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A deafening silence permeated the air.

As though held captive by some unseen force, time itself seemed to crawl. The image of Lily’s flaming cursed blade, cleaving through the colossal form of Shuten, hung suspended in the agonizingly slow progression of seconds.

Those who were still awake to witness the spectacle – Tamamo, Ayaka, Rei, Shimizu, Yuki-Onna, Kagura – stared blankly at Lily. The shock of what they were witnessing robbed them of their reactions, their ability to process the event evaporating in the magnitude of the moment.

Shuten Doji, one of the three supreme arch-demons, a being of invincibility with over a millennium of advancement, the unparalleled master of the Heian Dynasty, and the unchallenged ruler of Tanba for centuries, was…

Dead.

Suddenly, the punctured scarlet origin soul within Shuten erupted, an astral explosion of light and heat. It transformed into a cosmic sea of energy, vastly greater than Lily’s spirit sea, and was drawn into Yasutsuna. The sheer magnitude of the released energy silenced the world, stilled the four winds, and made time appear even slower.

Shuten’s grotesque, giant form, now bifurcated¹, fell to opposite sides. The image of Lily’s Yasutsuna, illuminated by the limitless power of the big dipper origin soul, stood tall between the fallen halves.

With the energy influx completed, Lily knelt, her torn attire and flowing hair dancing with the wind as she maintained her firm grip on Yasutsuna.

A moment later, an inscription flared to life on the blade, appearing as though the sword was boiling from within.

Suddenly…

Bzzzt!

Yasutsuna released a blinding surge of crimson light, temporarily outshining everything else. As the crimson radiance receded, it revealed Yasutsuna in a new form – a glimmering silver that emanated a chilling sword energy.

“The birth of a spirit treasure!” exclaimed both Ayaka and Tamamo in unison.

“This…”In disbelief, Lily slowly rose to her feet. As she did, Yasutsuna was involuntarily lowered, the blade gently sweeping to her side.

The soft sound it made sent shivers down everyone’s spine. Holding the newly transformed Yasutsuna, Lily could feel its immense power and sensed that she could now cut through air at will².

From the moment Yasutsuna was forged, Lily had felt that something was missing. As a cursed blade, Yasutsuna lacked the perfect fusion with the most compatible anima. But now, it was finally a complete cursed blade.

With Yasutsuna’s eager absorption of Shuten’s anima, it had denied any chance for Shuten to survive by transferring his origin soul. This act had transformed Yasutsuna completely.

Despite having seen true treasures before, Lily was struck by the feeling that Yasutsuna’s power seemed to transcend low-level spirit weapons and had achieved a higher level.

“A mid-level spirit treasure!” as she realized, a peerless one among its kind.

The very notion that the anima of Shuten Doji, one of the three great arch-demons who had dominated the world since the ancient age, was incorporated into her blade left her astounded.

Despite the villainous nature of Shuten Doji, his strength was undeniable. The infusion of such an anima could indeed transform a ninth-grade blade into a mid-level spirit weapon.

While holding onto this new powerful Yasutsuna, a slight sense of melancholy swept over her.

Lily glanced back at the giant remains behind her. The two halves were shrinking rapidly. In the end, the monstrous corpse metamorphosed into a handsome man. Although bloodless and pale, Lily could still see traces of the once heroic figure. But that was eight hundred years ago.

Without an anima, the corpse quickly shriveled, turning into ash and dust carried away by the wind, leaving no trace behind. The only remnants were a collection of storage rings, weapons, and treasures scattered all over.

A momentary sadness flashed in Lily’s eyes…

The peerless arch-demon, Shuten Doji, was no more. Despite his countless acts of evil, he was an extraordinarily gifted powerhouse. He deserved a modicum of respect in his passing³.

With a wave of her hand, Lily collected all the remaining treasures, including the jade bracelet Shuten had pilfered from Tamamo. She decided to keep them for now to prevent any accidents⁴.

