NOVEL NEXT "Just as Your Majesty predicted, our cover is blown," Chiya stated, her purple ponytail fluttering in the scorching winds of Yomi, her face expressionless yet marked by a solemn undertone.
"If so, we must proceed with even greater caution," Queen Kaguya declared. "Their boldness in approaching us, despite knowing my identity, indicates they are well-prepared."
Lily felt a surge of guilt, considering herself a burden. Had Itakeru not nearly succeeded in kidnapping her, the Queen would not have had to reveal her identity.
"Lynne," Chiya said quietly as she approached, "infuse some charm intent into my stomach1."
"Huh?" Lily responded, clearly puzzled.
"Just do it—quickly," Chiya urged grimly. "I need to unleash my full power. Seki, cover us."
Yoshiya Seki stepped forward, shielding them from the view of their adversaries.
Yet the demons encircling them weren’t inclined to wait. Though predominantly of the Throned Stage, the demons were legion, with tens of thousands amassed in the area.
Yomi's vastness meant its myriad monsters were usually scattered. Typically, one might traverse for days without encountering a Big Dipper Archdemon. The congregation of so many demons at the entrance to the Hell of Torment was a clear indication of premeditation.
The demons appeared organized, many affiliated with groups from nearby caves, hollows, or mountains, although a few were opportunists blending in. Among every hundred Throned demons, there were several Big Dipper leaders orchestrating their movements.
Surveying the area, dozens of formidable auras became apparent. These belonged to high-ranking Archdemons of surrounding organizations and solitary wanderers, all of whom were septuple-souled.
Among the threats, four stood out as particularly dire: two guardians of the Hell of Torment—a bull demon and a horse demon, both at the Infernal Stage—had awoken under mysterious circumstances. Additionally, hidden within the ranks of the demonic horde were two exceptionally powerful entities, one following the Infernal Path and the other seemingly aligned with the Celestial Path.
At that moment, a cacophony of demonic screeches filled the air and the ground trembled violently. Numerous Throned demons launched their assault. These creatures, native to Yomi, lacked the dignity typically associated with sentient beings, regarded as the lowest echelon within their realm and often exploited as expendable troops by their Big Dipper superiors or other formidable entities.
The intelligence of these Throned demons was generally low. However, those among them who possessed greater cognitive abilities were aware of the mortal realm's wonders.
Operating at the Throned Stage, these demons could rise to the rank of warlord in various domains provided they refrained from wreaking havoc in the mortal realm. Such a position would allow them to rule over territories, enslave thousands, and command the service of numerous beauties.
Despite their potential, within the depths of Yomi, they remained mere cannon fodder.
The more intelligent demons aspired to ascend to the mortal realm, though such a journey was fraught with difficulties. If not for these natural barriers, humanity would have faced extinction repeatedly. The universe invariably maintained its equilibrium.
Yet, this delicate balance was gradually eroding…
Queen Kaguya swung her golden branch, conjuring a shimmering golden barrier around Lily and the others. Throned demons crashed against it, sending ripples across its surface before being forcefully repelled.
"Lynne, quickly. Follow my instructions," Chiya urged urgently.
"Right," Lily acknowledged. With the battle impending, she placed her hand decisively on Chiya's stomach, just below her belt.
"Wait, place it inside my skirt2," Chiya directed calmly.
"Huh?" Lily blushed at the instruction. Recognizing the urgency of the moment, she set aside her hesitations. Finding an opening in Chiya's kimono, she slipped her hand inside and moved it along her thighs to touch her abdomen.
Lily felt Chiya tremble, her breathing becoming labored.
Her hand encountered a flat, warm surface… "No, not there—stop moving downward. Just… inject it here!" Chiya stammered, her voice tinged with embarrassment. She had intended for Lily to simply inject charm intent, not wander.
"Yes!" Lily focused, channeling charm energy and directing it into Chiya through her palm. The energy permeated Chiya's skin, swiftly reaching her Spirit Palace.
"Um… Ah…" Chiya grasped Lily with one hand and covered her face with the other.
"Is that sufficient?"
"Yes, that's enough," Chiya confirmed.
Lily withdrew her hand, still feeling the residual warmth of Chiya's skin, and looked at her, puzzled.
Suddenly, the protective barrier vanished. In an instant, Chiya seemed to disappear from view. Moments later, she reemerged high in the sky, her hair billowing. Around her materialized numerous projections of purple ice jasmine flowers, exuding a hauntingly beautiful yet lethal aura.
Chiya appeared transformed. As demons converged from every direction, she drew her longsword, its blade adorned with luminous purple petal patterns.
With a graceful arc, Chiya swung her weapon, unleashing a stream of dim purple energy that left a trail of ice crystals, slicing through the air toward the encroaching demons.
