"Cherry blossoms?"
Hojo Akito stared blankly at the pink petals drifting down from the sky, murmuring in surprise. Why would cherry blossoms be blooming here?
But Inuyasha and Miroku instantly tensed.
Without hesitation, they stepped forward and shielded Kagome, Hojo Akito, and Shippo behind them.
"Be careful! Something's coming!"
Inuyasha yanked out Tessaiga with a sharp motion, his eyes locked onto the dark forest ahead as he shouted a warning.
Miroku's expression turned grave. Feeling the terrifying demonic aura rushing toward them, he spoke in shock.
"This demonic energy… it's unbelievable!"
"When the time comes to return, the feather robe grows light, yet longing for you weighs heavily upon my heart—"
Just as everyone braced themselves, a faint white glow appeared deep within the forest.
A moment later, a clear, cold female voice drifted through the air—beautiful yet imposing, carrying an eerie charm.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Kaguya appeared before them like a phantom.
Her robes flowed gracefully around her. Her beauty was otherworldly, and a faint moonlight shimmer surrounded her figure.
"Kaguya! I didn't expect you to dare show yourself!"
Inuyasha raised Tessaiga and pointed it directly at her. Wind-like currents of demonic power began spiraling around the blade.
His eyes burned with anger. One sleeve of the Fire-Rat Robe he wore had already been torn away.
"You actually broke the seal and came out…"
Miroku stared at her in disbelief.
After the full moon appeared, he had read the letter left by his grandfather through Master Mushin and learned just how terrifying this demon truly was.
"You again?"
Kaguya glanced at them with mild surprise. She had seen them before when she seized the Fire-Rat Robe. She hadn't expected the Heavenly Feather Robe to also be in their possession.
Still, she didn't seem particularly concerned.
Her gaze swept across the group as she asked calmly, her tone leaving no room for refusal:
"Where is the Heavenly Feather Robe?"
"The Heavenly Feather Robe?" Kagome blinked, momentarily confused.
But Hojo Akito, standing behind her, instantly grew tense. He clutched the bundle containing the Heavenly Feather Robe tighter against his chest.
That single movement immediately caught Kaguya's attention.
"So it's with you."
Kaguya saw through him instantly. Her voice remained calm, as though the robe already belonged to her.
She clearly didn't consider the others a threat.
"Wind Scar!"
The moment Inuyasha noticed where she was looking, he realized she had discovered the robe.
Without hesitation, he swung Tessaiga.
A dazzling blade of energy roared forward, carried by a violent gale. Trees and earth were shredded apart as the demonic force tore through the forest, sending splinters and rocks flying.
Facing the devastating attack, Kaguya merely showed a trace of disdain.
She calmly raised her hand and formed a gesture before her chest, chanting a spell under her breath.
An invisible wave of power spread outward.
The unstoppable Wind Scar dissolved instantly—like snow melting under sunlight.
It vanished completely without even touching the edge of her sleeve.
"W-What?!"
Inuyasha froze in place, stunned.
Not only had Tessaiga's attack failed to harm her—it had simply disappeared.
"I will not allow you to hinder me."
Kaguya raised the Mirror of Life in her hand.
The next instant, dazzling rays of light burst from the mirror, transforming into countless glowing bands that surged toward them.
"Dodge!" Kagome shouted.
Everyone scattered immediately.
Inuyasha managed to evade several beams, leaping into the air to avoid another.
But in midair, one of the light bands struck him directly.
"Ah!"
Before he could react, dozens more wrapped around him.
The moment they touched his body, the light transformed into thick, vine-like tendrils that bound him tightly to a tree behind him.
He couldn't move at all.
"W-What the hell is this?!"
Inuyasha struggled fiercely. But the vines were tougher than steel, tightening around him the more he fought.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried as she rushed toward him.
"Pathetic."
Kaguya glanced at the trapped half-demon with contempt.
"You're a half-demon, aren't you?"
"So what if I am?!" Inuyasha snarled, struggling harder.
"Hmph."
Kaguya snorted coldly.
The vines binding Inuyasha suddenly crackled with blinding lightning.
"AAAH—!"
Pain surged through his body, forcing a scream from his throat as his body convulsed uncontrollably.
"I've had enough of this! Wind Tunnel!"
Miroku sighed and tore away the seal on his hand.
Instantly, the Wind Tunnel opened in his palm, unleashing a terrifying suction force. Rocks, leaves, and debris were dragged violently toward it as a raging wind howled across the battlefield.
Unlike in the original timeline, Naraku had not faked his death here.
Because of that, Miroku's Wind Tunnel remained active.
Seeing Inuyasha in danger, he opened it without hesitation.
"Oh?"
Kaguya turned toward him, slightly surprised.
Then she snorted and pulled a golden hairpin from her hair.
The hairpin rapidly expanded in her hand, transforming into a long golden sword that gleamed with cold light.
She drove the blade into the ground, anchoring herself against the Wind Tunnel's pull.
"Wind Tunnel… the descendant of that man, are you?"
Her eyes turned cold with disgust.
"A half-demon can remain as a servant. But a monk like you… should die."
As she spoke, the Mirror of Life in her left hand burst with brilliant light.
A thick white beam shot forward, tearing through the darkness toward Miroku.
BOOM—!
The beam struck the ground and exploded violently.
Soil and shattered wood erupted into the air as the blast wave flung Kagome, Sango, Shippo, and Hojo Akito off their feet.
They rolled across the ground and slammed into tangled tree roots before finally stopping.
"Master Miroku!"
Ignoring their pain, they scrambled to their feet and looked toward the blast.
Where Miroku had been standing, a massive crater now smoked with white mist.
His figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Cough… cough… I knew that would happen."
A coughing voice sounded from nearby.
Miroku staggered out from behind a broken tree trunk, his clothes covered in dust and blood staining the corner of his mouth.
Clearly, he had been injured.
"Master Miroku!"
Seeing him alive, Sango breathed in relief.
"Oh? Still alive."
Kaguya raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"Then shall we try again?"
The Mirror of Life glowed once more, preparing for another attack.
"HIRAIKOTSU!"
Sango's face changed instantly.
She lifted the giant bone boomerang and hurled it with all her strength toward Kaguya.
The massive weapon roared through the air.
"Annoying."
Kaguya snorted. Without even turning around, she raised her sword and blocked the attack perfectly.
CLANG!
With a flick of her wrist, she sent Hiraikotsu flying back—faster than before, now empowered by demonic energy.
Sango had never expected her opponent to deflect the weapon back at her.
Caught completely off guard, she stared in horror as the giant boomerang hurtled straight toward her.
"Sango!"
Miroku shouted.
A split second later, something whistled through the air.
Miroku had thrown his staff with all his strength.
It struck the side of Hiraikotsu mid-flight.
The staff was knocked away instantly, but the impact changed the boomerang's trajectory.
It grazed past Sango's hair and flew by, missing her by mere inches.
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