As Lily put away Shuten’s machete, the once distorted spirit imprints became calm and silent. Before her eyes, the marks gradually faded, turning into phantoms of beautiful silver-haired women, dispersing into the air.

“Thank you…” came a soft and beautiful voice from the heavens.

“Perhaps I owe all of you gratitude,” Lily sighed. If it weren’t for the spirit marks’ last-minute revolt, causing a slight deviation in Shuten’s final strike, it could have been her life lost instead.

“Look,” interjected Kagura.

The once blood-soaked sky with its dark clouds receded, revealing a serene night sky. They watched in awe as countless tiny blue lights began to ascend towards the heavens. The spectacle was ethereal, dreamlike.

Captivated by the sight, they all gradually rose to their feet, gazing upwards as if bathing in a celestial sea of stars. The ascending lights were the souls of the women Shuten Doji had tormented and trapped.

“Thank you…Miss Kagami…”

Who could have imagined that the blood-stained field would transform into such a mesmerizing spectacle after the conflict. As she watched the hundreds of thousands of unfortunate female souls find their release, Lily, smiling, tilted her gaze upwards, observing their peaceful ascent.

“Mm?” Lily spotted a small, shriveled old gourd lying not too far away.

It was Shuten Doji’s personal treasure, likely a gourd he used for drinking wine during his days as a monk. But with Shuten gone, the gourd had lost its spiritual essence, morphing back into an ordinary, worthless gourd.

How desolate it appeared.

Lily quietly resolved to bury this old gourd along with Shuten’s ashes.

“Lily.”
“Lil’ Lily.”
“Sister…”
“Miss Lily.”

Her sisters gradually recovered their strength, supporting each other, making their way towards Lily.

“Everyone…” Overwhelmed, Lily’s eyes welled up with joyful tears. The battle had been fiercely hazardous, but they had all survived…thankfully!

Lily greeted her sisters with a warm smile. But as the adrenaline subsided, her body started to give in. Yasutsuna slipped from her grip as she collapsed.

“Lil Lily!”
“Lily!”

Both Rei and Shimizu sprang forward, catching her, and gently laying her on the ground. The exhaustion was evident.

Her journey to Tanba had been strenuous. She had ignited her soul at Honganji Temple, engaged in a war on Mount Ooe, and faced grueling challenges on the ancient battlefield. The perilous journey through the Path of Yomi, overcoming the hundred-ghost tribulation, and training through the Ascending Road had drained her. And now, she had vanquished the formidable arch-demon who threatened her sisters – Shuten Doji, one of the greatest adversaries of the heavenly way. She was utterly spent.

Leaning into Shimizu’s arms, Lily extended a hand holding a small storage bag. “Sister Uesugi, Shuten Doji stored various medicines in this bag. Take it to sister Ayaka and Lady Kimiko. They should be able to identify the ingredients. The antidote should be within.”

“Lily…” Rei held Lily’s hand, tears glistening in her eyes.

Suddenly, Lily attempted to rise but lacked the strength, “My, my blade…”

“Oof, this blade is so heavy!” Shizuru attempted to lift Lily’s blade but found it incredibly weighty. Even at the peak of her strength, she doubted she could swing it. Struggling, she managed to carry the blade back to Lily.

Exhausted and drained, Lily felt a surge of strength when she clutched her blade.

“This blade, it’s astonishing!” Shimizu could not help but marvel at the reformed Yasutsuna.

Assisted by their sisters, Kimiko and Ayaka joined them.

“Lady Kimiko, sister Ayaka, how are both of you?”

Kneeling down, Ayaka displaced Shimizu naturally, yet awkwardly, and embraced Lily’s waist, affectionately stroking her hair. “Little Lily, I have failed you, making you bear all this hardship.”

At this juncture, Shimizu knew better than to interfere and quietly moved aside.

“I’m okay, I have a strong body…I’m just incredibly tired. But sister Ayaka, what about your injuries?”

Ayaka blushed slightly, “Honestly, my wounds aren’t as severe as before. Lady Kimiko’s help has also ensured that they will heal rapidly. So, don’t worry.”

