Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 133 – Enemies On All Sides

Wakarai maintained a towering stature of roughly three meters.

“This height suits you perfectly,” he said with a smirk, his voice crackling with thunder.

Wakarai wasn’t a Supreme God by cultivation—he was born as a direct embodiment of one of the nine Thunder Heavenly Paths. Forged in the primal chaos, birthed from a storm that once split the heavens, his body was thunder incarnate. He could shift his form and size at will.

Arcs of lightning danced violently across his body as Wakarai stepped closer to Lily.

“You’re quite tall for a woman—surely, only a man like me is worthy of you. My power eclipses all others in Yomi. Women from across the realm admire me… yet none have ever held my gaze. But you, Kagami Lily… I’ve come to take you home.”

Below, an ocean of demons watched in awe and tension.

“One of the Eight Thunder Gods, Wakarai…?” a demon elite muttered in disbelief. “Wasn’t he always an ally of the Madam? Why would he try to take the bride?”

“I think he said it himself,” hissed a yellow-skinned vagrant with a serpent’s tongue. “The Madam once promised Lyn-hime to him… but then gave her to the Boundless Imperial Princess instead.”

“What? For real? Even I wouldn’t tolerate that! And he’s a Supreme God!”

“What’s the Madam scheming this time? Playing the game of seduction?” wondered a pale-skinned swordsman with scholarly eyes, frowning in suspicion.

Wakarai extended his hand toward Lily, lightning rippling from his fingers. “I’d rather not ruin that lovely wedding gown. Will you come willingly? Or shall I carry you myself?”

Lily slowly lifted her head as the wind caught her long hair, her gaze cool and composed. “Your Highness Wakarai, what exactly do you mean by this? Are you truly willing to defy the Madam’s decree?”

“I’ve shown the Madam enough respect,” Wakarai growled. “But she promised you to me—and now she hands you over to someone else? Does she mean to make me, Wakarai, a joke to all of Yomi?” He reached toward her, his enormous hand closing in.

“Wait.” Lily’s voice was calm, commanding. “Your Highness, perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding.”

“What?” Sparks flickered in Wakarai’s eyes as his hand paused.

“If you’re referring to the agreement from before,” Lily said evenly, “where you would send Empyrean-level warriors to challenge me—and if they won, I’d become your bride… then let me remind you. I’ve already defeated many of your subordinates months ago. Hasn’t that promise been fulfilled? Or does Your Highness believe you can still send stronger champions to beat me within the next two years?”

The demons erupted in commotion at Lily’s bold declaration. Had anyone else made such a claim, they would have scoffed. But this was Kagami Lily—her strength was already proven to rival the Deadly Five. For Wakarai to send another challenger within the next two years and expect a victory? That was little more than fantasy.

Of course, Wakarai knew that as well.

“Kagami Lily! What vile slander!” Wakarai barked. “I thought you were reasonable, but you’re just another scheming woman. Is marrying the Boundless Imperial Princess that important to you? We agreed on a three-year duration—have you so little faith in my power that you assume I can’t find someone to defeat you in that time? You’ve broken our agreement and betrayed my trust—don’t blame me for retaliating. You’re coming with me!”

“Please, wait!” Ayaka cried, stepping forward to shield Lily.

“And who do you think you are?” Wakarai sneered. He had no intention of killing Ayaka—her beauty spared her from such cruelty. But his casual slap, even restrained, came from a Supreme God. Against Ayaka, a mere Big Dipper—even one at the pinnacle—it was a devastating blow.

Ayaka had no time to react. A tide of overwhelming force surged toward her like a crashing wave.

With a sharp clang, Lily rose from her knees in an instant. Oborozuki Muramasa flashed in her hand as she parried Wakarai’s blow, intercepting the force head-on.

Yet the shockwave—laced with wind and crackling lightning—still tore through Ayaka’s robes and hurled her across the platform. She hit the ground hard, her body trembling from the impact.

Gasps rippled through the demonic crowd. Not because Ayaka had been knocked aside, but because Lily had done the unthinkable—she had blocked a Supreme God’s strike… and succeeded.

“Your Highness Wakarai,” Lily said slowly, lowering her head. “If you’re upset about the marriage, then face me directly. But I will never allow you to lay a hand on my sister.”

“Oh?” Wakarai scoffed. “And what if I do hurt her?”

Lily raised her head sharply. Her eyes gleamed with chilling, murderous resolve.

“If you dare harm my sister… then you die.”

“What…?” A strange tremor crawled up Wakarai’s spine. Something in Lily’s voice—her presence—struck a primal fear deep within him.

‘What is this feeling’? he thought. ‘She’s only at the Celestial Stage… so why does she make my soul tremble?’

The demons watching from below were stunned speechless. That was Wakarai! One of the Eight Thunder Gods—an ancient being, a true Supreme God. Yet Lily, a mere Celestial, had threatened him to his face.

Wakarai’s shock turned into laughter—deep and maniacal. “Ahahahaha! Excellent! So fierce! That only makes conquering you all the more satisfying. I’ll remember this strength of yours—so I can savor the moment when you’re broken, kneeling at my feet and begging for mercy. I’ve no interest in women who throw themselves at me. You? You’re worth the effort.”

Without warning, Wakarai’s hand swung in a violent backhand, aimed straight at Lily.

Lily swiftly raised her scabbard to block the oncoming blow.

