-597- [ Shikigami Summon ]

"————!?"

Rozen and Kogure Zenjirou, in the midst of their intense battle, both had their expressions change.

Because, the sudden surge of the "Fudou Myouou" minor spell was interfered by the cry of the Tengu. It became extremely unstable and its accuracy was affected. Not only did it target Rozen, but it also homed in on Kogure Zenjirou, heading directly towards them.

"Kokuryuu!"

Immediately, Kogure Zenjirou shouted, prompting a Tengu to fly over and grab Kogure Zenjirou's collar. In a swift motion, they flew upwards, taking Kogure Zenjirou out of the attack range of the Fudou Myouou minor spell.

"Kinu!"

Rozen also ordered immediately, causing his cloak to flap without wind, positioning it in front of him.

"Boom————!"

The fiery serpents landed on Rozen, protected by Kinu's cloak. They exploded on the ground, creating waves of fire that continued to scorch.

But the cloak formed by Kinu just needed a firm wave, and the waves of fire were all swept away, dissipating instantly.

Rozen emerged from the cloak, gazing in the direction the fiery serpents had come from, and spoke somewhat ironically.

"Not bad, still being able to stand up like this."

In the direction where Rozen's gaze fell, Kagami Reiji was swaying, his body dripping with blood, a gruesome sight.

However, despite suffering such severe injuries, Kagami Reiji not only didn't appear weakened but seemed like an enraged beast. As veins bulged on his forehead, his spiritual energy became incredibly ferocious.

"I'll definitely kill you... you damn brat...!"

Kagami Reiji shouted in infuriation, blood trickling from his mouth.

Clearly, having endured such heavy injuries, this man still stood like this. It truly lived up to his reputation, almost like a Ogre.

Evidently, being instantly defeated by Rozen in a single confrontation was an unbearable humiliation for Kagami Reiji.

"I'll kill you...! I'll kill you...!"

Kagami Reiji spat blood while wildly brandishing his hands, forming a nine-character seal with his fingertips. The claw-like jutsuryoku network sliced through the atmosphere, sweeping towards Rozen's direction.

In response...

"Get lost!"

Rozen coldly uttered as the nine-character seal came rushing through the air, his voice carrying jutsuryoku. It was like a shockwave that deflected the nine-character seal, sending it flying off course.

No, more accurately, Kagami Reiji's own hands moved involuntarily, deflecting the Nine-Character Seal that had burst through the air.

"Kotodama...!?"

Kagami Reiji recognized the technique Rozen employed and gritted his teeth in frustration.

It was Rozen's usage of 'Kotodama' from the Imperial-Style that interfered with Kagami Reiji's mental state, causing him to misdirect his own jujutsu.

"Clap!"

At this moment, a crisp clapping sound rang out. A new surge of mana appeared, forming a barrier around Rozen, trapping him inside.

Rozen's heart stirred, and he turned his head, looking in another direction.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

In the distant background, Yuge Mari, wearing protective gear, was covered in wounds, resembling someone emerging from the scene of a fire, half-kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily.

However, even in this state, Yuge Mari maintained a hand seal and had set up a barrier around Rozen, imprisoning him.

"It seems the so-called 'Twelve Divine Generals' are even more resilient than I imagined," Rozen smirked.

Whether it was Kagami Reiji or Yuge Mari, both were clearly too injured to continue fighting. Yet one struggled like a madman, and the other persevered without falling. Their differing styles and approaches were enough to prove that the name "Twelve Divine Generals" was not in vain.

Unfortunately...

"The next step will confirm the strength I have been honing all along," Rozen declared.

"Hokuto!"

Upon Rozen's loud summons, everyone present had their pupils shrink, finally recalling it.

They recalled what was in Rozen's hands—the true dragon passed down through generations in the Tsuchimikado family for a whole millennium.

"Clang!"

A beam of light shot up from Rozen's body, rushing towards the sky.

"Bang!"

The beam shattered the barrier confining Rozen, freeing him. It ascended like a soaring dragon into the sky, revealing its true form.

A golden true dragon wandered in the sky and roared with determination.

It seemed that the Hokuto had long been ready and was awaiting Rozen's summons.

"You take care of that stubborn Ogre over there, Hokuto," Rozen ordered towards Hokuto.

Hokuto immediately turned its gaze and focused on Kagami Reiji and charged towards him.

"Don't be too arrogant!"

Kagami Reiji roared.

"—————"

With a roar resembling a howl, Kagami Reiji chanted the "Fire Realm Incantation," generating a massive blaze that engulfed his blood-soaked body. Even though he looked like he could collapse at any moment, he continued to roar, directing the flames towards Hokuto, evaporating the surrounding atmosphere.

In response, Hokuto gathered its dragon energy defiantly and exhaled a breath of icy air, seemingly capable of freezing everything. It met the flames from Kagami Reiji head-on.

They collided, and then there was an explosion.

The icy breath and scorching flames met in mid-air, clashing and causing an explosive shockwave, impacting in all directions.

Kagami Reiji and Hokuto engaged in this intense battle.

"Don't forget about me!"

Seeing Rozen summoning Hokuto to confront Kagami Reiji, Yuge Mari gritted her teeth, stood up, and began forming hand seals once again.

However...

"I haven't forgotten about you."

Rozen instead crouched down, placing one hand on the ground, and gathered a large amount of jutsuryoku within him.

"Shikigami Summon!"

With Rozen's hand on the ground as the center, a magic circle suddenly spun out.

"Come forth! Enenra!"

With Rozen's call, from the spinning magic circle on the ground, an eerie smoke burst out. It was an irregular shape, and from time to time, it would manifest faces within the smoke.

Yes.

Enenra.

It was the Shikigami Rozen had seen once in the Automaton World's forbidden land, in the domain of the Izanagi clan—the "Enenra."

After many years and constant refinement, Rozen had already elevated his "Summoning Arts" in the world of Sword Art Online to the level where he could summon Upper-level familiars. By now, he had mastered a total of three different types for summoning Upper-level familiars.

These three types were respectively the first ones Rozen learned: "Dragon Summoning," which he resolved to master after dissecting the Wyverns peculiarities; "Golem Summoning," which varied in levels according to its size and complexity, extensively researched and refined; and "Shikigami Summoning," which he learned upon arriving in this world through analogy with his previous knowledge.

Now, Rozen utilized the "Shikigami Summoning" style, summoning a Shikigami he had fought with all his might to defeat—Enenra.

"Go!"

At Rozen's command, Enenra surged like a gust of wind, whistling as it bore down on Yuge Mari.

"...!?"

Yuge Mari showed a startled expression and quickly changed her hand seals, erecting a barrier around herself.

Enenra, resembling a gust of wind, crashed against the barrier, rebounding. It immediately made an unwilling, piercing sound and charged again.

Thus, the eerie smoke, occasionally manifesting faces, continuously surged from all directions, colliding with Yuge Mari's erected barrier. She was rendered unable to make a move.

Seeing this scene, Kogure Zenjiro, lifted into the air by the Tengu, had a deeply serious expression.

"You still have Shikigami like that?"

Kogure Zenjiro was somewhat astonished.

Rozen simply smiled.

"I do indeed have such Shikigami."

Saying this, ten Shikigami talismans appeared in Rozen's hand.

Ten talismans, completely black in colour.

"Jujutsu release!"

Rozen tossed the talismans.

"Come forth! Valkyrie!"

The ten completely blackened talismans emitted a dazzling light.