Kaoru stood atop Hippo's back, surveying the chaos below with a calm expression. Beneath them, yokai of various shapes and sizes roamed the streets of Kyoto, demolishing everything in their path. Buildings were beginning to smolder, and the distant sounds of terrified screams echoed through the air. Yet, Kaoru remained composed, even as the yokai parade intensified below.
Hippo, now transformed into his true form as a Gryphon, flapped his massive wings, keeping them aloft and ready to dive at any moment. He glanced back at Kaoru with a trace of concern, his golden eyes reflecting his friend's unshakable resolve.
"Wow, it's total mayhem down there," Hippo remarked, scanning the battlefield below. "So, are we heading down there, Kaoru-san?"
Kaoru shook his head slowly, his gaze fixed on the distant hill where the ancient temple—where Kyuubi was conducting the ritual—stood. "No, let the Taimanin handle those minor yokai. They're more than enough to keep them in check. We're heading straight for the main target."
Kaoru's white cloak billowed in the night wind, lending him an almost mystical air under the moonlight. His eyes remained forward, sharp and full of determination. Hippo considered this approach, recalling a similar situation they'd faced in his own world, where Kaoru had once been the key figure in countering a great threat.
"Oh, but… is it wise to let the fox reach full power, Kaoru-san?" Hippo asked, uncertainty lacing his tone. "Couldn't we stop her now before she reaches that peak?"
A slight smile crossed Kaoru's face, though his eyes remained serious. "Yes, we could stop her now. But if we do that, Kyuubi would likely return someday. This cycle would keep repeating. I want to end it here and now—once and for all."
"Ah, so you mean…," Hippo murmured, recalling a past battle they'd shared. "This is like what you did with the World Eater back in my world, right? You let it reach its peak power and then faced it head-on."
Kaoru nodded, remembering the intense fight they'd endured together in Hippo's home realm. "Exactly. Sometimes, to eliminate something permanently, you have to let it reach its conclusion. If Kyuubi attains full power tonight, we can ensure this cycle of chaos won't happen again."
Hippo nodded in understanding, his expression turning resolute. He knew that what they faced was no ordinary enemy. Kyuubi was a deity of calamity, sealed for centuries and wielding immense power. Facing her directly, especially at her peak, was a perilous mission. But Hippo trusted Kaoru—they'd weathered countless battles together.
"All right, Kaoru-san," Hippo finally said, spreading his wings wider. "Let's make tonight the end of her cycle."
Kaoru gave a faint smile and patted Hippo's neck gently. "Let's finish this."
With a powerful beat of his wings, Hippo carried them toward the temple on the hill, where Kyuubi and Yuyami were performing the ritual. From afar, they could see a tremendous spiritual energy radiating from the temple, as if sky and earth were attempting to merge through this forbidden ritual. The dark night sky reflected hues of purple and red from Kyuubi's energy, adding an even more ominous atmosphere.
---
Amidst the growing surge of power, Kyuubi laughed loudly, her voice echoing across the hill and reaching deep into the city of Kyoto. She gazed up at the sky, as if addressing the gods who could only watch this havoc from afar, bound by the laws of the heavens that prevented them from direct interference.
"HAHAHAHA! LOOK AT YOU, COWARDS OF THE HEAVENS!" Kyuubi's voice was filled with derision and deeply held fury. "THIS IS THE PRICE OF YOUR BETRAYAL! ONCE I BECOME AN ABSOLUTE BEING, YOU WILL ALL FOLLOW THIS DESTRUCTION! WITNESS THE CATASTROPHE YOU YOURSELVES HAVE CREATED!"
Her words were venomous, brimming with the hatred she had harbored since the gods' betrayal. She had once been a loyal guardian of the heavens, familiar with many deities, tasked with maintaining the balance between the human world and the spirit realm. However, her growing power was deemed too great, too dangerous, leading to her betrayal by the very gods she had once served.
Now, as the ritual neared its climax, Kyuubi began absorbing power from the relics placed around the altar. Each relic glowed, dissolving into a torrent of energy that merged with her form. Her body swelled, becoming even more monstrous than before, until the ground beneath her trembled violently.
The transformation left Kyuubi towering, her appearance now that of a giant. Her nine long tails swung wildly, each bearing a fiery red eye that gleamed like embers, surveying every direction as though they could see the entire world. An additional eye, large and golden, appeared on her forehead, adding to her intimidating presence.
Yuyami watched in awe, nearly entranced by Kyuubi's transformation. A deep sense of pride filled her heart, proud to have been part of this disaster deity's awakening. But she also understood that once Kyuubi reached full power, everything would change. No one knew whether Kyuubi would see them as allies or decide to destroy everyone around her.
From afar, Kaoru stood with a wary gaze, observing Kyuubi's transformation with a cold, calm expression. He could feel the tremendous waves of energy radiating from her even from this distance. Hippo, still by his side in his Gryphon form, whispered anxiously, "Kaoru-san… it seems Kyuubi's power has reached a level we never anticipated. Each eye on her tails… it's like they're all-seeing."
Kaoru nodded slightly, but his gaze remained steady. "That's exactly what we were waiting for. Now that Kyuubi has absorbed all the energy from those relics, she's at her peak power—and at this point, we can truly end this threat, once and for all."
Hippo looked at Kaoru with admiration, realizing that his friend had calculated every risk from the start. Although the plan was dangerous, Kaoru remained composed, as if he were prepared for whatever might happen. The two of them began moving forward, ready to enter the battle ahead.