Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 64 – Ascending To Heaven

The day dawned with an uncommon clarity, the eastern clouds shimmering in the early light.

Perched atop Izumo Mountain, Lily reveled in the morning zephyr, witnessing clouds more vibrant than any she’d seen since her arrival in the Heian Dynasty.

Ordinarily, such weather would invigorate her. However, today, Lily appeared flushed, breathing heavily as white mists of breath escaped into the cold air.

Presently, her demeanor radiated an allure stronger than ever before.

With the sun’s early dawning, Lily and her companions hastened to this location, guided by teleportation.

The aftermath of the battle with Yamata no Orochi left Izumo Mountain scarred, its peak now serving as the designated site for ascension.

The peak’s formation remained active, yet an impatient Lily waited just beyond its reach, flanked by Ayaka, Kimiko, Shiu, Kotoka, and several other sisters.

Shizuka Gozen arrived, accompanied by numerous Mirror Girls, Jade Maidens, and Sword Mikos, all of whom awaited nearby

¹.

A multitude of court nobles, samurai, and onmyoji were present, diligently maintaining the formation.

Meanwhile, Rei, Shimizu, and Haihime stood vigilant at various altars, ensuring their defense.

“Lily, are you alright?” Ayaka inquired gently, standing close to Lily.

“I am fine…” Lily, often the one to avert crisis, knew the importance of performing her role in the ascension.

In recent days, with her sisters preoccupied across various fronts, Lily lacked access to treatment, leading to a troubling accumulation of tension within her.

Yet, Lily was no ordinary woman; her resilience and self-control were exceptional.

Sensing Lily’s unusual behavior, Ayaka grew concerned, realizing her oversight of Lily’s condition amidst the ascension’s demands. The curse from Minamoto no Yoritomo and Shuten Doji lingered, and Ayaka, experienced as she was, foresaw its worsening impact over time.

“Lily, why don’t you… allow me to accompany you?” Ayaka suggested.

“Well…” Tears began to well in Lily’s eyes.

Hearing this, Shizuka Gozen contributed, “Lily, ideally, I’d wish for more sisters to accompany us to Takamagahara, given its singularity. Yet, in Ayaka and Kimiko’s absence, who would ensure the altars’ integrity and the ship’s secure ascension? Their roles are irreplaceable.”

“Should it come to it, I could take your place, Lily. You might remain here to oversee the formation,” Ayaka offered.

“Huh? Well…” Lily found herself unconsciously shifting her stance.

Observing this, Kimiko frowned, pondering, ‘What ails Lily today? At such a pivotal juncture, arguably the zenith of her journey as a Mirror Girl and in history, her hesitation is uncharacteristic.’

“Lady Ayaka, while Lily excels in combat, her grasp on formations pales in comparison to yours. With the crucial moment imminent and your extensive preparations, a sudden role reversal is inadvisable,” Shizuka Gozen remarked, with a hint of sternness.

“Look, it approaches,” Nariaki, Kimiko’s servant, announced, gesturing toward the southeast sky.

In that moment, a colossal ship emerged, gliding slowly from the distant cloud sea.

Its movement appeared languid, yet it traversed rapidly—a deceptive perception due to its immense size.

The gargantuan Ship Of Ascension resembled a soaring palace

², its hull mirroring a floating mountain. The vessel’s prow was squarely built, adorned with Koi fish sculptures flanking either side.

Spanning seven floors, the ship towered over the tallest castle towers, constructed entirely of dark red wood adorned with abundant gold inlays. Its superstructure’s rooftop shimmered in a purple-gold light, while numerous white lanterns, each inscribed with prayers, added to its splendor.

Beyond its magnificent appearance, the ship housed a myriad of extraordinary mechanisms and treasures, befitting its capability to ascend to heaven.

However, the ship alone lacked the power to reach Takamagahara, relying also on the force emanated from the thirty-six altars.

Lily found the ship’s luxuriousness somewhat excessive and unaligned with her preferences. Yet, understanding its purpose was to escort Shizuka Gozen to heaven and that it was built from Shizuka Gozen’s ancient blueprints, she accepted its grandeur.

Anchoring before the mountain, the Ship Of Ascension, too vast to approach closer, extended an elegantly crafted wooden staircase from beside the cliff.

Despite their ability to board the ship with a mere leap, Lily and her companions adhered strictly to the ritual’s procedures, refraining from any impulsive actions.

The ceremony commenced with a dance by shrine maidens clad in red and white, followed by a procession of onmyojis in red who delineated a path.

Leading the procession, an elderly religious official bore the tribute, followed by three distinct groups: a hundred priests, a hundred shrine maidens, and a hundred young boys in Tengu masks, who solemnly ascended onto the ship.

Once aboard, they took their places and commenced a series of ceremonies, setting the stage for Shizuka Gozen and the others to embark.

“Lily, tread carefully on your journey. Time constraints prevent us from seeing you off in person,” Rei and Shimizu conveyed through their consciousness from the Mirror Dimension.

Bound by crucial duties, they were unable to ascend with Lily. Fortunately, their consciousnesses in the Mirror Dimension allowed them to offer her company.

