It came from confidence in his own abilities, as well as the arrogance of a great demon.
Watching Inuyasha charge at him with a move no different from before, Sesshomaru prepared to repeat the same trick.
He would wait until Inuyasha drew close, then restrain him and slam him into the ground once more.
But clearly, even in his fury, Inuyasha still remembered the lesson he had only just learned.
And so, seeing Sesshomaru's casual, utterly unmoved expression, Inuyasha abruptly plunged his claws into his own body halfway through his charge.
"He's hurting himself?"
The mutt's actions were so startling that everyone watching was completely baffled.
But when they saw Inuyasha raise his bloodied claws and unleash his technique, understanding dawned on them.
"Flying Blade Blood Claws!"
He infused his blood with his demonic power, combining a demon's blood with demonic power to amplify their effects.
This was Inuyasha's strongest offensive technique at present, and his only means of attacking at range.
"So that's it!"
Everyone understood Inuyasha's intent, then turned expectant eyes toward Sesshomaru.
"Is that all?"
Faced with this sudden change in tactics, Sesshomaru showed even less reaction than he had against Hojo Akitoshi.
Sesshomaru swung his golden whip of demonic power at the incoming attack, into which Inuyasha had poured his own lifeblood.
He shattered it into flecks of blood that scattered through the air.
"Stop looking down on me!"
His attack had failed to make Sesshomaru so much as move, yet Inuyasha showed no sign of backing down.
"If one isn't enough, I'll throw countless more at you! I've got plenty of blood!"
Shouting his defiance, Inuyasha went all in, plunging both hands into his body and unleashing an endless stream of blood-red flying claws.
The dense, rapid barrage came in wave after wave, restoring the onlookers' confidence.
"Boring."
He could not even be bothered to look directly at the attacks, swinging his demonic whip in a defense so tight that not even water could penetrate it.
Before long, Sesshomaru grew bored.
That was it? This was the extent of his power?
Even with Father's blood in his veins, Inuyasha amounted to no more than this.
At that thought, Sesshomaru became even more convinced that toying with Inuyasha here was nothing but a waste of time.
Still swinging his whip, Sesshomaru picked out a gap in the barrage of blood-red flying claws.
With a light push of his feet, he soared gracefully toward Inuyasha, who stood rooted in place as he unleashed his attacks.
"What?"
He had never imagined that Sesshomaru would charge him during such a tiny pause in his attacks.
Already a little dizzy from repeatedly drawing his own blood, Inuyasha was startled, and the pace of his attacks slowed a little more.
"Disappointing."
Noticing Inuyasha's panic, Sesshomaru felt another surge of disappointment while still in midair.
"Well done, Inuyasha!"
Yet while Sesshomaru was feeling disappointed, Hojo Akitoshi's praise rang out from the side.
That man?
Still in midair, Sesshomaru could not understand what there was to praise about such a glaring lapse.
Could the man I thought highly of lack even that much discernment?
Had I misjudged him?
With those thoughts in mind, Sesshomaru turned his head slightly.
What came into view was none other than-
The Matchlock Ashigaru unit Hojo Akitoshi had already organized!
More than two hundred dark muzzles pointed straight at him, their iron gleaming coldly.
Human firearms?
He had lived longer than Inuyasha and witnessed countless sunrises and moonsets.
Sesshomaru had heard of matchlocks, weapons that had recently become popular in the human world.
And with a cautionary example right before his eyes, Sesshomaru had not forgotten how Mountain Ogre had just died.
Sesshomaru could no longer spare any attention for his foolish younger brother. Having never experienced a matchlock's power firsthand, he was taking no chances.
He met these human weapons with the utmost vigilance.
Lord Sesshomaru would never let arrogance lead to an ignominious defeat!
The moment he noticed flames flare from the Hojo Army's muzzles, Sesshomaru spun his demonic whip into a wall of shields, before the sound of the shots even reached him.
"What a pity."
It was Hojo Akitoshi's disappointed murmur, drowned out by the gunfire.
Watching Sesshomaru's response from a distance, Hojo Akitoshi had to admit that he truly possessed the qualities of a powerful warrior.
