The Azure Dragon Break, supercharged with Haki, was currently Ray's most devastating technique.
In terms of pure energy output, it successfully suppressed the Panther Cat Leader's tempest of thunder, fire, and wind.
The shockwave formed by the collision of two Great Demons leveled the inner city, turning ancient stone into dust.
As the dust settled, the Leader was forced back, struck down by the azure dragon.
Ray retreated a hundred meters to dissipate the recoil, landing gracefully, his white kimono only slightly soiled by the chaos.
Coincidentally, Inuyasha returned to the scene after ensuring Kagome and the villagers were safe.
"Ray, it seems you can't handle this big dumb cat," Inuyasha smirked, feeling a bit smug seeing Ray actually exert himself.
Ray ignored his dog-brother, attributing the taunt to childish rivalry.
Seeing Panther Cat Leader stand up again, his desiccated form pulsing with stolen power, Inuyasha didn't hesitate.
He unleashed a full-power Wind Scar.
It was larger and more ferocious than the one he used against Shuran earlier.
Yet, to Inuyasha's shame, Panther Cat Leader blocked it with a single, contemptuous hand.
Ray glanced sideways at Inuyasha, then slowly drew Tenseiga.
Inuyasha felt a hint of amusement in Ray's gaze, which made him grit his teeth in frustration.
He growled, "What are you looking at?!"
"Stop barking and help finish it off," Ray commanded coolly.
Throughout the battle, Ray felt no psychological burden.
For souls that had returned or been resurrected, a casual slash from Tenseiga would suffice.
Before the sword of heaven, the undead were insignificant.
As for why he didn't use Tenseiga from the start? Ray simply wanted to test the strength of this world's top-tier demons against his own Haki.
At most, Panther Cat Leader possessed raw power greater than the current Sesshomaru, but he was inferior in technique and finesse.
Once Sesshomaru reached his peak, he would overwhelm this creature easily.
"Inuyasha, cover me with the Wind Scar."
Ray gripped Tenseiga and charged swiftly toward the leader.
"Tch! Who are you to order me around?" Inuyasha barked. But his body moved on instinct.
"...WIND SCAR!"
After swinging Tessaiga, the dog-brother tilted his head away, clearly displeased at taking orders.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on Ray, who had already leaped into the air, Tenseiga glowing with a soft, ethereal light.
"Tenseiga... could it be?" Even Tōran, watching from mid-air, discerned Ray's intention.
"So this is Tenseiga, the blade that exclusively severs spirits and messengers of the underworld?"
Under the watchful eyes of allies and enemies alike, Ray seized the moment when Panther Cat Leader blocked the Wind Scar.
He swung Tenseiga, the blade passing harmlessly through Panther Cat Leader's physical neck like smoke.
Upon landing, Ray strode directly toward the city gates, not looking back.
After swatting away the Wind Scar, Panther Cat Leader touched his neck and sneered.
"Son of Inu Taisho, have you given up? That slash had no effect at all. Your father's mercy sword is useless!"
Ray snorted coldly, sheathing the blade with a sharp click.
"Since you're already dead, you should return to the netherworld."
The moment the guard hit the scabbard, Panther Cat Leader suddenly screamed in agony.
"BRAT! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!"
The massive panther demon felt his borrowed soul beginning to disperse.
The spirits of the Three Celestial Kings—Shuran, Karan, and Shunran—whom he had forcefully absorbed to boost his power, flew out of his body and returned to their original masters.
Stripped of his stolen strength, Panther Cat Leader reverted to a desiccated corpse.
Though the Great Demon's spirit did not perish immediately, it struggled desperately like a hungry ghost craving flesh and blood.
"Inuyasha, finish him."
This time, Inuyasha did not talk back. "Alright! WIND SCAR!"
A brilliant flash of golden light erupted.
Panther Cat Leader, unable to defend, was obliterated.
As Inuyasha leaped up and swung Tessaiga to sever the dried corpse's neck, a fragment of the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls tumbled out.
