Thinking of this, Yura couldn't help but feel a trace of gratitude toward him. In truth, ever since she had become part of the faction, she had never dared to hold much hope for her own survival.
Especially this time, when she was sent out to track the whereabouts of the Shikon Jewel, she had already steeled herself for the possibility of being discarded as nothing more than expendable cannon fodder at any moment. With her strength, venturing alone in search of the Shikon Jewel was no different from courting death.
Yet, reality unfolded in a way completely different from what she had imagined. During this entire period, aside from reporting her situation back to Sebastian, she had not received a single additional order. At times, she even felt as though she had been completely forgotten.
Even so, she never dared to flee. Sebastian possessed the ability to monitor the entire world with ease; escaping his notice was simply impossible.
Moreover, it seemed that Sebastian had no real interest in the Shikon Jewel itself. Sending her to track it down was merely a means of identifying who possessed it.
"Are you still part of the group?" Lost in her thoughts, Yura was suddenly interrupted by Jaken, who clutched his Staff of Two Heads tightly in his hand.
Sensing no hostility from her, Jaken relaxed ever so slightly. Glancing toward the distant battlefield, he lowered his voice and asked, "What should we do now?"
The Shikon Jewel was on the verge of being seized by that woman.
"All we can do… is stall for time." Like Jaken, she remained hidden behind the massive boulder, her gaze fixed on Kaguya, who had just descended from the sky.
She brushed her hair back and quickly voiced her judgment: "With just the two of us, stopping her is impossible. All we can hope is that Sir Sebastian returns soon."
After witnessing the enemy's overwhelming power, she had completely abandoned any thought of confronting her head-on. Aside from Sebastian, she could not imagine anyone capable of posing a real threat to such a being.
"That's the only option… if that guy doesn't come back." Jaken understood all too well that even delaying her would be an extremely dangerous gamble, one that could easily cost them their lives.
But if they failed to slow her down, Sesshomaru would undoubtedly die here today.
After a moment of internal struggle, Jaken clenched his teeth and made his decision, "If Sir Sebastian doesn't return… then I'm afraid this is where we make our final stand!"
Yura smiled faintly at his words. Without hesitation, she leapt out from behind the boulder and charged toward the enemy.
She knew Jaken was right. The moment they revealed themselves, they were essentially offering their lives. Against someone as unfathomable and powerful as Kaguya, death was almost inevitable.
But after everything she had experienced, she understood one truth clearly: If she wanted to survive, she had to prove her value. And up until now, she had contributed nothing to Sebastian.
A vague premonition stirred within her; if she failed to seize this opportunity today, there might never be another chance.
"W-Wait! I'm coming too!" Seeing her rush forward, Jaken hesitated only briefly before chasing after her.
Fear gripped him tightly, yet the thought of Sesshomaru facing danger alone forced him onward. He overcame his fear.
"Stop!" Though he shouted, his voice trembled uncontrollably, just like his legs as he forced himself forward.
Within the battlefield.
Kaguya, who had just landed, heard Jaken's trembling roar. The robe draped over her body fluttered without wind, as if alive.
She cast a brief glance at the two approaching figures, her expression utterly indifferent. To her, these two were no different from ants. Without sparing them another thought, she turned and walked toward Sesshomaru.
Just as she reached his side and extended her hand toward the long blade embedded with the Shikon Jewel, countless strands of jet-black hair suddenly shot toward her from afar. Her movement was forced to halt.
At the same time, a staff shrouded in green poisonous mist came hurtling forward, erupting into a dense cloud of toxic fog directly before her.
Kaguya's gaze lingered on the black hair and the staff, and for the first time, a trace of coldness surfaced on her otherwise expressionless face.
The ancient mirror floating before her flared to life, unleashing dozens of violet beams in an instant. The air screamed as they tore forward, aimed directly at Jaken and Yura.
As a yokai born from a comb, Yura possessed her own unique resilience. As long as her core remained intact, she would not die. Thus, even as the deadly beams closed in, she showed no fear. A faint smile curled on her lips as she tightened her grip on the strands of hair in her hands and pulled sharply.
"Using your head, are you? How unfortunate…" Kaguya's voice was calm, almost dismissive.
Even as she launched her attack, the black hair coiling before her seized the long blade embedded with the Shikon Jewel and flung it away in an instant.
Without hesitation, a radiating violet light materialized before her, shooting forward toward the two. In the blink of an eye, a gray radiance engulfed Jaken and Yura.
Their movements froze. Like Inuyasha and Sesshomaru before them, they were reduced to lifeless statues.
"It seems… I arrived just in time." At the very moment despair consumed the immobilized pair, a flash of light streaked across the sky.
Then, Sebastian appeared, alongside Kikyō and Tsubaki. His gaze swept calmly across the chaotic battlefield and the frozen figures scattered across it. With a motion, he gently sent Kikyō and Tsubaki down to the ground.
Even though the defenses had already been breached, he had not rushed back in haste. At the same time, he had deliberately refrained from allowing any other forces to intervene in this matter.