[116] That's clear

Kaoru looked at her calmly. "But if we succeed, this will be a permanent end. No one will ever be able to resurrect Kyuubi or summon her back—there will be no fate left for us to avoid."

Rodrico finally nodded, though his face showed deep concern. "So your plan is… to let Kyuubi reach her peak power, and then, once she's fully revealed, we destroy her with a seal or combined force?"

Kaoru nodded confidently, his eyes filled with resolve. "Exactly."

Towako scoffed, disbelief flashing across her face. "EXACTLY? Your plan is as good as throwing us all into an abyss!"

Kaoru met her gaze, unfazed, remaining calm even as Towako appeared ready to explode over his plan. "Don't worry—I'm strong enough," he said with a small, casual smile. "After all, I once killed an Absolute Being."

Towako stared at Kaoru with a deadpan expression, clearly unsure if the man before her was serious or simply arrogant. "So, just because you've fought something called an Absolute Being before, you think you can win again? Kyuubi isn't an ordinary enemy, Kaoru. She's a disaster deity who's been waiting for centuries!"

Kaoru held onto his quiet confidence. "I understand the risks, Towako-san. But in my experience, power of that magnitude has its own weaknesses—they actually become easier to target because their power is concentrated. When that happens, we can strike with full force in a location we choose."

Rodrico and Reika exchanged a concerned glance, beginning to understand what Kaoru was trying to say. Finally, Reika spoke, aiming to ease the tension. "If we can steer this fight to a secure location and prepare the seal there… we might prevent greater destruction outside."

Towako still looked skeptical, but she was slowly considering the idea. "So you want to lure Kyuubi to a prepared location, concentrate all her power there, and then destroy her completely? It still sounds insane, but… maybe," she admitted, though doubt remained in her eyes.

Kaoru nodded, his confidence spreading to the others. "Precisely. If we can draw her to a specific location and lock her power there, we'll have a far better chance of destroying her—as long as we're ready with a strong enough seal."

Rodrico nodded slowly, his expression revealing his full awareness of the tremendous risk in this plan. "Then let's start the preparations. We don't have much time."

Towako finally sighed, accepting that this might be their only option. "Alright, Kaoru. If this is your plan, I'll help prepare the seal we need. But don't let your guard down. If this plan fails even once, we may never be able to stop Kyuubi again."

With this agreement, they prepared to face the monumental challenge ahead. They all knew this might be the most dangerous mission of their lives—but they also knew that if they succeeded, the world would be free of Kyuubi's threat for good.

---

After the discussion ended, Kaoru took a long breath, fully aware that this plan was insane—just as Towako had said, like stepping off a cliff. The Hyakki Yagyō, a massive parade of malevolent Yokai unleashed on the night of the ritual, would bring unimaginable chaos. Even if they managed to handle Kyuubi, the scattered Yokai forces could devastate much of the surrounding areas.

Therefore, they couldn't rely on their strength alone. Kaoru would need support from others, someone he could trust to lead the fight against the Yokai army.

Quickly, Kaoru searched his phone contacts. After a moment, he found the name he was looking for—Asuka. He gazed at the screen, preparing himself to request help that might draw Asuka into grave danger.

The phone rang briefly, and Asuka soon answered, her voice warm even before Kaoru spoke.

"Yes, Kaoru?"

Kaoru paused, then replied in a serious tone. "Asuka… can I ask you for something?"

There was a small laugh from the other end, Asuka's familiar, relaxed tone clear. "What? Just tell me, don't hold back with your own girlfriend."

Kaoru smiled faintly, though his expression remained serious. "I need your help, Asuka," he said calmly, even though he knew his words might come as a shock. Kaoru explained the situation they faced—about Kyuubi, the grand ritual of Hyakki Yagyō, and the Yokai parade that would threaten the entire city of Kyoto.

A silence followed as Asuka processed the information carefully.

"Asuka-san?" Kaoru prompted, slightly worried as Asuka took her time responding.

Then Asuka's panicked voice burst through the phone. "WHAT IN THE WORLD, KAORU-KUN?! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THIS SOONER?!"

Kaoru could only offer a weak smile, trying to remain calm. "Ah, sorry, I just learned about all this today. So… what do you think? Can I count on your help here?"

Asuka's voice was more serious after she settled down. "Of course! You don't even have to ask—I'll help, no question. This is a huge problem, Kaoru. And maybe, this time, we should consider involving the Japanese government."

Kaoru paused, listening to Asuka's suggestion closely.

"This situation is too big to be covered up as a typical incident," Asuka continued. "If we involve the government, at least they can coordinate civilian evacuations before the Hyakki Yagyō parade begins. They might find an excuse to cover up the incident later, but at least we can save lives."

As a Taimanin, Asuka's professional instincts instantly leaned toward evacuation tactics and public safety. She knew that the government had ways to protect the populace without causing widespread panic.

Kaoru nodded, though Asuka couldn't see him. "That's a good idea, Asuka. If we can bring the government in, they'll help evacuate civilians quietly, and maybe even provide backup to hold off the Yokai."

Asuka added firmly, "I'll reach out to some contacts in the government and a few other Taimanin members. We'll need as much support as possible."

Kaoru felt relieved hearing Asuka's quick readiness, and his confidence in their plan grew stronger. With Asuka's support and a united team, they would be far better prepared to face the imminent threat of Hyakki Yagyō.

"Alright, Asuka. I'll rely on you at the front lines," Kaoru said, his voice filled with gratitude.

Asuka smiled, though there was still a serious note in her voice. "We'll handle this together. And don't worry, Kaoru-kun. I'll make sure our team is ready for every possible outcome."

After ending the call, Kaoru took a long breath, feeling slightly more at ease with Asuka's support. Now, he knew they stood a greater chance of confronting Kyuubi and preventing this looming catastrophe.