Volume 8 - Higanbana: Chapter 41 – Attacking The Site
Fujiwara no Ayaka looked pale as she hung on the gibbet. The Onmyoji’s Arcane Formations couldn’t extract any more spiritual power from her. The tens of thousands of people who watched the execution seemed sad regardless of their impression of the Chief Advisor. Despite her faults, she was still a noble and elegant woman, a political expert within humanity and an influential individual. The fact that she was being drained of spiritual power in public and was about to be executed saddened everyone.
Emperor Go-Toba watched from behind white curtains on a balcony facing south. He had a vacant gaze and feared for his future as he couldn’t even control his own life. The Emperor was helpless and couldn’t do anything to change the situation.
Tears flowed down his eyes as he sobbed quietly. He concealed his emotions using the curtain, terrified that he might lose his dignity as the Emperor. The political turmoil was a result of the Emperor’s weakness, which allowed the noble court to be controlled by the Cloistered Emperor and influential ministers. In the Heian Dynasty, strength was essential.
The Cloistered Emperor and Minamoto no Yoritomo rose to become the most influential political figures not only through their strategies but also their strength.
The time had come. An official checked the timekeeping device and his expression turned solemn. He then approached the Emperors and Minamoto no Yoritomo, and knelt down before them.
“Greetings, Your Majesties. Cloistered Emperor, Emperor Emeritus, Emperor. It is currently midnight,” announced the official.
“Grandpa… Can you not…” the Emperor murmured, but his words were quickly silenced by the Cloistered Emperor’s meaty hand. “Your Majesty, as the Emperor, you must maintain your dignity!” he scolded. The intimidated Emperor did not dare to speak again.
The Cloistered Emperor then turned to address Minamoto no Yoritomo with a shrill voice. “Lord Commander?”
Minamoto no Yoritomo appeared solemn and a hint of sadness could be seen on his face as he nodded. “Very well, let us begin.”
“It is now midnight. The execution shall commence!” The Chancellor shouted from the corner. He felt a sense of excitement as he watched Fujiwara no Ayaka being hung high above. Her death would result in him becoming the Chief Advisor.
“B?a?s?t?a?r?d?…” The Tsunaga Sisters, including Shizuru and Ijuin, were angry and frustrated about the situation. Everyone wanted to rescue Ayaka and fight the enemy, but they knew that the enemy was too strong. The risk of failure was high, and they might even die in the process. This would give the royal court more reasons to oppress the Tsunaga Sisters.
“What now? I’m not sure what to do…” Ijuin said, her voice lacking the confidence she once had when facing Sugawara no Michizane. Her experiences had shown her how dangerous and terrifying the world could be, and she and Shizuru had to make a decision.
The tense expressions of Shimizu, Shiu, and others were evident as they stood behind them. If Lily were in Ayaka’s position, Shimizu would have attacked by now. However, she was not familiar with Ayaka. Despite her willingness to fight, she required an opportunity to do so.
Shiu, Mizue, and the others were all staring at Ijuin and Shizuru, awaiting their instructions.
The onmyojis had created an opening on the gibbet. Two thin and tall executioners with a foul odor of decay carried terrifying long swords. They slowly made their way up the execution platform, which was adorned with talismans on either side, and gradually ascended the tall wooden pillars.
They ascended to a place higher than where Ayaka was hanged. Her black hair was swept to the side, revealing its beauty. The long swords were unsheathed, and the blades emitted a dangerous and poisonous aura. The edge of the swords was a mere inch away from Ayaka’s pale neck. It seemed like they were about to carry out the execution.
Fujiwara no Renbo received a nod of approval from Yoritomo and then looked at the demoralized crowd with a smug expression. He then turned his head towards Ayaka and gave her a venomous stare. Raising his hand up high, he shouted, “execute!”
“B?a?s?t?a?r?d?…” Ijuin, Shizuru, and the others were on the verge of unsheathing their swords to launch an attack. However, to their surprise, their hands would not listen to them. “Oh no! It’s too late!”
The ominous executioners unleashed deadly Eldritch Energy from their thin arms. Both long swords were pointed at her neck with full force!
Whoosh!!!
At this time, however, several scarlet blade energies appeared beside the executioners with a loud whooshing sound. The wielder of these blades did not hesitate even for a moment.
The executioners were mercilessly sliced into pieces, their bodies torn asunder. Blood sprayed in all directions, painting a gruesome scene. Amidst the chaos, the shattered remnants of the long swords fell from above, a symbol of the violent clash. Above them, the sky was adorned with graceful sakura petals, gently fluttering down as if to offer solace amidst the carnage.
“What?!” The exclamation echoed through the air, leaving the three Emperors, Yoritomo, court officials, and the spectators in a state of utter shock. Even Ijuin and the others couldn’t believe their eyes as they witnessed the grisly sight of the executioners being ruthlessly hacked into pieces, their lifeless forms plummeting to the ground. The scene unfolded before them, defying all expectations and plunging everyone into a state of disbelief.
“What’s happening? What’s going on?” Fujiwara no Renbo, the host of the execution, exclaimed as he fell to the ground in fear.
“Who’s there? Who dares to sabotage the execution?” shouted Kato Keiren, one of the eight commanders on the platform.
However, the commotion in the crowd began to spread, starting from the back. Strange flute music and percussive sounds could be heard coming from the fog.
Lily, along with Sugawara no Michizane, Taira no Masakado, Kagura, and Yuki-Onna, led a legion of powerful demons as they marched down Suzaku Avenue. Lily’s expression was solemn
1, and her hair swirled around her as if in a fierce wind. She appeared to be lost in thought, gazing into the distance.
