Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 12 - Yomi-no-kuni: Chapter 134 – Dance Of Demons

Encircled by arcs of lightning, Wakarai’s once-arrogant demeanor darkened into a serious scowl. Somehow, Lily had grown even stronger again. While he could still handle her alone, the real trouble lay in facing Queen Kaguya and Chiya together with her—especially while they were all empowered by the Queen’s support.

Though he didn’t fear Kaguya, her presence alongside two other high-level warriors made the situation far more complicated. Even if his gathered forces joined the fray, they couldn’t guarantee victory. Moreover, Wakarai had his pride—what would the demons think if the great Thunder God needed help to defeat a single woman? His men were meant to battle the Dojo armies, not to clean up his personal affairs.

“Queen Kaguya, Commander Chiya… You escaped me last time out of sheer luck. What’s the matter? Feeling bold today? Maybe you came running just to be mine.” Though Wakarai wore a face that could charm mortals and demons alike, his words were crass and lewd, tainting his divine image.

“Wakarai,” Kaguya replied coldly, “if you’re set on disgracing yourself, so be it. But deep down, you know you can’t touch Lily—not with Commander Chiya and I here.” Her tone was measured and grim, cutting through his vulgarity with calm confidence.

Her words stung more than he admitted. Retreating now was out of the question. He would have to fight—even if it meant dragging this into chaos.

Just then, the very heavens groaned, as if something titanic stirred in the distance. The already gloomy skies turned nearly pitch-black, heavy with ominous energy.

From the darkness emerged a hulking figure bathed in deep crimson. His body was massive, with a bloated stomach and a rugged face framed by a wild black beard and hair that crackled like storm clouds. Two beady silver eyes shone from beneath his brow, and his ancient armor barely covered his colossal frame as he strode forward atop a thundercloud.

“So it’s true—my younger brother Wakarai is here! Hahaha!” the giant thundered with laughter. The moment he arrived, the storm above intensified—bolts of lightning now doubled in size and fury, crashing in every direction.

“This is bad,” Queen Kaguya whispered, her heart tightening. “I didn’t expect he’d come too…”

“Your Majesty, who is that?” Lily asked, wary. She didn’t recognize the man, but the aura he emitted was as powerful as Wakarai’s.

Wakarai gave a complicated look. “So it really is you… Brother Kurorai. We haven’t met in centuries. Have you come to steal the bride too?”

Kurorai chuckled. “A fair lady deserves a noble man—but not a thief. Since you already laid claim to the most beautiful woman in the three realms, how could I take her from you? I’m here to help you instead!”

“Then I thank you, brother. Let’s take them together—you can have any woman you want, except Kagami Lily.”

“Haha! Spoken like a true brother. There’s only one Lily, sure—but look at all the others! A whole banquet of beauty. Hear me, demons! I get first pick—I’ll only take two. The rest are yours. Hahaha!”

“Brother,” Wakarai said, lowering his voice slightly. “Don’t forget, Lily is still the Madam’s goddaughter. Let’s end this fast before we cause any real trouble.”

“You’re right.” Kurorai’s expression hardened. Thunder rumbled as he gathered crackling black lightning in his palms, forging it into three compact orbs that pulsed with deadly energy. Their tension hummed with ear-piercing screeches as they swelled.

“Go!”

The thunder roared as the three lightning spheres hurtled forward. Each orb streaked through the sky like a comet of destruction, one aimed at Kaguya, one at Chiya, and the third at Lily.

“This is bad! These lightning spheres are incredibly powerful—defend together!” Queen Kaguya shouted urgently.

Lily, Chiya, and the Queen stood side by side, channeling their spirit and divine energy in unison. Though it was their first time fighting as one, their synergy was seamless. Under Kaguya’s lead, they conjured a radiant golden parasol of protective light.

As the parasol of light shimmered, an idea struck Lily. She summoned the Sakura Parasol and anchored it atop the barrier, amplifying its strength. Explosions echoed across the sky as the lightning spheres collided with the shield in rapid succession.

