| Author: Carrot Sauce | Original Source: SFACG | Word Count: 3233 characters |
| Translator: Keissen | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1692 words |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | ||
Lily had transformed. Her Celestial Maiden Physique, combined with the nourishment from Yomi Cuisine, the absorption of Lunar Crystals, and mastery of the Fourth Tsukuyomi Swordstyle, elevated her to the level of a sextuple-soul Big Dipper. Utilizing Purple Lunar Force, her powers were further augmented. Additionally, her exposure to Shuten’s enigmatic formation, though harmful, had purified and intensified the Charm Energy within her. This internal strengthening significantly enhanced Lily’s capabilities, a testament to the unique physiological advantage of a Celestial Maiden. Emotions such as Resentment, Anger, and even Lust, all contributed to her growing strength, channeled through the consumable resource of Purple Lunar Force.
Even Daitengu, a formidable adversary, was outmatched in direct combat with Lily. As he emerged from the debris, about to land on the ground, Lily had already deftly eliminated the several wounded Tengu in his wake. His cunning maneuvers were swiftly neutralized by her superior skill.
Masakado, witnessing the unfolding events, couldn’t contain his anger. “Baldy!” he cursed at Daitengu. “Are you Imperials truly shameless? You declared a one-on-one battle, yet you ambush with countless hidden enemies! I’ve never seen such shameless treachery!” He struck the formation with his longsword, but the massive force of the impact only served to push him back, his hands numbing from the attempt. It was clear that external force alone would not suffice to breach this formidable barrier.
Meanwhile, Lily remained unfazed by Daitengu’s ambush within the cage-like formation. “Daitengu, did you think I wouldn’t anticipate your ambush? Perhaps you’ve not considered that this cage might be your own undoing,” she stated grimly, her figure levitating in the air.
Daitengu, powered by an eruption of Eldritch Energy, flew towards Lily, his club swinging with all his might in a desperate attempt to overpower her. However, Lily’s agility shone through as she elegantly swerved and flicked her sleeves, evading his attacks with the grace of a dancer. In a swift motion, she maneuvered to Daitengu’s side and delivered a precise slash. Purple blade energy drew blood, leaving a deep gash on the ten-meter tall Daitengu’s arm.
“Ah!” Daitengu recoiled, his fury palpable even behind his mask. Swinging his club defensively, he bellowed, “Kagami Lily! You… Why did you dodge this time! What a treacherous woman!”
“Aren’t you the pot calling the kettle black?” Lily replied coolly.
Daitengu’s initial strategy relied heavily on his enormous stature and raw strength, which didn’t equate to remarkable combat skills. His massive form, while powerful, lacked the agility needed in such a compact battle space. Expecting Lily to engage in a direct power struggle, he was taken aback when she opted for evasion instead, a tactical shift that caught him off guard.
Realizing the limitations of his size in the confined arena, Daitengu then reduced his form to about three meters in height. This transformation was strategic, aimed at gaining better balance and mobility, essential for close-quarters combat where his previous long-range melee tactics were ineffective against Lily’s nimble movements.
In a bid to regain the upper hand, Daitengu conjured a mysterious and ominous flame within his hand, radiating a dangerous and potent aura, indicative of its destructive potential.
“Kagami Lily! Do you know what this is?” he challenged.
“No,” Lily responded.
“Then taste this Yomi flame! Collected from the depths of Yomi, once it burns you, it will never be extinguished!” Daitengu announced with a sinister grin, tossing the flame towards Lily, enhancing its power with a gust from his fan. The flame, guided by the wind, homed in on Lily.
Lily, realizing the persistence of the flame, dodged nimbly in the air, but the flame remained relentlessly on her trail. Daitengu, seizing the opportunity, bombarded her with a barrage of various spells and items.
In response, Lily opened her Sakura Parasol, not to block, but to aim it upwards, turning it a dark blue hue as it soared towards the flame. “Retrieve!” she commanded, and the parasol snapped shut, trapping the flame within.
“What?” Daitengu’s eyes widened in disbelief behind his mask. “How is that possible?”
Lily retrieved the Sakura Parasol, now containing the flame, and promptly stored it in her Mirror Dimension, placing it in a stone lantern in her cave, allowing it to continue burning safely. The flame, a natural phenomenon harnessed by Daitengu through his fan, was now under Lily’s control with her Sakura Parasol.
Daitengu was absolutely furious as he charged at Lily, shouting, “How dare you steal my flame?” His mind seemed lost to rage, as he swung his club with reckless abandon. In response, Lily adeptly dodged, awaiting an opportune moment for a counterattack.
The moment Daitengu’s full-force blow missed its mark, an opening was created. Lily, seizing the opportunity, prepared to strike with her weapon. Suddenly, the ground beneath her erupted, and a massive shadow, wielding a colossal black sword, leapt up towards her. The attack was so sudden and unexpected that even her sisters, preoccupied with the ongoing battle, could not warn her in time.
