<h4>Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 7 – Beginning of the Shocking War</h4>


    “Thirty-six altars?” Lily repeated, her voice a mixture of awe and concern. This number was far from trivial, yet the endeavor seemed less arduous than attaining the Celestial power rank.


    Even the valiant Yoshitsune had failed to breach the Ise Heavenly Gate. Ayaka held aplete ancient map of the four continents of Ashihara


    ¹, with their current location, Akitsu Shima and Heian-kyo, depicted in the greatest detail, while the northern Ezo, western Iyo, and southern Tsukushi were outlined with less precision.


    “Madam Shizuka, regarding the distribution of the thirty-six altars, what is your directive?” Ayaka inquired.


    A fan appeared in Shizuka’s hand, cascading open. She swept it across the map. “Throughout Ashihara, there are ces where the spirit energy thrives, nurtured by exceptional spiritual veins.”


    “In our current age, constructing these altars covertly would defy notice by Minamoto no Yoritomo or the Cloistered Emperor,” Ayakamented, her realism unmasked.


    A pensive quietude enveloped the room. The expenditure for the altars was manageable, but the politicalndscape posed the real challenge; several of these sitesy under the dominion of Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Cloistered Emperor.


    Even if Lily and the others took action and built a few altars, safeguarding them would be a challenge if they built too many.


    “The mission’s confidentiality is paramount,” asserted Ayaka. “However, once we begin to implement the n, the Imperial Court will inevitably find out. Minamoto no Yoritomo’s n to transmute humanity into demons to endure this changing world is preposterous—a method of self-destruction! Our n is to ascend to Takamagahara and pray for the salvation of themon people, the rightful path! This is the key to fundamentally undermining Minamoto no Yoritomo’s ambitions—he will spare no effort to thwart us.”


    Shizuka cast a meaningful nce at Lily. “This is the only path I know to Takamagahara. It’s a colossal undertaking, and there’s no alternative.”


    Lily pondered the grandiose scheme of ascending, considering its extravagance. Yet, what understanding did she, a mere mortal, have of the profoundness of Takamagahara? Perhaps such measures were necessary. Despite her lingering doubts, urgency pressed upon them. The world was changing rapidly, and Yoritomo was enacting his n to transmute humans into monsters. They needed to act swiftly!


    Lily voiced the unspoken thoughts of the group. “To fulfill this mission, we must defeat Minamoto no Yoritomo.”


    Rei, with a sh in her eyes, flipped her silver hair back. “Exactly. The rift between us and Minamoto no Yoritomo is irreconcble. We cannot coexist under the same sky. A final battle is unavoidable. Toplete this mission, we must not only vanquish Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Cloistered Emperor, but also secure control over most of Ashihara to ensure the safety of the thirty-six altars.”


    An undeniable truth, yet a daunting task.


    Ayaka spoke next, her tone resolute. “The majority of powers in the world are swayed easily. If we defeat Minamoto no Yoritomo, they will naturally ally with us. But let’s be clear—besides the imperial court, we must also contend with the demon factions and those who emerge from Yomi. Only by suppressing these forces can we establish and maintain the thirty-six altars.”


    Kimiko, who had been quiet, added her thoughts. “Defeating the Daitengu, who masquerades as the Cloistered Emperor in Heian-kyo, will deter any demons from opposing us.”


    Her words were logical, underscoring the gravity of their undertaking. The battle with Minamoto no Yoritomo was shaping up to be a pivotal confrontation for the world.


    Their adversaries were formidable and many.


    “Do you possess the resolve to engage in a full-scale war against Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Imperial Court?” Shizuka asked Lily with seriousness.


    Taking a deep breath, Lily recognized that the answer required no deep contemtion, yet acknowledging the reality demanded considerable bravery. Her opponent was both cunning and terrifying, deeply rooted in power—a truly formidable foe.


    Before she could articte her determination, a kunoichi burst in


    ². “Lyn-hime! Urgent news! An imposing unknown force has set out from Kai Province, bearing Minamoto no Yoritomo’s banner, two hundred thousand strong. It’s very likely they’re heading for Cherry Blossom Valley!”


    “What!?” The group was still reeling from the shock when another kunoichi arrived, equally breathless. “Minamoto no Yoritomo has dispatched an army of one hundred thousand towards Suno!”


    The tension escted as the magnitude of their predicament became ringly apparent, with the drums of war sounding a dire prelude to a conflict that would determine the fate of their world.


    “……”


    Yoritomo’s massive forces from Kai were unmistakably converging on Cherry Blossom Valley. His deployment of two formidable armies suggested uncertainty about Lily’s location. The real threat was ambiguous, hinging on the caliber of experts each force possessed.


    “Go and investigate. Report back immediately upon discovery!” Haihimemanded crisply.


    “At once!” With that, the kunoichis dispersed swiftly.


    Facing Shizuka, Lily stated with a serene conviction, “Regardless of our mission, Yoritomo perceives us as the pinnacle of threats to his reign. Our survival, much less the world’s salvation, hinges on his defeat.”


    Shizuka bowed deeply to Lily, dering, “Together, we’ll oppose the Imperial Court and vanquish Minamoto no Yoritomo, the world’s scourge.” Her resolve was not only for the world but also a quest for retribution for her in family.


