How exactly should he improve himself at the fastest speed?
Ever since Mahito was taken away by Kenjaku and Jogo, he had been constantly pondering this question.
In fact, the moment he realized he was Mahito, this question had been constantly echoing in his mind.
The first thing Mahito set his sights on was copying.
There was no other reason than the fact that there were actual examples in Jujutsu Kaisen, so he could simply copy them.
In this worldview, a total of three and a half abilities capable of copying others' Innate Techniques appeared.
They were:
Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer Okkotsu Yuta: His Innate Technique is "Copy."
As long as he can consume a part of the opponent Jujutsu Sorcerer, he can learn their Innate Technique.
This is a very powerful Innate Technique, described by Kenjaku as "unconditional technique mimicry and inexhaustible Cursed Energy."
The thousand-year Sorcerer Kenjaku: He can use a body-hopping technique.
Generally speaking, even the user wouldn't be spared when using this technique, but his Innate Technique seems to have an adaptability for it.
Coupled with the Binding Vow that requires stitches to appear on his forehead after the brain is replaced, he is able to master this technique perfectly.
He continuously changes bodies through this technique, and each time he changes, he can use the Innate Technique of that body.
Jujutsu Kaisen protagonist Itadori Yuji: This is an extremely special case.
Because Itadori's body served as a cage to imprison Ryomen Sukuna for a long time, before the finale of Jujutsu Kaisen, Itadori, who originally shouldn't have had an Innate Technique, was able to use Ryomen Sukuna's Innate Technique because Sukuna's soul was engraved onto his body.
Setting aside the former two, both Okkotsu Yuta and Kenjaku were able to copy others' Innate Techniques because of their own Innate Techniques.
It can be said that only these two have appeared in a thousand years.
This is an extremely rare case, a complete black box that cannot be analyzed.
Itadori's situation is more special.
The more official explanation is: due to Sukuna's influence, when another's soul temporarily covers Itadori's body, their technique will be engraved onto Itadori's body, allowing Itadori to use those techniques.
At first glance, it's a matter of the soul domain.
In this area, Mahito is an expert.
I know how to do this! I'll copy it!
But there is still a black box inside.
Itadori Yuji is actually a descendant of a Sorcerer.
The reason his body could imprison Ryomen Sukuna is that Itadori himself possesses the blood of Ryomen Sukuna.
In other words, Sukuna's repeated possession of Itadori's body merely awakened his own Innate Technique, which happens to be the same Innate Technique as Ryomen Sukuna's.
In other words, this is a dual adaptation of soul and body, which allowed Itadori to awaken an Innate Technique like Sukuna's.
This, in fact, is also a black box operation.
It can be copied, but only half of it.
At this point, theoretically, Mahito's path forward had reached a dead end—theoretically.
Remember there was still that "half"?
During the Shinjuku Showdown, there was a Curse User who opened up a new line of thinking for Mahito.
The Seance Technique!
Using one's own or another's body as a medium, the technique allows the body and soul of the deceased to be placed into a new vessel.
This technique can perfectly manifest everything about the deceased during their lifetime; even their physical abilities can be perfectly utilized.
Here comes the main point—
The Seance Technique can manifest everything about the deceased during their lifetime, and even physical abilities can be perfectly reproduced.
At that time, the Curse User Granny Ogami used her grandson as the vessel for the descent, allowing the body of the Tyrant to descend onto her grandson.
And at that time, her grandson indeed completely inherited Toji Fushiguro's body.
The perfection of the body was such that even his Heavenly Restriction could be perfectly inherited.
If even a Heavenly Restriction can be perfectly inherited, then an Innate Technique surely can be too!
And Mahito is a god in the domain of the soul!
With just a touch, his technique "Idle Transfiguration" can take effect.
The Seance Technique itself isn't worth Mahito's attention; what's important is that the Innate Technique engraved on the soul can be inherited and used by the body.
At this very moment, the theory has been perfected.
All that remains is to see to what extent Mahito can achieve it.
What's again very satisfying is—experimental animals can be procured from Kenjaku at any time.
So—whether he can surpass Kenjaku's control within a year, everything depends on this one move!
"Oh, oh oh oh."
Shigemo Haruta let out a comfortable sigh.
This was, of course, his delusion.
Idle Transfiguration is a domineering ability that ruthlessly modifies Shigemo Haruta's soul.
If there were no protection, his soul would be played with by Mahito like play-dough.
Therefore, almost all Sorcerers, when facing such a domineering ability, will subconsciously use Cursed Energy to protect their own souls—even if they have no idea how to protect them.
Setting aside low-level Jujutsu Sorcerers, high-level Jujutsu Sorcerers, even if they don't understand the principle, can unconsciously protect themselves through the manifestation of the modification the moment Idle Transfiguration is activated.
This was the case when Mahito fought Nanami in the original work; Nanami didn't know how to protect his soul at all, but when Idle Transfiguration touched his soul, his Cursed Energy protected it without him even knowing.
Top-tier Jujutsu Sorcerers can use their own abilities to protect their souls.
The representative of this is the ceiling of combat power—Ryomen Sukuna.
Ryomen Sukuna is the only existence who does not fear Idle Transfiguration; he can even counter-attack the moment Mahito uses Idle Transfiguration.
Even to the point of almost killing Mahito.
This guy is an outlier, recognized by the entire world as the King of Curses.
Shigemo Haruta is not Ryomen Sukuna.
He isn't even a high-level Sorcerer.
His Innate Technique is weak, and his Cursed Energy is even more pathetic.
