Looking at the path that stretches endlessly toward the "horizon" visible in the distance, although there is actually no horizon and the path continues deeper into the forest, the golden bird wisely decides to change its current strategy.
This choice leads the majestic creature to fold its large golden wings and descend onto the path, raising a small cloud of dust that instantly settles back onto the path without further ado.
But ignoring that inconsistency that defies all possible logic, since gravity shouldn't behave that way, a flash completely covers the bird, and suddenly, occupying its place in space is a young man with golden hair.
"Are you finally going to give up, young Asahiko?"
Sliding out of Clouded Fang scabbard with a tired expression on his age-marked face, as if he were the one moving during the previous scene, Saya then begins flying in circles around the blue-eyed young man.
The truth is that he would prefer to leave this strange place as soon as possible, since an illusion capable of trapping Asahiko inside it is something quite dangerous. But… Does that somehow seem to be increasing Asahiko's competitiveness?
"Ha, give up because of this little setback, Saya? I'll never do that! I want to win so badly, ahem, help the stranger, that I'm going to use Inuyasha's favorite strategy!"
"Oh, what great strategy would that be? Surely he must be a great strategist like Master Inu no Taisho when—"
"Use our fists!"
Pulling Clouded Fang from the scabbard resting on the left side of his waist with astonishing speed, Asahiko then circulates his energy, and a reddish hue instantly covers the sword's blade, giving it a rather dark appearance.
Although the above is not merely an appearance of "evil" subconsciously created by the reddish color surrounding it, the sword is actually an object that could be called evil. After all, it even has an evil dragon sealed inside it for centuries.
*¡BOOOOOOM!*
Finally slashing toward the ground with Clouded Fang blade bathed in reddish energy, Asahiko stops the sword's strike just a few centimeters above the ground, consequently sending a large blood-red crescent flying forward.
This attack tears through the rocky ground as if it were simple paper, while leaving an unpleasant reddish stain behind along the path it traveled, making it look like an open, bleeding wound.
[Strange...]
"Oh, welcome to the show as well, Souga. And, any idea how the path repaired itself again?"
"That dragon doesn't—"
[Repaired? Jajaja, I understand. To think that mental resistance can be bypassed in such a stupid way.]
Dying of laughter over whatever it is that he understood, which may be nothing more than a bluff used to annoy Saya and Asahiko, the evil dragon even makes the jewel embedded in Clouded Fang hilt glow with excitement.
He had never believed in the so-called power of the masses. After all, it doesn't matter how many ants band together against him; they all suffer the same fate. But what he has in front of him is something interesting.
Of course, it doesn't reach the level of an actual spatial superposition, which is a high-level technique. Instead, it is an illusion layered over another, with a minimal-delay trigger, preventing the enemy from becoming resistant to them.
"Anything you'd like to share with the group gathered here, Souga?"
[Of course, although it's as simple as—]
"Fox Sacred Fire!" x3
Jumping down from the branches of the nearby trees surrounding the path, a small trio of strangers with rather shrill voices extend their hands in Asahiko's direction, firing large spheres of fire toward him.
Those flames share a golden hue reminiscent of those belonging to a certain young man, leaving the latter so surprised that he takes a few extra seconds to escape the incoming attack.
*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*
Exploding upward the instant they hit the ground like fiery geysers, although surprisingly they don't destroy the ground or anything else nearby, the golden fire completely covers Asahiko's previous position.
Who, unexpectedly, or perhaps quite obviously in the minds of some, is not affected by the attack at all and can be seen calmly standing within the fire… Something a certain dragon does not share.
[Dammit, this is burning me!]
"Eh, seriously, Souga?"
[Can't you feel the unpleasant sacred power inside these flames?! Get me out of here before I—]
Seeing his potential threat cut off at the root before he can even utter it, Souga looks satisfied when Asahiko pulls him out of the flames with his hand, but soon regrets it.
And why is that? Simple, when Asahiko noticed that Souga had actually stopped screaming after being taken out of the flames, he put him right back inside out of pure scientific curiosity, causing the dragon to start slowly roasting again.
"Well, it seems you were telling the truth, Souga. These flames really can hurt you!"
[Asahiko… What do you think y—]
"Save the screaming for later. Here comes round two~"
Evading responsibility for his actions with a masterful technique, Asahiko finally emerges from the flames and comes face to face with… Three large Buddha statues?
Yes, unexpectedly, the strangers' second round of attacks consists of throwing three Buddha statues, which were possibly stolen from temples. There's a reason they're so well-made and well-maintained.
*BOOOOOOM*
Punching the center of one of them on instinct, Asahiko is surprised when his fist fails to break the statue. Instead, it seems to absorb all the force of the impact and mercilessly falls on his defenseless body.
After the first statue comes a second, and then a third, completely covering Asahiko beneath their rocky structures. But fortunately for him, this situation doesn't last much longer, and suddenly the three statues shrink in size, falling helplessly onto Asahiko's aching back.
"Jajaja, we've defeated him!"
"Did you hear how he screamed when he was burned by our flames? He must be a terrible demon!"
"Terrible? Ha, I'd say he's a weakling instead. Did you see how he got crushed by those useless statues~"
High-fiving each other, three small figures approach the deep crater where Asahiko is located, finally allowing the latter to see his unknown attackers.
The trio consisted of children aged eight or ten, with a single golden fox tail growing from each of their waists and a pair of equally golden ears on their heads, making it very clear what species they belonged to.
"I'm going to teach you a lesson!"
Transmitting all those negative emotions to Clouded Fang, filling the insatiable evil dragon living inside it with power, Asahiko releases a pillar of reddish negative energy upward.
Which, incidentally, had been suppressed for a few brief moments, since those Buddha statues were still resting on his back. However, they are finally destroyed, their remains scattered by the afternoon wind.
This allows Asahiko to make a quick leap out of the crater and return to the surface, looking at the trio of foxes with his deep blue eyes as they remain surprised by the changes in the situation.
"Eh, I think this might be a little dangerous, guys?"
"Hump, we have plenty more statues stored away where those came from. Let's see if he can take them all on at once!"
"But… Weren't they supposed to defeat that stupid guy? I'd like to remind you that was the main mission."
Muttering among themselves in front of a very furious Asahiko, who tightens his grip on Clouded Fang hilt, the three foxes continue chattering nonstop, making the former increasingly angry.
Being the undisputed protagonist of this story, he had every right in the world to treat second-rate villains as if they didn't exist, but how dare these Shippo-imitating foxes do that to him?!
"Jajaja, you little ones… You asked for it!"
"Fox Sacred Fire!"
"Statue Throw!"
"Magic Marbles!"
All four individuals facing each other unleash different types of attacks the instant they notice the impending clash. A cloud of dust covers the surroundings, while a bloody scar once again appears across the previously pristine path.
It seems that the multiple illusions covering the path have completely disappeared, revealing what had previously remained hidden from sight and marking the beginning of the end of this story.