A skeletal bird flapped its bony wings beneath Inuyasha and Yura.
The two stepped onto its spine, and it rose with a powerful beat of its wings, carrying them toward the colossal remains of the Dog General.
Wind howled past their ears.
Looking down at the mountain-sized skeleton, Yura’s eyes flashed with a rare trace of awe.
“I can hardly imagine…
how powerful Toga must have been while he was alive.” Size alone did not determine a demon’s strength.
Mountain demons towered into the clouds, yet their poor intelligence often left them enslaved by stronger beings.
Sesshomaru could whip one to death within a few strikes.
However, any demon as enormous as the Dog General had to possess demonic energy as vast as mountains and seas, to say nothing of his reputation for dominating the world.
“If the old man had truly been that strong, he wouldn’t be buried here.” Inuyasha did not feel deeply attached to the Dog General, especially after the return of his Prime Self.
Calling him “the old man” stirred less emotion in him than casually saying Yura’s name.
Affection was born through time spent together.
What Inuyasha felt for the Dog General was closer to the respect one might hold for a great predecessor.
Even so, his body’s instincts grieved for one of its own, like a lonely autumn cry answering another.
“I suppose that’s true.” Sensing Inuyasha’s lowered mood, Yura hugged his arm more tightly.
The wind swept aside her bangs, revealing her clear eyes.
“But I believe Inuyasha-sama will become king of the world, unmatched beneath the heavens!” “Hahaha!” Inuyasha’s laughter drowned out the roaring wind.
He wrapped an arm around Yura’s waist, lowered his head, and kissed her.
Yura closed her eyes, wrapped both arms around his neck, and responded with equal passion.
The skeletal bird soared beneath a vivid blue sky.
The two figures embracing upon its back looked like a vibrant painting, wild and utterly unrestrained.
Only when the bird descended and planted its claws upon the giant breastplate covering the Dog General’s remains did Inuyasha reluctantly release her.
Yura opened her eyes.
Her lips were slightly swollen, and they curved into a smile as she panted softly, her gaze wet and shimmering.
“…Inuyasha-sama, would you like to continue here?” Smack!
The demoness trembled, then pouted in dissatisfaction.
“You irresistible little temptress.
At this rate, you’ll corrupt me sooner or later.” Inuyasha withdrew his hand, wearing the unmistakable scumbag expression of a man who had turned cold the moment he pulled up his pants.
‘Tch.
He’s every bit as shameless as I am, yet he blames me for corrupting him.
What a bastard.’ Watching her master walk into the skeleton, Yura quietly cursed him and lamented her terrible taste in men—yet this was exactly the kind of man she liked.
The two passed through the enormous gaps between the Dog General’s ribs and continued deeper into his remains.
Giant ribs crossed overhead like the vaulted ceiling of a cathedral, while vines spread freely across every surface.
Farther down, the terrain suddenly opened up.
A vast underground chamber appeared before them.
A sea of skulls filled the stomach cavity below, piled layer upon layer.
Near the rear of the chamber stood a lavish golden pedestal, and a long, rust-covered sword was embedded within it.
Sesshomaru stood before the pedestal, golden eyes lowered as though lost in thought.
Jaken, who had been fortunate enough to land safely, huddled beside his feet.
The instant he saw Inuyasha and Yura, he instinctively shuffled farther behind Sesshomaru’s leg.
“You certainly took your time.” Sesshomaru glanced over and raised his chin slightly.
“Will you try first, or shall I?” Despite his younger brother’s infuriating arrogance, Sesshomaru was still willing to show the dignity expected of the elder brother.
Inuyasha landed and shrugged.
“Either way is fine.
It belongs to me regardless.” “Do not regret this.” Sesshomaru did not hesitate.
Suppressing the stirring in his heart, he strode toward the golden pedestal and wrapped his hand around the sword’s hilt.
Jaken nervously held his breath.
‘Please succeed, Sesshomaru-sama!’ The next instant, dazzling golden light erupted from Tessaiga’s hilt.
The light scorched Sesshomaru’s right hand, sending up trails of smoke.
He grunted but refused to release the sword until the searing pain pierced through his demonic energy and reached his bones.
Only then did he let go, his expression filled with unwillingness.
“Damn it!
Why is there a barrier?!” Jaken wailed.
The meaning of what had happened could not have been clearer.
Yura secretly released a breath of relief.
Inuyasha had sounded utterly certain, but Sesshomaru was the eldest son and possessed the natural legitimacy to inherit everything the Dog General had left behind.
There had always been a real possibility that he might claim Tessaiga.
Even without knowing what made this rust-covered iron sword special, its powerful barrier alone proved it was no ordinary weapon.
As far as Yura was concerned, every treasure beneath the heavens rightfully belonged to her and Inuyasha.
Expressionless, Sesshomaru lowered his burned hand.
Demonic energy washed over it, and the charred marks vanished in an instant.
He stepped back and looked calmly toward Inuyasha.
“Your turn.” “You’re not leaving?” Inuyasha tilted his head.
“Why would I leave?” Sesshomaru’s golden eyes darkened.
“You have yet to draw Tessaiga.” “I’m merely worried you’ll burst into tears after watching me pull it out.” “Sharp-tongued fool.” “Thank you for the compliment.” Inuyasha stopped before the pedestal.
Jaken silently prayed that the barrier would reject Inuyasha as well, watching without daring to blink.
Sesshomaru appeared calm, but a faint ripple stirred deep within his eyes.
Inuyasha reached out and closed one hand around Tessaiga’s hilt.
The barrier did not activate.
Sesshomaru’s gaze dimmed for an instant.
Jaken’s legs gave out, dropping him to his knees atop the skulls as he muttered, “How can this be…?” “As expected, this treasured sword was left to Inuyasha-sama by the Great Lord,” Yura declared victoriously.
Inuyasha recalled the rule that only someone with the heart to protect humans could draw Tessaiga.
Having received a socialist education and learned to love every cute little human equally, Inuyasha tightened his fingers around the hilt and growled.
“Come out!” The rust-covered Tessaiga slid free.
A cold gleam burst from its blade and illuminated the entire tomb.
It came out with incredible ease, as though Excalibur had finally found its King Arthur.
Seeing this, Sesshomaru concealed the trace of disappointment in his eyes and rose into the air.
Even without Tessaiga, there was still So’unga, the Sword of the Earthly Realm.
If he could not find it, he would simply forge a new sword from his own fang.
‘Even without a Sword of Supreme Conquest, I, Sesshomaru, will never lose to a half-demon!’ “Sesshomaru-sama, wait for me!” Jaken jumped up in a panic, grabbed the floating fur pelt, and swayed beneath it as Sesshomaru carried him away.
Once the chamber fell quiet, Yura walked to Inuyasha’s side and stared in the direction Sesshomaru had left.
“I thought he would try to steal it by force.” The Sesshomaru from the original story truly would have tried.
However, this different Inuyasha had given him a completely different first impression.
Sesshomaru’s pride would not allow him to shamelessly rob such a younger brother.
“Whether he tried to steal it or not, the outcome would remain the same.” Inuyasha tucked Tessaiga into the sash around his waist, only for another matter to come to mind.
In the original story, Sesshomaru was defeated by Tessaiga thirty years later.
Gravely wounded, he was protected by Tenseiga’s barrier and fell into a forest, where he first met Rin.
Now that the butterfly effect was already in motion, would that meeting still happen?
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