[124] Hero Action

Yaksha, summoned with full force and driven by Towako's determination, began to lose control. His dark aura grew wilder, and his massive body moved erratically, consumed by a ferocious rage that Towako could barely suppress. She felt her spiritual energy nearly drained, but she pressed on, desperately trying to hold Yaksha back from turning on them. Sweat poured down her face, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, a sign of the immense strain she was enduring.

Reika, attempting to help, struggled to move closer, though her body felt weak. Every muscle ached, almost paralyzed from the intense movement and strikes she'd unleashed earlier. Nevertheless, she forced herself forward, reaching out to support Towako even though her own strength was nearly spent.

"Towako… I… I'll help you," Reika managed to say between ragged breaths, her legs trembling as she took another step forward. But just as all hope seemed lost, something large and winged entered the room, drawing stunned gazes from Towako and Reika.

A massive creature with golden and silver feathers swooped down from above with astonishing speed. Its piercing eyes radiated majesty and an aura of authority only possessed by legendary creatures. The being was none other than Hippo in his true form—a rare griffin, a creature so extraordinary it was thought to exist only in tales and legends.

Towako and Reika stared at the griffin in shock. Neither had ever imagined witnessing a mythical creature materialize before their very eyes. Without hesitation, Hippo lunged at Yaksha, gripping the oni's massive body with his powerful claws. In a swift motion, Hippo slammed Yaksha to the ground, pinning him down to stop his rampage.

"A griffin?!" Towako whispered, still in disbelief at the sight before her.

Reika was equally stunned, though too drained to react beyond a look of awe. "This can't be… griffins are supposed to exist only in legend…"

Hippo let out a low growl, holding Yaksha firmly under his claws, restraining the oni as it continued to thrash. Realizing the chance this provided, Towako knew she couldn't waste it. Clutching her talisman that now glowed faintly, she closed her eyes, drawing on the last of her spiritual strength, and began chanting to send Yaksha back to his realm.

"I… call upon the guardians of the spirit realm… Return to your place, Yaksha!" Towako's voice trembled but remained steady as she recited the chant. Her talisman glowed brighter, surrounded by a violet flame, forming a spiritual circle that began to envelop Yaksha. Slowly, the oni's struggles weakened, his dark energy pulled back into the summoning circle that gradually dimmed.

Towako felt blood trickling down her lip, her face pale, and her body swayed as she nearly lost her balance. Yet, she held firm, refusing to release her grip on the talisman until the banishment was complete. With a final, strained shout, Towako finished the chant, and Yaksha's form dissolved into shadow, vanishing in a flash of light before fading entirely.

Hippo, still in his griffin form, looked at Towako and Reika for a moment, as if ensuring they were safe. In their silence, Towako and Reika could only gaze at the legendary creature in astonishment and gratitude, aware that without his intervention, they would not have managed to subdue Yaksha's rampage.

Once he confirmed the situation was secure, Hippo lifted his head, and with a graceful beat of his wings, soared out of the temple, returning to the main battlefield on the hill where Kaoru was locked in battle with Kyuubi. Though exhausted, Towako and Reika felt immense relief. They had successfully held off Yuyami and subdued Yaksha, and now they could only hope that Kaoru would triumph in his final showdown with the raging god of calamity.

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Kyuubi growled with fury, his enormous body shaking with raw intensity. Throughout the battle, Kaoru had continuously moved, evading every one of Kyuubi's strikes like a cunning fox slipping out of a cat's claws. Each time Kyuubi tried to catch him, Kaoru managed to escape, weaving in and out, attacking from every angle and driving Kyuubi further into frustration.

At last, Kyuubi's patience snapped. With a thundering voice that shook the surroundings, he hissed, his golden eyes blazing with wrath. "Enough! I won't play games any longer, Kaoru!" Kyuubi roared, his voice reverberating like thunderclaps.

He took a deep breath, drawing energy from deep within his colossal form, which pulsed with a scorching intensity. Each of his nine tails rose and arched around him, forming a massive circle. Brilliant blue energy emanated from his tails, coalescing into a large orb that radiated a blinding light. The orb expanded and grew denser, making the air around them feel hot and heavy, vibrating with power.

Standing below the hill, Kaoru immediately sensed the shift in energy and understood Kyuubi's intentions. His expression turned serious; he knew Kyuubi intended to annihilate the entire hill with a massive blast that wouldn't just level the peak but would also threaten the surrounding areas.

Quickly, Kaoru took a few steps back, preparing a strategy. He realized that this attack was too immense to face head-on, yet he also knew that if he did nothing, the destructive energy would spread and endanger the entire city below.

"Kaoru!" Hippo's voice echoed through their telepathic link as he watched from afar, his tone tense. "That energy… If he releases this attack, all of Kyoto could be wiped out!"

Kaoru nodded, fully aware of the impending catastrophe, and took a deep breath. He focused all his energy into his dual swords, which now glowed with an intense blue and white light. Kaoru knew that to counter this devastating strike, he would need to unleash his full power—timed perfectly at the most critical moment.

Kyuubi fixed his gaze on Kaoru, his eyes brimming with malice as the massive energy orb spun violently, primed to be unleashed. With a sinister grin, he shouted, "Now, feel the wrath of true annihilation!"

In an instant, Kyuubi released the enormous energy orb, sending it hurtling towards Kaoru. The blue explosion shot downwards with overwhelming power, illuminating the night sky and shaking the ground beneath. The energy orb resembled a colossal meteor, poised to obliterate everything in its path.

With fierce resolve, Kaoru dashed forward towards the massive energy orb created by Kyuubi. He knew there was only one chance to stop this attack before the hill—and possibly Kyoto itself—was obliterated. Drawing in a deep breath, he raised his two glowing swords high, channeling the last of his spiritual power into their blades. A brilliant blue light enveloped his swords with immense energy.

As the gigantic energy orb drew closer, Kaoru tightened his grip on his swords, preparing his ultimate move. "Ultimate Aslan Style: Cross Impact!" he shouted, his voice resounding across the hill.