<h4>Volume 8 - Higanbana: Chapter 46 – Desperate Battle</h4>


    The towering wooden pirs formed an imprable barrier around Lily, her sisters, and the Yomi demons, trapping them with no means of escape. The presence of one formidable Kamakura clone was already overwhelming, but now dozens of additional experts emerged, further escting the dire situation.


    Among this new group, four individuals stood out as Big Dipper Stage experts. While Hojo Masako exuded a sense of maliciousness and danger, it was the white-bearded old man by her side who emanated an even more dominating and oppressive aura.


    “Sister Shimizu, please protect Ayaka!” Lilynded on the ground and carefully handed Ayaka back to Shimizu. The colossal form of Kamakura remained suspended in mid-air as he boomed with a thunderous voice, “Kagami Lily, you have nowhere to escape. Hand over Ayaka, kneel down, and surrender! I won’t kill you.”


    Lily surveyed the experts positioned on the towering pirs surrounding her, her eyes filled with defiance as she locked gazes with Yoritomo’s clone. A merciless glint flickered in her eyes as she retorted, “Keep dreaming!”


    “What an ignorant and reckless woman! Allow me to personally deal with her!” Hojo Masako wasted no time with words, swiftly moving to eliminate Lily.


    Kamakura sighed, shaking his head in disappointment, and dered, “Masako, leave this woman to me!”


    Masako’s body emitted an eerie, poisonous dark purple spiritual energy, and she wielded a bone whip adorned with menacing thorns. Alongside the other experts, she leaped down from the tform, engaging in a fierce battle with the hundred demons.


    Meanwhile, Kamakura made purposeful strides through the air, closing in on Lily. In his hand, he gripped a ck wooden sword, its imposing appearance exuding a weighty aura. The broad decked a sharp point, instead widening at the top and tapering towards the bottom. Without a hand guard, it resembled a formidable blunt weapon resonating with the energies of the underworld.


    As a quadruple-soul Big Dipper Stage powerhouse, Yoritomo’s clone possessed superior strength, leaving Lily with no escape. <i>Bzzt!</i> A ghostly purple light enveloped Lily as she surged forward, charging at the clone.


    The heavy wooden de descended, causing even the surrounding space to distort as it passed through. <i>Swish!</i> However, Lily transformed into a graceful purple phantom, effortlessly evading the strike. Undeterred, Kamakura prepared for a follow-up backhanded sword strike, seemingly unstoppable.


    In a sudden twist, the massive six-tailed demon fox lunged at Kamakura from behind, its jaws mping down with immense force. Kamakura, unfazed by the attack, swiftly turned around and swung his sword.


    <i>BOOM!!!</i> The impact of the strike resulted in half of the six-tailed demon fox’s head being obliterated. The sheer weight and power of the wooden sword were undeniable.


    However, even with half of its head missing, the painted projection of the six-tailed demon fox managed to w at Kamakura, refusing to yield. Kamakura skillfully used his sword to block the relentless onught.


    <i>Schwing—!</i> A dazzling explosion of sharp sword light erupted behind Kamakura as Lily seized the opportunity to strike. Her de found its mark, piercing through Kamakura’s heart from behind in a ruthless attack.


    “How relentless!” Kamakura swiftly swatted away the demon fox’s giant ws with his sword, his focus undeterred. With a swift motion, he spun in a circle, preparing to retaliate against Lily. Ignoring the stab to his heart, he only made a slight effort to avoid a fatal blow.


    Kamakura, towering over Lily in both size and strength, sought to engage her directly, disregarding any advantage she might have.


    However, Lily anticipated his strategy and abandoned her attack. With a graceful movement, she pivoted mid-air and evaded Kamakura’s wooden sword, swiftly positioning herself beside the clone.


    <i>Bzzt!</i> A radiant purple lunar glow enveloped Lily’s de, enhancing its power.


    Due to his massive size, Kamakura’s dodging abilities were limited, and as a result, he suffered a deep sword gash on his shoulder. ck blood sttered in all directions, but given his colossal frame, such a wound seemed inconsequential.


    <i>Crack—!</i> A sharp and agonizing pain surged through Lily’s back as Hojo Masako’s whip struck her from behind. Despite Lily’s exceptional physical skills, evading the Kamakura clone’s attack had pushed her to her limits. Dealing with every threat simultaneously proved impossible.


    Lily’s eyes turned icy cold.


    <i>Swoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!</i> The Yomi archdemon projections sprang into action, charging towards Hojo Masako, aiming to counter the assault.


    Meanwhile, both the original and the clone, positioned at a distance, simultaneously unleashed a dark domain. Its oppressive force engulfed the entire battlefield, as if plunging everyone into a thick quagmire. This joint domain, emanating from the original body and the clone, was immensely potent, effortlessly breaking through the spiritual energy defenses of the other powerhouses.


