Sebastian studied the bead glinting in his palm, the one he had taken from the corpse of the Bat yōkai. At first glance, it was indistinguishable from the Jewel of Four Souls. But Sebastian already knew the truth. His instruments had confirmed what his instincts told him: it was a counterfeit.
Even so, the imitation was flawless in appearance and aura. To the untrained eye, it could pass for the real jewel. Perhaps that was why the God of Death and so many other monsters had come after him, drawn not by the true Jewel, but by this convincing forgery.
Nine times out of ten, Sebastian thought, someone must have crafted this false Jewel deliberately, then spread rumors that he possessed the real thing. The monsters were simply pawns, manipulated into attacking him.
"It seems I'll be busy in the days ahead," Sebastian murmured with a wry smile, shaking his head.
On the outskirts of the village, hidden high among the trees, Inuyasha lounged with his hands behind his head, golden eyes fixed on the battlefield Sebastian had just departed.
"What the hell was that…? He cut down the God of Death's body like nothing," he muttered, unsettled.
Earlier, when he slipped into the village, he had deliberately lured the defenses toward the Shinigami he summoned. Without that distraction, he never would have dared to set foot inside. But watching Sebastian fight had stolen away any thought of making a move.
That power… it was terrifying.
Though often branded reckless, Inuyasha was no fool. To challenge Sebastian head-on would be suicide, like a moth diving into fire. The image of Sebastian cleaving the God of Death's head in an instant lingered in his mind, sending a cold shiver down his spine.
Rumors claimed Sebastian held the Jewel of Four Souls. Inuyasha had never seen it himself, but the strength he had witnessed made him wonder if the rumors were true. Could Sebastian's power come from the Jewel? Or was it his own?
He gritted his teeth, pulling at his hair in frustration. Finally, he exhaled and made up his mind: he would keep watching, keep listening.
"Maybe I can sneak in again," he muttered, rubbing his chin. "But if they catch me…" His ears twitched. The thought of discovery kept him rooted in indecision.
Originally, his plan had been simple: steal the Jewel and escape. But Sebastian was no ordinary foe. If he moved rashly, he would never leave alive. Worse, his half-demon blood made disguising himself impossible; among humans, he stood out instantly.
Elsewhere, in a secluded valley, two figures traveled slowly: a frail old demon with a hunched back, pointed ears, and a triangular face, perched on a three-eyed ox; and a younger winged demon at his side. The elder was Izumo, the disciple's name Shibugarasu.
Shibugarasu glanced uneasily at his master. "Lord Izumo… those monsters were vile, using me to threaten you. I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess."
Izumo kept his eyes closed, silent.
"Orochidayū tricked you into making that imitation Jewel," Shibugarasu pressed. "Now they say Sebastian has it. But master, it's only a fake… isn't it pointless to risk going into his territory? We can't fight him…"
At that, Izumo opened his eyes. Wisdom and fatigue weighed in his gaze. "Even if it is a fake Jewel, it must be taken back. No matter the cost."
Once, Izumo had served under a great general. Since the general's death, he had wandered the world, searching for materials and knowledge, his movements unpredictable, his footprints scattered across every land. He had sworn never to create such dangerous objects again. But when his disciple's life had been in danger, he relented and forged a counterfeit Jewel of Four Souls.
Now that very act haunted him. The Jewel, real or false, always brought calamity. Wherever it appeared, monsters perished in droves. Even he, who claimed no righteousness, could not bear the guilt of unleashing such a thing.
And so he traveled with Shibugarasu, intent on destroying the forgery with his own hands.
As the ox plodded forward, Izumo's thoughts drifted to Sebastian. He had never heard the man's name before. Sebastian was not famous, not until recently. But the failed scheme of the three monsters and the spreading tales of Sebastian's victory piqued his curiosity.
Who was this outsider with such strength? Where did he come from?
And there was more. Rumor whispered that Sebastian's lands held wondrous treasures, weapons of power beyond imagination. Izumo's lips pressed thin, his eyes narrowing. "If such weapons exist," he thought, "then I must see them with my own eyes."