The expressions of the four founders changed drastically.
A terrifying aura had suddenly erupted from Kazuma's body, so immense that it seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth itself.
More frightening still, the pressure far surpassed that of the divine being they served.
The prison they'd believed to be virtually indestructible immediately began shaking violently.
Cracks appeared across its surface at a speed visible to the naked eye, spreading outward like a spiderweb as though the entire formation might collapse at any moment.
"This is bad! Everyone, use everything you have!"
The Tsunayashiro founder shouted in alarm.
The other three didn't hesitate.
All four poured their power desperately into their respective weapons, forcing more and more energy into the formation. Brilliant light erupted around them as the chaotic space churned with violent energy.
They were genuinely throwing everything they had into keeping the prison intact.
"Phew…"
After several tense moments, the violent shaking gradually subsided.
The horrifying cracks covering the prison slowly disappeared as well.
The four founders finally breathed a little easier.
They'd stabilized it.
Or so they thought.
Just as their nerves began to relax, another unexpected change occurred.
A dazzling burst of light erupted from Kazuma's body.
Then a majestic figure clad in violet-gold imperial robes shot out from within him.
The figure carried an enormous imperial seal in one hand.
Without the slightest hesitation, he brought it down upon the prison with overwhelming force.
CRASH!
The formation shattered instantly.
The supposedly impregnable prison that the four founders had taken such pride in broke apart into countless fragments of light, scattering throughout the chaotic void before fading away.
Everything happened too quickly.
The four founders didn't even have time to blink, much less mount any meaningful defense.
They could only stare in horror as their proud formation collapsed like a sandcastle struck by a wave.
Then came the backlash.
An immense counterforce erupted from the shattered formation and swept over them like a raging sea.
The four weapons in their hands were the first to suffer.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Thin fractures appeared across their previously flawless surfaces, spreading rapidly until the weapons looked as though they might shatter at any moment.
The backlash continued straight through their arms and violently invaded their bodies.
All four founders felt as though their internal organs had been smashed by a giant hammer.
Blood surged up their throats.
They simultaneously spat out mouthfuls of blood, crimson arcs scattering through the air as their auras collapsed.
The four figures who'd appeared so imposing moments ago now looked like dying candles flickering in a storm.
They'd gotten careless.
They hadn't dodged.
The Kuchiki founder was filled with regret.
None of them had imagined that a single strike from Hokushin Raitei could be this horrifying.
That imperial seal had nearly crushed all four of them to death on the spot.
If the Emperor hadn't been using power drawn from Kazuma himself — and if their four divine weapons hadn't been high-grade treasures capable of absorbing most of the impact — they might already have been completely annihilated.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Wild laughter immediately echoed through the chaotic space.
Kazuma had finally broken free.
"You four fucking turtles actually had the nerve to set me up?"
His face was filled with smug satisfaction as he glared at the four battered founders.
"What happened to all that confidence from earlier?"
He pointed his sword at them.
"Look at you now! You're all wilting like vegetables left out in the sun!"
"Come on! Keep talking shit!"
Kazuma could hardly describe how good he felt.
He'd genuinely believed that this time he might have fallen completely into their hands.
Instead, the situation had reversed in an instant.
Now the four bastards were the ones lying half-dead in front of him.
Kazuma's fighting spirit surged.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to rush over and cut all four of them to pieces.
Either he was going to kill these four old monsters—
or they were going to kill him.
Nothing else seemed satisfying enough.
Meanwhile, the four founders looked absolutely miserable.
They stared at one another in disbelief.
"He… wasn't bluffing?"
"There really is a god helping him?"
"And that god has been hiding inside his body this entire time?"
The realization made them feel sick.
They'd assumed Kazuma was merely trying to frighten them.
Instead, the terrifying being he'd hinted at was real — and had been much closer than any of them could possibly have imagined.
Then Hokushin Raitei's voice boomed through Kazuma's inner world.
"Brat, you've gotten your advantage. Stop showing off and leave."
"The divine being behind those four is already on its way here."
"When their weapons were damaged just now, it immediately sensed what happened."
The Emperor's tone became firm.
"This Emperor will not save you a second time."
Kazuma's expression stiffened.
So much for finishing the fight.
"You four bastards better remember this!"
He immediately raised Hokushin Raitei.
"Next time, I'm killing every last one of you!"
With a powerful swing, Kazuma tore open the chaotic void.
A spatial passage appeared before him.
He didn't hesitate for even half a second.
His body flashed forward and disappeared into the opening, but not before leaving one final threat behind to vent his frustration.
Then the fissure closed.
"Hmph."
Almost the exact moment Kazuma escaped, the chaotic space suddenly began trembling.
A terrifying presence descended.
"What a collection of useless trash."
The voice was cold and utterly indifferent.
A horrifying shadowy figure manifested within the chaos.
Yet it made no attempt to pursue Kazuma.
Instead, its icy gaze merely swept across the four founders sprawled on the ground, battered and barely able to remain conscious.
There was no concern in those eyes.
Only contempt.
The four founders immediately went pale.
"Our failure is unforgivable!"
"Please punish us, Great One!"
They ignored their grievous injuries and dropped to their knees as quickly as their broken bodies allowed.
Then all four lowered themselves before the towering divine shadow, pressing themselves against the ground at its feet.
They looked pitifully small.
Terrified.
Utterly submissive.
Again and again, they slammed their foreheads into the ground.
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
Every bow was made with all the strength they could muster, as though they'd rather crack their own skulls open than show the slightest lack of sincerity.
Fear and reverence filled their hearts.
None of them dared slow down.
They were genuinely afraid that even the slightest hesitation might displease the supreme existence standing before them.