Thus, a top-tier Great Demon vanished from the world forever.
Only the reassembled Four Heavenly Kings remained.
However, aside from Tōran, the other three bore significant wounds from their leader's betrayal and the aftermath of Ray's battle.
After a brief standoff, the Panther Cat Four Heavenly Kings abandoned their vendetta against the dog demon clan.
All because Ray had inadvertently saved Tōran's younger siblings by severing Panther Cat Leader's hold on them.
"Our Panther Cat tribe remembers both grudges and favors," Tōran declared, supporting her injured sister.
"Sesshomaru, Inuyasha... until we meet again."
She released her demonic power, summoning the surviving members of the Panther Cat tribe, and departed into the distance.
...
"Whew... they've finally retreated."
Usopp wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face filled with the sheer relief of survival.
Zoro glanced at the new cracks on Yubashiri, sighed, and sheathed it.
Chouchou reverted from his giant form and began licking his wounds.
The others collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
Maintaining Observation Haki throughout the chaotic night battle had drained them mentally, and the oppressive aura of two top-tier Great Demons had weighed on their souls.
During the battle, Luffy and the others had witnessed firsthand what true top-tier strength meant.
It was more terrifying than anything they had seen in the East Blue or the Grand Line so far.
The sky darkening and brightening with every clash... it felt as if the world itself might crack open.
Some time later, Ray approached the group.
He looked down at them.
"What are your thoughts?"
Luffy brushed the dust off his clothes.
Instead of answering directly, he posed his own question..
"Ray... who is stronger now? You, or the Yonko and Admirals?"
Ray paused, considering. "It's hard to say. The Yonko and Admirals vary in strength as well. But this level of power? It is comparable to the strongest among them."
Hearing Ray's response, everyone understood the gravity of their future.
This meant that even the strongest enemies waiting for them in the New World were capable of battles like the one they just witnessed.
"We still have a long way to go," Zoro muttered, clutching his swords.
Sanji nodded silently, lighting a cigarette.
They vowed never to break their training rhythm.
"Chouchou, take them back to Kaede's Village."
"Yes, Master."
...
By the time everyone returned to the village, the sun had already risen.
The warm morning light bathed their exhausted bodies, finally allowing them to relax.
The Straw Hat Pirates and Inuyasha's group found grassy spots by the river to lie down.
Only Chopper was busy, rushing among the injured with bandages and salves.
Kagome watched gently as Chopper applied medicine to Inuyasha's scratches.
"Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Chopper."
Chopper naturally started his wiggle dance.
"Even if you praise me, I won't be happy, you bastard~ (#^.^#)"
Ray arrived at the riverside with Jaken and Rin.
"Rin, go help Chopper."
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama!"
"Doctor Chopper, I'll help you with the bandages!" Rin chirped.
Being called "Doctor" by two girls in succession, Chopper seemed to transform into a braised deer, his temperature spiking so high it felt like he might combust.
For some reason, Ray decided to join the mischief.
"Doctor Chopper, thank you for your hard work."
Luffy and the others immediately caught on and started shouting.
"Doctor Chopper is super awesome!"
"Doctor Chopper's medical skills are number one in the world!"
"Chopper is the handsomest deer!"
Eventually, Chopper became so shy from overheating that he collapsed to the ground, happily fainting with steam coming out of his ears.
At this point, Zoro exploded.
"HEY! I'm the only one who hasn't been bandaged yet! Are you all targeting me on purpose?!"
Sanji blew out a puff of smoke, eyeing Zoro's bloody form.
"With your thick skin, why even bother with bandages, Moss Head?"
Despite his words, Sanji stood up and picked up the gauze.
"Lie down. I'll bandage you."
After all, Zoro had suffered the most severe injuries—during the night's battle, he had taken several extra claw strikes while covering Sanji and Nami's blind spots.
The result?
Minutes later, a grumpy, fully-wrapped Mummy Zoro lay on the grass, grumbling as the rest of the crew laughed in the morning sun.
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