"Besides this dense miasma, I can also sense Naraku's aura from the castle earlier. This must be his setup,"
Kikyo said calmly after carefully examining the surroundings.
"Yeah. He's already here, hiding nearby," Retsu nodded. "Once his body recovers, we'll make our move."
Their conversation left Kagome and Sango completely confused. Before they could ask anything, a violent roar echoed from ahead—mixed with Inuyasha's furious shouts.
Both girls looked up at once.
At the far end of the cave, Miroku was slumped weakly near the cliff opening, his face deathly pale, clearly overwhelmed by the corrupt energy.
"Miroku!" Kagome and Sango called out.
Miroku turned, startled. When he saw them, he shouted urgently,
"Why are you here?! This place is too dangerous—leave now!"
"Miroku, are you okay? Where's Inuyasha?" Kagome rushed over, unaffected by the miasma.
"Kagome?! Get out of here—it's dangerous!" Inuyasha yelled as he noticed her.
But the moment he turned, the monster seized the opening.
A massive claw slammed into him, sending him crashing into the ground.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.
He sprang up instantly, eyes blazing, and charged again with Tessaiga. Blades and claws collided, screeching violently.
By then, Kikyo and Retsu had arrived with Sango, Shippo, and Kirara.
Looking down, they realized the cave ended in a vast hollow chamber inside the mountain, shaped like a crater.
Moonlight poured in from a circular opening above, illuminating the horrifying scene.
At the center lay a blood pool formed from countless monster remains and fresh gore, glowing eerily.
Inuyasha was fighting a gigantic demon inside it, each clash sending waves of blood spraying meters high.
"Miroku, are you alright?" Sango asked worriedly as she supported him.
"I'm fine… Sango, why are you all here…" Miroku panted. Then his eyes widened when he saw Kikyo.
Suddenly, Shippo and Kirara seemed pulled by an unseen force and took steps toward the blood pool.
"Shippo! Kirara! No!" Sango and Miroku grabbed them at once.
"Be careful," Miroku said gravely, shoving Shippo into Kagome's arms.
"This cave is under a witchcraft curse. Demons are forced to fight, devour, and merge in that blood pool."
He looked at Inuyasha.
"If this keeps up, he'll be corrupted too and end up merging with them!"
"Merge?!" Kagome's face turned pale. "Kikyo said this is Naraku's trap!"
"Looks like it," Miroku nodded, then suddenly realized something.
The miasma was fading.
He looked up in shock.
Kikyo stood there, surrounded by overwhelming white spiritual light, continuously purifying the area.
"Miss Kikyo… thank you," Miroku said sincerely, stunned by her power.
Kikyo ignored him.
Her cold gaze fixed on Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, wake up. Stop acting like an idiot and get out of there."
"Kikyo?!"
Hearing her voice, Inuyasha froze and looked up.
He saw her standing above, watching him calmly.
That moment of distraction was fatal.
The demon struck again.
Boom!
Inuyasha was smashed straight into the cliff wall, rocks raining down.
Retsu couldn't help thinking:
This guy is really fair.
Kagome shouted—he got slammed.
Kikyo shouted—he got smashed into a wall.
At least he's tough.
Kikyo didn't spare him a glance.
Seeing him knocked away from the blood pool, she immediately took out her bow.
She nocked an arrow and said to Retsu,
"Get ready. Don't let it escape. I'm breaking the seal."
"Got it!"
Retsu's feet exploded with blue chakra as he leapt out like a missile.
The demon was charging toward Inuyasha, completely unaware.
Retsu condensed chakra into his right foot and stomped down.
Boom!
His kick crushed into the demon's head. Blood sprayed as the massive body crashed into the pool.
Using the rebound, Retsu ran along the cliff wall, grabbed Inuyasha by the collar, and hauled him up like a sack.
A few leaps later, he tossed him onto the ledge.
"Done," he said casually.
Kikyo nodded.
She drew her bow to its limit and released.
A glowing arrow shot upward and struck the invisible barrier.
Boom!
The seal shattered.
Compressed miasma erupted like a pillar of smoke and darkness, blasting skyward.
A deafening roar followed.
The cave's opening was blown apart.
All the filth, blood, and the regenerating demon were swept out and dispersed into the night sky.
Only fierce winds remained.
With the curse broken, Inuyasha fully regained his senses.
"Kikyo! What the hell are you doing?!" he rushed over angrily.
"No time for nonsense," Kikyo replied coldly.
She turned to Retsu.
"Retsu, it's up to you now."
"No problem. Let's go."
Retsu stepped forward, scooped Kikyo into his arms, and released a burst of chakra.
Like a bolt of lightning, he ran straight up the cliff toward the opening above.
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