As the lethal blow neared her back, Lily, already committed to her attack, found her weapon piercing the Cloistered Emperor’s shoulder. With her blade lodged, retracting it seemed impossible. However, displaying incredible agility, Lily twisted her body, using her opponent as leverage to spin around her weapon, miraculously avoiding the fatal blow.
With a swift kick to his thighs and a forceful yank on her weapon, Lily freed her blade, sending it spinning through the air before directing it towards the shadowy assailant. A flicker of purple energy illuminated the scene as her blade made contact, revealing the attacker as Lord Kamakura, a clone of Minamoto no Yoritomo. With a precise spinning cut, she severed one of his arms.
In the midst of the intense battle, Lily demonstrated her incredible foresight and combat skills. If the actual Minamoto no Yoritomo had been the one ambushing her, Lily would have needed to use a Blood Spirit Magatama through Kagura to defend herself. However, facing only a clone, she was able to dodge the attack without resorting to such measures. Lily had long anticipated the Cloistered Emperor’s deceitful nature and his tendency to prioritize his own safety. She was well aware of his habit of exposing weaknesses as bait, and she remained cautious and prepared for any tricks.
By pretending to be unaware of the impending attack, Lily cleverly managed to land a decisive blow on the Cloistered Emperor, all while skillfully evading Lord Kamakura’s sudden ambush1. This move showcased her extraordinary alertness and combat instincts.
Despite successfully fending off the ambush, Lily couldn’t help but feel puzzled. Given the gravity of the situation, it would have been more logical for Yoritomo himself to be present for such a crucial attack. The absence of the real Yoritomo at this critical juncture raised questions in Lily’s mind. She wondered if he wasn’t actually there, and if so, why he would miss such a prime opportunity.
Outside the formation, Sugawara no Michizane, Taira no Masakado, Tomoe Gozen, Hashihime, and others expressed their outrage at the dishonorable tactics employed by Daitengu and Yoritomo. “You two shameless old dogs, using ambush in a supposed one-on-one duel!” they exclaimed, attacking the formation in anger.
Fortunately, the devious plan concocted by them failed. Despite reattaching his severed arm amidst the swirling black fog, Lord Kamakura’s strength had evidently diminished.
“Kagami Lily, your caution is astounding,” Lord Kamakura remarked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “Or perhaps it’s your reaction speed that’s phenomenally high!”
In the throes of combat, a warrior’s physical strength was crucial, but the ability to make split-second decisions under pressure was a skill of a different caliber, rare and hard to cultivate due to the lack of opportunities to practice it in real battle scenarios.
“Your combat prowess is truly exceptional, Kagami Lily,” Lord Kamakura conceded, albeit grudgingly. “However, by defying the world’s will, the more remarkable you become, the grimmer your fate.”
Lily responded defiantly, “My fate is of no concern to you, for none of you will be alive to witness it!” She castigated them for isolating her from her allies and concocting numerous schemes to ensnare her. “This formation has become your own prison. Reveal yourselves, all of you lurking in the shadows. None shall escape today2!”
Energized by her Purple Lunar Force, Lily transformed into a blaze of light, reminiscent of a blooming Higanbana flower, as she charged towards Lord Kamakura.
Lord Kamakura, growing to a height of three meters, stood alongside Daitengu. Both launched a simultaneous attack. He extended his black sword and simultaneously unleashed a massive palm energy strike, which rapidly expanded to a diameter of ten meters, targeting Lily.
Lily, demonstrating her agility, somersaulted through the air, evading the energy strike and redirecting her attack towards Daitengu. With a swift flick of her wrist, her blade, Yasutsuna, whistled through the air towards Daitengu’s waist. Concurrently, she summoned Crescent Moon to her left hand, effectively parrying Lord Kamakura’s onslaught.
The both of them hadn’t anticipated Lily’s tactical shift; they had expected her to first defend against Lord Kamakura before striking at Daitengu. Her unexpected maneuver caught Daitengu off-guard, forcing him to defensively block with his club as he retreated.
“Thousand Sakura Linger!” Lily exclaimed. Suddenly, ethereal lunar threads unfurled from her sleeves, swiftly entangling Daitengu’s legs and impeding his movement.
With a forceful push of her left hand, Lily sent Lord Kamakura reeling aside. She then vaulted gracefully above Daitengu, both weapons poised for a decisive blow.
As their weapons neared collision, Lily unexpectedly ceased exerting force with her left hand. The Crescent Moon lightly tapped Daitengu’s club and recoiled, while Yasutsuna delivered a powerful strike. Seizing the moment, Lily skillfully maneuvered the Crescent Moon beneath the club, inflicting a deep gash on Daitengu’s arm.
Simultaneously, she hoisted Yasutsuna upwards and executed a swift kick, propelling Daitengu’s weapon skyward. Seizing the opportunity, Lily executed a rapid cross-slash with both weapons.
A cross-shaped laceration, deep enough to expose bone, appeared on Daitengu’s chest, from which blood spurted like a fountain.
“Ah!” Daitengu, overcome with pain and shock, staggered backward, his howls echoing across the battlefield as he clutched his grievously wounded chest.
