Since Tamamo-no-Mae was seriously injured, Ashiya Dōman had only made occasional appearances by using clones to make his presence known.
This could be seen as a way to restrain the power of Heian-kyō.
They didn't know what he was doing.
Only Felix knew that he was looking for a place to plant the Imaginary Tree, and once the time was right, he would not hesitate to merge with it, attempting to become a new form of Human Evil.
If Ashiya Dōman hadn't been such a clown, Felix wouldn't have felt so at ease.
"Okay, then we'll do it your way."
"Wait, here's something for you."
The pink-haired fox closed her eyes, and streams of golden energy flowed from her hands into Felix's body, combining with his remaining magical power to gradually produce a powerful reaction.
[Acquired Inherent Skills]
[Nine-Tailed Fox's Pampered Love EX]
[Legend has it that each of the nine-tailed fox's tails symbolizes a different aspect of her being, a different life.]
As the supreme deity, she indeed possessed this ability, and it was innate, which allowed her to escape at the moment her divinity was stripped away.
[Being loved and respected by the nine-tailed fox, and being willing to dedicate yourself to her, you have been granted equal powers.]
From this moment on, you would have nine lives, each calculated independently.
"Huh? This is..." Felix looked at his body in surprise and suddenly realized that his strength had increased by more than one level.
"You'll always be a human being, and this power is simply something to be used to exert your strength. We'll always cheer you on!"
The fox laughed and jumped off his shoulder, found a rock, and sat down quietly. She weakly raised her paw to encourage him.
"Doesn't it matter?"
"It's okay, just remember to take responsibility for me from now on~"
Although it took a lot of effort, thankfully it wasn't too serious, and she was able to recover.
She was lacking vitality; someone needed to help her replenish it.
"I see."
After spending so much time together, there was no need to say thank you anymore.
You must prove your point through actions.
Felix raised his left hand, and the pure power combined with the power of the nine-tailed fox shone with golden light at this moment. He rushed behind Ibuki-dōji. The eight giant water snakes reacted and tried to stop him but were blasted to pieces by this punch, and rain fell everywhere.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who had been suppressed and had never gained the upper hand, looked up in surprise and saw the familiar figure who had smashed the water snake and helped her escape. She was stunned.
A feeling of joy welled up within her, followed by—
Shame.
In the end, would she still have to rely on her usually steady younger brother for help?
"Eh?"
Ibuki-dōji was not injured; the water snake was something she could conjure at will.
She was simply amazed by Felix's current state.
"Is it possible to forcibly drive the power of the supreme deity through pure physical strength?"
Tamamo-no-Mae.
The legendary nine-tailed fox, the most wicked and ferocious creature in the world, who had never shown any auspicious signs, had actually fallen in love?
She also shared everything with him.
"Hehe, this is getting more and more fun, Felix. I'm not going to play any games with your powers anyway, since we'll just cancel each other out. How about something more straightforward?"
---
Without any powers, all that remained between them was a pure contest of skills.
Ibuki-dōji, who originally intended to use the Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, chose to use her other hand when she saw Felix charging at her with his fist. As soon as she caught it, she involuntarily took several steps back.
Instead of getting angry because she was pushed back, Ibuki-dōji's eyes were full of excitement.
"Great~ That's more interesting. Remember your sister's invitation."
Felix chose to ignore Ibuki's statement.
On the other side, after realizing what was happening, Minamoto no Yorimitsu also raised her sword and slashed at Ibuki-dōji, clashing fiercely with her Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi.
Even when facing two opponents at once, Ibuki-dōji seemed to handle the situation with ease.
In terms of both strength and experience, Ibuki-dōji far surpassed them.
The only thing Ibuki-dōji couldn't understand was why their figures were getting closer and closer.
Won't it be crowded?
Could it be that there were tactics she didn't know about?
Ibuki-dōji may have seemed carefree, but she was actually quite meticulous. She didn't want to lose and miss the chance to invite Felix for a drink.
No matter how old he was.
If Tamamo-no-Mae had done it so thoroughly, there would have been no chance, if we had waited any longer.
"Rin, all these years... I'm so sorry."
Perhaps awakened by Ibuki-dōji's blow, Minamoto no Yorimitsu lowered her head in shame and made a weak sound as she approached Felix.
"It's okay, you're my sister after all."
Yes.
As the older sister, she had failed to fulfill any of her due obligations and instead constantly caused trouble for her younger brother.
