Boom,!
A massive column of water exploded skyward as the sea churned violently.
Before the waves could settle, a furious roar erupted from beneath the surface.
ROAR,!
A grotesque, spiked tortoise shell slowly rose from the ocean, water cascading down its jagged ridges. Moments later, the head of a massive tortoise demon broke through the surface,its dark green scales glistening, its blood-red eyes filled with savage malice as they locked onto the figures in the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several openings on the shell glowed ominously. In the next instant, dozens of demonic energy orbs shot into the air, arcing toward Kagetsu and Kikyo like a barrage of meteors.
At the same time,
Shriek,!
A piercing cry split the sky.
From the depths of the island, flaming birds formed from condensed fire surged upward, trailing blazing tails as they swooped toward Entei.
Kagetsu swept his gaze across the overwhelming assault, his expression calm.
"Heh… eager to die, aren't they?"
His eyes shifted toward a cliffside, where three figures stood watching.
They were the remaining members of the Shitoshin,Ryōra, Kyōra, and Jūra.
"Shinra Tensei."
An invisible force erupted outward.
The incoming barrage,firebirds and energy orbs alike,slammed into an unseen wall and detonated instantly, scattering flames and smoke across the sky.
"Are they dead?" Kyōra muttered lazily from the cliff. "Weak humans should've been reduced to ash by now."
"Hmm?"
Through the smoke, Entei burst forth,completely unharmed, carrying the two figures.
Kyōra's pupils shrank.
"They blocked that…?"
Below, the massive tortoise demon,Gōra,tilted its head upward, opening its jaws to unleash another attack.
Kagetsu raised his hand,
,but suddenly, Kikyo gently pressed his wrist down.
"leave this one to me."
Her gaze was fixed on Gōra, cold and resolute.
A memory of past betrayal lingered behind her eyes.
Kagetsu immediately understood.
"Alright," he said with a faint smile. "Then the tortoise is yours."
His gaze shifted back to the cliff.
"I'll handle the others."
Before his words even finished,
he jumped.
Wind roared past his ears as he fell.
With a flick of his wrist, a kunai shot forward like a black streak, aimed straight at Ryōra.
"Kagetsu !" Kikyo called instinctively, her heart tightening.
But Kagetsu only waved casually, signaling her not to worry.
"Oh? Jumping down to die?" Jūra sneered.
Yet his hands moved swiftly.
Boom!
A demonic projectile fired from his Kitenpō, hurtling toward the falling Kagetsu .
At the same time,
Clang!
Ryōra casually raised his scaled arm, deflecting the incoming kunai in a shower of sparks.
"Pathetic human tricks."
But in the next instant,
Kagetsu vanished.
Ryōra's expression changed.
"Where,?!"
A figure appeared right in front of them.
Kagetsu caught the rebounding kunai mid-air, his other hand already raised.
"Shinra Tensei."
BOOM,!
A devastating repulsive force erupted.
The three demons were blasted away instantly, crashing through trees and smashing into the cliffside behind them.
The ground shattered.
Dust and debris swallowed them whole.
Above, Kikyo exhaled softly in relief.
Seeing that Kagetsu was unharmed,and dominating the battlefield,she turned her full attention back to Gōra.
The tortoise demon continued firing energy blasts,
,but none could touch Entei.
With a soft poof, smoke burst from Kikyo's hands.
A longbow and quiver appeared instantly.
She drew an arrow, her expression calm but deadly.
"Entei… charge."
Neigh,!
Flames flared from Entei's hooves as it dove straight toward Gōra, weaving through the barrage of attacks.
Deep Within the Island
Inside a hidden cave, the young half-demon children huddled together.
Explosions echoed faintly through the walls.
"Sister Asagi…" Ai whispered, trembling. "What's happening outside?"
Asagi stood near the cave entrance, her expression grave.
"The Shitoshin… they're fighting someone."
"But that's impossible," she murmured. "The Time Barrier hasn't opened yet…"
"Could the barrier have broken?" Moegi asked.
Asagi shook her head firmly.
"No. Not unless the Cauldron of Resonance activates."
The rumbling outside intensified.
After a moment of hesitation, Asagi clenched her fists.
"I'm going out to check."
"Sister, we're coming too!" Roku said immediately.
"Yeah!" Dai nodded eagerly.
"No. It's too dangerous,"
But she stopped.
All of them were looking at her.
Determined.
Unyielding.
Even little Ai clutched her sleeve tightly, refusing to let go.
Asagi fell silent.
"You guys…"
The cave trembled faintly as another distant explosion echoed across Mount Penglai Island.
The battle had only just begun.