Before going to sleep, Ray transferred some Demonic Power to Chouchou, accelerating the recovery of his injuries.
The next day, Chouchou pretended to be very displeased but allowed himself to be held in Rin's arms.
Together with Ray and Jaken, they embarked on a journey heading straight ahead.
...
In another direction.
Luffy, Inuyasha, and the others opened their eyes one by one under the morning sun.
Since they each had their own matters to attend to, after exchanging greetings, Luffy led the Straw Hat Pirates and began advancing in the direction Sesshomaru had left the previous day.
Everyone wore expressions of grim determination, making Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others sweat nervously for them.
After the Straw Hat Pirates left, Kagome looked worriedly at Inuyasha, who was stomping his feet beside her.
"If you're worried, let's go help them together."
Kagome knew Inuyasha too well—his thoughts were completely transparent to her.
But upon hearing Kagome's words, Inuyasha grew even more agitated.
"You're not allowed to go! This is between Sesshomaru and me. If anyone goes, it should be me alone. Though I hate to admit it, that guy is related to me by blood. I can't just stand by and watch Sesshomaru kill Luffy and the others."
Miroku, Sango, and Shippo looked at Inuyasha with disdain.
"What? Looking down on us? Who was it that we saved so many times along the way?"
Inuyasha was so stunned by these words he couldn't speak.
"You guys... damn you."
Fortunately, Kagome chimed in from the side.
"Let's go, Inuyasha. If it gets too dangerous, we'll keep our distance. Besides, I was the one who gave that puppy to Sesshomaru to protect you. I have a responsibility to save it."
"Fine, but you must be careful," Inuyasha relented, though his tone remained gruff. "Let me emphasize again—fighting Sesshomaru is my business. It's not your place to risk your lives!"
"Understood, there there~" Kagome patted Inuyasha's head as if comforting a little dog.
...
Half a day later, Ray suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He had caught a familiar scent.
At this moment, Ray realized he had overlooked one thing.
Given Luffy's personality, why would he give him a full day?
'Still so brainless, you just come straight to die with your entire crew?'
Ray had only wanted Chouchou to fully recover before leaving, while also letting the Straw Hat Pirates heal their injuries and directly enter training mode.
Yet here was Luffy, bringing this whole group to find him.
'Whatever. I'll just beat them up and find an excuse to leave.'
'Oh? Someone's actually bringing me an excuse. Truly..... what a good little brother.'
Ray shook his head.
How could Inuyasha be willing to help Luffy after just one day together? One could only say this was the effect of Luffy's passive charisma.
"Why have you stopped? Is something wrong, Sesshomaru-sama?" Jaken looked puzzled.
Ray didn't respond, instead turning around and heading straight back the way they came.
Since Inuyasha would find him anyway, he might as well go beat them up directly to save time.
...
"Inuyasha my brother, I'm so moved that you'd fight your own brother to help us." Usopp wore an expression of deep gratitude.
Although he had prepared to sacrifice his life to save Ray and Chouchou, having Inuyasha's help meant there was hope for survival.
"Tch, if I didn't think you'd definitely die, I wouldn't be helping at all." Inuyasha put on a tsundere expression that made Kagome shake her head.
Nami and Robin covered their mouths to hide their laughter.
They were thinking how amusing it would be if Ray made such an expression.
If they survived this, they'd have to ask Kagome for tips on how to train such an adorable dog.
Nami was so lost in thought she accidentally bumped into Sanji's back.
It turned out Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji had all stopped walking.
Like Inuyasha and the others, the three wore serious expressions as they stared at the bend in the mountain path ahead.
A breeze swept through as a silver figure gradually appeared in everyone's view.
Behind him stood a Two-Headed Ox Demon and a small yokai holding a staff with a human head.
On the ox demon's back sat a human girl holding a listless Chouchou.
The moment he saw Sesshomaru, Inuyasha drew Tessaiga.
However, his pupils were trembling.
