With the augmentation of the Heavenly Feathered Robe, the celestial maiden Kaguyayo's mirror-reflection technique hurled back the massive demonic energy sphere—its power multiplied severalfold—straight toward the enormous [Black Tortoise] Gōra.
Where it passed, the overwhelming energy pressed the sea surface downward by several meters, carving a deep channel across the vast ocean. Golden radiance flooded Ryūra's vision completely.
Under such an assault—like the wrath of heaven and earth—the colossal Gōra seemed no more than dust.
Facing the mountain-flood-like torrent of destruction roaring toward them, Ryūra shouted loudly. The Demon Battle Jewel on his forehead blazed brilliantly as he poured immense demonic power into the Wind Blade Fang in his right hand, spinning it fiercely before him.
"Earth Dragon Wind Wheel!"
A massive pale-violet barrier expanded instantly, enveloping both himself and the gigantic body of the [Black Tortoise] Gōra.
Hum—
The enormous demonic energy sphere slammed directly into the wind-style barrier in the next instant. Yet upon contact, the destructive energy seemed to be guided by an invisible force, sliding off along the barrier's edge and dispersing outward with the wind.
Though divided, the energy sphere's power remained terrifying. After being redirected into the sea, it still detonated violently, sending up dozens of meters of golden, demon-infused waves. In mere moments, the previously pale, icy-blue ocean was dyed entirely gold.
However, before Ryūra could even catch his breath—
Kaguyayo launched her counterattack.
—"By the power of this bow, the arrow shall slay dragons."
As she recited the divine incantation, the Divine Mirror in her hands suddenly reflected the images of the two War Gods before her. The mirror's surface then burst outward with a magnificent violet beam of destruction.
The instant that beam manifested, both Ryūra and Gōra felt an unprecedented sense of crisis.
"This woman...!"
Before that violet light of annihilation, even collapsing mountains and overturning seas seemed powerless to halt its advancing momentum. Everything touched by the beam dissolved midair into the most fundamental particles of energy, scattering into the sky like snow under the blazing sun—melting in an instant.
Only blinding white brilliance remained, filling heaven and earth, proclaiming what it meant to be a celestial maiden—what it meant to wield divine might.
When the light faded, the massive [Black Tortoise] Gōra and the [Azure Dragon] Ryūra had vanished entirely. Even the ocean itself had been cleaved apart by the violet beam, parting like the sea split by a god.
Only after a brief delay did the towering walls of water crash back together under gravity, filling the empty void left by the disintegrating violet radiance.
Such terrifying power was felt even by Kyōra and Sesshōmaru, still locked in battle at a distance. Both erupted with demonic power simultaneously and, after a fierce clash, broke apart.
Their gazes turned toward Kaguyayo.
"This woman... she isn't a yōkai. Why does she possess such power?"
Sesshōmaru's keen senses allowed him to discern what he needed. But the Vermilion Bird Kyōra was far less composed.
"A celestial maiden this powerful... It seems the task given to our leader by the Lunar Palace was never going to be simple."
The Four War Gods were not weak. United, they could contend even with a Great Yōkai for a long time. But their opponent this time was a legendary celestial maiden. Such a sacred existence was far more troublesome than an ordinary Great Yōkai.
With that thought, Kyōra realized continuing the fight would yield no favorable outcome. He looked at Sesshōmaru and declared arrogantly, "Hmph. Sesshōmaru, we'll have another chance to cross blades."
After delivering his parting words, the Vermilion Bird Kyōra transformed into flame and vanished instantly from the battlefield.
After all, the power of Sesshōmaru's demonic sword Bakusaiga filled him with deep apprehension.
...
Sesshōmaru's attention had already shifted largely to the celestial maiden Kaguyayo. Unlike Kyōra, who delighted in slaughtering the weak, Sesshōmaru sought battle against true strength.
Kaguyayo's display had ignited intense fighting spirit within him.
However, he had not come seeking conflict. He was here under Satsuki's orders to investigate information regarding the Cauldron of Resonance. Thus he temporarily suppressed his battle intent, kicked off the ground, and flew toward Kaguyayo.
"Did they flee?"
Kaguyayo had intended to pursue, but she immediately sensed another powerful demonic aura approaching. The surging presence of a high-ranking Great Yōkai forced even her to respond cautiously.
