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Volume 8 - Higanbana: Chapter 42 – The Battle Of Big Dippers!

“It’s her! This woman has betrayed the Empire and conspired with the fox demon. She’s responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of our soldiers, and now she has the audacity to attempt a rescue mission for a criminal?” A commander on the observation deck, under the command of Minamoto no Yoritomo, rose to his feet and shouted.

“Kagami Lily!” Kato continued, his voice filled with disdain. “The Shogun was just about to put a bounty on your head. I didn’t expect that you would dare to come here, straight into your own demise! Do you even realize where you are standing? This is the Imperial Palace, right in front of the Shogun himself. Yet, you believe you can simply waltz in and save her? You are begging for death!”

Lily’s gaze locked onto Ayaka, suspended high above the gallows. Despite her torn Celestial Maiden robes, she still bore an air of nobility and elegance, albeit unconscious.

A pang of sorrow pierced Lily’s heart. Her sister, a woman of such grace and beauty, was subjected to such a cruel fate.

“Stand in my way, and you shall meet your end.”

Disregarding the presence of the eight formidable warriors surrounding her, Lily leaped high into the air, determined to rescue Ayaka.

“Halt, demoness!”

The eight black-armored warriors, esteemed subordinates of Yoritomo, radiated an overwhelming aura akin to pinnacle Throned Monarchs, approaching the level of Throned Saints. They sprung forth from eight different directions, weapons drawn, ready to impede her progress.

Although Lily possessed superior speed, she hesitated, fearful that their actions might inadvertently harm Ayaka.

These eight individuals were the trusted and elite soldiers of Yoritomo, fiercely loyal and extraordinarily powerful.

Kato Keiren, a Throned Saint.

Sasaki Marioka and Amano Tokage, pinnacle Throned Monarchs.

Uzaku Misaburo, an immortal Throned Monarch.

Okazaki Yoshimi, a Throned Saint.

Kudo Shigemitsu, a pinnacle Throned Saint.

The eight samurais swiftly ascended from below, forming a menacing airborne ring around Lily. Their presence exuded formidable demonic auras, wielding an assortment of weapons such as katanas, spears, dual blades, short swords, claws, and bludgeons. With each strike, their weapons emitted potent energy, aiming to subdue her.

Lily, descending from above, maintained a piercing gaze as her raven-black locks billowed in the air.

“You’re seeking your own demise!”

Radiant Higanbana flowers bloomed, their ethereal glow pulsating from within her, unleashing the might of a Throned Sovereign. Unbeknownst to all, she transcended even that, bearing the title of a Throned Celestial, a unique stage of power capable of suppressing any adversary beneath the level of a double-soul Big Dipper Stage!

“What?” In an instant, Yoritomo, seated on the observation deck, was struck with shock!

“Kagami Lily, cease!” Yoritomo’s composure shattered as he abruptly rose from his seat, causing it to splinter! However, even in his agitated state, he realized that he was too distant to intervene effectively.

Clang—!

“Celestial Yomi Cleanse!” Born from Lily’s countless battles in Yomi, this skill emerged as her natural creation, its true potential unlocked solely by a Throned Celestial.

The surroundings plunged into darkness. An awe-inspiring blade of vibrant purple energy swayed with the grace of a crescent moon.

Swish! Swoosh! Whoosh! Swish!

The unstoppable sword energy cleaved through all eight warriors effortlessly. It was a lethal strike capable of subduing even a double-soul Big Dipper! The eight warriors had no opportunity to resist; they were swiftly severed by the blade’s energy, their blood suspended in the air as time seemed to freeze.

“Ah—”

“What?”

A few Throned Saints managed to release a cry of alarm, while the Throned Monarchs barely had a chance to react before some of the apostles were obliterated by the sword’s energy, their Throne Palaces instantly decimated.

The attack claimed the lives of six and left two of Yoritomo’s trusted subordinates gravely wounded.

