Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 211 - Lily's Strength

Deep within the shadowy Boundless Abyss, Kuroyodai and the other formidable Supreme Gods fixed their gaze on Hekiraku City. The once-glorious city had fallen silent, now glowing faintly under scattered lamplight.

“What just happened?” Kuroyodai’s voice rumbled like shifting mountains. His colossal face loomed like a craggy peak in the darkness. “Even I, who have lived in this abyss since time immemorial, have never seen such a phenomenon. What occurred inside that city?”

Wakarai and the other Infernal Supreme Gods stood in stunned silence, their expressions equally perplexed. None of them had ever witnessed anything like it.

Though Kuroyodai had never once left the abyss, the others such as Wakarai, Kurorai, and their kin had descended from Takamagahara. Even so, none of them could fathom the spectacle before them. For the moonlight to shine across the pitch-black Boundless Abyss, which devoured even the concept of night, was simply unthinkable.

Throughout the abyss, the demons stood frozen, shaken to their core. Not one among them understood what had transpired.

Far above the Boundless Abyss, in a realm beyond mortal reach, the sky shimmered with color, thick clouds rolling in lazy arcs across the heavens.

Tennin Mikoto, draped in dark purple robes, leaned against the stone balustrade of a floating castle tower. Her gaze was fixed on the swirling ocean of clouds beneath her feet.

“What was that surge of energy? Why does it unnerve me so deeply?”

Her expression darkened with concern. Despite her overwhelming strength, something about that distant pulse stirred fear within her Supreme God Spirit Crystal. It had been centuries, perhaps longer, since she last felt fear of this magnitude.

The sensation had come from impossibly far below, beyond her sight, deep within Yomi-no-Kuni. She could not perceive the details, only the distant ripple that disturbed her very soul.

A sudden jolt of pain tore through Tennin Mikoto’s soul. Though her body was young and unscathed, radiating vitality and allure, her spirit still bore the wounds of a bitter defeat. This body, unlike the one she once inhabited as the wounded Imperial Princess, was whole, but the soul within remained fractured.

Her soul had barely escaped to Takamagahara, yet the wound it carried was deep and permanent. The agony that flared within her now was far beyond any physical suffering. She could only tremble, helpless against the torment that seized her from within.

Each time she remembered the woman who inflicted that wound, rage surged through her. She felt no hatred toward Minamoto no Shimizu, whose body she had possessed. The true object of her hatred was Lily.

Everything that had happened—every failure, every wound—had begun with Lily. Especially that final strike, which bypassed Shimizu’s flesh and struck directly at her soul. The agony it caused was unmatched by anything she had ever known.

“I don’t know why, but I have a hunch, this strange sensation must be connected to that wretched woman. Kagami Lily… It’s you again, isn’t it? Tch. I know all there is to know about the demon gods of the Boundless Abyss. You might be able to defeat me with Minamoto no Shimizu’s help, but without me to hold those demons back, you’ll never escape that abyss. Maybe this ripple I feel is your final act of defiance. A woman like you, so obsessed with honor, might prefer to die on her own terms. I hope that’s the case. But if so, I won’t get the chance to break your body and torment your soul myself. I won’t accept that! I simply can’t.”

“I look forward to hearing of your demise.”

“No, it would be better if you were crushed beneath the feet of the abyssal demon gods. I want you to suffer a fate worse than death. Though knowing your arrogant nature, it probably won’t happen. But… whenever I recall those moments, when I picture your face, your expression, your body… I can’t help myself. Hnn… ahh…”

Tennin Mikoto trembled with unrestrained lust, her breathing ragged as she caressed herself. She appeared utterly intoxicated, overcome by desire and madness. It was a shameful, degrading sight.

“Young lady…” A celestial maiden clad in revealing garments stepped into the room, her voice timid.

“Do you have a death wish?” Tennin Mikoto snapped, her face burning red. The torment of physical pleasure mixed with spiritual agony had nearly unhinged her. “How many times have I told you to announce yourself before entering?”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace… um, well… His Highness has summoned you. He wishes for you to warm his bed…”

“What?” Tennin Mikoto’s body trembled. She was on the brink of collapse but managed to pull herself together. “Very well. I’ll go once I’ve dressed.”

The celestial maiden quietly withdrew. Tennin Mikoto clutched her chest, staring out at the endless sea of clouds. “What’s happening to me? I’ve been his secret mistress for eons… his most beloved. But now… ever since I returned, I feel nothing but revulsion. I don’t desire any of this anymore. Is it because my soul was wounded?”

“Kagami Lily… you vile woman! You not only shattered my soul, you’ve stolen my ability to feel love! I hope you’re torn apart in the deepest depths of the abyss!” Her cry echoed in torment. “Agh! Aaaagh!”

Tennin Mikoto shrieked in anguish, her voice cutting through the clouds like a blade of madness.

