"What are you looking at? Dagon serious?" Kenjaku asked.
At this moment, Kenjaku stepped into Mahito's Domain Expansion: Dharma Realm Reincarnation Nirvana Realm.
He stepped on the white sand, limping toward Mahito.
Ryomen Sukuna's speculation was correct.
Mahito's Domain Expansion was indeed embedded into the entire Dream Walk Migration.
Everything within this massive barrier was seen by Mahito, and every resurrected person was revived by Mahito's automated Cursed Technique.
In other words, every resurrected Jujutsu Sorcerer, without exception, was recorded by Mahito's Idle Transfiguration.
Their Cursed Techniques had already been recorded into the Reverse Cursed Technique: Soul Creation.
No—even if they weren't personally resurrected by him, as long as they fought, healed, or acted within the Dream Walk Migration, the game would automatically record everything about them.
These records would be synchronized into the Dharma Realm Reincarnation Nirvana Realm, equivalent to their soul information being engraved.
In other words:
The soul information of anyone who takes any action in the Dream Walk Migration will, sooner or later, be completely mastered by Mahito!
Mahito didn't lie to Kokichi Muta.
He really needed someone to scout the two Special Grade amateurs in the Tokyo Second Barrier.
The best way, of course, would be to kill them directly, but these two Special Grade amateurs were truly powerful.
Especially Takaba Fumihiko.
That guy really couldn't be killed no matter what, unless he wanted to die himself.
There was even an evaluation in the original work saying his ability rivaled the combination of Gojo Satoru's Six Eyes and Limitless.
Mahito was very covetous of Takaba Fumihiko's Cursed Technique.
Truly, incredibly covetous!
But he wasn't in a hurry.
As time passed, the secret of Takaba Fumihiko's technique would eventually be fully replicated for him.
Mahito only needed to sit quietly high in the heavens, waiting for this delicious food to be delivered to his mouth so he could eat it in one bite.
See?
Wasn't the other Special Grade amateur's Domain Expansion: Deadly Sentencing already unfolding before his eyes?
"Ah, it's Higuruma's Executioner's Sword."
Kenjaku smiled as he watched the screen in front of Mahito.
"It really is an exaggerated technique."
"Even Tsumiki Fushiguro's younger brother was killed easily, unable to even use Mahoraga."
"The effect is stronger than I imagined," Mahito praised.
"It truly lives up to the name of 'sure-kill.'"
"Fushiguro Megumi died instantly just from having his skin broken."
"No wonder Jogo lost to him."
"Even I might die if I'm a little careless."
Mahito wasn't lying.
In the original work, the Executioner's Sword was a technique that even Ryomen Sukuna didn't dare face head-on.
In the original work, Ryomen Sukuna only had a sliver of skin on his finger broken, and Hiromi Higuruma thought Ryomen Sukuna would die.
It was only at the end that Hiromi Higuruma realized that before being stabbed, Ryomen Sukuna had already cut off his own hand at the wrist.
Ryomen Sukuna personally certified that touching it really meant death!
And at that time, Hiromi Higuruma hadn't actually fully grown.
During that battle, Ryomen Sukuna also secretly said:
[His Cursed Energy manipulation ability has already caught up to me and Gojo Satoru. ]
At that time, Hiromi Higuruma had only just grasped Reverse Cursed Technique.
He was still in a state of rapid growth.
The current Hiromi Higuruma was even more exaggerated.
Because points could be used to understand common knowledge and techniques of the Jujutsu World, his Cursed Energy manipulation reached a level rivaling Ryomen Sukuna in almost a single day.
Furthermore, supplementing his knowledge allowed him to better modify his original Domain Expansion.
In the original work, there was never any content showing Hiromi Higuruma engaging in a Domain battle, but now Hiromi Higuruma had anticipated it and prepared "Changing Charges Under Special Conditions."
In the original work, Hiromi Higuruma couldn't achieve this until the very end.
It wasn't because he couldn't do it, but simply because he didn't have the time to grow.
The original work didn't have something as convenient as the Dream Walk Migration; Hiromi Higuruma's growth was almost entirely wild.
"The Executioner's Sword is indeed an ultra-powerful technique, but it has too many restrictions," Kenjaku sighed.
"Although its attack power is unparalleled under heaven, as you said, even for people at your level, Gojo Satoru's level, or Sukuna's level, if your skin is accidentally cut, you'll die instantly."
"But you don't fear death."
"Gojo Satoru's Limitless mobility makes it impossible for him to be hit."
"Ryomen Sukuna could kill him just with long-range slashing techniques."