    Lily and herpanions reciprocated the bow with solemn respect.


    A lofty mountain cliff, a natural fortress between the Cherry Blossom Valley and Blossom Valley, harbored a temple gateway. A clearing near the temple was marked for construction, the central hall stoodplete, while auxiliary structures were in various stages of development.


    Upon their arrival at the main hall, Lily and herpanions convened a meeting with the rest of their sisters to strategize against Yoritomo’s impending assault. Despite her reluctance, the others’ insistence ced Lily in the ‘Lord’ seat; she felt ill at ease in such a position but epted it, understanding that none of her sistersmanded unanimous respect as she did.


    “Abandon Suno and focus our defenses on Cherry Blossom Valley,” Little Kimiko proposed. Despite her reduced size and the childlike innocence that now tinged her personality, her wisdom remained untouched. “Lady Kimiko…” one of them began, only to hear her continue. “In about a month, I should recover enough energy to return to my adult form for a few days. We cannot defend Suno; it’s an impossibility that would only yield unwarranted casualties. Let’s employ puppet forces and formations to dy the army’s advance. As for the demons andmoners of Suno, they may seek refuge here or find sanctuary deep within the mountains.”


    Airi’s voice, steeped in incredulity, broke the silence that followed. “Suno is under siege by a hundred thousand troops, and we face twice that number here—how did Minamoto no Yoritomo replenish his forces after such staggering losses?”


    “Didn’t he vanish for several months?” Sakiko mused. “Surely he wouldn’t afford us time to regroup without seeking reinforcements.”


    “The strength of the force attacking the valley needs to be ascertained,” Ayaka dered firmly.


    “I’ll take care of that,” Lily confidently responded, considering deploying her small roon paintings for reconnaissance.


    Ijuin stood up assertively, her hands nted on her hips. “Hold on. This task is too minor for General Lyn-hime. We have among us kunoichi who excel in beast control; they’re more suited for scouting Yoritomo’s forces.”


    A ripple of confusion spread among them. “General?” Ayaka questioned, puzzled.


    “Isn’t it obvious?” Ijuin retorted. “We cannot be an unnamed force. Who else but Sister Lily dares to stand against Minamoto no Yoritomo and the Imperial Court? She must assume her rightful title.”


    Marching to the center of the hall, Ijuin gestured towards Lily. “Why not establish a government here in Cherry Blossom Valley to rival Kansai


    ³?”


    Lily, taken aback, had not given the idea any serious thought. It was true, Ijuin had mentioned it in passing during the nning of the Blossom Valley Pce, but Lily hadn’t dwelt on it. Could Ijuin truly be serious about such a bold move?


    The other sisters, powerful warriors and adepts in their own right, shared a look of bewilderment. While formidable inbat, the intricacies of military strategy and politics were foreign to them. Kotoka, with a knowing smile that carried both wisdom and maturity, remarked, “I see, this isn’t beyond our consideration.”


    “This… I… I’ve never really considered that…” Lily stumbled over her words, her expression clouded with uncertainty.


    “Ehehe, perhaps we should table this discussion? Our numbers are few and our territory limited. Our immediate priority must be to strategize our defense against the enemy,” Ayaka interjected with practicality.


    Turning her gaze to Ijuin, Lily inquired with a mixture of skepticism and hope, “Miss Ijuin, are you confident in this?”


    “Rx,” Ijuin reassured her, “The beast controlling techniques are safe, even if our kunoichi are discovered, there’s no risk.”


    “Alright, proceed with the investigation, but with caution,” Lily consented.


    Ijuin departed the hall, approaching a group of kunoichi with purpose. “General Lyn-hime hasmanded…”


    “Don’t call me general…” Lily interjected, a hint of reluctance in her voice. Deep down, though, she harbored a burning desire to stand against Minamoto no Yoritomo and the oppressive, corrupt Imperial Court.


    The following day, reports from the investigation squad filtered in. The vanguard, an intimidating mix of ck-armored demon soldiers and their demon counterparts, radiated formidable auras, with some exuding an essence reminiscent of Yomi. The kunoichi had managed to scout the vanguard, but the tamed beasts sent further into enemy lines hadn’t returned, forcing them to retreat, overpowered by apprehension.


    “It seems I must test the efficacy of my own methods,” Lily murmured, summoning several small roons with a graceful wave of her hand. They scampered out of the hall eagerly.


    “Lily,” Ayaka chimed in, “I’ve fortified the maze formation and will oversee it personally. It’s now even more impregnable. Let me share the secrets of the maze’s passages with you, so your roons can navigate it without hindrance.”


    “Ah, okay,” Lily acknowledged, her mind already tracing the maze’splexities.


    Armed with this new knowledge, Lily’s roons darted through thebyrinthine maze and vanished into the dense forests under the cover of a star-strewn sky. The night air, crisp with the onset of autumn, carried the scent of yellowed, withering leaves as the mountains themselves seemed to brace for the impending chill. <h4>Footnotes:</h4>


    Robinxen: It’s like an RPG quest now.


    Robinxen: Speaking of which, our resident klutz hasn’t had a significant scene in forever…


    Robinxen: Raise your g!