Demon Sword Maiden

Leave a comment ⇐ PreviousNext ⇒

"How dare you!" the Dark Celestial Maiden commander shouted, unable to endure the insult any longer. Her black robes billowed as a spear wreathed in dark energy appeared in her hand. Without hesitation, she charged toward the horde of demons, followed closely by several of her fellow maidens.

The Dark Celestial Maidens battled with ruthless precision and unwavering coordination. While some engaged the enemy head-on, others launched spells and unleashed hidden strikes from the rear to support their sisters on the front line.

These maidens excelled in the use of poisons, concealed weapons, mechanical devices, and deadly traps, giving them an edge even against more powerful enemies.

Two maidens released their enchanted puppets into the fray. The dark constructs tore through the enemy ranks, felling several demons in swift succession. Despite their efforts, the chaos only intensified as more demons surged forward. Even the Yomi factions, once hesitant, began to involve themselves in the fight.

To their surprise, even the subordinates of Wakarai and the other high-ranking Supreme Gods had joined the conflict, tipping the balance further.

Several divine-class figures led the Yomi demons in a powerful frontal assault, unleashing a barrage of demonic spells and fearsome abilities. A number of Big Dipper-level maidens were quickly overwhelmed, struck down, and dragged away as hostages by the enemy forces.

The commander herself was forced to face five Yomi demons alone, struggling to hold her ground.

A surge of blood-red demonic energy exploded toward her, hurling her through the air and slamming her into the stone walls of the city.

Clashes between Dark Celestial Maidens and invading demons erupted throughout the sky above Hekiraku City and across the chaotic wedding grounds below.

"This is terrible! If this continues, we'll be surrounded and crushed by all of Yomi and the abyss!" the commander cried out in alarm. She gave a sharp command. "All units, fall back into Hekiraku City at once!"

The moment the order was issued, the disciplined maidens began a tactical retreat into the fortified city. However, many were intercepted, captured, or slain in the chaos.

Rage filled the commander's eyes, but she knew that without the Boundless Imperial Princess, their forces would be annihilated. And the Supreme Gods had yet to move. No doubt, they were holding back to see if reconciliation might still be possible.

With no other choice, she was forced to abandon the captured maidens and lead the rest into retreat.

From the gates and windows of every level of Hekiraku City, the maidens launched poison-tipped arrows, hidden projectiles, and activated ancient defenses to fend off the attackers.

Hekiraku City was a sacred fortress descended from Takamagahara itself. As the stronghold of the Dark Celestial Maidens, it was fortified with ancient formations and divine treasures. Having stood for countless ages as a bastion of the Celestial Battle Maidens, it could not be conquered easily, even without the Imperial Princess present.

At last, the remaining Dark Celestial Maidens withdrew behind the walls of Hekiraku City, regrouping within its ancient defenses.

Yanagihada, the Dark Celestial Maiden commander, coughed violently and spat out blood. Her clash with several Infernal demons had injured her abdomen and damaged her Spirit Palace. Although her outer wounds could be treated quickly with divine energy, the internal damage was far more severe and would take time to recover, leaving her significantly weakened.

"Hurry! We need to secure the city gates and let the rest of our sisters inside!" Yanagihada ordered, wiping the blood from her lips.

"Yes, Commander!" her subordinates replied in unison.

Another unit of Dark Celestial Maidens emerged from deeper within the city and quickly took up positions at the gate, ready to defend it.

At that moment, Rakshasa-Onna, Asura-Onna, Queen Kaguya, Ayaka, and the others arrived. Unable to locate Lily but sensing the rising tension, they headed straight for the front lines where the fighting was most intense.

"What is happening? Why are you clashing with the abyssal demon gods?" Asura-Onna demanded.

Supported by two fellow maidens, Yanagihada clutched her stomach and spoke with a pale face. "This is your fault. With everyone doubting whether Her Highness is the real one, the abyssal demons saw their chance to strike. They were never loyal. They only feared her power."

Ayaka stepped forward. "We don't know exactly what happened to Her Highness either. But whatever the outcome, she brought it upon herself."

"Hmph, exactly!" Yanagihada sneered. "Her Highness never should have married Kagami Lily. That woman brings nothing but misfortune. And don't celebrate just yet. If the city falls, we'll either die fighting or become their slaves. That goes for all of us."

"Seriously?" Rei said dryly. "Do we really need another fight inside the city just to bring about our own destruction faster?"

A deep rumble echoed as Hekiraku City shuddered. Dust rained down from the rooftops as the earth quaked beneath them.

Yanagihada glanced around tensely, then turned back toward the gate. "What exactly do you women want? Are you just here to sneer at us? You should be worried for yourselves. Don't assume the Madam's protection will save you. The demons are crazed with lust and cruelty. Any beautiful woman will be a target unless she fights to the death."

"Of course we don't want to die, or be taken by those monsters!" Ayaka retorted. "And I doubt any of you do either. So shouldn't you be trying to bring back the Imperial Princess and Lily right now?"

