After leaving Mt. Kokkotsu, Hayashi didn't immediately return to the real world. There were still more than two days left in the mirror world, and he couldn't afford to waste that time.
He adjusted the time back to Junpei's house, took the two Sukuna fingers from the table, and then reset the time to the location where Mahito and Shikami were last seen.
What surprised Hayashi was that standing beside Nanami Kento wasn't himself, but a vague shadow. However, Hayashi was certain that the shadow should be him.
Could it be that one can't see oneself in the mirror world?
Hayashi didn't dwell on it. His current goal was to eliminate Shikami. Since he hadn't managed to finish her off in reality, this was a good opportunity to test her strength.
At this moment, Mahito, Shikami, and Nanami Kento were in a standoff, with the shadow seemingly acting like air, almost as if it wasn't there. It appeared as though Nanami was facing Shikami and Mahito alone.
Hayashi descended, landing between the two sides, and turned to face Mahito and Shikami.
"Who are you?" Mahito and Shikami immediately noticed the sudden appearance of this individual, while Nanami's gaze also shifted toward Hayashi.
None of them recognized him—he was just an unfamiliar youth.
In the mirror world, Hayashi had no need for caution. He clasped his hands together and said, "Domain Expansion!"
Shikami was shocked, and almost immediately, she stepped forward and clasped her hands together as well. "Domain Expansion!"
"Domain—Amaterasu Tsukikage!"
"Domain—Deer's Freedom!"
Nanami quickly retreated as soon as Hayashi made his move, and Mahito did the same.
In an instant, both domains clashed, creating a boundary where the two overlapped.
The domains collided, each trying to override the other.
Shikami was stunned. This unknown boy could not only use a domain but could also contend with her? Though she wasn't as strong as Jogo or Hanami, she wasn't someone just anyone could stand against.
If her domain was inferior to that of this boy, it would mean she had truly underestimated her opponent.
Shikami was shocked, but Hayashi was even more surprised. This was the first time his domain couldn't fully override his opponent's. The only exception had been his battle against Gojo Satoru in the mirror world.
But now he was facing a special-grade curse spirit, who not only used a domain but could also match his Sun and Moon domain. Her strength was formidable.
Originally, Hayashi didn't think much of Shikami, but now he had to take her seriously. This brief clash revealed to him that his domain was stronger than an average special-grade curse, but on par with a mid-level special-grade.
Hayashi was certain that Shikami wasn't as strong as Jogo, not by a long shot. But now, with their domains evenly matched, it showed that his domain was not as powerful as Jogo's.
It seemed that Mahito's forces were growing not only in numbers but also in strength. Cursed spirits that could use domains were far more dangerous than those that couldn't.
Indeed, a standard domain expansion was only effective against ordinary special-grades. But against someone like Shikami, it could only result in a stalemate.
Hayashi knew that if he had the "deluxe" version of his Amaterasu Tsukikage domain, he could easily crush Shikami's domain. But gathering enough points to unlock the deluxe Divine Eclipse would take time.
Nanami watched from afar, astonished by the sight before him. Two domains clashing, with neither able to overpower the other. The visual impact was overwhelming.
But the final outcome would depend on each fighter's cursed energy reserves. If Shikami's cursed energy ran out before Hayashi's, she would lose. If the reverse happened, Hayashi would be defeated.
Hayashi had never worried about cursed energy. His energy reserves were off the charts. Normal people's cursed energy fell within a reasonable range.
It was like a thermometer: normal people's temperatures ranged from 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. Those with less energy, but still within normal limits, would be around 35 degrees, while the average sorcerer would fall between 36 and 37 degrees.
Those with higher-than-normal energy, in the 37 to 39 degree range, were already considered very strong.
Hayashi's cursed energy, however, was beyond 42 degrees—off the charts. This level of energy was almost unheard of in the world of jujutsu sorcery.
Of course, the cursed energy of Yuta Okkotsu and Gojo Satoru was on another level entirely, in a class of its own.
Mahito, watching from the sidelines, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the scene. His eyes darted back and forth, as if trying to decipher the intricacies of both domains.
As time passed, Shikami's domain began to recede. Or rather, her cursed energy was failing to sustain the battle against Hayashi's domain.
Hayashi smirked and intensified his output of cursed energy. Finally, Shikami could no longer hold out, and Hayashi's domain enveloped her.
Hayashi only enclosed Shikami within his domain. Mahito and Nanami were left outside. At this moment, Shikami had expended much of her energy, and now, trapped in Hayashi's strange domain, her eyes shifted rapidly, revealing her unease.
"Who the hell are you? Starting a domain expansion out of nowhere! Our domains are evenly matched, but how is your cursed energy so much higher than mine? This is impossible!" Shikami was aware that she wouldn't die, not with Mahito outside the domain. Though there was still a grade-one jujutsu sorcerer to contend with, if Mahito wanted to save her, that sorcerer wouldn't be able to stop him.
All she had to do was hold out until Mahito broke through the domain.
Outside, Mahito was, of course, trying to save Shikami, but as soon as he moved, Nanami blocked him. "Your opponent is me."
The two immediately began fighting.
Inside the domain, Hayashi launched a direct attack on Shikami. The powerful forces of the sun and moon intertwined, aiming to crush her.
But Shikami's hair instantly surged out, wrapping around her like a cocoon, forming an impenetrable defense.
Though the attack hit her, it didn't kill her outright. Instead, she was using her hardened hair to withstand the assault.
Unconvinced, Hayashi drew Blacksteel and slashed down with all his might, his cursed energy slamming into Shikami's defenses.
The result was unsatisfactory—it didn't break through.
"Power Multiplier."
[Power Multiplier Randomly Activates]
[Power Multiplier ×7]
Bang!
The immense force collided with Shikami's hair defense, finally breaking through. Shikami coughed up blood, her aura significantly weakening.
Just then, Mahito shattered Hayashi's domain, and Shikami returned to reality.
At first, Mahito was puzzled. He had been battling Nanami while attacking the edge of Hayashi's domain, but no matter how much he struck, it wouldn't break.
It was only later that he realized he had been attacking the "moon" side of the domain, which was defensive in nature. There was no way to break through from the outside.
When Mahito switched to attacking the "sun" side, he was able to shatter the domain.
This was Hayashi's current limitation: the sun and moon couldn't match the full power of the Divine Eclipse. If he had the complete version, no matter where Mahito had attacked, the domain would have been impenetrable. Once someone was trapped inside, it would have been impossible to escape.