-2355- Tolerated him long enough

In truth, discovering the presence of Itogami Meiga was no easy task.

After all, Itogami Meiga was a Yiangshi—neither a living being nor a proper Demon. Not only had his spiritual presence completely vanished, even his miasma was extremely faint.

It was much like how Rozen's constitution had once been so feeble that even those with Spirit Vision couldn't sense his aura unless they were extremely close. What's more, the surroundings of Vatler's luxurious cruise ship were cloaked in barriers, making it even harder to detect anything.

Itogami Meiga was not inherently powerful. As a Yiangshi—a half-baked type of Demon—his entire strength relied almost entirely on the uniqueness of Fangzahn. One could imagine how indistinct his presence would be. Trying to detect him by "sight" was truly no easy feat.

But Rozen still managed to find him.

Using his Wise Eye, which could even see through barriers—an ability even those called national treasures like the Special Vision Officer Miyoshi Tougo couldn't match—Rozen ultimately detected the faint miasma being released by Itogami Meiga.

Not only that, Rozen also sensed two familiar spiritual energies—so familiar, in fact, that he doubted his own "sight" for a moment. His heart sank.

(Could it be...)

A suspicion flashed through Rozen's mind, causing subtle ripples of emotion—ultimately leaving a trace of helplessness and bitterness.

Still, Rozen didn't show any of that on his face, calmly looking at Vatler.

"If you won't hand him over, then don't blame me for coming aboard and taking him myself, Vatler."

Rozen's tone grew cold.

It was easy to see how this unexpected discovery had soured Rozen's mood.

Apparently, Vatler hadn't expected Rozen to be this forceful either—he looked momentarily surprised.

Indeed, Rozen possessed overwhelming strength, but he had never flaunted it. When trouble arose, he often seemed like a bystander, rarely involving himself deeply. He gave off the impression of someone taking a detached, objective position.

Had Rozen always acted this assertively, many of the problems they had faced wouldn't have needed to escalate—he could have struck first and nipped all those schemes in the bud.

But he never did, as if silently telling everyone: "I am not a part of this world. I won't interfere with its development or direction." He simply watched from the sidelines.

Because of this, in many people's eyes, Rozen held an almost transcendent position. Many dared not provoke him precisely because they couldn't grasp his intentions.

Of course, there were also fools who, seeing his hands-off attitude, lowered their guard and grew reckless. Their eventual outcomes were predictable.

So Vatler was genuinely caught off guard by Rozen's current stance.

But after the surprise faded, Vatler was filled with joy.

Because—compared to the calm and composed Rozen—Vatler far preferred this sharp, aggressive version.

It made his blood boil. His eyes turned scarlet, and his fangs extended, revealing his true nature as a vampire.

Then—

"This isn't according to protocol, Your Highness," Vatler said, baring his fangs in a smile. "I'm still the Warlord Dominion's ambassador stationed on Itogami Island. Trespassing and conducting a search on my territory without permission could spark a diplomatic incident. Wouldn't it be better if you let the Management Cooperative submit a formal search request to the Warlord Dominion first?"

Even as he said this, Vatler was already brimming with magic.

It meant that this battle maniac had foreseen it.

Foreseen the impending clash.

Sure enough—

"Normally, I might've done that. But I'm not feeling particularly patient today, so I'll just say this once."

Rozen looked at Vatler and spoke with utter indifference.

"If you don't want to die, step aside."

Such blunt words made Vatler laugh.

He laughed maniacally.

"What a surprise. I thought it'd take a more fitting occasion to stir your fighting spirit and make you face me seriously. Seems you're in a bad mood today... Witch's little brother."

Vatler no longer maintained his courteous tone—he tore off the mask he had worn for so long, placing a hand on his forehead and laughing with unrestrained glee.

"Well then! Though it's a bit disappointing to indulge in the main course early, this kind of unexpected thrill is the true delight of battle! Excellent! This is how it should be!"

As he spoke, Vatler's magic burst forth like an explosion, shaking the land of Itogami Island and even churning the nearby sea.

It was a power rivaling even the Primogenitors—an overwhelming force that third or even second-generation vampires couldn't hope to match.

This was Vatler's true power.

The being closest to a Primogenitor—his title was no exaggeration.

"Senpai!"

Yukina instinctively reached for her guitar case.

But—

"Step back, Himeragi."

Rozen stopped Yukina without even glancing at her, keeping his eyes fixed on Vatler. His expression remained calm throughout.

"I'll handle this," Rozen said flatly. "I've tolerated him long enough."

With that, Rozen stepped forward.

From his body, an erupting wave of magic rose like a volcanic eruption, shaking the sky.

That magic pressure instantly surpassed Vatler's—becoming as tangible as gravity, pressing down on him so intensely that he almost felt the urge to kneel.

Yet Vatler didn't flinch—instead, he grew even more excited and laughed madly.

"This pressure! This fear! Yes! This is the powerful enemy I've always been seeking! Stronger than the Primogenitors! An unbeatable foe! Wonderful! Truly wonderful!"

Vatler, under that pressure, shouted with all his might.

"Nanda! Upananda!"

Vatler summoned his Beast Vassals.

Within the storm of raging magic, two massive serpents took form, rising into the sky.

One was a flaming serpent wreathed in fire, the other a steel serpent bristling with razor-sharp blades.

The two serpent-type Beast Vassals soared skyward, intertwining and merging as they spiraled together—ultimately fusing into a dragon-type Beast Vassal that roared toward the heavens and released a terrifying wave of magic.

Then the Beast Vassal dove down like a meteor, hurtling straight for Rozen.

In response—

"Al Meissa Mercury."

Rozen invoked with absolute composure, summoning the silver, mercury-like twin-headed dragon, which let out a thunderous roar of its own.

At Itogami Island's harbor, two ferocious dragon-type Beast Vassals—one diving from the heavens, the other soaring upward—clashed with a mighty impact.

"Boom!!"

With an earth-shattering crash, a storm of terrifying magical energy and shockwaves erupted from the skies above the harbor, sweeping outward in all directions.