Demon Sword Maiden

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In the depths of the abyss, Wakarai and several other Yomi Supreme Gods hovered silently in the darkness, their eyes fixed on the distant silhouette of Hekiraku City.

"Hekiraku City is regaining its strength? If that's the case, then perhaps the Boundless Imperial Princess has returned," Wakarai murmured in thought. Yet, he hesitated. If she had truly come back, wouldn't she have already emerged to fight? That would be more in line with her nature.

That meant she was either severely injured or restrained by some unknown force preventing her from acting.

Even so, Wakarai remained cautious. While he might be willing to take risks, the same could not be said for the other Supreme Gods. With so many gathered, their views inevitably differed.

If the Imperial Princess truly was weakened, this could be their only chance to eliminate her. But should they fail, the price would be unimaginable. Once she recovered, she would pursue her enemies to the ends of the world, and her vengeance would bring catastrophe to all of Yomi-no-kuni.

And even if they managed to kill her, they knew that a cornered foe was the most dangerous. If driven to desperation, the Imperial Princess might unleash her full power without regard for her own life. In such a clash, several among them would surely fall. Who among the Supreme Gods would be willing to pay that price?

Unless she had been incapacitated beyond recovery, neither the Yomi Supreme Gods nor the abyssal demon gods dared to make a move.

If she did recover, they could simply disavow any ties with the demons and claim neutrality.

With his long, tangled hair flowing like shadowed silk, Kunhiza's eyes locked onto the distant city. His expression twisted in desire and suspicion. "Hekiraku City may be functioning again, but it's nowhere near its former glory. What's the reason for that?"

Once, Hekiraku City had been a divine fortress constructed in Takamagahara, so intricately designed that not even Supreme Gods could peer through its defenses.

Kunhiza transmitted his thoughts to Wakarai and the others. "Something isn't right. But hold your positions. I've already dispatched a scout within. A report should arrive soon."

Most demon gods of the Boundless Abyss were ancient and mighty, but brutal and dim-witted from centuries of endless slaughter. Kunhiza, however, was an anomaly. He had risen to become the most cunning strategist in the abyss.

In a past surprise attack against the Dark Celestial Maidens, even their formidable defenses had crumbled. Many had fallen, and some had been taken captive.

Kunhiza had enslaved several of them by corrupting their souls, then sent them back disguised as survivors. They had long since infiltrated Hekiraku City.

Now, he simply waited for their report from inside the city.

Though most abyssal and Yomi demons were brutish and selfish, Lily's youth made her misunderstand one critical thing: their sense of time. She was still in her twenties, while even the weakest Throned Stage demon had lived for millennia. A month-long siege was nothing to these ancient beings. They would not give up simply because of a temporary stalemate.

They had all the time in the world.

After several days of intense effort within Hekiraku City, Lily and Shimizu finally advanced their Pair Training to the Waterless Moon stage. This allowed Lily to absorb Shimizu's comprehension of the Sword Heavenly Path at a much faster pace.

Lily lay on her back with her head resting in Shimizu's lap. Shimizu knelt beside her, one hand gently supporting Lily's back while the other pressed lightly against her navel.

"This is the fastest method," Shimizu said softly. "By injecting my comprehension of the Sword Heavenly Path directly into your body, you'll be able to study it within your Spirit Palace. It won't grant you an immediate breakthrough, but with time, you can forge the fourth stage on your own."

"Injecting it without reservation is extremely draining, and I wouldn't normally do this," she continued, a gentle look in her eyes. "But for you, Lily, I'm willing to endure any fatigue, so long as it brings you happiness."

Lily blushed, feeling conflicted. She had always preferred to advance through her own efforts, but her recent attempts during Pair Training had shown little progress. Given the pressure from the ongoing siege outside, she had no choice but to accept Shimizu's help. Still, it felt strange. It almost seemed as if she were the one being taken advantage of, while Shimizu spoke as though she were the one making a noble sacrifice.

A pulse of prismatic light shimmered as Lily felt a surge of energy flow into her core. In an instant, waves of sword comprehension pierced through her body and flooded her Spirit Palace, nearly knocking the breath out of her.

Though the influx carried pure comprehension rather than actual sword energy, its force was still immense. A Supreme God's insights held such depth that even in this form, it overwhelmed her senses.

"Wait… just a moment… I can't…" Lily gasped, her body trembling and drenched in sweat as she tried to endure the torrent of knowledge.

"I can't stop now," Shimizu replied steadily. "Interrupting the process could harm your mind. I must finish it in one go."

"How can it be this intense…?" Lily muttered, her voice barely audible. "The difference between the third and fourth stage is overwhelming…"

She had never imagined such a dramatic leap between stages. Of course, Shimizu's own mastery at the sixth stage made her comprehension far beyond anything Lily had previously encountered.

At last, the transmission ended. Now, Lily had to digest and internalize the vast sea of insight on her own.

Too drained to stand, Lily lay on the floor, her breath shallow and unsteady. After some time, she sat upright in a meditative posture, closing her eyes and focusing inward. Slowly, she began converting the foreign comprehension into her own, striving toward the elusive fourth stage.

Such an exchange of insight through direct energy transmission was only possible after reaching the third stage of Pair Training—Waterless Moon. However, not everyone could withstand it. The recipient needed considerable physical and spiritual resilience, or else their Spirit Palace could suffer irreparable damage.

Shimizu was equally exhausted. Transmitting her comprehension demanded complete focus and consumed an immense amount of energy, both physical and mental.

