"Boom, boom..."
In the sky, the surging torrent of water, like crashing waves against a reef, was forcibly parted by the vibrating space.
A large amount of water burst in mid-air, pouring down like a torrential rain, gradually extinguishing the flames below and causing billows of steam and smoke to rise.
"Whoa...!"
Just as Akatsuki Kojou had barely avoided being blown away by the storm of magic, he was now drenched by the downpour from above, nearly being washed off the floating bridge and into the ocean.
"Damn it...!"
"Monster...!"
Despite being protected by countless tentacles, Emma Meyer and Octavia Meyer couldn't avoid being affected. Their bodies, clad only in capes, were soaked, the cloaks sticking to their bodies, offering no concealment and revealing their alluring figures, prompting them to curse in shock and anger.
Rozen, on the other hand, simply urged his magic, causing the water to automatically avoid him, not touching his body at all.
Watching his Water Heaven Art being neutralized by Tokoyogi Yuuma's guardian, Rozen remained unusually calm.
After all...
"Enhancing the attack with shockwaves from vibrating space, huh?" Rozen spoke nonchalantly.
"How long can that method be sustained?" he wondered aloud.
Saying so, flames and water surged around Rozen simultaneously.
Using both the Fire Realm Incantation and the Water Heaven Art, Rozen transformed the flames and water into two enormous dragons, roaring as they swooped towards the sky.
Seeing this, Tokoyogi Yuuma's guardian immediately vibrated the space again.
But...
"Whoom—!"
Accompanied by a surge of magical energy, the previously vibrated space was smoothed out as if by an unseen force, returning to stability.
"What...!?"
Tokoyogi Yuuma was suddenly astonished.
As a witch specializing in spatial control, Tokoyogi Yuuma naturally understood what was happening.
Upon closer inspection, Rozen below continued to look coldly in their direction, continuously emitting waves of magical energy that smoothed out the space's vibration.
Using the same spatial manipulation magic, Rozen suppressed the power of Tokoyogi Yuuma's guardian.
In other words, Rozen forcefully seized control of the space, surpassing Tokoyogi Yuuma's spatial manipulation magic with his own expertise, to the point where it nullified Tokoyogi Yuuma's.
That was what astonished Tokoyogi Yuuma.
"A human can be better at manipulating space than a witch?" Tokoyogi Yuuma couldn't help but be shaken.
Apart from witches like Natsuki and Tokoyogi Yuuma, who belonged to this type, even higher-order mages couldn't easily manipulate spatial control magic. Yet Rozen, as a human, had mastered it to the extent of surpassing Tokoyogi Yuuma's expertise.
How could Tokoyogi Yuuma not be shaken by this?
However, being shaken at this moment would be fatal.
"Roar!"
The flames and water, now transformed into dragons, finally roared and, circling each other, rushed forward at astonishing speed, crashing into Tokoyogi Yuuma's guardian.
"Boom—!"
Amidst the explosion, the azure knight, under the scorching flames and rushing waters, became unsteady and, finally unable to maintain its form, swayed like a mirage, showing signs of a phenomenon akin to the fracturing of a spirit core.
"〈Le Bleu〉!"
Tokoyogi Yuuma called out in alarm.
But...
"It's not over yet."
Rozen gazed at the azure knight, his eyes flickering with a terrifying light that left Emma Meyer and Octavia Meyer trembling in fear.
"Boom—!"
In the next instant, as if being struck by invisible artillery fire, the azure knight was hit by an incredible explosion.
As flames erupted, the azure knight, unable to withstand it any longer, dissipated like smoke.
"Cough...!"
With the disappearance of the guardian, Tokoyogi Yuuma was struck by the backlash of the incoming magical energy and couldn't help but cough up blood.
"Yuuma!"
Seeing Tokoyogi Yuuma's condition, Akatsuki Kojou, who had returned somewhat disheveled, shouted.
Rozen, too, looked at Tokoyogi Yuuma with a complex gaze.
The reason was simple.
"...I also have someone very important, like you, who was created as a test-tube baby for some purpose. Although she didn't give her soul to a demon, she gave her life to the grim reaper. Even now, she's probably lying in a sterile room, receiving treatment, but she can't escape her impending death."
Rozen spoke softly, as if to himself.
"But she never thought of herself as bound, never thought that this was her fate, but only sought to do what she wanted in the limited time she had. She never harbored resentment towards anyone, never went against her own heart because of her circumstances, always remained so pure, innocent, and strong."
"Even I feel inferior in her presence."
"So..."
Rozen's gaze shifted from a complex expression to a cold one as he looked at Tokoyogi Yuuma.
"Let me teach you how to live a life that truly embodies the meaning of existence."
With these words, Rozen activated his Mystic Eyes once again, igniting flames within his eyes.
His target was none other than Tokoyogi Yuuma.
"Not good!"
Tokoyogi Yuuma sensed something instinctively as a witch, but she didn't have time to activate spatial transfer and could only raise her hand subconsciously.
Just then...
"Minelauva Iris!"
No. 6, who was accompanying Tokoyogi Yuuma, called upon her Beast Vassal.
The Valkyrie, bound by the Lawbinding Shackles, raised her hand suddenly.
"Sizzle!"
With a flash of light, the light sword in the Valkyrie's hand shattered the chains that bound her, restoring her freedom.
"She broke free?"
Rozen showed a surprised expression and observed.
The Injunction Shackles on the Valkyrie weren't completely severed by the attack but rather separated, causing the runes, sigils, jujutsu, and chains to disconnect completely, even dispersing the divine energy within them.
Seeing this, Rozen immediately understood.
"She used her Beast Vassal's cutting ability to sever all the causal connections of the Injunction Shackles?"
The Injunction Shackles were created by Rozen using various materials and Rune symbols, borrowing the divine energy of Kinu and Gyokuto, and inscribing the jujutsu of "Immovable Golden Chains" on them.
No. 6 used her Beast Vassal's ability to sever the connections between these factors, separating cause and effect, thereby freeing herself from the bondage of the Injunction Shackles.
Fortunately, the Injunction Shackles were now Rozen's Familiar and Beast Vassal, so even if they were destroyed, they could be restored instantly. Otherwise, if they were subjected to such treatment by the opponent, Rozen's Injunction Shackles would be completely scrapped.
This kind of "Minelauva Iris" possessed such extraordinary power that, if used skillfully, it could practically annihilate gods and demons alike.
Rozen had reason to believe that if this Beast Vassal had been used by the Primogenitor, he might not have been able to seal her smoothly.
After all, whether it was the jujutsu of "Spirit Resonance" or the secret rites of "Taizan Fukun Ritual," as long as this Beast Vassal's ability was used to sweep with a single slash, all their effects would be severed.
It was a stroke of luck that No. 6 hadn't been absorbed by the original; otherwise, Rozen's Injunction Shackles would have been truly useless.
However...
"You're not the original, and I'm not who I used to be."
Rozen extended a hand towards the Valkyrie.
Suddenly...
"Don't you want to know the secrets within the Prison Barrier?"
Tokoyogi Yuuma unexpectedly spoke these words without any warning.
"Don't you want to know where the Witch of the Void is right now?"
With this sentence, Rozen's movements came to a complete halt.