Deep in the forest, Yomi Isayama and Noriyuki Izuna leapt swiftly across the branches.
Ahead of them, a thin paper bird fluttered through the air.
It was a Familiar crafted by Kuesu Jingūji using a strand of Shirayuki Hoshizora's hair as a medium.
Yomi glanced at the paper bird and noticed its flight slowing. Realisation dawned on her:
"The Familiar's movements are slowing. The target must be nearby."
Hearing this, Noriyuki's eyes lit up with anticipation.
"I heard the Vermilion Bird General from the Onmyou Agency is an exceptionally beautiful woman. Finally, I get to see her in person."
Yomi shot him a sidelong glance and said flatly:
"Keep those thoughts to yourself. We're on a mission."
Noriyuki nodded, grinning with excitement.
"I know, I know. While the SDS is held up, we sneak in and take the goodies—this kind of job is my speciality."
"I'll make sure to grab every single Abyss Artefact, leaving not even a scrap behind."
No sooner had he spoken than a series of deafening explosions erupted.
Yomi and Noriyuki's expressions instantly darkened—they could tell the blasts were rapidly closing in on them.
Then, just as swiftly as they had approached, the sounds abruptly ceased.
"Damn it!"
Yomi Isayama abruptly drew her blade and turned to look behind her. Instantly, a pair of enormous golden wolf eyes stared directly at her.
The moment their gazes met, both sides simultaneously struck with lethal intent.
Yomi Isayama unsheathed her greatsword and leapt forward, slashing straight towards Senhime Rin Getsu's eyes.
At the same time, Senhime Rin Getsu swung her massive front paw directly at Yomi Isayama.
Mistakenly believing their group had been discovered by the tomb guardians, Yomi Isayama naturally didn't dare hold back out of fear.
Meanwhile, Senhime Rin Getsu strongly suspected this was an ambush sent by Luo Shu to cut off her retreat. Terrified that Luo Shu might be following close behind, she had no choice but to end this quickly.
The blade imbued with highly concentrated Spiritual Power clashed against the massive paw wreathed in dense Demon Power.
Upon impact, Yomi Isayama was sent flying by the enormous wolf paw, crashing through several trees before finally coming to rest against a small hillside.
It was at this moment that both sides realised something was amiss.
'This power... a Great Yokai?!'
'Huh? She's so weak?!'
Yomi Isayama immediately sensed something wrong and urgently called towards Noriyuki Izuna's direction:
"Run! It's a Great Yokai—"
Before she could finish, she noticed Noriyuki Izuna had already vanished without a trace.
Realising this, Yomi Isayama's expression darkened instantly.
Meanwhile, having discovered her opponent might not be who she suspected, Senhime Rin Getsu began reconsidering her approach.
Pushing off with her hind legs, she leapt through the air, her massive wolf paw holding back thirty per cent of its strength as she reached directly for Yomi Isayama.
Even as she attacked, Senhime Rin Getsu warily watched Yomi Isayama's shadow, fearing a gigantic metal figure might emerge from within.
Yet her caution proved unnecessary. After seizing Yomi Isayama in her paw and knocking her unconscious, no ambush ever materialised.
Senhime Rin Getsu's eyes flickered as she grabbed Yomi Isayama and fled straight towards the distant forest.
Only after Senhime Rin Getsu had been gone for three minutes did Noriyuki Izuna, who had slipped away earlier, cautiously return. He stared at the battlefield with a conflicted expression:
"Damn it, damn it... Not even a trace of struggle left. Definitely a Great Yokai. Yomi's surely done for this time."
"No, no... I need to regroup with that Vermilion Bird General quickly. This place is far too dangerous."
With that thought, Noriyuki Izuna immediately took out a paper bird Familiar, attempting to rendezvous with Shirahime Hoshiga.
But as he held the trembling paper bird that shook increasingly violently, he froze:
"Huh? Judging by this, the Vermilion Bird General is also rapidly moving away from here?"
"Could it be she's also detected this suddenly appearing Great Yokai and is retreating? Quite sensible... Wait, no, if she's running, what about my safety? No way, I need to catch up quickly. Don't think you can leave me behind!"
Thinking this, Noriyuki Izuna released the paper bird and swiftly followed its direction.
...
"Lord Sesshōmaru, please open your eyes!!"
"Lord Sesshōmaru!! You mustn't die!!"