"The Executioner's Sword has no place to show its utility."
This was correct, and Mahito nodded in agreement.
"But if the Executioner's Sword is combined with Confiscation, it becomes terrifying," Mahito said.
"The gap between a Sorcerer with an Innate Technique and one without is too large."
"Even for me, it would be very dangerous to challenge a strong enemy without using any techniques."
"For example: Jogo?"
"Jogo?"
Kenjaku thought for a moment and smiled.
"Not quite."
"I think it would take someone at least at my level."
"Are you looking down on Jogo?" Mahito asked.
"Eh? Did I?"
"Without techniques, I can't imagine how to deal with Jogo's Maximum Technique: Meteor."
"Could it be that you can tank it without using techniques?" Mahito asked doubtfully.
"I know that Jogo's Domain Expansion alone wouldn't threaten me even without techniques."
"I could easily kill him inside his Domain Expansion using a Simple Domain."
"But Jogo's Maximum Technique is different."
"The attack power is too strong, and the range is large enough."
"I couldn't tank it without using techniques either."
Mahito wasn't being humble.
Jogo's Maximum Technique had received praise from Ryomen Sukuna.
Even a man as proud as Ryomen Sukuna said to Jogo in the afterlife space:
[Stand Proud! You are Strong. ]
That sentence was referring to Jogo's Maximum Technique.
Kenjaku was even more confused.
"You're going to have a decisive battle with Jogo without techniques, and you'd actually let Jogo release his Maximum Technique?"
"The moment you see Jogo, one burst from you and he'd be dead."
"He wouldn't have any chance to use his Maximum Technique at all, right?"
"With Jogo's brain, it's impossible for him to react, right?"
Ah.
That's what Kenjaku meant.
Kenjaku saw the realization on Mahito's face and smiled.
"Alright, I admit Jogo does have that level of strength."
"But whether one has strength also depends on whether that strength can actually be utilized."
"Just like the battle between Higuruma and Jogo."
"Jogo confidently pleaded guilty without even opening his own Domain Expansion because he looked down on this primitive Domain Expansion and wanted to kill Higuruma with absolute strength."
"The result?"
"His Cursed Technique was directly confiscated."
"The flames that were enough to easily melt a Grade 1 Sorcerer misfired."
"He couldn't open his Domain Expansion even if he wanted to, and could only fight with pure Cursed Energy reinforcement."
"And then he saw the Executioner's Sword and thought he could tank it with his Cursed Energy reinforcement."
"He even proudly stated that the Executioner's Sword was only fit to nick his skin."
"His judgment wasn't wrong."
"It really only cut a layer of skin..."
"...but just cutting the skin was enough."
The trigger condition for the Executioner's Sword was met, and Jogo died instantly.
Fire techniques, Domain Expansion, combat skills—none of them played a role.
The only thing that played a role was Cursed Energy reinforcement, but he used that reinforcement to headbutt the Executioner's Sword!
Not even half a percent of his full strength was used.
Was that useful?
Mahito sighed.
"Alright."
"Jogo's brain really does need some good training."
"And his personality too."
"Yes, and his personality."
Mahito and Kenjaku suddenly burst into laughter.
Sometimes Mahito couldn't help but admire Jogo.
How did he manage to be so powerful yet never show it?
(T/N; He kept running into people he had absolutely no business fighting)
Even in the original work, Jogo's display of high-level strength lasted less than an episode—maybe half an episode.
And now it's even worse.
Every opponent he picked was someone who could beat him down:
Kinji Hakari, Gojo Satoru, and now Hiromi Higuruma.
He hadn't had a single good break.
Mahito thought:
Jogo really does need some good training.
I'll just throw him into another world when the time comes!
"Dagon, why did you come to see me?" After the small talk ended, Mahito asked casually.
"I remember you were still secretly contacting Sukuna."
"Now that Sukuna has found Kenjaku and doesn't want you anymore, are you here to complain to me?"
Kenjaku smiled awkwardly.
"So, you knew."
"I even found a secret weapon to deal with you," Mahito laughed.
"I'm looking forward to seeing your reaction when you see the secret weapon I've prepared for you."
Kenjaku's heart stirred slightly.
"Did you resurrect someone I don't know?"
"Guess," Mahito said cheerfully.
Kenjaku sighed inwardly.
Since Mahito's strength had increased, he had begun to unconsciously exude a certain majesty.
This majesty wasn't in his words or actions.
In fact, Mahito's words and actions were still as frivolous and casual as ever, almost unchanged.
The reason he had majesty was because he no longer hid himself.
His confidence grew daily, and his majesty grew along with it.
