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Yanari's expression stiffened momentarily but quickly relaxed into a confident smirk. He chuckled loudly and said, "What are you talking about, Lynne? I donât know what you mean."
"You donât understand?" Lilyâs tone turned sharp, her eyes narrowing. "Then swear to Yomi itself that you have no ulterior motives."
Yanari chuckled nervously, his tone light but calculated. "Lynne, youâre drunk. You might be a powerful expert, but even you seem unable to handle Yomiâs finest wine. Come now, let me take you somewhere to rest." He extended his large hands toward her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI warn you, donât touch me.â Lilyâs hand tightened on the hilt of her sword, ready to draw at a momentâs notice.
Yanariâs eyes darkened, his instincts as a swordsman picking up on Lilyâs killing intent. âWhatâs this, Lynne? Are you implying something was in your wine?â
Yanari spun toward the winehouse and roared, âWho dared to drug my female companionâs wine? Come out now, or Iâll kill you myself!â Yanariâs voice thundered through the winehouse, but Lily remained unfazed, watching him with cold detachment.
âThatâs enough, Brother Yanari,â Lily said flatly. âWhether real or false, you did escort me this far. Iâll leave it at that. Letâs part ways hereâitâs better for both of us.â
âLynne! What nonsense are you saying?â Yanariâs voice boomed with indignation. âDo you expect me to part ways with you while my honor is in question? I asked for no repayment for helping you, but now you insult me, Yanari Onijimaru, as if Iâm beneath you!â
Lilyâs tone was heavy with disappointment. âThis is Yomi, a realm of countless demons consumed by desire. Yet even they follow their instincts. This is a hell where one fights for what they want and dies if they fail. But you⦠you disgust me more than any demon here. Stay away from me. I wonât care about what youâve done for me in the past.â
âLynne, listen to me! This is all a misunderstanding!â Yanari protested, ripping open his shirt to reveal his muscular chest as he stepped closer. âIf you donât believe me, then kill me now!â
Lily couldnât help but marvel at his performance. His determination and theatrics were almost convincing.
âDo you think Iâm a fool, or are you the fool here?â Lilyâs voice cut through him like a blade. âDid you forget it was you who ordered me to drink that wine? I had no choice but to obey! Youâre no humanâyouâre a demon!â
In one swift motion, Lily unsheathed Oborozuki Muramasa, the gleaming blade barring Yanari from advancing further.
Yanariâs expression darkened, his carefully constructed mask shattering.
âHahaha! Hahahaha!â Yanariâs laughter erupted, unhinged and maniacal. âYes! How could I have missed it? Youâre sharper than I thoughtâI really believed you were drunk!â
With a thunderous roar, Yanariâs body surged with power. His clothes tore apart as he grew larger, his skin darkening to a bluish-black hue. Sparks danced within his eyes, glowing ominously beneath his thick brows.
âI didnât lie entirely!â Yanari declared, his voice booming. âI was once humanâa great swordsman! But after my death, I reshaped this body and became a sword demon. Iâm untouchable in Hyakki Street, the master of its greatest sword dojo! Yes, I lied to you, Lynne, but only because I truly like you! You think youâre strong, but know thisâyou could never defeat me. If we fought, Iâd end it in three strikes1!â
âI donât want to kill you, Lynne! I really donât!â Yanariâs voice was pleading, almost desperate. âThis should be enough to prove my sincerity. Come with me, become my woman, and Iâll treat you well! Youâre stunningly beautiful, intelligent, and powerfulâit only makes me want you more! With me, youâll live a life of comfort on Hyakki Street. Treasures, food, rare training materials coveted even in the depths of YomiâIâll give you everything! Youâll become the Madam of the Dojo master. Isnât that every female expertâs dream? Donât you see, Lynne? The greatest opportunity for you on Hyakki Street⦠is me!â Yanariâs half-demonic eyes glimmered with an obsessive hunger as he fixed his gaze on Lily.
âGet lost. You disgust me,â Lily said coldly, her voice cutting like ice. She turned away and lowered her head. âIf you follow me or try to get close, I will fight you.â
With that, Lily calmly sheathed her blade and began walking deeper into Hyakki Street, completely ignoring Yanariâs presence.
Yanari knew that letting Lily walk away would make him the laughingstock of Hyakki Street. His pride as a supposed ruler wouldnât allow itâand neither would his obsession. He couldnât bear to let someone so beautiful slip away.
âWell, Lynne,â Yanari sneered, his tone shifting to one of menace, âsince you donât appreciate my kindness, I have no choice but to use force! Female experts like you act cold and aloof, but deep down, you crave to be dominated! You all want to submit to someone like meâa powerful, domineering Dojo master! Isnât that right? Donât worryâIâll make sure to satisfy you!â
Yanariâs aura flared as he lunged toward Lily. He didnât bother drawing his weaponâhe didnât see her as a true opponent. All he intended was to overpower her and drag her away by force.
Because Yanari refused to draw his sword, Lily knew it would dishonor her if she used her blade to kill him.
After all, Yanari had helped her along the way, even if his intentions were selfish. She had no desire to kill himânot before showing him the extent of her strength and shattering his delusions.
