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. Kikyō wants 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 swallow him instead, fusing his shards with Naraku's.

With most of the Shikon Jewel now in his possession, Mōryōmaru's next goal is to go after the remaining shards, and, watching from nearby, Kagome realizes that this means the ones possessed by Kohaku and Kōga.

As Kohaku and Kōga are both nearby, Mōryōmaru targets Kōga first; hoping to test out his new powers. Inuyasha attempts to use the dragon-scaled Tessaiga, but finds that the Fuyōheki in the Infant's possession is preventing Mōryōmaru's demon vortex from being seen. Kōga and Inuyasha attempt breaking the armored shell, but don't have any luck. Both end up caught in Mōryōmaru's tentacles. Inuyasha uses the Tessaiga to absorb the Goraishi's demonic energy, giving him the strength to piece the part of Mōryōmaru that is absorbing Kōga; the Infant is also in this part. Realizing that he's in danger, the Infant releases a miasma and has Mōryōmaru fly away. Kagome notices that Mōryōmaru hasn't absorbed the Shikon Jewel yet, something that perplexes her.

The Infant is furious; his armor should be completely invincible thanks to absorbing Naraku and the Shikon Jewel, so why hasn't the jewel's magic been helping him. Naraku's face appears before the Infant, saying he was foolish for not noticing that Mōryōmaru was being eaten from the inside. Outside Mōryōmaru, Kōga awakens, only to angered that his legs are still frozen. Naraku attempts touching the Infant's barrier, only for his hand to be repelled; the Infant taunts him, saying even if Mōryōmaru is eaten, Naraku will never be able to break his barrier. However, Naraku uses Yōmeiju's tendrils to break through the barrier, forcing the Infant to leave Mōryōmaru. Everyone is shocked by the Infant attempting to flee, but Naraku blocks it with diamond spears. The Infant says he's willing to die if it meant killing Naraku as well, willing to choose death over re-absorption.

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 in discomfort until he explodes, revealing Naraku (with diamond covering his lower half) with the Infant held captive with barrier-piercing vines and Kōga still trapped in the diamonds. Naraku swallows the Infant inside his his diamonds. 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 in an attempt to suck in Naraku to save Kohaku for Sango's sake.

Unfortunately, this means Miroku also sucks up tons of Naraku's miasma, putting his own life in danger; he begins to bleed from his eyes and mouth while the Wind Tunnel releases an electrical discharge. The Wind Tunnel's pull almost dislodges the unconscious Infant, making him lose grip of the Fuyōheki. The stone gets sucked in, preventing Naraku from hiding his demonic aura. Inuyasha closes the Wind Tunnel before Naraku himself can get sucked in. Naraku taunts Inuyasha for doing so as he almost got sucked in; he then flees with his recovered heart. Kikyō examines Miroku, seeing that Naraku's miasma has left Miroku with wounds leading from his Wind Tunnel almost to his heart; the wounds appear similar to spider legs. Kikyō says she will attempt to purify Miroku, but warns that any body that takes in that much miasma will never 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.