"You must be tired. I am too," Shimizu said softly. "Rest a while. From here, it's up to you."

Indeed, the true challenge lay with Lily now. While she could draw upon the knowledge she had received, only her own insight and experience could shape it into a genuine breakthrough. No one could ascend purely on borrowed understanding.

Once Shimizu left, Lily sat in silence, feeling an odd sense of emptiness settle in her chest. She quickly refocused, calming her thoughts and delving into meditation. After several days of deep introspection, Lily finally broke through and stepped into the fourth stage of the Sword Heavenly Path.

With her Lunar, Charm, and Sword Heavenly Paths all elevated to the fourth stage, Lily had created the perfect foundation. She was now fully prepared to break through to the Celestial Stage.

Now came the time to prepare for her breakthrough. The method had already been detailed in the Lunar Blossom, but the key to initiating it remained elusive. It required repeated attempts and, ultimately, relied heavily on her luck.

However, Lily was exhausted. She left the room to find some rest, hoping a warm bath would help ease her fatigue.

"Lily." Ayaka happened to cross paths with her in the corridor. Seeing the tired flush on Lily's face stirred a mixture of emotions within her.

"Sister Ayaka." Lily's voice was low and weary. She clearly didn't feel up to a conversation.

Ayaka felt a wave of bitterness as she looked at Lily's face. Though she silently blamed Shimizu for exhausting her like this, the truth was more complicated. She had planned to introduce Suzuhiko-hime, but seeing Lily's drained and flustered expression, as if she had endured far too much over several days, made her hesitate. "Are you alright, Lily?"

"I'm fine. I just… want to take a break," Lily replied, leaning against the wall as she made her way toward the baths.

"Are you going to bathe? Let me help you," Ayaka offered gently, concerned by how utterly spent Lily looked.

"Huh? No need, Sister…" Lily began to protest, but just then, a burst of white mist appeared beside Ayaka. Suzuhiko-hime and Kagura materialized from the smoke.

"Kagura?" Lily immediately recognized her. Despite their identical appearance, Kagura and Nanako had distinct demeanors, and Lily could easily tell them apart. Besides, Nanako had long lost her powers as a Shikigami and could no longer emerge from Ayaka's Heavenly Charm Bell.

"And you are…" Her voice came out faint, and she braced herself against the wall, breathing heavily.

"I'm Suzuhiko-hime, Miss Lily. We've never met, but I believe we need to talk." She was dressed in a Celestial Maiden's coat, her presence refined and ethereal. Beside her, Kagura held her hand in quiet support.

Lily's eyes lit up in recognition. "You're Suzuhiko-hime?"

She tried to bow but staggered. Ayaka caught her, steadying her gently. "Lily, she's my Shikigami now. You don't need to bow."

"I know," Lily said, leaning heavily on Ayaka's shoulder. "But Suzuhiko-hime is one of my benefactors. Even though I inherited my powers from Tsukuyomi no Mikoto, I would never have received the ancient mirror if she hadn't sacrificed herself and sent Kagura away."

Slowly, Lily knelt on the floor. "Suzuhiko-hime, I don't kneel because of your title. I kneel for the sacrifice you made to protect Tsukuyomi no Mikoto's legacy."

Suzuhiko-hime was clearly moved. "You are the princess of Yomi-no-kuni, yet you kneel before me, a woman who was once just an ordinary Celestial Battle Maiden. Miss Lily, they say you are the most beautiful woman across all three realms, but I believe you are also the most honorable."

She lowered her head in a deep bow. "I greet you, Princess. From this day forward, Kagura and I shall serve Ayaka and pledge our loyalty to you."

"Master…" Kagura's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Lily. She had been uncertain, unsure how Lily would react to her former master reappearing. Yet Lily had not only accepted Suzuhiko-hime but honored her, leaving Kagura overwhelmed with gratitude.

Kagura dropped to her knees beside Suzuhiko-hime, her movements filled with reverence and emotion.

Lily, with Ayaka's assistance, gently lifted the two of them. "Kagura, I understand your heart. Now that your original master has returned, I will dissolve the contract between us. You're free to return to her side."

"What…? How can that be…" Kagura murmured, stunned and unsure of how to react.

"Your Grace…" Suzuhiko-hime spoke softly, her voice trembling with both joy and guilt.

Lily smiled gently. "It's only right. I won't hear any objections. This is my decision, and I expect you to accept it."

Once the contract was officially severed, Kagura and Suzuhiko-hime quietly excused themselves.

The two most likely intended to renew their bond in private or simply speak at length. Though they lived within the Heavenly Charm Bells as Shikigami, their connection with Ayaka had always resembled a partnership rather than a master-servant dynamic.

The resolution left everyone with a sense of relief and quiet happiness.

Lily and Ayaka found themselves alone once more. Lily glanced into Ayaka's eyes, catching a glimpse of something difficult to name, but unmistakably filled with sorrow.

"Get some rest, Lily," Ayaka said quietly, forcing the words out before turning away.

Watching Ayaka walk away, Lily felt a knot of conflicting emotions tighten in her chest. "Wait, Sister Ayaka… I'm sorry," Lily called out, her voice tinged with guilt.

Ayaka paused and turned, her eyes glistening. "There's no need to apologize. I've been the one making things difficult. You have so much on your shoulders. I shouldn't add more."

"No, that's not what I meant," Lily said softly. "I really am worn out from training. After I take a bath, would you mind giving me a massage?"