Demon Sword Maiden

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"Lynne… This… Even though this is a Supreme God Divinity, something about it feels… wrong." Queen Kaguya blushed despite herself, raising her hand to hide her face.

Yanagihada and the others couldn't bring themselves to look directly at the statue of the abnormal beast. They had never seen a Supreme God Divinity before, but even so, they could tell this one emitted power far beyond that of any Kunitsukami or Amatsukami.

They had long accused Lily of being a seductress who had charmed the Imperial Princess, but none of them had expected her to truly acquire a Divinity, especially one steeped in the aura of lust.

"She might be strong, but she rarely fights with her own power. She lets others sacrifice themselves for her. So this is the path she's chosen… No wonder." Even though they looked down on her for it, none of them could deny that they would seize the same chance if given. In this world, overwhelming strength was the only truth that mattered.

In Yomi-no-kuni, any woman without strength was destined to be defiled by those stronger than her. In such a brutal world, once your freedom and dignity were taken, what meaning did honor still hold?

But Rei, Ayaka, and the others who had seen Lily in her true form inside the Mirror Dimension knew better. These were just the assumptions of outsiders, and completely unfounded.

Ayaka felt her breath quicken. 'So much for mental discipline… I can't even look at that statue for long without slipping into some strange state. I've always tried to be the reliable older sister in front of Lily, but if she sees me like this… it's too embarrassing. Still, it's incredible. Whether it's real or not, she actually brought out a Supreme God Divinity. Unbelievable.'

Lily herself was struggling to resist the Divinity's influence. Sensing the atmosphere around her turning unstable, she quickly withdrew the artifact and sealed it deep within her Mirror Dimension, where its energy would no longer affect anyone.

Though Yanagihada and the others secretly cursed Lily as shameless, they bowed nonetheless. They had no choice. Shimizu, their new master, clearly cherished Lily more than anyone else.

"Congratulations on obtaining a Supreme God Divinity, Your Grace," they said in unison, lowering their heads.

"Lily, gaining a Divinity is a great advantage for you," Asura-Onna said, frowning. "But this one carries the element of lust. As a woman, do you truly intend to take such a disgraceful path?"

"Why does it bother you, sister?" Rakshasa-Onna chimed in with a faintly mocking smile. "If Lily chooses this path, so what?"

"Huh? Well…" Lily regretted revealing the Divinity. With hindsight, she realized she should have simply said she possessed one. Displaying it had only drawn unwanted judgment.

"What did you just say?" Shimizu's voice dropped, her fingers resting on her weapon. The blade was already slightly drawn. "You dare insult my sister?"

"So what? Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Rakshasa-Onna shot back. "You think you measure up to the Imperial Princess?" Her lingering resentment toward the Princess made her loathe Shimizu's very appearance.

"I heard you captured my sister when she first arrived in Yomi and treated her cruelly," Shimizu said, her tone cold. "I've been waiting for a chance to settle that debt. Shall we go outside and finish this?"

"Afraid of you? Don't flatter yourself," Rakshasa-Onna sneered, not backing down.

"Enough, both of you," Queen Kaguya stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "You're both sisters to Lynne. How can we be fighting each other when enemies surround us?"

"Lynne?" Shimizu raised an eyebrow. "Why do you call her that? Who are you really?" Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. Maybe Kaguya or Rakshasa-Onna was the mysterious senior sister after all.

"Sisters, please stop arguing," Lily said with a sigh. "I know you're all looking out for me, but as Her Majesty said, we're surrounded by demons. Instead of quarreling, why don't we focus on working together to defeat the enemy? If the demons saw us bickering at a time like this, wouldn't they laugh at us?"

After Lily's words, Shimizu, Rakshasa-Onna, and the others had no response. Though the resentment remained in their hearts, they quieted down for the time being.

"Lily, even if you have a Supreme God Divinity, breaking through is still nearly impossible. It could take thousands, even tens of thousands of years. Are we supposed to wait here all that time?" Asura-Onna asked.

"Well… I don't think it will take that long," Lily replied with a confident smile. She wasn't aiming for Supreme Godhood just yet. Her goal was to reach the Celestial Stage. With her Charm Heavenly Path and Lunar Heavenly Path already at the fourth stage, she had fulfilled all the conditions for advancement. Now, all she needed was a moment of inspiration. Still, she hoped to complete Pair Training with Shimizu first, to deepen her understanding of swordsmanship. She wanted to reach the fourth stage in her Sword Heavenly Path before advancing, so she could ascend under the best possible circumstances.

According to the stele that contained the secrets of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle, Pair Training consisted of three stages: Clueless Night, Unplucked Flower, and Waterless Moon.