What was even more distressing was that he never complained and stayed with her through all the crazy training.
Self-blame almost overflowed from her heart.
The hazy tenderness, stemming from the boy's tolerance, gradually made her understand.
She took Felix's hand and recalled the moment they split the waterfall.
"Rin, do you remember? The first time you and I joined forces."
"I will never forget that day when I tried my best to get you to put aside all your prejudices so that we could support each other and grow up together."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Then…" Minamoto no Yorimitsu gripped his hand tightly, her voice heavy, yet carrying a tenderness she had never felt before.
"Swing your fist at her once more!"
"Alright."
Standing opposite them, Ibuki-dōji was dumbfounded. What on earth was going on?
Why did she feel like she was some kind of wicked demon king right now?
They were defeated by two heroes whose minds were united, relying on their bond.
Ibuki-dōji couldn't understand this move, but confident in her strength, she still took their punches head-on!
Who would have thought that, despite having the upper hand, she wouldn't be able to sweep them away with overwhelming force.
The one who truly flew away like a kite with a broken string was Ibuki-dōji, whose face was filled with surprise. After her massive body completely destroyed a small mountain, she looked in bewilderment at the two people standing together, who, with their mere physical strength, could have blasted her away.
"Hiss..."
Ibuki-dōji shook her head and said with a hint of sadness, "Oh dear, I never thought that your sister would lose to you too."
"It's so sad, I won't have the chance to invite you again."
She looked at Felix, a deep sadness flashing in her eyes.
This was the most painful thing for her, without exception.
"Now you know how powerful I am."
Minamoto no Yorimitsu stared intently at Ibuki-dōji.
"What do you think?"
Ibuki-dōji always liked to retort to people she didn't know or wasn't interested in.
"Are you sure it's just you alone who can exert this power?"
Without the crucial Shadow Scale, given Minamoto no Yorimitsu's limited strength, simply avoiding being knocked unconscious by her elbow was a victory in itself!
"No, that's why I've come to understand a principle that will allow me to defeat you."
"It's so boring."
Ibuki-dōji stretched, said regretfully, turned around, and prepared to drink some wine in her sorrow and go to sleep, until the day Felix saw her again...
"Wait!"
Felix called out to Ibuki-dōji and took out the fine wine that he had prepared to give her.
"We have been very offensive this time. Thank you for your leniency. Otherwise, we would have become ordinary people sliding into the tiger's lunge long ago."
"Huh?"
Upon seeing the fine wine, Ibuki-dōji's gloom vanished.
Not to mention that this was given to her by Felix, her delicate face beamed with a smile.
"Oh dear, I can't accept this."
Despite saying that, her hands moved quickly. She decisively took a jar of fine wine, opened it familiarly, and started drinking it straight down her throat, without caring whether Felix had poisoned it.
In her opinion, this lovely boy would never do such a despicable thing.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu frowned; the more she looked at this jar of sake, the more familiar it seemed.
It seemed like every time Dad finished one, he felt the pinch for a long time afterward...
Could it be that Felix took all of his fine wine collection?
Just as she had expected, Felix took out something that looked like a ring, filled with the fine wine treasured by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, and handed it to Ibuki-dōji.
"May you have a sweet dream tonight."
Ibuki accepted it without hesitation and remarked with emotion.
"That's wonderful. It's a pity that I was born too recently and can only taste the fine wines made by humans. I also want to try the divine wine that the gods have bestowed upon me."
"Well, I'll definitely find one for you when I have the chance."
Putting aside everything else, our King of Heroes had a whole bunch in the Gate of Babylon.
This was perfect for Ibuki to try.
"Thank you, child who has been kind to me all this time. No matter what trouble you encounter in the future, you can come to Mount Ibuki to find your older sister."
With Ibuki's help, the plan to kill Ashiya Dōman, that clown, was already in place, and no other strategy was needed.
"That's what I've been waiting for."
"Hehe, that's true. But I'd be happy to help you."
As he spoke, Ibuki shook her head regretfully, without saying those words.
(This sister's dream is actually very simple: let this lovely boy accompany me to brew wine~)
"This makes me feel quite flattered."
"Oh my, I didn't expect you to be so good at making people happy."
You couldn't be unaware of what the Tamamo-no-Mae had given you.
"Just because you like it, doesn't fit this description."
Ibuki-dōji burped, glanced at the pink-haired, golden-eyed fox who had been sitting there the whole time, dragged her tail, picked up the sake jar, and staggered away.
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