Deep within the night sky, above a vast mountain range of all shapes and sizes, a massive trail made of corpses surged forward at incredible speed in a single direction.
Most of the bodies were yokai. Some were even still alive, struggling to escape or fighting among themselves, yet despite the chaos, the trail continued its course.
"So because I rejected you, now you're trying to kill me? I literally saved one of your teammates—I helped you… and this is how you repay me?!"
Letting Inuyasha's sword pierce through a clone made of his own flames, Asahiko appeared behind the enraged half-demon and struck his back with a swift kick, sending him flying into the golden fire.
The flames tried to cling to his unprotected body—but surprisingly failed. The moment they touched Inuyasha's red robes, they lost all aggression and simply fell onto the corpse-covered ground.
"Shut up! This is all your fault for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"
Brushing off the few remaining flames, Inuyasha crushed the corpses beneath his feet and charged straight at Asahiko. This time, he made sure to target the real one. How? Simple—he trusted his instincts more than his reasoning.
It cost him what little technique he had left, but in return, his senses sharpened to a near-animal level—almost like a sixth sense born from pure instinct.
"You swing your sword like it's a log… though what else can you expect from an animal?"
"Stop talking and fight!"
"Why would I? I've got more important things to deal with."
Dodging a slash that carved a deep trench through the corpses, Asahiko mocked him, then shaped his fingers like a gun and began firing rapid shots of golden flames.
The attacks weren't meant to do real damage—they served to distract, to create openings, to keep distance while he searched for Kikyo.
She had been at ground zero when the mass of corpses was launched into the sky. That meant she had to be here somewhere. The question was—where, and in what condition?
"Then I'll force you to fight me!"
"Tch… don't push me, you stupid animal."
Clicking his tongue, irritation surfacing at Inuyasha's crude attempts to break the stalemate, Asahiko gathered a sphere of flames in front of him and detonated it in a blinding flash.
From that burst of golden light, multiple Asahikos shot off in different directions. All identical—even taunting. But Inuyasha knew only one was real… And he already knew which one. Not through magic—just instinct.
Asahiko relied too much on quick illusions. Small flaws always slipped through—heartbeats that didn't match, lack of pressure on the ground, subtle inconsistencies in appearance.
"I've got you!"
"Huh—?"
With a confused murmur, Asahiko's head slammed into the ground as a hand grabbed him from behind, dragging him across dozens of meters with his face buried in corpses.
When the shock faded, that his "perfect" illusions had been broken by a brute, his expression hardened. He was pinned. Grabbed by the head. He'd held back long enough.
"…Fine. I'll kill you first—then deal with Naraku and Kikyo!"
Letting his anger surge, two golden tails burst from his waist, striking Inuyasha off guard. That was enough. Asahiko regained his footing—and went on the offensive.
He had tried—he really had tried to get along with Inuyasha's group. Why else would he have been joking around earlier? But this idiot was incredibly clumsy.
[Calm down. We're still in enemy territory. The woman is missing, and Naraku may be watching.]
"Shut up, Souga! Since when are you the voice of reason?!"
[Then do it already and stop talking!]
In just two lines, Souga revealed his nature—shifting from calm to aggressive instantly, speaking aloud for the first time before Inuyasha. The half-demon wasn't surprised. Talking swords weren't exactly rare in this world.
"Done talking with your sword?"
"Yeah… and for once, it's right. Which is rare… guess you're useful after all."
Smiling slowly, Asahiko raised Clouded Fang. A reddish aura coated the blade—but this one was different. Thicker, heavier, like coagulated blood, and the smell… Reeked of death. He didn't give Inuyasha time to react.
His strikes became wide and sweeping, the aura extending the blade's reach while amplifying its destructive force.
Each swing carved deep scars through the battlefield, tearing through yokai corpses like paper. Yet Inuyasha kept up—his physical ability keeping him just out of reach.
"Come fight me head-on! Didn't you want a death match?!"
"I… was still under control. Naraku's ritual was stronger than I thought. This fight is stupid."
"Hahaha… wrong time to get rational!"
Asahiko swung again. A deep crimson slash shot forward in a straight line at incredible speed.
