Sizzle—!!!
The moment the two domains expanded, they locked onto each other like two colossal beasts wrestling for dominance.
Mahito's domain was a sealed cage constructed from countless pale arms, overflowing with a cold, viscous malice.
Hayashi En's domain, on the other hand, was a courtroom paved with gold coins, radiating a solemn, heavy, and overbearing aura of order.
Their barrier walls ground against each other, squeezing and refusing to yield an inch.
Since both sides had expanded their domains simultaneously and their barrier strengths were evenly matched, the sure-hit techniques—those capable of directly rewriting a soul or forcing weaknesses—completely canceled each other out at that moment.
This meant that—
"Ha... haha! It's useless!"
Inside the barrier, Mahito stood on a twisted floor of coins and arms, his grin stretching all the way to his ears.
Although the sure-hit effect was neutralized, Idle Transfiguration could still be used on his own body.
Shing!
Two massive fleshy wings sprouted from Mahito's back instantly, and his arms transformed into razor-sharp scythes. Utilizing his superior agility as a cursed spirit, he turned into a black whirlwind and charged at Hayashi En.
"What a disgusting smile."
Standing his ground, Hayashi En's Golden Law cane was instantly coated in a layer of black and red cursed energy.
"Ratio Technique!"
Clang!!
The cane and bone scythe collided violently.
Sparks flew in every direction.
A terrifying shockwave vibrated through the domain.
'So hard!'
Mahito was internally startled. Hayashi En's strength was absurd; even with his bones reinforced, Mahito's arms went numb upon impact.
But Hayashi En wasn't having an easy time either.
Mahito's attack angles were incredibly tricky, and his body could deform at will to dissipate force.
The cane clearly hit his shoulder, but the shoulder liquefied instantly, causing the strike to slide off. Immediately after, a spike lunged out from his abdomen in a counter-attack.
Pfft.
The spike tore through Hayashi En's trench coat, leaving a faint bloodstain on his Special Grade physique.
"How troublesome."
Hayashi En's brow furrowed slightly.
Without the sure-hit effect, Mahito's shapeshifting was a nightmare in close-quarters combat.
"Soul Multiplicity: Body Repel!"
Mahito spat out several miniature human souls, which instantly transformed into twisted transfigured humans to obstruct Hayashi En's vision.
Meanwhile, his main body coiled forward like a snake, seeking an opening in Hayashi En's defenses.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, you disgusting creature."
Hayashi En's gaze turned cold.
"Max Elephant, Nue!"
Hayashi En possessed a second innate technique: the Ten Shadows Technique!
Boom!
Max Elephant slammed down from above Mahito. Mahito contorted his body, barely managing to dodge.
A second later, Max Elephant blasted a high-pressure stream of water toward the off-balance Mahito!
Simultaneously, Nue released purple electricity from the sky!
The current surged through the high-pressure water, striking Mahito directly.
Under the wide-area electrified water attack, even Mahito couldn't escape and was paralyzed by the lightning!
Now!
Hayashi En seized that split second of paralysis.
His cane erupted with brilliant light. Combined with the explosive physical power of a six-finger level vessel, he accurately pinpointed the core of Mahito's soul.
"Seven-to-three ratio point... Critical Hit!"
Boom!!!
The strike landed squarely on Mahito's chest.
"Pwah—!!"
Mahito sprayed a large amount of purple blood, flying backward like a broken kite and crashing heavily into the mountain of gold coins behind him.
Because Hayashi En's attacks carried soul-vibrating properties, even without a sure-hit effect, this solid physical and spiritual double-blow caused Mahito agonizing pain.
"Cough, cough..."
Mahito crawled out of the coin pile in a pathetic state. A large crater was sunken into his chest, and his healing speed had visibly slowed.
"It hurts..."
Mahito's eyes became incredibly venomous.
Though the situation was a stalemate, he could feel that over time, Hayashi En's brute physical strength and soul-targeted strikes were gradually building an advantage.
Hayashi En wasn't faring perfectly either; maintaining a domain while fighting at high intensity was rapidly draining his cursed energy.
"It's almost time to end this."
Hayashi En took a deep breath, preparing to launch one final assault to completely crush Mahito's defenses.
Just then.
Crack—
Both of them froze simultaneously.
A surge of cursed energy from the outside made both of them feel a chill in their hearts.
A crack suddenly appeared in the two intertwined barrier walls above them.
While breaking a domain from the inside was difficult, they were often very fragile from the outside.
Rumble!!
A massive Special Grade cursed spirit, acting like a battering ram under precise control, struck the exact point where the two domains repelled each other—their most unstable node.
The barriers, already grinding against each other, instantly lost their balance.
Crash—
Like a mirror shattering.
The golden and black radiance vanished at once.
The ruins of the real world were revealed once more.
