Volume 8 Chapter 4 Part 5 (2/2)
Just like snakes eyeing their prey, the black flame tails pierced the ground where Yuzuha was.
”.you're finally getting serious.”
As if in response to Tamamo's whispered words, the black flames were repelled away.
The black flames and dust of clouds were mixed together in the air, within that mixture several silhouettes could be seen.
Yuzuha had transformed into the Adult form of an Element Tail with 9 gently swaying tails.
”I cannot return for long, you see.”
Silver waist-length hair, transparently violet eyes, animal ears of the same color of her hair standing briskly up.
Along with a breathtaking beauty that would charm anyone who saw her, Yuzuha -who had regained her original powers- quietly stared at Tamamo.
”Is hastening your death important too?”
”That is my only desire. Come on, o originator, wielder of powers the legends sing of!! Show them to me!!”
After Tamamo's scream, the 8 tails once again targeted Yuzuha. Their power and momentum were at their highest.
”.you poor thing.”
Yuzuha whispered as the 2 black flame tails and 6 tails enveloped in black flames approach her with frightening speed. Following her whisper, her silver tails became flashes of light and pierced the s.p.a.ce between the 2.
A clash of silver and black, with the latter as the loser.
The black flames scattered and vanished, the tails were torn to shreds.
Tamamo had 8 tails, Yuzuha 9. Along with the 8 tails who won the clash, the unattended 9th tail closed in to Tamamo.
”Gwaaahhh!!!”
Tamamo crossed its arms in defense, but it made little difference before an attack that tore to shreds tails filled with power. Tamamo was launched into the air.
Both arms were torn and severed from Tamamo's body, its insides broken and ripped.
It seemed like a lie that until a few instants ago, Yuzuha was locked in defense. That's how overwhelming her superiority was.
This was temporary for Yuzuha, but her original power was clearly above Tamamo.
”.khkh.”
Tamamo came cras.h.i.+ng down on the ground and was now lying face up. The only sound to be heard was her ragged breathing.
She was not dead yet, but her body was on its final throes. Even if left alone, it would have lasted a few minutes at most.
As she was looking at Tamamo, a golden flame appeared over Yuzuha's head.
Tamamo was roused as her line of sight got fixed onto Yuzuha's figure. The mere sight of that divine flame would be enough to bring anyone to its knees, due to its incommensurable heat.
”.you may pa.s.s on now.”
A few seconds later, accompanied by Yuzuha's words, the golden flame swallowed Tamamo.
Tamamo's body turned into molten ashes in seconds.
The very last instant, her expression seemed to sketch a smile.
”Phew”
The flames disappeared as Yuzuha breathed quietly. Nothing but a scorched ground remained, where Tamamo's body used to be.
After the flames completely disappeared, a silver light leaked from Yuzuha's body.
Her body progressively returned to the teenager-like form it had until a few moments before, just like a video played in reverse.
”Kuu..”
She then returned in fox mode and plopped down on the ground.
Even if she had regained some of her powers from the location where Filma had been trapped, it was still not complete. Focusing her strength to return to her adult form would only last for a few minutes.
Furthermore, even if she temporarily regained that form, she could not retrieve the memories and knowledge ama.s.sed throughout the years.
It was a sort of ace up the sleeve to use in emergency situations.
”..”
As she closed her eyes to recover her strength, Yuzuha felt a familiar presence approaching.
She slowly tried to stand up, then remembered something and fell down again.
”!? Yuzuha!?”
The approaching presence was s.h.i.+n.
As soon as he saw Yuzuha lying on the ground, he rushed to her with enough speed to leave behind after-images. He gently picked her up in his arms and checked her condition.
”Her HP and MP don't seem to have decreased much. The item's broken, she seems to be powerlesswhat crazy things did you do?”
Yuzuha had barely received any damage, but the recoil of returning to her adult form had robbed her immature body of its energy.
”Defeated, Tamamo.”
”Still you went too far!! What would happen if you died.?”
Yuzuha judged that what she did was something bad. As she could comprehend from s.h.i.+n's voice that he was really worried. To tell you the truth, she actually had enough energy left to stand and walk.
Oblivious of Yuzuha's actual condition, s.h.i.+n gently held her in his arms.
”Kuu”
Wrapped by the warm sense of security provided by s.h.i.+n's arms, Yuzuha emitted a small cry.
The invasion of several domains acted by the Ichinose soldiers and monsters had been on a large scale, but it had been suppressed before it caused large damage.
Special mention should be made to the reinforcements sent to the various regions.
Toudou Kankurou, 1st seat of the Hinomoto Brave Ten, and the black-scaled Dragnil who performed actions on par with him.
Saegusa Karin, s.h.i.+jou Tsugumasa and Tsuguho, also from the Brave Ten, and the silver-haired Elf who appeared with them.
The red-haired Lord who fought the monsters attacking the s.h.i.+jou domain even earlier than the Brave Ten, along with the huge wolf-like monster and the black-haired Elf.
After showing performances comparable with the Brave Ten, they all simply vanished without a word after the battle.
Many tried looking for them, obviously, but for some reason no one seemed to remember what they looked like.
Among Hinomoto's soldiers, some rumor that they were spirits of the age of wars, who appear when the country is in peril.
In reality it was all due to concealment skills. The only ones capable of remembering were the few who met them and spoke face to face. And these few too were ordered by their superiors not to speak about these reinforcements to anyone else.
These mysterious helpers were now in front of the gates of the Saegusa house. They did not have much luggage with them but were all equipped for traveling.
s.h.i.+n's group had no more reason to stay with the Saegusa.
They had no pressing reason to go anywhere, but as the battle ended, they decided it was the right timing to depart.
”Thank you for your hospitality.”
Along with the Saegusa house members (Karin, Kuyou, Kayo, Chiyo), Kankurou too had come to see s.h.i.+n's party off.
”Must you truly depart? We owe you the grat.i.tude of saving Hinomoto from the flames of war. If only we could express our thanks somehow”
Karin, reluctant to see them go, had the proud Black Moon at her waist.
As Juugo's foul play was discovered, the last remaining contestant, Karin, was chosen to be the divine katana's successor.
”You are already keeping the Hakuramaru matter a secret for me. I thank you too for your cooperation, sir Kankurou. If word spread that I had that katana, the country itself could come after me.”
s.h.i.+n replied to Karin and bowed his head to Kankurou.
Ancient-grade weapons were sought after by anyone, individuals and countries alike.
s.h.i.+n had given Hakuramaru to Karin as he feared something would happen during the inheritance ceremony, but he did not regret that choice.
Black Moon was a katana tempered by s.h.i.+n. Average weapons would not be able to match its blade.
To all who saw that s.h.i.+n was in possession of Hakuramaru, they explained that he was traveling to return it to its rightful owner, clearly stating that it was not possible to obtain it from s.h.i.+n.
Kankurou had concluded by stating that s.h.i.+n was to be treated with maximum courtesy, so there was no particular attempt at negotiation.
”We have not been able to thank you properly for Lady Haruna's matter either, though. Is there really nothing we could do?”
”I discussed this with everyone else too, but there is nothing we require at the moment. Thus, if in the future we will need help or a.s.sistance, please lend us your aid. I am sure there could be matters, besides war, that we cannot solve on our own.”
s.h.i.+n answered clearly to Kuyou's question and its serious tone. In case of necessity, having human connections would surely help.
”In that case, we shall do our utmost when that time comes. I look forward to our next meeting.”
”We will be counting on you then.”
Schnee and the others too bid their farewells, and the party left the Kujou domain.
their destination was Hinomoto's sacred mountain, Fuji.