That was quite a heavy strike.
When that strike came slashing down and was caught by Rozen with his hand coated in Kongouriki, the surrounding air exploded with a roar, causing the ground beneath Rozen to shatter and cave in.
"Crackle...!"
The sharp blade rubbed violently between Rozen's palms, sending sparks flying.
"Ah!"
Kyoko let out a small cry of surprise due to the sudden attack.
"Tsk!"
Kagami Reiji clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Oh?"
Rozen's brow also twitched slightly as he lifted his gaze to look ahead.
Standing there was a tall, abnormally lanky young man dressed in a simple shirt and trousers. In his hands, he wielded a long Japanese katana, slashing down at Rozen.
"Huh?" The young man widened his eyes in astonishment as he saw Rozen block his slash barehanded. Then, in a voice filled with disbelief, he muttered, "You actually stopped Higekiri with your hand?"
— Higekiri.
That name was not unfamiliar to Rozen—or, rather, to most people.
It was a treasured blade forged in the Heian period, once belonging to the Genji clan, a noble family granted their surname by the ancient imperial court.
This legendary weapon had a long history. During the Heian period, it was one of the twin swords wielded by Minamoto no Mitsunaka, the son of the renowned military commander Minamoto no Tsunemoto, who used it to protect the land. The two swords were paired together, the other being Knee-Cutter (Hizamaru).
It was said that Minamoto no Mitsunaka specialized in using one of these blades to strike at an enemy's face while the other targeted their knees, hence their respective names: Higekiri (Beard Cutter) and Hizamaru (Knee Cutter).
Later, these swords were passed down to Mitsunaka's son, Minamoto no Yorimitsu.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu was a legendary demon slayer, known for his exploits alongside his Shitennou (Four Heavenly Kings). He was famous for leading his retainers in exterminating yokai and serving as commander of the imperial guards. Numerous tales about him and his men subduing demons have been passed down through history.
According to Japanese folklore, Shuten-doji, the infamous leader of the oni race during the Heian period, was beheaded by Minamoto no Yorimitsu himself.
Afterward, Minamoto no Yorimitsu entrusted Higekiri to one of his Shitennou, Watanabe no Tsuna. It was with this very blade that Watanabe no Tsuna severed the arm of Ibaraki-doji, Shuten-doji's most powerful and loyal subordinate, at Gojo Bridge—an act that granted Higekiri its infamous alias: Ogre-Cutter.
Yes.
This very sword had once severed Ibaraki-doji's arm, turning him into a one-armed demon.
Over the span of a thousand years, that one-armed demon later became the Ogre King. During the Pacific War, he served as one of Tsuchimikado Yakou's two great guardians—Kakugyouki.
In other words, this sword was the very culprit responsible for cutting off one of Kakugyouki's hands. Even after it was passed down to Kiso Yoshinaka and used in the battle at Togakushi Mountain, it eventually fell into the hands of Minamoto no Yoritomo, becoming a blade reserved for Japan's rulers.
And the young man before Rozen—Shaver—his true identity was...
"A shikigami born from Higekiri as its vessel?"
Using his Wise Eye, Rozen saw through the truth and perceived the ancient, overwhelming spiritual energy emanating from the blade in his grasp.
In other words, the shikigami standing before him was Higekiri itself—a blade that had been slaying demons for over a thousand years. If one were to trace its origins, it would undoubtedly be a weapon on the same level as Ashiya Douman and Kakugyouki.
Of course, due to the limitations of its master, this shikigami, despite its incredible sharpness, seemed to lack the raw power to match Ashiya Douman. It likely wasn't even as strong as Kakugyouki, who had once been cut by it.
And as for its master, that was already obvious.
"Hiding such a powerful shikigami and even having him remain invisible on standby, waiting for an opening to land a fatal strike—this petty little tactic doesn't seem like your usual style, Kagami Reiji."
Rozen ignored the stunned Shaver and turned to Kagami Reiji, his smile brimming with amusement.
"Too bad. The shikigami is impressive, but the master... is lacking."
As soon as he finished speaking—
"Boom!"
A heavy impact rang out as Rozen delivered a vicious kick to Shaver's torso.
"Guh...!"
With Rigid Body enhancing his strength by thousands of times, Rozen's kick landed with the force of a hammer, sending Ketsubaki flying. His body crashed into a nearby building, shattering its walls.
Dust and debris exploded outward, and fragments of concrete and glass scattered like bullets.
"That should settle it, right?"
Rozen clapped his hands nonchalantly, then turned back to Kagami Reiji, his face full of playful mockery.
"...!"
Kagami Reiji visibly trembled, his expression darkening.
Though he looked unsteady on his feet, he still gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand, completely ignoring the fresh blood seeping from his wounds.
If the master was still standing, then the fate of his shikigami was obvious.
"Boom!"
From within the collapsed building, an explosion rang out, and the buried rubble was blasted away.
Emerging from the wreckage, Shaver was covered in dust, his clothes tattered—but his expression was completely different.
At this moment, the previously timid-looking shikigami now displayed an expression of pure, unrestrained delight.
"Amazing! Incredible, Reiji!"
Ketsubaki swung his blade excitedly, pointing at Rozen as he cried out to Kagami Reiji in elation.
"This guy actually caught Higekiri with his bare hands! He's nothing like the weaklings I've cut before!"
His tone was filled with the excitement of a child who had found a new toy.
But this "child" was not some harmless being.
He was a monster.
Kyoko could clearly see the battle fervor, bloodlust, and unhinged madness surging in Ketsubaki's eyes. The sheer intensity of it sent chills down her spine.
And then she remembered.
"I recall that the Ogre Eater had a shikigami, but it was deemed far too dangerous and was sealed away in the Onmyo Agency long ago!"
That was because Kagami Reiji's shikigami was even more battle-crazed than its master. Regardless of whether someone was friend or foe, if they were deemed a worthy opponent, Shaver would charge forward without hesitation, determined to cut them down.
Especially when facing demons—this shikigami, born from a demon-slaying blade, would enter a berserker-like frenzy, thinking only of slaying its target.
Thus, Kagami Reiji had long been forbidden from using him. Shaver had been sealed away for a very long time—until now.
"He's mine! Let me cut him down, Reiji!"
Like a child begging for a toy, Shaver's voice was innocent and eager, yet the murderous aura emanating from him made Kyoko freeze in place.
As for Rozen...
"That's what he says, Kagami Reiji."
Rozen glanced at the ecstatic Ketsubaki, then casually spread his arms, his expression relaxed and playful.
"Why not let him try? I'll just stand here and let him cut me—how about it?"
His lighthearted laughter made Kagami Reiji's face twitch.
"How dare you say that? I'll cut you down!"
Shaver, seemingly insulted, grew enraged.
But just as he prepared to charge—
"Stand down, Shaver."
Kagami Reiji's cold voice halted him.
"Reiji?"
Ketsubaki widened his eyes in disbelief.
He clearly didn't want to obey that order.
This was why he was so dangerous—even his master struggled to control him.
But Kagami Reiji had his own way of handling him.
"Stand down!" Kagami Reiji glared at Ketsubaki and commanded, "The real troublemakers have arrived!"
As his words fell, the sound of approaching vehicle engines echoed in the air.
The Onmyo Agency's main forces had finally arrived.