-595- [ Omnipotent Sword ]

"Thud!"

In distinct and audible footsteps, Kogure Zenjirou, who had been blasted by an invisible force, managed to steady himself using his extraordinary skills, differentiating him from other onmyoji. He landed on the ground after staggering a few steps, enduring Rozen's assault.

"Cough, cough...!"

Even so, Kogure Zenjirou still coughed a few times, evidently affected although not severely injured, unlike Kagami Reiji who was directly wounded.

However, compared to Reiji, Kogure Zenjirou was in a significantly better condition.

Rozen, witnessing this scene, was not surprised.

"As expected, giving up the chanting of incantations, even if it allows for quick activation, the power cannot be considered high?"

Rozen made this evaluation.

Originally, the Taoism technique of 'striking a mountain from afar' aimed to knock the opponent unconscious—a technique emphasizing not lethality.

Although when used by someone like Rozen, with strong jutsuryoku and assisted by curse tools, it had the potential to seriously injure the enemy. However, by abandoning the chanting of incantations, the power decreased several-fold, naturally not yielding very effective results.

Of course, Kogure Zenjirou's decent jutsuryoku and spiritual resistance also played a role in this outcome.

So, with just this one round, Rozen could make a judgment.

"Among the three independent exorcists present, the strongest is probably Kogure Zenjirou."

After all, he was on par with Ohtomo Jin, having emerged from Onmyou Academy as a prodigy. Since Ohtomo Jin had the ability to handle the entire underground department of Onmyou Agency and even obstruct Ashiya Douman, it was impossible for Kogure Zenjirou, who could sit on equal footing with Ohtomo Jin, to be weak.

At least, after Rozen's fierce attack just now, Kogure Zenjirou was the only one left standing. This much was evident.

However, this result was certainly not satisfactory to the other side.

"It seems I underestimated you."

Kogure Zenjirou said with a muffled voice while enduring the unconsciousness caused by the Taoism technique.

"Clearly just a student from the Academy, yet you can proficiently use the Imperial-Style techniques and even possess the advanced skill to alter the completed spell structure and repel Reiji's Kongou-Shingon jutsu. Tsuchimikado Akikan, have you truly..."

He didn't say the words that followed.

But Rozen knew what he wanted to say.

"Have you truly awakened?"

As the reincarnation of Yakou, awakening the memories and powers of his past life.

Seeing Rozen's recent display, anyone would probably think so, right?

Unfortunately, that's wrong, and very wrong.

"All I possess is mere knowledge; it can't be considered advanced expertise," Rozen admitted frankly.

"The reason I can do something like this is just due to a little trick."

What trick, you ask?

Naturally, it's the assistance of the "Mind's Eye."

With Gyokuto's enhanced support, Rozen's "Mind's Eye" had been elevated, allowing him to more perfectly manipulate jutsuryoku, discern weaknesses in the spells used by both sides, rapidly devise the optimal countermeasures from his mind, and swiftly and effectively execute them.

Under these circumstances, Rozen achieved what is called advanced expertise.

It can be said that reaching this level, Rozen's "Mind's Eye" might have reached an unprecedented level, beyond even the reach of historical saints, high monks, and martial gods.

Or perhaps, Rozen's "Mind's Eye" has already transformed to a stage that the original technique could not achieve. That's also a possibility.

"Is that so?" Kogure Zenjirou didn't know all this but understood that Rozen had changed significantly for some reason.

"In that case, I'll give it my all to apprehend you too!"

Kogure Zenjirou raised his spiritual power and shouted loudly while raising his sword.

"Kokuryuu! Dassai! Reisen! Hou'oubiden!"

With Kogure Zenjirou's cry, dark shadows began to appear around him.

Appearing around Kogure Zenjirou were four tengu, clad in the exorcist's protective garb, holding staffs and similar weapons.

"Shikigami?" Rozen narrowed his eyes.

The ones appearing around Kogure Zenjirou were the Shikigami contracted with him.

"Seems like a crisis! Zenjirou!"

"The opponent is just a little kid!"

"Stupid Zenjirou!"

"Should have gone all out long ago!"

As soon as the four tengu appeared, they immediately began croaking very noisily. Not only did they appear very human-like, but they also seemed to be emotionally rich.

"So noisy! Hurry and help!" Kogure Zenjirou urgently ordered, "Spread out! Support me at any time!"

Hearing this, although the four tengu showed displeasure, they obediently complied.

"There's no helping it!"

"It's because Zenjirou was so unreliable"

"He still need our help?"

"Quick, apprehend! Apprehend!"

These four noisy figures immediately dispersed in all directions.

Rozen wanted to stop their actions, as he was unsure of the power these four Shikigami possessed.

However, he couldn't divert his attention because of the surging spiritual energy rising before him.

"————"

Kogure Zenjirou chanted the true words of the war god Bishamonten, gaining the god's blessing. The spiritual energy surged, and his spiritual power continuously rose. The divine blade in his hand emitted waves of jutsuryoku, radiating brilliance.

Rozen had witnessed this scene before.

However, the last time, Kogure Zenjirou was not Rozen's enemy, so the impact wasn't as strong.

Now, facing Kogure Zenjirou blessed by the war god, Rozen felt the oppressive force approaching that of a first-rate Servant.

"This is incredible..."

Rozen was genuinely surprised.

Just in this situation...

"Here I come!"

A vast spiritual power erupted from Kogure Zenjirou, and he moved with lightning-fast steps, swiftly reaching Rozen. His eyes flashed with sharp killing intent, and the divine blade in his hand seemed to split the space, carrying astonishing magical power, slashing towards Rozen.

"...!"

Rozen's "Mind's Eye" smoothly glimpsed this attack, but before he could react, his draped cloak automatically surged. The cloak spread like a cape, meeting Kogure Zenjirou's strike.

"Clang ——!"

In the resounding metallic clash, Kogure Zenjirou's transcendent strike landed on the cloak sprinkling fiery powder, stirring a rush of jutsuryoku.

It was like a highly compressed typhoon being released, and the high-density jutsuryoku swept in all directions, causing a tempest of gusts, impacts, and clashes.

In an instant, the ground fractured bit by bit, and shattered stones flew wildly, even the surrounding barriers were shaken.

"Amazing!"

Rozen couldn't help but exclaim, simultaneously swiftly forming hand seals, preparing to release his own jujutsu.

However...

"Now's the time!"

Kogure Zenjirou shouted loudly.

Just in this instant...

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa——!"

The four tengu scattered around suddenly emitted this kind of scream.

This scream was not only piercing to the ears but also contained a buzzing jutsuryoku. It expanded throughout the entire space.

Affected by this wave of jutsuryoku, Rozen found that the jutsuryoku he had released outside his body was in disorder.

Rozen instantly understood.

"A Shikigami capable of interfering with spells, disrupting the flow of jutsuryoku, significantly reducing the precision of spells, huh?"

This was Kogure Zenjirou's Shikigami.

On the other hand, because he didn't use jujutsu himself and instead compressed jutsuryoku into the divine blade with the war god's blessing, Rozen wasn't affected at all.

"Heh!"

Kogure Zenjirou swung another vigorous strike.

"Woosh!"

Rozen's cloak once again surged, its hem lashing like a whip.

"Clang ——!"

The clash sounded extremely loud, causing the surge of jutsuryoku to explode for the second time, plowing across the surrounding earth.

The ground shattered piece by piece.