In her dazed state, Yomi Isayama heard desperate cries.
When she finally managed to open her eyes with great effort, she saw several figures gathered beneath a tree.
"What's going on here?"
As Yomi Isayama remained confused, Senhime Rin Getsu—now restored to human form beside the large tree—spoke impassively while watching Jaken desperately calling Sesshōmaru's name:
"Sesshōmaru."
"Mo...ther?" Sesshōmaru barely managed to open his fading eyes, looking towards Senhime Rin Getsu.
"Sesshōmaru, though I've forcibly mended your wounds with Demon Power, I can do nothing about the internal damage. Recovery depends entirely on you."
Senhime Rin Getsu's expression remained cold as she continued:
"If you wish to live, consume that shrine maiden beside you. Use the nourishment to heal your internal injuries."
The moment these words were spoken, Yomi Isayama instantly regained full awareness.
Was she being treated as emergency rations?
She instinctively tried to struggle, only to find herself bound by ropes of Demon Power, completely immobilised.
Realising this, Yomi Isayama's heart sank.
Meanwhile, Jaken—disregarding propriety in his urgency—addressed Senhime Rin Getsu:
"My Lady, Lord Sesshōmaru is clearly in no state to feed himself. Please permit this humble servant to extract the shrine maiden's heart, liver and blood to restore his strength first."
"Cease... Jaken."
Jaken turned his head in confusion: "But Lord Sesshōmaru! At this rate, you'll die!"
"I require... no human's aid."
After speaking these words, Sesshōmaru slightly turned his head towards Senhime Rin Getsu, his tone suddenly becoming sharp:
"Mother... bury me beside Father."
Seeing Sesshōmaru suddenly regain vigour, Jaken's face twisted in horror:
"Lord Sesshōmaru!!"
As these final words faded, Sesshōmaru's breath ceased entirely.
Jaken immediately burst into loud wails at the sight.
Senhime Rin Getsu sighed softly before asking Jaken:
"Small Yokai, what will you do now?"
Wiping his tears, Jaken replied:
"First, bury Lord Sesshōmaru beside our late Master... Then this humble servant shall find a way to avenge him."
Hearing this, Senhime Rin Getsu suddenly asked, "Little yokai, what's your name?"
Jaken's face immediately darkened as he said helplessly, "This lowly one is called Jaken. Could you at least try to remember it, my lady?"
"I see."
As she spoke, Senhime Rin Getsu suddenly approached Sesshōmaru, producing a deep blue gemstone from her hand:
"Come to think of it, that fool Tōga seemed to know you brothers would encounter misfortune, which is why he specifically left me this Meidō Stone. Otherwise, with that idiot's brain, he'd never have thought to give me anything."
While speaking, she placed the Meidō Stone on Sesshōmaru's body.
Accompanied by an eerie blue glow, Sesshōmaru's breath gradually returned.
"This is?!" Jaken exclaimed in shock: "The legendary Meidō Stone that can revive the dead?! The master actually left this for you, my lady?!"
Senhime Rin Getsu didn't answer, merely turning to face Yomi Isayama and saying indifferently:
"Sesshōmaru dislikes eating humans, but I have no such qualms."
"As the first person to die in my belly, do you have any last words?"
Hearing this, Yomi Isayama gave a bitter laugh: "I have a companion..."
"Spare him, is that it?" Senhime Rin Getsu nodded in understanding.
"No, make sure to kill him." Yomi Isayama's gaze turned fierce: "I'm his fiancée. After my death, the engagement will likely fall to my sister Kagura. So, for my sister's happiness, please ensure his death."
Before this, Yomi Isayama might not have been so ruthless, but Noriyuki Izuna's act of fleeing without warning had thoroughly enraged her.
When they split up to escape, each had a fifty per cent chance of survival. Yet Noriyuki Izuna had somehow turned his odds into a hundred per cent, cutting off her path to life. How could Yomi Isayama not be furious?
Thus, even in death, she would drag Noriyuki Izuna down with her.
Hearing this, Senhime Rin Getsu froze momentarily before remarking with fascination, "Humans truly are strange creatures."
"Very well, I accept your condition."
As she spoke, Senhime Rin Getsu reached out towards Yomi Isayama.
At that very moment, a razor-sharp blade light, blazing with dazzling flames, came slashing towards Senhime Rin Getsu from afar!