“Kagami Lily!” A suffocating wave of darkness engulfed the surroundings as Yoritomo rose into the air, advancing menacingly towards her.

With a forceful swing of his hand, an enormous palm emerged, exuding an abyssal blackness and oozing a sinister aura. The sheer size of the palm seemed to distort the very fabric of space, causing ripples of disruption to ripple through the air.

Caught off guard, Lily found herself unable to evade the attack. The oppressive presence of Yoritomo’s colossal palm compressed the surrounding space, making it feel as if she were trapped in quicksand.

With a resounding wham

, an unstoppable collision erupted, shaking the very heavens themselves!

Shockwaves surged through the square, overwhelming the soldiers and civilians in their path. Weaker individuals were tossed about like ragdolls or sent hurtling through the air.

Meanwhile, Lily’s eyes filled with bitterness as the impact launched her hundreds of meters away. Despite crashing into a rooftop, she continued to rebound, demolishing the entire structure before finally coming to a halt.

Dazed and in agonizing pain, Lily struggled to her feet, clutching her weapon tightly. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Minamoto no Yoritomo, your power is truly formidable. A mere casual strike from you has left me in such a state…”

While Lily herself was taken aback by his strength, the countless warriors, black-armored soldiers, and onlooking experts were even more astounded by her resilience.

“She… She took a direct hit from Minamoto no Yoritomo, and yet she’s still standing?”

“How in the world is that even possible?”

Even Tsukawa, amidst his fierce battle against the demon army, found himself utterly astonished. “How could Kagami Lily withstand a strike from the Shogun himself? Even if it was just a casual blow, he’s widely regarded as the strongest human in existence!”

“Could it be that Kagami Lily has already reached the Big Dipper Stage?” For those who had terrorized and captured many of her sisters, this revelation felt like an unending nightmare.

Even the Minamoto Clan, Fujiwara Clan, and other influential noble families were shaken to their core by this revelation.

“My Lord Shogun! We must eliminate Kagami Lily at once!”

Should a being of such immense power arise among humanity, she would undoubtedly become their greatest adversary. To endure a strike from Yoritomo and swiftly rise again signified her status as one of the mightiest humans in existence.

“Minamoto no Yoritomo, how dare you strike a young girl who has barely entered adulthood! Is this how you claim to be the strongest among humans?” Michizane, one of the two formidable Vengeful Spirits observing the battle from the sidelines, spoke with fury. “I shall personally deal with you!”

With a resounding crash, the demonic cloud beneath his feet flickered. Thunder rumbled as he mounted the thunderous cloud, soaring through the sky toward Yoritomo.

“Sugawara no Michizane! We have coexisted in Heian-kyo for countless years. What business is this of yours? Why do you involve yourself?” Yoritomo stood atop a black cloud, suspended in midair, his voice resonating in all directions.

“Tamamo-no-Mae resided peacefully in Heian-kyo for millennia. Why then did you gather an army of five hundred thousand to slay her? If I were to weaken one day, would you not seize the opportunity to kill me as well?” Michizane’s voice boomed with violence, power, and a touch of derision

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“Lord Sugawara…” Yoritomo appeared somewhat helpless. His form suddenly expanded, transforming into a colossal giant tens of meters tall. With Sugawara no Michizane assuming an equally colossal stature, the two engaged in a fierce battle, exchanging blows.

A tremendous collision reverberated through the heavens and the earth! Two titanic forces clashed, unleashing devastation akin to a catastrophic event! The sheer power of their confrontation shattered the largest clouds, dispersing them like mere mist. Above them, a vast expanse of empty sky stretched thousands of meters wide, revealing the splendor of stars and nebulas beyond.

Attaining the Big Dipper Stage was an arduous feat, requiring immense strength and mastery.

Within this stage, individuals could be classified based on their soul count. The single-soul Big Dippers represented the entry level, characterized by their nascent power and relative weakness.

