"By my Command Spell--"
"Saber, kill all Masters and Servants present..."
"Kill them!"
Suppressing his hand that wanted to swing the blade, the Great Dog Demon's eyes widened.
"Dodge!"
Rikuo, half-crouching on the ground, immediately shouted at Inuyasha and Moroha.
"Moroha!"
Inuyasha grabbed Moroha and leaped backward, but the suddenly swinging blade left a bloody gash across his back.
"DAD!!"
Seeing the blood splatter, Moroha froze for an instant before crying out in alarm.
"Inuyasha!!"
Watching Inuyasha get wounded, Kagome grew worried.
"Kirinmaru, you--!"
Struggling to look back at the appearing figure, the Great Dog Demon immediately understood where the other had been.
Based on the Shikon no Tama's earlier actions, he'd likely been trapped inside the jewel.
"I wondered why you haven't obtained even a single Dragon Ball until now."
"So that's how it is."
"You couldn't act because your descendants were among them?"
Kirinmaru looked down from above, the Command Spells on his right hand still glowing.
'How is this possible?'
'Why does he have so many Command Spells?'
Rikuo and Kagome both noticed the exaggerated number with disbelief.
Extending from his hand to his wrist--at least seven.
"Don't bring children to the battlefield--yes, you once told me that."
"But since they're participants themselves, that's a different matter."
"If you can't act, I'll just have to force you."
He'd already used two Command Spells, but Kirinmaru didn't care at all.
No wonder the Shikon no Tama and that half-youkai called Naraku had so actively transferred Command Spells to him.
It was all to make him control the Great Dog Demon.
Though being manipulated like this was unpleasant, it wasn't bad for Kirinmaru.
After all, with the Great Dog Demon's top-tier performance, a single Command Spell might not be enough to make him comply.
He didn't want the Great Dog Demon interfering when he was seizing Dragon Balls.
"No... you can't fight anymore, Inuyasha!"
Kagome held Moroha, whom Inuyasha had handed over, looking at the wounded Inuyasha with wavering resolve.
Rikuo and Moroha's youkai power was exhausted. Kikyo and Rin's Servant was unconscious. Her own thigh was injured from the Shikon no Tama's earlier sneak attack, limiting her mobility.
Inuyasha and Sesshomaru weren't in good shape either--everyone was battered.
In this state, facing those two great youkai meant certain death.
Recalling Kikyo's warning, Kagome now understood what it meant.
Their furious assault on Caster had been playing right into Naraku's trap.
"Bastard!! Kirinmaru!!"
Enraged, Moroha shouted at the familiar figure.
But Kirinmaru paid no attention to this unknown half-youkai.
"Mm..."
"Even with two Command Spells used, you can still momentarily suppress your actions."
"As a Heroic Spirit, you're undoubtedly far stronger than in life."
Watching the Great Dog Demon's stiff movements, Kirinmaru knew why.
His high Magic Resistance, combined with fame and territory bonuses, had strengthened this legend beyond anyone's imagination.
Two Command Spells' constraints were gradually overcome by his resistance. The trembling blade was aimed forward, about to slash down.
CLANG!!
But an intercepting blade and figure appeared before him.
"Sesshomaru..."
Blocking single-handed, even while being pressed back, Sesshomaru stood his ground without yielding.
"Kirinmaru, I will make you pay for this disrespect to my father..."
"Oh? I didn't expect this son would actually get angry."
Hearing the threat in Sesshomaru's calm tone, Kirinmaru remained unconcerned.
He'd heard about Sesshomaru from other youkai.
As the Great Dog Demon's son, naturally he warranted attention.
But in his view, this one could never surpass the living Great Dog Demon, and thus wasn't a concern.
"Besides, do you intend to face both of us alone?"
"Such thinking..."
"Is too arrogant, Sesshomaru!!"
Drawing the blade at his waist, Kirinmaru charged while the two were locked.
"[Kongousouha]!!"
The urgent sound came. The adamant shards aimed at Kirinmaru were all deflected by his erupting youkai power.
Thud!
"In that condition and still wanting to fight?"
"Futile struggling."
Halting his attack on Sesshomaru, Kirinmaru looked at the panting Inuyasha holding Tessaiga nearby.
CLANG CLANG!
RING RING!!
"HAH!!"
Just then, the Great Dog Demon swung So'unga, erupting with youkai energy and blasting Sesshomaru away too.
'This is bad. Even Inuyasha and Sesshomaru can't fight them in this condition.'
'The best option is to retreat.'
Setting aside that the Great Dog Demon hadn't gone all out yet, Kirinmaru alone was difficult enough. Kagome could sense his serious intent--one misstep and they'd truly be killed.
"Kirinmaru, you'd better be prepared for what comes after."
Violent youkai energy erupted. The Great Dog Demon's voice had never held such fury.
"Hmph, that brutal aura suits your status as a ruler."
"But I still have more Command Spells. As long as I gather the Dragon Balls and make my wish before they run out, fighting you again would be quite fitting."
Pulling two Dragon Balls from his pocket, Kirinmaru sneered.
"What--!"
Kagome and Inuyasha saw the two Dragon Balls Kirinmaru produced and grew agitated.
"Where did you get those?!"
Inuyasha shouted first. One of those balls was supposed to be hidden in Kagome's family warehouse in the other era.
"So those were yours?"
"Hiding them in another era was a good idea..."
"But unfortunately, the Shikon no Tama's interior is connected to another dimension. Once I grasped the coordinates and spatial distance, obtaining it was effortless."
Hearing this, Kirinmaru openly revealed the truth.
"Fine..."
"For the Great Dog Demon's sake, hand over your Dragon Balls and I'll let you leave."
"Otherwise... you'll need to consider facing the youkai lords of both East and West."
Also erupting with tremendous youkai energy, Kirinmaru even deliberately raised his hand to show the numerous Command Spells.
"!"
"!?"
In that instant, everyone felt the suffocating atmosphere.
'This is insane!'
'So this is what great youkai of this era are like?'
Rikuo panted heavily, feeling powerless. At full strength, with demon bonding and his Reality Marble, he might have a chance.
But wounded and out of magical power, he was like a capable cook without ingredients.
The one person who could fight--Akame--remained unconscious.
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha certainly couldn't defeat these two great youkai in their current state.
The situation was extremely unfavorable.
'Perhaps we can only comply with his demands.'
Kagome nervously held Moroha, glancing at Kikyo lying on the ground.
No matter how she looked at it, their side couldn't win.
On one side was everyone's safety. On the other, keeping the Dragon Balls...
The decision she should make was...