Jogo had indeed grown after the battle at the abandoned multi-story parking lot.
He had doubted Gojo Satoru's strength more than once; before this, he would have rudely and sarcastically mocked Gojo Satoru, feeling no fear toward the title of Special Grade Sorcerer.
Now he still had no fear, but he had learned to gather intelligence.
For example—
"Fight me, Kinji Hakari."
Jogo suddenly issued a challenge.
The Q&A was over, and Kenjaku was preparing to arrange accommodations for Kinji Hakari and Kirara Hoshi.
This was a secret base known only to him.
To prevent accidents, everyone had to travel through his portal.
Although only talents trained as professional spies could determine the location through changes in sunlight and temperature, there were no such talents here, so it was very safe.
The reason Kinji Hakari followed them was for the "New Human."
After being defeated by the Mahito, he suddenly became very interested in becoming a New Human.
The Mahito promised he would let Kinji Hakari become a "New Human," but not now.
The battle with Kinji Hakari had heavily depleted the Mahito's Cursed Energy, and he needed to rest for a while.
During this time, Kinji Hakari decided to follow the Mahito, and the Mahito did not object.
"Why do you suddenly want to fight me?" Kinji Hakari asked.
He cracked his neck and took off his outer coat.
Just by looking at this action, it was clear Kinji Hakari had no intention of avoiding the fight.
Uraume revealed an interested smile, stopping in his tracks instead of arranging the accommodations, and looked toward Jogo and Kinji Hakari.
"Are you not going to stop him?" Hanami asked the Mahito.
The Mahito thought for a moment but couldn't quite figure out what the current Jogo was thinking.
The personality of the Cursed Spirit Jogo was actually akin to a bully; this was very obvious in the original work.
Toward Sorcerers weaker than himself, he always carried arrogance and contempt; toward Sorcerers stronger than himself, he was overly cautious and didn't want to take any risks.
But at the same time, he was willing to sacrifice himself for his ideals, even if it meant death.
For his ideals, he wouldn't hesitate to face an opponent far beyond him, but unless necessary, he wouldn't waste his life in vain or take action against an opponent stronger than himself.
But now, he chose to attack Kinji Hakari without any warning, which went against his usual personality.
"Kinji Hakari possesses 'Infinite Cursed Energy.' Even I only defeated him by relying on elemental compatibility."
"I thought you were already very clear about this," the Mahito said.
"You are not his match, Jogo. What are you thinking?"
"I am very clear on that," Jogo said in a deep voice.
"Regarding something like Infinite Cursed Energy, no one should know better than us Cursed Spirits how terrifying it is."
"Because we Cursed Spirits are creatures of Cursed Energy, we have a deep understanding of this."
"What, you didn't want to teach me a lesson, so you wanted to fight me?" Kinji Hakari asked.
He had just taken off his shirt and now wore a bored expression.
"Is it just a simple sparring match?"
"To be honest, I'm also curious about your strength."
"I'd like to see the power that could push Kirara to that extent, but it shouldn't be now, right?"
Indeed, it shouldn't.
A new employee suddenly getting into a conflict with an old employee was not good by any measure.
"My fight with you is not directed at you," Jogo said, startling everyone.
"What?" Kinji Hakari was stunned.
"Who I am targeting... is Gojo Satoru," Jogo said.
This caught the Mahito off guard.
Before this, although Jogo had doubts about Gojo Satoru's strength, he was always suppressed by the Mahito.
The Mahito was certain that Jogo had a rough estimate of Gojo Satoru's power; although he would still have doubts, he wouldn't actually go and seek death.
Under the Mahito's influence, Jogo shouldn't have taken action against Gojo Satoru anymore, but looking at his current state, he seemed determined to do so.
The Mahito couldn't help but ask, "Jogo, are you sober right now?"
Kirara Hoshi simply asserted, "You've completely lost your mind."
"I am very sober," Jogo said calmly.
"I know I am not Gojo Satoru's match."
"From the Q&A between you and that human just now, I am also certain that if I am unprepared—no, even if I am prepared, as long as Gojo Satoru is serious, I wouldn't even be able to withstand a single move."
"Even escaping would be a luxury."
"Then why...?" the Mahito asked.
Jogo responded seriously, "That's why I must fight him. Even if I die because of it."
This logic was a bit muddled; the Mahito admitted he was confused by Jogo's reasoning.
"Mahito, since you were born, when have you ever truly seen Gojo Satoru?" Jogo suddenly asked.
"I have never seen him," the Mahito frowned.
"Then why are you so afraid of Gojo Satoru?" Jogo continued to ask.
The Mahito was getting a bit impatient.
"Because Gojo Satoru really is that strong."
"He is the Strongest in the Modern Era."
"Even if all the Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits in the world were added together, they wouldn't equal one of his fingers."
"If he wanted to, he could kill all humans on the planet and laugh wildly alone atop a sea of corpses."
"That is exactly why I must fight him," Jogo said.
