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MANGA CHAP. 550 - COLLAPSE

OUR STORY: Chapter opens with a panoramic face-off between what's left of Naraku and his principal opponents - Sesshomaru, Inu-Kagome-Shippo, and Miroku-Sango-Kilala - immediately after Naraku shed a big chunk of his giant spider body to halt the "infection" from Sessho's Bakusaiga. Narakuk mocks them for thinking they are strong because they are all together, and for them gaining hope from the return of the light to the Shikon Jewel. He says they forgot the jewel already is one with his body. A surge of dark energy overwhelms the light, reducing it to a tiny glimmer. Kagome notes with dismay the resurgence of the darkness.

Before their eyes, Naraku draws on the jewel's power and undergoes a transformation. His face loses its human appearance and becomes that of a white-haired, fanged youkai. His torso sprouts a shield of youkai-bone armor. Sango notes the change and Inu says Naraku has let his heart be consumed by the jewel From the bony tips of his new armor, Naraku hurls great big blobs of toxic shouki at his enemies. Inuyasha counters with a volley of Meidou crescents from Tessaiga. Shippo asks if this is a new attack and Inu says yes. Inu's volley takes care of the shouki blobs and goes on to damage Naraku. Inu mutters that even though he's hitting and damaging Naraku, his enemy just won't die. He thinks that's because the Shikon Jewel is clinging tightly to this world.

Naraku tries another shouki-blob attack, this time an attack from below focusing on Sesshomaru. Kohaku, who was hovering to the rear with Rin and Jaken on Ah-Un the dragon, sees the blobs streaking up and calls out a warning. Sesshomaru notes this "ridiculous" tactic and slashes the rising shouki blobs with Bakusaiga. As the blobs break up, Sesshomaru detects that this shouki is far more potent than what Naraku had used earlier. Sessho calls to Jaken, telling him to get out of Naraku's body now. Jaken is happy to hear those words; they are what he's been waiting for. Kohaku is reluctant to leave but Jaken yells that he would just be getting in the way. As they turn to head out, Jaken sees another volley of shouki blobs, boring directly in on them from the outside. It looks like they won't be able to evade.

Sango's Hiraikotsu come from behind them and breaks up the attack. She tells Kohaku to hurry up and get outside. Before they go, Rin gives her thanks to Sango and then returns to Sango her protective shouki gas mask. Sango is profoundly touched by this. Sesshomaru watches this interchange in silence. Kohaku gives his mask to Miroku, telling the monk to use it and take care of Sango. With masks in place, Miroku and Sango ride Kilala into the thickening shouki as Jaken and the two youngsters retreat on Ah-Un to safety.. From the outside, they see Naraku's body enveloped in shouki, but also see huge cracks forming all across what's left of the great body. From inside, a deep rumbling is heard. They observe that it's starting to collapse.

Within, Miroku is using his Kazaana in an attempt to keep the air clear, but the Wind Tunnel can't inhale it fast enough and the shouki builds. Sango calls over to Kagome, asking if she is still alright. She says she's fine, and should be able to purify the shouki around her. But she notes to herself that it's weird how Naraku stops her every time she tries to draw her bow. If only she could shoot and hit him... But Naraku is thinking that he won't let Kagome shoot, at least not YET. His thought is interrupted by another Meidou volley from Inuyasha. Naraku suffers more serious damage, but he's thinking that he only needs to hold on just a little longer.

Back outside, Naraku's cracking and collapsing body rumbles, roars and spews great clouds of shouki as it starts moving and descending. Far below, a group of peasants hear the noise and look up from their fields. Kaede is among them. She stares at Naraku in fear as she realizes he's closing in on her village ... THE END (^_*)