The Kamaitachi's claws fell, the gale carrying blade-like air currents sweeping toward Kikyō.
Kikyō didn't look at it.
Her gaze was always locked on that escaping Corrupted Spirit.
"Did you think I wasn't prepared?"
Her voice was very light, so light it was almost drowned out by the wind.
But Shinji heard it.
The Corrupted Spirit heard it too.
"What?"
Those countless faces simultaneously showed expressions of confusion.
Kikyō's lips parted slightly.
An incantation left her mouth.
In that instant.
Countless patterns of light lit up on the ground.
Those light patterns spread out, forming a huge sealing array under the Corrupted Spirit's feet. The array patterns were complex and intricate, every line emitting burning white light.
"This is…"
For the first time, a look of horror appeared on the Corrupted Spirit's face.
"The Four Spirits Sealing Array?!"
"You want to completely seal me?!"
"Impossible! When did you-"
Kikyō didn't answer.
She just raised her hand, a stream of spiritual power shooting from her fingertip, activating the core of the array.
Boom——
White light shot into the sky.
Countless chains of light surged from the array, like vines wrapping toward the Corrupted Spirit's body.
The Corrupted Spirit struggled madly, all those faces twisted into ferocious forms, emitting piercing screams.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
"I've waited five hundred years! Five hundred years!"
"You despicable human—"
"You too, Midoriko too, you have all, all deceived me!"
But those chains of light tightened and tightened.
Every chain was engraved with dense sealing runes, binding techniques specifically targeted at the Corrupted Spirit.
Shinji watched this scene, a sense of sudden understanding surging up in his heart.
She had known all along.
From the very beginning, she had known.
The Corrupted Spirit would try to escape on the night of the full moon.
Perhaps every time the guardian of the Shikon Jewel changed, the Corrupted Spirit would attempt to escape.
This was its only chance.
But every time, before it could get that chance, it was suppressed.
And Kikyō...
She hadn't, like previous guardians, tried her best to suppress the Shikon Jewel.
She had been 'waiting' for the Corrupted Spirit.
All those suppression actions before were just for the Corrupted Spirit to see.
To make it think there was an opportunity.
To make it let its guard down.
To make it actively jump out.
And then
Sweep them all up in one net.
Although pure, although innocent, Kikyō had always been very clever.
But Shinji had no time for reflection.
Because the Kamaitachi's attack had already arrived.
The wind was like a blade.
At this moment, Kikyō's entire focus was on suppressing the Corrupted Spirit. She had no time to worry about what was behind her. If this attack hit..
Countless images flashed through Shinji's mind.
The Kikyō from the original work.
That lonely shrine maiden.
She guarded the Shikon Jewel alone.
Faced countless demons alone.
Bore all the burdens alone.
No one helped her.
No one could stand by her side.
Perhaps this was why she was taken advantage of, and in the end, died because of it?
He also suddenly understood that if he hadn't been here tonight, Kikyō might have been able to cope, or rather, she definitely would have coped, but it would not have been easy. She would have been seriously injured. She would have realized she was not absolutely invincible. She would have begun to long for someone to rely on...
But.
There was no 'if'.
Because Shinji was right here!
Everything else was impossible to happen, and naturally, didn't matter.
His body moved.
And he naturally had to move, even if just for his own benefit.
Phantom Step activated.
An afterimage flashed through the air.
The next moment, he appeared behind Kikyō.
Appeared in the trajectory of the Kamaitachi's attack.
The blade edge flicked upward, black blade energy tearing through the air, meeting that gale capable of tearing everything apart.
"Clang——!"
Metal clashing.
Shinji's arms went numb again, his body pushed backward by the huge force.
The bricks under his feet shattered, leaving two deep gouges.
But he blocked it.
This strike from the Kamaitachi, he blocked it.
"You…?"
Kikyō's voice came from behind.
She didn't turn around, because she couldn't turn around.
The Corrupted Spirit's struggles were getting more violent. Those chains of light could snap at any moment.
She had to focus completely.
"Focus on what you're doing."
Shinji's voice was calm, but the blade in his hand trembled.
Not from fear, but from the force.
The Kamaitachi's power far exceeded his imagination.
This strike was just a probe, and it had already injured his internal organs again.
If it were a full-powered strike…
He would probably be torn to shreds.
But he didn't retreat.
"Leave the back to me."
He said.
He said: "I have a way."
Kikyō was silent for a moment.
Her mudra didn't loosen, her spiritual power still continuously flowing into the array.
But Shinji could feel that her body had relaxed a little.
That stiffness of being tensed to the extreme had dissipated.
She trusted him.
She had let go of her vigilance toward what was behind her, no longer hesitating.
She trusted him, even more than before.
[Shikon no Tama · Righteous Spirit: Affection +3]
[Current Affection: 26]
[It conveys a message to you: '…Thank you.']
Shinji ignored the panel.
He tightened his grip on the hilt and looked at the three-story-tall Kamaitachi before him.
That giant beast was staring at him with those empty eye sockets.
No anger, no disdain.
Only…
Confusion?
It seemed not to understand why a low-tier Body Transformation yokai dared to stand in the way of a Quality Transformation one like itself.
This wasn't reasonable.
This didn't conform to the survival laws of yokai.
The weak should flee.
The weak should submit.
The weak should not block the path.
"…You're different from ordinary yokai, aren't you?"
The Kamaitachi spoke.
Its voice was like a howling wind, carrying a hollow texture like a whirlpool.
"You have the aura of a human on you. You're not an ordinary yokai."
Shinji didn't answer.
He just adjusted the angle of his blade.
Then...
The demonic energy within him began to boil.
Blood madly surged in his veins.
This was the power of [Blood Change].
His Sixth Change.
The completion of Body Transformation.
At the same time, he activated the special ability left behind after Muramasa's integration.
[Bloodthirsty Frenzy].
Strength, speed, reflexes, all increased by 30%.
Although not enough to make up the gap with the Kamaitachi, at least, It was enough for him to block a few more strikes.
"Come on."
Shinji said.
There was no fear in his eyes.
Only fighting spirit.
At the same time, [Strengthened Body Change], [Keen Eye Change], [Archer's Change], [Spear Waist Change], [Shield Bone Change].
[Blood Change].
Six Changes upon him.
Demonic energy surged wildly,
Ghostly aura, spreading!
Then.
In a series of creaking sounds, the armor covering Shinji's body suddenly expanded as if growing, becoming larger, thicker, heavier.
That armor was rugged, protruding on all sides, the red demon mask sinister, pale hair strands flying, making him look like an Asura.
Like a god, yet even more like a demon!
This was…
"To possess this quality of ghostly aura!?"
For the first time, surprise appeared in the Kamaitachi's hollow voice.