"Sesshomaru-sama! You've finally returned!"
Jaken bowed as Sesshomaru descended from the sky, immediately calling out with relief.
'Hm?'
Although it wasn't the first time his lord had gone out, taking this long to return was rather unusual. Moreover, the traces of battle on his body were concerning.
But since Sesshomaru wouldn't explain, Jaken didn't dare ask.
"Sesshomaru-sama!"
Rin had woken early and came running over with bright eyes.
Glancing at Rin, Sesshomaru then cast a sidelong look at Akame waiting beneath the tree before withdrawing his gaze.
He could smell the faint scent of youkai lingering on her blade. Clearly, last night here hadn't been peaceful.
But since Rin remained unharmed, Sesshomaru saw no need to dwell on what had transpired.
'Although I haven't paid much attention to your recent activities, I've heard from the youkai beneath me that you're traveling with a human girl.'
'This is something you absolutely wouldn't have done before.'
'You've changed, Sesshomaru.'
Recalling the conversation with his mother, Sesshomaru began to grasp what his father had originally wanted him to comprehend.
Compassion and mercy...
To possess the heart that feels anger and sorrow for others, and also the heart that shares joy and happiness with them.
Even wielding Tenseiga, a blade that could restore the dead to life, one must never become indifferent to life's existence.
Coincidentally, Sesshomaru was now gradually coming to understand these things.
And tracing this transformation to its source... Rin stood before him.
'Tessaiga has always been something I never truly needed.'
Looking at Rin's face, Sesshomaru also recognized the meaning behind his father's words from their encounter.
What he lacked most wasn't blades like Tessaiga or Tokijin...
His own strength had already made such weapons unnecessary.
THUMP THUMP
A slight tremor and warmth coursed through his body—he could even hear his own heartbeat. Sesshomaru furrowed his brows.
But that disturbance lasted only an instant before subsiding.
'A path belonging to myself?'
Rather than gazing upon everything his father achieved in life, he should stride toward his own future.
What he needed wasn't to become a second Great Dog Demon.
THUMP THUMP
The disturbance in his body arose again. That intense burning sensation began spreading through him.
'Something... is awakening.'
That feeling of standing one step away from a breakthrough told Sesshomaru some secret lay hidden within himself.
Though not yet unlocked, he believed it wouldn't be long before he understood what it was.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
"Wait for me!! Sesshomaru-sama!"
...
"Kikyo-sama's Sacred Arrows don't work on it?"
Kohaku dodged the tentacles whipping past and felt his expression grow grave.
Ahead, the grotesque flesh pierced by the arrow was regenerating at a frantic pace.
Those invincible Sacred Arrows seemed to have little effect.
"How unfortunate, Kikyo. Whether it's you or the awakening Kagome, I no longer care. Spiritual power can no longer threaten me."
The Shikon no Tama watched Kikyo nocking another arrow and let out mocking laughter.
"Then... how about this!!"
"[Demonic Dragon Wave]!!"
Swinging her blade, Moroha fused her spiritual power and youkai power into the sword, launching a brilliant pink dragon.
ROAR!!
"Oh?"
Watching the dragon charge straight toward it, the Shikon no Tama showed mild surprise but still made no attempt to dodge.
SPLAT!!
The massive dragon devoured its body and tore along the road, sending it flying far into the distance.
"Heh, there's no way you're unscathed from that."
Seeing her attack connect, Moroha brimmed with confidence.
"Moroha, don't let your guard down."
Kikyo warned, sensing the opponent's thick youkai aura showed no signs of weakening.
"!"
"?"
But next, Moroha and Kohaku watched in horror as the Shikon no Tama—blasted apart moments ago—advanced toward them with only half a body remaining.
Its upper half had been blown off entirely, leaving just the lower body walking down the road. The sight was absolutely nightmarish.
"The power is impressive, but unfortunately... you cannot kill me."
Surging flesh spread from the waist, reforming into a complete body. The Shikon no Tama spoke with cold disdain.
'This isn't ordinary regeneration ability. There's some secret about that body we don't know.'
Kikyo observed the opponent's restoration closely, realizing the Servant possessed by the Shikon no Tama was far from simple.
Her Sacred Arrows couldn't possibly be ineffective against youkai...
Either this youkai body possessed resistance to spiritual power, or some other unknown ability was at play.
"Tch! Then watch me blast you to ashes completely next time!"
Being treated with such contempt, Moroha couldn't stomach it.
"Mom, I'm going to use that one!"
"Mm."
"M-Mom?"
Compared to Kikyo's calm acknowledgment, Kohaku stood completely dumbfounded.
What did she just say?
He couldn't have misheard. That girl called Kikyo-sama "Mom"?
This bombshell revelation stunned Kohaku into silence.
"?"
The Shikon no Tama watched the girl pull out lipstick and apply it to her lips, immediately bewildered.
Even it had never witnessed such a bizarre ritual.
Putting on makeup before a fight?
But suddenly, the astonishing youkai power that erupted made its eyes go wide.
Crimson youkai aura enveloped her body, spiraling and ascending into the sky.
"The youkai aura... has solidified into form!"
This overwhelming presence shattered Kohaku's understanding. Such power was typically possessed only by great youkai.
But the question remained—how many centuries had those great youkai lived, and how old was this girl Moroha?
'The power of atavism.'
Kikyo observed the humanoid figure condensed from pure youkai aura.
She knew—that was Inuyasha's father... the Great Dog Demon.
"Die!"
Eye markings and demon stripes materialized across her face. Moroha swung with violent force.
"What?!"
The phantom behind her swung the blade in its hand, slashing downward. The descending arc of youkai power consumed the earth...
This left the Shikon no Tama with neither space nor time to evade.
"How can this be?"
Something beyond all expectations had occurred. The Shikon no Tama's face drained of color, but it could only watch helplessly as its entire being was annihilated.
BOOM!!
A violent rumble shook the land. A bottomless crack split the earth, tremors reaching far away and startling every creature nearby.
"How astonishing..."
Kohaku stared at the abyss-like chasm carved into the road, rendered speechless.
Such a devastating strike—if it had been Naraku, he'd probably have been reduced to nothing, barrier and all.
'Moroha... who exactly is she?'
Kohaku found himself increasingly curious about this girl's true identity.
"Heh! Now you know how powerful I am?"
Withdrawing the surging youkai power, Moroha surveyed the environment ahead—now completely obliterated—and called out triumphantly.
[Crimson Yasha of Nation's Ruin]
That was Moroha's innate power.
Unlike Inuyasha, Moroha had awakened the power of atavism across generations.
The strength that her grandfather, the Great Dog Demon, once possessed—Moroha could wield it in this state.
She had once battled Kirinmaru as a great youkai while in this form, earning his evaluation: "Worthy of being the Great Dog Demon's descendant."
One could only imagine how formidable Moroha became in this state.
"The youkai power has weakened... but..."
Most of the Shikon no Tama's residual aura in the air had dissipated. Kikyo knew that earth-shattering strike had definitely dealt unexpected damage.
"This!"
"What?"
"Hm?!"
But immediately after, Moroha, Kohaku, and Kikyo's expressions turned grim.
In the empty space ahead, a black dot appeared from nothing and began expanding, then transformed into a massive, hideous monster bristling with countless tentacles.
"It's still not dead? How is that possible?! That strike definitely destroyed it!"
Moroha stared at the scene in disbelief.
"To think... I'd be killed by a little girl like you!!"
Furious hatred radiated from ahead. All three could feel the seething rage in its words.