The three women stood firm, bracing one another against the surging shocks and concussive blasts. The tremors were violent, but they held their ground. A single strike from Kurorai, while formidable, wasn’t enough to break through their joint defense. Not yet.

But in the next instant, Wakarai moved. A spear of pure lightning formed in his grasp, and in a blur, he appeared above them, hurling it downward with devastating force aimed at the Queen.

“Not a chance!” Lily and Chiya shouted in near unison. Enhanced by Kaguya’s magic, the two women leapt upward, blades crossed, intercepting the thunderous strike mid-air.

The impact unleashed a torrent of lightning, shaking the skies and earth alike. Arcs of electricity crackled in all directions—several demons were incinerated on the spot.

Ayaka, barely conscious, leaned weakly against the shattered remains of the carriage. The battle had reached a scale beyond her ability to intervene.

“Heh… Let the big guys fight over the famed beauty. I’ll take the mature one instead.” An Infernal-stage demon sneered as he landed near the platform, followed by several subordinates—Wakarai’s lackeys. Their eyes locked onto Ayaka.

As expected, rumors grew with each telling. Lily had recently been hailed as Yomi-no-kuni’s most beautiful woman—but after Kurorai’s exaggerations, she was now known as the most beautiful in all three realms.

“You’re not getting near me,” Ayaka said coldly. She steadied herself, summoned a glowing leaf charm, and unleashed a barrage of spell rays. The lesser demons were scorched and repelled, though the Infernal leader stood firm, untouched.

Without hesitation, Ayaka retreated, slipping back into the protective formation of the procession after unleashing a flurry of magic.

The demons gave chase, but were quickly intercepted. The Infernal Blade Maiden of Asura Dojo and Captain Isshiki flanked them from both sides, leading their squads into battle. Though they hadn’t moved specifically to shield Ayaka, they refused to let the attackers reach the heart of the procession.

Meanwhile, Lily and the others continued to struggle against Wakarai’s relentless assault—even with Kaguya’s buffs, their defense was just barely holding.

Suddenly, a towering shadow loomed beside Kaguya—Kurorai had arrived. In each hand, he wielded a massive lightning mace, swinging both with destructive force toward the Queen.

Kaguya cast a protective array of spells just in time to shield herself—but the sheer impact still sent her flying through the air. Rather than press the advantage, Kurorai turned his attention and struck at Chiya from behind.

Chiya, still recovering from deflecting Wakarai’s blow, didn’t sense the ambush in time. With a crushing impact, the mace struck her lower back, nearly shattering bone. Chiya was hurled through the air, coughing blood as her body twisted from the blow.

“Commander Chiya!” Lily cried out, fury igniting in her chest. Without hesitation, she turned away from Wakarai and slashed her blade toward Kurorai.

The attack met Kurorai’s massive mace with a deafening clash, sending Lily hurtling backward through the air.

“Seize Lily first!” Wakarai commanded.

Both thunder gods launched a coordinated assault on Lily. Facing the combined force of two Supreme Gods—how could she possibly endure?

Queen Kaguya soared forward, weaving threads of divine energy to entangle and delay the two gods. Thanks to her intervention, Lily barely managed to retreat to her side. But Chiya was already gravely wounded—and the odds were dire.

Kaguya knelt beside Chiya and immediately began channeling restorative energy. But the thunder gods gave them no reprieve—they struck again with renewed fury. Lily had no choice but to meet their assault head-on.

Lily’s blade clashed violently against Wakarai’s lightning spear. Despite the overwhelming force, she held her ground—barely—thanks to the Queen’s enhancements.

Suddenly, Kurorai brought his massive mace crashing down toward Lily’s head. At the last second, Wakarai deflected the blow with his spear and snapped, “Brother! Are you trying to kill her outright?”

