Actually, Kagami Reiji understood better than anyone.
He had already mentioned before that he was much smarter and calmer than he appeared and was also highly skilled at thinking things through. How could he not realize that even if he broke his seal, he still wouldn't be a match for Rozen?
Even if he removed the seal, at best, he would be on the same level as Miyachi Iwao, or perhaps even inferior.
Because Miyachi Iwao's jutsuryoku was inexhaustible. Even if Kagami Reiji's jutsuryoku could rival Miyachi Iwao's, his was still finite and would eventually be depleted, unlike Miyachi Iwao, who could replenish his power without limit.
Therefore, if Kagami Reiji were to face Miyachi Iwao, he might not lose immediately, but in the end, he would definitely be defeated.
If that weren't the case, then Miyachi Iwao wouldn't have been considered a "monster" by Rozen in the past. Even Ashiya Douman had acknowledged his power to a certain extent, recognizing him as the strongest of his era.
Yet, despite this, Miyachi Iwao had lost to Rozen more than once, unable to defeat even a single one of Rozen's shikigami. While guarding the headquarters of the Exorcism Division, he was taken down by Shuten-douji.
Granted, Shuten-douji was one of the Three Great Yokai, the son of the Dragon God, and had caused massive disasters in the Heian era over a thousand years ago, so much so that the imperial court and Abe no Seimei could not ignore him. In the end, they had to dispatch Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his Four Heavenly Kings to subdue him.
Such an ancient and powerful spiritual entity was naturally beyond even Miyachi Iwao's ability to defeat. But the real problem was that Rozen didn't just have one such shikigami.
Among the Hyakki Yagyō, there were several other yokai of similar strength to Shuten-douji, even if not reaching double digits.
There were even demonic gods stronger than Shuten-douji.
Rozen controlled these demons and spirits, making them bow before him. Not only that, but he also commanded two deities, and his own strength was extraordinary. In the end, he single-handedly occupied all of Tokyo and pushed the Onmyo Agency to the brink of collapse. Even when the Twelve Divine Generals gathered together, they still fell into such dire straits.
Given this, what threat could Kagami Reiji pose to Rozen alone?
In conclusion, Kagami Reiji had a clear understanding of himself.
However, having self-awareness was one thing—whether he could accept it was another.
"Struggling in a desperate situation, then climbing out of the jaws of death—that is the ultimate challenge I should be pursuing!"
Kagami Reiji grinned and let out a crazed laugh.
"Now that the Hyakki Yagyō has appeared, and legendary gods are emerging one after another, how could I not enjoy this properly, Tsuchimikado!?"
The jutsuryoku within Kagami Reiji began to surge violently, causing the spirit blade in his hand to tremble uncontrollably.
Clearly, scaring Kagami Reiji away was impossible.
"Kagami!"
Kurahashi Genji immediately called out in a low voice.
Since Rozen had no intention of stopping the divine descent ritual, Kurahashi Genji naturally did not want to provoke him, let alone go to war with him.
Unfortunately, he could no longer stop Kagami Reiji.
In the past, Kagami Reiji had likely followed Kurahashi Genji's instructions due to the seal placed on him.
Now…
"Shut up!" Kagami Reiji didn't even look at Kurahashi Genji, sneering. "The seal is lifted, and I've retrieved Shaver—right now, I'm in the best condition of my life. With such an exciting opponent, how could I not fight...!?"
Kagami Reiji had lost control.
This loss of control didn't mean he had gone berserk or lost his reason—it simply meant he was no longer under Kurahashi Genji's command.
"Stop! Kagami!"
Even Miyachi Iwao spoke up, but he couldn't stop Kagami Reiji either.
"Let's have some fun first!"
With that, Kagami Reiji raised his spirit blade and slashed fiercely in Rozen's direction.
With that slash, the air instantly exploded.
Because the spirit blade, named Higekiri, absorbed Kagami Reiji's immense jutsuryoku at an incredible speed, causing the blade to shine with dazzling light. It unleashed a jutsuryoku slash that detached from the blade, resembling a crescent moon as it cut through the atmosphere and plowed through the ground, leaving a deep scar in the earth as it sliced toward Rozen.
In response, Rozen didn't even move. His coat flared up without wind, its hem turning into a black curtain that surged forward.
"Boom!"
With a muffled impact, the jutsuryoku slash was completely shattered by the hem of Kinu.
"Good!"
Seeing Rozen effortlessly neutralize his attack, Kagami Reiji didn't feel fear but instead shouted in excitement. He actually threw the spirit blade from his hands.
"Buzz!"
The spirit blade immediately radiated light, summoning a tall and slender man who grabbed it.
This was the shikigami incarnated in Higekiri—Shaver.
"Bring out Ibaraki-douji for me!"
Shaver, as if having endured enough, let out a loud cry and charged at Rozen with astonishing speed. Like a human cannonball, he shot forward, stirring up a storm as he closed the distance in an instant, raising the spirit blade high before slashing down.
"Clang!"
A crisp clashing sound rang out. Just as the ghost-slaying spirit blade, brimming with jutsuryoku, was about to strike Rozen's head, it was intercepted by a holy sword burning with the flames of the sun.
At some unknown moment, Rozen had raised a hand, fire swirling in his palm as the Sun's Holy Sword materialized.
"Sorry," Rozen squinted his eyes slightly, smiling faintly. "My one-armed friend probably isn't interested in you. You'd best go find another Ibaraki-douji."
As his words fell, the hem of Rozen's coat flared up again, transforming into a spear that struck Shaver with immense force.
"Boom!"
Like a cannon being fired, the spear struck Shaver's abdomen with overwhelming power, sending him flying. His entire body flickered with distorted signals as he let out a pained cry, crashing backward.
At that moment, Rozen had already raised a finger, pointing at Kagami Reiji.
Atop his fingertip, a dense concentration of jutsuryoku began to swirl.
"...!"
Kagami Reiji was instantly overcome by an indescribable sense of crisis.
That feeling told him that Rozen was about to launch an attack.
And it would be an attack from which he would never recover.
Unlike yesterday's jutsuryoku battle, Rozen no longer seemed inclined to play games with Kagami Reiji. He was slightly serious this time.
Kagami Reiji had no way to resist him.
Because—
"[ Do not move. Stand there and await your exit. ]"
Rozen spoke with utter calmness, yet his words carried a terrifying jutsuryoku that instantly took control of Kagami Reiji.
If this wasn't a Kotodama, then what else could it be?
Jutsuryoku invaded Kagami Reiji instantly, leaving him no room to resist.
"Even after breaking the seal, I still can't counteract a mere Kotodama...!?"
Kagami Reiji shouted in frustration.
But no matter how unwilling he was, the situation couldn't be changed.
At Rozen's fingertip, jutsuryoku so dense it was visible to the naked eye took form.
"Hmm?"
Just as Rozen was about to finish off Kagami Reiji, his eyebrows slightly lifted. He decisively dispersed the jutsuryoku at his fingertip and instead erected a barrier in front of himself.
"——————————"
The next moment, a solemn chant resounded.