So, when Mahito used Idle Transfiguration, he easily broke through Shigemo Haruta's subconscious Cursed Energy protection and engraved his own ability into his soul.
What exactly is Mahito trying to do?
Actually, it's quite simple—
—He wants to completely analyze Shigemo Haruta's soul!
This is a very difficult thing.
Rather, without Idle Transfiguration, Mahito would never have had such an idea.
In fact, if you think about it carefully, you can see how unreasonable this idea is.
In his previous life, there was always a saying—the development of medicine relies thirty percent on theory and seventy percent on experience.
The development of the entire medical field, in the end, mostly relies on empiricism.
To some extent, the human body is inherently a black box.
Experts who have a deeper understanding of medicine have a greater awe for the human body.
The reason is simple.
The development of science in his previous life was originally to prove the existence of God.
In fact, many famous scientists would more or less believe in God in their old age for this very reason.
And now, Mahito is going to crack this black box—relying on the power of Idle Transfiguration.
Can it be done?
Mahito didn't know, but because his own life was at stake, he had to do it.
Must do it, absolutely do it, easily do it!
Shigemo Haruta's face suddenly flushed, and he unconsciously made a whimpering sound.
Mahito knew the critical moment had arrived.
He immediately shouted to stop: "Shigemo Haruta, I'm about to raise your Cursed Energy level. Let go of your Cursed Energy protection and show your soul to me without reservation!"
Kenjaku said softly to Shigemo Haruta: "Shigemo-san, it's hard being looked down upon, isn't it?"
"But now, such an opportunity is placed before you."
"You might die, but you might also... from now on, become an existence that everyone fears."
"If it were you, what would you choose?"
These words seemed to pierce through all of Shigemo Haruta's mental defenses.
The veins on his forehead bulged, and his eyes widened like a bull's.
He seemed to fly into a rage, but it wasn't rage, but a release.
He was venting the fear of his soul being played with at will by Mahito.
He dropped all soul protection.
He roared loudly: "I... I, I want to become everyone's fear! I want to kill at will! I want everyone who stands in my way to die! All of them... DIE AAAAAAH!"
At this moment, Idle Transfiguration smoothly covered Shigemo Haruta's entire soul.
However, Mahito did not change his soul.
He carefully flowed through his entire soul, like flowing water gently brushing past.
Every drop of Mahito's Cursed Energy seeped in, not missing a single bit.
Then, after about 30 seconds, Mahito let go of Shigemo Haruta's head.
Shigemo Haruta's eyes rolled back, and he suddenly collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
He was covered in sweat, as if he had just returned from the ocean—for him, it might really be so, because his soul had just been completely soaked in Idle Transfiguration by Mahito.
His soul was completely analyzed by Mahito; now Mahito knew him better than he knew himself.
Kenjaku narrowed his eyes and asked, "How was it, Mahito? Did you get what you wanted?"
Mahito sighed with satisfaction. "The harvest... was even greater than I imagined."
"Oh?" Kenjaku was about to ask.
"Success!! I succeeded!!"
Suddenly, Shigemo Haruta let out a loud roar.
He stood up and swung his arm casually.
Immense Cursed Energy wrapped around his fist, seemingly kicking up a storm as he swung.
Carrying his own Curse in his roar, if seen through a Jujutsu Sorcerer's eyes, a storm of Cursed Energy nearly reaching the sky was forming with Shigemo Haruta at its center.
"This, this isn't just double, it's not just double!"
Shigemo Haruta was so excited he was incoherent.
He moved his body freely as if he were getting to know himself for the first time.
"I'm too strong, I'm so strong, I've already become the strongest, ahhh! I'm ten times stronger than before! Ten times!"
He raised both hands, his face contorted.
This eerie man actually possessed a hint of dominance at this moment.
He roared to the sky: "From now on, I shall be invincible in this world!"
Kenjaku had no choice but to swallow his questions and instead congratulated Shigemo Haruta: "Congratulations, Shigemo-san."
"Ah, it's Geto Suguru. Why are you still here?"
Shigemo Haruta glanced at Kenjaku and spoke nonchalantly.
Kenjaku froze for a moment.
Mahito could hardly suppress his laughter.
Just a moment ago, Shigemo Haruta was calling Kenjaku "Lord Geto Suguru," but after gaining massive Cursed Energy, he didn't even use the word "Lord."
Kenjaku shrugged. "I can't help it; I still have to send Shigemo-san back in a bit. By the way, since Shigemo-san has gained such great power, why not find someone to test it out on?"
Shigemo Haruta asked with great interest, "A test of my blade? Mm-hmm, very well, I'm interested. Where do you plan to send me?"
"How about Tokyo, where Gojo Satoru is? Or simply attack Jujutsu High?" Kenjaku asked.
Shigemo Haruta's jubilant face suddenly stiffened.
After a while, he forced a smile again:
"Lord Geto Suguru, you really know how to joke."
Well, now he's back to calling him Lord Geto Suguru.
It seemed he wasn't deluded by the sudden surge of massive Cursed Energy; he could still recognize that even if he were ten times stronger than before, he'd still be the type to be insta-killed by Gojo Satoru.
Although it's been said many times, Shigemo Haruta, this Curse User, really knows how to read the situation.
Kenjaku was still smiling, his face full of grins.
He said, "I'm not joking—Shigemo Haruta—sama?"
He elongated the last word as he spoke.
Shigemo Haruta's face went from jubilant to domineering, to arrogant, to self-aware, to utterly confused, to terrified—all in less than 5 seconds and through just a few lines of dialogue.
Now, Shigemo Haruta had a tearful face:
"Lord Geto Suguru... please, please be sure to show some mercy."