Sugawara no Michizane and Taira no Masakado unleashed bolts of lightning and torrents of flames, causing a surge of Resentment Energy to fill the sky. The entire area was affected by the intense energy.
“Wh-What is going on here?” Renbo was taken aback, with his mouth wide open and looking dazed. The Cloistered Emperor, who was behind the curtain, also appeared surprised with his eyes wide open. Even Yoritomo, who had a massive brow, had a solemn expression and was clearly disturbed. The onlookers were in a state of disarray, with some running towards the back, while others moved to the front and sides. They were surrounded by black-armored soldiers, causing chaos and panic. Amidst the commotion, Shimizu spotted Lily!
“Lil’ Lily!”
“Lily!”
“Lady Kagami!”
Witnessing Lily’s arrival alongside legendary and powerful Vengeful Spirits and ghosts, Ijuin and the others immediately recognized them as allies, despite the chaotic situation.
“Now’s our chance! Disrupt their formation!” Ijuin declared, unsheathing her long sword and raising her voice.
“Advance towards the platform! Rescue Lady Ayaka!” Shizuru and the rest of the Tsunaga Sisters amidst the crowd began to mobilize.
Sensing that things were spiraling out of control, Renbo sank to the ground, frustration pouring out as he screamed, “Proceed with the execution! Carry it out! Kill Fujiwara no Ayaka! Do it now!”
A group of onmyoji started chanting incantations, preparing to unleash their spells upon her.
“Who dares?” Lily leaped into the air, taking her place atop the colossal six-tailed fox demon, standing at a towering height of dozens of meters. With Sakura Parasol twirling in her hands, she exuded an air of power.
A resounding boom echoed through the air as a blizzard of sakura petals cascaded down, blanketing the square in front of the Palace.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Beneath her, the onmyojis who attempted to harm Ayaka were swiftly reduced to minuscule fragments by the razor-sharp sakura blade petals generated by Lily’s Domain.
As several black-armored soldiers reached for their weapons, their hands were instantaneously severed by blades that materialized out of thin air.
In an instant, the soldiers and Onmyojis on the execution platform remained still, not daring to make a move. Chaos erupted as the Tsunaga Sisters began attacking the black-armored soldiers guarding the area below. Despite their efforts, the soldiers proved to be incredibly strong. Only a few, like Ijuin and Shizuru, were able to break through their defenses, while the rest of the sisters were overpowered and suppressed.
However… the giant raccoon Mita, four-tailed Cat Demon, firewheel Wanyūdō, and a group of other demons charged past the crowd and attacked the soldiers’ defensive line. The Raccoon Mita projection was as strong as a Throned Monarch, and with Lily’s increased strength and the Domain’s support, it had the power of a pinnacle Throned Monarch. It dominated the battlefield, while Wanyūdō’s strength had also increased to that of a Throned General, and it overpowered the average soldiers by rolling around in their ranks. The four-tailed Cat Demon was on the Throned Sovereign stage, and the Yomi soldiers behind them were incredibly brutal and bloodthirsty, as they were used to killing for a living.
After Lily had defeated many Imperial soldiers in Suno and countless demons in Yomi, she had acquired more than enough Magatama to summon them. Even with all of Heian-kyo’s wealth combined, Lily would still possess more Magatama!
“Let’s not allow the newcomers to steal the show! Old friends, let’s go now!” Michizane and Masakado yelled, “We were killed by the Emperor’s army before, but today, we will seek our revenge!”
Their army of a hundred demons followed them into battle, overpowering the black armored soldiers who only had weak defenses and were mainly there to protect the civilians watching the execution. The soldiers were quickly defeated.
Renbo, who was sitting on a corner of the execution platform, panicked and screamed hysterically, “Hurry up and kill her first! Forget about the Demons! Execute Fujiwara no Ayaka!”
With a resounding bang, Raccoon Yuuta managed to make his way onto the platform, wielding a colossal wooden stick. With a mighty swing, he struck Renbo’s skull, rendering him unconscious. Renbo collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing as he expelled frothy white foam…
At this point, the entire scene descended into pandemonium, with chaos reigning supreme.
“What’s happening…” The Emperor was in a state of shock and terror as he watched the spectacle from behind the curtain. He wondered if the demons had come to rescue Ayaka. After searching for a while, he finally identified the girl on top of the six-tailed fox demon as Kagami Lily.
“Kagami Lily!” The Cloistered Emperor also stared at Lily with an unsettling expression and muttered to himself, “I already knew that she is no ordinary woman
2. But this is just way too much. Who is she… really
3?” He then quietly left the palanquin.
Lily rode on top of the demon fox’s head as they advanced forward. Despite having only six tails, the demon fox was incredibly strong, equivalent to that of a Throned Saint. It trampled over any opposition in its way, and no one could stop it. As they continued forward, Lily’s red robes swayed around her as she lifted her head to look at Ayaka. Her gaze suddenly became sharp, and she jumped through the chaotic army with her scarlet figure.
Wham!
Lily lowered her head and crossed her arms in front of her chest as she landed on the execution platform. The impact was so powerful that it shook the massive platform, which was being carried by 800 elite Tengu warriors. The blast of air from her landing caused the Rokuhara Soldiers and Onmyojis surrounding her to be instantly pushed away.
References
Robinxen: I would genuinely need a change of pants if I saw this lot coming towards me.
Robinxen: And you still picked a fight with her?!
Robinxen: The Protagonist.
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