The Heavenly Duel

In the low Earth orbit above Heian-kyo, the Monitoring Pavilion underwent a series of complex structural transformations, shifting into a gargantuan metal longbow. This longbow hung suspended in the void of space, perpendicular to the planet, as increasingly massive surges of energy coursed through its frame.

The Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow was a space-based weapon forged by the Lunar Capital to execute the purifying will of the lunar sages.

In the Lunar Capital, where the Doctrine of purity prevailed, the surface of the Earth represented nothing but impurity. As the purest of people who transcended even the gods, the lunarians believed they had to remain eternally vigilant against the filth of the ground reaching the lunar surface. They believed that one day, they would be required to represent purity and cleanse all impurity. The Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow was a weapon developed under this extreme ideology, standing as the most cutting-edge and powerful armament in the Lunar Capital's current arsenal.

Energy continued to converge within the giant bow. Amidst countless layers of overlapping magical arrays, a colossal arrow of light condensed vertically within the bow's center. The entire Monitoring Pavilion had now deformed into the guide rail and arrow rest for this massive projectile. Those inside the pavilion felt their own insignificance compared to the scale of the great arrow.

"Re—Report to His Excellency the overseer! The Heavenly Bow is fully charged and ready to fire at any time!"

Inside the Monitoring Pavilion, a moon rabbit soldier ran tremblingly behind Asamasa to deliver the report. overseer Asamasa, standing with his hands behind his back, nodded upon hearing the news and issued a stern command.

"Fire. Grant the impure gods of the surface the ultimate purification!"

"Yes, sir!" the moon rabbit soldier responded, immediately rushing to relay the order. In an instant, a massive mechanical hum echoed throughout the Monitoring Pavilion, and the energy flow within the giant light arrow outside became even more violent.

"Star-Punishment Heavenly Fire Bow... Fire!"

Amidst the surging energy, an ethereal bowstring manifested across the giant bow. In a burst of blinding light, the colossal arrow shot toward the surface at an incredible velocity, appearing from the outside like a thick beam of light piercing straight for the ground.

Within the dazzling radiance, a cruel smile appeared on Asamasa's face. Nearby, the brow of the unconscious Watatsuki no Toyohime twitched slightly. Amidst the glow, her consciousness was slowly beginning to return.

Mount Inari, Inari Shrine.

A short while earlier. Within the nocturnal Inari Secret Realm, on the large clearing where the attempt to trap Toyohime had failed, Miketsu sighed softly as she watched the shattered barrier rapidly dissipate into fragments.

"It seems your disciple has grown beyond your expectations," Miketsu said, turning to Eirin beside her. Eirin nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. As her master, I'm not sure whether I should be happy or sad," Eirin remarked, glancing at Yorihime, who was tied to a tree. Yorihime was currently leaning against the trunk as if relieved, no longer struggling.

"By the way, that disciple of yours accidentally left this behind. You should know what it is..." Miketsu continued, handing a crystal tube to Eirin. Eirin's eyes widened slightly when she saw the object.

"This feeling... Chang'e's Power... They actually managed to create such a high-concentration agent?" Eirin spoke with a hint of surprise as she took the crystal tube to examine it closely. She was all too familiar with the power contained within.

"A concentrated agent of Chang'e's Power... If they used this as a weapon..." Miketsu looked toward Yorihime, a dangerous smile touching her lips.

"Heh, so they intended to secretly destroy my godhead? You people certainly have some nerve. It seems I must dispense some punishment."

Seeing Miketsu's dangerous expression, Yorihime was startled. Her eyes widened in terror as she made muffled whimpering sounds, seemingly trying to say something.

On the other side, Eirin looked at the crystal tube in her hand with a contemplative expression. After a moment of thought, she spoke to Miketsu with a serious tone.

"Be careful, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto. This operation failed, but those people might not stop there. This concentrated agent is extremely precious to the Lunar Capital. Given the nature of those Sages, the fact that they were willing to use such a thing shows their absolute determination. They definitely have a backup plan in case of failure! Now is not the time to lower your guard!"

"A backup plan..." Miketsu paused at Eirin's warning. She immediately activated her causality vision to observe her surroundings, attempting to find any potential sneak attacks. However, the moment she opened her vision, her heart jolted.

"This is..."

In Miketsu's field of vision, everything around her—aside from Eirin—was suddenly manifesting the 'fruit' of death. It was on the flowers, the grass, the trees, the foxes, the birds, and even on Yorihime herself.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Eirin asked worriedly, noticing Miketsu's strange expression. Miketsu did not answer directly.

"I need to confirm something..." With those words, Miketsu rose into the air, floating as she scanned the horizon. Everywhere her causality vision reached, all living beings bore the mark of death. Miketsu's brow furrowed, and she immediately began to trace the source of this massive 'fruit' of death.

Dense clusters of red threads materialized in Miketsu's eyes. They extended from every living being, drifting toward the infinitely distant, pitch-black night sky. Seeing where the 'causes' of all these 'fruits' converged, Miketsu instantly understood what was about to happen.

Her expression turned solemn. She looked at the sky and spoke coldly.

"Just for this one matter, you would involve so many living souls? In your eyes, what exactly are the beings of the surface? lunarians..."

As she spoke, the Blade of the Three Realms in Miketsu's hand transformed into an exquisite bow amidst a flash of light. Gripping the bow and aiming at the point where the red threads of causality converged in the sky, Miketsu pulled back the string.

Majestic divine power erupted. On the empty string, a dazzling golden arrow of light rapidly condensed. Miketsu poured her divine power into it continuously, pushing the arrow to the absolute limit of what the divine bow could carry in a matter of seconds. The arrow of light glowed with a blinding white intensity due to the sheer volume of divine power it contained.

"Explosive... Demon-Slaying Arrow!"

Releasing the string, the incandescent arrow of light shot toward the heavens at extreme speed, turning into a slender beam of light that raced through the night sky toward the source of the impending calamity.

Perpendicular to Heian-kyo, two beams of light—one from above and one from below—clashed with near-perfect precision. The two arrows of light, one massive and one small, collided amidst the clouds of the stratosphere. The two clashing energies detonated each other, and a massive surge of power poured out and exploded, turning into a giant sphere of light that expanded rapidly. For a moment, the intense light shining down made the humans and yokai of Heian-kyo feel as though they had witnessed a sun rising in the middle of the night.