"You… bastard!"
Forced to reveal himself, Naraku's Corruption glared at Sesshomaru in disbelief. He had never expected Sesshomaru to actually injure him.
On the massive face, a clear wound pierced through the left eye, and strands of dark, malevolent energy seeped out from it.
"So this… is the true form of Naraku's Corruption?!" the group below exclaimed in shock.
"I see," Miroku said softly, understanding dawning on him. "Naraku's Corruption is formed from the condensed soul of a yokai sealed within the Shikon Jewel. It doesn't belong to this mortal world. That's why Tenseiga was able to harm it."
Seeing his attack had worked, Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, preparing to strike again and finish it.
"Damn you!"
Naraku's Corruption stared warily at Tenseiga in Sesshomaru's hand. In an instant, his body merged with the scattered yokai limbs around him. At the same time, countless pieces of flesh surged forward, surrounding Sesshomaru from all directions.
Sesshomaru swung Tenseiga, the blade slicing cleanly through the mass of flesh, yet it had no real effect. The writhing bodies of yokai completely blocked his path to Naraku's true soul.
"Hmph. Even if that sword can strike the soul, it cannot cut Naraku's flesh and blood, which belong to the mortal world."
Naraku's floating head sneered, clearly pleased as Sesshomaru's attack failed.
Not far away, Uchiha Kasage, in the form of Abihime, watched calmly, her expression unreadable. She had already grasped the nature of Tenseiga.
This blade, though not overwhelmingly destructive, could easily slay beings that did not belong to this world, making it a divine weapon against souls. However, it was powerless against anything rooted in the mortal realm. Once a soul was hidden within a physical body, Tenseiga became ineffective.
It was like a sword meant to slay dragons, yet there were no dragons to cut.
That was precisely why Uchiha Kasage had never feared Tenseiga, even in an impure state.
Even Edo Tensei bodies, though unnatural, were still bound to a constructed physical form through ninjutsu. Their souls remained anchored, making them fundamentally part of the mortal plane. Unless the technique itself was dispelled, conventional methods could not truly harm the soul.
At this moment, Naraku's Corruption had clearly discovered Tenseiga's weakness. By hiding within Naraku's flesh, it rendered the blade useless.
Just as Sesshomaru continued cutting through the surrounding flesh—
A sharp tentacle suddenly shot out from within the mass.
It pierced straight through his abdomen.
The tip emerged from his back.
"Inuyasha's" pupils shrank instantly, his eyes widening in shock.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken and Rin cried out together, their voices filled with panic, yet they could not get close.
Naraku's Corruption looked down at Sesshomaru, now pinned in place, and let out a mocking laugh.
"I'll say it one last time… you are weak."
Those words struck like a spark to dry powder.
Sesshomaru's eyes flared with fury, his killing intent surging violently.
Before he could retaliate, the surrounding flesh suddenly contracted. The monstrous mass closed in from all sides, swallowing him completely and forming a writhing sphere of flesh.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin and Jaken shouted desperately, trying to reach him, but it was impossible.
Seeing this, Inuyasha leapt onto Kirara without hesitation.
"Kirara, now!"
Kirara roared and shot toward the massive sphere. Inuyasha swung Tessaiga wildly, cutting down the tentacles that tried to block his path.
Kikyo quickly raised the Azusa Mountain bow, aiming a sacred arrow at the pulsating mass, ready to release it.
"Wait."
A hand suddenly grasped her arm.
Kikyo turned, surprised, meeting Kasage's calm gaze.
"Kasage, why?"
"There's no need to interfere," Kasage said quietly, her eyes fixed on the writhing mass in the sky. "Sesshomaru is fine… in fact, he's better than before."
Through the vision of her Rinnegan, Kasage could clearly see what others could not. At the center of that suffocating mass of yokai flesh, Sesshomaru was not weakening.
His power was boiling.
Transforming.
She knew what was about to be born.
Bakusaiga was on the verge of manifesting.
Seeing Kasage's calm expression, Kikyo hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered her bow.
The others, hearing this, forced themselves to stay still despite their anxiety.
Jaken quickly asked, "Lady Abihime… how is Lord Sesshomaru?"
He paused awkwardly, then added, "Of course, I know no one here could harm Lord Sesshomaru, but…"
"Be quiet and watch," Kasage said coldly, casting him a sharp glance. The faint purple glow of her Rinnegan carried a chilling pressure.
Jaken immediately fell silent, as if his voice had been cut off.
Though confusion filled everyone's hearts, they could only look upward.
Meanwhile, Inuyasha had reached the sphere of flesh. Tessaiga slashed wildly, tearing through countless tentacles.
But more surged out, wrapping around his arms and legs, binding him tightly.
"Ahahaha!"
Naraku's Corruption laughed cruelly.
"You could use the Wind Scar and slice that entire mass apart. Don't worry about the one inside. Even if he's torn to pieces, he'll regenerate… and become part of Naraku's body!"
"Inuyasha!" Miroku, Sango, and Kohaku shouted anxiously, unable to approach.
"You idiot, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Koga gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand despite his injuries, ready to charge in.
"Don't worry," Kikyo said calmly.
She could clearly feel the rapidly rising demonic energy within the sphere.
"Inuyasha is only holding back because he fears harming Sesshomaru. There is no real danger."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Sesshomaru has changed. These yokai limbs can no longer restrain him."
"Sesshomaru is coming out," Kasage said, a faint, knowing smile appearing on her lips. "What happens next… will leave you all stunned."
The moment her words fell—
The massive sphere of flesh trembled violently.
Blinding emerald demonic energy burst through its cracks, radiating outward. The sheer force of it distorted the air itself.
"This is…!"
Naraku's Corruption, Inuyasha, and everyone below stared in shock at the overwhelming surge of power erupting from within.