The Mahito was about to scold him, but unexpectedly, Jogo shouted first.
He roared, "Mahito!"
"You are our King of Curses, the undisputed natural-born king since the birth of Cursed Spirits."
"You are destined to be the leader of Cursed Spirits and lead us out of the ignorant wilderness."
"You are destined to ascend to godhood and look down upon the world from a divine throne until the Universe perishes—this is not just my expectation of you, but the path you must take, without a doubt!"
These words made the Mahito blush a little.
But Jogo wasn't finished.
His single eye widened suddenly, staring at the Mahito as if it were a demon-reflecting mirror.
He said in a low voice, "You can certainly avoid the battle."
"You haven't reached your limit yet."
"Since Gojo Satoru is as powerful as the rumors say, avoiding the battle is not an act of cowardice, and no one will mock your actions in your future bible—but all of this must have a prerequisite: that you have truly realized Gojo Satoru's strength."
Although he was concerned about the "bible" Jogo mentioned, the Mahito was more concerned about Jogo's other meaning.
He was deep in thought.
Jogo stared at the Mahito and slowed down his speech.
"Everyone is touting Gojo Satoru's strength."
"Every Sorcerer you meet praises Gojo Satoru boundlessly."
"Even the newly joined 'Infinite Cursed Energy' confidently emphasizes Gojo Satoru's invincibility."
"This apparent truth has made you realize that Gojo Satoru is by no means an opponent for you at this stage, and this has created fear—Mahito, can you perceive the fear in your heart?"
Yes, the Mahito thought to himself.
Because Gojo Satoru was just that strong.
So strong that anyone who intended to oppose him would inevitably feel fear.
Let alone the Mahito himself—even the calculating Kenjaku felt boundless fear toward Gojo Satoru, didn't he?
In the entire Jujutsu Kaisen, only the complete Ryomen Sukuna dared to openly challenge Gojo Satoru.
Before Ryomen Sukuna was complete, even with nineteen fingers, didn't he also not dare to fight Gojo Satoru?
It could be said that if Ryomen Sukuna hadn't rationally utilized Mahoraga's adaptability and used the Cursed Technique Target Expansion to perform the Dismantle at the last moment, even a complete Ryomen Sukuna might not have won against Gojo Satoru.
In fact, in the original ending, Ryomen Sukuna without Mahoraga did indeed lose to Okkotsu Yuta, who could only exert a limited portion of Gojo Satoru's strength.
This final battle could be considered a way to save some face for Gojo Satoru.
How could such a Sorcerer not cause fear in the Mahito's heart?
How could he not be afraid?
But now Jogo roared loudly, "Stop joking with me! How can you fear rumors from the mouths of others?!"
"You are the King of Curses who is destined to ascend to godhood."
"You can certainly avoid the battle, but the prerequisite is that it must be judged by your own eyes!"
"You must go and actually understand, actually make contact, actually compare, and make the judgment yourself!"
"If you listen to rumors everywhere and hesitate to move forward, your capacity ends here!"
"Go and make actual contact!" Jogo roared.
The Mahito was stunned.
He really wanted to say that actual contact would mean death, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Jogo, of course, also knew that actual contact would mean death, so he chose to use his own life to test the rumors.
In the world of Cursed Energy, fear in the heart truly affects one's strength.
Therefore, almost every Sorcerer is full of self-confidence; even if they feel fear in their hearts, they will press forward indomitably.
Because if they lose that indomitable confidence, their lifelong achievements will end there.
After Jogo died, in the afterlife, Ryomen Sukuna once said this to Jogo:
"You should have burned everything you could reach to a crisp."
"Forget about plans or schemes; burn wherever you go."
"Cast aside the future and origins until you encounter Gojo Satoru."
These words could also be said to the Mahito.
The Mahito could certainly have fear and choose to avoid battle, but it must never be due to the influence others exert on him.
It must never be just rumors that make him hesitate.
He must see it with his own eyes!
Even if it cost his life, he would break through the Mahito's confusion; Jogo had already made up his mind.
Jogo shifted his gaze to Kinji Hakari.
By now, Kinji Hakari had taken off his outer coat and handed it to Kirara Hoshi, listening blankly to Jogo's words.
Jogo's words shifted Kinji Hakari's prejudice against this group of Cursed Spirits.
It was impossible for a Curse to be selfless, but Jogo's current actions had shattered Kinji Hakari's impression of Curses—Jogo's behavior exceeded the level of a Curse.
The current Jogo could no longer be called a simple Cursed Spirit.
If the Mahito's desire for godhood barely allowed Kinji Hakari to maintain his impression of him as a Curse—after all, while a Curse desiring to ascend to godhood was a massive ambition, it could barely be called a desire of the 'shell'—then Jogo's hope to use his own life to break through the Mahito's cognitive fog completely surpassed the temperament of a Cursed Spirit.
Human.
This Cursed Spirit, this intelligent Special Grade Cursed Spirit named Jogo, made the human Kinji Hakari reach a sudden realization.