Chapter Seventy-Three: The Undying Lilith

The First Judge burst into my domain, appearing before me with an excited gleam in his eyes.

“We meet again, Your Excellency, First Judge,” I said quietly, facing the Duke of Swords without a trace of fear.

“I never expected Princess Liliana to hide herself so deeply—truly astonishing. Even last time, when you were on the verge of death, you didn’t reveal this power. And I must admit, I’m deeply impressed by your tenacity. Of all those I've run through with my sword, you are the first to survive.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but I don’t feel honored,” I replied coolly. “This power is something I would rather not possess.”

“Oh? But aren’t you wielding that power now? If you despise it so, why use it at all?” The First Judge’s words were laced with contempt.

“Yes, since I’ve resolved to use it, there’s nothing left to complain about. This power can grant my wish—no price is too high to pay.” I smiled, but bitterness lingered on my lips.

“Hah, enough talking. Come now, Princess Liliana, let me see just how much power you possess. Indulge me—I’ve long awaited this moment.” The First Judge’s voice brimmed with an almost feverish excitement.

“If that’s what you wish, then I’ll oblige. I hope it will be enough to satisfy you,” I replied calmly, vanishing in an instant to appear before the First Judge, my hand formed into a blade as I thrust toward his chest. Yet before I could even reach him, my hand was caught in his iron grip, unable to advance an inch further. As expected of the First Judge—mere teleportation is useless against him.

“What’s wrong, Princess Liliana? Is this all the power you have?” Disappointment colored his tone. “If this is your limit, I must say I’m sorely let down. Unleash all you’ve kept hidden, or you will die. I won’t be so merciful as last time—this time, even if I must kill you, I shall not hesitate.” As he finished, his other hand drew a greatsword from the void, swinging it at me with merciless force, utterly without pause.

“Don’t worry. You’ll see soon enough,” I said with detachment, as if the descending greatsword were nothing at all.

The greatsword crashed heavily into my body without a moment’s hesitation. My form, once again, dissolved like a bubble and vanished.

“Hm?” The First Judge’s eyes flickered with uncertainty at the scene before him. He could feel his sword bite into my flesh, yet my figure simply vanished, leaving no sign, no ripple of magic. He could not fathom how I had done it, and for the first time, his expression turned grave.

“That hurt!” I complained softly, reappearing a short distance away, yet not a trace of injury marked my body.

“Illusion? No…space manipulation? No, that’s not it either. How curious you are, Princess Liliana. I never anticipated such a surprise from you—how delightful!” The First Judge’s excitement was palpable.

“Oh? I can assure you, the surprises I've prepared for you are far from over. Soon, you’ll be even more astonished,” I replied with a smile.

“Hah! I can hardly wait to see what you have in store for me!” the Duke was beside himself with anticipation. Again, he drew a greatsword from the void, launching himself at me with a speed that blurred the eye, impossible to evade.

Once more, his greatsword crashed into my body, yet this time, the clear clang of clashing weapons rang out. My body was hurled backward, and in my hand appeared a massive black scythe, identical to the one shattered in our last battle. Though this scythe did not break into fragments as before, it was nonetheless cleaved in two.

Steadying myself, I gasped for breath, easing the numbness in my arms as I stared at the First Judge from afar. The broken black scythe in my hands, like my body moments before, dissolved into bubbles and disappeared.

“What on earth is this?” The other three Judges, watching our battle from the sidelines, stared in wide-eyed astonishment. To be struck down and revive as if nothing had happened, to see a shattered weapon reappear anew—such wonders could not help but amaze them.

“Oh? Has the scythe from last time been repaired? Or is Princess Liliana using some secret art or unique ability?” The First Judge, rather than attacking again, spoke with keen interest.

“Who can say?” I replied, a smile at my lips, but no answer given.

“Unwilling to tell me? Then I’ll just have to discover it for myself!” The First Judge, exhilarated, flashed before me again, his greatsword raining blow after blow.

Clang, clang, clang—the sound of weapons clashing echoed relentlessly. Each time, my black scythe would intercept his strike, only to be cut in two again, then reappear whole to block his next onslaught, over and over.

“How formidable—to hold your own, even briefly, against that sword-madman. Princess Liliana has truly become powerful,” murmured the Puppeteer, watching the fierce duel in awe.

“Indeed,” the Ice Maiden replied, her voice for the first time tinged with something besides coldness and fury.

The clash between us continued, sparks flying from every collision of our weapons. Though I blocked each strike, my arms grew ever more numb until, at last, I lost all feeling and could no longer grip the scythe. The First Judge’s greatsword struck me once more, sending me flying. Yet as I sailed through the air, my body again dissolved into bubbles and vanished.

Not far from the First Judge, I reappeared once more, utterly unscathed—no sign of fatigue or battle upon me, as though someone else had been locked in combat with him moments ago.

“Hahaha! Princess Liliana, the surprises you present are beyond measure—restoring weapons, reviving endlessly. I am dying to know—how many times must I kill you to truly end you?” The First Judge’s eyes gleamed with an intensity so fierce it sent a chill down one’s spine.

“You cannot kill me. No matter how many times you strike me down, it makes no difference. Here, I am immortal. This is my domain—here, I am a god. A god who cannot die,” I said, calm but radiating supreme confidence.

“Is that so? But mere immortality is meaningless if you cannot harm me. And you said it yourself—this is your domain; such feats are possible only here,” the First Judge replied with a smile. “Then let me cleave apart your domain.” With that, he vanished from the spot, reappearing in the sky. His speed surpassed the limits of mortal vision—only the vampire’s keen sight could catch a blurred shadow.

“Bladebreaker Slash!” the First Judge shouted, his twin swords flashing with silver light as he struck toward the heavens. Sword energy shot skyward, as if to rend the very sky. Yet his mighty sword energy proved useless—the silver light vanished without a trace, and my domain showed not the slightest sign of collapse, not even a tremor.

His attack had no effect at all. The First Judge was visibly astonished. He knew his own sword energy’s strength—it was force enough to make even a vampire prince hesitate, enough to slice through space and shatter the Blood Knight’s domain. Yet against mine, it did nothing, a fact he could scarcely believe.

“It seems I truly underestimated you, Princess Liliana,” the First Judge said, eyeing me, the excitement undimmed in his gaze, as though the predicament before him belonged to someone else.

“My domain, once unfurled, cannot be broken by anyone unless I will it so—not even my own father,” I replied coolly.

“I concede, if that is the truth, then I cannot defeat you here. But you must admit, you have no means to kill me, either,” the First Judge said evenly. “I can wait as long as needed, but can you maintain this for long?”

“As I said, here, I am god. My power is not so limited. If this were all, wouldn’t it disappoint you? Isn’t that right, First Judge, Lord Duke of Swords?” I replied, a smile playing on my lips.

“Indeed, if this were all, it would never satisfy me. Come, Princess Liliana, you have already surprised me again and again. My anticipation for you grows ever stronger—such a feeling is new to me, and utterly intoxicating,” the First Judge said in rapture. “Attack me with all your strength—I’ll spare you once more, as a reward for the excitement you’ve given me. Now that I’ve found someone who truly interests me, how could you die so easily? This feeling is simply marvelous.” His tone teetered on the edge of madness, and I finally understood why he was called the Sword-Mad Duke.

“Then please, enjoy yourself to the fullest,” I said, my expression turning solemn. “But be warned—if it’s my emotions you crave, they come at a price.” As I spoke, a wave of sinister magic surged from me, as if darkness itself would swallow the world into a pit of corruption. Even my silvery hair and eyes were stained black by that wicked power. “Paradise Lost—Land of Sin!”