âIf you refuse to draw your sword, then neither will I!â Lily declared.
As the massive man charged at her, Lily spun around gracefully, using the momentum to unleash a powerful kick with her long, slender leg. The kick was as swift and precise as her sword strikes. �
Yanari barely registered the flash of white and the sudden gust of wind before his massive frame was hurled backward at a speed far greater than his initial charge. He flew tens of meters like a ragdoll before slamming into a building with enough force to bring it crashing down2.
The demons watching were stunned. Hyakki Street wasnât an ordinary placeâits buildings and objects were imbued with supernatural toughness. Even a full-force strike from a septuple-soul Big Dipper would struggle to crack a single pillar. Yet, with one kick, Lily had sent Yanariâone of Hyakki Streetâs so-called rulersâflying and demolished an entire building.
Only powerhouses at the Empyrean Stage, or those who mastered the Sword Heavenly Path could slice through a pillar in Hyakki Street. And even they couldnât collapse an entire building without spiritual techniques, which were nullified here. Lilyâs feat was unmatchedâit had been pure physical strength.
Lily had relied solely on her physical power to unleash such a devastating attack. How terrifyingly strong was she? And to the shock of all presentâshe was a woman.
Every demon in the vicinity was frozen in shock. Those who had once lusted after Lily now felt relief that they hadnât acted on their desires. Without Yanariâs dominance, they knew she couldâand wouldâannihilate anyone who dared to cross her, especially come midnight.
Had the bald demon survived, he would surely be trembling with fear and regret at this moment, realizing the overwhelming strength Lily possessed.
âDamn womanâ¦â Yanari growled as he climbed out of the rubble, glaring down at the deep imprint of a footprint on his chest. Several of his ribs were fractured, but he quickly began mending them by circulating his divine energy. Recovery was far more difficult on Hyakki Street, yet Yanariâs robust physique and Infernal Stage powers allowed him to endure.
Lilyâs single kick had drained a considerable amount of his divine energy, leaving him in an even weaker position.
Yanari realized just how precarious his situation was. If Lily had unsheathed her blade during that last exchange, he would have been dead in an instant.
âI was careless. I underestimated you, Lynne,â Yanari admitted, his tone tinged with twisted admiration. âBut your strength only makes me want you more! You might not know this, but thereâs a demonic Pair Training technique in Yomiâwhere the conqueror absorbs strength from the conquered. And you⦠youâre not just strong; youâre beautiful, intelligent, and have a figure to match! If I claim you, Iâll gain both unparalleled power and a treasure like no other. Lynne, youâre mine! Letâs see whoâs strongerâcome at me! I trained relentlessly in life for this moment!â
Despite his taunts, Yanari remained wary. Deep down, he feared Lilyâs strength, knowing she might be more powerful than him. Yet, pride and lust drove him forward. Defeating Lily would bring him immense benefits, and his overwhelming battle intent surged, fueled by an uncontrollable desire to dominate her.
With a guttural roar, Yanariâs muscles bulged as his body expanded further. He loomed over Lily, his sheer size and mass making her slender, lithe frame appear almost fragile in comparison. Though Lily radiated vitality and strength, Yanari exuded the overwhelming force of a battle-hardened juggernaut.
Yanari burst from the rubble with newfound ferocity, charging at Lily with the full force of his strength. His enormous fist tore through the air, creating a powerful gust of wind as he swung with deadly intent.
Lily wasnât a specialist in brute strength, but she had extensive experience countering it. Her true prowess lay in her speed, precision, and instinctive reactions. While her swordsmanship took precedence, her martial arts allowed her to adapt to any situation, instead of sheer force she prized agility and decisiveness.
Instead of retreating, Lily made the unexpected decision to dodge inward, weaving toward Yanariâs strike. With impeccable timing and precision, she stepped closer and drove her palm sharply into his chest.
With a thunderous impact, Lily angled her strike upward, retracting her palm immediately after contact to maximize the force. Yanari wasnât thrown back, but his massive frame buckled under the crushing blow as he staggered forward.
The force of the attack was so intense that Yanariâs eyes bulged, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Despite his injuries, Yanariâs fearsome tenacity remained unshaken. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the searing pain and launched a brutal punch aimed at Lilyâs waist.
âThis woman⦠no matter how strong she is, sheâs still just a frail female! One solid hit, and sheâs done!â Yanari thought with savage determination.
Lily hadnât expected Yanari to counter so recklessly despite his injuries, but her reflexes didnât fail her. In an instant, she raised her leg in defense.
Yanariâs powerful punch connected with Lilyâs outer thigh, sending her flying backward with immense force.
âYour leg must be shattered!â Yanari snarled, his eyes burning with fury. He leaped forward, aiming another devastating punch at Lily as she sailed through the air.
To Yanariâs shock, Lily regained her balance midair. With remarkable agility, she twisted her body, spinning outward before redirecting her momentum and landing a counter-kick with the very leg he had struck.
Her kick struck Yanariâs head with devastating precision, the sheer force reverberating through the air and making even the distant spectators wince in phantom pain.