"————"
As Rozen's words echoed throughout the venue and reached everyone's ears, the atmosphere in the air suddenly changed.
And not just changed, but changed quite thoroughly.
All students, professors, guards, and others focused their gaze on Astaroth, their faces showing fear.
Even the headmaster's face bore a wry smile.
Because...
"Daring to speak to me like this, this is the first time since my birth in this world."
Astaroth's face carried a beautiful smile, but her gaze was as cold as a hurricane capable of unleashing death, instilling fear.
Undoubtedly, this legendary and arrogant demon was angry.
"Queen, please calm down."
The headmaster, seemingly fearing something, advised Astaroth.
To this...
"Shut up, Edward."
Astaroth, rising from the throne with excessive grace, descending the steps step by step.
As Astaroth descended, the air began to be filled with the scent of death.
Astaroth approached the headmaster, making the splendid staircase disappear completely.
"Punishment must be severe for those who show disrespect."
Astaroth continued to look at Rozen, while her hand extended towards the headmaster.
"Give me your magic, Edward. I'm calling forth the army."
At these words, the headmaster's wry smile deepened. He obediently approached, supporting Astaroth's outstretched hand like a subordinate. His head lowered, and magic flowed into Astaroth's body like a surging stream.
"Boom!"
A burst of energy suddenly erupted from Astaroth.
It was the disturbance caused by the pitch-black mist abruptly rising from Astaroth's body.
The thick, pitch-black mist was not only ominous but also constantly flickering.
However, the moment this pitch-black mist appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted significantly. The air seemed to disappear as if consumed, and within the dense interior, faces full of pain emerged—like vengeful spirits, forming a legion.
This was Astaroth's army.
"What... What is that thing...!?"
"So terrifying...!"
"Could it be alive...!?"
The faces of the surrounding students, professors, and guards turned pale, filled with horror in their eyes and on their faces.
Even Yaya and Irori couldn't help but be shocked. Komurasaki and Io screamed in fear, their voices filled with terror.
Only Rozen, for a moment, revealed a surprised expression.
"Miasma...?"
Exactly.
The legion composed of faces full of pain was nothing but miasma.
That is something formed by miasma, bearing a striking resemblance to Shikigami, Spirit Disaster, and the like.
"Is manipulating miasma her magic circuit?" Rozen instantly grasped this point.
Indeed, that is Astaroth's magic circuit, capable of generating miasma out of thin air and manipulating it to form a legion of vengeful spirits, possessing the ability to attack enemies—<Gift of Foul Decay>.
If this extremely condensed miasma were in the world of Tokyo Ravens, it would undoubtedly be a Phase 3 dynamic spiritual disaster.
In other words, Astaroth's magic is the ability to create Phase 3 dynamic spiritual disaster.
And not just one or two, but a total of forty legions.
"Disappear," Astaroth declared, extending her hand, causing the legion of vengeful spirits to surge forward as if suddenly rioting, silently howling as they rushed forward.
The speed, the scale, it was like a vast army galloping, roaring as it swept over, surging towards Rozen's direction, attacking.
"Danger!"
Rozen hadn't given instructions yet, but Irori, with a tense face, also extended her hand, causing a silent and invisible winter to expand.
"Crackle...!"
Frost rose, quickly turning into a massive ice barrier in front of Rozen's group, blocking the incoming legion of vengeful spirits.
Instantly, the vengeful spirits collided with the ice wall.
"Hiss...!"
In a piercing sound, the vengeful spirits that landed on the ice wall not only were not stopped but, like a potent poison, gradually corroded the thick ice wall, melting it at a visible rate.
"How is this possible...!?"
Irori was instantly shocked.
"Indeed, miasma condensed to this extent is already comparable to the existence of dynamic spiritual disaster, capable of causing physical interference," Rozen's eyes also shimmered.
In this situation, Astaroth's legion of vengeful spirits, like determined warriors, continuously collided with the ice wall, corroding it relentlessly.
"Boom!"
Not long after, the ice wall shattered.
A large number of vengeful spirits immediately surged forward, covering Rozen's group.
"Ahhh...!"
In the poisonous miasma, Rozen's group each let out heart-wrenching screams, gradually being corroded by the foul decay, ultimately completely melting away.
"Dead...!?"
"That's it?!"
"That <Fimbulvetr's Winter> was killed...!"
