Kagetsu reached out and lifted the immobilized Momiji and Botan, placing them onto Kuro Maru's back so the defenseless girls wouldn't be harmed by accident.
Then he turned to Tsubaki.
"Let's go. Lead us to the place where the demon is sealed."
Feeling both Kagetsu's and Kikyo's eyes fixed on her, Tsubaki reluctantly started walking ahead. Though clearly unwilling to march toward what she believed was her own death, she still muttered under her breath:
"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you."
After deliberately dragging her feet for a while, the three finally arrived at the mountain behind the temple.
Before them stood a solitary two-story brick-and-stone pagoda, silent and imposing among the trees.
"We're here."
Tsubaki looked up at the tower, her tone complicated.
"This is the Forbidden Tower, the Precious Pagoda where the demon is sealed."
Her gaze then shifted to the tightly closed wooden door.
"The entrance is protected by a sealing barrier. It must be undone before we can enter."
She continued,
"And the demon itself is sealed inside a Sealing Stone, protected by an even stronger seal."
Then she turned toward Kagetsu, a calculating glint flashing in her eyes.
"I know how to break the seal."
"But the spiritual power in my body has been sealed."
"How about you remove the seal on me first? I'll break the barrier for you."
Kagetsu saw through her intention to escape immediately.
He simply ignored her.
Turning to Kikyo, he asked,
"Can you break the seal on this tower?"
"Let me take a look first."
Kikyo walked up the stone steps and placed her hand on the wooden door, pushing gently.
The door did not move at all.
A faint glow suddenly spread across the tower as the barrier activated, blocking outside interference.
She frowned thoughtfully before turning back.
"This seal was reinforced by many people."
"It's quite strong."
Then she spoke more casually.
"To break it properly, I would need to return to the temple and gather ritual tools and materials to set up an altar."
"It would take a little time."
As she spoke, she turned toward Kuro Maru.
But Kagetsu reached out and stopped her.
"No need for that trouble."
"It's a waste of time."
"Let's just break it by force."
Kikyo paused for a moment before nodding.
"That works too."
"Once the demon is released, this tower probably won't survive anyway."
"Hmph!"
Tsubaki snorted in disdain.
"Anyone can talk big."
"This seal has been reinforced by monks and shrine maidens for over a hundred years."
"It's impossible to break it by brute force!"
"Even if you could destroy it, it would take much longer than performing the proper ritual!"
Kikyo ignored her mockery and looked at Kagetsu.
"Should we stand back?"
"No."
Kagetsu shook his head.
"Just wait here. It'll be over soon."
He fixed his gaze on the wooden door.
His crimson Sharingan appeared instantly.
The Mangekyō pattern in his left eye began spinning rapidly as powerful ocular energy surged outward.
"Kamui."
The moment he spoke,
The space around the Precious Pagoda suddenly rippled and twisted.
A pitch-black spatial vortex formed in front of the wooden door, slowly rotating as it devoured everything nearby.
At the same time, the sealing barrier surrounding the tower erupted with brilliant spiritual light, attempting to resist the destruction.
But against an ability that directly distorted space itself, the seal stood no chance.
The barrier flickered several times,
Then shattered.
The wooden door was instantly crushed and swallowed by the spatial vortex.
Moments later, the vortex vanished.
"Alright."
Kagetsu lowered his gaze calmly.
"It's done. Let's go in."
He stepped forward first.
The vortex had not only devoured the door,it had also torn twisted cracks into the nearby stone walls.
Kikyo followed him through the destroyed entrance.
Behind them, Tsubaki stood frozen in shock.
"What are you staring at?" Kikyo called out.
"Get in here."
Tsubaki snapped back to reality and pointed at the shattered doorway.
"W-What was that just now?!"
"Nothing."
Kikyo answered calmly.
"Just one of Kagetsu's little tricks."
Her eyes drifted over Tsubaki's slender neck as she added with a faint smile:
"If you don't come in soon, he might use the same method to twist your neck."
"C-Coming!"
Tsubaki shuddered, a chill running down her spine.
She hurried forward and quietly hid behind Kikyo, deliberately keeping distance from Kagetsu.
Seeing her frightened reaction, Kagetsu gave Kikyo a speechless look.
But Kikyo's eyes were full of amusement.
Clearly, she was getting back at Tsubaki for trying to escape earlier.
Inside the tower, the room was almost completely empty.
Only a wooden hatch in the center of the floor stood out.
It clearly led underground.
Numerous talismans that had once been pasted across the hatch were now torn and damaged.
"There's another seal here," Tsubaki explained.
"But it's connected to the outer barrier."
"It should already be broken."
She bent down and easily lifted the wooden hatch.
Below it was a stone staircase descending into deep darkness.
"My master said the Sealing Stone containing the demon is down there."
"Let's go take a look."
Kagetsu glanced at the dark passage and followed them down.
"Listen," Tsubaki warned nervously while walking.
"When you release that demon, don't you dare leave me behind."
"Don't worry."
Kikyo replied calmly.
"We won't abandon you."
They descended the stairs and passed through a short tunnel before entering a hidden chamber.
The moment they stepped inside, the room's magic activated.
Candles on both sides burst into flame, illuminating the chamber.
At the far end of the room stood a pitch-black boulder over two meters tall.
Powerful demonic energy radiated from it.
The stone was tightly wrapped in thick shimenawa ropes.
Kagetsu immediately recognized it.
The Sealing Stone.
Sure enough, Tsubaki spoke at that moment.
"This is the demon's Sealing Stone."
"Break the seal on it, and the demon will be released."
"What's the incantation?" Kikyo asked, examining the ropes.
Tsubaki nervously shrank her shoulders.
This time she made no demands.
She obediently recited the incantation.
Kagetsu frowned slightly.
"Can't I just cut it apart?"
"Using incantations is too troublesome."
"It's better not to."
Kikyo shook her head.
"If we break it by force, the sealed demonic aura will explode instantly."
"This entire basement could collapse."
"And we might be buried alive."
"Besides, using the incantation is faster."
"There's no need to take that risk."
"Alright."
Kagetsu nodded.
"Tell me when it's broken."
"I'll take you both out immediately."
Kikyo stepped forward and stood before the Sealing Stone.
She pressed her palms together.
Her clear voice echoed through the chamber as she recited the incantation.
Finally,
"Release!"
CRACK.
The shimenawa ropes snapped instantly.
The surface of the black boulder filled with spiderweb-like cracks.
A dense wave of demonic and evil aura burst from the stone, turning the surrounding air almost black.
"Kagetsu,leave now!" Kikyo shouted.
Kagetsu had already prepared.
With one hand he grabbed Kikyo's wrist.
With the other he seized Tsubaki by the collar.
"Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Let's go!"
The three vanished instantly.
In the next moment, they reappeared beside Kuro Maru outside the Precious Pagoda.
Tsubaki stumbled and barely regained her footing.
Looking at the familiar ground beneath her feet and the bear shikigami nearby, she finally realized what had happened.
She instinctively moved away from Kagetsu.
Then she raised her head,
And stared toward the Precious Pagoda not far away.