The Rose Stems under Astrid's direct control were clearly far superior to the ones invading the academy. The moment Astrid gave the command, they reacted instantly, unleashing magic. The panther automatons around her all opened their jaws, gathering magical energy that caused plasma to flicker between their fangs.
A magic called Fusion Explosion was activated, causing compressed plasma to form in the mouths of the surrounding black panthers.
In just one second, the plasma would be launched from all directions, blasting Rozen into pieces.
With black panthers and black-robed magus surrounding the office and launching their attack simultaneously, there was simply no way to avoid it.
At this rate, not only the office but the entire Headmaster's residence might be blown sky-high.
As for everyone left inside—others aside—those hostages imprisoned here would definitely not survive. They would perish, becoming victims of this violence.
Just as the black panthers were preparing to fire the plasma from their mouths...
"Komurasaki."
Rozen spoke calmly.
"Okay!"
Komurasaki immediately released magic, raising her small hand high.
In that instant, a mysterious distortion warped the surrounding space.
An invisible wave of magical energy spread out, and for some unknown reason, all the black panthers suddenly shut their mouths.
The plasma continued to swell inside their mouths, heating their heads red-hot.
Then—
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
One by one, the panthers exploded, shattering into pieces.
And the magus around them, rather than reacting to this, drew daggers and weapons and began attacking each other in a frenzy, descending into mutual slaughter.
"What are you doing...!?"
Astrid was furious upon seeing this. Then, recalling something, she sharply turned her gaze to Komurasaki.
"An illusion-type magic?"
As a witch who had lived for over a hundred years, Astrid's insight allowed her to identify Komurasaki's spell.
"Correct—but too bad that doesn't help you!"
Komurasaki stuck her tongue out at Astrid, made a face, and reached out again.
Instantly, Yaya and Irori—who had been preparing to attack Astrid—vanished.
No, they hadn't disappeared.
"An illusion to hide them!?"
Astrid quickly focused her mind, trying to see through Komurasaki's spell.
But Komurasaki's magic was powerful enough to deceive even Mind's Eye. Even Edward Rutherford had failed to see through it—Astrid stood no chance.
So...
"Ice-Cutting Blade!"
Irori's figure instantly appeared behind Astrid, slicing through the air with an icy blade. Frost trailed behind it as she slashed at Astrid's back.
"Squelch!"
Caught off guard, Astrid was slashed across the back, blood gushing from the wound.
"Ah!"
Astrid screamed in pain.
But her cry was abruptly silenced.
"Bang!"
Yaya appeared in front of Astrid, her slender leg in a wooden sandal whipping up and kicking Astrid's face like a flash of lightning.
Astrid's scream cut off. Her entire body was sent flying toward the wall.
But before she could hit it, the lion-shaped automaton's eyes flashed, and the whole world seemed to be dragged into another dimension—Astrid suddenly vanished.
Rozen, who had been observing Astrid and Bahamut while commanding Irori, Yaya, and Komurasaki in battle, saw this and his eyes finally lit up.
"So that's how this magic works?"
He had seen through Astrid's and Bahamut's spell.
"I didn't expect it to be this kind of magic—no wonder even Kinu nearly failed to react."
A smile appeared on Rozen's face.
Which could only mean one thing:
"Excellent. I'll be taking that magic."
Rozen turned behind him and declared:
"Boom!"
Astrid suddenly reappeared, her face full of rage and humiliation. She raised her hand toward Rozen, releasing a thick miasma that formed into a toxic mist and surged forward like vengeful spirits.
Looking closely, Astrid's injuries were all healed.
Whether it was the hand Rozen crushed, the back slashed by Irori, or the face kicked by Yaya—it was all fully restored.
But Astrid had clearly lost her mind.
Attacking her face had filled the great witch with uncontrollable rage.
Clap!
Rozen suddenly clapped his hands.
"—The Eastern Sea God is named Amei, the Western Sea God is named Shukuryou, the Southern Sea God is Kyojo, and the Northern Sea God is Gukyo—"
This was a secret spell from the Imperial Onmyodo, a chant for repelling spirits during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demon—a curse designed to ward off spiritual calamities.
"—O Four Great Sea Gods, drive back the demons and purge this disaster—"
Rozen tossed five talismans into the air, which aligned and unfolded into a five-pointed star spell circle, glowing before him.
"Order!"
Rozen formed hand seals, his magical energy transformed into spiritual power, surging violently. The pentagram spell circle shot forward, clashing with the incoming miasma.
In the next second, the spell circle suppressed the thick miasma, pushing it back while also pressing toward Astrid.
"My miasma!"
Astrid's eyes widened in disbelief at what she was witnessing.
Meanwhile, Rozen mocked her directly.
"Looks like you weren't paying much attention to my battle with the Headmaster, huh? Don't you know that the Gift of Foul Decay has no effect on me at all, Lady Rose Golden Rose?"
With that, Rozen raised his foot and slowly walked toward Astrid.
"...!"
Astrid instinctively stepped back, then realized she was showing fear—and instantly flew into a rage.
"Bahamut!"
Astrid shouted, and the lion-shaped automaton silently appeared beside her. Its eyes flashed—and both of them vanished again.
But this time, Rozen didn't hesitate in the slightest. He turned immediately and punched behind him.
"Bang!"
The punch landed squarely on Astrid's cheek as she reappeared.
She couldn't even scream as the impact spun her in the air and sent her crashing onto the desk, smashing it to pieces.
"Roar!"
Bahamut, having appeared alongside her, finally lost patience and lunged at Rozen.
But...
"Don't be rude!"
"Stay down!"
Irori and Yaya appeared simultaneously—one unleashed frost that froze Bahamut's limbs, and the other punched it down, pinning its back and fully subduing it.
Bahamut seemed to be trying to cast magic, but Komurasaki appeared before it, covered its eyes with her tiny hands, and put it into a daze—causing it to faint on the spot.
"Damn it!"
Astrid, furious, struggled to her feet.
But at that moment, chains burst forth from all directions...