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 Jujutsu 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 Soul Corridor, Ryomen Sukuna once said this to him:
"You should burn everything you can 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 Mahito.
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 mere rumors that make him hesitate.
He must see it with his own eyes.
Even if it cost his life, Jogo had already made up his mind to break through Mahito's confusion.
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 had exceeded the level of a curse.
The current Jogo could no longer be called a simple Cursed Spirit.
If 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 still be called a desire born of a curse—then Jogo's wish to use his own life to break through 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.
"Hey, 'Infinite Cursed Energy,' if you fought Gojo Satoru, how many rounds could you last?"
Jogo asked.
"It depends on whether my Infinite Cursed Energy can adapt to Mr. Gojo's Unlimited Void," Kinji Hakari responded seriously.
"If I can't adapt, I'll be killed in an instant."
"I've already understood that."
Jogo breathed slowly, preparing for battle.
"And if you can adapt?"
"4 minutes and 11 seconds," Kinji Hakari said.
"In my Infinite Cursed Energy state, even someone as strong as Mr. Gojo can't hope to defeat me."
"But when the..."
He paused.
"...Infinite Cursed Energy state disappears, at that very moment of disappearance, I will be killed by Mr. Gojo, without exception."
While other Jujutsu Sorcerers might not be able to do it, Gojo Satoru was different.
He possessed the Six Eyes, allowing him to accurately judge the moment Kinji Hakari's Infinite Cursed Energy ended.
He also had the means to destroy Kinji Hakari's brain and abdomen the instant he left the infinite state.
A Jujutsu Sorcerer's brain is used to activate Cursed Techniques, and the abdomen is used to refine Cursed Energy.
When both are destroyed, even Kinji Hakari would die.
Jogo nodded.
"I see—so what I must do has been decided."
Kinji Hakari and Jogo walked toward each other simultaneously.
With every step, fluctuations of Cursed Energy appeared on the beach, as if two storms were approaching each other, ready to collide, explode, and spread at any moment.
Kinji Hakari's hands were already in a seal-forming position, and Jogo was forming a seal with one hand.
Both sides were ready for combat.
"4 minutes and 11 seconds," Jogo said.
He glared at Kinji Hakari, his entire body's Cursed Energy turning into a heatwave that spread outward, and everyone consciously cleared the area.
"As long as I can last 4 minutes and 11 seconds, it proves that I can also pose a threat to Gojo Satoru."
"That's the logic, right?"
Jogo asked.
Actually, there was no logic to it, Mahito thought.
Even if he could last 4 minutes and 11 seconds, it could only be said that Jogo's strength was close to Kinji Hakari's.
However, the gap in strength between Kinji Hakari and Gojo Satoru was beyond words.
Saying that lasting 4 minutes and 11 seconds meant posing a threat to Gojo Satoru was nothing more than a pipe dream.
But no one spoke those words aloud.
This was Jogo's death wish.
Kinji Hakari curled his lips into a smile.
He tilted his head and looked at Mahito.
"What do you say?"
"Do you need me to go easy on him?"
"Cursed Spirits are very sturdy."
Mahito shrugged.
"Please, fight to your heart's content."
"If Jogo can't even last 4 minutes and 11 seconds, then going to Gojo Satoru would just be seeking his own death and wasting his life."
"If you can use your strength to shut Jogo up, I'll thank you."
"Does that count as you owing me a favor?"
Kinji Hakari asked.
"Count it as me owing you a favor," Mahito responded.
Before this, Kinji Hakari wouldn't have cared for a Cursed Spirit's favor at all.
He believed that a Cursed Spirit was just a Cursed Spirit; even for a unique Cursed Spirit like Mahito, their essence wouldn't change.
In a Cursed Spirit's heart, a favor was probably worth less than the beach scenery in front of them.
But now it was different.
Kinji Hakari realized that this group of Cursed Spirits was indeed special.
Special enough that—
"A favor is indeed useful."
The corner of Jogo's mouth twitched.
"I really am being looked down upon."
"You've already seen Mahito's Maximum, haven't you?"
"Let me tell you something."
"I also have a Maximum Technique."
"In terms of pure destructive power, my Maximum Technique easily surpasses Mahito's Descent."
"I'm not sure if you can withstand it under Infinite Cursed Energy."
"But since you couldn't withstand Mahito's Descent, you won't be able to withstand my meteor either."
"That really makes me look forward to it," Kinji Hakari said.
"Then let's try it, Cursed Spirit."
Jogo had already made up his mind.
Even if this was just a mock battle, he had to give it his all.
He had to break the illusion of Gojo Satoru's invincibility so that Mahito would have the heart to keep moving forward.
"So, so! So—"
His entire body's Cursed Energy boiled, and he roared with a resolve that burned his very life:
"Bring it on—Infinite Cursed Energy!"
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