SHRING!
HRAAH!
"Hm?!"
"A barrier?"
Repelled as he tried to close in with his blade, Byakuya paused in surprise.
He distinctly remembered the Shikon no Tama saying Kagome's spiritual power was still sealed.
If so, what was this display?
Even without the seal broken, Kagome had this kind of strength. If her spiritual power were fully unleashed, wouldn't she surpass even Kikyo?
A miko who could surpass Kikyo...
Just thinking about it made youkai everywhere shudder.
To put it in perspective: Kikyo was the "Great Dog Demon" among priestesses. The thought of someone exceeding the "Great Dog Demon"--how could youkai not be terrified?
Even the Shikon no Tama had to avoid her. That was why, at Kagome's birth, it sealed away most of her spiritual power, limiting her growth and potential.
'So aside from Naraku personally wanting this done... the Shikon no Tama was also afraid of Kagome in the past.'
'That's why it's so desperate to kill her.'
Byakuya's understanding of the situation gradually became clearer.
The Murasame in his hand was "stolen"--replicated from the residue extracted from youkai Akame had slain.
This was his ability as a youkai.
His own blade had no edge. So long as he found traces of material, youki, or effects from a target, he could "copy" it.
Even a high-level technique like [Meidou Zangetsuha] could be stolen.
Initially, Naraku wanted him to try stealing Lancer's spear, but unfortunately, that level seemed beyond his reach.
So the next best option was to "steal" Assassin's cursed blade.
But that was more than enough. A single scratch would kill.
For a human like Kagome, it was terrifying.
The margin for error was razor-thin. She absolutely could not be cut.
"Why do you still follow Naraku's orders when he's gone?"
"You should all be free now."
Watching him continue to approach, Kagome shouted the question.
"Hm?"
"I'm trying to kill you, yet you're still this compassionate?"
Though she had already nocked an arrow, Byakuya sensed no "killing intent."
He couldn't comprehend human emotions like this.
"What makes you so loyal to Naraku?"
Kagome stared at Byakuya. Even standing right before her, she sensed no youki from him.
Fuyouheki...
That was the only possibility she could think of.
Which meant she had to keep her eyes locked on him at all times. Lose sight of him, and a sneak attack could be the end.
"Loyalty?"
"Who knows."
"Maybe I just want to fulfill the task."
His casual reply made Kagome pause.
She heard the "lie" within--this incarnation called Byakuya wasn't as wicked as imagined.
'Well, from the moment we were born, we were basically destined to die alongside him.'
'The one who got out--my "sister" Kagura--was purely an accident.'
The pulsing from his heart urged Byakuya onward.
......
"Freedom."
"Why is it like this?"
"Tch--Kagura! Find a way to stop her, or I'll really have to act!"
Kagura stared at Kanna before her. The massive Mirror Demon looming behind the girl was unmistakable.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha--dodging nearby--was clearly growing anxious.
He'd been swatted here by the Shikon no Tama. He thought it'd be nothing, but then Kanna had been lying in "ambush."
Without a word, she summoned the Mirror Demon to slash at him.
"Kagura... is not the target."
Speaking in disjointed fragments, Kanna showed no intention of attacking Kagura--only driving her away.
Her eyes remained fixed on Inuyasha as the Mirror Demon rapidly closed in.
CLANG!
Demon blades collided. Inuyasha was furious.
He absolutely could not be struck by that blade!
Even a single wound would spell serious trouble.
Because the blade the Mirror Demon held was Rikuo's Nenekirimaru.
He didn't know how Kanna had managed it, but it was a massive threat.
"Stop! Naraku is dead! There's no need to obey those raving orders anymore."
Flying on her feather to Kanna's side, Kagura tried to dissuade her.
But Kanna ignored her completely, simply gazing ahead.
CLANG!
Blades parted. Inuyasha had no intention of staying here.
Kagome had been blown away--who knew her situation. Everyone was fighting the Shikon no Tama. How could he be stuck here?
SIZZLE!
"What?"
Seizing the chance to turn and run, he'd barely gone a short distance before a barrier bounced him back.
'You can't leave.'
"!"
The Shikon no Tama's voice echoed in his mind. Inuyasha's heart lurched.
'Neither Kagome nor those others--you can't save any of them.'
'You'll be crippled right here, Inuyasha.'
"Bastard!"
Knowing it was trying to make him panic, Inuyasha tried to shatter the barrier with Tessaiga.
SIZZLE!!
The red-tinged Tessaiga touched it--but was repelled.
'Hahaha, how amusing. That blade couldn't even break Naraku's barrier--how could it pierce this one?'
"[Kongousouha]!!"
TING TING TING!!
Adamant shards shot through the barrier without effect.
"Damn it!"
No way out. Inuyasha's anxiety mounted.
The Mirror Demon had already moved behind him, blade swinging.
CLANG!
Dodging, Inuyasha gritted his teeth and thought hard.
A remote barrier like this must have a core maintaining it. If he destroyed that--
'Want out?'
'I'll tell you a good method.'
"Shut up!"
Having no desire to converse with the Shikon no Tama, Inuyasha raised Tessaiga to block the Mirror Demon's Nenekirimaru and snarled.
'The barrier's core is in Kanna's heart.'
"What?!"
CREAK!
Startled, his strength slackened for an instant. His feet sank into the ground.
'That's right. The way out is simple.'