In an instant, she became alert, staring intently at Sesshōmaru as he descended slowly before her from the sky.
"It seems demons never learn their lesson, always coveting power that does not belong to them."
Sesshōmaru did not react aggressively to her words. Instead, he drew a mirror from within his robes.
The moment Kaguyayo saw it, her expression changed. The Divine Mirror in her hands emitted intense white light.
"Demon! Where did you obtain that mirror?"
Seeing her ready to attack at the slightest disagreement, Sesshōmaru frowned faintly and replied coldly, "It was given to me by the shrine maiden Satsuki."
At the mention of that name, Kaguyayo's movement halted.
"What is your relationship with her? Why would she entrust such an item to you?"
"..."
Whether Sesshōmaru could tolerate such questioning was unknown. But at the very least, his most loyal follower, the kappa yōkai Jaken, certainly could not.
"How dare you speak to Lord Sesshōmaru like that!"
Driven by instinct, Jaken had somehow swum over from the shoreline and now clung tightly to Sesshōmaru's long white fur tail with both hands.
"Hm?"
Kaguyayo glanced downward. Upon seeing it was merely a lowly kappa yōkai, she did not even bother to acknowledge him, turning her gaze back to Sesshōmaru.
"The shrine maiden Satsuki is my teacher. She sent me to Hōraijima to find a celestial maiden named Kaguyayo and to inquire about the Cauldron of Resonance."
Sesshōmaru's statement left Jaken utterly stunned.
"Wh-Wh-What?! That shrine maiden is Lord Sesshōmaru's teacher?"
"...The disciple of that shrine maiden?"
Sesshōmaru, a full-blooded yōkai of noble lineage who had reached the level of a high-ranking Great Yōkai, radiated pride and overwhelming presence from head to toe.
A being of such stature had neither need nor inclination to lie.
Moreover, Kaguyayo had witnessed Satsuki's strength firsthand. The shrine maiden indeed possessed power not inferior to that of a Great Yōkai. Even with the Heavenly Feathered Robe's blessing, Kaguyayo did not believe herself her match.
"I am the celestial maiden Kaguyayo. Satsuki sent you to inquire about the Cauldron of Resonance? What does she intend?"
Sesshōmaru replied calmly, "To recreate a Shikon Jewel."
"The Shikon Jewel? What is that?"
The power of the celestial maiden Kaguyayo was neither spiritual power nor demonic power, but divine power of a higher order. With artifacts such as the Heavenly Feathered Robe and the Divine Mirror in her possession, she had no interest in something like the Shikon Jewel.
At the level of a Great Yōkai or celestial maiden, beyond Great Yōkai lay the mysterious realms of Yōkai Immortals and Yōkai Saints. Strictly speaking, the boundaries between these tiers had already begun to blur. Among beings standing at the pinnacle of strength, the difference lay only in the compatibility of their abilities and the intensity of the laws they wielded.
In terms of realm, Sesshōmaru was still somewhat inferior to Kaguyayo. The black hole and violet beam of destruction within the Divine Mirror alone were enough to secure her an undefeated position—not to mention her world-ending spell, the Mirror Flower, Water Moon.
Sesshōmaru's Bakusaiga, on the other hand, possessed the augmentation of Perpetuity in its attacks. Any strike carried an unrelenting, inescapable quality.
Yet the immortality of a celestial maiden was not limited to the flesh—it extended to the soul.
If Sesshōmaru could one day grant Tenseiga the power of Perpetuity as well, he might be capable of killing Kaguyayo. But clearly, he had not yet reached that stage.
Thus, taken together, Kaguyayo still held the upper hand.
Of course, that assumption rested on whether her Mirror Flower, Water Moon could truly immobilize even a Great Yōkai. That point remained uncertain.
In any case, a spiritual jewel that merely provided supplementary power like the Shikon Jewel was hardly considered a treasure in the eyes of beings at this level.
However, the Shikon Jewel itself carried historical significance for Katori Shrine, and it also served as guidance for Satsuki in refining the Yasakani no Magatama. That was a different matter.
Hum—
As the two conversed face to face, a massive black passage opened beside Sesshōmaru.
Moments later, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and Satsuki stepped out from within.
The appearance of these two figures—one clad in black, one in white—seemed to drain the world of color in an instant. The roaring storm clouds overhead fell silent, then were blown away by an invisible force.
