Chapter 25
Lily stood in the middle of Eden's Garden, the domain Sakura had created with her apex of transcendance. Nature itself bent and swirled around them trees with emerald leaves swayed gently in a wind that had no source, beautiful flowers bloomed and closed in rhythm with the heartbeat of the realm, and birds sang in perfect harmony, their songs echoing like music in a cathedral of leaves.
The ground itself glimmered with faint life energy, roots stretching slightly as if aware of the combat about to take place
Lily's eyes fixed on her brother. Renji's silhouette was unmoving, but the calm, unwavering aura he radiated pressed down on the ground like invisible weight. He was focused. Sharp. And every muscle was of his was ready.
Arisa's lips parted, as worry slowly flickering across her face as she whispered under her breath.
" But..Is this really okay…? I get she's strong, but Renji is…"
Hiroto, standing beside her, interrupted softly.
"It's okay, Arisa-san. You saw it, didn't you? She easily beat Hunter Marcus and not just defeated she dispatched him easily"
His eyes flicked toward Lily, calm yet assessing. "Even I couldn't touch her in strength. If she beat Marcus, then… she's stronger than a Pillar."
Arisa's worry faltered, a small, relieved smile creeping onto her face. "You're right… do your best, Lily."
Lily's eyes flicked to her brother again. Renji's gaze was piercing, unwavering, and yet there was a spark an excitement only a duel could bring.
"So," Renji's voice was calm, measured, slicing through the tension, "are you going to make the first move… or shall I?"
Lily's stomach twisted. Shit. She cursed inwardly. I've watched Big Brother fight all my life. I know his style. His speed. His precision. His power. How am I supposed to dodge his teleportation-level speed? Even with Predator Instinct, I'm still not fast enough…
A bead of sweat traced down her temple. Can I really win? Can I beat Big Brother?
Suddenly, a voice echoed inside her mind, firm and commanding.
"Calm down!! Lily!"
"Eh… Rajah?" Lily whispered inwardly, glancing toward the massive form of the six-tailed fox spirit. Rajah's enormous body loomed behind her, each tail moving like serpents made of pure power. Her eyes were closed, her massive form coiling as if she were preparing herself mentally.
"But… I don't think we can win… Big Brother is… too strong," Lily admitted quietly.
Rajah bent low, the tips of her tails swaying in the air. She exhaled slowly, almost as if weighing her words. Then, her voice roared into Lily's consciousness, shattering the calm around her.
"ARE YOU STUPID!!!"
A force like a hurricane blew through the clearing, whipping Lily's hair in every direction. She stumbled back, hands raised defensively. "Eiii!! Wha-what?!" she shouted. I've never seen you scream like that!
Rajah slowly rose, her immense figure casting a shadow over the domain. The wind from her massive form settled. Her eyes glowed gold as she spoke, calm but filled with authority.
"Lily," she said, her voice now calm but carrying the weight of authority, "I told you. You are only limited by your own consciousness."
Lily's eyes narrowed. "What… do you mean?"
"The weaker your consciousness, the weaker you will be," Rajah continued. Her golden eyes glimmered.
BUT....
"…No buts."
Lily felt a shiver run down her spine.
"Calm down," Rajah's voice softened slightly, yet it resonated with power. "Remember what I told you. I chose you and no limits will be placed on you. You have the potential to surpass even Arin."
Lily's chest swelled with resolve, her fingers flexing as her energy coalesced. "Go… focus." Rajah's words were a command, but also a lifeline.
Taking a slow, steady breath, Lily opened her eyes. Back in the real world, the confidence burned within her like liquid fire. She could feel it in every fiber of her being.
Renji noticed immediately. His eyes narrowed, sensing the shift. This feeling… He exhaled slowly, a smile tugging at his lips. She isn't scared anymore. Good… that's exactly what I wanted to see.
Lily took a small step forward, feeling the confidence coursing through her veins. "It's amazing, isn't it, Big Brother? I never thought I'd face you in a duel… or even have the power to rival you."
She smiled softly, energy stabilizing, no longer just her own, but blended seamlessly with Rajah's.
"Now… I can protect you," she added, a new strength resonating in her voice.
Come brother and don't hold back
Renji's smirk widened. He lifted his golden-streaked staff, the particles of light forming around it solidifying. Golden runes and symbols shimmered faintly in the air as he flexed his hands.
"Are you sure you still want me to back down?" he asked, teasingly.
Lily's blue eyes sparkled, a faint mischievous curve on her lips. "Of course, Big Brother. After all…" She paused for effect, tilting her head slightly. "… afterall you're way too weak, b.i.g Brother."
