Kikyo clearly didn't believe her.
Her eyes remained fixed on Uchiha Kasage, filled with suspicion.
"…Where did that 'Kikyo' go?" Karan suddenly asked, her voice cutting in at just the right moment.
Kasage gave her a brief glance, silently appreciating the interruption.
Kikyo stopped pressing further and turned toward Karan, her expression turning serious.
"She's an imposter. Don't call her Kikyo."
"Oh." Karan nodded, though her gaze was still locked on the spot where the King of Hell had disappeared, curiosity evident in her eyes.
"I've already stored it away," Kasage said calmly, knowing Karan couldn't see what had happened.
Unlike her—
Kikyo had clearly seen everything.
Kasage wasn't surprised.
After all, both Kikyo and Kagome had always been able to perceive things others could not.
Without wasting more time, the group quickly left the temple.
They arrived at a wide, open space near the edge of Hōraijima Island.
The sea stretched endlessly beyond.
"Are you ready?" Kikyo asked, gripping the Jewel Box of the Four War Gods tightly.
Before anyone could respond—
Karan's yokai power surged.
Flames erupted around her body.
Her eyes sharpened into crimson vertical pupils.
Her form expanded rapidly—
Bones shifting, muscles growing—
Until a massive leopard yokai stood in her place, its crimson fur blazing like fire, marked with dark spots.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Kasage formed hand seals instantly.
Smoke burst outward—
A clone appeared beside her.
Without hesitation, Kasage leapt up, landing steadily atop Karan's head.
"Open it, Kikyo," Karan's voice rumbled from her massive form, filled with excitement. "I've been waiting for this."
She had originally planned to leave—
But the moment she heard about the Four War Gods, she insisted on staying.
Her only request—
To fight while wearing Susanoo once again.
Kasage had agreed without hesitation.
Kikyo glanced at her briefly.
Karan's burning eyes were fixed entirely on the box.
Behind them, Asagi and the hanyō children hid nervously, watching from a distance.
Kikyo exhaled softly.
Then—
She released her spiritual power.
Pure.
Refined.
The seal on the Jewel Box began to glow softly.
Then—
It shattered into particles of light.
Click.
The box opened.
Instantly—
Four blinding streams of yokai power burst forth.
They shot into the sky—
Condensing into four crystalline orbs.
Kasage watched silently.
Calm.
Unmoved.
There was no escape.
The barrier of Hōraijima would soon activate.
This would end in battle.
Or death.
The four orbs hovered briefly—
Then suddenly rushed together.
They collided.
Merged.
"BOOM!"
A violent explosion of yokai power shook the sky.
From within the light—
A monstrous figure emerged.
Four massive arms.
A long, scaled tail.
A body covered in blue dragon-like scales.
And—
Four faces.
Each one belonging to one of the Four War Gods.
Now fused into a single being.
"Hahahaha!"
A manic laugh echoed across the sky.
"I'm finally free!"
Its eyes locked onto Kasage below.
Filled with killing intent.
"I'll tear you apart… piece by piece!"
"ROAR—!"
Before it could finish—
Karan had already moved.
With a thunderous roar, she shot into the sky like a blazing comet, charging straight toward the fusion.
"Susanoo."
Above her—
Kasage's Shadow Clone activated the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Power surged violently.
A pale blue Susanoo formed instantly—
Encasing Karan like armor.
Behind her—
A half-bodied samurai manifested.
It raised its hand—
A glowing chakra katana formed.
The fused War Gods froze for a split second.
Then—
Its yokai power erupted violently.
Its body expanded further—
Becoming a giant equal in size to Karan.
All four faces roared in unison.
A massive sphere of yokai energy gathered—
Then fired.
A beam of destruction tore through the sky.
Before Karan could react—
The Susanoo moved.
Slash!
The chakra blade cut through the attack instantly.
The split energy grazed past Karan—
Crashing into the distant sea with explosive force.
Karan's eyes lit up.
"HA!"
Her speed increased instantly.
She didn't dodge—
She charged straight in.
"BOOM!"
The collision shook the sky.
The impact created a massive shockwave, sending waves crashing violently below.
The fused War Gods was thrown backward—
Its massive body crashing into the ocean.
Water exploded upward in towering waves.
Karan hovered in the air, shaking her head slightly from the impact—
Then lunged forward again.
Suddenly—
The sea erupted.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Multiple spheres of yokai energy shot upward like cannon fire.
Karan twisted through the air, dodging swiftly.
"Damn it! They're hiding underwater—I hate water!" she growled.
"Leave it to me."
Kasage's clone remained calm.
Her Mangekyō locked onto the ocean below.
"I can see them."
The Susanoo raised its blade.
Wind chakra gathered rapidly—
Condensing to an extreme point.
Then—
Slash!
A massive blade of wind tore through the air—
Splitting the sea itself.
"BOOM!"
The ocean parted.
Revealing the fused War Gods beneath.
It crossed its arms to block—
But the attack tore through them.
Blood splattered.
A deep wound carved through both arms, nearly severing them.
Yet—
Even as it took damage—
Its flesh began regenerating rapidly.
Karan didn't hesitate.
She opened her jaws—
A massive fireball condensed instantly.
"NOW!"
She fired.
The flames surged forward—
Combining with the lingering wind chakra.
The attack doubled in size—
Turning into a blazing meteor.
It crashed down.
"BOOM!"
Fire met ocean.
Steam exploded upward—
A thick white mist swallowing the entire battlefield.