After Mahito shattered Hayashi's domain, Hayashi followed up with a Azure-Black Flash, enhanced with Power Multiplier, and struck down the already weakened Shikami.
Shikami had thought she was saved, but instead, she was killed on the spot.
Shikami's death in the blink of an eye caught Mahito off guard. With Shikami dead, Mahito knew he had to flee, or he too would meet the same fate.
Previously, Mahito had caught Hayashi off guard in the mirror world. This time, Hayashi intended to show his true strength.
Covering his body in a cursed energy armor, Hayashi used Time Flash to instantly appear in front of Mahito. Mahito hadn't expected Hayashi to be this fast. Even though Mahito had already fled quite a distance, Hayashi caught up to him in a split second.
Realizing the danger, Mahito had no choice but to attempt to eliminate Hayashi. He placed his hands on Hayashi's cursed energy armor and activated Idle Transfiguration.
Hayashi had anticipated this. He wanted to test whether Mahito's Idle Transfiguration would work against him while he was using cursed energy armor.
A surge of dark purple cursed energy rushed toward Hayashi's armor, trying to penetrate it and reach Hayashi's body.
However, the cursed energy armor successfully resisted Mahito's Idle Transfiguration. Although it could block most of the effect, Hayashi still experienced some minor disturbances from the technique.
Mahito's face showed clear shock. Why couldn't his prized Idle Transfiguration reshape Hayashi's body and soul? Most of his cursed energy was being neutralized by the outer layer of the armor.
Realizing his attack had failed, Mahito tried to retreat, but it was too late. Hayashi, moving with incredible speed, landed a punch directly on Mahito's face.
This punch had a Power Multiplier ×4.
Mahito's teeth shattered, and blood spurted from his mouth as Hayashi's fist sent him flying.
Even in this moment of agony, Mahito's twisted sense of enjoyment surfaced. Despite the pain, Mahito found a strange pleasure in being hurt, his mind sinking into a chaotic state.
After being knocked back by Hayashi, Mahito morphed into a writhing mass and slid into the nearby sewer to escape.
Hayashi, now confident that his cursed energy armor could block Mahito's Idle Transfiguration, stopped pursuing him. His objective was achieved: Mahito couldn't harm him in his current state.
However, Hayashi knew Mahito had tremendous potential for growth. The next time they met, Hayashi would need to be even more cautious. If his cursed energy armor wasn't enough to protect him, he might have to use his Crimson Armor.
Regardless of how much Mahito evolved, Hayashi would be ready to crush him.
With that in mind, Hayashi adjusted time in the mirror world and continued hunting for high-value targets. His primary focus was still at the Heisei International Tower, where Shingo's domain and techniques could further strengthen his cursed energy armor.
Although the armor had already evolved into the Crimson Armor, its growth had slowed significantly. Still, it could continue to improve, as it hadn't yet reached its upper limit or ultimate version.
Hayashi had many tasks to accomplish in the mirror world, but his current priority was accumulating points to unlock "Cobalt Black Flash."
...
Meanwhile, in the real world:
From the moment Mahito encountered Hayashi, he had decided that he must grow stronger. Only by evolving could he confront sorcerers like Hayashi.
So, in Dagon's Domain, Mahito trained by battling newly recruited special-grade cursed spirits. Essentially, he was honing his skills.
Through constant sparring, Mahito sought to grasp even stronger techniques, striving for the next stage of evolution, both in body and soul.
Watching Mahito train so diligently, Suguru Geto, sitting nearby, had a sinister smile on his face.
Lately, many unregistered special-grade cursed spirits had emerged from their long-hidden lairs, carefully avoiding Gojo Satoru and related authorities, and gathering in secret.
Though their numbers were not vast, each one was extraordinary. Not every special-grade could master domain expansion, as only a few among them were capable of reaching that level of strength.
Gojo Satoru had been busy with various tasks lately, including preparations for the exchange event. However, he was still keenly aware of the subtle shifts happening in the world. It was as if a great storm was brewing on the horizon.
After leaving the mirror world, Hayashi sought out Itsushima and asked him to purchase some jujutsu talismans, specifically ones with a warning function.
Hayashi placed the talismans around Junpei's home. If any cursed energy or malicious intent was directed toward Junpei or his mother, Hayashi would know immediately and rush to the scene.
However, Hayashi doubted the talismans purchased by Itsushima would be sufficient. Eventually, he would need to return to school and consult with Gojo Satoru about obtaining better protection.
Hayashi was confident that Mahito had likely given up on attacking Junpei and his mother, largely due to his own interference.
Still, Hayashi wouldn't let his guard down. He knew Mahito too well. Someone like him wouldn't be swayed by reason or games of deception. Mahito's mind was, in many ways, like that of an infant—he did whatever he pleased.
There was no way Mahito would grant Junpei power and then simply leave him to be swayed by Yuji Itadori. That was out of the question.
To Mahito, anything he couldn't have must be destroyed, and anything that didn't align with his goals had to be eliminated.
Hayashi, having spent considerable time in this world, couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow.
It was a true and profound sadness.
Ordinary humans were like infants facing a champion bodybuilder when confronted by cursed spirits—utterly incomparable.
For a curse to kill an ordinary person was child's play. Without intervention from jujutsu sorcerers or related agencies, a curse could easily take the life of anyone it wanted to.
Hayashi had considered moving Junpei's mother to a safer location, but would that really help?
A special-grade curse would find her no matter where she went.
The answer was clear: no matter where they hid, if a special-grade curse wanted to find them, it would. Even hiding within a jujutsu high or an official agency would be futile.
If they wanted to get you, they would.
This left Hayashi with a deep sense of powerlessness. He wanted to protect Junpei and his mother, but he couldn't be there all the time. What if Mahito suddenly decided to send someone to kill them out of spite? Would Hayashi always be able to stop it?
Perhaps training Junpei to become a stronger jujutsu sorcerer, capable of protecting himself, was the answer.
Hayashi had considered this, but he couldn't fully trust Junpei just yet. After all, everything had changed. Originally, Junpei's mother would have died, and Yuji Itadori would have saved Junpei.
Now, with Hayashi's intervention, Junpei's mother was safe, and Junpei himself hadn't died. But Junpei lacked the experience of having survived a life-or-death ordeal. Without that, he couldn't fully grasp the value of life.
Furthermore, Junpei hadn't yet seen Mahito's true, twisted nature. He didn't know Mahito's real intentions.
Hayashi planned to sit down with Junpei and explain everything—how Mahito and his allies were pure evil. He would tell Junpei how Mahito had planned to harm his mother. Afterward, Yuji Itadori could help guide Junpei, and perhaps things would improve.