Book 4: Chapter 41: Lifeblood Rage Spell

In the dark and towering Hachiman Palace that brimmed with the intrinsic charm of the ancient times sat the ma.s.sive cross-legged figure of Minamoto no Yoritomo, his body a bit larger than the time Lily had an audience with him.

However, the proportions of his body were just like a regular humans, which made it stranger.

The beige- and yellow-dressed As.h.i.+kaga Makoto was seated in seiza before Minamoto no Yoritomo right now.

Her figure looked very bright and pet.i.te in comparison to the dark and ma.s.sive man who looked like he was in his middle-ages.

Lord Kamakura, this years situation is worse than the previous years. The monsters are running wild at the eastern borders as well as within the borders. Furthermore, an increasing number of powerful demons are eyeing this land now, Makoto reported respectfully.

I see Lord Kamakura replied meaningfully yet didnt provide any further comments.

Makoto waited for a while before asking, Lord Kamakura, is it possible to revoke the joint ban our Minamoto clan and the Taira clan placed on imparting high-level esoteric advancement arts to the Easts samurai? The Land of East is home to samurai, and we have plenty of brave men with decent apt.i.tudes. Why arent we imparting advancement arts freely like western Kansai to withstand the covetous monsters that are growing powerful by the day?

Lord Kamakura revealed bitterness through his brows movements after hearing Makotos question and answered hesitantly, Our Land of East is indeed home to samurai like youve said. In my opinion, men ought to prove their existence by shedding blood and honing their sword in the process instead of learning high-level advancement arts right from birth like the n.o.ble children in Heian-kyo. Although the latter allows them to improve their strength vastly, they lose sight of the true path of a samurais sword. The ban might do more harm than good in the long-term, but dont you agree that trying times are what produces true heroes? I was also forbidden from accessing the high-level advancement arts back when I was exiled to Hirugas.h.i.+ma Island?

Your legends and vast experience are incomparable to that of an ordinary samurai, Lord Kamakura. Its becoming harder for the samurai clans to resist the demons now and a lot of them who dont have access to the proper advancement arts have chosen to traverse the path of demonhood offered to them by the Hundred Demons in their quest for higher power. Hojo Dijon had taken the wrong step in life because of this and the same applies to those in Owari at Kantos borders. Mino has also followed their footsteps and broken away from our control and Lord Takeda was almost bewitched by the demons as well, Makoto reasoned.

But hasnt the East also produced talents like the Furinkazan, Honda Yahatarou, and Uesugi Rei? Theres also Kagami Lily, who I believe is the most prospective of them all. I really admire a genius woman like her who, unlike you, was able to attain the Spirit Jade level without access to high-level advancement arts. I believe her talents can be put to great use for the Heian Empire.1

Lord Kamakura leaned forward and caressed Makotos satiny cheeks lightly with two of his rough fingers that were thicker than her thighs.

Makoto felt an instinctive aversion, but the one before her was Lord Kamakura, an eminence of the Heian Empire, so all she could do was see his improper actions as grace from him, a disgracing grace.

Go. Go to Heian-kyo. Ive long found a successor to you, so you neednt worry about stepping down from the position of the Easts guardian as a member of the Furinkazan. Its time for you to join the court and showcase the talents and skills you possess. Ill also impart the later sections of the Hachiman Divine Soul Art to you, so prepare for the journey now. You are the woman who I admire the most among my trusted aides.

Yes, Lord Kamakura, Makoto shuddered and curbed the aversion she felt to the rough fingers caressing her cheek. As.h.i.+kaga Makoto wasnt just a liege lord under the Minamoto clan that stood at the top of the East, she was also the madam of the As.h.i.+kaga clan, and a widow. Although there wasnt anyone else inside Hachiman Palace, such treatment made her feel utterly humiliated.

However, Kiyos.h.i.+s hand is severed now, Lord Kamakura. Im very worried about his condition. If I leave at such a time

Isnt the reason hes so weak because he had you, a powerful mother, protecting him all this time? On the other hand, look at Kagami Lily. Although shes a woman, she possesses both courage and tenacity. Is Kiyos.h.i.+ that inferior to her in terms of these qualities? Leave it to me. Kiyos.h.i.+ isnt just the successor Ive chosen to replace you in the Furinkazan. I intend to guide him with my all so that he can lead the samurai of the East from Kamakura one day.

Lord Kamakura Makotos eyes filled with mixed emotions, carrying both grat.i.tude and worry within them. Her emotions were such a mess that she even neglected Lord Kamakuras fingers brus.h.i.+ng past her lips. Makoto found it hard to understand why Lord Kamakura treated her dead husbands child so well. The biggest worry she harbored in her heart over going to Kansai was Kiyos.h.i.+ as his foolish little son hardly had any chance to become a man of outstanding talents, which made her feel rea.s.sured about him. However, there was not much she could say now that Lord Kamakura had given his word.

You have my grat.i.tude Lord Kamakura.

Makoto expressed her grat.i.tude even though she really didnt want to go to Heian-kyo or be forced to see that man again.