Both Hayashi En and Mahito groaned from the backlash of the shattered domains, each stumbling back a few steps.
A figure wearing a five-colored monk's robe intervened between them like a ghost.
"That was a magnificent performance."
Kenjaku stood there with a smile, hands tucked into his sleeves, perfectly blocking Hayashi En's path to pursue Mahito.
"A clash of domains between equals... truly a rare sight."
He glanced at the battered, panting Mahito, then at Hayashi En, who, despite his slightly disheveled clothes, still maintained a domineering aura.
"However, Mr. Hayashi En."
There was a hint of deeper meaning in Kenjaku's eyes.
"If you continue this fight, you would likely achieve a pyrrhic victory. But this child's final deathbed struggle would force you to pay a significant price."
"Is it worth it for the sake of one Mechamaru?"
This was a blunt analysis of interests.
Hayashi En's grip on his cane tightened, then slowly relaxed.
He knew Kenjaku was right.
With his domain shattered, he temporarily couldn't use his cursed techniques. If Kenjaku intervened now, it would be two against one.
"Whew..."
Hayashi En adjusted his slightly crooked glasses and calmed his surging blood. A professional smile returned to his face.
"True."
"Since Mr. Kenjaku has come in person to 'pick up the kid,' I have to show some respect."
"After all..." Hayashi En glanced at Muta Kokichi, who was still alive in the cockpit behind him, "I have already achieved my goal."
"A wise choice."
Kenjaku grabbed the still-defiant Mahito.
Hayashi En suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, one more thing. I hope you will take my advice."
"On October 31st, I would like Mahito to start his actions five minutes earlier. It will be a great help to your plan."
"As for the reason, just consider it my intuition."
"As you know, my intuition is always quite accurate."
Kenjaku stared at Hayashi En.
He had felt for a long time that Hayashi En seemed to possess the ability to foresee the future.
He always managed to seize the greatest benefits at exactly the right moment.
This feeling became even stronger at this moment.
"You know our plan?"
Hayashi En shrugged and remained silent.
Kenjaku chuckled softly.
"Hehe, I'll consider it."
Regardless of Hayashi En's motives, for the time being, they were technically on the same side.
Tied by a Binding Vow.
Having Mahito move five minutes earlier.
Regardless, it wouldn't have any major impact on the plan.
If Hayashi En truly had some kind of prophetic ability, it might even make the plan go more smoothly.
Mahito stared death at Hayashi En, finally spat on the ground aggressively, and then vanished with Kenjaku into the depths of the forest like a fading shadow.
Hayashi En stood in place, watching the direction in which the two had disappeared.
He had only intended to give it a try. If it hadn't worked, his subsequent plans would have required much more effort.
Since Kenjaku agreed, his plan would proceed much more smoothly.
...
"Phew..."
Only after confirming those two terrifying presences had completely vanished did Hayashi En exhale softly, releasing his tensed muscles.
"...This took more out of me than I expected."
He rubbed his aching shoulder and turned toward the battered mecha cockpit.
At this moment, Muta Kokichi was slumped in his seat, his eyes glazed over, clearly not yet recovered from the shock of the god-tier battle he had just witnessed.
What just happened?
Hayashi En expanded a golden domain and beat that arrogant Mahito like a dog? Then that man who looked exactly like Geto Suguru broke the domain to save Mahito?
A battle of this level was completely beyond his understanding of jujutsu combat.
"Hey, wake up."
Hayashi En tapped the remaining frame of the cockpit with his cane, making a crisp sound.
"The villains have made their exit. Stop daydreaming."
"Mr... Mr. Hayashi En..." Muta Kokichi snapped out of it, looking at the man before him with eyes full of awe. "Did we... survive?"
"Not only did you survive, but you're also free."
Hayashi En pulled a small notebook from his pocket. Under the moonlight, he scribbled a series of numbers, tore the page out, and handed it to Muta Kokichi.
"The karma of the Binding Vow has been severed. From this day forward, you are no longer that puppet master who can only hide in a basement."
Muta Kokichi's hand trembled as he took the paper.
He thought it would be some words of comfort or a contract to join an organization.
However, by the faint light of the mecha's console, he saw the words written on it:
[BILL]
"..."
Muta Kokichi looked at the astronomical figure, and the tears in his eyes were instantly sucked back in. His expression became quite a sight.
"What? Is it too expensive?"
Hayashi En smiled at him.
"No... it's not expensive..."
Muta Kokichi took a deep breath, and a hint of a truly relieved smile finally appeared on his face.
It was the smile of a living person.
"As long as I can live to see Miwa... never mind 200 million, I'd be willing to sell you my life."
"Deal."
Hayashi En tucked his pen away and turned toward the eastern horizon where the dawn was beginning to break.
"Welcome to Exchange No. 8, Muta Kokichi."
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