Despite being an ancient demon, he even knew that light traveled faster than sound.
The moment he saw flashes at the muzzles, he had begun preparing his defense.
Had he waited until he heard the shots, they might have managed to injure him a little.
But now, there was no chance at all.
And the result was exactly as Hojo Akitoshi had expected. Sesshomaru's whirling whip all but formed a wall of light.
The bullets fired from the matchlocks were fast, but they still could not pierce Sesshomaru's impregnable defense.
There was only a series of muffled hissing sounds. It was impossible to tell whether Sesshomaru's whip inflicted searing heat damage or purely physical damage.
Either way, the Hojo Army's bullets vanished without a trace.
"Damn it."
At the sight, the Hojo Army's samurai continued pouring out ammunition with their Three-Stage Volley.
But every one of them silently cursed the enemy's cunning.
Fortunately...
Inuyasha, whose life Hojo Akitoshi had saved yet again, was not merely standing on the sidelines in a daze.
While Sesshomaru had yet to secure his footing and was wholly occupied with the gunfire, Inuyasha gritted his teeth and sent several more blood-red flying claws at him.
He also understood that his blood-red flying claws were not as useful as he had imagined.
Gritting his teeth and steeling himself, Inuyasha made sure to choose an angle that lay as far outside the Hojo Army's line of fire as possible.
He curled his body and lunged, intending to use his own flesh and blood to disrupt Sesshomaru's defense.
Even if it meant suffering grievous wounds, he would drag Sesshomaru down with him.
"Lord Sesshomaru, please be careful!"
"You humans are far too despicable!"
Jaken had been happily watching his lord display his overwhelming might and beat the humans into submission.
But when he noticed Inuyasha's actions and thought of the possible consequences, he immediately began shouting in alarm.
"Oh?"
Unruffled by the danger, Sesshomaru did not pause his hands for even a moment as he cast a sidelong glance at the lunging Inuyasha.
With a few calm, short hops, Sesshomaru evaded him.
Then, perhaps feeling that constantly taking attacks without retaliating was beneath his reputation, he changed course.
Ignoring Inuyasha, who kept chasing him, Sesshomaru had clearly decided that the Hojo Army led by Hojo Akitoshi was the greatest threat.
At once, Sesshomaru charged toward the Hojo Army's firing formation.
"Watch out, Hojo Akitoshi!"
This was the first time Inuyasha had properly called Hojo Akitoshi by name, perhaps a sign that he had acknowledged him in his heart.
Watching his elder brother's movements, Inuyasha truly panicked.
The thought that the Hojo Army might be slaughtered by Sesshomaru because they had helped him-
It felt as though a knife were twisting in Inuyasha's heart.
"Front rank, spread out."
Even at this critical moment, Hojo Akitoshi's calm voice remained composed and fearless.
At that moment, something about his bearing faintly mirrored that of Sesshomaru, who was charging straight at him.
At his order, the Matchlock Ashigaru who were firing swiftly opened a passage.
The gunfire did not stop. They kept shooting.
But the opening was enough for Hojo Akitoshi, who had long been ready, to face Sesshomaru directly.
"That's-!"
Chasing right behind Sesshomaru, Inuyasha perked up as he caught sight of a scene that seemed extraordinarily familiar.
"Spiritual power. A Purifying Arrow."
With his broad knowledge and experience, Sesshomaru recognized humanity's strongest power against demons.
"Lord Sesshomaru, watch out!"
Jaken's heart nearly leaped into his throat, and sweat streamed relentlessly down his face.
Behind the Matchlock Ashigaru who had parted, Hojo Akitoshi and Kagome had joined forces once again.
The unmistakable aura of purifying power radiated from the bow and arrow held steadily in Hojo Akitoshi's hands.
"Please, let it hit!"
Hojo Akitoshi said nothing. It was Kagome who spoke, having offered up all her spiritual power.
She truly, desperately wanted this arrow to end the terrifying enemy before them, just as it had ended Yura of the Hair.
The Great Dog General's eldest son-Sesshomaru!
Twang.
The bowstring vibrated, and the arrow flew free.
Carrying everyone's hopes, the purifying power crossed the intervening space and reached its target.
Before you continue