Above the island in Ogura Pond, the Black Fox Demon and Kaen together used their flames to turn the island below into a sea of fire. This was merely to break through Seimei's barrier. Just as they finally broke the barrier, they discovered an unexpected scene.
Profound and majestic demonic power erupted from within the cave, and a fierce, icy blizzard raged out from the cavern, gradually forcing back their intense flames. The cave entrance, which had been charred black by the fire, was now covered in thick, solid ice.
Kaen was startled by this sight and immediately increased the intensity of her breath, but it was no use. The increasingly powerful cold wind gradually approached her side, and her own breath grew weaker due to excessive consumption of demonic power.
Just then, another surge of demonic power erupted from behind the cold wind. A violent demonic power tornado broke through the greatly weakened flames and swept towards her side. The demonic power forming this tornado was highly concentrated, unlike the wild, scattered cold wind from before, giving it stronger penetrative power.
Kaen, who was already over-exhausted from the clash of demonic powers, was alarmed and immediately withdrew her flames, preparing to dodge. But who would have thought that her withdrawal of fire would betray the Black Fox Demon beside her? Due to Kaen's sudden withdrawal, the flames confronting the cold wind suddenly became insufficient. The Black Fox Demon was completely unable to suppress Miketsu's Cold Ice Break. The extremely cold storm instantly broke through the flame's blockade and swept towards them.
This resulted in Kaen narrowly dodging the demonic power tornado, only to be immediately hit head-on by the oncoming ice storm. She and the Black Fox Demon were both enveloped in it. Unlike Toga's Explosive Current Wave, Miketsu's Cold Ice Break had a very wide range and could not be escaped instantly.
"Wh-what..."
Violently buffeted by the extremely cold storm, various parts of Kaen and the Black Fox Demon's bodies began to frost over, and their movements, including their flying speed, suddenly became much slower.
Peeling back the fierce flames, the blue sky appeared. After the flames receded, everyone finally saw the situation outside the cave and observed Kaen and the Black Fox Demon, completely covered in ice, in the sky.
Seizing this opportunity, Toga released the blade of his Explosive Current Wave, changing the direction of his demonic power tornado. Like a gigantic whip, it swept towards Kaen, who was restrained on the side.
"No, don't, nooooo..."
In a desperate scream, Kaen, who had transformed into a giant Leopard Cat, was swallowed by the demonic power tornado and torn into countless pieces. Toga saw this, then flicked his hand again, sending the demonic power tornado towards the Black Fox Demon. However, at this moment, Seimei suddenly spoke.
"Mercy!"
Hearing Seimei's words, Toga's hand trembled, and he timely changed the direction of the demonic power tornado's attack. The Black Fox Demon was grazed by the edge of the demonic power tornado, and after a wail, plummeted from the sky.
The release of demonic power from Miketsu and Toga's demon-slaying swords stopped simultaneously. For a moment, the incredibly noisy battlefield returned to silence. Whether it was flames, ice, or tornadoes, all dissipated into nothing, leaving only a desolate, charred charcoal forest. The once verdant small island was now completely gone.
Kaen's torn body fell, and the Blood Sacrifice souls she had absorbed wailed and gushed out, intertwining as they rushed into the sky and disappeared. Kaen's crimson demonic power, however, re-gathered, slowly coiling and being absorbed onto Toga's blade.
"Roar!"
The Black Fox Demon flew up again from the charcoal forest, but this time, he seemed to have no intention of continuing the fight. His controller, hidden behind the scenes, had deemed the current situation unwinnable and saw no need to continue the battle.
"Is that so... Is this the masterpiece created by Fujiwara no Kanehira and the yokai? Heh... It truly is astonishing..."
"Hmph, until we meet again, everyone. As long as you are involved with Heian-kyo, we will surely meet again one day..."
The Black Fox Demon let out a final roar, then flew directly north, in the direction he had come from.
"Hey, you... why did you save that fox demon?" Yura walked up to Seimei and, after a moment of hesitation, asked him. Seimei smiled and replied,
"He... is my friend."
"Friend? He clearly tried to kill you earlier! And you still call him a friend?" Hearing Seimei's words, Yura seemed incredibly incredulous.
"He just forgot his name, which made him go mad. And I promised him that one day I would help him find his name," Seimei said slowly, gazing at the fox demon disappearing into the distance.
Miketsu transformed the icy cold blade in her hand back into a normal-sized Tachi. After she sheathed it, she carefully examined it, recalling the recent events in her mind.
...
On the Vermilion Bird Altar, Fujiwara no Kanehira attached the already prepared Tsuba and Tsuka to the blade, then placed it into an exquisitely luxurious Saya. Afterwards, he used a tool to carve away the Fujiwara family crest originally engraved on the Saya, then held the entire sword with both hands and solemnly presented it before Miketsu.
"Please accept this. It belongs to you."
Looking at the respectful Fujiwara no Kanehira before her, Miketsu tilted her head slightly and slowly said,
"Wasn't this sword forged specifically for the Fujiwara clan?"
"Indeed, it was originally forged specifically for the Fujiwara. But its current potential has far exceeded this old man's expectations. After much thought, this old man believes there is no one within the Fujiwara clan suitable for it. Even if this old man were to take it back, it would ultimately only be placed high up on a shelf, becoming one of the Fujiwara's countless treasures, forever sealed away."
Fujiwara no Kanehira sighed as he spoke.
"The primary purpose of forging two swords was for mutual balance between the Human and demon realms. If, one day, something were to happen to the Lord of the Dog Clan, and the sword in the demon realm fell into the hands of evil, then this one, hidden within the Fujiwara in the human realm, could still contend with it. But now, this sword has a better guardian than the Fujiwara.
"Endless time can wear down the spirit, can corrode the flesh. Neither humans nor yokai are immune. In this endless time, only Heavenly Gods can come close to eternal existence...
"Although I do not know which revered deity you are, or why you have descended to the mortal world in such a form, this old man has been fortunate enough to feel the vast vitality within your divine power. You must be a benevolent god with a compassionate heart. With you, this sword can forever be ensured that it will not be used for ill purposes..."
After listening to Fujiwara no Kanehira's words, Miketsu accepted the sword that Fujiwara no Kanehira had presented as if making an offering. With a light smile, she immediately said,
"You also don't wish for it to be sealed away like this, do you?"
"Heh heh... You are right. As a craftsman, who would want their masterpiece to be permanently sealed away in obscurity? I hope it can shine brightly, traverse the Three Realms, and always do the right thing in the right hands.
"And for that, is there a better choice than you?"
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