"Now then, how long can Shinigami-oni stall the Great Dog Demon?"
Byakuya floated far in the distance, not daring to approach. He still vividly remembered last time the Great Dog Demon had gotten up in his face—knowing his meager abilities weren't enough, he kept well away.
'Byakuya, go find those who have old grudges with the Great Dog Demon.'
'Eh? Why?'
'Muzan's side needs more time. If Kikyo and the Great Dog Demon find him too quickly, all will be for naught.'
'Anyone will do—as long as they bear grudges against the Great Dog Demon, seek them out.'
Naraku's orders had sent Byakuya running all over.
If the Eastern Lands weren't so far, he'd even have tried inciting youkai from there to help.
He'd heard Kirinmaru's older sister was particularly fond of the Great Dog Demon...
"Still, there aren't many left in this era with connections to the Great Dog Demon, are there?"
After running around for half a day, there weren't many he could inform.
After all, this was the youkai lord who had ruled the Western Lands...
Youkai who had opposed the Great Dog Demon while he lived and survived with enough power...
Could be counted on one hand.
Stalling for time...
It depended on who you were asking.
BOOM!!
"Oh my, how terrifying. If that had hit, a person would be gone entirely?"
A Meido the size of a mountain appeared ahead. Byakuya watched.
"I wonder how long he can last. Naraku said the Great Dog Demon is even more powerful than in life..."
...
"Ugh!"
THUD!!
A punch to the face left it swollen. The massive force sent Shinigami-oni rolling across the ground.
'How is this possible?'
It was one thing to lose in physical combat—but why was the gap in Meido so enormous?
Even having that ability stolen shouldn't have caused this...
Rising to his feet and looking at the Great Dog Demon hovering above, he couldn't suppress his rage.
"Who sent you to find me?"
Knowing the opponent had a clear objective, the Great Dog Demon's thoughts turned to the mastermind.
"Hmph..."
Saying nothing, Shinigami-oni only now realized he'd been used.
At first he'd thought what he was told was a joke, but actually seeing the living Great Dog Demon—he couldn't help but act.
Now it was clear—he'd fallen for a major trap.
And one completely unavoidable...
Given his grudge against the Great Dog Demon, not seeking revenge was simply too difficult.
"Not willing to answer?"
He sheathed Tenseiga, then drew So'unga from behind.
"That sword is..."
Witnessing the Great Dog Demon's movement, Shinigami-oni felt a terrifying aura.
The weapon the opponent held was one Shinigami-oni knew well.
That was the tyrant's blade that had shaken the world and brought chaos!
So'unga!
He would die...
That youkai power and spirit far exceeded anything he'd witnessed before.
'Damn! How can this be?'
Such an enormous change in the opponent was beyond Shinigami-oni's imagination.
"If you won't talk, then let your corpse answer."
"Curse you!!"
That overwhelmingly solid killing intent triggered Shinigami-oni's instinct to flee.
He swung his staff, ready to unleash a Meido at any moment.
But it seemed a bit too late...
In the blink of an eye, the Great Dog Demon had already dove down. That simple slash was devastatingly direct.
"?"
His vision was spinning. Shinigami-oni could even see his own body...
...
"Huh?"
"He got killed just like that?"
"Isn't that a bit too fast?"
Byakuya stared speechlessly at the dismembered Shinigami-oni, momentarily lost for words.
He'd been a renowned great youkai—how could he be so pathetic before the Great Dog Demon?
"Can only say the current Great Dog Demon is too strong."
"Even Shinigami-oni, who wields Meido, couldn't last more than a few breaths."
"What a pain..."
Without hesitation, Byakuya retreated to report to Naraku.
It wasn't that he hadn't tried—to stall a Great Dog Demon like this, he simply had no means.
"Without stopping the Great Dog Demon..."
"The prospects seem bleak..."
...
"Kagome, will this be alright?"
Inuyasha looked at Kagome packing her things, pointing to the Dragon Ball stored in the outside shed.
"Mm... it should be fine. After all, it's different from the Shikon no Tama."
Hearing this, Kagome thought for a moment before responding.
Shikon no Tama shards could cause all sorts of anomalies, but the Dragon Ball was docile—even kept at home, it wouldn't cause trouble.
Considering only Rion knew the secret, and he'd left pretty decisively saying something about traveling the world to photograph scenery and not wanting to intrude...
Kagome could trust his words and attitude.
In other words, as long as she hid the Dragon Ball in this era, the other Masters would never be able to gather all seven.
This was a very safe and secure approach.
That way, even if something unexpected happened, she'd have a backup.
After all, only she and Inuyasha could traverse time...
With Naraku and the Shikon no Tama joining forces, caution was warranted.
"Let's go, Inuyasha. Sango and the others must have been waiting a long time."
"Right!"
...
"Tch, so stalling won't work for long. Can't just let things continue like this..."
Still maintaining just-a-head form, Naraku had no intention of rebuilding a body.
He'd have a complete form soon enough—there was no point in reconstructing now.
Both he and the Shikon no Tama were waiting for Muzan's actions.
Hiding was one thing; secretly pushing Muzan to grow stronger was another.
Unfortunately, Muzan had caused too big a stir. As soon as Naraku and the Shikon no Tama went into hiding, Muzan had become the tall poppy attracting all attention.
While there was a plan to have him draw fire and obstruct other Masters, dying too quickly wouldn't help the plan either.
"Can only let the Shikon no Tama appropriately obstruct... or maybe even let Kirinmaru out to cause chaos wouldn't be bad."
Only now remembering they still had a troublesome Master imprisoned in the Shikon no Tama, Naraku found it strange.
With Kirinmaru's abilities, the Shikon no Tama had said two or three days would be the limit, yet nearly four days had passed without any sign of Kirinmaru breaking free on his own.
Truly perplexing...
But while he didn't know what was happening, this was good for both him and the Shikon no Tama.
...
"Ooh!!"
"This guy..."
"Is so strong."
Three against one, but what Koga hadn't expected was—
He and the two Servants ganging up were the ones being suppressed.
"I told you—you can no longer pose any threat to me."
That composed attitude made Rikuo grip his broken blade tighter.
There had to be a weakness they hadn't noticed...
Fear...
Though the systems were different, Rikuo was certain the opponent used a similar power.
As long as they found an opening, there would be a chance.
"Today, all three of you will die together!"
"Hmph, try it if you can!"