[Power Multiplier x3]
Boom!
Crack, crack, crack!
An overwhelming force instantly bore down on Shingo's shoulder, sending an intense wave of pain through his body. His shoulder was severed in an instant, and half of his arm was chopped off.
At that moment, Shingo became fully alert. He had never expected that this young sorcerer, who had come back after such a short time, would possess such terrifying power.
The speed and strength Hayashi displayed completely shattered Shingo's previous understanding of him.
But Shingo wasn't one to be easily defeated. He quickly retreated, and the severed half of his arm regenerated rapidly. Now, Shingo knew not to underestimate this boy.
"Surprised, aren't you?" Hayashi stood still, watching as the office workers nearby continued their tasks, oblivious to what had just occurred. "I'm surprised too. I didn't expect I'd be able to return for revenge this quickly."
"You're the most talented sorcerer I've seen, aside from that 'man.' You've changed completely in such a short time—nothing like when we first met," Shingo said, abandoning his earlier dismissive attitude. This boy deserved Shingo's full strength.
In Hayashi's mind, an image of Gojo Satoru appeared. Perhaps the "man" Shingo mentioned was referring to his teacher, Gojo.
"You've been plaguing these innocent people for so long. It was only a matter of time before someone came to exorcise you. If no one else dared, then I'll be the first to take the lead," Hayashi declared. Today, he was determined to put an end to this special-grade curse spirit.
"But you seem to have forgotten one thing. Pure strength won't help you—because I… can use Domain Expansion!" Shingo suddenly spread his hands and shouted, "Domain Expansion—Steel Jungle!"
In an instant, the black domain spread out, enveloping Hayashi. The steel-reinforced ground, steel structures—everything made of steel reappeared, just like before.
This familiar scene stirred up old memories in Hayashi, bringing a sense of discomfort. But this discomfort wasn't from the present—it was from the shame of the past.
"I'm curious. You clearly have the speed to escape before I can control you. So why didn't you run?" Shingo felt more relaxed now. Once someone entered his domain, they no longer had the advantage of speed.
There was no way to escape. Shingo didn't believe that the fearsome man from last time would show up again. He figured this kid had come alone for revenge, driven by anger.
"Do you even need to ask?" Hayashi grinned, his eyes cold and indifferent. "Because right now, you're nothing but garbage to me. Understand?"
"Garbage?"
Those two words hit Shingo like a sharp weapon, stabbing into his mind, piercing his heart.
It had been a long time since Shingo had felt this way. He was always the one looking down on others, calling them garbage. How had the tables turned, with this young sorcerer now calling him garbage?
Suddenly, a terrifying aura burst out from Shingo. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "Everything has its price. You're no exception!"
Countless steel beams shot up from the ground beneath Hayashi's feet, quickly winding toward him.
"Did you really think I'd fall for the same trick twice?" Hayashi immediately dodged, flashing away from the spot. His speed was now on full display.
Though he was in an enemy's domain, unlike a lamb to the slaughter, his speed allowed him to avoid many attacks.
Most importantly, Hayashi had cursed energy release and his own domain technique. When activating his cursed energy release inside an enemy's domain, he could partially neutralize the guaranteed hit effects. He would still get hit, but not completely.
Shingo waved his hands in the air, and the sharp steel beams snaked through the structures and ground like agile dragons. Every time Hayashi moved, the beams would relentlessly attack him.
"In my domain, there's nowhere to escape. A sorcerer's energy is limited. You won't last long," Shingo said, his voice calm. Everything was under his control. No matter how fast Hayashi was, there was no way he could survive.
However, Shingo had miscalculated one thing: Hayashi's cursed energy was far from ordinary. His energy reserves were vastly greater than those of a typical sorcerer, practically in a league of their own.
As Hayashi continuously dodged the beams, his cursed energy consumption was relatively low. He still had plenty of energy left to spare.
Time passed, and Shingo found himself in a strange dilemma. He was expending more cursed energy maintaining his domain than Hayashi was using to dodge.
Could it be that this sorcerer truly had that much energy? Or was there a special technique sustaining him?
After dodging for a while, Hayashi sustained some minor injuries, but he didn't want to keep running. He charged toward Shingo with his blade ready.
Shingo had hoped Hayashi would attack. Now that he was coming at him, Shingo actually felt a sense of relief.
Steel walls shot up from the ground in front of him, forming a dense barrier, stacked together like dominoes.
"You think I'm still the same as before?" Hayashi sneered. The cursed tool, Blacksteel, gleamed with black and blue light as he swung it horizontally. A powerful wave of cursed energy erupted into a black-and-blue slash.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The tightly packed steel walls were instantly cut in half, and the energy slash didn't stop—it raced toward Shingo's face.
"All-encompassing Steel Jungle!"
At Shingo's command, a massive explosion of steel beams erupted outward from his position, rushing out in all directions, covering the sky.
Each steel beam sprouted razor-sharp, silver leaves. These leaves were so smooth and sharp that merely brushing against them could slice a person into pieces.
Seeing this seemingly inescapable wave of steel jungle approaching, Hayashi's expression changed slightly. Cursed energy surged through his body, and in an instant, he activated his Cursed Energy Armor.
The entire space was filled with steel leaves, sealing off Hayashi's escape route. They wrapped around him, binding him like a cocoon.
"Curse Technique Lapse—Jungle Meat Grinder!"
With a snap of Shingo's hands, cursed energy enveloped the entire steel jungle. The next moment, all the razor-sharp leaves around Hayashi began to spin violently.
Each of these steel leaves was like a blade from a meat grinder, whirling wildly. If an ordinary socerer were trapped, they would undoubtedly be shredded to pieces.
As the countless steel leaves wrapped around Hayashi's cursed energy armor, he suddenly smiled. His cursed energy erupted, pouring into the armor.
Despite the intense pain and damage he was enduring, Hayashi's eyes burned with madness.
"Raaahhhhh!" Hayashi let out a roar.
In Shingo's ears, it sounded like Hayashi's final, desperate scream of terror before death. No one could survive such an attack, and Shingo, as a special-grade curse spirit, had every reason to be proud.
This Steel Jungle is where he pride himself in!