The lights were flickering inside the building, Rika finally reached towards the base, knocks at Kobe's door and waits. Kobe opens the door and hugs Rika, while Rika also gives him a peck on the lips, making him a bit flustered. Kobe cups her cheeks gently and says in a softer tone:
– Thank God you are okay...
– Yeah... a beat passes... Etsu told me to tell you to go and take the wounded soldiers in the war back to the base at the hospital centre...
Kobe looked disappointed and then he pouts, making Rika giggle and poke his cheeks.
– Come on, hurry up! Don't be lazy, sweetie..
– Okay... okay, fine... he says in a lazy tone, hugging her and then walking away, Rika following him after.
Meanwhile, Etsuko was knocking down demons, punching them and ripping apart, helping Horie while he was slicing through the demons in the area they were in, at the bridge between the Death Mist Forest.
Etsuko grabs one of the demons by it's head and drags it through the floor and then knocks by 2 other demons while Horie was slowly losing patience with the horde of demons and decides using his Shinjitsugan, stopping time itself and making their surroundings lose thwir colors.
Etsuko stood there, frozen, shocked, until Horie whispers "release", making every demon around them turn into blood splatters.
Although it was effective and made every single creature nearby die, the use of that technique made Horie fall down on his knees and hold his eyes, while Etsuko quickly rushes to his side.
– You idiot... you pushed yourself too hard yet again, do you have a death wish?.. Etsuko asks in an irritated yet caring tone.
– Shut up... they were too much... he mutters, slowly getting up with her help.
– I know it's a drag, but don't use a technique like that now, I don't wanna carry you when we still have so much to fight...
– Okay, okay...
While they head back towards their base in Shainihebun, they meet up with Orochi. With a curious expression, Etsuko asks:
– Where are you heading by yourself?..
– I am aware of your demon extermination in this area, but I am going to investigate for a bit the forest since some of our teammates haven't given any signs of life, and it is better if I rescue them...
– Are you sure you don't want to come and wait for us to get some weapons and stay with you so you are not alone? Horie asks, looking at him straight in the eyes with his usual weird attitudes.
– I am totally confident in my abilities and I will take accountability if I end up hurt, although thanks for your offer!
– Alright then, take care, Orochi.. Etsuko says with a slightly concerned tone, and then continues walking with Horie towards the base.
A few moments later, when Orochi reaches to check up in the forest, he finds what seemed to be the corpses of his own teammates. Seeing that, he gags and quickly holds his mouth in shock and terror, completely taken aback by what he found. Before he could react, he quickly slips down and gets hit by a huge hammer straight in the legs, the weapon crushing his bones. He screams desperately in pain, and quickly, out of adrenaline summons a blast of snakes from the palm and sends the giant demon flying, then Orochi realizes that that demon was actually Kowamaru's father. He quickly reaches and drags himself away from that place as fast as he could in desperation, even if his legs were torned apart.
As he finally reaches at the bridge between the forest and Shainihebun, he quickly pulls out a scroll, summoning a group of people which take him quickly towards the base, in the emergency room.
When they reach the hospital and Kobe comes by, Orochi looks over towards him and announces urgently:
– Kobe, tell the others that there is Kowamaru's father coming by towards Shainihebun, he is very dangerous and he uses some giant hammer fight, he literally crushed my legs.
When Kobe hears that he quickly calls Rika and tells her what had Orochi told him, warning them.
– Okay... I am going to announce Etsuko about it, hear ya later...
As this unfolded, Kowamaru was sitting on his throne until he felt a spike in his chest, and he started panicking. He pukes a bit of blood while being drowned in self-guilt.
He starts screaming in horror in pain, until the guards quickly came by and served him water, calming him down and cleaning the mess Kowamaru has done in the throne.
– T-Those b-b-bastards..! Making me f-feel... s-sick.!
The guards looked at each other with worry and confusion, and they shrug at each other. One of them then leans and questions carefully:
– A-Are you okay, sire?..
– NO THE FUCK I A‐AIN'T!! B-B-BRING ME ANOTHER GLASS OF WATER AS FAST AS YOU CAN!! Kowamaru yells in a sharp pained voice.
Then the guards quickly rushed away to obey their ruler's demand.
In the meantime, Chiyo walks to the Goddess and finally makes up her mind.
– I have decided to leave earlier and help my friends, Goddess of Life... I cannot bear them fighting in there without me...
Kaori blinks, and then slowly walks, kissing her forehead gently.
– Then I guess it is farewell, isn't it?.. Don't tell me I didn't warn you about the consequences of each choice you make, Chiyo...
– I understand and I am responsible for what happens to me from there on.. the girl says in a soft tone, farewell...
Both the master and the student walk towards the barrier between earth and outerspace, and then they hug like mother and daughter. Kaori looks at her with a slightly sad expressions and whispers:
– I am going to miss you, take care, okay?.. Farewell...
Chiyo nods and then walks through the portal, vanishing completely from the Goddess's realm.