Father...
That distant memory surfaced in Sesshomaru's mind. Ever since that parting, this figure had only existed in the past.
But the one standing before him now... Whether judging from scent, appearance, youkai power, or weapon, it was undoubtedly... that Great Dog Demon.
'Sesshomaru-sama, this Heroic Spirit Summoning seems able to call out people and youkai who once existed.'
Recalling the words Rin had casually spoken, Sesshomaru roughly understood the current situation.
The Beast King of the East... Kirinmaru was selected just like Rin and summoned Father.
Should this be called fortunate or unfortunate?
But one thing Sesshomaru could be certain of was...
"Phew..."
Standing opposite each other with tacit understanding, the father and son were so coordinated.
"Kirinmaru, you go first."
"Heh, for the reunion of you father and son, it's indeed inappropriate for me, an outsider, to disturb."
Glancing at the back of Sesshomaru's hand, Kirinmaru didn't see the same mark as his own there. Therefore, he didn't care, but left immediately.
Since the other party wasn't a so-called Master, Kirinmaru didn't have the mind to look for trouble.
"Long time no see, Father."
"Yes, it has been a full two hundred years."
Much gentler than in memory, Toga was a bit surprised.
"It seems you have indeed found something you need to protect... But..."
Staring at this eldest son, he could feel the unique temperament of the other party.
If the Sesshomaru of the past had an aura full of coldness and ruthlessness, now he was more gentle yet cool.
To put it in human terms, he probably had a human touch.
Without experiencing some important things, it was impossible to achieve such a change.
Toga felt very gratified; at least this excellent son had taken the most critical step.
"How did you lose your hand?"
"..."
That severed arm was particularly conspicuous. Toga asked with concern, but what greeted him was the latter's silence.
Because he went to snatch Tessaiga and ended up having it cut off by his younger brother Inuyasha...
How could Sesshomaru say such a thing in front of his respected father? That would be too shameful!
"Is it hard to say? Well, never mind. As long as you think it's worth it."
Seeing Sesshomaru remaining silent for a long time, Toga didn't have the mind to get to the bottom of it.
"How is Inuyasha doing now?"
"He can somewhat use Tessaiga decently."
"Is that so? Then it seems he's living quite well."
But another matter also concerned Toga very much. He asked, but got Sesshomaru's awkward reply.
However, even with such words, Toga could read the meaning inside. Since he could successfully use Tessaiga, it meant Inuyasha himself was very safe.
He originally wanted to ask if the two had found their beloved ones, but considering Sesshomaru's personality, he feared he wouldn't answer, so Toga simply didn't ask like that.
Instead, his attention shifted to the long sword held in Sesshomaru's hand.
"That sword is...?"
"Tokijin."
A brief answer, but it caused Toga to fall into silence.
'Tenseiga doesn't look like it has opened the Meido Zangetsuha either... Totosai, Myoga, what exactly are you guys doing?'
Probably having a new idea, Toga drew out that longest sword.
"!"
So'unga.
Widening his eyes, Sesshomaru actually felt a ripple in his heart.
The Father summoned possessed not only the youkai power and strength of his lifetime but also carried the three swords: Tessaiga, Tenseiga, and So'unga.
"Come, Sesshomaru, let me see your current growth. Let me say this upfront... Current me... is stronger than when I was alive!"
His figure disappeared; that was a visual illusion caused by high-speed movement.
Sesshomaru, who reacted, immediately blocked horizontally with Tokijin in front.
CLANG!!
Swords clashing, Sesshomaru felt that brute force.
BOOM!!
Difficult to support with one hand, his body was suppressed and fell downwards, finally smashing onto the ground.
CRACK!
Spiderweb-like cracks formed on the earth.
"Ugh!"
Sesshomaru didn't know how long it had been since he felt this kind of pressure.
Looking at his father clashing blades with him, Sesshomaru subsequently put up resistance. Youkai power began to erupt. Facing this opponent, Sesshomaru had no qualification to hold back.
"[Dragon Strike]!!"
ROAR!!
A blue giant dragon soared and charged. Toga quickly retreated a distance, then swung that strike.
"[Hell Dragon Wave]!!"
Turbid whirlwinds condensed into a sphere, turning into ominous energy colliding with the blue long dragon in mid-air.
"?!"
But merely maintained for a moment, the balance was broken. The blue azure dragon was annihilated, and the turbid youkai power ball flew towards the bottom.
Jumping uncontrollably backward, Sesshomaru avoided that strike.
BOOM!!
But the impact formed by smashing onto the ground inevitably implicated him.
RUMBLE!!
The surrounding dense forest was razed to the ground, and a huge hole was gouged out of the earth.
"So'unga... no, not just that, but also because of Father's youkai power."
That kind of power far exceeded Tessaiga, but Sesshomaru knew that wasn't the move of So'unga itself, but due to the control of Father's youkai power enhancement.
The [Dragon Strike] he used was defeated so easily...
He even faintly sensed that in the exchange just now, that father didn't use his full strength.
"No need to underestimate yourself. Current me is very special. It is normal not to win against me on this land, Sesshomaru."
Holding So'unga, Toga specially explained.
Manifested as a Heroic Spirit, he was in the best performance Class Saber, plus his Master Kirinmaru was a Great Demon of the same period as him, along with the bonus of legend popularity and the land of the Western Country.
Toga had indeed surpassed himself from when he was alive.
"Consider this a belated education from a father. Sesshomaru, you seem to still haven't let go of your obsession."
Hearing Toga's words carrying different emotions, Sesshomaru frowned.
"Like that, you cannot surpass me... The path you should take is not looking at my life."
WHOOSH!
"!"
Approaching with a speed faster than just now, when Sesshomaru reacted to swing his sword, Toga had already slashed over with his blade.
CRACK!!
Widening his eyes, looking at the Tokijin cut in two with one strike, Sesshomaru was stunned.
Sheathing So'unga, Toga turned sideways to look at Sesshomaru holding the broken sword and said in a deep voice.
That Toga who rarely got angry, at this moment revealed the harshness and strictness of a Father.
"The sword you should truly hold is not Tessaiga nor this Tokijin! Nor is it the So'unga in my hand! Sesshomaru, go find your own true sword! That is the proof that you can surpass me!!"