Spiritual power, pure to the extreme, enveloped the arrow, forming a blinding white light.
That light was too bright.
So bright that Hikaru had to squint his eyes, so bright that the entire shrine was illuminated as if it were daylight.
That was—an overflowing, arrow wound!
Kikyo poured all her remaining spiritual power—which was not much for her—into this single arrow.
One arrow to decide the victory.
The Kamaitachi felt the scent of death.
That scent was too intense, so intense that its instincts were screaming at it to run away.
But it could not escape.
Its foot was entangled by tree roots, there were rocks blocking its side, a hoe blocking its path behind, and that damn Ghost Samurai in front.
"No—!"
The Kamaitachi let out a desperate roar.
It opened its mouth, gathering all the demonic power within its body, and spewed out a gale, attempting to resist that arrow.
But that gale was purified the moment it touched the white light.
Like ice and snow meeting the blazing sun.
Like darkness meeting the light.
It couldn't even manage to resist or delay it.
The white light pierced through the Kamaitachi's chest.
Boom—
The spiritual power exploded within its body, tearing that Qualitative Transformation shell apart from the inside.
The Kamaitachi's scream stopped abruptly, and its body began to disintegrate.
Those winds that had gathered for who knows how many years finally dissipated.
Turning into countless tiny air currents, vanishing into the night sky.
Hikaru stood in place, watching this scene.
A Qualitative Transformation level high-level demon.
One-shot kill.
Is this the strength of the strongest shrine maiden of the Sengoku Period?
Although compared to this overflowing damage, Kikyo's own constitution was actually not strong, but isn't that just how so-called 'human mages' are?
High attack, low health.
Not to mention that Kikyo's defense was actually not weak; her Barrier technique was masterful.
Among human mages, she was already considered an anomaly.
[ shikon no tama: naohi: Favorability +8 ]
[ Current Favorability: 34 (Trust) ]
[ naohi Favorability exceeded 30, can unlock Bond Dialogue (II) ]
[ Unlocked first talent: Spirit Vision ]
[ Effect: You can see the spiritual power drifting between heaven and earth. ]
Hikaru looked at the prompt on the panel, stunned for a moment.
Spirit Vision?
Hikaru blinked.
Then he saw it.
Countless pale blue light spots were drifting between heaven and earth; those light spots flowed slowly in the night wind, some drifting toward the sky, some sinking into the ground.
This is... spiritual power?
He raised his hand, trying to touch those light spots.
The light spots passed through his palm, without any reaction.
It seems he could only see them, but could not yet absorb them.
But this was already enough.
At least he could now distinguish which places had dense spiritual power, which places were suitable for cultivation, and could distinguish the strengths and weaknesses of human mages.
Even, if this ability could evolve further, from simply seeing to 'touching,' he could try to conquer'spiritual power' as well.
But that was a matter for later.
Now, what made Hikaru marvel was also that this ability could actually be activated without relying on 'possessing' the shikon jewel.
It seemed that as long as he maintained the favorability link with the shikon jewel, it would take effect.
Although it still did not belong to him, it was very convenient.
He raised his head and looked toward Kikyo.
The shrine maiden was still standing there.
But her body was swaying slightly.
That arrow had exhausted all of her spiritual power.
She had also reached her limit.
Hikaru stepped forward.
His steps were a bit unsteady, but he could still walk.
Kikyo watched him approach, not retreating, nor increasing the distance.
She simply stood there quietly, waiting for him.
Moonlight spilled down.
Shining upon the two of them.
The blood-soaked Ghost Samurai.
And, the pale and weak shrine maiden.
Both of them were about to collapse.
But they were still standing.
"...Is it over this time?"
Hikaru asked.
"It's over."
Kikyo replied.
The shikon jewel floated behind her, emitting a soft purple light.
Magatsuhi had been completely subdued.
The Kamaitachi had been purified.
The swarm of bats had long since dispersed.
The crisis of the full moon night.
Had finally passed.
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