Demon Sword Maiden

“They say her charm is irresistible. If any of us face such a woman alone, naturally we’ll struggle to guard against her tricks. Your Holiness, why not use your prestige to gather together the seraphims and gods searching for treasures? If we form a unified group, then no matter how seductive Kagami Lily may be, how could she possibly use her beauty against so many of us at once? She would be completely out of options!”

“That makes sense!” said Bharata-Tamon. “From what I’ve heard, the top experts already inside the Celestial Demon Path include Takamagahara’s Kujaku Myōō and Yomi-no-kuni’s Kuroyoku Tateo-no-Kami. Both are terrifying existences we cannot afford to provoke. Add to that Kagami Lily’s underhanded methods, and if ordinary experts like us don’t unite, obtaining treasures will become far too difficult!”

“Exactly. I’ve heard that on Yomi’s side, the Sanzu Demon Queen and Kawara no Hakushaku have already gathered over a thousand experts into a single alliance. If we don’t unite as well, we’ll have a hard time even dealing with Yomi’s forces should we encounter them!” another seraphim said.

“Good! Then let us all join forces! One-on-one, we may not be a match for Kagami Lily or Kujaku Myōō. But if we work together, even Kujaku would have to give us some respect. And if Kagami Lily appears…” A sinister grin spread across his face. “We’ll all attack together and capture her. The treasures can be divided equally afterward. As for the woman herself… hehehe…”

“Hahahahahaha!”

The gods had grown increasingly discouraged since entering the Celestial Demon Path. Yet once these disappointed and frustrated individuals united, their confidence surged back with renewed strength.

Gradually, more and more such alliances emerged. Below the level of Supreme Gods, solitary treasure hunters became increasingly rare. It was simply too dangerous.

As for the Kujaku and Kuroyoku, both had entered accompanied by large retinues and followers from the very beginning. Along their journey, even more powerful experts continued flocking to their banners.

Only Lily continued to travel alone. There were advantages to solitude. A lone person could claim every treasure for herself. But it also made her the easiest target of all.

However, these were the Oborozuki Souls left behind by Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. There was no possibility that Lily would share them with anyone else.

As a result, people united against her for two reasons. First, to seize treasures. Second, to capture her. After all, who wouldn’t want to personally capture the greatest beauty in the Three Realms?

Yet before these treasure-hunting alliances ever encountered Lily, their common enemy, they frequently encountered one another instead. And whenever they did, bloody clashes inevitably followed.

“Kanan-Mugaku! What is the meaning of this? We all came from Takamagahara. Are you really planning to fight us?” a group of Kunitsukami shouted angrily toward a gathering of Woodland Gods whose foreheads bore feather-like antennae and whose backs carried pairs of wings.

“Shut up! You Kunitsukami have always strutted around Takamagahara as though nobody else mattered. Hand over your Oborozuki Souls, or don’t blame us for showing no mercy!”

“You think we’re afraid of you? We had to restrain ourselves in Takamagahara, but we’ve wanted to slaughter some Amatsukami for a long time! Kill them!”

The Woodland Gods, a branch of the Amatsukami, beat their wings and unleashed dazzling rainbow divine arts. Others charged forward with steel tridents and long spears.

The Kunitsukami retaliated with hellfire and curse arts. Nearly a hundred combatants fought on each side, and the battlefield instantly descended into chaos.

Shiiing!

Suddenly, a crimson streak flashed across the battlefield.

The leader of the Woodland Gods was struck by a blade and tumbled from the sky. At the same time, the unfinished Oboro Tamahagane sword hanging from his waist, which housed an Oborozuki Soul, disappeared into the hands of a red-clad girl who shot past like a meteor.

“What!? What just happened?”

“It’s her!” one of the Kunitsukami cried out. “T-That red-clad Blade Maiden… Kagami Lily!”

The Kunitsukami leader watched as the Woodland God leader crashed to the ground wounded, his treasured blade and its Oborozuki Soul stolen. Unable to suppress his delight, he laughed loudly. “Hahahaha! Well done!”