Some time later, the blinding light faded.
In Inuyasha's vision, the white figure gradually solidified again.
He stood frozen, his eyes blank, as if processing a lifetime of unbelievable memories in a single heartbeat.
"Eh? Ray... you didn't leave?" Inuyasha asked, hopeful confusion coloring his voice.
But this "Ray" slowly turned around.
His golden eyes narrowed, burning with a fury that could incinerate forests.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Before Inuyasha could react, Kagome gasped, realization striking her like a physical blow.
"Inuyasha, DODGE! That's Sesshomaru's not Ray!"
Hearing this, the half-demon finally reacted, drawing Tessaiga and glaring fiercely at the figure before him.
"Bring it on! Who's scared of you?!"
Already enraged beyond reason, Sesshomaru unsheathed Tokijin and swung it at Inuyasha with practiced, lethal ease.
Once again, the brothers clashed, steel ringing against steel.
...
Ten minutes later, only a battered, red-clad dog demon remained on the ground while groaning.
"Tch. Ray said Sesshomaru changed? What a liar~" Inuyasha grumbled, spitting out dirt.
"And Kagome! I told you to shoot him with an arrow! Why didn't you help me? What about trust?!"
Kagome helped Inuyasha up, dusting him off.
"That's just an older brother disciplining his younger brother... I couldn't interfere with family matters."
"HAH?! He almost killed me!"
Smack.
Kagome slapped the dog demon's forehead, annoyed.
"Are you dead? No. Sesshomaru clearly held back."
Hearing this, Inuyasha fell silent.
Leaning heavily on Kagome, he limped back toward the village, muttering curses under his breath.
...
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru flew through the air, his expression grave and disturbed.
'How could I have done so many absurd things?'
'Eating and drinking with Inuyasha? How disgraceful.'
'And where did those three plush toys come from?'
'Who is Ray? Why do I keep hearing that name echoing in my mind?'
His memories of the last three months were hazy, like a dream slipping away upon waking.
'Tenseiga... Inuyasha... Rin...'
...
Meanwhile, in the One Piece World.
After the white light faded, Ray and the Straw Hats found themselves standing on a massive white cloud.
Gan Fall stood nearby, his jaw hanging open in shock.
The former god slowly spoke, his voice trembling. "You disappeared for three seconds... and returned so quickly?"
"Your clothes haven't changed... but everyone seems... different."
Hearing this, Luffy and the others were stunned.
Usopp and Chopper jumped in surprise.
"We spent three months there, but only three seconds passed here?!"
Luffy was already rolling around on the cloud, laughing maniacally.
Nami, Robin, Sanji, and Zoro also noticed something odd.
Before returning, they'd been wearing clothes made of animal hides from Kaede's village.
Now, they were back in their original outfits.
Suddenly, Zoro drew Yubashiri and was shocked to find it intact—no cracks, no damage.
Usopp, seeing Zoro's reaction immediately start panicking.
He frantically checked his bag.
"AHHHHH! Why are so many of my Demon Star seeds missing?!"
But there was no bag of holding—it was gone.
All the weapons made from yokai bones had vanished.
The only seeds left seemed to be second-generation ones they'd cultivated themselves.
The original specimens were completely gone.
That included the giant slingshot made from the flood dragon's tendon.
"Ray! What's going on?!"
Ray sighed.
He had only learned about this a few hours before the farewell banquet.
At the time, he'd been carrying Gyuuki's bones to Totosai to have swords forged for Zoro.
Midway, the system had suddenly spoken up.
"Host, items from this world cannot be taken back. The only exceptions are second-generation items you've personally cultivated—things imbued with your own effort."
Thus, Usopp only had some second- and third-generation Demon Star seeds left.
Whether these seeds could even grow in the soil of the Grand Line was unknown.
Ray was exasperated.
Usopp had acquired so many cheat items, only to lose most of them now.
But perhaps it was for the best.
Improving one's own strength was the real solution.
"I don't know," Ray lied smoothly. "Don't dwell on the losses. At least all of you have grown much stronger, right?"
Hearing this, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and the others smiled confidently.
Yes.
Compared to before, they were monsters now.
Seeing their confident expressions, Ray felt satisfied.
If this group fought Enel now, they might achieve a complete win with ease.
As long as they didn't perish together with Raigo.
'Speaking of Enel...'
Ray finally remembered their unfinished business on Sky Island.
"Luffy, let's head up."
The Straw Hats snapped back to reality.
After three months in another world—most spent fighting for their lives—they'd nearly forgotten why they came here in the first place.
Luffy adjusted his straw hat and grinned. "Everyone! Climb the Sky Vine! Find the Golden Bell and dig up treasure!"
"YEAH!!!"
Nami was more excited than anyone. "Gold! Gold! With gold, I'll buy tons of clothes and crates of skincare!"
Indeed, Nami and Robin had tanned even darker in Inuyasha's world.
Nami could manage, but Robin had reached a new level of sun-kissed beauty.
Though the Monster Mountain Range was shrouded in yin energy, the UV rays were apparently terrifying.
Both women desperately needed skincare now.
Of course, Robin's immediate priority was studying Sky Island's Poneglyph.
So the group mounted the transformed Chouchou and flew toward the shrine atop the Sky Vine.
...
Minutes later, the Straw Hats stared speechlessly at the devastated shrine.
Corpses of priests littered the ground.
The only survivor was Wyper, who'd climbed up earlier.
He looked utterly lost.
Just moments ago, he'd witnessed Ray's battle with Enel.
The sheer destructive power made him realize his own recklessness.
Without Ray, charging at Enel would have been suicide.
Now, the title of Sky Island's strongest had changed hands.
If Wyper wanted to reclaim the Shandia's ancestral land, Upper Yard, he'd have to defeat Ray and the Straw Hats.
But how? How could he possibly defeat someone who'd nullified Raigo's cataclysmic power?
Did this mean the Shandia's dream was dead?
But remembering his duty and the legacy of Warrior Kalgara, Wyper mustered his courage and marched up to Ray.
"I challenge you! If I win, Apis—"
Before he could finish, Ray walked right past him toward the shrine's rear, not even glancing down.
"Bastard! Don't look down on me!"
Wyper charged at Ray, aiming a kick at his head while readying an Impact Dial.
But Ray ignored him because...
CLANG!
Nami blocked Wyper's kick with her Clima-Tact.
She barely budged, completely neutralizing the attack of the Shandia's strongest warrior easily.
Just as Wyper prepared to use a Reject Dial, he felt cold steel against his temple.
Usopp stood there, aiming his slingshot directly at Wyper's head.
His eyes were cold.
"Don't move. Any one of us could defeat you."
Hearing this, Wyper flushed with humiliation but didn't resist.
He'd sensed Nami and Usopp's reflexes.
And these two seemed like the weakest among the Blue Sea group.
Robin approached Wyper calmly. "We're just visiting Sky Island. For territorial matters, discuss them with Gan Fall."
Chopper trotted over with a medical kit. "You're badly injured. Let me treat you."
Wyper tried to refuse, struggling to stand.
Chopper frowned, activated Heavy Point, and pinned him down with one hand.
"Don't make me slap you! Accept treatment!"
Just as Wyper—now utterly humiliated—reached for his Impact Dial in a last-ditch effort, Luffy's shout echoed from afar.
"Whoa! That's the Golden Bell, right?! Ringing it will let Cricket and the others know their ancestors weren't lying!"
"Wait... what was his ancestor's name again?"
Robin answered, her voice carrying clearly.
"Mont Blanc Norland."
Hearing this name, Wyper froze.
His Impact Dial fell from his hand.
"W-What did you say?"
---------
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