A blinding burst of white lightning erupted, unleashing a gale so fierce it seemed to tear the very sky apart.

The shockwave launched Lily across the sky, slamming her into the ornate carriage. The impact shattered its roof and structure, while the demons carrying it stumbled under the violent force.

Yet, despite the devastating crash, Lily’s wedding dress remained untouched—its fabric pristine, its beauty undiminished.

With a flick of her hand, Lily stored the elaborate wedding dress away, revealing a sleek red tank top and a short, battle-ready skirt beneath. The heavy ceremonial garb was never meant for battle.

And it certainly wasn’t ideal… for escaping.

Wakarai’s strength was overwhelming—far beyond that of Lord Umashi, whom Lily had barely fended off with Queen Kaguya’s help. Even now, the numbness in her arms lingered from blocking just a casual strike.

Even so, Lily believed she could fight with all her strength and find a way to escape—but if she did, what would happen to Ayaka?

Even if Wakarai spared her, his underlings—ferocious and lustful—would never let someone as beautiful as Ayaka go unharmed.

With Ayaka’s garments torn, her flawless figure had drawn the eyes of every lecherous demon below. Countless vile intentions brewed among them, held at bay only by circumstance.

There was no way Lily could flee while protecting Ayaka—not from a Supreme God’s pursuit. And Renka or the others? She couldn’t count on them to risk their lives for Ayaka.

‘What should I do? Lily’s thoughts raced. ‘Is the Madam nearby? Where are Rakshasa-Onna and the others? Why haven’t they shown up if they’re here?’

A chill of foreboding crept through Lily’s heart. Wakarai had attacked her directly, and yet—no one had intervened. The absence of any response from the Madam or Rakshasa-Onna could only mean one thing: they weren’t here.

In a crackle of thunder, Wakarai became a streak of lightning and appeared before Lily in the blink of an eye.

“So you enjoy it rough, don’t you?” Wakarai sneered, extending his hand. Five glowing ropes of white lightning lashed out toward Lily.

Lily’s body blurred as she shot into the air, narrowly leaping over the electrified bindings that twisted after her like living serpents.

Drawing Oborozuki Muramasa, Lily slashed through the air. Arcs of Lunar energy surged forth, shimmering with divine force. They cleaved through the lightning ropes, tearing them apart mid-flight.

Gasps erupted from the crowd. Was she really fighting a Supreme God… and holding her own?

But the ropes were relentless. Though Lily had sliced through the front wave, the trailing strands surged onward. She weaved through the air, blade flashing as she parried and dodged.

In a burst of light, Wakarai reappeared behind her. His palm, crackling with thunder, shot forward—aiming straight for her waist.

Lily spun mid-air, Oborozuki Muramasa slicing upward in a counterattack. But the force behind Wakarai’s blow was monstrous. The impact launched her through the shattered carriage and beyond the swirling clouds, before she crashed into the barren earth below, leaving a crater in her wake.

“Ah!” Wakarai looked down in disbelief at the cut across his palm—lightning-laced blood oozed from the wound, refusing to heal.

“You wretch!” he roared, eyes glowing with fury. Drawing power from his own bleeding hand, he forged a crimson crystal javelin crackling with wild, white lightning—and hurled it straight at Lily.

The javelin moved like a thunderbolt—far too fast. Still reeling from her crash into the earth, Lily barely had time to raise her guard. She could only brace herself.

“This is bad…” Lily felt the overwhelming energy pouring from the javelin. Even if she blocked it, she feared it might still break through.

But in the next instant, a shimmering prismatic barrier bloomed before her like a radiant shield of crystal light.

The javelin crashed into the barrier, the impact echoing like cracking glass. Most of its force was absorbed; the leftover surge of lightning Lily managed to deflect with her own energy.

Wakarai’s face darkened. “Who dares interfere?!” he growled, glaring toward the distant sky.

There, standing upon a floating cloud of purple ice orchids, were Queen Kaguya and Chiya Kasumi, descending with regal grace.

“Kaguya-hime! You wretched hag! Interfering again?!” Wakarai shouted, voice echoing with crackling rage.

“Your Majesty!” Lily gasped, rising to her feet in astonishment.

“Lynne… how could you betray me?” Queen Kaguya’s voice trembled with pain, but her actions were swift. She raised her golden jade branch and sent waves of support magic to Lily—enhancing her strength, speed, defenses, and comprehension in an instant.

“Your Majesty, please listen… I had no choice in this marriage to the Boundless Abyss… I—”

“Lynne, you don’t need to explain.” Kaguya’s gaze softened, shimmering with tears. She floated down like a drifting blossom and landed beside Lily. The air around her smelled faintly of spring. Stroking Lily’s hair with trembling fingers, she whispered, “I know. You didn’t want this. It must’ve been the Madam who forced you into it, wasn’t it?”

“Your Majesty…” Lily’s heart ached as emotion welled up inside her. Though she hadn’t chosen this path, she hadn’t done enough to stop it either. She hadn’t reached out, hadn’t explained—and seeing the pain in Kaguya’s eyes now, guilt surged through her like a blade.

“You don’t need to be afraid, Lynne,” Kaguya declared, her voice resolute through her tears. “Now that I’m here, I won’t let some vile brute like Wakarai take you—and I’ll never let you be sent to suffer in the Boundless Abyss

¹.” She stepped in front of Lily, arms spread, standing as her shield against the raging thunder god.

Footnotes:

1. Robinxen: I can get behind this!