The final stage, Waterless Moon, required a bond of deep and absolute intimacy between the two women involved. In the past, Lily couldn't have imagined such closeness. But now, she understood she was capable of achieving it.

Lily recalled the Himemiya Sen-no-hana Painting. She had once believed the ancient Celestial Maidens had been too indulgent. But now she saw that in a world where strength was everything, their love for one another had also been a path to greater power. Their closeness had elevated their training to its peak.

Ayaka spoke up. "Now that we've made enemies of nearly every major power in Yomi, they've invested too much to simply walk away. They won't stop until they crush us. Your Grace, Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna, even though you serve the Madam, I doubt either of you could leave this place unscathed."

Asura-Onna and Rakshasa-Onna both nodded in agreement. The demonic horde outside had long since abandoned all reason. If they tried to flee as women, they would be attacked on sight. At this point, it was nearly impossible to separate themselves from the conflict.

"Heh, you're right, Lady Ayaka," Asura-Onna said with a chuckle. "But don't underestimate us. Even if our titles might spare us from harm, we would never abandon all of you just to save ourselves. That would be shameful."

"Exactly. We've been fighting together this whole time. How could we possibly leave on our own now?" Rakshasa-Onna added proudly.

Lily gave a small nod, clearly relieved by their sincerity.

"Hmph. Maybe Yomi women aren't all that despicable after all," Shimizu said with a smirk.

"Let's get this straight. We're doing this for the Madam and for Lily," Rakshasa-Onna replied sharply. "And for women like Kaguya and Ayaka, who've stood beside us. It has nothing to do with you."

"Sisters, let's change the subject," Lily cut in, hoping to calm things down. "What Sister Ayaka means is that since we can't leave for now, there's no better choice than to keep defending. If I manage to break through, it could turn everything around. And even if I don't, the demons may eventually start to turn on each other after repeated failures. Or maybe the Madam will return by then."

Ayaka nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Until we're certain we have a way to win, defense must be our priority. Unless someone here has a better plan?"

After the meeting, silence settled among the sisters. None of them could offer a better plan. The main forces of the Female Queendom, Asura Dojo, and Rakshasa Dojo remained stationed in their own territories. Although their numbers were considerable, they stood no chance against nearly twenty Supreme Gods. Sending them into battle would be nothing short of sending them to their deaths.

And so, everyone agreed to focus on defense. They would wait for Lily's breakthrough or for a new opportunity to present itself.

Shimizu had reclaimed command over Hekiraku City, but unlocking its full potential would take time. Relying on fragments of ancient memories and her present understanding, she worked tirelessly to study the city's mechanisms and hidden structures. With each passing day, the city's defenses grew stronger.

As long as Shimizu remained within the city and the Supreme Gods refrained from intervening directly, they could likely hold out for another decade.

Hekiraku City continued to grow more impenetrable. Many of its ancient formations and automated defenses were now reactivated, unleashing waves of counterattacks that inflicted heavy losses on the attacking demons.

At the same time, casualties among the Dark Celestial Maidens decreased significantly thanks to the renewed defenses. Yanagihada had no complaints. As commander of the Dark Celestial Maidens, her priority was always the safety of her sisters.

Once the defenses were set and the city's systems examined again, Shimizu and Lily retreated to a secluded chamber on the top floor to begin Pair Training. This time, their training aimed to master the third stage, helping Lily further refine her understanding of swordsmanship.

It was a crucial step, and although some of the other sisters were displeased, none voiced their objections.

As Ayaka passed by the corridor, she glanced toward the room at the far end. Though she couldn't see what was happening inside, an unmistakable air of intimacy seemed to linger in the air.

A wave of sadness crept into her chest, filling her with a dull, aching pain.

"What's wrong with me?" she whispered to herself. "I've always considered myself a reasonable woman. Lily is doing what's best for all of us… So why does it hurt so much?"

Ayaka's chest rose and fell with emotion, but she still felt suffocated. She stepped out into a quiet corridor and moved toward a window. Ordinary demons no longer dared to attack the city, as their assaults caused little damage. Shimizu had activated the city's regeneration systems, allowing it to repair itself almost instantly from minor destruction.

She stared into the vast abyss beyond the city walls. A cold breeze brushed against her face and chest, offering a brief, hollow sense of relief.

"Lily and Shimizu… in Hekiraku Realm… Did something happen between them?" she wondered quietly. Her instincts, always sharp, offered no comfort this time.

"Lady Ayaka?" a voice called out gently. It was Asura-Onna, walking toward her from the hallway.

"Asura-Onna, Your Grace," Ayaka replied, turning to bow politely.

"It's our scheduled break, isn't it? You couldn't sleep?" Asura-Onna asked softly, noting the sorrow in Ayaka's expression with a flicker of sympathy in her eyes.