Sitting on the altar, Yomi watched as Shion slowly approached, and laughed sinisterly, "Hahaha, so you're this generation's priestess? You're far inferior to your mother."
"Back in the day, your mother was so gallant. Even after being sealed for so many years, I still remember her heroic figure. She would never be as timid as you."
Shion gritted her teeth, not refuting Yomi's words. In her memories, her mother always stood in front of her whenever danger arose, especially during the attack by Moryo. It was her mother who repelled Moryo.
In Shion's heart, her mother was a giant, a protector. This only fueled her hatred for Moryo even more.
If it weren't for Moryo wreaking havoc in the world, her mother wouldn't have had to sacrifice her life to seal it.
Silently enduring Moryo's taunts, Shion walked up to the altar.
Seeing Shion ignore it, Moryo spoke again,
"Do you know that you and I are one? If we join forces, we could rule the entire world. Our combined power is unimaginably strong."
Moryo attempted to persuade Shion to join its plan, but Shion paid it no mind.
She stopped at a position on the altar, began forming hand seals, and recited an incantation. Moryo didn't care about Shion's disregard.
Laughing heartily, it said, "Hehehe, do you really intend to seal me? That will cost you your life, you know."
"Your mother is still inside me. The power of Moryo and the priestess is one and the same, only divided by differing ideals."
"Your mother didn't understand my vision, but you should. Together, the world could be ours."
Shion replied coldly, "Don't think you can deceive me with such lies. I will never be swayed by you." Shion completed her hand seals and finished the incantation.
In an instant, the altar activated. A small altar rose, and a red barrier appeared around it. This was the moment Moryo had been waiting for.
It laughed maniacally, "Hahaha, foolish! I cannot break the seal myself. Only your power can do that. Thanks to you!" Moryo's soul surged out of Yomi's body, rushing madly towards its sealed physical form in the center of the altar.
"Boom!" The powerful force triggered a violent tremor. Shion seemed to realize she had fallen into a trap. She watched as dragon-headed tentacles emerged from the magma lake around her.
In just a few seconds, the entire magma lake was occupied by countless black tentacles.
This was Moryo's true form, dozens of tentacles, each hundreds of meters long, forming its body, resembling a giant serpent with massive dragon heads.
Dozens of dragon heads surged around.
Their eyes glowed with a purple light, and the dragon heads roared.
The entire interior of the volcano shook violently from the immense roar.
The magma in the lake boiled like water, splashing everywhere, and even the land above began to sink, falling into the magma lake.
Moryo laughed wildly, "Hahaha, did you really think you could seal me?"
"Destruction awaits." "You are a Priestess, possessing the powers of a Priestess. I cannot kill you, but you will be trapped within me, helplessly watching as everything and everyone you care about is destroyed. Hahaha!" Moryo taunted, trying to provoke the stunned Shion.
Shion was at a loss. Her body was being consumed by Moryo, surrounded by impenetrable darkness. Finally, she remembered Yoruha and cried out, "Mr. Yoruha, didn't you promise to protect me?"
"You liar." Shion wept, but she couldn't bear to see the world destroyed, nor could she stand the thought of more villagers dying to protect her.
Shion's power was too immense; sealing it required more than just a simple seal. The villagers had to sacrifice their lives to suppress the power within her.
Over the years, those around Shion had died one by one. She could foresee their deaths, knowing when, how, and what their final moments would be like.
Shion no longer wanted to endure such pain. At that moment, the bell she always wore began to glow intensely with her emotional turmoil.
Looking at the glowing bell on her chest, Shion spoke bitterly,
"Mother, I have no choice but to use this power now. But it's alright, I will soon join you, and no one in the village will die because of me anymore.
The world will finally find peace." With those words, Shion activated the bell.
It emitted a brilliant light, awakening the Priestess's power within her. "Buzz." The power surged, shattering the seal that had restrained her, unable to withstand Shion's own strength.
In an instant, Shion's appearance transformed into something angelic. Her golden hair flowed, a Priestess's crown appeared on her forehead, and her body was adorned with markings akin to Sage Mode. In her hand appeared a Priestess's staff.
At that moment, Shion resembled an angel gazing down upon the world, her body brimming with overwhelming power that even Moryo feared.
"Damn it, what is this power?" "When did the Priestess's power become so formidable, surpassing even Miroku's by several folds? What is going on?"
Moryo couldn't comprehend how Shion, whom it had underestimated, harbored a power more terrifying than Miroku's.
Shion's mother, Miroku, was already the most powerful Priestess in history. Moryo had sought to rule the world with her because her power had earned its respect.
But now, Shion's unleashed power was several times stronger than Miroku's. To Moryo, this seemed impossible. It was terrified because Shion's power could indeed seal it away completely.
Moryo shouted, "Are you really going to use your life to seal me? Is it worth it? Why not join me and rule the world together? I am willing to let you govern the world, little girl. You will die."
But Shion had resolved to sacrifice herself. Moryo's words couldn't sway her. "Foolish creature, you will regret this."
Moryo raged impotently, but Shion's expression remained icy. Just as she was about to unleash her power, she suddenly heard Yoruha's voice, "I never lied to you."
Shion, who was about to activate her power, paused. Turning her head, she saw Yoruha beside her, his arm around her waist, as they ascended into the sky.
Moments ago, Shion had fallen from the altar, directly above Moryo's body.