The group soon arrived at the temple near the summit of the mountain.
Standing at the edge of the cliff and looking down, the crescent-shaped Hōraijima Island enclosed a vast semi-circular bay. In one corner of the bay lay scattered ruins—collapsed buildings and broken structures.
That had once been the village of the island's inhabitants.
Now—
Only silence and decay remained.
Kasage glanced at the abandoned village for a brief moment, her expression unreadable, before turning and walking into the temple.
The others followed.
Beyond the entrance, a vast cavern opened within the mountain. The walls, carved from massive stone blocks, remained sturdy despite the passage of time.
Ahead stood a towering stone gate, engraved with intricate, ancient patterns.
Pushing it open—
They stepped inside.
Vines and thick roots covered the massive stone walls, yet traces of the island's former prosperity could still be seen.
Behind the gate flowed a carefully constructed river.
A wide stone bridge stretched across it, leading deeper into the temple.
On both sides, streams of water cascaded down from above, forming small waterfalls that poured endlessly into the river below. The sound of flowing water echoed through the cavern.
Above them, the hollowed mountain allowed beams of sunlight to filter through, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow.
The place felt ancient.
Sacred.
And faintly oppressive.
As they crossed the bridge, the light gradually faded.
The air grew warmer.
Kasage's gaze sharpened slightly.
They were close.
Soon, they reached the deepest part of the mountain.
And there—
A massive structure appeared.
It was shaped like a colossal stone furnace, completely covered in dense vines.
"This… is the Cauldron of Resonance."
Asagi stopped in place.
Her voice trembled as she stared at it.
This was the place that had devoured countless lives.
Kikyo gently set Lan down and stepped forward.
She studied the cauldron carefully, her brows furrowing.
"There's a strong, twisted aura coming from it… it feels wrong."
"Of course."
Kasage stepped forward and placed her hand lightly against the surface.
"The Four War Gods aren't truly dead."
Her tone was calm.
"Their core power is sealed here."
He already knew.
The Demonic Power Beads—their true essence—were hidden within the cauldron.
"What?! They're still alive?" Orange exclaimed in shock.
Her gaze instinctively shifted toward Green's back.
"No wonder… the marks didn't disappear…"
"The source of their power is inside this cauldron," Kasage said plainly.
"It must have been Miss Kanade who sealed them!" Midori suddenly spoke up.
"Kana…de?" Kikyo repeated softly.
"She was a priestess here," Orange explained. "She fought the Four War Gods… and died."
Shion nodded quietly.
"She must have sealed their power into the cauldron before she died."
Kasage withdrew he hand and looked at the massive structure.
"No matter how it was sealed…"
Her voice turned colder.
"We just need to pull it out—and destroy it."
She tapped lightly on the closed door of the cauldron, then glanced back at the children.
"Do you know how to open it?"
Asagi shook her head.
"It only opens every fifty years… when it accepts a sacrifice."
She hesitated briefly.
"…We can wait. It should happen soon."
Kikyo, however, was focused on something else.
Her eyes traced the ancient patterns carved into the cauldron.
"What do these symbols mean?"
She turned to the children.
"Did your elders leave behind any stories?"
Moegi stepped forward and looked at the carvings.
"…It's a song."
An old one.
She closed her eyes briefly—
Then began to sing softly.
"Father once said, the hands of yokai are hands of protection.
Mother once said, the hands of humans are hands of nurturing.
Join your hands together, open the gate,
Return to the crimson lotus—
Become light, and protect the children…"
Silence followed.
Kikyo's eyes sharpened slightly.
"The 'protecting hand'… and the 'nurturing hand'…"
"The left hand is the yokai's," Asagi said immediately. "The right is the human's."
Kikyo nodded slowly.
"Then to open it… we need both."
Her gaze shifted slightly—
Toward Blazing Hoof.
Kasage stepped forward before anything else could be said.
he tore away the thick vines covering the sides of the cauldron door.
Two circular patterns were revealed.
"Kikyo. Look."
Kikyo stepped closer and examined them carefully.
Then she shook her head slightly.
"This isn't a known script… not modern, not ancient mainland either."
Moegi leaned in and read aloud.
"Those without permission must leave. This place is not for you. Only those with pure hearts may place their hands here."
Kikyo exhaled softly.
"…I understand now."
She looked at both patterns.
"One yokai. One human."
Kasage nodded slightly.
"Try it."
She bit her finger lightly, smeared the blood across her palm, and formed a hand seal.
Then—
She slammed her hand onto the ground.
"Summoning Technique."
Smoke burst outward.
A figure appeared within it.
"Karan."
Before the smoke even cleared, her voice rang out brightly.
"Kasage! What is it? Another fight?"
Her eyes swept over the children nearby.
She frowned slightly.
"…You're not asking me to bully these hanyō kids, are you?"
Kasage sighed and tapped her forehead lightly.
"Use your brain. I just need your help."
"Oh."
Karan rubbed her head, then asked curiously,
"So what do I do?"
Kasage pointed to the left circular pattern.
"Put your hand there when I say so."
"Got it!"
Karan immediately moved into position, placing her hand against the pattern.
"I'm ready!"
At the same time—
"I'm ready too."
Kikyo stepped forward and placed her hand on the right-side pattern.
Her expression was calm.
Focused.
Natsuarashi glanced at her and grinned.
"Kikyo!"
Kasage watched the two silently.
The requirement was simple.
Not gender.
Not anything else.
Just—
The fusion of human spiritual power…
And yokai energy.
Only then—
Could the Cauldron of Resonance be opened.