The surrounding students, professors, and guards exclaimed successively.
"Truly pathetic."
Astaroth, too, was momentarily stunned, then contemptuously laughed.
Only the headmaster furrowed his brow tightly.
"No, that's not right."
As if sensing something, the headmaster asserted resolutely.
"This is an illusion."
As this judgment just came out of the headmaster's mouth, a figure appeared behind Astaroth like a mirage.
"Haaaa!"
Yaya activated the magic circuit of <Kongouriki> and delivered a punch that disturbed the atmosphere towards Astaroth's back.
"What...!?"
Astaroth's pupils contracted. She wanted to turn around but was already too late.
In this critical moment, the headmaster reacted promptly.
"I won't let you!"
The headmaster directly stepped forward, standing in front of Astaroth.
"Hum!"
In front of him, an invisible wall of telekinetic force spun like a hexagram.
It was the shield of <Magic Defence>.
"Bang!"
Yaya's fearsome punch landed on the headmaster's raised <Magic Defence>.
In theory, this strike should have been enough to shatter any magus's erected <Magic Defence> shield. However, the headmaster allowed his <Magic Defence> to tilt slightly, dissipating most of Yaya's punch force. Yaya's fist slid off to the side as if gliding, deviating.
"Huh?"
Yaya couldn't help but be astonished.
"Hmpf!"
Astaroth finally reacted, snorted disdainfully, and released a large amount of miasma. It surged like a black storm, causing many vengeful spirits to crash into Yaya's embrace.
"Bang!"
Yaya was instantly sent flying, propelled backward by the continuous onslaught of numerous vengeful spirits.
But Astaroth was surprised.
"How could my foul decay not corrode her?" Astaroth's surprise was met with a warning from the headmaster.
"Be cautious, Queen. These automatons are far from ordinary. They surpass many mythological demons under <Lemegeton>, coupled with the advanced puppetry skills. Their strength is extraordinary. Even the queen should not be careless, as it might backfire."
The headmaster's advice was met with a voice that seemed to be smiling.
"That should be what I said."
Rozen's voice echoed from the void.
"Although Komurasaki's <Yaegasumi> has already enveloped everyone in an illusion, it's unexpected that it would still be exposed."
Such a voice echoed seemingly out of nowhere, reaching the ears of everyone.
"Illusion?"
"We're in an illusion now?"
"Is this for real?"
"This must be the voice of <Fimbulvetr's Winter>, right? Hasn't he died yet?"
The voice echoed throughout the venue, causing a commotion among everyone present.
"Illusion?"
Even Magnus furrowed his brows, slowly closing his eyes. If this were truly an illusion, Magnus, with his ability <Mind's Eye>, should be able to easily see through it. <Mind's Eye> is a technique that allows one to peer into the microscopic world, comprehending all phenomena. Mere illusions shouldn't affect someone with <Mind's Eye>.
However...
"Impenetrable."
Magnus's voice became both deep and solemn.
Indeed.
Impenetrable.
Even <Mind's Eye> couldn't see through the illusion created by <Yaegasumi>.
"As long as the user also possesses <Mind's Eye>, they can construct illusory phenomena in the microscopic world, deceiving others with <Mind's Eye>. That is the true power of <Yaegasumi>."
Rozen's voice echoed again from the void, spreading throughout.
"Could it be that the headmaster's <Mind's Eye> is stronger than mine, capable of seeing through the illusion I created?"
At this point, Rozen's voice carried a hint of indifference.
Undoubtedly, as the strongest magus of the 19th century, the headmaster surely possessed the ability of <Mind's Eye>. This is why the headmaster could skillfully use <Magic Defense> to ward off Yaya's attacks, react swiftly, and block in front of Astaroth.
It's precisely because of possessing <Mind's Eye> that the headmaster could see through Yaya's attacks, timely counter them, and follow the force and trajectory of Yaya's attacks to deflect them.
However, Rozen was the first to disbelieve that the headmaster's <Mind's Eye> could surpass his own. It's not arrogance but a clear understanding that his <Mind's Eye> had already exceeded the limits and intensity attainable in the current world, reaching the realm of the divine. The headmaster could not possibly surpass him.
Otherwise, if the headmaster had the power of <Mind's Eye> to reach the divine realm, the <Principle of Incompatible Magical Activity> would have long been overcome by him and used as research results at his disposal.