“Oops! Hahaha, I’m just a brute—I forgot to hold back,” Kurorai chuckled, amused. Their casual attitude toward the fight filled Lily with burning humiliation.

“B̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲!” Lily roared, unleashing her full power—Arcane Lunar Force erupted around her.

A crescent of lunar blade energy, fierce enough to split the earth, shot toward Kurorai, charged with Lily’s wrath.

“Heh! My sister-in-law’s little love tap? I adore it!” Kurorai laughed, opening his arms to take the attack with his bare chest.

“Watch out!” Wakarai shouted in alarm. While Lily’s blade couldn’t wound him deeply, her Lunar Force was a natural bane to Supreme Gods—and Kurorai didn’t know it.

Startled by Wakarai’s panic, Kurorai quickly raised both maces to shield himself. He caught most of the blow—but not all of it. The blade sliced across his chest, leaving a shallow yet unhealable wound that crackled with residual lunar energy.

“Ow-ow-ow! That stings! How can this woman actually harm a god!?” Kurorai winced, genuine fear flashing across his face as blood seeped from the wound.

“Why do you think I’m so obsessed with her in the first place?” Wakarai muttered.

“That does it! I’ll subdue her myself—take her back and make her pay for this!” Kurorai growled, hurling a black lightning-infused mace toward Lily. The weapon homed in with terrifying precision. Lily swung her blade to deflect it—but the sheer force sent her flying instead.

“Such overwhelming strength…!” Lily gasped as she tumbled through the air, pain lancing through her body.

“Lynne, we can’t keep this up—we must retreat!” Queen Kaguya called. Against one god, they could fight. Against two, escape was the only option.

“Your Majesty, wait!” Lily shouted, unwilling to reveal her true intentions. She unleashed two sweeping slashes to stall the enemy, then dove into the procession and pulled Ayaka into her arms.

“Sister, we’re going—now!” Lily summoned her Inugami and leapt onto it with Ayaka.

Queen Kaguya and Chiya regrouped with them immediately.

“Retreat!” Kaguya declared, unleashing a storm of spells to delay their pursuers. It wasn’t enough to stop the thunder gods—but it bought them precious seconds. Together, the four fled across the storm-swept skies atop the Inugami’s back.

But just as they were nearly out of reach, a column of smoke erupted from the earth—rising high into the clouds. A colossal humanoid creature emerged, carrying upon its back a four-eyed, green-faced demon—Lord Umashi.

Lord Umashi launched a volley of devastating palm strikes. Lily and her companions barely held their formation long enough to block the attacks—but their escape was stalled.

In the next moment, Wakarai, Kurorai, and a host of divine beings closed in from behind—encircling Lily and her companions completely.

“Trying to run? Not so fast!” Wakarai, Kurorai, and Lord Umashi unleashed a coordinated assault, launching devastating attacks from three different directions.

A barrage of terrifying divine strikes hurtled toward them—each one carrying the overwhelming power of a Supreme God. The group could only form a protective barrier, anchored by Queen Kaguya at its center. But the combined might of three such beings was too much—the shield began to crack almost immediately. Sweat beaded on their brows, and their breathing grew ragged. The barrier was on the verge of collapse.

The barrier trembled under the force—just a moment more, and it would shatter.

Just then, a ribbon of blade energy—thin as silk and black as night—sliced through the gloom of the distant sky.

“What?” All three Supreme Gods froze in astonishment, instinctively halting their assault as they turned to defend against the incoming strike.

The air cracked with a sharp pulse of energy as the dark blade ripped through space, crackling with eerie resonance.

Darkness fell over the battlefield like a sudden eclipse. A strange, spine-chilling force swept through the air—unnerving even the Supreme Gods. In the next instant, the unthinkable happened: the three divine titans were hurled backward by the sheer force of that blade strike.

“Hehehehehehe… Who dares… to steal my woman?”

A sultry, soul-stirring laugh echoed from the distant void—an enchantress’ voice that sent a shiver through the heavens themselves.