-596- I can only say sorry

"Boom!"

Within the corridor enveloped by a sturdy barrier, the shockwaves of jutsuryoku were expanding, causing the two figures in confrontation to push each other back, sailing backward as if riding the wind and waves.

Rozen was propelled backwards under the protection of the cloak transformed by Kinu, blocking all the impacts and residual waves.

Kogure Zenjirou, on the other hand, enhanced his spiritual power with the blessing of the war god, repelling the oncoming shockwaves and residual effects, then without hesitation, stepped forward and immediately pursued Rozen's direction.

Amidst the storm of jutsuryoku and swirling dust, Kogure Zenjirou dashed towards Rozen with all his might.

"Haaaa!"

With a powerful and spirited yell, Kogure Zenjirou raised the divine blade emanating astonishing jutsuryoku and swung it towards Rozen.

"Kinu!"

Rozen commanded his Shikigami and familiar, not needing many words, allowing his intent to flow to Kinu through the unbreakable contract. This made Kinu instantly understand his intention, choosing not to directly clash with Kogure Zenjirou but instead flipping the cloak and carrying it's master, swiftly flying backward to evade Kogure Zenjirou's attacks.

However, Kogure Zenjirou relentlessly caught up, his divine blade already transformed into a flurry of blade glimmers, ceaselessly slashing towards Rozen.

What's more, these strikes were not limited to just the blade of the divine weapon; at times, they would detach from the blade, transforming into energy slashes flying out, becoming long-distance attacks.

Facing this astonishing assault, Rozen saw through all of it with his "Mind's Eye," even capturing all of Kogure Zenjirou's movements with his "Heaven's Eye," allowing Kinu to constantly evade the oncoming slashes. If needed, he would sway his cloak to deflect the approaching blades.

In the past, even if Rozen could see through and react to such a stunning assault, his body's speed wouldn't keep up, so he wouldn't consider evasion and would rely on "Magic Defence" for protection.

However, now, with Kinu's autonomous evasion, defense, counterattacks, and even attacks, Rozen no longer needed to worry about his body not keeping up with his reactions. He entrusted all of this to Kinu.

As for Rozen himself, he focused solely on the attack.

"Order!"

In that moment, Rozen let his body be carried by Kinu, flying through the air, and simultaneously cast several talismans.

He had a total of five talismans, representing the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Rozen activated the techniques inscribed on the talismans, causing each of the five talismans to take effect.

In an instant, the qi of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth erupted, beginning to exert their effects.

The first to take effect was the water talisman, causing surging waves to rush forward.

"Talisman?"

Kogure Zenjirou suddenly halted his pursuit.

Under the power of Kogure Zenjirou's four tengu Shikigami, if Rozen used jujutsu, he would undoubtedly be interfered with, causing the jujutsu to become imprecise and unreliable, at risk of failing at any moment.

Therefore, Rozen chose to use talisman techniques that could instantly produce effects. This was indeed a simple move.

However...

"Relying on talisman techniques alone won't threaten me!"

Kogure Zenjirou raised his divine blade and swung down a powerful blow.

"Boom!"

The rushing waves directed at Kogure Zenjirou were instantly cleaved in half.

"But is it really so?"

Rozen's voice echoed slowly, as the remaining four talismans flew up.

The wood talisman entered the split water, absorbing the water vapor, transforming into sturdy trees.

Then, just as the trees surged, the fire talisman flew up, adhering to them, igniting and absorbing the wood qi, instantly generating a massive flame.

At this moment, the earth talisman flew over, absorbing the fire qi, creating an avalanche-like mudflow, rushing toward Kogure Zenjirou.

Finally, the metal talisman was engulfed by the massive mudflow, absorbing the last bit of earth qi, generating the highest level of metal qi. It took the form of a divine sword, glaring to the extreme, rivaling Kogure Zenjirou's divine blade. Like a soaring edge, it shot towards Kogure Zenjirou.

"The Five Elements give rise to each other! Dance of the Talismans!"

Rozen formed the seals quickly, completing the cycle of the Five Elements in an instant.

"...!?"

Kogure Zenjirou finally tightened his expression, no longer daring to be lax. He gathered the maximum amount of jutsuryoku, compressing it into his divine blade, fiercely striking at the incoming blade.

