Demon Sword Maiden

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At that very moment, a profound transformation began to unfold within Lily's Spirit Palace.

As a Big Dipper Adept stepping into the Celestial Stage, Lily transcended the peak of mortal cultivation and stepped into the threshold of true divinity. It was the beginning of her apotheosis.

Her Big Dipper Stellar Soul radiated a soft silver glow, resembling the delicate wings of a cicada unfolding in the light. That quiet brilliance steadily filled her Spirit Palace with warmth and calm.

Lily let out a soft gasp as her face flushed with heat. Her eyes remained tightly shut while she sat beneath the moonlight, as if her soul were rising to the heavens. The pleasure of this transformation was unlike anything she had ever experienced. Perhaps only the deep intimacy she had once shared with her senior sister and Shimizu could rival it, though this sensation was entirely different in nature.

This was not physical pleasure alone, but a euphoric evolution of the soul, the rapture of ascending to a higher existence.

Although it was different from the passion of love, the sense of fulfillment and joy that surged through her now was just as overwhelming.

Her seven Stellar Souls, along with the moon suspended above, dissolved into a luminous mist that flowed into her Spirit Sea. Her Throne Palace melted away like a thawing iceberg, releasing streams of pure life essence that merged into the Spirit Palace. All that remained was her delicate soul adrift in the vast ocean of her Spirit Sea.

An adept in this state was exceptionally vulnerable. Any physical assault beyond their defense could result in fatal consequences.

Though the process seemed intricate, it concluded swiftly. Her ascension took less than a single minute.

Her Spirit Sea overflowed with radiant colors, waves of profound energy resonating with the Lunar, Sword, and Charm Heavenly Paths. Each force surged into her Spirit Palace, creating a miraculous reaction within.

Such harmony between Heavenly Paths and the Spirit Sea could only be achieved by one who had stepped into the fourth stage of Heavenly Paths.

With the Lunar Heavenly Path at the center, the three paths reshaped her Spirit Sea, turning its waters into a boundless ocean of divine energy. A small portion overflowed, but this was merely a side effect, barely dampening the floor beneath. Her Spirit Sea was immense, its capacity for energy unlike anything an ordinary adept could imagine.

The ocean of divine energy resided within a separate dimension nested inside her Spirit Palace, a space meant solely for storing spiritual power. Yet Lily's reservoir was unlike any other. It was an endless ocean with waves that climbed toward the heavens.

The moon that had appeared above her Spirit Palace was the embodiment of her Lunar Heavenly Path. It fused with her soul, becoming both the source of her divine strength and the point of her greatest vulnerability.

That moon resembled a mother nurturing new life. It radiated vitality, divine power, and the essence of rebirth.

As her Lunar Heavenly Path and Stellar Soul merged fully into her Spirit Sea, her energy transformed completely. From this moment on, Lily would no longer draw on ordinary spirit power. Her abilities would be fueled by divine energy, marking a fundamental leap in strength.

She had become, in every sense, a true goddess.

The manifestation of divine power lingered for nearly twenty seconds, serving as the most sustained and stable phase of her entire breakthrough.

Soon after, the boundless ocean of divine energy aligned seamlessly with her second and third Heavenly Paths.

The divine energy within Lily's Spirit Sea grew even more refined and pure. Every single drop was infused with three distinct powers, each harmonizing with the others.

Not only was this divine liquid imbued with tremendous power, but the ocean itself seemed endless, a boundless reservoir too vast to comprehend.

As her divine ocean stabilized, countless motes of essence began to manifest within it, coalescing into shimmering stars. One by one, these stars drifted upward and merged with the moon above, until it became a flawless, prismatic crystal.

In her daze, Lily noticed something odd. Her Spirit Crystal had turned completely clear, its translucent purity replacing the blood-red hue she had always associated with divine beings. She didn't know what this change signified, but the sight of her crystalline moon filled her with quiet joy as her Spirit Palace finally came to rest.

An involuntary cry of elation escaped her lips. Lily nearly lost consciousness, not from weakness but from the overwhelming ecstasy of transformation. This was no ordinary breakthrough, it was an ascension, a transcendence of self that brought her pure, unrestrained satisfaction.

Within moments, her divine ocean reached complete stability, and the crystalline moon that now housed her soul gleamed with perfection. When Lily opened her eyes, she felt no fatigue. Instead, energy surged through her body, her senses heightened, and an unfamiliar but empowering confidence took root in her heart.

She had always believed that, as a woman, she would inevitably be the one conquered, even if it was by someone she loved. But that belief no longer held sway. The self-pity that once clung to her heart had vanished. She was no longer merely a woman. She was a goddess who soared above the heavens.

Her grasp of hierarchy, the flow of life, and the true nature of gods and their place across the three realms had deepened immensely.

