"Boom—!"
The yokai power surging within the cracks of the flesh sphere grew increasingly violent. The entire mass expanded and twisted grotesquely, followed by a deafening explosion. Severed, rotting yokai limbs scattered in every direction like a storm of flesh.
At the center of it all, a figure floated proudly in midair, wrapped in an emerald wave of demonic aura.
"...Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha stared at the familiar yet somehow changed figure, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin's face lit up with pure joy.
"Thank goodness you're safe—Waaah!" Jaken cried dramatically, wiping tears that flowed far too easily.
"This feeling…"
Sesshomaru sensed the new power coursing through his body. More importantly, his gaze fell upon the blade in his hand—and a flicker of shock passed through his eyes.
It was a yokai sword unlike any other… and it belonged entirely to him.
At that moment, an old man riding a three-eyed ox suddenly appeared nearby. His eyes widened as he stared.
"Totosai…"
Sesshomaru glanced at him, then back at the blade, as realization began to form.
A blinding flash of sword light cut through the air. The remaining yokai limbs were instantly reduced to dust.
The aura surrounding Sesshomaru gradually faded, revealing his full form.
Everyone's attention was immediately drawn to his left arm.
"That… is that an arm?!"
Jaken's eyes bulged with excitement. "Your left arm—the one Inuyasha cut off—it's really regenerated!"
Under their stunned gazes, Sesshomaru's arm had fully returned. In that newly formed hand, he held a pristine blade, its surface etched with eerie patterns, radiating a cold, razor-sharp light.
"What is that sword…?" Koga muttered, unable to hide his astonishment.
"It's finally appeared, Sesshomaru."
Totosai's expression softened with relief as he looked at the blade.
"This is not something inherited from your father. This is a sword born from you—Bakusaiga!"
Sesshomaru lowered his gaze to the weapon. The resonance between the blade and his own power left no doubt—it had always been waiting for him.
"So… this is my sword. Bakusaiga…"
A faint complexity flickered in his eyes. What he had sought for so long… had been within him all along.
---
Observing through shared vision, **Uchiha Kasage** quietly exhaled in relief.
Since Princess Abi had arrived, she had deliberately held back. She feared that destroying Naraku's corruption too soon would interfere with Bakusaiga's awakening.
Now, it was clear—that grotesque existence had fulfilled its role perfectly.
Even without it, Sesshomaru's talent alone would have eventually brought Bakusaiga into existence.
But an opponent like Naraku's corruption—tenacious, vile, nearly impossible to kill—had pushed him beyond his limits.
In truth, the conditions for Bakusaiga's birth had begun the moment Sesshomaru met Rin… when he let go of his obsession with Tessaiga.
But Sesshomaru was too strong. Ordinary yokai posed no challenge.
Only something like this—something that mocked him, provoked his killing intent, yet refused to die—could force that breakthrough.
Even Naraku himself wouldn't have sufficed.
One could only say… Naraku's corruption had been the perfect catalyst.
---
While everyone focused on Sesshomaru, the scattered yokai flesh began writhing, slowly pulling itself back together.
"Still trying to reform?!" Inuyasha landed on the ground, raising Tessaiga to strike.
But before he could move—
Blades of shimmering energy suddenly appeared across the re-forming mass.
*Squelch!*
The flesh turned to ash instantly.
What was more terrifying—the effect didn't stop.
The energy spread, consuming every connected piece. Even untouched parts disintegrated rapidly.
"The damage… it's still spreading!" Koga exclaimed.
"And it affects everything connected to it—even the untouched body!" Miroku added, stunned.
Kikyo's gaze remained fixed on the blade.
"That sword… it suppresses beings like Naraku. Those with immortal bodies cannot withstand it."
Kasage, standing beside her, narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice calm but edged with intensity.
"…It doesn't just destroy the body. It erases existence itself. A dangerous power… even for Sesshomaru."
Kikyo glanced at him briefly.
"And yet… in his hands, it feels… inevitable."
Kasage gave a faint, knowing look.
"…That's exactly why it awakened."
---
"We must be careful," Princess Abi said, her voice sharp. "Don't let it escape its body."
Her Rinnegan revealed the truth—the creature was still posturing arrogantly, but its soul was already attempting to slip away.
With a swift motion, she formed hand seals.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive summoning seal spread behind her. With a burst of white smoke—
Hundreds of pale Infernal Birds emerged, their shrill cries piercing the air as they scattered, sealing off the entire battlefield.
By then, Bakusaiga had completely destroyed the body—leaving only a floating head.
"Hmph. Just a borrowed shell. It doesn't hurt at all," Naraku's corruption sneered.
Sesshomaru didn't respond.
A cold flash.
The head split cleanly in two—and turned to ash.
"Serves you right!" Jaken shouted. "How dare you mock Lord Sesshomaru!"
"Wait—where's its real soul?!" Inuyasha suddenly shouted.
"—Kraaah!"
A piercing cry echoed.
Several Infernal Birds ignited in flames and slammed into empty space—
*BOOM!*
An invisible barrier warped.
The true form of Naraku's corruption revealed itself.
It had already slipped away, attempting escape—but the birds had intercepted it.
"What are these cursed things?!" it snarled.
"They are creatures that bridge the underworld and the living world," Princess Abi said coldly. "They can harm even souls."
Kasage's gaze sharpened slightly as he watched.
"…So you planned for this from the start."
Abi smirked faintly.
"Of course."
The birds swarmed, sealing every path.
"Damn you—!"
Before it could finish—
A white figure appeared behind it.
Sesshomaru drew Tenseiga in a reverse grip.
"You're not escaping!" Inuyasha charged from below, Tessaiga blazing.
"Wind Scar—!"
"Damn it!"
Desperate, the creature lunged straight toward Inuyasha.
"What—?!" Inuyasha braced himself.
From behind—
"Worm… die."
Sesshomaru's voice was cold.
Tenseiga flashed—
And struck.
---