Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 220 - Trap

The eight colossal demon gods were bound once more. Outside the city, hundreds of Dark Celestial Maidens operated Kunitsukami Shikigami and dark wooden puppets, working in unison to assist with construction.

Though escape was now within reach, none of the maidens showed the slightest trace of joy. After so many years reigning over the Boundless Abyss, this retreat felt like a defeat.

The thought of Yanagihada, left behind in the hands of abyssal demons, weighed heavily on them all. Despite Shimizu’s threat of retribution, her fate remained uncertain, deepening their collective sense of guilt and powerlessness.

Lily gazed into the shadowy distance, a helpless ache in her chest. But sighing wouldn’t change anything. She turned inward, deciding instead to return to her training.

Unlike the Dark Celestial Maidens, whose emotions often swung wildly in despair, Lily found grounding in training. Though not naturally optimistic, she took pride in her progress. It hadn’t been long since she began her path of advancement, yet she had already reached the strength of a Supreme God. Was there anyone across the three realms who had advanced so quickly?

Lily had earned the right to be confident. Yet, even she sometimes questioned her rapid growth. Her sisters were growing stronger as well, but none, not even the greatest figures of the Heian Era, had ever advanced at such an astonishing pace.

Who was she, truly?

The eight demon gods, born of the abyss’ pitch-black depths, had long since been blinded by the Dark Celestial Maidens a thousand years ago. Despite their towering size and immense power, they remained confined to the Infernal Stage.

Back then, the Dark Celestial Maidens had shown little mercy. But this was Yomi-no-kuni, a realm of bloodshed and deceit. Kindness was a luxury no one could afford.

Once preparations were complete, the eight demon gods began to haul Hekiraku City upward under Hyozuhi’s command. The massive metal chains groaned and clanged through the darkness as the city slowly rose. This time, it would leave the Boundless Abyss for good.

Though the demon gods moved slowly, each step spanned kilometers. Their colossal size made the city’s ascent faster than its previous descent.

“Finally, we’re leaving…” Lily murmured, watching the jagged cliffs sink from view. A quiet sense of release stirred within her.

As Hekiraku City passed the shattered remains of Rinpeki Stage, Lily felt a pang of bittersweet memory. Not long ago, it had glittered with light, built for her wedding to the Boundless Imperial Princess. Echoes of demonic dances still haunted her thoughts.

Now, it was nothing more than a broken, floating ruin. The enchanted stones and talismans embedded within it kept it suspended eternally in the abyss.

Rei’s silver hair drifted with each step as she approached Lily in the corridor. “We’re finally leaving the Boundless Abyss,” she said, standing quietly by her side.

“Thank you, Sister Uesugi,” Lily said softly.

Rei tilted her head. “Why thank me?”

“When I fell into Yomi, I thought I’d never return. It’s a brutal place, especially for women. But you and the others came anyway. You risked everything to save me. I don’t know what would’ve happened without you.”

“I didn’t do enough,” Rei replied, her blue eyes shimmering with regret. Her sorrow wasn’t born from jealousy toward Shimizu, but from her own sense of helplessness.

“No, you’ve done more than you know,” Lily said, turning to face her.

“You’re so kind, Lily. I…” Rei’s voice trailed off as she looked at her, a flicker of her old carefree self returning. But in her eyes, a quiet helplessness lingered. She turned her gaze skyward, into the endless veil of night.

“I’m heading out to train,” Rei said as she flicked her long silver hair and turned away.

Lily watched her go, admiring the tall, statuesque frame that embodied a warrior’s grace and strength. She wanted to follow, to offer comfort, but she knew Rei’s pride wouldn’t welcome it. Even if Rei accepted the gesture, it might only deepen her frustration.

“Sister Uesugi!” Lily called out.

Rei paused. “What is it?”

“Let’s train together next time.”

Rei turned slightly, her face illuminated by the cold blue glow of the night. Like a goddess carved from ice, she offered a faint smile. “Alright.” Then she walked away.

Just as Rei neared the corridor’s corner, a deafening shockwave struck. The ground trembled violently, and Hekiraku City quaked under the force.

A barrage of destructive energy surged along the eight chains that anchored the city, crashing into Hekiraku’s core. Explosions erupted throughout its inner structures, sending shockwaves rippling through the foundation.

Each attack was distinct and terrifying. Three multicolored bolts of lightning tore through the air, each powerful enough to reshape the realm of Yomi. Accompanying them were searing flames, clouds of lethal poison, pulses of dark energy, and a concussive force so dense it shattered stone like glass.

The entire city groaned as its walls cracked and began to crumble.

“What’s happening?” Lily gasped. The attack was a catastrophe of unimaginable scale.

