Episode 173

The End of Mōryōmaru is the 6th episode of InuYasha: The Final Act.

Summary
The time for the battle between evil and evil has come!

Having spent all his time strengthening Mōryōmaru to make him into the perfect armor, the Infant faces off with Naraku to kill him and take the Shikon Jewel for himself. However, the Infant's overconfidence may prove to be his own undoing, and who knows what nasty tricks Naraku has up his sleeve.

One thing is for certain; the end result of the battle will lead to another change in both the sides of good and evil.

Plot
Villagers are seen bringing a monk to a tree outside their village, which has a seal around it; they explain it was once a demon tree named Yōmeiju that ate humans and demons alike, but was sealed long ago by a powerful priestess (possibly Kikyō). However, new buds have begun appearing on the demon's branches, an ill open. The monks prepares to assist the villagers, but the tree comes to life and dissolves him with a purple liquid.

Revealed to have been a flashback, the same villagers are telling Inuyasha's group this and that they've not been near the demon since then. The group goes to see the tree, where Kagome senses that there is a Shikon Jewel shard within it; this explains how it came back to life despite being sealed. Noting that Naraku has been awfully generous with handing out shards lately, Inuyasha draws Tessaiga and sends out a Wind Scar blast. However, the blast is repelled by Naraku's personal barrier. The tree comes to life, saying it hasn't had demon in a long time, it's vines pierce his barrier. Naraku taunts Inuyasha, saying it's the perfect time to strike him; however, since his heart isn't in his body, it would be a wasted effort. Naraku up roots the demon and absorbs it. Confusing everyone, he flees without a fight.

Meanwhile, Kōga is trying to track down Mōryōmaru but instead runs into Kikyō and Kohaku. He hides, but Kikyo senses his shards. At that moment, Moryomaru bursts out of the cliff, causing Kikyo to fall over the edge. Despite three shards that could increase his power being near, Moyromaru doesn't bother with them, and continues flying away. Koga rushes down to Kikyo, believing he was too late to save her. However, as she's not truly alive, Kikyo survived; she picks herself up and greets Koga. She explains it's best for Kōga to give up his shards so that she can go through with her plan, and she points out how the shards in his leg haven't been obeying him lately. Kōga, however, refuses to give them up and continues after Mōryōmaru. Kikyō only laments that she was unable to prevent an unnecessary loss.

At around the same time, Mōryōmaru and Naraku run into each other, with the end result being a miasma so powerful, it kills all life in their immediate area. Naraku knew Mōryōmaru would come for the Shikon Shards in his possession; Mōryōmaru says that Naraku only has him beat with the amount of shards he has. Mōryōmaru reduces Naraku to pieces. Naraku says it's useless as his heart exists in Mōryōmaru; Mōryōmaru retorts he cannot be killed for the same reason. Naraku reveals he purposely expelled his heart in the from of an infant, knowing it would eventually betray him. Also foreseen, the Infant created a fortress to hide in, Mōryōmaru; Naraku congratulates the Infant on fattening up his fortress, something Naraku looks forward to eating. Naraku takes a scorpion-like form to try breaking into Mōryōmaru; however, Mōryōmaru once more reduces him to shreds. Naraku tries smoothing Mōryōmaru, only for Mōryōmaru to pierce him with his own tentacles and swallow him instead.

Kikyo and Kagome watch as Moryomaru's shards join with Naraku's Shikon Jewel; it now only needs three more shards to be complete. Kagome immediately realises that both Koga and Kohaky are near by, right as Mōryōmaru fires adamant spears into a forested area. After the smoke subsides, Koga emerges from it, saying he's surprised Moryomaru was able to defeat Naraku. Inuyasha rushes over to help, explaining that they have to get Moryomaru to ground-level for a fair advantage against him. At the same time, Kagome and Sango meet with Kikyo, who reiterates Naraku cannot be beaten with a sword. However, Kagome begs her to wait and let Inuyasha take care of things for her instead.

As the battle continues, Inuyasha and Koga tag-team Moryomaru; Inuyasha keeps Koga out of Moryomaru's reach every time Midoriko interferes with his shards. Inuyasha decides to use the dragon-scaled Tessaiga on Moryomaru, but finds that he cannot see any demon vortexes because of the Fuyōheki is masking any demonic energy in Moryomaru. Kōga and Inuyasha attempt breaking the armored shell, but don't have any luck. Mōryōmaru manages to capture both of them with his tentacles, as he stars trying to absorb Koga for his shards. Inuyasha demands that Koga use the Goraishi on him; Koga oblieges, as the Goraishi's demonic energy is absorbed by Tessaiga, strengthening it. Moryomaru taunts them for a pathetic attempt, until Inuyasha points out that the part of him absorbing Koga isn't armored and leads straight to his heart. The Infant is shocked by this news, and, realising he's in danger, releases a miasma. Mōryōmaru flies away, with Koga still trapped in his tentacles, unconious. Kagome arrives on Kirara, picking Inuyasha up; they head off after Moryomaru. Looking at their foe, Kagome explains that Mōryōmaru hasn't absorbed the Shikon Jewel yet.