    Despite using her purple sakura domain to resist the suppression, Lily found it challenging to maintain control. It drained her reserves of purple lunar force and prevented her from suppressing her enemies effectively.


    Meanwhile, on the execution ground, the ck-Armored Army, Tengu Army, and the other experts brought by Masako engaged in intensebat with the hundred demons. Yoritomo’s forces clearly had the upper hand, and one by one, the Yomi demon projections and ancient vengeful spirits were being defeated or dissipated.


    “Miss Kagami, you must retreat quickly! If you dy any longer, I won’t be able to assist you!” Michizane strained to hold his ground against Yoritomo as their battle raged on.


    However, there seemed to be no viable escape route. Every path was blocked, with Yoritomo and Daitengu hovering above the pce gates, making it impossible to pass. Moreover, the presence of the Tsunaga Sisters added to the challenge. Even if Lily managed to escape, what about her sisters?


    If they wanted to break free, they had to forge a bloody path. The seemingly indestructible wooden pirs surrounding them were a manifestation of a heavenly secret technique, but there had to be a way to ovee them.


    The Yomi demons and the Tsunaga Sisters gradually retreated, drawing closer to each other as they faced the advancing imperial court forces.


    “We must protect the Lord Chief Advisor! Our sisters’ sacrifice cannot be in vain!” Ijuin, battered and d in tattered clothes, stood resolute, raising her sword as she shouted.


    Coincidentally, everyone began to gather around Ayaka, forming a tight-knit formation amidst the chaotic battle. They found themselves encircled by the advancing imperial army, transitioning from scattered skirmishes to a consolidated confrontation.


    Lily strategically positioned the Yomi archdemons at the outermost perimeter, shielding the army of Tsunaga Sisters within.


    <i>Whoosh!</i> In that moment, a surge of ck light erupted from Kamakura’s long sleeves, hurtling towards Lily. Swiftly maneuvering in mid-air, Lily narrowly evaded the attack, only to be assailed by Masako’s bone whip, which transformed into countlessshes, closing in on her.


    With utmost agility, Lily evaded the criss-crossing ck lights and whipping tendrils, her mind racing to find a way to break free from their predicament.


    “To the east lies the Genji base camp, and to the north, the imperial pce. Neither direction is favorable, leaving us with only south or west,” Lily contemted.


    “To the west is the Chief Advisor’s manor!” a realization dawned upon her.


    Recalling the presence of a teleportation formation at the manor, an idea took shape in Lily’s mind.


    “Listen to me, everyone!” she called out with determination. “We must unleash our full strength, break through their lines, and head west using Nijo Boulevard as our path…”


    <i>Crack!</i> However, at that critical moment, Masako’s whip snared Lily’s ankle.


    “Not good!” Lily realized her momentarypse in focus.


    Closing in on her, the Kamakura clone sneered, “Let’s see where you can run now!”


    Gritting her teeth, Lily summoned her inner strength and lifted her long, snow-white leg that was entangled by the whip. With a sudden burst of power, she kicked out, yanking Masako off bnce and hurling her away with tremendous force.


    <i>Bang!</i> The colossal wooden pir quivered as Masako crashed into it. Caught off guard by the unexpected assault, she coughed up a mouthful of purple blood, her expression one of shock and fury.


    The sight of his injured wife


    ¹ stirred a level of anger in Kamakuraparable to that of his previous subordinates’ demise at Lily’s hands. With a resolute swing, his massive wooden sword descended upon her.


    This time, evasion was impossible.


    <i>ng—!!!</i> Lily, wielding her sword with both hands, exerted all her strength to intercept the descending blow. The weighty pressure crashed upon her, akin to hundreds of mountains copsing, relentlessly pushing her into the ground.


    <i>Boom!!!</i> Lily sank to one knee, the impact creating a substantial crater beneath her, the force overwhelming.


    Lily had previously survived a palm strike from the sextuple-soul original body and managed to stand back up. Although the quadruple-soul clone boasted immense strength, it paled inparison to the original body’s might. Lily could endure their assaults by sheer resilience alone.


    But suddenly, without warning, Kamakura unleashed a devastating sword tempest toward therge group surrounding Ayaka.


    “Not good!!!” Lily’s mind raced with shock. The sakura parasol materialized in her hand and began to expand, growing into a colossal scarlet tower without unfurling its petals.


    <i>Boom!!</i> The impact of the de wind sent a powerful shockwave that wounded Lily’s shoulder, but the attack was sessfully deflected.