Sakura froze, staring. She could see through Lily's soul. It was raw, pure, and frightening.
Renji chuckled. "Weak? You have confidence. Let's see you back that up."
Lily adjusted her stance, flexing her fingers. Her aura pulsed brighter, the blue of her energy shifting subtly as she merged further with Rajah.
"Come, Big Brother. Let me show you the power of Rajah," she said.
And then, in an instant, Renji vanished.
He reappeared beside her, aiming a single, precise blow meant to knock her out immediately. Every millisecond of that strike carried the weight of his mastery, his speed enhanced by light-speed teleportation.
But Lily moved first.
Effortlessly.
Her body instinctively flowed with her Predator Instinct . Every micro-adjustment in her movement made the attack feel as if it slowed by multiple folds. The force of the punch melted against her control.
She dodge it effortlessly
Elena Warwick's eyes widened in shock. "How…? She… dodged? At light speed?!"
Renji's own gaze froze midair. She… she dodged my punch… His eyes widened, admiration flickering in the corner of his expression. She literally dodged it.
Lily's eyes glowed bright blue, her confidence radiating outward. "Too slow, Big Brother," she whispered.
Renji reappeared behind her, aiming another blow to overwhelm her defenses. But Lily's body moved with absolute precision. Each twitch, each small adjustment, slowed the movements around her in comparison. The speed and force of his strike seemed to evaporate in front of her.
Not because Renji wasn't fast but she could see the attacks five times slower
Before he could land a strike, she materialized in front of him, locking eyes.
"To slow Big Brother," she murmured.
Renji's pupils shrank. When did she…?!
With perfect timing, Lily executed a spinning kick infused with her "Spirit Flow Interference FoxstrikeDesync."
The blow struck Renji's torso like a battering ram. He was hurled through the air, crashing into the thick foliage and trees. Wood splintered under the impact.
"I told you… you're way too weak for me," Lily said calmly, yet her aura pulsed with lethal intent.
Takeda, witnessing from a distance, muttered in disbelief. "Impossible… this… this is the power of a spirit beast…"
The other Pillars were frozen. Shock and awe painted their expressions.
Lily herself paused, astonished at the clarity she had felt. What just happened? My mind… it went blank… yet I could read Big Brother's movements perfectly…
Rajah's voice echoed in her mind. I told you. We can be much stronger if we synchronize as one
Your consciousness is your battle not your physical prowess
A new surge of energy coursed through Lily. She felt Rajah's consciousness align perfectly with hers, each movement flowing together like a single entity.
Renji staggered from the trees, brushing off dirt and splinters. "Ouch… ouch… I haven't been hit like that in a long time."
Soo you have really grown stronger
In that case !!
Golden chains began to form around him, swirling and coiling around his body. The air vibrated with their pure light.
Sakura's eyes went wide. Impossible… that's…!
Renji's grin widened. "We're just getting started, Lily."
Are you sure about that ?? Lily's lips curved into a small smile. She stepped forward, energy cascading off her like a waterfall.
"Look closer, Big Brother," she said.
The chains around him began melting, disintegrating into thin air as if they had never existed.
Renji froze, realization washing over him. Wait… that attack can affect me…?
Is it because I haven't regained my full strength?
No… that's not it. It's the attack itself… the Spirit Flow interference."I told you big brother, Lily adjusted her stance, energy blazing brighter, blue flames rippling along her form. This time, her voice overlapped with Rajah's perfectly, two entities speaking as one.
"C'mon, Big Brother… let me show you what power truly looks like
Renji stared at his hands his mana answered him.
But weakly.
It was there, yet distorted. Sluggish. As if something was interfering with the very foundation of his flow.
"…So that's how it is," Renji muttered.
This power! Can she really challenge me at my strongest this isn't even her at full strength
Lily stood across from him, her feet lightly planted on the grass. Her posture was relaxed, almost casual, yet the pressure radiating from her body was heavier than before. Blue light pulsed faintly beneath her skin, mixing with a deeper, ancient presence.
Rajah.
Takeda swallowed hard. "His mana… it's unstable."
"No… it's worse than that. It's being suppressed."
It's a dangerous power
Renji exhaled slowly, then laughed under his breath. "You weren't bluffing, huh?"
Lily tilted her head. "I told you to look closer, Big Brother."
Renji raised his gaze, and his expression sharpened.
But she was already gone This time she was faster.
Not just a little.
Her presence felt different from moments ago. Sharper. Denser. More refined.
Before he could fully process it, Lily vanished.
