Thick, black smoke eminated from the gaping hole of the spirit's stomach. It smelled digusting, with the disgusting stench of burnt, rotten meat. Miko knew she had dealt a critical hit, before attacking once more. Summoning needles crafted from her own spiritual energy, she hurled them continuously towards the spirit, which blocked all of her attacks by blocking it with her hair. Seeing that with her injury, prolonging the battle will cause her to be further weakened by the talismans, even if they were corrupted.
"Kekekeke! Heh!" The spirit cackled, not saying anything in particular. Spliting her hair into several bundles, she hurled the needle sharp ends towards Miko continously, trying to stab her as well. Miko knew her agility was decreased in human form, so she quickly returned to her fox form. It was much easier to doge those attacks now, until she was hit. It wasn't a stab persay, but rather a deep cut on her back.
"I got too complacent... Requiring so many high level talismans... this is no simple spirit..." Miko thought, assuming her battle stance. The spirit cackled once more, as if laughing at Miko's plight. Miko glanced at her wound, seeing a deep cut on her stomach. Crimson blood was dripping from it, as a dark aura eminated from it. She must have been cut when she arched her back forward to dodge the other attacks. It seemed as though her strength is not yet enough. She would need to get stronger...
"I got it!" Miko thought. She remembered how her brother always taught her to be flexible in battle. "Learn their weak points, and target there while covering your own," was what he once said. Miko realised where the spirit's weak point was. This could turn the tide of battle. Ignoring the pain spreading through her body, she charged forward. Miko noticed how the spirit could only attack from far, using sakura petals and her hair as a whip. A whip was a good weapon, but the only disadvantage it had was that it was useless in close ranged battles. Normally, it could prevent this by keeping the opponent at bay, but what happens if it could not?
Miko hurled herself onto the spirit. Covering herself with her own spiritual energy, she would not pass through the spirit. The spirit would become solid. The spirit realised what she was doing and immediately attacked her, conjuring a tornado of sharpened sakura petals. Miko used her spiritual energy to form a protective layer as she continued to charge forward. When she was withing range, she launched herself towards the spirit with a low growl. The spirit reacted quickly, turning her body, her whip-like hair slapping Miko far away from her, leaving a gnash on her face.
Just then Miko realised something had been wrong. She felt her muscles twitch and spasm, but the remainder of her body paralysed. She looked down on the wound again, to see the dark smoke spreading through the wound. It was corrosion! One of the spirit's ability must have been a corrosive, spiritual poison! It was created from the dark energy she possessed, and its effects would have been worse if she wasn't weakened. Miko knew she could not carry on in this state. Prolonging the battle would only turn the current tide of the it against her, putting her at further disadvantage. The poison was slowly seeping further into her body, into her heart soon at its current rate. If it seeped into her heart, she would definitely not live past the night.
Miko knew she musn't lose hope. The spirit was laughing at her, cackling away. Just then, Miko turned to look at the tree she was flung to. A new idea popped into her head. Mustering her remaining strength, she used her remaining energy to supress the poison, slowing it down. This way, she could still live a few more days.
A lopsided smile appeared on the spirit's face. Its broken and missing teeth came into view, as it flickered its tongue in and out, as if saying Miko would be a tasty meal. Either of them will win and benefit. By winning the battle and absorbing their opponent, their strength will increase by leaps and bounds.
This time, the spirit initiated the attack, shooting one lock of its needle like hair towards Miko. Miko had not moved, partially because she was weakened, and another reason because it was part of her plan. It was risky, but better than death at this rate. When the hair was close to Miko, Miko jumped up, which led the spirit firing another lock of hair at her. However, it failed to take into account its environment. By the time the hair reached Miko, Miko had fell, causing the hair to strike the heart of the tree!
The spirit's eyes widened in horror when she realised what it has done. She had destroyed the tree which she was binded to! Miko took this opportunity to transform into a human, and struck the tree in the heart with the sword she had summoned, further damaging it.
"Now to exorcise you," Miko said, covering her body and sword with more purifying spiritual energy. She condensed some clothes on her, before charging towards the spirit, still frozen in shock by the turn of events.
"KAHHHHHHH!!" the spirit screeched, before the black aura dissipated from it and enveloped Miko.