Even the surging shoreline froze mid-motion. The immense forces of nature did not dare stir beneath the feet of these two existences.
"It seems the celestial maiden will not require additional assistance this time."
As the words fell, Satsuki—her long black hair and robes flowing—raised a hand calmly. A ripple spread outward, like a gentle spring breeze sweeping across heaven and sea. The traces of battle in the sky and upon the ocean were smoothed away entirely. Even the shrine once engulfed in flame and magma was restored to its original state.
The demonic clouds and thunder summoned by the Four War Gods were dispersed completely, revealing the golden light of the setting sun.
After completing all this, Satsuki turned toward Kaguyayo and explained, "The sage of Katori Shrine, En no Ozunu, has entrusted me with a task—to use the Cauldron of Resonance on Hōraijima to balance the Four Souls and recreate a Shikon Jewel."
—"Master En no Ozunu?"
A gentle yet dignified voice drifted from afar.
Everyone turned toward the source. A shrine maiden radiating powerful spiritual energy was flying toward them atop a shikigami.
Like many powerful shrine maidens, she wore her pure black hair long and straight to her hips, the ends cut evenly, her bangs reaching her brows. Her deep green eyes were strikingly beautiful. Though dressed in the traditional white kimono and crimson hakama of a shrine maiden, she wore over it the armor once donned only by ancient battle priestesses. A splendid crown adorned her head, and in her hand she held a long sword gleaming with sacred light.
"Thank you for your assistance, Celestial Maiden," she said, bowing respectfully to Kaguyayo before turning to Satsuki. "It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kanade. I am the shrine maiden who guards Hōraijima, and also a disciple of Master En no Ozunu."
A disciple of En no Ozunu?
Satsuki's Tenseigan swept over the shrine maiden named Kanade. Though her spiritual power was weaker than her master's, the manner in which it circulated was indeed strikingly similar.
"Since you have accepted my teacher's commission, then please come to Hōraijima. The Cauldron of Resonance is there."
...
Hōraijima was a uniquely shaped island.
From its exterior alone, it appeared divided into multiple layers.
The uppermost layer was a floating island resembling a circular ring. The middle layer consisted of vast forests and mountain peaks. The lowest layer was where visitors could land.
By ordinary means, one could only ascend the island through a spiral passage along its outer edge.
However, everyone present was capable of flight, making access far easier.
Since Shrine Maiden Kanade had already lifted the barrier surrounding Hōraijima, they were able to enter directly.
As a sea island, much of Hōraijima's interior was covered in water. Massive plant roots were exposed, submerged beneath the surface.
Here, the color of the sky shifted abruptly. The previously dim heavens and overcast clouds became bright and pristine, clearing the mind as well.
After passing through the outer forest, they arrived at a village built beside the water.
It resembled a hidden paradise, encircled by verdant mountains and the sea. Wooden structures were arranged neatly amid dense rainforest.
Because water covered most of the ground below, the houses were elevated on stilts, keeping their main structures raised high to prevent destruction during rising tides.
Simple plank bridges formed the basic pathways between households. The primary means of transportation for the humans, yōkai, and half-yōkai who lived here were wooden boats.
"This is... a settlement of humans and yōkai?"
Jaken stared wide-eyed at the sight. Below, humans and yōkai worked together in the flooded fields, interacting harmoniously and laughing without barriers. The small yōkai, who had never witnessed such peace, stood agape.
Even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, who was almost always expressionless, showed a thoughtful look upon seeing humans and yōkai coexisting in harmony below.
The workers beneath soon noticed the shrine maiden and the others descending from the sky, waving cheerfully in greeting.
"Lady Kanade..."
"The Celestial Maiden has returned as well..."
...
Though the humans and yōkai below smiled warmly in welcome, Satsuki still caught faint whispers beneath the surface.
"It's Lady Kanade and the Celestial Maiden. As long as they are here, we won't have to worry about being attacked by those demons outside."
It seemed that even the secluded Hōraijima could not entirely escape the spread of war. Yet that was hardly surprising when at least a third of its inhabitants were half-yōkai.
This world did not value harmony in diversity. On the contrary, purity of bloodline was regarded as paramount by every race.
Even Inuyasha, the son of the Great General of the Western Lands—a child of a Great Yōkai and a human princess—had been rejected by both humans and yōkai alike. One could only imagine how difficult life for half-yōkai was beyond this island.