By now, even when facing him, Mahito no longer disdained to hide.
This was the composure of the strong.
Before, Mahito was pretending to be strong.
But now—
—he was strong.
"My wish can be said to have been realized."
Kenjaku shifted his steps, looking at the battle between Hiromi Higuruma and Fushiguro Megumi displayed before him, and suddenly said softly:
"Ever since you publicized eternal life and resolved to establish the planetary barrier, the prosperity of Jujutsu has become inevitable."
"My ultimate goal was actually to return to a world where Jujutsu prospers."
"I originally wanted to achieve this through the superimposition of Tengen and all of Japan, but you found another path."
"I am far inferior to you."
Mahito asked curiously:
"Why are you suddenly saying this?"
"I want to personally participate in the Culling Game," Kenjaku said seriously.
Mahito turned back to look at Kenjaku and asked with a frown:
"Do you know what you're saying?"
"I'm very clear," Kenjaku said.
Among all of Mahito's subordinates, only four had entered the Culling Game: Tsumiki Fushiguro, Jogo, Hanami, and Dagon.
Except for those four, none of his other subordinates participated in the Culling Game, including Kinji Hakari, Kenjaku, Ashiya Magon, the second-generation intelligent Cursed Spirits, the Cursed Womb: Death Painting trio, and so on.
Why?
Because the Culling Game was a massive Binding Vow—
Mahito's Apotheosis Ritual!
Gojo Satoru's group guessed correctly; this Apotheosis Ritual did involve Binding Vows.
But they likely didn't expect that, to ensure a one-hundred-percent success rate, this Binding Vow was extremely strict even for Mahito himself.
At the moment the Culling Game opened, there was an incredibly shocking Binding Vow that Gojo and the others wouldn't even dare imagine:
[Any player who can defeat Mahito at the end can realize a wish of infinite possibilities—and this wish also includes becoming a god. ]
That's right.
Even if the subject wasn't Mahito himself but another player, the Apotheosis Ritual could still succeed!
This deeply hidden Binding Vow was a secret known only to Mahito's group.
Kenjaku, as the creator of the barrier, naturally knew it too.
Therefore, except for the necessary Key Holders, none of Mahito's subordinates who knew the truth would enter the Culling Game, because entering was equivalent to becoming Mahito's enemy!
"Do you want to die?" Mahito asked.
Kenjaku wasn't surprised by Mahito's words at all.
Proposing to enter the Culling Game while knowing its Binding Vows carried an obvious implication of becoming Mahito's enemy.
This hostility was even greater than Gojo Satoru's.
Kenjaku was naturally aware of the risks.
So, he raised both hands in a gesture of surrender and said aggrievedly,
"On the contrary, I'm seeking a way to live."
"It seems you've already foreseen your own end," Mahito laughed.
"Stripped of all abilities, cast into the most dangerous otherworldly realm in the form of the lowliest ant."
"You want me to experience the most powerless existence firsthand, and for it to be never-ending."
"You will continue to do so after my death until my soul is worn down to numbness."
"You will seal my memories, letting me live another life like a newborn baby..."
"Then, you will undo the seal at my moment of greatest happiness and repeat the process until the river of spirit runs dry, until the world is destroyed," Kenjaku said flatly.
This time, Mahito was truly surprised.
"...You can actually simulate my thought patterns? How did you do it?"
That's right.
Mahito was really planning to do exactly that!
(T/N: Oi! That's diabolical)
Don't say that a small character like Kenjaku isn't worth it, and don't say it's too cruel.
In Mahito's eyes, Kenjaku is worth it!
Mahito truly possesses the Ideological Imprint.
For anyone who develops even a sliver of goodwill toward him, Mahito can permanently fix that sliver of goodwill, never allowing it to fade.
All the people he has contacted so far, even Gojo Satoru, who has been confirmed as the final boss, actually carry this goodwill.
Otherwise, Gojo wouldn't have been willing to set a Binding Vow with Mahito at the most critical moment:
"No matter who wins, they must take over the other's core forces."
When Gojo Satoru was willing to establish such a Binding Vow with Mahito, it proved that Gojo actually trusted Mahito's character from the bottom of his heart.
But Kenjaku was completely different.
Even if Kenjaku were willing to submit, that submission was never truly certain.
His mindset was closer to "biding his time."
As long as Mahito remained strong, he would never betray him, but once Mahito faltered, Kenjaku would betray him instantly, without hesitation.
His thoughts were consistent from beginning to end, never evolving.
Therefore, aside from fixing his stance of "never betray the strong," the Ideological Imprint could not possibly make him truly honest.
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