-781- The power of Onmyoujutsu

"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.