Floors split apart beneath their feet, pillars toppled, and debris rained from the ceilings in clouds of choking dust. The city seemed on the verge of total collapse.

Yet somehow, the city remained suspended. The chains groaned under the strain, dragging it upward while the terrified screams of Dark Celestial Maidens echoed through the ruins.

Chaos had descended in an instant.

But even amid the destruction, Lily stood firm. The attack was powerful, but not enough to harm someone of her strength. Lily had doubted the demon gods, yet she believed the negotiations had succeeded. There was no way they had uncovered Shimizu’s true identity.

The demons’ unreasonable demand and Yanagihada’s sacrifice had ironically made their deception more believable. It even reassured Lily and the others. But now, doubt crept in. Had it all been a trap from the beginning?

Could this have been orchestrated from the very start?

Hekiraku City was built to withstand even the wrath of Supreme Gods. Its resilience had given them confidence. Yet now, it had nearly crumbled in seconds. What could cause such destruction?

“Your Grace!” Renka and Isshiki burst into a half-collapsed house, flames curling around the ruins.

“Stay calm, Renka!” Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna stood before the blaze, unshaken by the fire that posed no threat to their divine forms.

“We’ve been deceived!” Rakshasa-Onna shouted, fury blazing in her eyes. “Those damned abyssal demons were never negotiating in good faith! They’ve been working with the Yomi all along!”

The moment disaster struck, the sisters began transmitting their voices to coordinate.

“The defensive spell formations! Most of the primary barriers in Hekiraku City have been damaged simultaneously!” Hyozuhi shouted amid the chaos.

‘So that’s why the so-called invincible Hekiraku City took such massive damage in an instant… Without those ancient formations, it’s just a regular fortress with thick walls. How are we supposed to stop demon gods from charging in now?’ Lily thought, her chest tightening.

“How could this happen?” Queen Kaguya and Chiya emerged from the collapsing corridor, stunned.

“Lily! Most of the formations are gone! I can’t control any of it anymore!” Shimizu’s voice trembled through the spiritual channel.

The protective formations of Hekiraku City were deeply embedded into the core support pillars and internal mechanisms of the structures. These complex systems were hidden in the depths of the architecture and could only be accessed through secret methods. Unless someone had extensive knowledge of the city’s inner workings, it would be impossible to locate and disable them.

‘Could someone among the Dark Celestial Maidens be a traitor?’ Lily’s thoughts turned cold at the possibility.

Hekiraku City shuddered violently. Flames surged through its streets, thick smoke curled through collapsing corridors, and the aftermath of the attacks spread like wildfire. The once-great fortress now resembled the mouth of hell.

“They’re breaking in! The demons—ah!” A panicked voice transmission from one of the Dark Celestial Maidens ended abruptly in a scream.

Panic consumed every corner of Hekiraku City.

For a moment, the Dark Celestial Maidens stood frozen in disbelief. But Lily, despite the chaos, remained calm and focused.

“Yinzuhi, Ansha! Rally the others. Use whatever intact structures remain, set up defensive positions and repel the invaders!” Lily barked out commands. “Now! Move, before we lose control of the city!”

“Y-yes!” both Yinzuhi and Ansha replied, startled but responsive.

Though Yinzuhi and Ansha typically took orders from Shimizu, Lily’s unwavering authority in that moment overrode hesitation. Her resolve was contagious, cutting through their panic and forcing them into action.

“All Supreme God sisters, with me! We need to assess the situation outside!” Lily’s voice rang through their minds. “Understood!” came immediate replies from Kaguya-hime, Rakshasa-Onna, and the others. There was no time to waste.

“Sister Uesugi?” Lily called out as flames licked the fractured corridor. From the far end, Rei stepped through the smoke and debris, her figure illuminated by the burning wreckage around her.

“Stay inside the city and fight with the Dark Celestial Maidens,” Lily said firmly. Despite the destruction, Hekiraku City’s core structure remained intact. With fire raging and demons invading, it was still safer than the chaos unfolding outside.

There was no doubt now. All twenty Supreme Gods from the Yomi and abyssal factions had joined forces. From the nature of the eight earlier attacks, it was clear that some had been prepared long before and were not part of the formations native to the Boundless Abyss.

“Be careful out there, Lily,” Rei said, her voice steady with resolve.

“You too, Sister Uesugi. Protect the others,” Lily replied, her tone soft but unwavering.

With no hesitation, Lily leapt through a jagged hole in the wall and vanished into the vast abyss below. Behind her, Hekiraku City burned furiously, its debris scattering like embers on the wind.

“Lily!” Ayaka and Shimizu emerged from another floor, both unharmed as they took to the air. Not far behind, Kaguya-hime, Chiya, Rakshasa-Onna, and Asura-Onna followed, soaring into the battle-scarred skies.