Around them, the heavy footsteps grew louder. Dozens of yokai began flooding into the temple, led by the criminal organization's forces assigned to protect Yuyami. They filled the room, surrounding Towako and Reika from all sides, leaving no path of escape. The sheer number of enemies created an oppressive atmosphere; every exit was blocked, and the tide of adversaries seemed endless.
Reika, seeing Towako in distress, attempted to move forward to assist her. However, the attacks coming from all directions hindered her advance. Several humanoid yokai with glowing red eyes lunged at her from the front, while members of the criminal organization thrust their weapons from the sides. Although Reika deftly parried several strikes, the overwhelming number of foes made it difficult to reach Towako.
In the midst of the chaos, Reika drew her legendary sword, Dáinsleif—a cursed blade renowned for its immense yet perilous power. She knew she had to unleash everything she had in this fight. Yet, a flicker of doubt held her back. The multitude of yokai and armed enemies before her was daunting, and without full confidence, she wasn't sure she could carve a path through them.
Just then, Reika felt a warm surge of energy from Dáinsleif, as though the spirit within the blade, Oscar, was speaking to her directly. "Believe in yourself, Reika. Release the strength you've trained for. Now is your moment to break through."
Oscar's encouragement rekindled Reika's resolve. With renewed determination, she entered the Aslan Sword Style, a combat form that maximized agility and power in each move. She felt an intense flow of energy course through her body, her muscles igniting with warmth as she prepared to strike. She took a deep breath, sharpening her focus to a razor's edge, ready to carve a path for herself and Towako.
With a sudden burst of speed, Reika sprang forward, her movements almost like a shadow slipping through the dark. Using the Aslan Sword Style at its peak, she wielded Dáinsleif with a swift, deadly grace, sweeping her blade in a powerful arc that sliced through the yokai before her in a single strike. The yokai disintegrated into dark mist, some of them screaming in terror before vanishing. Every movement of Reika's was infused with precision and strength, as if she were one with the sword in her hand.
Yuyami, initially focused on Towako, turned to look at Reika, her expression revealing a hint of surprise at the surge of power suddenly emanating from her opponent. "Do you really think you can cut through this horde, Reika?" she taunted, though there was an unmistakable wariness in her gaze.
Ignoring Yuyami's taunt, Reika pressed on, cutting down the enemy forces with astonishing speed and deadly precision. Each time Dáinsleif moved, it left a trail of light, obliterating every yokai or enemy soldier who dared stand in her path. Her strikes became faster and fiercer, forming a whirlwind of attacks that decimated anything that approached her.
Towako gritted her teeth, enduring the excruciating pain as her spiritual energy was fully channeled into Yaksha. The cloned Jormungand's coils tightened mercilessly around Yaksha's massive body, making the oni appear trapped and helpless. Towako herself felt the crushing pressure, each movement of Yaksha sending waves of pain through her own body.
But Towako refused to give in. She knew Yaksha's strength was far greater than what it currently displayed. Closing her eyes briefly, she concentrated deeply and called out in her mind with unyielding resolve, "Yaksha, is this all you've got? You are the demon said to level Enma's hell and feared by the deities of the heavens! Where is your true power? Show it to me!"
Towako's words, brimming with challenge, seemed to awaken something within Yaksha. The oni's once-dim red eyes began to blaze brightly, like embers reignited into a fierce fire. The crimson glow intensified, emitting a terrifying aura that made even the cloned Jormungand's massive form falter.
With a ferocious growl, Yaksha summoned every ounce of his strength, his massive muscles tensing as he broke free of the serpent's coils in a single explosive move. His massive claws gripped the serpent's body, shoving it back with overwhelming force. The cloned Jormungand struggled, but Yaksha's awakened power, bolstered by Towako's unwavering will, was too overwhelming.
The clone serpent let out a roar as Yaksha slammed its head down against the temple floor, cracking the stone in a wide radius. Yaksha's grip tightened with each second, crushing the once-impenetrable scales of the serpent's body.
Watching from behind, Yuyami's expression shifted to one of disbelief and fear as she realized her cloned familiar was nearing defeat. Gritting her teeth, she trembled with rage and a growing dread upon witnessing Yaksha's terrifying might. "This can't be…! Jormungand should never fall to such a lowly creature!"
Towako looked back at Yuyami, her gaze triumphant despite the exhaustion weighing down her body. "It's over, Yuyami. You and your twisted ambitions end here."
Seeing an opening, Reika dashed to Yaksha's side, channeling her energy into Dáinsleif. The blade glowed with a piercing blue light, radiating a lethal aura. In one swift movement, Reika struck the exposed side of the cloned Jormungand, driving her sword deep into its body.
The serpent let out a bloodcurdling scream, dark blood pouring from the wound as its massive body convulsed. In a final, decisive blow, Yaksha slammed the serpent's head into the ground once more, shattering the clone in a brutal, unrelenting strike.
The Jormungand clone's form began to dissipate, dissolving into dark mist, leaving Yuyami vulnerable and unprotected. Yuyami took a few staggering steps back, her face filled with both rage and terror. Now, she stood alone, without any allies, facing Towako and Reika, who both appeared resolute and unstoppable.
Though her body was weak, Towako held herself upright, her eyes never leaving Yuyami. "This is the end, Yuyami. All this chaos you've unleashed… it stops here."
Panicking, Yuyami drew a small dagger from beneath her robe, her eyes gleaming with madness. "You think you can just end this?! No one can stop this plan!" she screamed, charging toward Towako in a last, desperate attempt.
But Reika was faster. In a blur, she intercepted Yuyami's assault, disarming her with a swift, precise strike that knocked the dagger from her grasp. Yuyami stumbled, losing her balance, before collapsing to her knees, completely drained of any remaining strength.
Towako stepped forward, her gaze firm as she looked down at Yuyami. "All the destruction you've caused… it will be put to an end. You'll face the consequences of your actions."
Yuyami could only stare up at them, her eyes filled with despair and resentment, unable to accept her defeat. But both Towako and Reika knew that a greater threat still awaited them. Outside the temple, Kaoru was locked in battle with Kyuubi—a fight that would determine not only the fate of Kyoto but potentially that of the entire world.