As he continues fleeing with his prize, the Infant is left furious by the result of his battle. After absorbing both Naraku and the Shikon Jewel, Moryomaru should be completely invincible. This leaves him wondering why the jewel's magic hasn't strengthened his armor. Much to his surprised, the Infant hears Naraku's voice saying that it should be obvious; Naraku's face appears before him. The answer as to why Moryomaru hadn't gotten any stronger, and has in fact, become weaker, is because the Shikon Jewel was never absorbed by him; Naraku is the one who has the jewel. Naraku calls Moryomaru a foolish creature for not noticing that it was being eaten away from the inside; the Infant has spikes inpale Naraku's face. Outside Mōryōmaru, Kōga awakens, only to angered that his legs are still frozen.

The Infant watches as Naraku's hand attempts touching his barrier, only to be repeled. He taunts Naraku, saying that even if  Mōryōmaru is eaten, Naraku will never be able to break his barrier. At that moment, Naraku sends vines through the Infant's barrier, confusing him as it should be impossible. Naraku explains the demon Yōmeiju's tendrils could break through any barrier, saying it would be wise for the Infant to accept his fate and return to his body. The Infant continues impaling Naraku's face with spikes. Mōryōmaru's right shoulder opens and the Infant attempts flying out and away from the grasp of Naraku's tendrils. Catching sight of this, Inuyasha launches the Adamant Barrage; however, Naraku gains control of Moryomaru and blocks the attack with a wall of adamant. Naraku is shocked that the Infant would abandon Moryomaru, knowing full-well that the moment her did, he'd die. However, the Infant retorts "When that happens, you'll die as well.

Koga sees the exposed Infant, preparing to strike with the Goraishi, but Naraku gasses him with miasma again, knocking Koga unconcious once more. Seeing Kirara is geting closer, Naraku says his enemies always have the worst timeing, using Moryomaru's diamond tendril to throw Kirara to the ground. Inuyasha curses Mōryōmaru, but Naraku's echoing voice says he's wrong; Mōryōmaru no longer exists. A long diamond spike comes out of Mōryōmaru in the shape of a circle as his armor breaks off bit by bit. Mōryōmaru's face stretches back and forth until he explodes, revealing Naraku with the Infant held captive and Kōga trapped a adamant spike. Naraku swallows the Infant inside his diamonds. He tells Koga that soon, he'll dissolve and leave his shards behind. Kagome fires an arrow that purifies Naraku's demonic aura, allowing the spirits of the wolf demon tribe to assist Kōga by defying Midoriko's will. Kōga sees the unconscious Infant inside Naraku, and uses the Goraishi on its barrier, freeing himself and exposing the Infant.

Naraku prepares to flee by sending out miasma, but Miroku opens his Wind Tunnel; he plans to prevent Kikyo from sacrificing Kohaku's life to kill Naraku. However, he only sucks in diamonds and miasma. Despite everyone telling him to stop, Miroku holds on, even as the poison starts affecting him. The poisoning becomes so severe, that he begins bleeding from his mouth and eyes. The strain of pulling in so much poison sends out, what appears to be, an electical discharge. Naraku then realises that it's not specificly him that Miroku is trying to suck in - it's the Infant he's after!

Naraku curses Miroku, declaring that he won't be able to suck in his heart. However, Miroku retorts that his foe should just give up and accept the enivitable. The Wind Tunnel's pull begns dislodging the Infant from Naraku's grasp, making the child lose grip of the Fuyōheki, which gets sucked in. Without this, Naraku can no longer hide his demonic aura. As the miasma is starting to kill Miroku, Inuyasha rushes over right as his friend coughs blood, forcing him to close the Wind Tunnel. Fleeing, Naraku taunts Inuyasha, saying Miroku had almost sucked in his heart; they wasted their best chance to kill him.

A weakened Miroku asks Sango to forgive him. Kikyō examines Miroku, seeing that Naraku's miasma has left Miroku with scars leading from his Wind Tunnel all the way to the center of his chest; the wound appears similar to spider legs. Kikyō says she will attempt to purify Miroku of the miasma he sucked in. However, she warns that a body like Miroku's, which has sucked in that much miasma, will never be able to be fully restored.

Trivia

 * This episode also marks the death of the Infant.
 * Also the Fuyōheki is destroyed; Miroku managed to suck it into the Wind Tunnel.
 * The Wind Tunnel sent out what appears to be an electrical discharge, from sucking in Naraku's miasma.
 * This marks the last appearance of Naraku's post-Mount Hakurei look.
 * Originally in the manga, when Naraku blew up Mōryōmaru, Kongōsōha spears coated with his miasma impaled, killed and reanimated a local pack of  porcupine demons, leading to some minor trouble for Inuyasha's group.