Fushiguro Megumi's intuition was correct.
Hiromi Higuruma was indeed a monster like Gojo Satoru. In the original work's narration, it was even clearly stated that he was an "uncut gem possessing talent sufficient to rival Gojo Satoru."
Although Fushiguro Megumi had not yet truly fought Hiromi Higuruma, he could catch a glimpse of Hiromi Higuruma's strength just through the Cursed Energy remnants.
At the same time, his logic reminded him that Hiromi Higuruma was the one who had defeated the Key Holder of the Tokyo Second Barrier on the very first day.
Even more terrifying was that—
This was a complete outsider to the Jujutsu World.
For an outsider to the Jujutsu World to have accomplished such an incredible feat, one could imagine just how terrifying he was.
Fushiguro Megumi had no desire to be sent off like a mob character before the appearance of the final boss.
The moment he saw Hiromi Higuruma summon the black shikigami, he activated his Cursed Technique:
—Technique Release: Ten Shadows Technique.
—Rabbit Escape!
The shadow beneath Fushiguro Megumi's feet expanded abruptly, the black shadow rolling outward like drifting waves.
From this shadow, a rabbit leaped out.
But it wasn't just one—it was 5, 10, 20!
In just a few short seconds, rabbits appeared one after another, charging recklessly toward Hiromi Higuruma in a continuous stream.
This was Rabbit Escape from the Ten Shadows Technique. As long as there was enough Cursed Energy, they could be summoned almost infinitely.
While the rabbits were weak, their sheer numbers compensated for it.
At the same time, such massive numbers could thoroughly test the enemy's Cursed Technique and give Fushiguro Megumi ample time to prepare.
Fushiguro Megumi's thinking was clear:
Although the opponent's "Special Grade" status was self-proclaimed, as a Jujutsu Sorcerer who could kill a Key Holder on the first day, his attack power must be extremely high, regardless of anything else.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to take down a Key Holder.
The truth of this "attack power" could be tested by Rabbit Escape!
"Hmm, it seems I've encountered the real deal."
Hiromi Higuruma raised his hand high, and at some point, a small hammer appeared in his palm.
"Very well, I also want to see where my skills stand in this Jujutsu World."
By now, the Rabbit Escape shikigami had reached Hiromi Higuruma's feet.
The nearly infinite rabbits leaped up, about to strike him, and at that final moment—
Dong.
Hiromi Higuruma struck down with the small hammer.
"Domain Expansion—"
Fushiguro Megumi's eyes widened in disbelief.
What were the words coming out of this man's mouth?!
"—Deadly Sentencing."
"How is that possible?!"
(T/N: Because he is HIM obviously)
Clang, clang.
A circle of fences suddenly appeared.
The Rabbit Escape shikigami crashed into the fences and instinctively tried to bite them, but their mouths could never reach.
The rabbits behind pushed against those in front, piling up into a mass, but they could not cross the fence to attack Hiromi Higuruma standing behind it.
"It's useless," Hiromi Higuruma said calmly.
"All acts of violence are forbidden here."
"Naturally, this rule applies equally to both of us."
Fushiguro Megumi clicked his tongue and canceled Rabbit Escape.
One by one, the rabbits vanished, and Fushiguro Megumi's shadow retracted beneath his feet.
He glanced at his own position.
Just like Hiromi Higuruma, a circle of fences was protecting him as well.
The entire world seemed to rumble as a spherical world with a black outer shell enveloped Hiromi Higuruma and Fushiguro Megumi.
Various structural supports appeared within the space.
Fushiguro Megumi looked at everything before him, and suddenly, a familiar feeling washed over him.
This was—
"—A miniature courtroom?"
"I'm glad you could understand so quickly," Hiromi Higuruma said.
"Now then, Judgeman, begin."
The shikigami named Judgeman began to speak.
It resembled a dark deity statue, pitch black all over.
At its center was a white human face with eyes sewn shut by silk thread, its eyelids permanently closed.
That terrifying mouth slowly opened:
"Fushiguro Megumi, while a student, is suspected of skipping class on January 3, 2013, and participating in a group brawl on the same day."
Fushiguro Megumi frowned in thought, suddenly remembering the incident.
That incident did happen.
At the time, he saw a group of people bullying a fellow student and started throwing punches without a second thought.
Naturally, it turned into a massive brawl.
Back then, he hadn't yet become a Jujutsu Sorcerer, but his physical fitness was already excellent, and he had a talent for fighting, so much so that even though he was alone, he made that group of delinquents howl in pain.
Naturally, he was also lectured by his older sister after returning home.
Fushiguro Megumi had been a good fighter since he was a child; this was just one of many insignificant incidents.
Fushiguro Megumi thought:
Is such a trivial matter even worth being written into the law?
