Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 14 – Bloody Battle (Part 1)

Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 14 – Bloody Battle (Part 1)

Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, disregarding conventional military tactics and the maze formation’s complexity, rushed recklessly through the wilderness towards Cherry Blossom Valley. Their chaotic advance was bound to lead some of them to the valley’s entrance. “I found it! I found the entrance!” came a triumphant shout, audible only to a few nearby groups due to the maze’s constraints on voice transmission. Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

“Charge!” they bellowed, unleashing intense Resentment Energy as they surged into the entrance.

“Hmph! Are you sure about that?” Kimiko, diminutive but formidable, stood protectively in front of Haihime and Yukiko. As she cast her spell, her bushy tail swayed, unleashing fox flames. Despite her size, her defenses were formidable, particularly against adversaries below triple-soul Big Dipper Stage, bolstered by her own strength and an array of items at her disposal.

Most demon commanders were preoccupied battling Lily, leaving only a few to infiltrate the formation. None had yet breached the entrance defended by Kimiko. The undead soldiers, impervious to pain and fear, continued their relentless advance despite being scorched by the fox flames, a sight that unnerved the girls behind Kimiko. Even as some lost their legs to the flames and fell, they crawled onward, undeterred until they were reduced to ashes.

Kimiko summoned ancient samurai from several folding screens. These figures, lifelike and elegant, stepped out of their two-dimensional confines once activated by spiritual power, brandishing their weapons with formidable grace. Despite emerging from artwork, their power was undeniable, efficiently dispatching the half-burnt soldiers who had made it through.

Although a few soldiers managed to find their way to the valley entrance, the majority were halted by the surrounding mountain walls. Some, undeterred, began to scale these steep barriers. The undead climbers, possessing extraordinary strength common to those at the Permanence Stage and even some at the Throned Stage, found little difficulty in ascending the cliffs.

Additionally, small numbers of Yomi monsters capable of flight sporadically entered Cherry Blossom Valley, navigating through the fog. Even one of these creatures posed a significant threat.

With a sudden and thunderous arrival, a Yomi Demon Wolf enveloped in demonic fog and with eerie, round eyes, soared into the valley. Though not a demon commander, its status as a Throned Monarch made it more than capable of causing chaos in the valley, where powerhouses were scarce.

In Blossom Valley, panic spread rapidly as all the craftsmen and civilians promptly evacuated. Many of these residents were normal civilians and weaker demons who had sought refuge from Suno. However, the stronger demons, those at or above the Throned Stage, refused to abandon Suno. Choosing to stay hidden in the wilderness as they sought to evade Yoritomo’s army.

The serene atmosphere of Blossom Valley was abruptly shattered by the arrival of a formidable demon wolf. It taunted with malicious glee, “Hehehehe. Humans, this valley teems with deliciously weak prey! I shall feast on a few beautiful women first!” The wolf’s attention turned to a Tsunaga Sister Onmyoji, a mere Spirit Jade Stage Jade Maiden. Her spells, weak and futile against the wolf’s might, were nullified instantly, rendering her petrified and frozen in fear.

Lily excelled in prolonged battles, her spirit power seemingly endless. In contrast, the demon commanders were gradually draining from the intense combat. Suddenly, three demons, apparently from the same Yomi faction, ignited their Stellar Souls, coalescing into a formation that summoned a tattered ancient beast, its form a maelstrom of black and silver light. The beast, embodying tenacity, charged at Lily.

Despite the beast’s ferocity, Lily, wary of surrounding threats, retreated rapidly, pausing mid-air to release a barrage of silver threads, ensnaring the beast. “Thousand Sakura Linger!” she declared, as the beast became entangled above.

Ignoring the snared beast, Lily’s speed intensified, transforming into a streak of light, and she plunged into the rear of the formation. Hikomoto, attempting to intervene, swung his weapon with force. “Don’t even think about it!” he barked, only for Lily to evade with an agile somersault.

The air reverberated with a loud bang as Kamakura’s palm strike, launched from afar, found its mark on Lily. She couldn’t dodge again so swiftly, but her physical resilience allowed her to endure the formidable strike. Her acceleration post-impact stunned the demons, and in a heartbeat, she was upon them. With a swift motion, her blade sliced through one of them.

The formation fell apart, the beast vanished, and the two remaining demons bore the brunt of the backlash. One was sent reeling from Lily’s powerful kick, his chest caving in under the force, while the other was swiftly beheaded.

The resilience and strength of the demons, formidable as they were, paled in comparison to Lily’s unexpected destructive prowess. Her stunning appearance belied the sheer force she contained, leaving even the gargantuan Kamakura unable to overpower her with brute strength alone. Hikomoto, realizing the potential threat he could pose if he ignited his Stellar Soul, hesitated, unwilling to sacrifice his hard-earned progress for a momentary advantage.

In the heat of battle, as Lily methodically dismantled their formation, Hikomoto lunged at her from behind, his weapon aimed at her back. With a deft somersault, Lily evaded, the blade just grazing her feet. Almost simultaneously, Kamakura, seizing the moment, directed a heavy strike of his dark blade towards her waist. Lily, caught mid-air, managed to parry the attack, but the force reverberated through her body, a testament to Kamakura’s formidable power.

Hikomoto, quick to exploit any opening, reversed his weapon for an upward slash aimed at Lily’s lower back. A clang resonated as Lily, with exceptional reflexes, conjured Crescent Moon in her other hand, effectively blocking the attack. Despite being caught in a perilous pincer move, Lily’s eyes blazed with a fierce resolve.

Harnessing the momentum from the dual attacks, Lily executed a stunning pirouette, her movements akin to a blossoming flower. Yasutsuna and Crescent Moon, enveloped in dazzling sword energy, whirled around her in a deadly dance. With a swift, fluid motion, Crescent Moon shattered Hikomoto’s armor, leaving a gaping wound on his shoulder. Yasutsuna, following through with unrelenting precision, cleaved deeply into the injury, severing his entire arm and a part of his shoulder in a single, decisive stroke.

Footnotes:

Robinxen: What’s even the point of this power scale anymore author?!?!