Inuyasha barely dodged—but didn't relax. Instinct screamed at him to move again. He turned—Just in time to avoid Clouded Fang embedded where he had stood.
¡Boom!
A massive surge of red energy erupted, shaking the entire mass of corpses suspended in the sky, causing Inuyasha to widen her eyes.
"Haha, run, run, little dog—Asahiko's coming for you."
"Enough! Do you think I'm afraid? Come on! I beat you once—I can do it again!"
"Only because Kikyo saved you at the last second!"
They lunged at each other. Their swords clashed midair—And the shockwave tore the surroundings apart. Blood, flesh, and bone scattered everywhere, painting a grotesque scene.
Asahiko broke the deadlock first—detonating the red energy outward and slamming Inuyasha into the ground. Without hesitation, he conjured multiple spears and launched them downward.
¡Boom Boom Boom!
Inuyasha dodged more by luck than skill as explosions erupted around him. At the same time, golden embers began to fall, each one carrying illusions of pain, dizziness, and disorientation… Anything to secure victory.
"Hahaha, keep running, Inu—agh!"
Forced to block Tessaiga, thrown like a spear, Asahiko faltered for a moment, and that was enough. Inuyasha's fist slammed into his face.
He rolled across the ground, disoriented—just in time to see a foot crash into his stomach, knocking the air out of him and sending his sword flying.
"Now taste my Iron Reaver Claws!"
"Go to hell, Inuyasha!"
¡Boom!
A sudden explosion saved him, but he forgot something important. Inuyasha's clothes were fireproof.
The blast didn't stop him. He crashed straight into Asahiko. They rolled across the ground, exchanging punches and kicks like street brawlers, no technique, just raw intent to hurt.
"Take this!"
Asahiko struck first—Then was struck back. The fight grew more savage by the second. Neither noticed what was happening beneath them.
The corpse trail accelerated… then began to descend.By the time they realized—It dropped vertically. The fall forced them to grab onto anything.
"Stop moving, Inuyasha!"
"Then let go of my leg!"
"I don't want to grab this! You don't even wear socks—your feet stink! Learn to wear shoes, animal!"
"Then let go already!"
Kicking wildly, Inuyasha tightened his grip on Tessaiga, anchoring himself…. Until the entire mass slammed into a mountain. Then there was a blinding flash, and the impact sent them both flying through the air.
Asahiko reacted first—transforming midair into a bird of prey and reclaiming Clouded Fang. Inuyasha wasn't so lucky. He crashed straight into the rocky ground.
"Quite a mess you made up there… but welcome nonetheless. Especially—"
"Naraku!"
"Yes, Inuyasha. Though I would've preferred you be devoured by the ritual… or killed by our new friend."
From within a cocoon of light formed by the impact, a figure began to take shape;Naraku.
"Then you should've picked better yokai. Those idiots didn't even touch me—and the same will happen to that body you're making!"
"Hahaha… you should lower that sword, Inuyasha. Or do you want something to happen to Kikyo? The same goes for you, Asahiko."
"Tch… personality salad. I dislike you more every time. Are you even Naraku anymore?"
Appearing closer to him—having swapped places with an illusion—Asahiko spat blood onto the ground.
"I am. Now more than ever, thanks to this new body."
"Whatever. Just give me Kikyo and let's end this. I'm sure you'd rather finish your body somewhere safer than here—with both of us."
"I'll have to decline. She's the only thing keeping my head on my shoulders."
With a quiet laugh, the cocoon burst. Naraku stepped forward in a new form. Young—no more than twenty. Long black hair, pale skin, deep red eyes, refined features. And in his arms lay a limp Kikyo, used as a shield. .
"Damn it… you'd better let her go or I—"
"Or what, Inuyasha? Don't you see? I hold all the power now."
"…Fine. Leave, Naraku. You win this time."
Resting his hand on Clouded Fang's hilt, Asahiko spoke quietly as he moved beside Inuyasha. He had lost control—and with Naraku's multiple minds, illusions were useless.
"HAHAHA… anything else before I go, Inuyasha?"
"This isn't over, Naraku."
"I wonder if that's true. Farewell… I hope to see you again soon."
With one last mocking glance, Naraku stomped the ground—And an overwhelming surge of miasma exploded beneath him, launching him into the sky.