Musoujin Gorge, located in the eastern part of Yashiori Island in Inazuma, is a long and majestic rift valley.
As the name suggests, the origin of this place's name comes from the pinnacle of the Raiden Shogun's swordsmanship — the "Musou no Hitotachi" (The Musou Isshin).
It was here that the Raiden Shogun slew the invading god Orobashi.
To this day, the remains of the giant serpent could still be found scattered across Yashiori Island…
However, when Su Yuan and his group arrived at Musoujin Gorge, something felt off — a strange, indescribable sense of dissonance lingered in the air.
Soon after, they discovered something shocking…
Where were Orobashi's remains?
Those massive, numerous bones — where had they gone?
Why were they completely missing?
A sense of dread settled in everyone's hearts…
Recalling all the recently resurrected individuals appearing throughout Inazuma, the thought struck them — could the missing corpse of the god Orobashi also have come back to life?
Moreover, if the resurrected Orobashi was also being controlled like Kamisato Ayato, and had become an enemy to them, then with his power as a god, he might prove quite difficult to deal with…
If Orobashi was like Rosalyne, and couldn't use any Eerie powers, then he might still be manageable…
But if he was like Ayato, capable of wielding Eerie powers, then the very thought of a god-level entity empowered by such forces was enough to make one break into a cold sweat and feel their scalp go numb…
"Over here! Over here! I can sense the presence of those young bake-danuki — Kichiboushi and the others!" Ioroi, suddenly pointing to a nearby bush, spoke excitedly.
Everyone quickly followed him to investigate — only to be met with a gruesome scene…
The three little bake-danuki — Kichiboushi, Giichiro, and Tsukumo — had no part of their bodies left intact, having been brutally dismembered…
Their mangled bodies were covered in bite marks, clearly having endured inhuman pain…
"This... what on earth happened..." Ioroi stared at the scene in disbelief, unable to accept the reality.
"Kichiboushi, Giichiro, and Tsukumo… didn't you inherit my mantle, didn't you master the art of transformation? How could you die here..."
"It's all my fault... it's all my fault..."
"I shouldn't have been blinded by that damn white-haired fox. I shouldn't have sent you on such a dangerous mission before investigating thoroughly and understanding the full picture..."
"It was me who got you killed. I have no right to call myself your elder..."
Everyone, seeing Ioroi's increasingly unstable expression and emotions, instinctively and cautiously stepped back, keeping a relatively safe distance from him...
Ioroi… could he be slipping into an eerie state because of Kichiboushi and the others' deaths?
"You young ones, there's no need to be so wary of me…"
Ioroi spoke slowly:
"I'm not showing any signs of eerie transformation. I'm just deeply saddened and filled with guilt over the deaths of Kichiboushi and the others…"
"I fully understand now. That white-haired damn fox I saw earlier—she wasn't the real Kitsune Saiguu at all!"
"If it were truly her, she would never have done something so cruel!"
"I won't let that imposter get away with this… I'll avenge my fellow little tanuki. I'll make sure that real white-haired damn fox can rest in peace!"
"Imposter? Are you talking about me? I'm no fake, you know~"
Just then, a seductive voice echoed in everyone's ears—and the next moment, Kitsune Saiguu appeared before them…
There were still traces of fur and blood at the corners of her mouth.
Ioroi instantly recognized them—and he could sense it too.
The sheen of that fur, the scent of that blood… it all belonged to those young little tanuki!
"Oh ho… so you're the big tanuki, huh…"
Kitsune Saiguu sniffed the air, turned toward Ioroi, licked her lips, and spoke with eager anticipation:
"I just ate a few little tanuki, but I still don't feel full…"
"And now, how convenient—a plump, meaty big tanuki has walked right up to me. Looks like I can finally enjoy a real feast!"
In the next instant, before anyone could react, Kitsune Saiguu made the first move—she transformed into a blur resembling a white fox and lunged forward, jaws wide open, charging straight at Ioroi!
Watching this unfold, Ioroi gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with rage…
"You damn fox… this technique—it's unmistakably yours. Oh, how I wish… it really was you who returned…"
"Even though I never once won a duel against you before…"
"But now, I refuse to believe I can't defeat a mere imposter!"
As Ioroi spoke, he formed hand seals, chanting incantations under his breath.
He activated his tanuki sorcery and engaged Kitsune Saiguu in a fierce battle…
For a moment, the battle between the two seemed to be evenly matched!
"Traveler! Paimon!"
Just then, the Traveler and Paimon suddenly heard someone calling out to them.
They turned around—and to their surprise, it was Hanachirusato!
However, Aether and Paimon didn't act recklessly.
Instead, they watched Hanachirusato with deep caution…
"Traveler, Paimon… I didn't expect we would meet again," Hanachirusato said calmly.
"After the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual last time, I thought our paths wouldn't cross anymore…"
"But now that I've appeared once more, it means that the Sacred Sakura and the Ley lines in Inazuma are experiencing problems again. We must perform the cleansing ritual once more…"
"Also, I can feel it clearly—" she turned to look in the direction of the battle, "—the one fighting Ioroi over there… is the real Kitsune Saiguu."
Listening to Hanachirusato's words, both Su Yuan and Aether fell into deep thought…
Su Yuan looked toward Kitsune Saiguu, feeling that something was off…
Whether it was Rosalyne or Ayato before, or now Hanachirusato, after their resurrections, they all retained their memories.
Their actions were relatively organized, calculated, and restrained…
But this Kitsune Saiguu now—she was completely erratic, acting on pure instinct, almost as if she had no memories at all…
Su Yuan turned to look at Hanachirusato and quickly noticed a subtle detail…
Wasn't Hanachirusato formed from Kitsune Saiguu's memories and filth?
Could it be that because Hanachirusato was revived first and took away Kitsune Saiguu's memories, that's why the current Kitsune Saiguu is in such a state?
Su Yuan suddenly felt as though he was getting very close to an answer—but the unexpected turn of events that followed left everyone utterly shocked…
Perhaps it was because the fierce battle between Kitsune Saiguu and Ioroi had caused too much commotion and ended up awakening some colossal being…
The ground around them began to shake violently, and then an enormous figure burst forth from beneath the earth!
"It's the Demon God Orobashi…" Hanachirusato looked toward the massive figure and spoke slowly.
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