"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.
"Rin!"
Faced with the oncoming legion of vengeful spirits, Rozen uttered a brief phrase.
It wasn't a type of word that could manifest substantial effects through sound, but a nine-character mantra with exorcising properties.
During the test at the Onmyo Academy, Natsume used a nine-character mantra for purifying spiritual disasters.
For spiritual disasters, the nine-character mantra was an extremely effective purification technique. Even Kagami Reiji, excelled in using the nine-character seal, indicating its remarkable effectiveness.
Now, Rozen spoke the nine-character mantra, turning his magical power into a golden "Rin(临)" symbol. Like a projectile, it shot out towards the approaching legion of vengeful spirits.
"Pound!"
In the midst of a heavy impact sound, Astaroth's miasma was efficiently crushed by Rozen's nine-character mantra. The faces of the vengeful spirits, filled with expressions of pain, seemed to scream as they were instantly purified under the brilliance of the mantra.
"What!?"
Astonishment replaced the beautiful smile on Astaroth's face.
"What's this?"
Even the headmaster was surprised, never expecting Astaroth's miasma to be handled so decisively.
"This is..."
Even Magnus was taken aback.
All because, at this moment, Rozen unleashed a technique unknown to everyone.
"Hmph!"
Amid Astaroth's surprise, her face turned frosty. Once again, she gestured, and countless miasma emerged from her, transforming into faces contorted with pain, forming a legion of vengeful spirits that rushed towards Rozen.
"Pyo!"
Facing the pitch-black mist of miasma rolling towards him, Rozen once again uttered the nine-character mantra. The golden "Pyo(兵)" symbol flashed and met the approaching mist.
"Pound!"
In the second heavy impact sound, the dark mist of miasma was shattered by the golden mantra. Under the effect of the nine-character seal, it was entirely purified.
"How is this possible?"
Astaroth's expression finally changed.
Not only Astaroth but also others.
"What kind of magic is that?"
The headmaster's face showed a mix of surprise and uncertainty for the first time.
"Might this be..."
Magnus, too, had a serious expression, his gaze shaking continuously.
"What is this?"
"Is it magic?"
"But he didn't use an Automaton."
"Could it be the power of a magical tool or a magical stone?"
Onlookers were successively astonished.
In this highest institution of magic, the foremost school in the world of machinart, Rozen, in front of everyone, demonstrated the mysterious powers of an otherworldly "Onmyoudou."
This was something unknown to anyone in this world.
Even Magnus, who hails from the Far East, though aware that Rozen was chanting a nine-character mantra, didn't know exactly what kind of technique Rozen was employing.
If practices like Izanagi's Onmyoudou or the Belew family's Spirit Art were considered ancient magical systems, then Rozen's current jutsuryoku was something even older.
Because this was a form of Onmyoudou from a time when the world hadn't discarded most of the intricate and lengthy incantations, focusing instead on efficient systems like Shikigami.
While those like Hinowa, Subaru, and Mutsura might recognize it, the Akabane clan had long abandoned Onmyoudou. Therefore, for a moment, not even Magnus knew what kind of power Rozen was using.
Of course, whether it was Magnus or the headmaster, they both knew that Rozen surely possessed means beyond machinart magic.
Two years ago, when facing Akabane Tenzen and recently against Magnus, Rozen had summoned a giant eagle. Even when dealing with the Divine Works, he didn't use automatons. All these instances hinted at this.
Now, Rozen's capabilities had finally revealed a glimpse.
However, both Edward Rutherford, considered the world's strongest magus, and Magnus, the genius who broke records at the Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart, were shocked by this.
To possess a technique surpassing the knowledge of these two figures alone was enough to astonish and surprise them.
"Edward."
Even Astaroth addressed the headmaster.
"Give me more magic power; I'll summon the remaining legions."
This proud queen was finally preparing to go all out.
This time, the headmaster didn't voice any objection. Instead, he mobilized his entire magical power, turning it into a torrent and infused it into Astaroth's body.
"Boom!"
A terrible black mist suddenly burst out from Astaroth, unleashing the surging miasma.
"Retreat!"
"Quick, retreat!"
The soaring miasma instantly covered the entire space in front of the academy gates, even continuously expanding. Students, professors, and guards were horrified, shouting in alarm, prompting everyone to flee.
Magnus directly employed his scythe magic. With the effect of spatial transference, he disappeared from his original position, reappearing far away, evading the dreadful miasma.
The tidal wave of miasma erupted from Astaroth's body, eventually transforming entirely into vengeful spirits. Those countless shadows, the legion she could produce, hovered and roared above the entire academy.
Forty legions.
Regardless of quantity, combat power, or strength, it was forty times what it was before.
"Charge!"
At Astaroth's command, a massive uprising of vengeful spirits surged from all directions, rushing towards Rozen.
The scene resembled the gates of hell being opened, as countless apparitions emerged, creating a terrifying sight.
This was no longer the dynamic calamity of a phase but the hundred ghosts' procession of phase 4.
"Rozen!"
"Rozen-sama!"
Yaya, Irori, and Komurasaki couldn't help but exclaim.
"Rorelai!"
Io also shouted.
Countless miasma, corrosive enough to devour everything, swept in.
"This is getting interesting."
Watching the scene like an avalanche of black, Rozen unexpectedly smiled.
"Clap!"
The next moment, Rozen suddenly clapped his hands, and jutsuryoku surged through his body.
"————Offer the great Shou ritual incantation to the myriad gods of Takamagahara, purify all————"
Rozen chanted the solemn spell.
"————In the name of the divine words, submerge the sins of the world, purify body and soul————"
This was the highest-level spell of the highest purification, the same magic Rozen once used to purify the spiritual disturbances caused by the Divine Descent ritual.
Whether it was the nine-character mantra or the highest purification spell, both were forms of magic used to expel evil and purify spiritual disturbances.
Miasma?
As an Onmyouji, this was the least feared thing.
"Hum————!"
Thus, a gentle, smooth, and tranquil jutsuryoku resonated from Rozen's body, flowing out like a tide in all directions.
"————!"
Touched by that gentle, smooth, and tranquil jutsuryoku, all the miasma, transformed into vengeful spirits, suddenly stagnated. They all disappeared like snow melting in the sunlight.
The world, originally engulfed by pitch-black fog, was restored to brightness.
"Impossible!"
Astaroth's face changed drastically.
"This... this is impossible!"
Even the headmaster was finally shocked.
But Rozen didn't stop chanting.
"————————"
Rozen lifted one hand.
"————————"
A whip of light formed in Rozen's hand, created by the dense jutsuryoku.
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