A joyous smile spread across Lily’s face, “Then, then, Lady Kimiko?”

“As for me… well, it’s still the same. Not well, but also not dying⁵, we’ll see how it goes.”

Lily detected melancholy in Kimiko’s casual response. She understood the severity of Kimiko’s injuries. She wondered about the Celestial Pure Water. If they could find it, then perhaps… No, they must find the pure water! Despite her fatigue, Lily made this resolution.

Eyeing Lily’s blade, Kimiko sighed, “Ahh, Lily, your blade has transformed significantly. In my thousand years of treasure collection, I’ve found nothing that rivals your sword. It has a spirit and has willingly devoured a peerless arch-demon’s anima. This is the blade that defeated Shuten Doji! It will undeniably become a world-renowned blade!”

“Lily,” Ayaka chimed in, “You’re not the novice female samurai anymore. Having defeated Shuten Doji, you have ascended to be among the world’s greatest. As your sister, I couldn’t be prouder!”

“That is…I, I was just fortunate. But, it’s indeed our blessing that we emerged victorious here.”

The other sisters had gathered around. Despite their injuries, they appeared to be okay.

Ijuin suggested, “Miss Lily, given the immense power of this blade, it should bear a name, shouldn’t it?”

“Mm? But it already has a name?” Lily countered.

“No, no. This is the blade that vanquished Shuten Doji. It has evolved and become stronger. Shouldn’t it carry a name that reverberates across the world?”

“Um…” Lily had never considered this before.

“Lily, Miss Ijuin’s proposition holds weight. In these tumultuous times, an awe-inspiring blade name could benefit you,” Kimiko advised. “You should bestow this blade a name that stuns the world.”

“I’m not very skilled at naming things, though…”

“Lady Kimiko, perhaps you could honor the blade with a name?” Ayaka suggested, feeling that despite losing her eldritch energies, Kimiko, with her vast experience and knowledge, would be best suited to give a name that would intimidate all evildoers in the world.

“Mn, Lady Kimiko, please help rename Yasutsuna.”

“Hmm…” Kimiko nodded. “Yasutsuna, I understand that it’s the name of the master blacksmith who created this precious blade’s casting method. This name must be retained. Hm…since this blade defeated Shuten Doji and absorbed his anima, it will henceforth be known as Dojigiri⁶, the Slayer of Shuten Doji.”

“Dojigiri?” The name took everyone aback. Anyone who understood its profound implications would be awestruck!

“Dojigiri-Yasutsuna.” Lily repeated, testing the new name.

Author’s Note:

Thus, a new epoch of a legendary blade designed to make demons tremble was born!

Lily is destined to wield this blade and carve her path through the tumultuous, dark world, scripting an illustrious new legend.

Thank you all for your continued support. The ninth book, ‘Dojigiri’, concludes here.

However, following this climactic battle, I (the author) am eager to unfold a broader, more mysterious, more captivating narrative.

Only a small fragment of the enigmatic world of Heian has been revealed. The world’s truth is yet to emerge!

The tenth volume⁷, ‘Dream Eater’, is about to commence. Stay tuned!

1. Robinxen: Every time I read this or bisected I just remember that really old piece of World of Warcraft lore about the two gnomes trying to kill each other in Gnomeregan that ends with the evil guy being chopped in half but otherwise alive.
2. Robinxen: Uh… is anyone going to tell her that’s how everything works?
3. Liedral: Sometimes I hate this !$!$ author.

   Shuten was a vile despicable piece of trash. Mass murderer and torturer of innocents. He should be reviled just like Hitler was, what respect. Trash!! And Lily is trash for thinking he deserves respect!!

4. Robinxen: Lily literally just stole the shinies with a flimsy excuse.
5. Robinxen: So much optimism.
6. Robinxen: I imagine Rance would have named it Doujin-Guru.
7. Robinxen: SOMEONE REMIND ME TO SET UP THE NEW VOLUME IN THE INDEX BEFORE I FORGET!