"Kagome!"
Seeing Kagome's body go limp, on the verge of collapsing, Kikyo reacted instantly. She reached out and caught her, lowering her gaze to examine her condition.
"Kagome, what's wrong?"
"Lady Kagome!"
Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Kohaku, and Koga all rushed over, their faces filled with alarm and concern.
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha, who had been locked in combat with Naraku's Corruption, heard the cries and turned sharply. The moment he saw Kagome unconscious in Kikyo's arms, his expression darkened. Remembering what had just happened, he shot Naraku a furious glare.
"You bastard! What did you do to Kagome?"
"Hmph…"
Naraku's Corruption ignored him completely. His cold gaze remained fixed on Kagome's unconscious form, a sinister smile curling across his lips.
"Lady Kikyo, how is Kagome?" Miroku asked, his voice tense.
"Priestess Kikyo, what happened to Kagome?" Koga added urgently.
Among everyone present, Kikyo, also a priestess, was the most likely to understand what had occurred.
"This is…"
As expected, Kikyo quickly sensed the anomaly. She took Kagome's hand, focusing deeply for a brief moment. Her brows knit together, and her expression changed sharply.
"Her spiritual power…"
Before finishing, she swiftly took the Azusa Mountain spiritual bow from Kagome and drew a sacred arrow from the quiver. Handing Kagome to Sango, Kikyo pulled the bowstring. A radiant spiritual light gathered around the arrow as she aimed directly at Naraku's Corruption.
The air grew tense.
The arrow shot forward with a sharp whistle, carrying immense purifying power.
"Don't think you can escape!"
Seizing the moment, Inuyasha swung Tessaiga with force, unleashing the Wind Scar. At the same time, Sesshomaru struck from the other side, his emerald demonic energy forming razor-sharp claws.
The two brothers closed in from opposite directions, cutting off every possible escape.
"Hmph!"
Naraku's Corruption sneered and suddenly stopped moving, allowing Kikyo's sacred arrow to strike him head-on.
A blinding burst of spiritual light exploded outward, shattering his body into countless fragments. The evil energy within him seemed to dissolve under the purifying force.
"It worked!" Inuyasha exhaled, convinced the attack had destroyed him.
A chilling laugh echoed from within the fading light.
"Destroy it all you like. It's only a borrowed body."
As the light dimmed, Naraku's head floated in the air, still grinning. The scattered remains of his body twisted and writhed, then began pulling themselves back together.
"How is this possible?" Miroku stared in disbelief. "Lady Kikyo's sacred arrow couldn't destroy him?"
Even Sesshomaru's expression hardened slightly, a faint frown appearing. He recognized Kikyo's spiritual power as exceptional among humans, yet even that had failed to eliminate their enemy.
Inuyasha gripped Tessaiga tightly.
"What the hell are you?"
"He is Naraku's Corruption, born from the Shikon Jewel."
Kikyo's calm but solemn voice cut through the tension.
"Naraku's Corruption… from the Shikon Jewel?" Inuyasha repeated, stunned.
A flicker of surprise crossed Naraku's eyes before his smirk returned.
"Kikyo… I didn't expect you to recognize me."
Kikyo lowered the bow slightly, her gaze unwavering.
"Why did you seal Kagome's spiritual power?"
"What?" Sango looked down at Kagome in shock. "Her power is sealed?"
The others froze, anxiety deepening.
"When I sensed her spiritual power being sealed, I knew it had to be you," Kikyo said, her eyes sharp. "That arrow just now was a test. My power cannot fatally harm you, can it?"
"Exactly," Naraku replied with a cold smile. "Fifty years ago, as you were dying, the Shikon Jewel heard everything. Your resentment… your desire to destroy it… and your wish to live as an ordinary woman."
Inuyasha's expression grew heavy as realization struck.
"So your feelings back then… they affected the jewel. That's why your spiritual power can't harm him."
Miroku nodded grimly.
"Even without a spoken wish, such intense emotions can influence the Shikon Jewel as if they were one."
Naraku laughed, his voice echoing eerily.
"That's right! Her power is useless against me!"
"Inuyasha," Kikyo said firmly, turning toward him, "if you want to restore Kagome's spiritual power, you must destroy him."
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at Kagome.
"Kagome was born with the Shikon Jewel. Her power has been influenced by it since the beginning. But she is not me. She is her own person. Her power will not be bound the same way mine is."
There was a quiet certainty in her voice.
"She is the one Naraku fears most."
Inuyasha's eyes sharpened as he glared at Naraku.
"So that's why you sealed her power."
Sesshomaru said nothing. Killing intent surged around him as he rose into the air and charged straight toward Naraku.
"Sesshomaru, wait!" Inuyasha shouted.
Naraku didn't even move, his expression filled with disdain.
At that moment, a clear metallic sound rang out as Sesshomaru drew his blade.
Tenseiga.
Below, Miroku, Sango, and Kohaku stared in shock.
"He drew Tenseiga?"
"Why would Lord Sesshomaru use that sword?" Jaken cried out in confusion.
"That sword can't cut anything…" Shippo muttered.
"No," Inuyasha said quietly, his eyes fixed on Sesshomaru. "There are things Tenseiga can cut."
Before anyone could react further, Sesshomaru swung the blade.
The strike didn't aim at Naraku directly, but at empty space beside him.
The air twisted violently.
A distortion spread outward, and from it emerged a grotesque figure, a massive humanoid yokai cloaked in thick, writhing evil energy.
That… was the true form of Naraku's Corruption.