Chapter 102: The Pure Shrine Maiden Kikyo! Demon Manifestation: Demon Essence

“Roar!!”

A roar erupted; the monster’s six crimson compound eyes flared simultaneously, its scales snapping open, and the sea began to spin wildly around it!

A vortex over a kilometer in diameter materialized out of nowhere; the seawater, manipulated by invisible force, transformed into countless razor-sharp water blades!

“Crack—!”

A warship’s steel hull was severed clean in half as if made of paper; the warriors on deck never had time to scream before the violent currents tore them to shreds.

The broken hull sank slowly, leaking fuel triggering a chain of explosions; flames blazed across the sea surface.

“No! Retreat! Everyone, retreat!”

The commander roared, but it was already too late.

The monster’s spear-like head plunged violently into the sea; the next second, dozens of water spouts erupted skyward!

These hundred-meter-wide water spouts chased after the remaining ships like living things, hurling them into the air like toys before slamming them down with brutal force!

“Crash! Crash! Crash!”

Amid unceasing impacts, the entire fleet was annihilated within three minutes; the floating debris and oil slicks on the sea surface declared their total defeat.

In the nation of Sakura, Aomori Prefecture, a shrine nestled deep within the mountains.

Morning light filtered through the ancient cherry tree branches, dappling the stone steps as a young girl in pure white shrine maiden robes silently swept fallen leaves.

Her shrine maiden attire was no ordinary design; the pure white top bore faint embroidery, the crimson hakama swayed gently with each step, and a violet wisteria-embroidered tan paper cord was tied at her waist.

Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall; her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet carried an otherworldly serenity, her eyes a rare pale purple, as if capable of seeing through the essence of all things.

“Aren’t you going to act?”

A cold, teasing voice came from behind.

The girl’s motion didn’t pause; she continued focusing on sweeping the dust from the stone steps.

“I don’t know what world it came from, but that creature is definitely not a mutated lifeform.”

“During the first Qi tide, no such powerful life could possibly have emerged from the sea.”

“If you don’t act, they might lose.”

The voice suddenly drew close to her ear, carrying the deep cold of the ocean.

This time, the girl finally turned, her gaze meeting the source of the voice.

A tall woman stood beneath the shrine’s cherry tree; her skin was as white as snow, yet glowed with an inhuman chill; her ice-crystal blue hair fell to her waist, her eyebrows and eyelashes faintly tinged with icy blue.

She wore a blue-and-white uniform; the fitted coat accentuated sharp lines, silver buttons adorning the lapels; a deep blue leather belt cinched her waist, long boots encasing straight calves, radiating an icy aura.

The girl merely glanced at her briefly, then lowered her head again to sweep.

“Let them lose. What’s it to me?”

“Should I pray to the gods for their protection?”

The girl’s voice was as still as an ancient well.

“Even if gods truly exist, they’ll visit the thousand-year shrine in Kyoto—who would remember this ruined shrine deep in the mountains?”

The blue-haired woman smiled lightly, a hint of amusement flickering in her ice-blue eyes.

“How ironic.”

“The Sakura nation’s elite will never imagine that within this forgotten shrine hides the holder of the Celestial Template they all crave.”

“Kikyo, the pure shrine maiden of the Inuyasha world!”

The world’s fourth holder of a Celestial Template, chosen by the template of Kikyo—the shrine maiden who guarded the Shikon Jewel in the Inuyasha world—was this very shrine maiden: Kamiyama Shizuka!

“Without the will to protect all living beings, you cannot raise your compatibility with the Kikyo template to perfection.”

Shizuka’s broom paused slightly; her lifted gaze was utterly serene.

“I am only myself.”

She spoke softly, her voice like a mountain stream.

If she forcibly altered herself to match that shrine maiden, what would remain—Shizuka Kamiyama, or merely a phantom named “Kikyo”?

The Celestial Template holders of Great Xia each held their own beliefs to protect, but she had none, and saw nothing in this nation worth protecting.

“Besides, your strength should be greater than mine, right?”

Shizuka shifted her tone, her gaze locking onto the blue-haired woman.

“You, who obtained the Demon Manifestation—Demon Essence from the Akame ga Kill world, wield far greater power than I do now.”

The mountain wind suddenly turned fierce, whipping their robes; the blue-haired woman, Amano Sorajo, curled her lips into a dangerous smile.

“You’re wrong about one thing.”

“It’s not just that I’m stronger than you now—I’d still tower above you even if you mastered Kikyo’s full power!”

“How arrogant.”

Shizuka made no rebuttal; she had no interest in such pointless battles of strength.

“Well, Kamiyama Shizuka?”

Amano Sorajo stepped forward, her ice-blue hair dancing in the wind.

“We are both chosen ones, representing this nation’s future.”

“I intend to reshape this nation from within, reborn.”

“Help me!”

“Start by slaying that dimensional creature!”

Her eyes were sharp as blades, burning not only with hunger for power but with a near-obsessive ambition; her voice echoed through the sea wind, carrying an air of absolute command.

Shizuka watched her silently, her gaze as calm as water.

She understood Amano Sorajo’s scheme perfectly—if she sought only power, the Sakura elite would eagerly elevate her to the surface, granting her everything within their permitted limits.

But what Amano Sorajo desired was precisely what they would never allow or give.

Thus, Amano Sorajo needed reputation, supporters, allies, strength—everything to carry out her ambition.

She already possessed power; now, she had found the perfect companion.

The world’s fourth Celestial Template holder, inheriting the power of the shrine maiden Kikyo, Shizuka Kamiyama was, in a sense, akin to Kamen Rider Gaim.

In the story of Inuyasha, that pure shrine maiden lived up to her name, Kikyo.

She treated others with kindness and compassion, showed gentleness to the weak, fulfilled her duties faithfully, selflessly sacrificed for the villagers she protected, even willing to give her life for others without seeking return.

Pure as the moon, gentle as water.

Such a being was precisely the “banner” Amano Sorajo needed; the one who inherited the Kikyo template was naturally its perfect embodiment in reality.

The mountain wind ceased; silence fell over the shrine.

Shizuka finally spoke:

“You know what consequences this will bring.”

Amano Sorajo smiled, her expression like the glint of polar ice.

“When heaven offers, take it—or suffer the penalty!”

“Consequences? Those are for losers to worry about; I will not lose!”

“I will utterly”

“Remake this decaying land into the shape I desire!”

(End of Chapter)