-2048- Won't be enough
Rozen's declaration was like a final ultimatum, piercing the hearts of everyone present like a sharp blade.
"Tsuchimikado!"
"Akikan-kun!"
"Akikan!"
Amami Daizen, Ohtomo Jin, and Kogure Zenjirou wanted to say more, calling out in desperation, but their pleas were met with Rozen's indifference.
Seeing him like this, everyone understood—he had no intention of continuing the conversation.
Around him, the various demons, monsters, and spirits likewise grasped his intent. Some let out eerie laughter, others exuded killing intent, making the air grow heavier and heavier.
Even Natsume, Suzuka, and Kyouko opened their mouths, but not a single word came out.
If it were them, facing Amami Daizen and the others' persuasion, they might have wavered, perhaps even softened.
But they were Rozen's Shikigami. No matter what decision he made, they were bound to support him.
Thus, the girls fell into silence.
"Three."
Rozen's cold voice initiated the countdown.
"…!"
The Onmyo Agency exorcists, led by Amami Daizen, felt their hearts tremble.
"Two."
Rozen's voice rang out again, accelerating everyone's pulse.
"One."
With the final count, inside Kanda Shrine, the onmyoji trembled in fear, yet none chose to retreat. One by one, they clenched their teeth, grabbed their talismans, and formed their hand seals.
Seeing this, Rozen's lips curled into a faint arc.
That curve—both mocking and approving—vanished in less than a second.
Then…
"Go."
Rozen uttered the simplest of commands.
At that moment—
The Hyakki Yakou roared.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
As waves of demonic energy, spiritual energy, and jutsuryoku erupted, the army of demons and spirits let out deafening howls and charged toward Kanda Shrine.
The momentum shook the air, trembled the earth, and seemed to blot out the very sun and moon—Hyakki Yakou had once again descended upon the world.
"Barrier!"
Amami Daizen immediately commanded, prompting all the onmyoji to form hand seals, cast protective talismans, and chant incantations, channeling jutsuryoku into the shrine's protective barrier. The barrier's glow intensified.
"——————"
As the most powerful Binding Princess, Yuge Mari was the fastest to recite the Ususama Myouou Mantra, capable of purifying all forms of corruption. She poured all her jutsuryoku into reinforcing the barrier, even adjusting the flow of power within it, guiding everyone to enhance the barrier with maximum efficiency.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
One by one, the demons and spirits collided with the barrier, sending shockwaves through the air, only to be repelled.
A barrier fortified by the combined strength of every onmyoji present—it was formidable beyond measure.
The Hyakki Yakou launched relentless attacks, shaking the very atmosphere again and again, yet no cracks appeared in the defense.
"Not bad."
Rozen raised an eyebrow.
After all, his opponents were the entire Onmyo Agency. They wouldn't be utterly helpless.
However…
"If this is all you've got, it won't be enough to stop me."
Rozen chuckled lightly.
At that moment, one of his Shikigami stepped forward.
"Allow me, Master."
Daitengu no Omukade, Ootakemaru, requested permission.
"Mm."
Rozen had no objections and nodded.
"Go."
"Understood."
Ootakemaru smirked, his gaze toward Kanda Shrine flashing with cold light.
The next moment, he transformed into a swirl of black mist and shot toward the shrine, appearing high above it.
"Buzz!"
Around him, three divine swords trembled violently.
"Go."
With a flick of his finger, the three Omnipotent Swords pulsed with immense power and shot forward like blinding streaks of light.
"Slash!"
The first sword struck the barrier. The sound of fabric tearing echoed as a deep gash appeared on the barrier's surface.
"Slash!" "Slash!"
The other two swords followed suit, each carving another deep wound into the barrier, causing its surface to crack.
"Not good!"
Yuge Mari's expression changed drastically, and the onmyoji gasped in horror.
No one had expected that a barrier created by their combined efforts—one that had held against countless demons—would be unable to withstand even a single attack from Ootakemaru.
But in hindsight, it made sense.
The average demons and spirits attacking the barrier were merely mid-tier or upper-tier familiars. Only the top-tier familiars stood beside Rozen, while the truly powerful ones, uninterested in fighting, merely observed.
Ootakemaru, however, was one of the strongest among the Hyakki Yakou, a strategic-level entity. With his myriad divine abilities and the three Divine Swords, defeating a group of onmyoji—even those forming a barrier together—was effortless.
Among the onmyoji present, most were equivalent to upper-tier familiars, with only Ohtomo Jin and Kogure Zenjirou reaching tactical-level power.
Even then, these two were not particularly exceptional among tactical-level exorcists. They likely couldn't even match a Ogre King like Kakugyouki, let alone the likes of Miyachi Iwao, who stood near the peak of tactical-level power.
Comparing them to strategic-level beings was meaningless.
If Ootakemaru wished, a single full-power strike would reduce Kanda Shrine to ashes.
But due to Rozen's command forbidding unnecessary slaughter, Ootakemaru restrained most of his strength.
Even so, shattering a barrier was far too easy.
"Break!"
Ootakemaru roared, gripping one of his divine swords. His entire being surged with terrifying demonic energy as he crashed down upon Kanda Shrine like a meteor.
"Boom—!"
The entire shrine trembled as a violent shockwave erupted.
The impact sent ripples of force through the barrier, causing cracks to spread across its surface.
"Crack!"
A second later, the barrier shattered.
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!"
One by one, the onmyoji suffered jutsuryoku backlash, vomiting blood.
Yuge Mari, in particular, turned deathly pale, collapsing to her knees as if struck by a heavy blow.
The remaining exorcists' faces turned ashen.
The barrier had been their last line of defense—now, it was gone.
Rozen remained expressionless as he issued his next command.
"Advance."
At his word, countless demons, spirits, and monsters surged into the shrine.
A fierce battle erupted.