The steel jungle spun like a storm, its relentless motion grinding against Hayashi's cursed energy armor. Meanwhile, Hayashi continuously absorbed the cursed energy Shingo was pouring into the attack, using it to strengthen his armor.
"Death isn't the end. Cursed users like you, once dead, become new curses here. At the very least, you'll become a semi-grade one curse, and then, you'll serve me," Shingo said, satisfied with his creation. He believed everything was falling into place. After all, to exorcise a curse meant risking becoming a curse oneself. Soon, Shingo would gain a powerful new curse.
However, Shingo quickly realized something was wrong. The amount of cursed energy he was using seemed excessive. Normally, controlling the steel jungle meat grinder didn't require much energy, but now it was taking more and more to maintain the spinning.
"What are you doing?" Shingo finally sensed something was off. This was highly unusual.
Although he assumed it was Hayashi's final struggle before death, it still felt beyond belief.
"I'm doing something that will make you afraid," Hayashi's voice rang out, filled with near-madness. Despite the intense pain and suffering, he wasn't frightened—he was becoming more excited.
At this point, Hayashi's cursed energy armor, after absorbing a significant amount of Shingo's cursed energy, began to emit a faint yellow glow.
Shingo started to feel a sense of unease. He frantically pushed more cursed energy into the attack, making the steel leaves spin even faster, at double the previous speed.
"Too smart for your own good," Hayashi sneered. The relentless barrage only fueled his armor, which was now turning from yellow to red as the cursed energy enhanced it further.
What appeared to be an unstoppable force to Shingo became nourishment to Hayashi. The violent attack continued to slice and churn, but it wasn't enough to stop him.
In one sudden moment, within the swirling steel jungle, Hayashi let out a powerful shout. A burst of crimson energy exploded from within, shattering the steel jungle around him, sending debris flying in all directions.
Hayashi now stood, covered in a crimson suit of armor, emitting a faint cursed energy glow. He looked like a general from ancient times, exuding an overwhelming and awe-inspiring aura.
[Congratulations! Cursed Energy Armor Upgrade—Crimson Armor!]
Hayashi wasn't surprised that his cursed energy armor had upgraded. The fact that it could absorb cursed energy to strengthen itself already suggested the armor could evolve. After all, what would happen once it reached its limit? There were only two possibilities: either it would collapse, or it would upgrade. Hayashi had bet on the latter.
Although there had been a brief moment of concern when the armor was still yellow—he feared it might collapse, which would have meant certain death—luck had been on his side.
Shingo stood frozen, unsure of what had just happened. How had such a powerful attack failed to harm this jujutsu sorcerer? And why had his armor changed from blue to red?
"What did you do?" Shingo finally snapped out of his stupor, feeling an overwhelming urge to kill Hayashi. If he didn't eliminate this gifted jujutsu sorcerer now, it would be his own demise in the future.
"Nothing much, really. I should thank you for helping me. Now, Shingo, it's time for you to meet your end," Hayashi said coldly, his eyes sharp and unwavering.
Sensing Hayashi's newfound power, Shingo immediately grew cautious. Without hesitation, he waved his hands, summoning a mass of steel beams and sharp iron leaves from the ground, all converging toward Hayashi.
"Sorry, but it's too late!" Hayashi exclaimed.
Suddenly, Hayashi made a series of hand signs, and to Shingo's horror, he shouted, "Domain Expansion—Amaterasu Tsukikage!"
"Impossible!" Shingo roared, his voice trembling with disbelief.
The domain Shingo had been so proud of—Steel Jungle—was instantly covered by a layer of black ripples, completely enveloping it.
Everything around them began to shift, becoming unfamiliar and uncontrollable. A bright full moon hung high in the sky, far away yet seemingly within reach. Opposite the moon was a blazing sun, shining from what seemed to be both the distant future and the present moment.
Under their feet was an endless void filled with countless stars. A sense of emptiness and hollow despair welled up from the deepest corners of Shingo's soul.
Behind Shingo stood the full moon, while Hayashi was illuminated by the scorching sun.
"How did you do it?" Shingo finally understood that Hayashi hadn't come here to die—he had come fully prepared, with absolute confidence.
The fact that Hayashi's domain could completely cover his own proved the boy's immense strength.
"Are you asking about my domain?" Hayashi said calmly, stroking his chin. "To be honest, I'm not sure. My way of opening a domain is different from yours. You could say it's something engraved into my body, into my very soul, but I can't explain it."
"In such a short time… how could someone your age possibly master Domain Expansion? Back then, you weren't weak, but in my eyes, you were nothing special. How…?"
"I told you, I don't know, and you don't need to know either. As you said earlier, everything has a price. Now, it's your turn to pay," Hayashi replied, throwing Shingo's words back at him, delivering a crushing psychological blow.
Shingo had been a special-grade curse for a long time, but never had he found himself in such a dire situation. As a special-grade, he refused to accept death here. He still had grand ambitions to fulfill.
As that person had told him, the future world would be one without humans, a new world inhabited only by curses—a world where curses would reign supreme.
He had to survive!
He had to see that day come and become the ruler of this new world!
Summoning the last of his cursed energy, Shingo charged at Hayashi. He didn't understand this new domain, but if he could defeat the caster, he could escape.
However, what happened next left him in utter despair. Shingo realized that within Hayashi's domain, his movements were being slowed to a crawl. It seemed like he was sprinting toward Hayashi, but in reality, he had barely moved.
Hayashi couldn't help but laugh at Shingo's futile efforts. Compared to Cursed Womb: Ice Bearer, Shingo was far more cautious, likely due to his longer existence as a special-grade curse.
Yet, despite this, both Ice Bearer and Shingo had the same first reaction upon entering his domain: "How did you do this?"
Hayashi took a step forward, closing the gap between them instantly. He casually threw a punch at Shingo. Shingo tried to dodge, but his movements were so slow that the punch hit him squarely.
Hayashi followed up with punch after punch, each one infused with ordinary cursed energy. Yet even these normal blows caused Shingo immense harm.