Shikami stared in disbelief at the brown fur scattered before him. This was his unique technique, altering the hardness and softness of his own fur.
When soft, it was like silk, but when hardened, it became as tough as steel. With the infusion of his cursed energy, such an attack had been directly slashed apart by Hayashi's cursed tool. How could this be possible?
Could it be that this kid's cursed energy was stronger than his?
Hayashi, however, was very pleased and smiled. The power multiplier had been quite generous this time, giving him an advantage in the battle.
Thinking back to his sparring session with Todo, when the power multiplier hit ×10, that moment had been terrifying. That incident left a lingering shadow over Hayashi.
"Let's call it a day for now, Hayashi-kun. You'll become my strongest cursed spirit vessel, both body and soul." The greed and astonishment in Mahito's eyes faded as he glanced at Shikami, "Let's leave."
"Leaving already?" Shikami thought Mahito was crazy. Why retreat when faced with such a powerful opponent? They should deal with him now while they had the chance.
"Let's go. It's getting boring here; let's find a new place to play." Mahito's expression returned to calm, much more composed than before.
Hayashi noticed that Mahito wasn't acting as he had imagined. Wasn't this guy supposed to be impulsive and reckless? Since when did he start considering consequences, instead of seeking immediate satisfaction?
Or perhaps they had grander plans, and Hayashi's sudden appearance had altered Mahito's thinking.
Or maybe Mahito realized that today, it wouldn't be possible to take them down, and staying here would only increase the risk.
"Still, you think you can leave without asking for my permission? Did I say you could go?" Hayashi wasn't confident he could kill Mahito, but this unfamiliar curse, Shikami, was someone he wanted to take down right here.
"You heard him, Mahito. This guy says we can't leave. Let's just finish them off now. Or are you scared?" Shikami was more than ready. He despised Hayashi and couldn't rest easy unless he killed him today. Of course, he didn't need to sleep, but it still bothered him.
Mahito shot a dark glance at Shikami, his voice growing cold, "I said, we're leaving. Do you not understand?"
This voice seemed to reach straight into the soul, sparking fear in Shikami. He knew how terrifying Mahito was, but he was even more wary of the other special grades—Hanami, Dagon, and Jogo—who were part of their group.
When he first joined, it was made clear to him that decisions in critical matters were left to Mahito and Suguru Geto. Mahito took the lead, with Geto following.
Now that Mahito had spoken, Shikami, though unwilling, had no choice but to comply. Once their goals were achieved, he would be free to act as he pleased, without having to stick around with these other curse users.
Every special-grade curse user had their own pride. Being controlled and following orders wasn't something they tolerated, but for now, they all shared a common goal.
"Consider yourself lucky, kid. Wash your neck and wait for me," Shikami grumbled, then wrapped his fur around Mahito.
Hayashi immediately launched an attack, channeling cursed energy into his black-steel sword. In an instant, he appeared before the two who were wrapped in Shikami's brown fur and slashed down.
"Black Steel Azure Black Flash, Power Multiplier!"
[Random Power Multiplier Activated]
[Power Multiplier ×3]
Seeing the multiplier at ×3, Hayashi knew he wouldn't be able to stop them from escaping.
The black-steel blade struck Shikami's hardened fur, cutting through it slightly, but Shikami's eyes gleamed, and his fur quickly regenerated over the slashed part. The next moment, the fur twisted and spiraled like a drilling snake, the sharp tips burrowing into the ground.
"A new era is coming, hahaha!"
Mahito's laugh echoed as he disappeared, the sound growing more distant until it faded entirely.
"I told you, it wouldn't be so easy to leave." Hayashi prepared to give chase. As long as they stayed within a 300-meter range, they wouldn't be able to escape.
And even beyond 300 meters, there was still more ground he could cover. With enough effort, they wouldn't be able to outrun him.
However, Hayashi suspected they didn't know the full extent of his tracking abilities. This might have been a test, meant to gather information for their future plans.
But Hayashi wasn't interested in overthinking it. He was still too inexperienced to play these kinds of mind games with them.
"Don't bother chasing them. A cursed spirit of that level will have many tricks up their sleeve. Chasing after them could lead to a trap, just like I fell into." Nanami Kento glanced at his watch, chuckling bitterly. "Seems like I've been working too much lately. I couldn't even sense three high-level curses nearby. Maybe it's time for a break."
Hayashi stopped. Perhaps Nanami didn't understand the full extent of his abilities, so he assumed the enemies couldn't be caught. By now, Mahito and Shikami had likely fled far away.
"Next time, then," Hayashi muttered to himself, turning to look at the Grade 1 cursed spirit still standing idly by. "Nanami-senpai, how do we deal with this guy?"
"He's no longer human..."
There was a tinge of sorrow in Nanami's voice. He had almost lost his humanity earlier. If he had become a curse user's vessel, even if he retained a sliver of consciousness, he wouldn't hesitate to take his own life.
Understanding his intent, Hayashi walked over and swiftly decapitated the Grade 1 cursed spirit, then sheathed his black-steel sword.
"Let's find somewhere to talk." Nanami was intrigued by Hayashi. Over the years, it was rare to see someone with such strength among the younger generation.
"Are your injuries alright, Nanami-senpai?" Hayashi asked. He could use the Reverse Cursed Technique, but only for 'Reversal,' not for healing, something he planned to learn in the future.
After the points for the Grade 1 curse were tallied, Hayashi and Nanami left the area and found a quiet café to sit and talk.
Nanami tucked his tie into his pocket, unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt, and stretched his neck. The tension eased, but his mind still lingered on the events and Mahito's words.
"First, let me ask, how did you know I was there? As far as I know, only Ijichi and Itadori Yuji were aware." Nanami asked calmly, looking at Hayashi.
Hayashi didn't see any reason to lie, so he replied, "I have an ability that allows me to sense everything around me, like a detector. When I sensed you were in danger, I came. Of course, I didn't know your exact plan, but it just so happened I was nearby."
There was no way Hayashi could tell him he could foresee parts of the future—who would believe that?
"A detector for everything around you?" Nanami eyed Hayashi through his glasses. "I know it's impolite to ask, but I must know. Who is your bloodline inheritor? With someone like you, your ancestor must have been quite remarkable, possibly famous."
"Sorry, Nanami-senpai, I don't have any memories of my parents or family, so I can't explain that." Hayashi's reply was truthful, though the matter of his inheritance had nothing to do with bloodlines.
The two talked for almost half an hour before leaving. As they parted, Nanami advised Hayashi to stay cautious. The things they discussed, he would report to Gojo Satoru.
Of course, whatever he shared would be only what Hayashi himself had revealed. The future had already shifted, and all they could do now was remain vigilant.
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