Shikishima, the Royal Residence.
The pavilions and terraces stretch endlessly, with numerous covered corridors, displaying a beauty reminiscent of Ming Dynasty architecture. In reality, this residence is the Shikishima Royal Palace, bestowed upon the royal family by the Ming Dynasty emperor.
In a monastic training ground, gleaming teak floors are laid out. A foot clad in a snow-white silk gaiter rests firmly on it. Looking up, one sees an ankle-length blue kendo skirt, followed by a slender yet powerful waist. Beneath the white silk robe, a pair of full, round, and perky breasts are visible, and a few beads of sweat glisten from the Y-shaped cleavage slightly exposed below the collarbone.
Long, purple hair cascaded over her shoulders, accentuating her slender neck. Her beautiful face possessed an indescribable air of martial prowess. A pair of fair, jade-like hands gripped a gleaming silver katana. With a sharp snap, her small feet, encased in a shawl, sprang to life, the katana falling swiftly from her arm. In a flash of lightning, a row of mannequins before her were severed, sliding diagonally to the ground.
"Clap, clap..." Suddenly, a soft clapping sound rang out, followed by a voice tinged with amusement and mockery: "General's swordsmanship is becoming increasingly formidable. When will you raise an army in rebellion?"
General Thunder casually tossed the katana aside. A crack of electricity instantly appeared between the swords and their blades on the wall, and the katana, as if manipulated by an invisible hand, swiftly flew back to its rack.
"Divine Child..." The general looked at her friend with a hint of reproach. She knew the friend was referring to the legendary swordsman Tokugawa Ryoma, over a century ago, who, with his captivated swordsmanship, bewitched the Ming Dynasty governor, then ordered his men to incite a rebellion by powerful domains. While the Ming army was campaigning against him, Ryoma suddenly led three thousand of his own men in a surprise attack from the rear, ultimately leading to the Ming army's crushing defeat.
However, times had changed. Now, the arrogant American forces were pressing down on Shikishima. Even if Tokugawa Inatsume wanted to change the situation, she had to carefully consider the threat of war.
"Divine Child, what brings you here today?"
After the joke, Tokugawa Inatsume began to seriously inquire about the purpose of Kujou Miko's visit. Although they were close friends, their current positions meant that every meeting always had something important to discuss.
The Divine Child of Nine Realms had changed her clothes this time after leaving Inari Shrine. A golden ring, the symbol of the High Priest, adorned the back of her head. Except for a few strands of hair falling across her chest, her beautiful pink hair almost entirely formed the base of the dazzling golden ring. This object, formally known as the Corona Ring, represented the Shinto priestess's exercise of Amaterasu's power.
Besides this, her graceful figure wore a silk garment reminiscent of Heian period noble attire, a fusion of the shrine maiden's Chihaya style. Large cherry blossoms were embroidered on the snow-white silk, and the cuffs were red, like those of a shrine maiden. A sash wrapped around her slender waist, from below her full breasts to her hips.
The red hem of her skirt was tucked into her belt, turning what should have been an ankle-length dress into an ornament, revealing her two snow-white, bare legs. The shapely, long curves of her legs were alluring; the delicate skin on her knees, toes, and soles glowed with a soft pink. Golden anklets adorned her slender ankles, highlighting her fair, jade-like insteps and jade-like toes, making them exceptionally tempting.
The Ninefold Divine Child recounted Zhao Zhiran's arrival to Tokugawa Inatsume. The Shogun frowned slightly, asking with some concern, "Divine Child, can you be sure Hoshi hasn't been captured by Simon?"
The Ninefold Divine Child rolled her eyes slightly; her strange pink pupils and translucent white irises exuded an unusual allure.
"Every torii gate is my…eye."
"And so you were still thinking about him too~ Heh."
The ethereal, fair feet of the Nine-Headed Divine Child gracefully approached the Thunder General's body. A fleeting blush crossed the general's fair cheeks, followed by a slight clench of his teeth: "N-no…"
But the increasingly flushed white jade-like ears betrayed the beauty's thoughts, yet the Nine-Headed Divine Child continued, "It's just a pity, he will never become a Shikishima person."
Tokugawa Inatsume's cheeks flushed almost imperceptibly again. Yibai, after a moment of silence, suddenly walked to the edge of the courtyard and sat down, gazing at the blooming cherry blossoms. "Yes, of course I understand."
"Moreover, I am the king of Shikishima, and I must lead my people to a better future."
"Regardless of whether the stars are in Simon's hands, we can use Zhao Ziran... to oppose Simon."
Kujō Miko also walked to the veranda and sat cross-legged, revealing her delicate, rosy soles. Her ten exquisite toes playfully twitched twice, gleaming in the sunlight with a luster more lustrous than pearls.
"As expected, you are still you, Inazuma." Kujō Miko suddenly lifted the general's alabaster chin, her gaze fixed intently on Tokugawa Inazuma's expression, a mixture of shame and determination.
As is widely known, Shikishima is a country with "eight million gods," and indeed, many "gods" exist, but they are not gods in the traditional sense; it would be more accurate to describe them as monsters or ghosts. In fact, because there are so many of these beings, Shikishima has even nurtured strange beings called "Yūyo" (ghost worlds).
The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons is not merely a figment of imagination, so naturally, there are Onmyoji (yin-yang masters), Shinto priests, shrine maidens, and swordsmen who fight against it. A young girl who didn't aspire to be a shogun was one of them. The Tokugawa family had many descendants, and Tokugawa Inatsuma was actually from a collateral branch; it wasn't her turn to become shogun.
She was merely a sword used to slay demons and monsters, wielding a sacred weapon called the "Thunder God's Sword" enshrined at Inari Shrine, and relying solely on her honed swordsmanship.
Everything would have proceeded according to plan; Inazuma might have remained a shrine maiden at the Inari Shrine, exorcising demons, until…
No one had ever seen her true face before. After the Seven Deadly Sins, Greed, appeared on Shikishima, everything changed drastically.
The previous shogun chose to cooperate with the Hundred Demons, mass-producing many "superhumans" with strange abilities. While outwardly still human, they were in reality possessed by the Hundred Demons. The Hundred Demons, who had always lurked in the Netherworld, finally came to the forefront, but they could not change their demonic nature.
During that period, demons ran rampant. Many well-dressed government officials could transform into bloodthirsty demons in an instant. Ordinary people, though unaware of the truth, were gripped by fear due to the numerous tragedies unfolding around them. The stock market crashed, and riots broke out in various regions.
At this critical moment, the Superhumans, including Kokonoe no Miko and Yoshiwara Tsubaki, united to resist the demonic forces that had infiltrated both the government and the people.
However, because the superhuman possessed by the great demon was far stronger than their side, it was naturally an exceptionally difficult and arduous battle.