Demon Sword Maiden

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The opponent harbored no malice in his heart. He wandered Hyakki Street at midnight purely to refine his swordsmanship.

What does swordsmanship truly mean? In this realm where victory was determined solely by skill with the blade, Lily found herself grasping an entirely new understanding of the art.

Lily stood face-to-face with Tsukahara Michio under the shadowed glow of Hyakki Street. Both remained motionless, their gazes locked in silent anticipation.

Suddenly, a spark flickered in each opponent’s eyes—a silent signal. Both moved simultaneously!

A crimson blur and a towering figure hurtled toward each other at blinding speed! Neither relied on spiritual senses or Domain abilities—only their eyes and raw instincts guided them!

At such incredible speed, her opponent’s figure blurred. Yet, in the split-second before their blades clashed, Lily’s perception sharpened. It was as though time slowed, revealing everything. She saw Michio just meters away, his heavy steps stabilizing his charge as his sword flowed like a stream. His gaze locked on her form, illuminated by faint moonlight, targeting the precise point he intended to strike.

In that fleeting moment, Lily’s mind was extraordinarily sharp and calm. His gaze and movements revealed much, yet she knew a warrior’s eyes could sometimes deceive.

For Lily, her opponent’s intentions were just a fraction of what she observed in this lethal world. She saw everything. His sword flashed toward her in a blur of lethal precision! In that instant, Lily made her move. The battle had already been decided in her mind.

She grasped the invisible trajectory of his blade and reacted with uncanny precision, surging forward at her peak speed. Her swift response disrupted his rhythm. Twisting her shoulder to evade his strike, she spun gracefully, raising her arms, and delivered her counterattack in one seamless motion!

Though Lily’s strike came a fraction of a second later, it landed simultaneously. Michio’s blade grazed her chest and thighs, but Lily’s sword sliced deep into his torso. The slight resistance she felt was quickly overcome as her blade carved through his chest.

Her icy blade left a burning streak of crimson across his chest. This seemingly simple move determined the victor in an instant. Yet, it demanded unparalleled reflexes and razor-sharp precision. A single miscalculation could have left her gravely injured or resulted in mutual destruction. Lily’s unwavering focus and fearless resolve secured her victory.

By dodging only slightly, Lily increased her risk of being struck, but dodging too much would forfeit the opportunity to exploit her opponent's vulnerability. Through countless life-and-death battles, Lily had honed her instincts to make precise, flawless decisions—a seamless blend of evasion and counterattack.

In this moment, Lily had only her sword to rely on. Without spiritual powers or special techniques, she sharpened her swordsmanship further, understanding the art of decisive strikes that determined victory in the blink of an eye. This was the essence of Lily's Path in swordsmanship.

Each step teetered between survival and death. In the fleeting heartbeat that decided life or demise, Lily pressed on, driven by the unyielding desires of her heart.

Momentum carried them forward. Though gravely wounded, Michio ignored the agony and stomped the ground with brutal force, halting his advance.

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The sickening crack of bones and tendons breaking echoed as Michio forced his body to a stop. Meanwhile, Lily couldn’t halt her momentum, but Michio’s reckless maneuver spoke volumes—facing someone like her required sheer, desperate speed, even at great personal cost.

With unnatural precision, Michio arrested his momentum, leaping backward and swinging his blade toward Lily's exposed back.

In an instant, Lily perceived his strike. Though deprived of spiritual senses, she could feel his killing intent and the clarity of his swordsmanship—he was a man of extraordinary decisiveness.

Lily let her momentum carry her forward, dropping gracefully as she twisted mid-fall. Spinning like a whirlwind, her crimson sleeves flared, masking her fluid strike.

Her spinning blade met his strike with impeccable timing, deflecting it cleanly. As she continued her motion, she delivered a sharp kick, her slender leg propelling Michio backward until he crashed into a corner house.

Though the houses on Hyakki Street appeared fragile, they were reinforced by arcane powers. Even so, half the structure crumbled from the impact, demonic shrieks echoing from within. As the dust settled, the haunting cries faded into silence.

A grievous wound marred Michio’s chest. Though severe, his Infernal Stage resilience kept him from succumbing immediately.

Blood dripped from Michio’s lips as he struggled to speak. “Unbelievable… Someone so skilled in swordsmanship truly exists. And a woman, no less… Who are you?” He coughed violently, his strength fading. “In all my years, I’ve never encountered a female warrior like you. Your reflexes and decisions are beyond human… yet you carry the undeniable essence of a woman…”

As his divine energy ebbed, Michio’s gaze dimmed. “I’ve lost… Finish it.”

“Since the fight is over and you bear no malice toward me, I have no reason to take your life.” Lily cleaned her blade with a swift motion, sheathed it, and turned to leave.