Shizuka Gozen turned to Lily, querying, “Lily?”

With labored breaths, Lily forcefully calmed her emotions and nodded with resolve, signaling to Shizuka Gozen her readiness.

Thus, Shizuka Gozen, adorned in pristine white robes and a complex golden headdress, led fifty virgin boys and girls aboard the ship.

Clad in white hemp robes with red headbands, the group donned ancient Tenson tribe attire, eschewing Heian Dynasty fashion for authenticity.

Lily’s ensemble for the day featured a vivid red, wide-sleeved kimono that bared her arms, complemented by a short skirt, black stockings, Celestial Maiden clogs, and Oborozuki Muramasa at her waist.

In her capacity as a guard, Lily had the liberty to choose her attire, opting for this particular ensemble by her own volition.

With the boarding process underway for the virgin boys and girls, Lily appeared hesitant, prompting another concerned glance from Shizuka Gozen.

“Lily…” Ayaka, standing close, took Lily’s hand gently.

Lily glanced back to see Kimiko and a select few sisters nearby, yet the absence of the majority, despite their spiritual presence in the Mirror Dimension, left her feeling vulnerable.

“What’s amiss with me today? This isn’t like me… Could it be apprehension over potentially discovering the truth behind my sister Rinne’s coma, possibly awakening her? Is that the source of my nerves and unease?”

Deep down, Lily recognized this as a contributing factor, yet it wasn’t the whole story. Another reason lingered, one she was too mortified to acknowledge even to herself.

“As Madam Shizuka Gozen’s protector, it’s my duty to safeguard her during the ascension. Hesitation is no longer an option!”

Lily tossed her long hair back and straightened up, noting her corset felt unusually snug.

Unperturbed, Lily ascended the staircase with firm resolve.

Shizuka Gozen, accompanied by her entourage, boarded the ship, while Lily embarked solo.

The array of tributes for the gods of Takamagahara had been prearranged and stored in Heian-kyo.

To the sound of the retracting staircase, Lily positioned herself at the ship’s edge, gazing down at Ayaka, Kimiko, and the others.

Through meaningful eye contact, firm nods were exchanged – a silent acknowledgment of the solemnity of Ascension. Verbal communication was unnecessary; their shared glances spoke volumes.

With that, the ship began its journey.

Illuminated by the morning light, the colossal Ship Of Ascension soared towards the sun.

Concurrently, Ayaka and Kimiko took their places within the formation.

The schedule had been meticulously prearranged.

In a coordinated effort spanning from Ezo in the northeast to Tsukushi Island in the southwest, all thirty-six altars were activated at once!

Gradually, a formidable power began to converge from all directions, akin to veins channeling towards the heart.

This confluence of energy centered on Izumo Mountain!

Sensing the immense power, Ayaka and Kimiko began issuing commands to channel and distribute the energy. Their extensive experience ensured seamless synergy.

Amidst the vast sea of clouds, a rainbow emerged, stretching up to the heavens.

The Ship Of Ascension advanced towards the rainbow, which appeared more as a river propelling waves of color, gaining speed as it seemed to cast off the bonds of gravity.

Ascending beyond the clouds, the gigantic ship set its course for Takamagahara!

As the ship vibrated intensely, breaking free from earthly constraints, Lily experienced a moment of dizziness and discomfort before it stabilized, sailing smoothly through the clouds.

The ship traversed the cloud ocean, parting cloud formations as if they were waves.

The enormous ship maintained its ascent.

Clutching the railing, Lily marveled at their altitude, far beyond what she could achieve even with her utmost effort.

Her curiosity about the world above the vast cloud ocean sparked excitement, dispelling any prior insecurities or hesitations with the relentless winds.

Gazing upward, Lily observed Shizuka Gozen standing erect on the uppermost balcony, exuding a demeanor of solemn calmness.

Lily was awestruck by Shizuka Gozen’s composed ascent to heaven, befitting her role as the Mirror Girls’ true leader. Only she could face Amaterasu with such equanimity.

Her task was clear: to remain tranquil and fulfill her duties as protector.

Lily’s gaze returned to the infinite cloud ocean. Amidst towering clouds, the kilometer-long ship seemed a mere speck as it navigated the vast sky.

Gradually, Lily felt a chill in the air; the surrounding clouds took on a darker, more ominous appearance.

Abruptly, two colossal figures materialized within the clouds.

The first figure was shrouded in darkness, with a vast stature, sporting a short golden horn atop his head, a disheveled beard, and numerous dull-gold drums affixed to his back.

The second was a pale, slender woman with long, flowing hair tinged with gold, her nudity scarcely concealed by golden plates. In her grasp was a dazzling bolt of golden lightning.

The horned giant struck his drums, producing thunderous echoes!

The athletic woman extended her arm forcefully!

A blinding lightning bolt immediately struck the Ship Of Ascension

³!

Footnotes:

Robinxen: So many girls… can you imagine what this would look like? Like a Taylor Swift concert except with black hair instead of blonde, and a higher average IQ.

Robinxen: High fantasy time lets go!

Silva: Here we go again, lightning versus Lily, part 2