The blade energy, initially thin, extended several miles wide as it swept through the horde. Where it passed, screams erupted. The energy was lethal; Throned demons were vaporized on contact, while even Quintuple-soul Big Dippers and higher suffered grievous injuries, sliced open effortlessly. This single strike decimated tens of thousands, slaying thousands of Throned demons and severely injuring many Big Dippers.
Lily was taken aback. "Commander Chiya…" she gasped in shock.
Lily had observed Chiya's resilience on the Grudgeless Bridge. Unable to gauge her exact strength due to the difference in their stages, Lily sensed that Chiya was now immensely more powerful than she had been in their last encounter.
It appeared that Chiya had reached a new level of power. While not quite on par with the titanic clash between Rakshasa-Onna and Wakarai, Chiya's abilities now exceeded those of any other Celestial or Infernal Stage powerhouses Lily had previously encountered.
"Could Chiya Kasumi be a Supreme God too?" Lily wondered aloud, looking down at her hand, still carrying a hint of a pleasant scent. Had she really just touched the stomach of a Supreme God?
Indeed, Chiya was once a Supreme God. She had suffered critical injuries in a past battle and had her divinity taken from her. Destined to perish, she was saved by Queen Kaguya, who ventured into Yomi to rescue her. Although a millennium had allowed her injuries to heal, her lost divinity could not be reclaimed. As a result, her powers as a Supreme God remained incomplete, fleeting, and unstable.
Typically, her capabilities were limited to the Celestial Stage. However, in moments of desperation, she needed external assistance to unleash the dormant Supreme God powers within her.
Charm Intent was essential to activate this power.
The efficacy of Charm Intent depended not on its sheer strength but on its intensity. Lily possessed an exceptionally potent Charm Intent. Most would have succumbed to its overwhelming force, losing themselves to lust, but Lily's remarkable willpower, surpassing even that of many Celestial Maidens, allowed her to master this formidable force.
Having previously worked closely with Lily, Chiya was aware of her unique capability and sought her aid. This was no minor feat; it involved tapping into a Supreme God's power, one that surpassed even the Queen's.
Suspended in the air, Chiya observed her vibrating blade and thought to herself, "This Lynne is extraordinary. How does she manage to contain such intense Charm Intent without succumbing? Were I in her place, I'd have lost my sanity within a day. Yet, she's extracted over two-thirds of my peak strength, an unparalleled feat. I must eliminate all adversaries quickly, as my time wielding Supreme God strength is limited." ƒreewebɳovel.com
She bowed her head and addressed the Queen, "Your Majesty, it appears our presence is no longer secret. I fear our intended route will be teeming with foes. Shall we attempt to break through the encirclement and retreat to the Female Queendom, or should we press on?"
"We have been preparing for this moment for a millennium. Now that we are here, how can we possibly turn back? Moreover, the journey back would be lengthy and potentially as perilous as advancing," the Queen declared.
"I understand! I will clear the path for you, Your Majesty. We will obliterate all obstacles in the Hell of Torment!" Chiya fixed a stern glare on the demons before concluding her statement.
Her blade danced gracefully in her hand.
With a resonant boom, a wave of purple crystal jasmine sword energy surged towards the entrance of the Hell of Torment, annihilating everything in its path. Boulders split apart, and the ground flattened, while any demons in its trajectory were obliterated.
The force of the attack sent the bull and the horse-headed demon hurtling into the depths of the pitch-black Hell of Torment.
"Let's go!" the Queen commanded, observing that the path was now clear.
The Queen waved her Golden Jade Branch, enveloping Lily, Seki, Chiya, and herself in waves of golden and silver light that then permeated their bodies.
"Mmm… Ah!" Lily trembled as the ray of light that entered her body sent tingles through her.
This sensation was fleeting, lasting less than a minute. Soon after, Lily felt weightlessness take over. As they rushed towards the entrance, she noticed a remarkable increase in her speed.
The four women now moved with exponential speed. Chiya's subsequent attack nearly annihilated the demons ahead as they charged into the Hell of Torment, shielded by a dim light barrier.
"Chase them!" the Archdemons howled, commanding their minions to pursue. Under normal circumstances, witnessing Chiya's formidable power would deter them, but clearly, a more powerful entity was manipulating these factions to continue the pursuit.
Observing the Archdemons take up the chase, other demons quickly followed, hoping to seize any arising opportunity.
Despite Chiya's slaughter of thousands of demons, the aftermath proved beneficial for many others. They scavenged Anima, possessions, and even flesh from the fallen, enhancing their own strength. A swarm of demons descended, scavenging everything they could from the battlefield.
This influx also attracted numerous vagrant demons, who, unable to challenge Chiya or capture any of the beauties themselves, came solely for the loot. News of the battle drew opportunistic demons from surrounding regions. Of the tens of thousands that joined the pursuit, at least half were driven by greed.