    “Minamoto no Yoritomo


    ²! How dare you!!!” Lily seethed with anger. The strongest human of their generation resorted to such a dishonorable tactic. Filled with fury, Lily soared between Ayaka’s group and Kamakura.


    Yet, the Kamakura clone remained silent and unleashed another fierce sword tempest in their direction.


    Lily found herself unable to evade the oing attack, leaving her with no choice but to rely on the sakura parasol to bear the brunt of the sword tempest. However, enduring a single sword strike didn’t guarantee her ability to withstand a continuous onught unscathed. Her injuries worsened with each powerful gust she endured.


    “Well, well, well! So this is how it’s done!” Masako flew directly towards the group of Tsunaga Sisters, wielding her white bone whip with malicious intent aimed at Ayaka.


    “Damn it!” Lily desperately yearned to rush over and intervene, but time was not on her side. Seizing the opportunity, Lord Kamakuraunched an attack from behind!


    With unwavering determination, Shimizu and Kagura raised their swords, gritting their teeth as they stood before Ayaka, ready to shield her from harm. However, how could they possibly contend with the force of the double-soul Big Dipper Stage behind Masako’s elongated whip?


    “Step aside,” a cold voice suddenlymanded.


    A gentle breeze carrying a fragrant scent enveloped them from behind, and with barely any force, two hands pushed Shimizu and Kagura aside.


    <i>Swish!</i> A dim white lotus materialized overhead, expertly deflecting Masako’s bone whip.


    “What?!” Masako was taken aback, her astonishment evident.


    Ayaka ascended, her graceful hand forming a seal as she summoned a long crystal arrow that pierced through the scattered white lotus


    ³.


    <i>Bang!</i> The burst of spiritual light erupted, forcefully propelling Masako away.


    “Sister Ayaka!!!” Lily eximed, a mix of surprise and disbelief coloring her voice.


    Fujiwara no Ayaka had finally awakened!


    “Ah…” Ayaka’s towering form wavered unsteadily, on the verge of copse. Without dy, Shimizu and Kagura rushed to support her, preventing her from falling.


    “I’m alright…” Ayaka called out to Lily, “Lil’ Lily! Pay no mind to us and focus on dealing with Yoritomo’s… clone!”


    “Big Sister…” Lily’s heart swelled with both worry and admiration for Ayaka. Even in her weakened and heavily injured state, Ayaka, a quintuple-soul Big Dipper Stage powerhouse, possessed enough strength to confront the threat posed by Masako and her group. Though stripped of her treasures by the imperial court, Ayaka alone was more than capable of handling the situation.


    “Minamoto no Yoritomo!!!” Lily’s worries dissipated, allowing her to unleash her full power in the battle.


    Her body erupted with a surge of vibrant purple lunar force as she charged forward, aiming directly for Kamakura.


    Yasutsuna swept down, shing at Kamakura’s colossal head.


    A radiant crescent moon materialized, poised to strike.


    <i>Boom!!!</i> Kamakura swung his massive wooden sword, dispersing the attack effortlessly.


    But Lily was no longer there.


    <i>Pfft—</i> In an instant, she reappeared near Kamakura’s foot and directed a swift sh at his ankle.


    Suddenly, a towering tree sprouted from Kamakura’s hand, aiming to strike Lily.


    A ribbon flew out from Lily’s extended sleeve, anchoring itself in mid-air as if connected to the distant expanse of the starry sky


    ⁴.


    Utilizing the support of the ribbon, Lily leaped with remarkable speed, surpassing her normal agility. Evading Kamakura’s colossal palm, she swiftly maneuvered towards his ear, rotating her body to deliver a powerful kick.


    <i>Boom!!!</i> The kick connected with the side of Kamakura’s face, causing his massive frame to stagger.


    “Kagami Lily!” Kamakura reached out to grab her with his enormous hand. However, Lily’s agility proved unmatched as she brandished the glowing purple Yasutsuna, meeting his iing palm.


    <i>Pfft!</i> A deep wound marred Kamakura’s hand. But the force sent Lily flying backward from the dissipating palm wind. Undeterred, Lily flung a ribbon towards Kamakura, swiftly wrapping it around his arm. The ribbon stretched taut before abruptly rebounding.


    <i>Swish!</i> Another sword sh struck Kamakura’s chest! He took a few steps back, the ck and bruised sword wound quickly healing.


    “What a cunning woman…”


    The wooden sword vanished from Kamakura’s grasp, reced by a diminutive three-storied pagoda. <h4>References</h4>


    Silva: wait whaaaat? Hojo Masako is Yoritomo’s wife?!?!


    Silva: This chapter is so confusing with the original body (Yoritomo) and the clone (Kamakura)


    Robinxen: So that just happened.


    Robinxen: Spider lily! (See what I did there?)