"Clang—!"

The sword, shooting like a glaring edge, was deflected by Kogure Zenjirou's swift blow, sending it spinning into the air.

However...

"Swoosh!"

At this moment, under the flying cloak, Rozen's figure swooped into the air. He extended his hand and suddenly gripped the spinning divine sword.

"Hum!"

In the next moment, a massive surge of magic power rushed from Rozen's hand into the divine sword, all transforming into telekinesis, forming a telekinetic blade that covered the divine sword.

This was the seventh tier of a magus—Magic Resilience.

On the divine sword, a power comparable to Kogure Zenjirou's divine blade emanated from the brilliant effect of the sword, although not as vividly red as in SAO. With a sharp breaking sound, it rocketed towards Kogure Zenjirou.

"What...!?"

Kogure Zenjirou was greatly surprised.

To this, Rozen only smiled suddenly.

"Don't think you're the only one who can fight in this manner."

After saying that, the jutsuryoku within Rozen surged again, turning into telekinesis and enveloping his body.

At this moment, Rozen's telekinesis was equivalent to the system assist in SAO, allowing him to freely manipulate his body and perform sword skill at will.

"Vorpal Strike!"

Rozen's body immediately transformed into a spear-like form, plummeting from the sky. The divine sword, enhanced by Magic Resilience, emitted a dazzling light. It was not as vividly red as in SAO, but in a sharp breaking sound, it pounded towards Kogure Zenjirou.

"Ugh...!"

Kogure Zenjirou reacted in time, hurriedly raising his divine blade.

"Clang—!"

Under the crisp clash, the divine sword and divine blade collided, creating a powerful jutsuryoku storm and sparking intense flames.

Rozen's attack from above, though blocked by Kogure Zenjirou, caused the ground beneath them to shatter and collapse.

"You...!"

Kogure Zenjirou immediately leaped back, then suddenly stomped on the ground, charging towards Rozen.

"Haha!"

Rozen laughed and met the challenge without showing any weakness.

A fierce blade battle unfolded under these circumstances.

Kogure Zenjirou's divine blade was like a storm, constantly carrying astonishing jutsuryoku as it slashed, forming an overwhelming storm of slashes that were impenetrable.

Rozen's divine sword was like a gust of wind, swiftly swooping in between the overwhelming slashes. Sometimes he avoided the slashes, and sometimes he cleverly deflected them with the most skillful trajectories. After resolving all the slashes, he swung out rapid combinations.

These combinations were sometimes in twos, sometimes in threes, and even went up to four, six, and eight strikes. The more strikes in the combination, the more terrifying the threat.

Kogure Zenjirou could only block them, and for a moment, he was forced to retreat.

Originally, even if Rozen could enhance the sword's power with Magic Resilience and use Telekinesis to control his body to perform sword skills from SAO, it was impossible to engage in such an intense clash with Kogure Zenjirou.

After all, even if the sword's power was not inferior to that of the opponent, and even if Telekinesis could forcibly manipulate the body to perform sword skills, many factors had to be considered.

For example, the question of how much burden it would place on the muscles to forcefully manipulate the body to perform sword skills.

For example, even if the attack speed could be forcibly driven by Telekinesis, if the movement speed couldn't keep up with the opponent, how could you engage in close combat?

Furthermore, when the swords clashed, how would Rozen's physique bear the reaction force?

Rozen's Magic Resilience, combined with precise control from Telekinesis, allowed him to overcome these limitations and match Kogure Zenjirou in this intense blade battle.

Each of these problems needed to be solved.

Rozen found solutions.

For the muscle burden, he used "Rigid Body" enhancement to offset it.

For the speed issue, he relied on the exceptional flying ability of Kinu.

As for the reaction force, with Kinu's protection, he could completely resist it.

Thus, Rozen achieved the current intense battle.

Regarding countering the enemy's sword, with "Mind's Eye," where was the problem?

Therefore...

"Even though you're strong, since I 'cheated' a bit, I can only say sorry."

Rozen silently thought in his heart.

Suddenly...

"————"

A cry, resembling that of a wounded beast, resounded. It chanted the "Fudou Myouou" minor spell, causing fiery serpents to surge towards this direction.