
There was no hesitation in her. No mercy. Only certainty.
Slowly, it lowered its head.
Then, with a subdued motion, it nudged her leg gently.
A silent gesture of surrender.
The battle had ended.