But the problem wasn't whether the matter was worth being in the legal code.
It was something far more serious:
This event undoubtedly came from Fushiguro Megumi's past, a past that Hiromi Higuruma should not have known!
Fushiguro Megumi was certain this was his first time meeting Hiromi Higuruma, and there had been no connection between them before this.
How did he know about this?
While Fushiguro Megumi was still thinking, Hiromi Higuruma proactively voiced his suspicion:
"Judgeman knows all information about anyone within the Domain."
"However, you don't need to worry."
"I will not share that information."
"Ultimately, the verdict will be reached based on the arguments presented by the two of us."
Hiromi Higuruma raised his right hand, and suddenly Cursed Energy surged as an envelope appeared in his palm.
He shook the envelope.
"Except for this evidence."
"This is the relevant evidence for this case submitted by Judgeman."
"However, evidence does not necessarily confirm your guilt."
"Of course, I will not tell you the contents."
"Now, you must make a defense statement to obtain a 'Not Guilty' verdict from Judgeman."
Fushiguro Megumi exhaled slowly, roughly understanding the current situation.
Compared to modern Jujutsu Sorcerers, Domain Expansion was a more fundamental technique for Jujutsu Sorcerers of the past.
The reason for saying this is that the "sure-kill" part of the "sure-hit, sure-kill" combination common in modern Domains was omitted in the past.
Forcing one's Cursed Technique to take effect with a guaranteed hit on targets within the Domain—
That was the standard performance of Domains in the past.
Modern Jujutsu Sorcerers became obsessed with "sure-kill," causing the threshold for constructing a Domain to rise continuously.
Eventually, Domains became a high-difficulty technique, and the number of users decreased significantly.
And the current Domain perfectly conformed to the rules of ancient Domain Expansions.
This Domain was not sure-kill, nor would it cause physical harm to those inside.
In fact, to construct the Domain, a certain level of rule explanation had to be given to those caught inside to fulfill the conditions of a Binding Vow for it to be established.
Fushiguro Megumi could even be certain that if he truly achieved a "Not Guilty" verdict, this Domain Expansion would simply waste the opponent's Cursed Energy.
In other words, although he had barely managed a Domain Expansion, it was actually full of uncertainty when used and dangerous to himself if it failed.
Yet, Fushiguro Megumi's heart was still racing, his expression involuntarily twisting.
"...If my guess is correct, the moment you entered the Dream Walk Migration, you intuitively understood Cursed Energy manipulation and Barrier Techniques and built this primitive Domain Expansion based on instinct?"
"And with just this primitive Domain Expansion, you killed the Key Holder of the Tokyo Second Barrier?"
"Correct answer," Hiromi Higuruma said.
Fushiguro Megumi had to take a deep breath to ease the shock in his heart.
Hiromi Higuruma observed Fushiguro Megumi's expression.
"It seems I've done something quite outrageous."
"...More outrageous than you imagine."
"At least since I became a Jujutsu Sorcerer, everything I've learned tells me that what you've done is impossible."
"Something even a Special Grade Sorcerer recognized by the Jujutsu World cannot do."
Fushiguro Megumi was not lying.
Even Gojo Satoru had never done anything so exaggerated.
Gojo Satoru hadn't even learned Domain Expansion until high school.
Of course, there was the possibility that Gojo Satoru simply didn't need it, but even so, one could see what kind of monstrous potential Hiromi Higuruma possessed.
It was hard to imagine what kind of terrifying Jujutsu Sorcerer Hiromi Higuruma would become if he continued to grow.
"I'm honored," Hiromi Higuruma said without emotion.
"But this wasn't something I achieved alone."
"You aren't the first Jujutsu Sorcerer I've met."
"Before this, a Sorcerer attacked me and was killed by me in a counterattack."
"After that, based on that experience, I used points to acquire some basic common knowledge about Sorcerers, and only then did I find and kill the Key Holder."
"You, an outsider to the Jujutsu World, counter-killed a Jujutsu Sorcerer who proactively attacked you?"
"Yes."
"Is that so outrageous?"
"...More outrageous than you imagine."
This was the second time Fushiguro Megumi had said these words, and the weight behind them was even greater than the first.
The first time could be described as extraordinary sensitivity to Cursed Energy leading to the instinctive construction of Cursed Energy reinforcement and basic Barrier Techniques.
But the second time referred to Hiromi Higuruma's combat talent on top of that sensitivity.
What are the odds of an ordinary person with no Cursed Energy training defeating a Jujutsu Sorcerer attacking with murderous intent?
It is simply like asking a city dweller who has never even killed a chicken what their win rate would be against a fully armed elite special forces soldier.
Exactly how—
—high would that be?!
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