But clearly, the headmaster had not reached that level. His <Mind's Eye> couldn't surpass Rozen's, let alone penetrate the illusion created by <Yaegasumi>. In fact, the headmaster hadn't truly seen through <Yaegasumi>'s illusion; he had only guessed.
"You're not someone who can be easily dealt with."
The headmaster surveyed his surroundings, smiling.
"So, seeing you die like that, I couldn't even suspect it was an illusion."
This is why the headmaster could react in time—not by unraveling the power of <Yaegasumi> but by seeing through Rozen's tricks.
Of course, the headmaster was surprised himself that Rozen could create such a realistic illusion.
"An illusion even <Mind's Eye> can't see through. Truly a masterpiece from Master Karyusai Shouko, the <Flower> in <Setsugetsuka>?"
The headmaster couldn't help but express admiration.
"Heheh..."
A somewhat embarrassed voice from Komurasaki accidentally echoed, clearly pleased with herself.
Indeed, Komurasaki had reasons to be proud. When it came to instilling fear and dread in enemies, her <Yaegasumi> was undoubtedly the best. The ability to be silently drawn into an illusion, where even the five senses were controlled, was terrifying for Komurasaki's foes.
Moreover,
"Even if you know it's an illusion, being unable to see through it is futile."
Rozen's voice, with a smirk hidden within, echoed in front of the academy gates.
"Perhaps, while you're trapped in the illusion, your real bodies have already faced an attack?"
These words sent shivers down the spines of those who heard them.
But Rozen wasn't making empty threats.
With the support of this ability, Irori's winter could silently expand, freezing enemies without their awareness. Yaya's presence could be completely eliminated, and when enemies finally realized, they would already be defeated by Yaya's strike, infused with <Kongouriki>.
Hence, the most frightening aspect of Komurasaki's ability lay in its support for our side rather than its attack against the enemy.
"What will you do next?"
Rozen asked indifferently.
This not only irritated the headmaster but also displeased Astaroth.
"Just corrode the entire vicinity."
While grumbling discontentedly, Astaroth let the vengeful spirits formed from miasma continuously dance around her.
Even if trapped in an illusion, once Astaroth used magic to corrode the entire surroundings, even if Rozen and his group were not visible, they could still be attacked.
However...
"Please spare me, Your Majesty. If you do that, all the students around will be corroded, and I'll be in big trouble."
"You're such a coward," Astaroth's tone became even more displeased. "You're still the same as before, always considering troublesome matters. That's why you can only show off with the mightog <Lemegeton> in front of others."
Only the Queen could speak this way to the strongest magician of the 19th century.
"How embarrassing."
The headmaster could only continue to smile bitterly.
That being said, the headmaster appeared quite at ease.
After all,
"Even though I can't see through this illusion, you can't harm us, can you?"
The headmaster laughed, making the surrounding voices briefly fall silent.
There was no way.
"Fully deploy <Magic Defense> shields around oneself, constantly resisting attacks from the surroundings. Even if the shield is shattered, you can immediately sense where the enemy is. Although it's a primitive and simple method, it's still effective."
With Rozen's voice ringing out, the surrounding space suddenly flickered.
As if the mirage were receding, when the swaying of the surrounding space stopped, Rozen and his companions were back in their original positions, as if they had never left.
"Finally decided to come out, Arneet-kun."
The headmaster smiled without any change in expression, receiving Rozen's sarcastic comment.
"Because continuing to stalemate is just a waste of time, isn't it?"
Rozen retracted his hand, which was resting on Komurasaki's back, and pushed Yaya and Irori aside. Walking alone, he slowly stepped forward.
"Ro-Rozen?"
"Rozen-sama?"
"Rozen?"
Yaya, Irori, and Komurasaki each expressed their surprise.
"Come back quickly! Rorelai!"
Io hastily spoke.
Even the surrounding students, professors, and guards were astonished.
"He didn't bring his Automaton?"
"He's walking out alone?"
"Is he throwing his life away?"
People clamored, and even Magnus stared at Rozen, not revealing his thoughts.
The smile on the headmaster's face disappeared.
Only Astaroth's eyes lit up. She suddenly smiled, extended her hand, and let the vengeful spirits formed by miasma rush towards Rozen.
In response,
"Hmm!"
Magic on Rozen's body transformed into jutsuryoku, swirling around him.
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