'You just have to kill Kanna.'
'Easy to understand, isn't it?'
"As if I'd listen to your nonsense!"
No intention of believing or obeying, Inuyasha pushed back against the Mirror Demon with both arms.
What liar who'd caused countless tragedies had the right to mock those struggling to survive?
'Heheh, but she's telling you to destroy the core.'
'Yes, exactly. Just swing your Tessaiga at her heart--and everything can be reversed.'
'Delay any longer, and Kagome will exhaust her spiritual power and be killed.'
Ignoring Inuyasha's words and attitude, the Shikon no Tama was eager to watch the show.
Whether Inuyasha killed Kanna to save Kagome, or Kanna's Mirror Demon cut Inuyasha down--either was a "delight."
No matter what he did, darkness would bloom in his heart.
There was no more nourishing "food" for it.
'Look--she's completely defenseless now, even restraining the Mirror Demon.'
'No one would blame you for killing her to save Kagome.'
The whispers continued, like a demon's murmur.
"!"
At that moment, Kagura saw what appeared in Kanna's palm--an "ice block."
It was Kanna's heart!
The pure white heart was now entwined and corroded by pitch-black youki, as if fused within.
Seeing this, Kagura understood: even with Naraku dead, the Shikon no Tama still held the "reins."
It wouldn't let Kanna and Byakuya die meaninglessly.
It would wring every last drop of value from them until they were useless.
If she herself hadn't been saved earlier, she'd likely be trapped in the same situation today.
"Strike..."
The word was delivered. Kanna's expression remained "void," yet unlike before, there was a faint tremor in her voice.
She wanted Inuyasha to kill her! That was why she'd deliberately exposed her heart.
"..."
Inuyasha could sense the faint emotion from her.
If he killed Kanna like this, it would be exactly what the Shikon no Tama wanted.
Though Kanna had obstructed and harmed him before, Inuyasha wasn't one to dwell on the past. So--
He would save Kanna!
'Hm? You want to dispel the youki attached to her? Hehehe, you can't.'
'The youki has completely fused with her heart. Even with Tessaiga's dragon-scale power, it won't work.'
'Even if your father, the Great Dog Demon, came--he couldn't save her!'
The confident words continued; the twisted laughter echoed.
'Inuyasha, in my era, youkai all used the power of "Fear," and during confrontations, they would also perform "Fear-Breaking."'
'"Fear-Breaking" is exactly as it sounds--in your terms, it's scattering an opponent's youki vortex.'
'So there are actually many ways to use "Fear"...'
Ignoring the Shikon no Tama's ramblings, Inuyasha recalled his exchanges with Rikuo.
Under normal circumstances, he absolutely couldn't escape the Shikon no Tama's deadlock.
But...!
He was no longer alone like fifty years ago!
THRUM THRUM!
Crimson demon markings began winding around the blade, setting Tessaiga resonating.
'!'
Witnessing Inuyasha activate "Fear," the Shikon no Tama froze.
It knew that was a power Rider had demonstrated--a brand-new method of wielding youki.
But what was Inuyasha using it for now?
From earlier observations, aside from enhancing Tessaiga and himself, it didn't seem to have other uses.
"Inuyasha, you--?!"
Even Kagura stared in astonishment, unsure of his intent.
"Kanna, I'm going to strike your heart precisely."
"Hold it steady!"
Pointing Tessaiga at Kanna, Inuyasha declared.
"Wait--"
"..."
Unlike Kagura's bewilderment, Kanna gave a slight nod--seemingly in approval.
'Hmph. After all that talk, you still plan to kill her.'
"But before that--"
"Hand over that blade!"
Ignoring the Shikon no Tama's mad rambling, Inuyasha focused, then swung Tessaiga down at the blade in the fallen Mirror Demon's hand.
CRACK!
Tessaiga's massive blade struck the flat of Nenekirimaru, snapping it in two.
"!"
"?"
'!?'
The unexpected move drew everyone's attention.
THRUM THRUM!
An extraordinary resonance pulsed from Tessaiga's blade. Inuyasha felt its transformation.
'He stole the power of the demon blade the Mirror Demon replicated?'
The Shikon no Tama watched Inuyasha's actions with a growing sense of dread.
Tessaiga inherently had the ability to slay enemies and absorb their power...
Cutting down the copied Nenekirimaru meant--
Tessaiga now possessed Nenekirimaru's effect: causing youki to bleed from wounded youkai.
'This should be enough, Tessaiga.'
Body leaping, he shot straight toward Kanna.
"Fear" alone wasn't enough.
He needed a more precise power to break this deadlock.
So Tessaiga had reminded Inuyasha--
Go seize Nenekirimaru!
HAAAAAAH!!!
'What I'm aiming to cut isn't simply Kanna's heart!'
'It's--'
Tessaiga, wrapped in crimson demon markings, descended toward her heart without hesitation.
CRACK!!
Releasing her grip, letting the "heart" hover in the air, Kanna silently watched her heart--slashed open, cracks spreading.
Violent black vapor erupted from within, then dissipated into the sky.
'How can this be?!'
Staring in disbelief, the Shikon no Tama was stunned.
It couldn't believe it!
How could something like this exist in the world!
"You set me up with a difficult choice, but unfortunately--"
"There's always a third option!"
The blade hovered just above her heart, barely grazing the surface. Inuyasha spoke coldly to the Shikon no Tama.