Reiko shouted, attacking them with lightning.
Yahiko rushed forward, countering the attack.
Sanosuke shouted, countering the attack.
Kenshin growled, countering the attack.
Kuri held out her hand and countered the attack.
The Fallen disappeared into the shadows, and Kuri walked forward, placing her hand on the tree. She transformed into the Priestess. Realization dawned on her.
"Priestess...what are you doing?" Kenshin asked. "Get away from there!"
"Kenshin, Sanosuke, Yahiko..." the Priestess called her sword by placing her right hand, with index and middle fingers extended, in front of her chest, then raising her hand to the upper right. It appeared in her hand. "When this sword shines bright, when the magic hidden inside the one who will someday become High Priestess begins to shine in the reaction to the wishes of her heart, she will become complete and reawaken the full great powers of the New Moon. Chaos will not rest until the blood of a moon-child is spilled."
"NO! KURAI! STOP!" Kenshin screamed.
"Priestess!" Yahiko and Sanosuke shouted.
They lunged for her, as the Priestess plunged the sword into her chest.
As her blood ran down the twisted sealed tree, she spoke for a final time. "Remember to love, always love."
The spiritual power in her glowed and bloomed, rising and covered in blood, then a dark hand rose from the tree as the seal broke and Raphael stood. His hand closed on her glow of spiritual energy and shattered it.
The Fallen fell to one knee before him. Kenshin clutched Kurai's broken body, tears staining her cheeks. Yahiko and Sanosuke stood in front of them, prepared to fight.
"I am risen." Raphael said. "And this world is now mine!"