"You're one of Naraku's incarnations, aren't you!"
Inuyasha gripped the Tessaiga tightly, his eyes fixed warily on Naraku's Corruption.
"...Naraku?"
The creature scanned him briefly, then glanced toward Sesshomaru. A cold, disdainful smile appeared.
"Don't compare me to a half-yokai like that."
Inuyasha raised the Tessaiga, pointing it forward. His gaze swept the battlefield before landing on Koga, who was badly injured nearby.
"Hey, wolf! You still alive?"
"Tch… you're late, mutt," Koga replied, forcing himself upright despite the pain. "I'm not dead yet."
His eyes darkened with frustration.
"But… he took my shard of the Shikon Jewel."
"As long as you're breathing, we can take it back later!" Inuyasha said firmly, tightening his grip on the Tessaiga.
Without hesitation, he prepared to charge.
At the same time, Sesshomaru had already moved again.
His figure flashed forward, claws wrapped in emerald demonic energy as he struck directly at Naraku's Corruption's head.
"Sesshomaru!"
Inuyasha followed immediately, demonic energy swirling violently around his blade.
"Koga, what happened? Who is that?"
Kirara landed beside Koga, carrying Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, and Shippō.
Seeing Koga's wounds—especially the deep gash in his chest—Sango's expression tightened.
"I'm not sure," Koga said, breathing heavily. "Probably one of Naraku's incarnations."
He glanced toward the battlefield, unease lingering in his eyes.
"He appeared out of nowhere… and he's strong. I couldn't even fight back. If Sesshomaru hadn't shown up… I'd be dead."
Sango and Miroku both grew serious.
Nearby, Rin leaned forward slightly from Ah-Un.
"Kohaku, are you alright now?"
"Yeah," Kohaku replied with a small smile. "I'm free from Naraku's control. I've been with my sister since then."
"Sesshomaru's hurt!" Shippō suddenly shouted, pointing.
Koga nodded grimly. "His body is full of poisonous miasma. Sesshomaru's arm was corroded by it."
Hearing that, Sango immediately turned to Miroku.
"Don't use the Wind Tunnel recklessly."
"I know," Miroku replied quietly, his gaze fixed on the battle.
Watching closely, he noticed something.
Sesshomaru wasn't using any weapon.
Understanding flashed in his eyes.
"He must have given the Meido Zangetsuha to Inuyasha… that's why he's in this situation."
"Inuyasha!"
Kagome's voice suddenly rang out.
Inuyasha instinctively looked up.
Kikyo and Kagome were approaching rapidly on Blazing Hoof.
"Kagome? Kikyo? Why are you here?!" he shouted. "Stay back—this thing is dangerous!"
Then he noticed someone else.
"…Abihime?"
She hovered nearby, standing atop flames.
"Why are you with them?"
Abihime didn't even spare him a glance. Her eyes were fixed entirely on Naraku's Corruption.
"Hey—!"
Inuyasha tried to press further, but Kagome cut him off.
"Don't worry! We'll explain later!"
Remembering that Abihime had appeared with Kikyo before, Inuyasha chose not to argue and refocused on the fight.
Meanwhile, Kikyo and Kagome landed.
"Kikyo, Kagome, why are you here?" Sango asked quickly.
"We sensed a massive evil aura," Kagome replied as she jumped down.
Her eyes immediately fell on Koga.
"Koga! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine," he said quickly, forcing himself to stand straight. "Just a scratch."
"'Just a scratch'?!" Miroku said helplessly. "Even for a yokai, that's not minor."
Recalling something, he turned to Kikyo.
"Miss Kikyo, there's a large amount of miasma in his body. Can you purify it?"
Kikyo knelt beside Koga, examining his wound carefully.
After a moment, she shook her head.
"My spiritual power would clash with his yokai energy. His condition is too unstable. If I force purification… he might not survive."
"Then what do we do?!" Shippō exclaimed.
"I'm not that fragile!" Koga snapped, though his pale face betrayed him.
Kagome quickly pulled out bandages and medicine from her bag, then looked up.
"Kasage… can you do something?"
Miroku and the others blinked in confusion.
Kasage?
Before they could ask, Abihime spoke calmly.
"Leave it to me. This is simple."
She formed hand seals and slammed her palm onto the ground.
"Summoning Technique!"
A seal spread across the ground, and in a burst of smoke, Hakudoshi appeared.
"Hakudoshi?!" Miroku and Sango immediately tensed, stepping back with their weapons ready.
"Don't worry," Kikyo said calmly. "He's just a puppet under Kasage's control."
Ignoring them, Hakudoshi walked straight to Koga.
Then, without hesitation—
he thrust his hand into Koga's chest wound.
"Koga!" everyone shouted at once.
"Relax," came the calm explanation. "Hakudoshi is a clone of Naraku. He can manipulate miasma. I'm drawing it out of Koga's body."
Slowly, the dark miasma was pulled from Koga and absorbed into Hakudoshi.
The oppressive aura faded.
Moments later, Hakudoshi withdrew his hand and vanished into smoke.
"He's gone…" Shippō muttered.
"The miasma has been removed," Abihime said. "With his yokai body, the rest will heal quickly."
Koga took a deep breath.
"…Yeah. I can feel it. Thanks."
After Kagome finished bandaging him, she looked back toward the battlefield.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"That thing… it feels like Naraku, but also… different."
At that moment—
Naraku's Corruption turned his head.
Their eyes met.
Kagome froze.
Her pupils trembled violently.
The light faded from her eyes.
And without a sound—
her body collapsed forward.