The same went for Kagome, Miroku, and the others.
For the first time, they discovered there was a human girl among Sesshomaru's followers.
'How was this possible? Didn't Sesshomaru despise humans?'
Seeing the expressions on the four of them, Ray realized his mistake.
Because he knew these people wouldn't harm Rin, he had carelessly brought her before everyone.
Wasn't this tarnishing Sesshomaru's image? Completely ruining the persona he had established in Inuyasha and the others' eyes.
'Looking at it from another perspective, it's quite satisfying. Consider this the first step in my revenge against Sesshomaru for devouring my consciousness.'
Beneath Ray's calm expression lay a hint of concealed delight.
He had confirmed with the system last night that when he left, Sesshomaru's consciousness would return.
Moreover, Sesshomaru would regard all of Ray's actions as his own.
So when Sesshomaru's consciousness recovered and recalled how he had been humiliated before his younger brother, Ray wondered just how amusing his expression would be.
Thinking this, Ray glanced at Jaken, who was currently confronting Inuyasha and Luffy, his eyes revealing obvious sympathy.
After he left, this little yokai would be the only one to bear Sesshomaru's wrath.
As for why Sesshomaru would definitely feel ashamed and angry, Inuyasha had already provided the answer.
"Oh, I remember someone saying before, 'Of our great father's bloodline, I, Sesshomaru, have inherited none of the compassion for humans.' You're not going to say this little girl is your dinner, are you, Sesshomaru!"
Hearing Inuyasha's sarcastic remarks, Ray felt somewhat divided—both pleased and angry.
Pleased because he could get revenge on Sesshomaru.
Angry because of instinct.
This body instinctively disliked seeing Inuyasha, let alone being mocked by him.
Ray speculated that this body's reaction to Inuyasha would likely undergo significant changes over these three months.
This was probably part of Tenseiga's subsequent trials.
When the time came and Sesshomaru's body no longer rejected Inuyasha so strongly...
...
Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Ray looked at Inuyasha with a slightly murderous gaze.
The half-demon immediately bristled.
"Sesshomaru, give that puppy back!"
Luffy also yelled from the side, "Hey, Ray Number Two, give Chouchou back to us!"
Ray almost lost control of his expression.
He snorted coldly as he focused on Inuyasha, ignoring Luffy.
"He's a member of the dog demon clan. What business is it of yours, half-breed!"
With that, Ray's light whip shot out, striking toward Inuyasha.
The moment Tessaiga and the light whip clashed, attacks from Luffy and the others arrived as well.
"Second Gear: Jet Gatling!"
"Three Sword Style: 108 Pound Phoenix!"
"Diable Jambe!"
"Special Move: Firebird Star!"
"Thunderbolt Tempo!"
"Mil Fleur: Restraint!"
"Bracchio Bomber: Cherry Blossom Clash!"
The Straw Hat Pirates' attacks came swarming in.
All were fighting styles that Inuyasha, Kagome, and the others had never seen before.
Sango marveled, "So humans can train to this level."
Miroku nodded in agreement. "Each of them could be considered general-level figures in this era, but such attacks are still far from enough against Sesshomaru."
Sure enough, the moment Miroku finished speaking, the Straw Hat Pirates' attacks collided with Ray's physical body.
The instant they made contact, Luffy and Sanji shouted in alarm.
"Retreat quickly!"
Demonic energy swirled around Ray.
Anything that touched it would inevitably be corroded.
Even Usopp's continuous explosions, Nami's thunder attacks, and Zoro's flying sword slash failed to break through the demonic power barrier surrounding him.
"All of you, get back!"
Inuyasha brandished Tessaiga and began slashing at Ray.
Ray could only repeatedly evade; he couldn't withstand Tessaiga's power head-on.
Seizing this opening, Luffy pulled everyone away from Ray.
Just from that brief exchange, he already recognized the gap in their strength.
Without Inuyasha's assistance, their entire crew would have come here just to die.