Volume 10 - Dream Eater: Chapter 46 – Iyo Demon Realm Mountain

Volume 10 - Dream Eater: Chapter 46 – Iyo Demon Realm Mountain

Lily and her companions stood at the base of the imposing mountain, which emanated an overwhelming aura of malevolence. Towering high above them, the peak of the mountain remained obscured, blending seamlessly with the heavens.

An old trail, worn down by time, beckoned them forward, winding its way precariously up the mountainside before narrowing to a mere thread, lost amidst the dark, foreboding trees above.

“Dream Eater Baku is nestled deep within this mountain,” Lily declared resolutely, her determination to rescue Ayaka unwavering. She prepared to tread the path that lay ahead, but Ayaka quickly restrained her, “Wait.”

“Sister Ayaka?” Lily questioned, wondering if fear had gripped Ayaka.

“This mountain is ensnared in an ancient and massive formation. We must not proceed thoughtlessly,” cautioned Ayaka. Though fear gnawed at her, her expression remained stalwart. Her expertise in formations surpassed Lily’s limited understanding.

Lily admitted her limitation, saying, “Formations aren’t my strong suit.”

“What should we do, Sister?” The challenge of the formations seemed insurmountable, given Lily’s unfamiliarity with them.

Ayaka stepped forward, pulling out her wand. “I need to inspect it first.” Concentrating, she began an incantation. The space around her shimmered with faint runes that soared towards the mountain.

Moments later, she ended her spell, concern evident in her features. “This is concerning...”

Lily’s eyebrows knitted in confusion, “What is it, Sister?”

Ayaka exhaled deeply. “It’s an intricately ancient formation. Even with my expertise, breaking it without the right tools and guides could take a significant amount of time. And by that, I mean extensive study and analysis.”

Lily inquired, “How extensive are we talking about?”

Ayaka hesitated, “At the very least, half a year. And that’s a conservative estimate.” She sighed, thinking of the formidable Dream Eater Baku who had held dominion over the demon realm of Iyo Island for ages, amassing power and secrets beyond their understanding.

Shimizu, attempting to lighten the mood, quipped, “Half a year? Planning to set up camp here permanently, Sister Ayaka?”

Ayaka gave a weak smile, “Not really my intention. It’s just the grim reality.” She continued, “While Tamamo-no-Mae did grant me some treasures, many are not suited for this task. They’re tied to the practices of a divine nine-tailed fox, distinct from human onmyoji techniques. And typical tools that human onmyojis consider essential? Tamamo-no-Mae likely didn’t see the need for them.”

Lily sighed, thinking of her own arsenal. “I don’t have any formation-related treasures either

1.”

Ayaka had inherited the treasures of the Fujiwara Clan’s School of Onmyo. This collection represented the accumulated wisdom of human onmyojis over millennia. Regardless of the treasures Lily possessed, they couldn’t rival the significance of that inheritance.

Pondering their situation, Lily inquired, “What if we attempt to forcefully breach this vast formation?” If there wasn’t a clear strategy, she was prepared to use brute force. After all, in the presence of immense strength, intricate formations could appear as fleeting as clouds.

Yet, Ayaka cautioned, “Despite your formidable strength, Lily, these aren’t ordinary formations. They’re ancient and intricately complex, likely established over countless years.”

She continued, “Lily, Shimizu, based on my observations, there are layers to this formation. Specifically, three ancient formations spanning from the mountain’s base to its peak. Penetrating them won’t be simple. And while they’re undoubtedly intricate, they aren’t flawless. It’s as if Baku borrowed them from another source. He might have placed them here as barriers, but he doesn’t truly wield control over them.”

Seeking clarity, Lily questioned, “What exactly do you mean, Sister?”

Ayaka responded, “At this point, I can’t entirely discern the deeper formations. The initial formation at the mountain’s base is the Eternal Spirit Dampener. It’s powerful. If we don’t dismantle it before entry, it’ll be challenging to counter its mystical energy. However, it has a shortcoming: it doesn’t differentiate between allies and adversaries.”

The demon’s hand was abruptly severed, flying through the air.

“What?!” The demon exclaimed in shock.

With incredible speed, he lashed out with his other massive claw at Lily’s face. However, Lily moved with an ethereal swiftness, effortlessly evading the demon’s attack. She danced around to his side and, without hesitation, drove her sword deep into his body. The demon collapsed, lifeless.

“This woman’s swordsmanship is nothing short of incredible!” The other demon, alarmed, retrieved a heavy mace from his back and hurled it at Lily. In the confines of the formation, traditional techniques and storage treasures were rendered useless. Thankfully, Ayaka and Shimizu had anticipated this and had equipped appropriate weapons.

Sparks erupted as Lily’s Yasutsuna met the heavy mace. Holding the blade with her delicate arms, she managed to halt the mace’s momentum, sending a numbing shock through the demon’s hand.

“What??! How is this possible... How much strength does this petite woman have?!” The demon’s astonishment was evident.

With an assertive push, Lily sent the demon reeling backward, his mace along with him. He hadn’t expected this kind of strength from her. Seizing the moment, Lily lunged, her sword slicing through the air, and cleaved his chest.

“Amazing!” Ayaka whispered, her cheeks flushing with admiration. Typically, she wouldn’t be so affected by displays of spiritual power or skill. However, seeing the raw physical might of someone she deeply respected made her heart skip a beat.

“Lily truly is in peak condition... she’s incredibly robust,” Shimizu observed. Despite her unique celestial maiden physique, her form was naturally fragile. Even if her power was amplified five times over, she’d pale in comparison to the demons, let alone Lily.

With a determined look, Lily spoke, “Sisters, let’s move on.” She knew those of the Permanence Stage were no match for her.

As they continued, a group of mummified demon onmyojis blocked their way.

“Humans? Here?” One mused aloud.

Their eyes darted to the swords the women held, causing a ripple of unease among them. With the formation suppressing spiritual energy, they couldn’t gauge the strength of their adversaries.

“Onmyo Chief, these are samurai women. They’re within the Eternal Spirit Dampener, set by the master,” one of the onmyojis reasoned. “Even though we onmyojis aren’t as robust as typical warriors, given our number, we surely can overpower these women!”

Another, noticeably portly onmyoji chimed in, “Indeed, Chief. I’ve trained in the past. These women might have been formidable once, but charging into this formation is a death wish. Let’s seize them!”

A mummified demon with a distinctly greenish hue barked out his orders, “Enough talk! Capture them!”

Heeding his command, the onmyojis unsheathed various swords and magical tools, charging at Lily and her companions.

“Hmph,” Lily responded with a disdainful smirk.

...

In the ensuing clash, the mountain path was stained with the blood of the onmyojis. Around twenty lay defeated, their life force extinguished. Their blood painted the stone steps, a grim testament to their fate. None could withstand even two blows from Lily, and many bore the marks of multiple slashes from her blade.

Footnotes:

Robinxen: Brute force it is.

LazyButAmbitious: immaculate rizz

Robinxen: Given how narrow Lily’s waist is usually described is that really an achievement?