At the same time, within a vast and ancient palace, an empty hall stretched endlessly, illuminated by enormous lamps that burned fiercely, their flames twisting and writhing like demonic claws clawing into the darkness. The oil fueling them was refined from rare monsters, a precious substance capable of burning steadily and endlessly without producing smoke or decay. The entire chamber exuded an aura of burial and desolation, solemn and shrouded in an inexplicable mystery.
"This war… has truly gone on far too long," Sesshomaru mused, seated upon a gilded chair carved with archaic patterns, its design steeped in timeless elegance. He lowered his gaze to the battle report in his hand and let out a quiet sigh.
The conflict between them and the other demon nations had dragged on for over ten years. Now, it finally appeared to be nearing its end. Throughout these years, Sesshomaru had been constantly engaged on the frontlines, experiencing countless brutal clashes and slaughtering enemies with his own hands. No matter who stood before him, as long as they were foes, Sesshomaru had shown no mercy.
"Did that fellow… escape?" Leaning back slightly in his chair, Sesshomaru's thoughts drifted to matters he had been unable to address amid the chaos of battle. He extended his pale fingers and lightly brushed his chin, his golden eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Some time ago, he had ordered Jaken to track Inuyasha's whereabouts, yet the imp had never returned. Although Sesshomaru habitually disciplined Jaken, he knew well of his unwavering loyalty. Despite the possibility that the target might have fled, Sesshomaru did not believe Jaken would betray him. Even if Jaken lacked courage and faced death, he would never turn his back on his lord.
At that moment, Sesshomaru couldn't help but recall the words spoken by his enemies during a previous battle: "You are nothing but watchdogs! Surely you don't know, your subordinate has already become a lackey of the G.D.I." The taunt had been dismissed without thought at the time. But now, as he reflected on it, his expression grew cold and severe. He had also heard of the recent front-line battle; Sebastian had single-handedly annihilated a massive monster army.
"It is a disgrace to my bloodline… that such a person still lives," Sesshomaru muttered, gripping the hilt of Tenseiga, his face darkening with resolve.
He had made his decision. He would personally journey to G.D.I. to eliminate the younger brother he despised, and to confront Sebastian, the greatest threat the demon race had ever faced.
Early morning at G.D.I.: a fine drizzle descended slowly from the sky, enveloping the land in a thick, pale mist.
"Sensei, I'm coming!" Sebastian was performing his daily training routine in the courtyard of the mansion when a voice echoed from within the dense fog. Almost immediately, a sharp gust of wind surged toward him.
Sebastian remained perfectly still.
Frost blossomed around him, rapidly condensing into razor-sharp crystalline ice that collided with a cyan longsword thrust from the fog. Behind Sebastian, Tsubaki's figure emerged.
The ice created by the Demon God Manifestation clashed with the blade in Tsubaki's hand, producing a clear, ringing sound that cut through the mist. Cyan light and freezing radiance intertwined violently, colliding repeatedly in the fog, weaving a dense, dazzling net of light.
The berserk power released from their clash surged outward, forming violent shockwaves that twisted into fierce winds. The fog was violently stirred, spiraling upward into a small storm-like vortex.
"You lose," Sebastian said calmly. With his final move, a bitter cold wind swept past, blowing loose Tsubaki's tied hair. An icy blade hovered mere centimeters from her throat.
"Sensei, couldn't you let me win just once?" Tsubaki asked with a hint of disappointment as Sebastian snapped his fingers, causing the ice to shatter into nothingness. She stepped closer, gazing up at him with reproachful eyes. "I've lost so many times already!"
"Even so, you've made progress," Sebastian replied. As long as Tsubaki wasn't dispatched on missions, she often sparred with him every few days.
Their original agreement was clear: Tsubaki could only fight Sebastian after defeating Ram. But under Sebastian's guidance and influence, she had learned spells from other worlds. Her talent had always been outstanding, but with Sebastian's help, her potential had been fully unleashed. Soon after mastering magic, Tsubaki was already able to force Ram to take battles seriously.
Sebastian deliberately gave her opportunities to challenge him, and over time, it became a unique form of communication. Frequent battles with Sebastian rapidly strengthened Tsubaki's skills. She was now evenly matched with Ram and Kikyō, with their fights often ending in stalemate.
After the sparring session, Tsubaki followed Sebastian into the lounge of the combat laboratory. Sitting down, she quickly poured him a cup of tea and asked with curiosity sparkling in her eyes, "Does the Hōrai Island really exist?"
"You want to see it too?" Sebastian smiled faintly. Tsubaki's deliberately adorable expression made her intentions painfully obvious. Whenever she desired something, she instantly shifted from a tsundere act to a sweet, clingy girl.
Hearing his response, Tsubaki showed no embarrassment. She stepped behind Sebastian and gently wrapped her arms around his neck, acting coquettishly. "Sensei, I just want to see if there's anything there that could make me even more beautiful."
"And besides, we're relying only on those two. What if something happens to them?" she voiced her concern honestly.
Although Sebastian's influence had significantly improved her appearance over the years, the mere thought that the legendary island might harbor an artifact capable of eternal youth made Tsubaki's heart race uncontrollably. She had long coveted the Jewel of Four Souls to maintain her beauty.
But after staying by Sebastian's side, she learned the truth: what he possessed was only a counterfeit. Rumors claimed the real jewel had resurfaced, but its location remained a mystery. After abandoning hope of acquiring the Jewel of Four Souls, she refused to give up entirely.
Born with a love for beauty, and upon learning that Hōrai Island was the Island of the Gods, she had already made up her mind. She would ask Sebastian for permission and go to the island herself.