Looking at the young girl standing before her, Tsubaki suppressed the killing intent in her eyes. Her right eye suddenly glowed, and thick demonic aura spread outward.
The next instant, a pitch-black vortex of demonic power surged from her eye and crashed onto the ground, rapidly condensing.
A fox demon with gray-white fur and three fluffy tails materialized in front of Kagome.
"Alright. I've released the demon inside me," Tsubaki said coldly, staring at Kagome across from it. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to use this monster to kill her.
But with Inuyasha watching her closely and Kikyo standing calmly nearby, she could only suppress that thought.
She urged the demon forward.
She might not be allowed to kill Kagome, but crippling her was still acceptable.
Facing the beast's gaping jaws and gleaming fangs, Kagome quickly raised her bow. Her fingers trembled slightly as she forced down her fear and aimed at the charging fox demon.
Kikyo's earlier guidance on archery flashed through her mind.
She took a deep breath, focused her mind, and patiently waited for the right moment.
Just as the demon leapt into the air—
Kagome released the string.
Whoosh!
Wrapped in spiritual power, the arrow streaked forward like a beam of light.
Snap!
Seeing the sacred arrow about to strike, the three-tailed fox reacted instantly. It raised a forepaw and slapped at the arrow.
The impact sent its body flying, and its paw shattered under the spiritual force.
Yet after landing, its wounds rapidly healed under the nourishment of demonic energy.
"Kagome, don't hesitate. Focus your mind. Strengthen your resolve," Kikyo said softly as she watched the arrow only cause minor damage.
"Remember, you are a priestess with immense spiritual power. When facing demons, you must have the will to kill."
In truth, Kikyo could have easily killed Tsubaki herself.
But she had long noticed a serious problem with Kagome's spiritual power.
Kagome clearly possessed tremendous latent power, yet her output was extremely unstable.
At her strongest, she could shatter solid barriers and purify groups of demons in a single shot.
At her weakest, she could barely injure a monster.
Just like now.
If Kagome had fully released her power, this demon should have been reduced to ashes the moment the arrow hit. Not merely lose a paw.
Combined with what Kaede had once told her—that the Shikon Jewel had emerged from Kagome's body—and the fact that Kagome's sensitivity to the Jewel surpassed her own, Kikyo formed a suspicion.
After Kikyo's death, Kagome may have reincarnated together with the Shikon Jewel. During that process, part of her spiritual power might have been sealed by it.
After all, the Jewel had once been hidden inside Kagome's body. Out of fear of her strength, sealing her power was not impossible.
But Kikyo knew one thing.
The Shikon Jewel could never completely suppress Kagome's power.
So she deliberately used Tsubaki's demon to apply pressure—forcing Kagome's power to break through the seal and regain full control.
"Focus… be resolute…"
Kagome repeated Kikyo's words in her heart, her eyes locked firmly on the fox demon.
Whenever it tried to approach, she fired an arrow and forced it back.
As her attacks continued, the spiritual power on her arrows grew stronger and stronger. The damage became more severe, while the demon's aura weakened steadily.
Watching this, Kikyo let out a soft sigh.
Kagome's progress was obvious, but still short of her expectations. With the power she had shown when breaking the barrier earlier, this demon should have been annihilated long ago.
These days, Kikyo had grown fond of her life with Uchiha Retsu—exorcising demons, healing villagers, and cultivating together in their spare time.
She no longer wanted to involve herself with the Shikon Jewel or Naraku.
Yet as the former guardian of the Jewel, responsibility would not let her stand aside and leave everything to Inuyasha and Kagome.
And in Kagome—the one most deeply bound to the Shikon Jewel—Kikyo saw hope of ending it forever.
Especially since the Jewel had deliberately suppressed her power, proving that it feared her.
From teaching Kagome archery to arranging this real battle, Kikyo had always been trying to help her master her strength as soon as possible and put an end to the curse that brought suffering to so many.
After repeated clashes, Kagome grew increasingly calm. Her expression became focused, and the arm holding her bow steadied.
Whoosh!
Another arrow flew.
The demon, now sluggish from exhaustion, failed to evade. The arrow struck it squarely in the head.
Roar!
The fox let out a shrill scream. Facing death, it unleashed all its remaining demonic power in a desperate attempt to resist.
But the next moment, the spiritual light on the arrow flared brilliantly.
It shattered the demonic barrier instantly. Purifying energy pierced through its skull like a beam of light, exploding it into a cloud of blood mist.
Boom!
The headless corpse crashed heavily to the ground.
"I won! I won!"
Relief flooded Kagome's heart. She collapsed onto the ground, overwhelmed by a sense of accomplishment.
She turned excitedly, wanting to share her joy with Inuyasha.
"Kagome, watch out!"
Inuyasha's shout rang out as he rushed toward her in panic.
"Kagome, be careful!"
Sango yelled as well, hurling her Hiraikotsu in Kagome's direction.
Kagome's heart jumped. She quickly scanned her surroundings.
Rustle—
Amid the sound of grass being crushed, Tsubaki's white snake familiar—silent until now—had already slipped close.
It lunged forward like lightning, rearing its head and baring its icy fangs straight at Kagome's throat.
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha clenched Tessaiga in desperation, but fear of hurting her kept him from swinging.
"Hahaha! Die, Kagome!" Tsubaki laughed wildly at the successful ambush.
At the same time, countless demons poured out from her eyes.
Some rushed to block Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku. Others wrapped around Tsubaki and carried her into the air as she fled.
"Kikyo, you care about that woman so much, don't you?" Tsubaki shouted venomously as she retreated.
"I'll kill her first, then I'll kill you!"
"I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Unlike everyone else's panic, Kikyo remained completely calm. A faint smile appeared on her lips as she stared intently at Kagome.
At that moment, Kagome felt no fear at all as she faced the charging snake.
She instinctively reached for her quiver—
Empty.
"No arrows?"
Her heart skipped.
Staring at the glittering fangs, Kikyo's earlier words echoed in her mind.
Kagome clenched her bow and shouted,
"Focus… die!"
In an instant, overwhelming spiritual power erupted from her body.
With sudden clarity, she swung the bow with all her strength and smashed it straight into the snake's head.
With a piercing shriek, Tsubaki's white serpent familiar was engulfed by purifying light.
Under the crushing spiritual force, it disintegrated into ashes—vanishing beneath Kagome's bow.
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