Renji's instincts screamed. He twisted his body, staff sweeping defensively but Lily was already behind him.
"How—?!"
Her fist stopped just short of his spine.
She pulled it back calmly.
"Too slow," Lily said gently.
Renji leaped away, creating distance instantly. His feet skidded across the grass as he re-centered himself.
Light-speed movement… and she's reacting faster than that now.
She's faster how is that possible?
Arisa's hands trembled. "She's… she's getting faster."
How can she move faster
Hiroto nodded slowly. "No… that's not it she's adapting. Every exchange sharpens her response."
Renji clenched his jaw. "Alright… then I'll raise it."
If I can't attack you with magic
Then...
Golden light exploded outward.
He vanished—this time chaining multiple teleportations, appearing above, beside, and behind Lily in rapid succession. The air shattered with each displacement.
He screamed I'll attack you with speed and strength
But Lily's body moved before thought.
Predator Instinct → Hunting Reflex.
Her feet shifted by centimeters. Her shoulders tilted. Her spine bent at impossible angles. Each micro-adjustment reduced Renji's speed in her perception.
To her—
He was slowing down.
"One… two… three… four.. " Lily whispered.
Renji appeared directly in front of her, staff descending with overwhelming force but Lily stepped through the attack.
Her palm struck his chest.
Spirit Flow Interference → Foxstrike Desync.
The impact didn't explode.
It sank.
Renji's eyes widened.
His mana stuttered.
Then stopped.
"—Ghk!"
He was launched backward, crashing through trees, stone, and earth before skidding across the ground in a cloud of debris.
Silence fell.
Renji's breath caught in his throat. "…my mana didn't just scatter It was overwritten
He coughed out blood is this why rajah was created for balance to even nullify gods
Lily exhaled slowly, staring at her own hand.
That felt… easier.
Rajah's voice echoed within her, calm and approving.
Your body is adapting. Synchronization has stabilized.
Current output… forty percent.
Lily's eyes widened slightly Eii Forty… already?
Rajah smiled in content... " soon we'll enter the partial transformation in this state you'll become even stronger
She clenched her fist—and felt no strain.
Instead, her body felt lighter and lighter
Renji pushed himself up, coughing. "Hah… wow."
He staggered—but didn't fall.
That alone stunned the observers.
"You're ridiculous," Renji said, wiping blood from his lip. "You hit harder than divinities."
He lifted his staff again—but the golden glow flickered.
"…Tch."
He frowned.
Mana refused to circulate properly.
Every time she hits me… it disrupts everything.
Lily stepped forward.
With each step, the ground reacted—grass bending, air trembling.
Her presence grew heavier.
I can still go on ," Lily said softly. " I can't answer this but every time you move faster… I follow."
Renji stared at her.
Then smiled.
A genuine smile.
"So that's it… if I move at light speed—"
"You move slower," Lily finished.
In one move Renji went for a blind attack but.. she vanished.
Renji reacted instantly but Lily appeared above him
..huh again
She spun midair, her leg coated in blue-gold energy.
Foxstrike Desync — Amplified.
The kick landed.
Renji crashed straight down, carving a trench through Eden's soil before slamming into the ground.
The domain shook.
Birds scattered.
Trees bowed.
Lily landed lightly.
Renji didn't rise immediately. But coughed out blood
He was truly outclassed
Arisa gasped. "Renji—!"
Takeda took a step forward but stopped.
Because Renji laughed.
"…I lose."
He pushed himself up slowly, breathing heavily. His staff dissolved into light.
Impressive I have never been beating that way before
"No tricks. No excuses," Renji said, looking directly at Lily. "You're stronger than me."
The words echoed.
Clear and ndeniable.
Lily froze.
"…Eh?"
Renji smiled warmly. "In strength. In speed. In growth. I can't beat you right now."
You said you can't understand why you can move faster when I move it's because you are adapting
I adapt but I don't adapt the way you do
He looked genuinely impressed.
"And that makes me happy."
Lily's eyes trembled.
"…Really?"
Renji nodded. "You surpassed me."
Buttt it's because I'm barely twenty percent of my strength
For a moment, Lily said nothing.
Then—
She smiled.
A bright, genuine smile filled with relief, pride, and happiness.
"I… I did it," she whispered.
Rajah's presence pulsed with satisfaction.
Lily clenched her fists excitedly. "I really became stronger than you, Big Brother!"
Renji laughed. "Yeah… and it makes me happy."
Everyone around them exhaled.
The duel was over and a new reality had been proven.
Lily Kurogane had surpassed the light.