The underground space, already brimming with spiritual energy, was now engulfed in searing flames.
This fire was summoned by none other than Miyachi Iwao, the strongest onmyoji of this era known as the "Fire Demon."
With his hands forming the Vajra Mudra, Miyachi Iwao recited the Fudo Myo-o True Words, chanting the incantation of the Fire Realm Incantation. A tremendous surge of jutsuryoku erupted from his entire body, sending flames sweeping outward with him at the center.
In an instant, the flames devoured the earth, incinerating the rocky terrain and submerging the entire area in a sea of fire.
Ordinarily, within the common-style, the Fire Realm Incantation manifested as a flame that burned only spiritual energy, causing no physical destruction. However, Miyachi Iwao's Fire Realm Incantation was an exception.
It was a fire capable of incinerating endless demon armies and entire three thousand worlds. With the overwhelming jutsuryoku of the caster, the flames transcended the spiritual plane, directly interfering with the physical world.
These raging flames surged toward Rozen, interrupting his imminent strike on Kagami Reiji, consuming him and the girls around him.
However, the barrier Rozen had deployed withstood the flames, preserving a small space where life could still exist amidst the inferno.
Yet, Rozen's jutsuryoku was indeed disrupted, allowing Kagami Reiji to break free.
"Miyachi!"
Kagami Reiji furiously glared at Miyachi Iwao, humiliated.
Being saved by someone else was not something Kagami Reiji considered fortunate.
He neither wanted nor needed anyone to save him. More than anything, he refused to let anyone interfere in a duel where he had staked his life. His anger was only natural.
Unfortunately...
"Since you refuse to follow our orders, we no longer need to consider your feelings."
Miyachi Iwao spoke in a low voice.
Of course, this decision wasn't his—it was Kurahashi Genji's.
"Do it, Miyachi."
Kurahashi Genji, who had previously been reluctant to engage Rozen, seemed to have changed his mind.
The reason was simple.
"We have more guests. The situation has changed. We need to create chaos—otherwise, the ritual might be interrupted."
Kurahashi Genji said this as he commanded Byakua and Kurobou, his two guardian shikigami, to charge toward a certain location near the altar.
With a deep growl, Byakua and Kurobou leaped, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to waver.
"Tch!"
A sharp clicking of the tongue echoed as a figure dissolved its invisibility, emerging from the disrupted spiritual energy.
Dressed in pitch-black attire, the figure hovered above the ground before swiftly retreating to evade the lunging lion shikigami.
Upon seeing this figure, the girls widened their eyes.
"Brother!"
Natsume called out in surprise.
The newcomer was none other than Harutora.
"The true reincarnation of Yakou has finally shown himself?"
Kurahashi Genji gazed at Harutora, his expression shifting slightly.
"Did I fail?"
While dodging the two lion shikigami, Harutora looked slightly frustrated.
He had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
After all, with Rozen's Hyakki Yagyo (Night Parade of a Hundred Demons) launching a frontal assault on Kanda Myojin, the Onmyo Agency's onmyoji wouldn't stand a chance. Rozen would undoubtedly attack head-on, drawing all attention to himself.
With that in mind, Harutora had carefully considered his approach and decided to act from the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to sabotage the ritual.
Yet, he had failed.
Harutora's Invisibility Jutsu was indeed impressive. However, in a battlefield overflowing with spiritual energy and divine aura, true invisibility was impossible—even for Rozen.
Moreover, Kurahashi Genji had anticipated such a move.
Kurahashi Genji knew that regardless of Rozen's stance, Harutora would never allow the ritual to proceed.
Thus, he had to eliminate Harutora.
And considering Harutora's connection to Rozen, even if Rozen didn't actively stop the ritual, there was no guarantee he wouldn't intervene to protect Harutora.
In such a scenario, if they lost Kagami Reiji as an ally and allowed Rozen to spectate and wait for an opportunity to strike, it would be disastrous.
Rather than giving Rozen such an advantage, it was better to force him into battle immediately—alongside Kagami Reiji—by escalating the situation.
With this in mind, Kurahashi Genji acted decisively.
"——————"
Kurahashi Genji chanted the mantra of Ususama Myo-o, a purification spell capable of cleansing all impurity from the material world, deploying a protective barrier around the altar.
"———————"
Next, he calmly recited the Immovable Binding Curse, sending an immense pressure of jutsuryoku crashing toward Harutora, attempting to bind both his body and spirit.
"Order!"
Harutora immediately recognized the incoming Immovable Binding Curse, yet he neither panicked nor wasted effort dispelling it.
Instead, he simply withdrew a talisman, activating a simple rudimentary shikigami.
A jet-black humanoid figure, akin to a stickman, manifested and lunged at the curse.
The weight of the Immovable Binding Curse slammed down upon the shikigami, pinning it helplessly to the ground.
Harutora himself, however, remained completely unaffected.
The modern Father of Onmyodo had executed a textbook countermeasure, neutralizing the spell effortlessly.
"Hishamaru! Kakugyoki!"
At last, Harutora summoned his shikigami.
"So, I was discovered after all."
Hishamaru materialized to Harutora's left.
"Another old friend, huh?"
Kakugyoki emerged on his right.
Byakua and Kurobou let out deafening roars as they charged at the two shikigami.
As Kakugyoki noted, the two groups were indeed old acquaintances.
Half a century ago, they had encountered the guardian shikigami passed down by the Kurahashi family. They had even fought side by side.
"Even after all this time, you're still so arrogant. Get down!"
Hishamaru's nimble form darted toward Byakua and Kurobou, engaging them in combat.
Kakugyoki was about to follow—when he was abruptly stopped.
"Ibaraki-doji!"
A frenzied, ecstatic scream echoed from the distance as a figure charged forward.
"Hmph!"
Kakugyoki's expression darkened as he snorted coldly.
In that instant, his body expanded.
A dense demonic aura erupted from him, his golden short hair flaring as his muscular frame swelled to twice—no, three times—its original size.
Like an overwhelming force bursting from within, his forehead sprouted two menacing horns.
This was Kakugyoki's true form.
Only in this state could he fully unleash the power accumulated over a thousand years.
"ROOOOARRR!!"
The thousand-year-old Ogre King bellowed.
His fearsome demonic aura sent shivers down the spines of Kurahashi Genji, Miyachi Iwao, and Kagami Reiji.
Only one person reacted differently.
Instead of fear, Shaver was overcome with madness and glee, recklessly brandishing his spiritual blade as he slashed at Kakugyoki.
The long-fated enemies had met once more, resuming their thousand-year-old battle.
Meanwhile, Kagami Reiji's shikigami clashed with Kakugyoki.
Kurahashi Genji's shikigami fought Hishamaru.
Harutora attempted to rush the altar—only to be intercepted by Miyachi Iwao's fire.
"You won't reach the altar!"
Kurahashi Genji prepared another spell to deal with Harutora.
Unbeknownst to him, someone had been watching him all this time.
That person was Kyoko.
"Father..."
Kyoko bit her lip.
Rozen, who had merely been maintaining his barrier, neither attacking nor moving an inch, glanced at her.
"If you want to go, then go."
Rozen said.
"Mm!"
Kyoko's eyes lit up.
Grateful, she nodded and dashed toward Kurahashi Genji.
"Father!"
Kyoko's shout caught Kurahashi Genji's attention.
"Kyoko..."
Kurahashi Genji furrowed his brows.
Father and daughter stood face to face.