Demon Sword Maiden

“And me as well!” Fushirai added with venom. “Just the woman. Not her blade.”

“Excellent! Bold words!” Kuroyoku barked out a laugh, his hardened face twisting. “Then today, Kagami Lily meets her doom!” Though both of Kuroyoku’s arms had been severely wounded, he still exuded power. His fighting spirit remained unshaken.

A pair of jet-black gauntlets appeared over his damaged hands, massive and etched with golden runes, studded with cruel, deadly spikes.

“You actually forced me to use these ancient Abyssal gauntlets,” he snarled. “Kagami Lily… I’ll repay the humiliation you’ve dealt me tenfold, with your blood!” The fury in his aura surged, oppressive and fierce.

The horde of demonic gods once again reached a grim consensus, this time, each one was resolved to fight to the death. Previously, Lily had managed to fend off their assault in part because their attacks lacked coordination, each wary of their own losses. But now, if these apex beings truly went all out with no reservations, how could Lily possibly withstand them?

“Kagami Lily! You’re finished!” Wakarai shouted, voice wild with hatred. “We’ve set aside all quarrels and selfish interests, just to see you fall! Do you still think there’s a shred of hope left? Why not throw down your weapon now and kneel? Beg for mercy. Maybe, just maybe, the brothers of the Abyss will show you a sliver of pity during your punishment. What do you say, Kagami Lily? Still not on your knees? Still not surrendering?”

“Despicable,” Lily whispered coldly, her gaze like frost as she looked over Wakarai and the demons encircling her. She tightened her grip on Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, the sword resonating with her fury, releasing an ethereal, icy hum filled with murderous intent.

“Come on, then,” Lily declared. “Maybe I can’t defeat all of you. But if I can take one more of you with me, then one more it shall be!” Scarlet light flickered to life in her eyes. Her killing intent surged without end.

That murderous will—it shook the hearts of even these demon gods.

“S-Still barking, even with death at your throat?” Kunhiza snarled. “Lords of the Abyss! Even if we burn through everything we have, let’s kill this stubborn b̲i̲t̲c̲h̲!”

With a sudden motion, he brought out several ancient scrolls. Each one exuded an overwhelming power, rivaling that of divine weapons. And these were single-use artifacts, the culmination of countless ages of his hoarded trump cards.

Seeing Kunhiza truly reveal his bottom line, Kuroyoku, Kuralan-Chiyu, Wakarai, and other abyssal overlords also began summoning their most powerful treasures. The very heavens trembled as the clash of divine auras stirred the world into chaos.

Lily, by contrast, had no more treasures left. She had only her sword, and an unshakable resolve. She gripped her Kusanagi, a storm of resentment swirling around her like a dark halo. Her eyes were firm. She would fight to the final breath.

A figure suddenly flickered to her side. It was Shimizu.

“Sister Shimizu?”

“Lily,” she said simply, “we live or die together.”

“No, Sister Shimizu, you must leave. You all must leave…”

A soft, graceful laugh rang out from the darkness nearby. Queen Kaguya and Chiya emerged from the gloom, landing beside Lily.

“Your Majesty?” Lily looked on in disbelief.

“If you fall, Lynne, do you think we’ll be spared?” Chiya raised her blade, standing shoulder to shoulder with her queen and Lily, a calm smile playing at her lips even as the world around them burned. “Better we fight as sisters and meet our fate with dignity.”

“A dozen so-called ‘lords’ of Yomi ganging up on one woman, shameless to the last,” Ayaka’s voice echoed as she danced forward, silver droplets trailing from her blade. “No matter what happens today, Lily, your big sister Ayaka stands with you.”

“Who would’ve thought,” said Rakshasa-Onna, stepping forward, “that the woman I once dragged into Yomi, beaten and helpless, would today stand her ground against a dozen abyssal gods? I’m not a woman known for chivalry, but this time, I just can’t stand aside. Sister, what do you say?”

Asura-Onna flipped her long hair, dropping in beside her sister. Their twin curved blades glinted in the dark as they stood at Lily’s back. “Your Grace, leave the rear to us.”