“Wait! On Hyakki Street, when strangers cross paths, the fight must end in death. That’s the rule! If you don’t kill me now, you’ll only face worse torment later!”

“Hyakki Street is already rife with dangers. Why should I fear more? You’ve lost the will to fight; I can’t bring myself to kill you… Wait!” Lily’s expression shifted to one of shock. “Why aren’t you using your divine power to heal? Why aren’t you stopping your bleeding?”

Lily couldn’t use her lunar energy on Hyakki Street, so her strike hadn’t interfered with his regenerative abilities. Despite this, he refused to heal himself. Lily, who always sought to avoid unnecessary conflict but fought decisively when required, realized her blow had fatally damaged his heart. Still, as a divine warrior, he could survive if he chose to heal. The troubling truth was that he simply didn’t want to.

“Heh… I wander Hyakki Street to seek life through the shadow of death. I may be skilled, but what am I compared to the ancient gods and demons who stand above humanity? Without risking it all, how could I hope to join their ranks? This is my gamble, and now that I’ve failed, everything ends. I once believed I was the greatest swordsman of humanity, but I was wrong. Even if I survived this, the curse and my shattered will to fight would finish me. Sooner or later, I would perish on Hyakki Street.”

He coughed violently, blood trickling down his lips as he gazed at Lily with a sardonic smile. “What a woman you are. In battle, you were decisive and fierce. Now, you hesitate and show kindness, like an ordinary woman. Oddly enough, I think I’m starting to like you. Let me help you on your journey.”

With trembling hands, he set down his weapon, only to draw a dagger from his side and press it against his own chest1.

“Wait! Stop, Tsukahara Michio!” Lily cried.

His expression turned steely. “On your journey, you’ll face enemies far more dangerous than me. Woman, the one who defeated me—you must reach the end!”

With unflinching resolve, he drove the dagger deep into his chest, shattering his Blood-Jade Soul Crystal.

There was no stopping him. A warrior who had chosen death could not be swayed. Behind him, the ruined house trembled violently as grotesque, demonic hands emerged. Amidst chilling screams, they seized Michio’s lifeless body, dragging it into the crumbling structure. Horrific, otherworldly sounds echoed from within.

Moments later, the house began to rebuild itself, as though untouched by the battle.

Hyakki Street returned to its eerie stillness, as though nothing had transpired. Even the bloodstains seeped into the cracks of the ruined house, vanishing without a trace.

“Tsukahara Michio…” Though she knew nothing of the era he came from, his skills and determination marked him as a warrior deserving respect. Lily bowed solemnly toward the house that now claimed his remains before resuming her journey down the desolate street.

As Lily pressed forward, faint flashes of light illuminated the path ahead, accompanied by an ethereal melody laced with an undertone of resentment.

A group of demons emerged from the darkness, crossing paths with Lily. It was evident they were familiar with one another, travelling together as a collective.

These demons were diverse in appearance, yet distinct from the usual monstrosities. Each one, even the non-humanoids, bore a samurai sword. Among them, Lily noticed a one-eyed parasol demon hopping about, unsheathing a blade concealed within its handle.

“Woman, to wander Hyakki Street after midnight means you know the rules, don’t you?” The parasol demon hissed, its massive tongue unfurling as it spoke. “Join us and roam these streets for eternity, or face the wrath of the Hundred Sword Demons!”

“Hahaha!” A grotesque demon with a sharp green nose and a hunched back stepped forward, wielding a long, broad blade. “We, the Hundred Sword Demons, are either the reincarnations of swordsmanship itself or prodigies in our past lives. If we attack, you won’t survive!”

“But don’t worry. We’re kindhearted demons,” a fat, bald demon stuttered, stepping closer with lustful eyes fixed on Lily. “Your beauty is unparalleled, but we’d never act against your will. We simply want you to join us, to roam these streets forever. Wouldn’t that be fun? Hehehe!” Despite his grotesque demeanor, Lily sensed he was telling the truth.

“I’m sorry,” Lily replied calmly. “Perhaps wandering these streets, discussing swordsmanship, and drinking with you might indeed be enjoyable. But I have a destiny to fulfill. I cannot stay here… forever… Huh?”

As she spoke, a familiar, sorrowful gaze caught her attention from within the group of demons. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned toward it.

Amidst the grotesque figures stood a slim, graceful young woman clad in light blue robes, her hair tied delicately. Her gaze was gentle yet sorrowful, identical to how she had looked on the night they parted ways in Heian-kyo.

“Lily, you bear the Heavenly Oracle. Be cautious on your journey.” Those parting words from long ago echoed vividly in Lily’s mind.

Lily’s body trembled as realization dawned. Her gaze locked onto the young woman among the demons. “Madam Yoruko…2” she whispered in disbelief.