"That's not necessarily true, Naraku!"
Abi's voice was cold and sharp.
The flames beneath her feet surged violently as her figure blurred, shooting toward Naraku once again.
"Hmph."
Naraku let out a low snort. From behind his barrier, three dragon-like tails lashed forward. Their tips split open into massive fanged maws, reeking of dense miasma as they lunged at her.
"Slash—!"
Banryū ignited with crimson fire.
Abi twisted her wrist—
A precise arc of light flashed—
The three heads were severed instantly.
But from the broken stumps, thick purple miasma erupted, writhing like living smoke and engulfing her.
"Disgusting."
Her eyes flashed with disdain.
With a sharp turn, she swung Banryū again—
Flames burst outward in a wide arc, burning the miasma away in an instant.
Without slowing—
She charged again.
Naraku's expression darkened.
Clearly wary now, he unleashed everything at once—dragon tails, writhing tentacles, and waves of miasma—all to keep her at a distance.
"Inuyasha! Now—get the Shikon Jewel shard from Hōsenki!"
Miroku's voice rang out sharply.
Inuyasha, who had been watching for an opening, snapped to attention.
"That's right… the shard comes first!"
Without hesitation, he turned and rushed toward Hōsenki.
From above, Kagome Higurashi called out urgently,
"Shippō—fly us over there!"
Seeing this—
Naraku's calm shattered.
Everything had been under control—
Until Abi appeared.
If Inuyasha obtained the shard now, all his careful planning would collapse into nothing.
His eyes sharpened as he moved—
But Abi instantly blocked his path again.
Far below, the battle with Hōsenki was already reaching its end.
Kasage, controlling the situation from the shadows, remained calm.
She knew—
Before dying, Hōsenki would pass his power on.
And Tessaiga would gain a new ability.
"Out of my way!" Naraku's voice turned cold, laced with killing intent.
Bone spikes erupted toward Abi—
But she cut them apart effortlessly.
"Heh."
Abi smirked faintly.
"For someone so cautious, Naraku… you don't seem very strong."
Then she added casually—
"Oh, and one more thing."
Her eyes flickered with amusement.
"Sesshomaru is already on his way here."
Naraku's expression shifted—just slightly.
"He passed through the gate guarded by Ox-Head and Horse-Face," Abi continued. "And you know he has a way through."
A brief pause.
"If you don't leave now… you might not leave at all."
Naraku's gaze hardened.
He glanced downward—
Inuyasha and Kagome had already defeated Hōsenki.
They were about to retrieve the shard.
Then—
He looked back at Abi.
Blocking him.
His killing intent surged.
"Then I'll kill you first."
His body twisted—
Bone armor expanded—
Dozens of spikes shot out with piercing force.
Abi slipped through them like a shadow.
Each strike—clean, precise—cut down anything that approached.
"Still relying on defense?" she said coldly. "That's all you have."
Then—
"Summoning Technique."
"Bang!"
Smoke burst behind them.
Dozens of white Hell Birds emerged, their cries piercing the air.
They spread out quickly—
Encircling Naraku.
He glanced at them—
Then noticed their eyes.
Rinnegan.
His expression grew wary.
But—
They didn't attack.
They simply circled.
"What are you staring at?" Abi snapped, already moving again.
Naraku suppressed his unease and attacked—
Tentacles shot forward—
But something had changed.
Abi moved faster.
Sharper.
Every attack missed.
Every ambush failed.
Even strikes hidden within miasma—
Were cut down instantly.
Through the shared vision of the Rinnegan, her movements became flawless.
She slipped through every gap—
And appeared before him in an instant.
Naraku's eyes turned cold.
His arm morphed—
A massive bone blade formed and slashed downward.
Clang!!
Banryū met it head-on.
Sparks flew.
Then—
A storm of blows erupted.
Close combat.
Fast.
Relentless.
Naraku barely held on, reshaping his bone armor to block each strike.
"Time's up…" Abi whispered.
In the middle of a clash—
Banryū suddenly vanished into smoke.
Naraku's pupils shrank.
"Summoning Technique!"
"Bang!!"
Smoke exploded between them—
A shrill cry tore through the air.
Tekkei.
The massive Yokai reappeared—
Its beak snapping shut—
Biting directly into Naraku's barrier.
"It's useless—"
Naraku began—
Then froze.
His eyes widened.
Inside Tekkei's mouth—
Someone stood.
A flash of light—
A blade cut through the air.
CRACK!!
The barrier shattered instantly.
"…Kikyo?!"
Naraku was blasted backward, staring in shock.
The figure stepped forward—
Not in shrine maiden robes—
But in dark armor.
Yet the face—
Was unmistakable.
Deva Akane.
Her naginata lowered slowly.
A deep wound split Naraku's body from shoulder to waist—
White spiritual energy burned within it, purifying him from the inside.
She said nothing.
Just watched.
Calm.
Certain.
Because she knew—
The finishing blow was already coming.
"Inuyasha!!"
A roar echoed across the battlefield.
"Diamond Spear Break!!"
Countless shining diamond blades filled the sky—
Racing straight toward the wounded Naraku.
---