Progressing to the double-soul Big Dippers marked a significant advancement, surpassing the limitations of their initial form.

Even among the depths of Yomi, the strongest encountered by Lily were only double-souls, showcasing their formidable might.

With each subsequent increase in soul count, be it triple-soul or quadruple-soul, their power would multiply exponentially, bestowing them with unprecedented strength.

At the summit of the Big Dipper Stage resided the septuple-soul Big Dippers, revered as the ultimate powerhouses within their ranks. These exceptional beings possessed seven stellar souls, making them unrivaled masters of the Big Dipper Stage.

In this world, there existed only one septuple-soul Big Dipper, known as Tamamo-no-Mae, who had dedicated thousands of years to her training.

Tamamo-no-Mae, in her septuple-soul form, embodied the ancient divine beast, the nine-tailed fox demon. Should she assume her original and prime state, not even a coalition of several Big Dipper powerhouses could stand against her!

With such overwhelming strength, Tamamo-no-Mae openly held her territory within the Empire, instilling fear and awe among its inhabitants.

Her single presence alone was sufficient to vanquish the entire military might of the Empire!

Had it not been for her diversion in safeguarding Rei and Lily, and subsequently falling into a trap that inflicted severe injuries, Yoritomo would not have dared to engage her with his 500,000-strong army.

The Archdemon known as Tamamo-no-Mae possessed a neutral and unpredictable nature.

Despite her presence in Heian-kyo, neither the Cloistered Emperor nor Yoritomo dared to confront her directly. No one could anticipate her next move, and making agreements with a fox demon would prove futile.

Tamamo-no-Mae’s invincibility rendered her indifferent to the consequences of her actions. Her power was such that she didn’t need to concern herself with the aftermath.

It was only due to her severe injury that the Empire felt emboldened to take action against Ayaka. The true nature of their relationship remained uncertain. However, if Tamamo-no-Mae were to cause chaos in the aftermath of Ayaka’s demise, only Yoritomo could hope to subdue her. Not even the Cloistered Emperor would be a match for her.

With Tamamo’s critical injury, Yoritomo saw an opportunity to sow chaos in the world. However, Lily’s intervention saved the Fox Demon from certain death. Though Tamamo remained wounded, ensuring her incapacity to cause trouble for an extended period, there was always the possibility of her eventual recovery. In such a scenario, if Yoritomo failed to control the realm or attain the status of a septuple-soul Big Dipper, he would have no choice but to seek refuge and hide from her wrath.

As an ancient divine beast, the nine-tailed Fox Demon possessed a savage and bloodthirsty nature. Surviving an encounter with her meant inviting her vengeance. If Yoritomo were to discover Shizuka Gozen’s significant role in rescuing Tamamo, it would undoubtedly trouble him deeply.

Yoritomo stood as a formidable sextuple-soul Big Dipper, holding the title of the strongest among all humans. Yet, there was a prodigious figure from the past who had achieved even greater heights— a young genius named Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who had reached the septuple-soul Big Dipper stage. Sadly, Yoshitsune’s life was cut short, leaving him as the only known human capable of matching Tamamo in her most powerful form.

Tamamo had suffered critical injuries on Mount Ooe, where her true form was on the verge of being revealed. The encounter had even instilled fear in Shuten Doji, forcing him to reluctantly allow their departure.

Ayaka possessed the strength of a quintuple-soul Big Dipper, while Rokuhara Tandai, a triple-soul Big Dipper, paled in significance in comparison. The gap of two souls between them meant they resided on entirely different levels of power.

Michizane and Shuten Doji were both quintuple-soul Big Dippers, showcasing their formidable prowess. Masakado, on the other hand, held the strength of a quadruple-soul Big Dipper

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References

Robinxen: Well, he’s right.

Robinxen: Thank you author, I will definitely not remember any of these power rankings you just spat out one after the other in the middle of a climax.