Back then, Yomi was also an important figure in the Land of Demons, but to fulfill his ambition, he broke Moryo's seal and was then defeated by Miroku.
After years of painstaking research, he finally developed a method to use his own body as a vessel to carry Moryo's soul, thus breaking the seal again.
But by now, Yomi had reached his limit.
The one currently controlling Yomi's body was actually Moryo inside him.
Moryo, as an aggregate of human negative energy, was not something just anyone could remove.
The corrosive power of that negative energy could easily drive a person mad.
Without sufficient strength, even standing before Moryo was an extremely difficult task.
"You are Moryo?"
Shion's voice was full of doubt. She didn't recognize Yomi, but she could guess who would appear here.
As she spoke, she took advantage of the moment when the other's attention wasn't on her to quietly move closer to the sealed place.
"Don't worry, I won't stop you."
Yomi's voice suddenly rang out, startling Shion again. "It seems you don't know your own identity yet."
His voice carried a hint of a sneer, as if somewhat surprised.
"My identity is the Miko."
Shion calmed her nervous heartbeat, her face tense as she spoke. Then she arrived before the sealed place and, following the sealing method she remembered, began to initiate the sealing ritual.
Soon, a barrier appeared on the ground, and her figure floated up.
She chanted some obscure incantations, and the sealing ritual seemed to be progressing smoothly.
But just then, Yomi's body suddenly pierced through the barrier and pounced on Shion.
Yomi's corpse-like face rested on Shion's shoulder, startling her greatly.
"You should have waited until he was dead to start."
This time, the voice was truly Moryo's, carrying a hint of secret joy and a trace of mockery. "I didn't expect Miroku to tell you nothing at all."
Shion knelt on the ground, staring blankly at the sealed place.
This sudden change left her at a loss.
She didn't know what she should do now.
"The Miko and Moryo have always been one. We are two sides of the same coin."
Moryo's voice carried a hint of cajoling. "I dwell in darkness, while the Miko dwells in light. We are inseparable, yet cannot merge."
"Don't you understand yet? The so-called sealing ritual is us fighting to the death here."
"Only the one who lives gets to leave."
"And I am immortal."
With Moryo's words, a dark tentacle emerged from Yomi's body and, in the instant Shion wasn't paying attention, suddenly struck her.
But just then, the bell she wore on her chest emitted light.
The light turned into a sharp blade, instantly cutting the tentacle.
"I see."
Frustrated in his attack, Moryo didn't mind. Although the blocking of his attack was unexpected, it was understandable upon reflection.
"A backup plan left by your mother? I didn't expect her to leave such strong power on you."
"But it doesn't matter. I have already obtained my body."
"After today, the Miko will cease to exist, and there will be no one left in this world to stand in my way."
The blue barrier was broken, and Shion sat there dumbly.
At that moment, a pool of dark sludge appeared beneath her, and she slowly began to sink into it.
Shion was caught off guard; by the time she tried to struggle, it was too late.
"Idiot."
Takumi shook his head, but he wasn't worried.
The hidden power within Shion was even stronger than her mother Miroku's.
Moryo hadn't noticed it yet, and with that power there, Shion wouldn't be devoured.
Most importantly, Shion still didn't know about this power within her.
Takumi needed Moryo to activate the power within her before he could step in and eliminate it.
As her body slowly sank, Shion's consciousness also rapidly fell into darkness.
"Am I going to die?"
Shion thought blankly. "That's okay. I won't have to see others die anymore."
She had had enough of those scenes that were like nightmares.
Although she hadn't fulfilled her mission, she felt she had found release.
"Almost there, almost there..."
Moryo's voice carried intense anticipation.
Without the Miko to obstruct it, it had no enemies.
It would destroy the five great nations and build an unbeatable millennium kingdom!
"Don't give up! Shion!"
Takumi suddenly appeared, rushing towards the gradually sinking Shion.
"Where did this insect come from?"
Seeing his plan about to reach its final stage, how could Moryo allow someone to disturb him?
A large number of tentacles suddenly emerged from the ground, rushing towards Takumi.
The tentacles were thick and powerful, and numerous. For a moment, Takumi seemed unable to cope in mid-air.
But this was just Takumi acting.
He was still hiding much of his strength.
What he needed to do now was to let his voice reach Shion.
He knew that Shion currently harbored thoughts of death.
Having failed to fulfill her mission, she felt she had no further value in living.
So Takumi had to use his voice to awaken her.
"Is that Takumi's voice?"
Deep in her consciousness, Shion suddenly opened her eyes.
She looked around blankly but couldn't find Takumi's figure.
But the death scene of Takumi she had foreseen earlier appeared in her mind.
Then, before her, she saw Takumi fiercely fighting Moryo's tentacles.
Seeing Takumi frequently fall into difficult situations, she became anxious.
She didn't care about her own death, but she didn't want anyone else to die because of her.
"No! I can't let him die!"
Her anxious feelings suddenly allowed her to control a power.
This power came from the brooch on her chest.
According to Moryo, this was the power her mother Miroku had left for her.
She didn't hesitate for a moment.
The brooch instantly appeared around Takumi, blocking Moryo's attacks for him.
"The timing is about right."
Takumi's gaze sharpened, and he then quickly broke free of Moryo's encirclement.
And at this moment, Moryo's attention was no longer on Takumi.
Without the protection of Miroku's power, in Moryo's view, Shion was just a meal on its plate.
But just as it was about to strike, it felt an even more powerful force suddenly erupt from within Shion.
This power was even stronger than Miroku's had been.
"How is this possible?!"
Moryo's voice was filled with shock. "Was that a seal to hide your true power?"
It finally understood. That bell wasn't to protect Shion, but to hide her true power.