How exactly should he improve himself at the fastest speed? Ever since Mahito was taken away by Kenjaku and Jogo, he had been thinking about this question nonstop. In fact, from 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 world's setting, a total of three and a half abilities capable of copying others' Innate Techniques had appeared. They were:
Special Grade Sorcerer Okkotsu Yuta: His Innate Technique is Mimicry. As long as he can consume a part of the opposing Jujutsu Sorcerer, he can learn their Innate Technique. This is an extremely powerful Innate Technique, described by Kenjaku as "unconditional technique mimicry and inexhaustible Cursed Energy."
The thousand-year Jujutsu Sorcerer Kenjaku: He can use the Brain Transplant Technique. Generally speaking, even the user would not be spared when using this technique, but his Innate Technique seems to possess a unique compatibility with 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.
The 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 should not have had an Innate Technique, was able to use Ryomen Sukuna's Innate Technique because Sukuna's soul had been 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 cases have appeared in a thousand years. This is an extremely rare case, a complete black box that cannot be analyzed.
Itadori's situation is even 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 is 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 Jujutsu Sorcerer. The reason his body could imprison Ryomen Sukuna is that Itadori himself possesses Sukuna's bloodline. In other words, Sukuna's repeated possession of Itadori's body merely awakened his own Innate Technique, which just 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 Séance 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 Séance Technique can manifest everything about the deceased during their lifetime, and even physical abilities can be perfectly reproduced.
At that time, the Curse User Ogami used her grandson as the vessel for the descent, allowing the body of the Sorcerer Killer to descend onto her grandson. And at that time, her grandson indeed completely inherited Fushiguro Toji'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 as well!
And Mahito is a god in the domain of the soul!
With just a touch, his technique, Idle Transfiguration, can take effect. The Séance Technique itself is not what interests Mahito; what matters is that the Innate Technique engraved on the soul can be inherited and used by the body.
At this very moment, the theory had been perfected.
All that remained was to see to what extent Mahito could achieve it.
What was once again very satisfying was that experimental subjects could be procured from Kenjaku at any time.
So—whether he could surpass Kenjaku's control within a year, everything depended on this one move!
"Oh, oh oh oh."
Hijiri Shunta let out a comfortable sigh.
This was, of course, his delusion.
Idle Transfiguration is a domineering ability that ruthlessly modifies Hijiri Shunta's soul. If there were no protection, his soul would be played with by Mahito like modeling clay.
Therefore, almost all Jujutsu Sorcerers, when facing such an overbearing 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 do not understand the principle, can unconsciously protect themselves through the manifestation of their Cursed Energy the moment Idle Transfiguration is activated.
This was the case when Mahito fought Nanami in the original work; Nanami did not know how to protect his soul at all, but when Idle Transfiguration touched it, his Cursed Energy protected it without him even realizing it.
Top-tier Jujutsu Sorcerers can use their own abilities to protect their souls.
The representative example of this is the absolute peak of combat power—Ryomen Sukuna.
Ryomen Sukuna is the only existence who does not fear Idle Transfiguration; he can even counterattack the moment Mahito uses it.
To the point of almost killing Mahito.
This guy is an outlier, recognized by the entire world as the King of Curses.
Hijiri Shunta is not Ryomen Sukuna.
He is not even a high-level Sorcerer.
His Innate Technique is weak, and his Cursed Energy is even more pitiful.
So, when Mahito used Idle Transfiguration, he easily broke through Hijiri Shunta's subconscious Cursed Energy protection and engraved his own technique into his soul.
What exactly is Mahito trying to do?
Actually, it is quite simple—
—He wants to completely analyze Hijiri Shunta's soul!
This is an extremely difficult thing.
Rather, without Idle Transfiguration, Mahito would never even 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 a certain extent, the human body is inherently a black box.
Experts who have a deeper understanding of medicine possess an even greater awe for the human body.
The reason is simple.
The development of science in his previous life originally sought to prove the existence of God.
In fact, many famous scientists would more or less come to believe in God in their old age for this very reason.
And now, Mahito was going to crack this black box—
relying on the power of Idle Transfiguration.
Can it be done?
Mahito did not know.
But because his own life was at stake, he had to do it.
Must do it, absolutely do it, and make it work.
Hijiri Shunta's face suddenly flushed, and he unconsciously let out a whimper.
Mahito knew the critical moment had arrived.
He immediately shouted, "Hijiri Shunta, 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 Hijiri Shunta, "Hijiri-san, it's hard being looked down upon, isn't it? But now, such an opportunity has been 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 Hijiri Shunta'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 was not rage—it was release.
He was venting the fear of having his soul 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 Hijiri Shunta's entire soul.
However, Mahito did not alter his soul.
He carefully flowed through the entirety of it, like flowing water gently brushing past.
Every drop of Mahito's Cursed Energy seeped in, not missing a single bit.
Then, after about thirty seconds, Mahito let go of Hijiri Shunta's head.
Hijiri Shunta's eyes rolled back, and he suddenly collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
He was drenched in sweat, as if he had just returned from the ocean—
for him, that might truly be the case, because his soul had just been completely submerged in Idle Transfiguration by Mahito.
His soul had been completely analyzed by Mahito.
Now Mahito knew him better than he knew himself.