"Hey, why are you just standing here? And who's that guy?"
Seeing Sesshomaru and Akame standing still at the bottom of some steps, Inuyasha ran over to ask.
Near the pitch-black egg cocoon stood a pale-skinned figure.
"Are you blind, Inuyasha?"
Glancing back at Kagome and Moroha approaching from a distance, Sesshomaru then spoke coldly to Inuyasha.
"You—?!"
"That Servant... has no presence left."
Inuyasha was about to retort when Akame's words diverted his attention.
"Really? That guy's dead? What happened?"
Moroha cradled the back of her head with both hands, equally puzzled.
"So that's Naraku's Servant?"
"But the malevolent energy here hasn't weakened at all."
The figure's rather modern clothing struck Kagome as strange.
THUMP THUMP...
With a pulse that could be heard clearly, Inuyasha immediately looked up at the massive black egg cocoon.
One look and you knew it was something sinister...
"Tch, I don't know what this thing is, but just smashing it should work!"
"[Wind Scar]!!"
With no intention of waiting patiently, Inuyasha drew Tessaiga and slashed without hesitation.
"Idiot!"
Seeing Inuyasha's action, Sesshomaru cursed.
If that cocoon could be destroyed so easily, would he have just stood here this long?
WHOOSH!
"Wha—?"
And so, under everyone's gaze, the charging [Wind Scar] merely destroyed Muzan's body before dissipating.
"Completely unharmed?"
Watching this, Kagome was also surprised.
"..."
Akame looked at the blade in her hand but had no intention of trying.
She'd already attempted it—this cocoon's hardness was beyond Murasame's ability to cut.
Against this level of defense, she was helpless.
"Then what about Sacred Arrows?"
Realizing why Sesshomaru and Akame had just stood there waiting, Kagome drew her bow and fired a spirit-infused arrow.
WHOOSH!
CLANG...
The malevolent energy was purified, but unfortunately, the arrow bounced off as if hitting a solid wall.
"Seems to have some effect... but not much."
Kagome's results weren't as good as hoped. Moroha tilted her head, looking intrigued.
"Hmph, as if you could break through!"
But with a cold snort, their attention was drawn elsewhere.
In their vision, a scale-and-spot-covered human emerged from a passage behind the cocoon.
"This cocoon was forged from the flesh and blood of countless youkai."
"That king of Demon Youkai will soon be born!"
Toshu showed no fear, walking forward with a dragon-scaled katana in hand.
"I don't know who you are, but you seem to have lost your mind."
Inuyasha noticed the weapon in the opponent's hand, staying alert.
Dragon scales.
This power to absorb youkai energy wasn't friendly to most youkai.
CLANG!
But someone acted faster than him.
"Hmph, you're not a youkai, so dragon scales are useless against you."
"But unfortunately... as long as I have the Oni-Dragon Armor stronger than Meioju's shell—"
"Your blade is worthless!"
He let Akame's blade strike his neck directly, then sneered.
"The blade can't cut through?"
Moroha's eyes widened, watching Akame's blade stuck there in shock.
"Unluckily for you, unlike Kinka and Ginka, I'm covered entirely!"
As he tried to swing his blade, a youkai whip grabbed his wrist and slammed him into the cocoon.
"Ugh!"
"Muzan... sa—!"
In moments, everyone watched Toshu's body crash against the cocoon, then get absorbed into it.
"Eww, so disgusting!"
The sight made Kagome back up several steps in fright.
"Tch, even consuming his own ally?"
Not expecting such cruelty, Inuyasha gritted his teeth.
"Looks like something serious is brewing in there."
Moroha commented, watching the adults make no progress.
"But a way to destroy it..."
Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru and Akame, helpless.
She understood—if the cocoon could be easily destroyed, these two would have acted long ago.
"[Kongousouha]!!"
Tessaiga turned silver as Inuyasha attacked again.
CLANG CLANG!!
Countless adamant shards struck the cocoon, but only sparked before falling away.
"So hard... can't pierce through at all."
"What material is this made of?"
"Even harder than Naraku's barrier!"
Growing frustrated, Inuyasha was thoroughly annoyed.
"Let me try."
Moroha stepped forward, eager to attempt.
"Moro—"
"Don't stop me—I'm really strong!"
Stretching her arms, Moroha smiled in reply.
'This youkai energy...'
Furrowing his brow, Sesshomaru hadn't paid much attention, but when Moroha applied her lipstick, a moment of astonishment crossed his face.
Massive youkai power erupted as her giant-like form broke through the ceiling.
"Hehe... let's deliver this thing!"
...
"You are..."
Rikuo stood in the open space, observing the miko who was wary of him.
'Rikuo, if you ever encounter Kikyo... well, a miko with the presence of the dead—don't fight her.'
'Is she a Master?'
'Ahh, if possible, I don't want to see you two fighting. Kagome definitely feels the same.'
After rescuing Kagura, Inuyasha had approached him privately to say this.
"Wait—I'm Kagome's Servant!"
Seeing she was about to draw her bow, Rikuo quickly explained.
"Kagome's..."
Furrowing her brow, Kikyo looked at the unthreatening Rikuo before her and gradually lowered her guard.
BOOM!!
But at that moment, an explosion from inside drew both their attention.
Cough cough...
Ptoo ptoo!!
Several figures retreated from within, thick smoke billowing around them.
"Kikyo... Rikuo!"
Having just landed while carrying Moroha and Kagome under each arm, Inuyasha turned back and called out to the arrivals.
"It seems you succeeded..."
Looking deeper inside, Kikyo noticed the malevolent energy had indeed weakened considerably.
"Hehe, told you I'm strong!!"
Looking quite pleased with herself, Moroha laughed.
With her youkai power fully unleashed and borrowing Grandpa's power, breaking that shell wasn't difficult.
Unlike Inuyasha who could only use Tessaiga, Moroha had inherited the Great Dog Demon's excellent youkai power.
But before anyone could continue speaking, an enraged voice came from within the smoke.
"Archer, Assassin, Rider—three Servants?"
"How hateful!"
"To obstruct my grand designs!!"
"You all deserve death!!"
Coming into view was a youthful figure with slightly gray skin.