In the ma.s.sive cavern of Lake Biwas lakebed, the samurai were watching the battle unfold between the red-dressed samurai woman and the raging archdemon kappa on the rubble- and dust-filled platform in the center.

Kybzus wounds had healed mostly, and he also possessed abundant power reserves, making it hard to kill him with ordinary wounds.

Lily noted that the water streams had become pretty small in size by now and that the water humanoids carrying the wooden chest looked like young men now, their heights about the same as the wooden chest.

On the other hand, Kybzu had expended his precious lifeblood essence and burned with hate for Lily as he struck at her with his palm.

Although the palm strikes speed exceeded Lilys predictions, she stepped sideways to dodge it and spun her hips to revolve and slash the back of his hand.

The steaming blood that jetted out from the wound on Kybzus hand was also dark-green in color now.

However, Lily clearly felt that Kybzus skin had become tougher. The reason Yasutsuna failed to sever the bones of his hand this time wasnt because its bladed edge wasnt sharp enough, but rather the power gap between them.

Lilys blade strike still managed to cut one-thirds into his bones and severed his veins, so Kybzu screamed in pain once again.

This woman is really vicious! Ui sighed while watching their battle from far away.

Kybzu turned his hand over and swung it at Lily, but she evaded it with a swift yet graceful flip and landed down amidst the falling sakura.

Furthermore, Lily turned around to deliver a blade strike to Kybzus chest the moment her feet touched the land.

A white crescent moon with enchanting red edges shot towards Kybzu and left a deep blade wound on his chest.

Kybzu howled in rage and sp.a.w.ned tens of tentacles from his body. The dark tentacles that were now as tough as maces because of the raged state he was in currently lashed towards Lily from all directions.

The world looked different in Lilys eyes when compared to others. The tentacles looked like a single ent.i.ty to her, and she was able to predict how it would move and which body part of hers this ent.i.ty formed from killing intent would attack. Lily had seen through the fact that they werent actual tentacles and were rather killing intent!

It was impossible for Kybzu to control each tentacle individually at the same time.

Kybzu just had a single mind, so even if there were a lot of tentacles, it was easy for Lily to find an opening by seeing through his intent!

Lily danced past the tentacles with no regard for the s.e.xiness and wholesomeness she oozed as she blossomed in any and all kinds of forms to evade those tentacles effectively. It was as if she were performing a s.e.xy dance as the finale on the battlefield.

The samurai also stared at her performance in rapture.

How beautiful How is it so beautiful when its obviously a battle of life and death? Id gladly die under the blade of such a samurai woman.

Squash me to death The obese samurai who had a hobby of collecting Lilys paintings cried fanatically while kneeling down, I have no regrets left now that I have witnessed the beautiful and s.e.xy sword dance of my G.o.ddess! Sob-Sob

Tamurakonoe furrowed his brow. He wasnt that fond of women, especially those who show off their s.e.x appeal. However, Lilys sword dance was amorous yet transcendent, s.e.xual yet pure!

This woman Her evasion skills have reached a sublime level. My blade is the fastest in the world under the Permanence level! Can you evade it, woman?

Sakanoue no Tamurakonoe drew his blade out. Except for defense, his attacks had never missed against opponents on the same or lesser levels of strength and none of them had managed to evade his blade until now.

However, Tamurakonoe began doubting his skills for the first time ever.

On the other side, Mizue quivered with a flushed face, Why? Its not that surprising for a woman to be so das.h.i.+ng, so why is my heart pounding so hard?

s.h.i.+mizu looked at her little sisters perfected evasion skills with admiration yet mixed emotions welled up inside her simultaneously, Youve become so powerful now, Lil Sis Lily. Are you really more talented than me? Although Ive awakened can I really say with confidence that I can defeat and conquer her in all respects?

Meanwhile, Lily had entered a state of selflessness again. Her sharp senses saw through the simple killing intent hidden within the chaotic attacks aimed at her from all directions. Even if there were hundreds of mace-like tentacles, she evaded them effortlessly with each pa.s.sing second.

Lily spun back elegantly in the next moment to avoid the tentacles all-out attack and circled to Kybzus back, causing him to stagger forward from using excessive force. However, she didnt seize this chance to attack the opening he showed on his back.

Lily then took out a black ribbon from inside her sash and blindfolded her eyes.

What?! The spectators exclaimed in surprise.

This bitch! Tamurakonoe cursed out of jealousy as he hated those who were more talented than him the most.

Kybzu turned back and quivered in rage when he saw Lily standing opposite to him with her eyes blindfolded.

It was pure humiliation2.

How dare you look down on me like this, you insignificant human samurai woman?! My Lake Biwas kappa clan will have no standing left among the Hundred Demons unless I kill you!

Kybzu bellowed in rage and attacked Lily with countless tentacles from all directions once again!

Robinxen: Wait so he didnt sell her out? Or is his intentions a trial by fire thing? I cant read him at all.

Robinxen: Well RIP you.