At that very moment, Lily had finally reached the Celestial Stage, officially becoming a true Celestial Maiden. Though she had not yet obtained Divinity, her power had already reached a terrifying level, strong enough to potentially defeat even gods from all three realms in a single strike. Back when she was still on the Big Dipper Stage, her combat ability already rivaled the elites of the Empyreans, and she could contend with the weaker Supreme Gods. Now, her strength had soared, yet even so, she remained short of standing among the very strongest of the Supreme Gods.

This was not a matter of simple comparison.

Lily had enjoyed a clear advantage before and after reaching the Big Dipper Stage. She was unmatched among her peers and could even defeat stronger foes, relying on the heritage of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto and her Celestial Maiden Physique. Her exceptional combat talent, unmatched comprehension, and extraordinary adaptability all contributed to her strength.

However, as her strength increased, the gap between her and the top-tier beings began to narrow. Her physique, potential, and battle instincts were no longer leagues above theirs but merely on par.

Take the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle, for instance. It may boast the greatest offensive power across the three realms, yet the other unparalleled Supreme Gods possessed techniques of equal might.

The differences in their combat abilities could be compared to the gap between the third and fourth stages of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle. They were close, but not overwhelmingly so.

Most Supreme Gods also possessed exceptional physiques. Even after Lily’s breakthrough, when her own body was considered one of the most refined among them, there remained a few whose rare and unique constitutions far surpassed hers.

As for her weapon, Oborozuki Muramasa had been strengthened to the level of a Divine Artifact, but only just. Compared to the principal weapons wielded by the strongest Supreme Gods, it was still far inferior.

While ordinary Empyreans posed no threat to her, the Supreme Gods remained a different story. Each one of them had comprehended at least one Heavenly Path to the Seventh Stage, which alone surpassed anything Lily currently had.

Therefore, despite her breakthrough, Lily’s power had not risen to the point where she could overcome any Supreme God without effort.

Based on her own judgment, she was now comparable to an above-average Supreme God. However, she had yet to master the fifth stage of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle. Once she achieved that, she believed she would ascend into the highest ranks, even among Supreme Gods.

Beyond her swordstyle, Lily possessed a rare advantage unknown to most Supreme Gods, she had broken through with three Heavenly Paths at once. While the benefits of this feat had yet to fully manifest, once she advanced all three to the sixth stage, her combat strength would increase dramatically.

That was Lily’s true potential. If realized, it would make her unmatched even among the greatest of Supreme Gods.

She also retained her vast arsenal of lunar forces—Hazy, Purple, Dark, and Blood. If she could refine these powers to their fullest, her strength would grow even more formidable.

At that point, she would likely rival even the Boundless Imperial Princess, standing as an unshakable force among Supreme Gods. Even so, that level of power remained a distant goal.

Moreover, Lily had no intention of using Lord Shikikai’s Divinity. It was incompatible with her Heavenly Paths, and once she reached the sixth stage in all three, she would no longer be able to advance further. This posed a long-term risk to her growth.

“Of course… the Lunar Crystals!”

Back when she was still on the Big Dipper Stage, Lily had been able to absorb one hundred Lunar Crystals. Now, she wanted to attempt merging with more, but it was impossible. Nearly all the crystals she possessed, which numbered in the tens of thousands, had already fused together to form the statue of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto.

She wondered if destroying the statue could return the crystals to her, but the artifact was eternal and unbreakable. Even if it were possible, Lily would never commit such an irreverent act.

With her current supply exhausted, she could only collect more when the opportunity arose. Yet she understood that acquiring them in large numbers again was unlikely, and even if she did, their impact would be minimal at her level of strength.

“It seems the only path to rapid growth now lies in mastering the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle.”

Progress in Heavenly Path comprehension could not be forced. It required insight, battle experience, inspiration, and luck. The higher her advancement, the more elusive and mysterious the process became. There was no guarantee of immediate advancement.

Even without Divinity, she had reached a level above the average Supreme God. That alone was a miracle for one who was still merely a Celestial.

Lily felt elated. Her recent breakthrough and deeper understanding of the moon’s solitude had lightened her spirit. She chose to wear a soft blue yukata, departing from her usual red. By now, some time had passed since the moon had appeared.

In Hekiraku City, Rei, Ayaka, Shimizu, and the other sisters sensed the change in Lily’s aura. Realizing she had broken through, they quickly made their way to her. Ayaka had already arrived and was standing outside Lily’s room.

“Come here, Lily.” But just then, her senior sister’s voice echoed into her mind. In response, Lily sent her consciousness into the Mirror Dimension.

“Senior Sister!”

Rinne sat gracefully on the wooden couch, nodding at Lily with quiet approval. “Well done, Lily. Just as I expected, you did not disappoint me.”

“You’re too kind. I only succeeded thanks to your guidance, Senior Sister.”

Reaching the Celestial Stage was far more difficult than the Big Dipper Stage, yet this time, the breakthrough had felt smoother. Lily knew it was thanks to her senior sister’s guidance, which had made all the difference.

“Lily, I wanted to speak with you before your sisters and the Dark Celestial Maidens begin flooding you with questions. I expect you’ll be quite busy once they come in, so for now, they’ll wait outside. It’s time I pass on the Maiden’s Command Technique to you.”