Fight me

"Oh? You know about the Netherworld Stone!?"

Tōga regarded Mingye with interest. This youth, who was even younger than Sesshomaru, certainly knew a great deal.

He had even known that Tōga had stripped Shinigami Oni of his Mystic Art, Meidō Zangetsuha.

This boy was far from ordinary!

"The Netherworld Stone is said to be a strange gem from the Underworld. It contains the power of the Netherworld Path and connects to the Underworld!"

Mingye rubbed the Netherworld Stone in his hand. It was not very large, only about the size of a pebble.

Mingye also sensed its aura. It was familiar-the same feeling he had sensed from the Thunder Rage Sword, which had been forged by melting down the Five Thunder Finger.

It was the aura of something from the Otherworld.

"That's right. This is the Netherworld Stone. I obtained this gem from Shinigami Oni after defeating him.

I suspect Shinigami Oni may have gained his understanding of Meidō Zangetsuha from this very stone!"

The admiration in Tōga's eyes deepened. Mingye's knowledge and maturity exceeded even his expectations.

"This Netherworld Stone doesn't seem to be whole..."

Mingye's fingers paused slightly over the gem. A piece of it was missing.

"The other piece isn't in my possession."

Meeting Mingye's gaze, Tōga shook his head slightly. He had given the other piece of the Netherworld Stone to his wife, Princess Tsukuyomi.

Mingye nodded calmly. He still remembered this part of the story. In the future, for Sesshomaru to develop the power of Meidō Zangetsuha within Tenseiga into a complete Netherworld Path, he would need that stone's power to guide him in slaying the Lord of the Underworld.

"Though it's only a theory, this Netherworld Stone does indeed contain the power of that realm."

Mingye tucked the Netherworld Stone into his robes, then continued, his gaze sharpening:

"I have one more condition!"

Tōga frowned at this. The boy certainly had a large appetite. His smile gradually faded, and his voice grew cold and imposing:

"What condition?"

"I've long heard that Tōga, overlord of the Western Country, possesses unparalleled strength. Would you let me see just how powerful you are?"

Mingye's ink-black eyes grew piercing, an intense fighting spirit flickering within them as though it had taken tangible form.

He wanted to know exactly how far he still stood from a Greater Yokai.

The simplest, most direct way was to fight a Greater Yokai.

And now he had a perfect opportunity. Tōga, overlord of the Western Country, was one of the most powerful Great Yokai.

He could not let such a chance to gauge his own strength slip away.

"You're bold!"

After a moment of silence, Tōga uttered those words.

He had defeated countless opponents on his path to becoming a Greater Yokai. But ever since he had reached that rank, every lesser yokai had trembled at the mere mention of him!

Yet this youngster before him actually wanted to test his strength at such a tender age. It was truly far too arrogant.

"Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Tōga spoke again, and the instant his words fell, a vast, terrifying aura erupted from his body.

In an instant, every current of air within dozens of yards surged wildly.

A fierce wind sprang up, and the great trees along the cliff let out dull crashing sounds.

Standing beside Mingye, Chongli dropped straight to his knees. His mind reeled, every bone in his body trembled, and a force he could not withstand seemed to press down upon him.

"What a powerful aura!"

Chongli lay prostrate, utterly crushed by that aura.

The wind swept up Mingye's long black hair, sending it whipping wildly, while his luxurious robes billowed and snapped!

Mingye, too, felt that terrifying aura. It far surpassed that of any opponent he had ever encountered, deep as an abyss and seemingly without end!

Yet Mingye stood tall. The blood within his body churned fiercely, like water brought to a rolling boil, and a wave of heat radiated from him in every direction.

"You think you can make me submit with pressure alone?"

Mingye fixed Tōga with a gaze that seemed almost tangible. His fighting spirit erupted as never before, his demon power surging so violently that it resembled thunder rumbling beneath a gloomy sky.

"Impossible!"

Mingye's voice rang out across the area. His body stood straight as a divine sword, its edge fully bared, and his soaring fighting spirit seemed ready to pierce the heavens above all living beings!

"What a Demon Wolf Mingye you are!"

Tōga's golden pupils trembled slightly. This youngster's will was astonishingly strong, and his physique and demon power surpassed those of yokai his age by far more than a mere few times!

"I accept. Follow me!"

Mingye's display had shaken even Tōga, his resolve striking directly at Tōga's heart.

Thus, Tōga agreed to Mingye's condition. This fight might prove very interesting. He, too, wanted to see how much of his strength this incredibly young junior could force him to use!

Golden light blossomed from Tōga's body. Like a golden ray of sunlight streaking toward the horizon, he flew beyond the cliff.

"Wait here."

Mingye gave Chongli that instruction, then unleashed his demon power. Ice-blue light enveloped his body, and he became a streak of light in pursuit of the golden glow!

"Lord Mingye!"

Chongli gulped down air. The pressure on him had vanished, and he climbed to his feet, staring blankly after the two departing figures.

He had never imagined that Lord Mingye would make such a request—to fight the overlord of the Western Country, a top-tier Great Yokai!

It was simply too incredible!

Even among yokai, the power of a Great Yokai was terrifying beyond measure. All beneath them were mere ants!

An enormous gulf separated them!

Just then, Red Evil Ogre hurried to the cliff. He had been nearby when Tōga suddenly unleashed that terrifying pressure, and it had immediately startled him.

Weren't they just talking? Why had he suddenly unleashed such terrifying pressure?

He came running with a puzzled expression, only to find Chongli staring blankly into the distance.

"What happened!? Where are the Great General and Lord Mingye?"

Red Evil Ogre asked in confusion.

"Lord Mingye... he's going to fight Tōga!"

Chongli answered dazedly.

"What!? How did... weren't they talking just fine? Why are they suddenly going to fight!?"

Red Evil Ogre was utterly baffled. He had thought this would be nothing more than an ordinary recruitment discussion. This turn of events was far too outrageous.

"Did the talks break down?!"

Red Evil Ogre shook Chongli and asked again.

"No. This was Lord Mingye's request. He'll only join your Dog Tribe's side after fighting Tōga!"

Coming back to his senses, Chongli briefly explained what had just happened.

"Well... I suppose that's Lord Mingye for you..."

Red Evil Ogre did not know what to say. If Mingye had not been so powerful, he really would have cursed aloud. This was sheer madness.

"I hope the Great General goes easy on him. After all, we'll still need Lord Mingye's help in the coming war!"

Red Evil Ogre murmured to himself. In his eyes, Lord Mingye was indeed considerably stronger than he was, but he was still far too distant from the level of a Great Yokai.

After all, he was too young. There was no way he could injure a Great Yokai.

And Tōga was the overlord of the Western Country, one of the mightiest Great Yokai in the world!