"Bring them back?" Yanagihada scoffed. "It's not that simple. I'm not even sure she's the real Imperial Princess anymore. And even if she is, I can't get them out. The Hekiraku Realm is the city's greatest secret. It's said to be an entire world unto itself. No one can enter without Her Highness' permission."

The sisters were aware that many Dark Celestial Maidens had been injured, killed, or captured. Yanagihada's frustration and urgency seemed genuine. It was unlikely she was lying.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Renka asked nervously, glancing toward Rakshasa-Onna.

"If she really is the Imperial Princess, she'll come out eventually. If not, you'll all share our fate and perish here in the Boundless Abyss," Yanagihada said coldly. "I'd rather die than serve those beasts. But maybe women like you would prefer submission. If so, no one here will stop you." Her gaze shifted to Ayaka's translucent robes, full of scorn.

"Even now, you still find time to insult others? I must have overestimated you," Ayaka said, not even bothering to argue further.

"We're still your in-laws, no matter what," Asura-Onna added. "Lily is inside the Hekiraku Realm. We can't just stand by while the city falls. My sister and I will invoke the Madam's name to deter them!"

"I told you already, it's useless," Yanagihada snapped. "Those demons are blind and insane. They know the Imperial Princess might return but still charge ahead. Do you really think invoking the Madam, who holds no power here, will scare them off?"

Asura-Onna sent a voice transmission to the sisters. "She might be right. If the Madam had true authority here, we wouldn't have needed to send Lily in the first place. But we still have to try. Can you reach Lily or Shimizu? If they're able to fight, they need to come out now."

Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna had repeatedly attempted to contact the Madam, but there had been no response. They understood the Madam's authority held little sway in the Boundless Abyss. Now that the Imperial Princess had been defeated and her soul had fled, Shimizu had taken her place. If the Madam were to appear in person, the entire demon horde of Yomi would likely yield without resistance.

But the Madam still remained silent.

Within the Mirror Dimension, Ayaka and Rei's consciousnesses emerged simultaneously inside the octagonal stone chamber. The entrance, which had always been sealed to them, now stood open.

Both of them sensed that something in the room's atmosphere had subtly shifted.

A girl in white stood silently within the dimness, her long hair flowing gently behind her. There was something ethereal about her presence—if they hadn't seen her with their own eyes, they might not have sensed her at all.

"Lily… Lily?" Ayaka called out, her voice filled with disbelief.

But the girl before them looked slightly different from the Lily they knew. Her hairstyle was now neatly parted down the middle, styled in a way that gave her the poise of a goddess. Though she was a spirit, the gesture seemed born from habit rather than necessity.

The new hairstyle lent her a more mature aura than Lily's. Yet apart from her demeanor and style, she looked exactly the same.

"Lily? No… Who are you?" Ayaka asked, instinctively realizing that despite her appearance, this was not the same person.

Rei studied her in silence. While Lily always stirred a sense of affection or mischief in her, this woman inspired only reverence and curiosity. Despite the resemblance, something was clearly different.

"You both are perceptive. I'm not Lily," the woman said with a gentle laugh.

"Then who are you? Why are you here?" Ayaka asked cautiously.

"I am Lily's senior sister," she replied calmly.

"Senior sister?" Ayaka and Rei exchanged puzzled looks. The title didn't quite exist in their time, but it suggested a shared master or lineage between the two.

Lily and Shimizu strolled through a quiet bamboo garden, its winding paths veiled in a light mist. Shimizu felt a strange familiarity, as though she had walked this place in childhood, though no memories surfaced. To Lily, the surroundings vaguely resembled the Genji Dojo in Kamakura, where she had first encountered Shimizu.

"Lily," Rinne's voice echoed softly in her mind.

"Senior sister?" Lily responded, transmitting her thoughts through her spiritual link to the mirror.

"You and Miss Shimizu are inside a place known as the Hekiraku Realm," Rinne explained. "It's a complicated space. Right now, something serious is happening outside. Hekiraku City is under siege by demon forces."

She relayed the full situation to Lily, passing along the information received from Ayaka.

"Lily, you must find a way to leave the Hekiraku Realm with Miss Shimizu as soon as possible," she urged.

"I will. But are Sister Ayaka and the others safe?"

"Hekiraku City is the stronghold of the Dark Celestial Maidens in Takamagahara. It won't fall easily. They're safe for the moment. But with its master gone, the city cannot even unleash a tenth of its full defenses. It won't hold for long. You must act quickly," Rinne warned.

Lily's heart pounded as she turned toward Shimizu. "Sister Shimizu!"

"What's wrong? You've seemed distracted this whole time," Shimizu said, clearly displeased. "Are you thinking about that woman again? Tell me… what exactly happened between you two?"

"Sister, this isn't the time to joke. Sister Ayaka, Sister Uesugi, Queen Kaguya—everyone is in danger!" Lily quickly explained the situation. "Sister Shimizu, we need to get out of the Hekiraku Realm immediately!"