Lily's gaze now brimmed with a quiet confidence, born from her newfound strength and the vast understanding she had gained. Despite the magnitude of her transformation, she rose gracefully to her feet, filled with energy and free from even the faintest trace of exhaustion.

Her body had always been powerful, but now she felt as though her stamina and divine energy were limitless. She had finally entered the Celestial Stage.

Feeling the changes within her body and Spirit Palace, Lily reflected on the path that had brought her here. She had once been a frail girl, lost in a strange world, clutching a parasol and trembling in fear. She could have been defeated by any ordinary bandit. Yet through reason, courage, perseverance, moments of luck, and the kindness of others, she had survived the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. That survival led her to meet Hojo Ujizane and her mentor, Matsuda Nagahide. From the moment she first held a sword, her life was forever changed.

At that moment, a profound realization dawned on Lily.

Matsuda Nagahide, who had mentored her for only a short time, had sacrificed his life to protect her. Though not powerful in strength, he embodied the spirit of Bushido more than anyone Lily had ever known. His sacrifice struck her deeply and gave her the resolve to follow the path of the warrior.

In desperation, she awakened her hidden potential and struck down Hojo Dijon amid a flurry of falling cherry blossoms. Afterward, she fell from a mountain cliff and discovered the former dwelling of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. There, she came to understand his character: resolute, enduring, and full of quiet compassion. He was a true warrior of the Heian age.

She later encountered Saionji Nanako and Yagyuu Shiu. Once adversaries, they became sworn sisters, earning one another's eternal trust and loyalty.

Though still uncertain of her own heart, she had been captivated by Uesugi Rei's overwhelming strength and kissed without warning. To her surprise, she felt genuine happiness as a woman. These emotions had once confused her, even left her flustered, but they became part of who she was.

Her encounter with Shimizu had been turbulent. Misunderstandings drove them to the brink of killing each other atop a mountain cliff. Yet, fate proved ironic. The two forged a deep bond, unaware that the grudges between them stretched deeper than either of them had ever imagined.

Ayaka's noble, kind, yet commanding presence made Lily feel the quiet joy of being cherished from a place of strength. She embraced the sensation of being protected, yet she never allowed herself to be consumed by affection. Like a Higanbana blooming against the wind, she rose in defiance. She launched a daring raid on Heian-kyo and led a siege alongside countless demons, forging her own legend.

With Kimiko's guidance and support, Lily vanquished Daitengu and slew Shuten Doji. Her strength now stood unmatched in the Heian Dynasty.

Minamoto no Yoritomo left an impression on her as profound as Yoshitsune had. She came to understand that Yoritomo had not been wrong. Had she never existed, his vision to save humanity, no matter how brutal, might have been the only possible path.

Even Yoritomo knew how dark his method truly was, yet he believed he had no other option. In the end, he made himself the sacrificial foundation and placed his hopes in someone stronger—Lily.

Lily had once prayed to the heavens, only to be struck by divine lightning and cast into Yomi, where she nearly lost herself. As a beautiful woman without power, she was hunted by demons and pursued by Takamagahara, surviving by sheer will time and time again.

Under the Madam's care, she believed she had found someone she could rely on. But that trust was shaken when she was forced into a marriage within the Boundless Abyss and fed the Fragrance-Breaker Pill. There, she faced a cruel choice between preserving her fate or her chastity.

She endured bitter humiliation, yet her resolve remained unshaken. For the sake of her sisters, she was even willing to become a demon-like being, a Cursed Blade Maiden.

But her unwavering spirit awakened her senior sister from slumber. In the end, Lily was able to entrust her love and chastity to the one she cherished above all others. Even so, this was only the beginning.

Now a goddess, Lily had to shoulder the legacy of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. She would be forced to face trials, confront threats even among those she loved, and continue seeking sanctuary in a world growing darker by the day.

She had to find a vessel for her senior sister, a body that would allow her to live in the real world rather than remain sealed within the ancient mirror. Only then could they truly stand side by side.

The higher Lily rose, the heavier her burdens became. She could already feel the weight of destiny pressing down on her shoulders.

Who was her senior sister, truly? And what was Lily's own origin? Where were the ones responsible for Tsukuyomi's death?

Lily turned and slowly slid open the armored window panels. The hazy moonlight had faded, revealing once again the harsh and merciless world outside.

"I still have so much to do, and the road ahead will only grow more dangerous. Senior sister… my dear sisters… I have no desire to rule the world or be the most powerful across the realms. I care nothing for beauty that captivates all beings. All I want is to protect you. I want us to live freely, safely, and happily together. That is my true wish, and I will fight for it with all I have. This is the Heian Era. When will I finally grant my sisters the peace that name promises?"