-1508- Let's cooperate

"Boom!"

As the high-grade mana from the Kiffa Ater sword ignited like flames, vaporizing the surrounding atmosphere and causing a startling explosion, the first to react was not Jess but Kirsty.

"Lord Zeth...!"

Kirsty's face turned completely pale. After shouting, she leaped in front of Zeth without hesitation.

In her hand, a pitch-black scythe took shape, held firmly by her.

This was not a magical alchemical weapon.

Unlike the human Sky Wizards who used magical alchemical weapons, the humanoid Armored Beetles used weapons formed from their own jutsuryoku, similar to the inherent devices of the previous world.

The scythe Kirsty wielded was a jutsuryoku-formed scythe, extremely sharp, and could be considered a divine weapon.

At this moment, Kirsty raised her scythe high, with violent jutsuryoku surging around her.

To this...

"Swish!"

The pitch-black Gladius sword shot out silently like a black beam, swiftly heading towards Kirsty, the blade lifted high, and struck down heavily in her direction.

"Clang————!"

With a loud clang of metal, the entire mansion and even the whole floating city trembled.

People in the floating city were shaken as if by a sudden earthquake, swaying and screaming.

The Sky Wizards were also greatly startled, becoming equally unsteady.

In the Wiegert Mansion's reception room, with the Gladius sword striking heavily against Kirsty's raised scythe, the entire floor suddenly collapsed, exploding like shattered fragments.

"Cough...!"

Kirsty coughed up blood, and was blasted into a deep pit, buried under debris and rubble, disappearing from sight.

"What's going on...!?"

"Oh my god...!"

The servants in the mansion cried out in alarm.

Under this strike, the Wiegert Mansion was destroyed more than half, as if it had been hit by a massive explosion.

Miraculously, not a single human was injured, only thrown into panic.

The area where Rozen and Zeth were sitting remained untouched, as if it were directly beside the deep pit and ruins, appearing extremely absurd.

The Gladius sword, which caused all this, seemed to retire gracefully, returning to Rozen's side.

"How foolish." Rozen, as if nothing had happened, shook his head and said, "You clearly saw the use of high-grade mana here, yet you still didn't use Collapse Force. To step up and protect the master like this, your secretary skills are lacking."

Rozen continued to speak nonchalantly, as if nothing had occurred.

Unaware of the gravity of the situation, Zeth's pupils shrank, and sweat poured down his forehead.

Seeing Kirsty blasted into the pit with no sign of movement, and the Wiegert Mansion half-destroyed, Zeth fell silent.

At this moment, Zeth was forced to reevaluate Rozen.

Rozen had once again proved that he was underestimated.

Zeth had never imagined Rozen could be this strong.

This was truly unfathomable.

"Ha..."

Zeth exhaled, forcing himself to calm down.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Zeth maintained a smile as if nothing had happened.

Rozen nodded readily.

"This settles the score from Mistgun."

Rozen said, but his gaze towards Zeth was thought-provoking.

"Anyway, it wouldn't make much sense for me to kill you here, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zeth's heart tightened.

Zeth's mind raced with a single thought.

(He... saw through it...?)

Indeed.

In the presence of Rozen's Mind's Eye, how could it be hidden?

"You aren't actually here, are you?"

Rozen revealed Zeth's hidden truth.

The truth was, from the beginning, Zeth was not actually here. Only Zeth's puppet and avatars, akin to the methods of Natsuki, were here. But unlike Natsuki's miraculous techniques, Zeth's methods were still lacking and were easily seen through by Rozen.

"So, this is the effect of jutsuryoku?"

Rozen spoke with a half-smile.

Through long-term contact and research, Rozen knew that jutsuryoku was a cursed power that could bring various effects.

For example, enhancement of the body.

For example, improvement of recovery.

For example, amplification of overall abilities.

These were the typical manifestations of jutsuryoku.

However, jutsuryoku's effects were not limited to these.

As previously mentioned, jutsuryoku was a form of phenomenon interference power at a different phase from mana.

Since it was a phenomenon interference power, it could naturally be used to perform techniques.

For instance, the variant types like Shinjuku [2] and Tenjin [4] could use jutsuryoku barriers to withstand attacks and even fire jutsuryoku as beams, showing the proof of using jutsuryoku to perform techniques.

Moreover, jutsuryoku's phenomenon interference power was above mana.

This meant that jutsuryoku was actually stronger than mana.

However, unlike using engraved runes to perform techniques, jutsuryoku was certainly not used in that manner.

If Rozen's research was correct...

"Jutsuryoku uses mind-based techniques, which can turn deep inner imagery into actual power. Am I right?"

Rozen revealed the secret of jutsuryoku.

Hearing this, Zeth fell silent once more.

At this point, Zeth had to admit.

The person before him was not only powerful but also far more intelligent than he had anticipated.

Thus...

"You are correct. The usage of jutsuryoku involves mind-based techniques. It's not truly mind over matter, but if you have a deep impression and form an inner image, you can create techniques and directly implement them with jutsuryoku."

Zeth chose to confess.

"So, the power of jutsuryoku is above mana, and Collapse Force is a product of the fusion and sublimation of both powers, surpassing jutsuryoku."

Given this, Jess could casually manipulate Elis and create avatars to meet Rozen, while his real self was not present.

This was originally a precautionary measure, to avoid being outwitted by Rozen, who was still somewhat unclear.

Unexpectedly, this precaution became Zeth's lifeline.

Nevertheless, even without this safeguard, Rozen did not intend to kill Zeth here.

Aside from the massive trouble and aftermath killing Zeth here would cause, if Zeth died, the humanoid Armored Beetles hidden around the world might go berserk, leading humanity into a devastating catastrophe.

Considering this, Rozen could not directly eliminate Zeth.

At least, not now.

Of course, Rozen did not intend to be led by Zeth.

That was why Rozen acted decisively.

"...."

The pitch-black Gladius sword dissipated into blood mist.

Rozen looked at Zeth and smiled faintly.

"Well then, Chairman, if you have anything to say, now is the time. There are no outsiders here."

Upon hearing this, Zeth's eyes flashed with countless thoughts.

In the end, it turned into a single sentence.

"Let's cooperate."