Here it comes again.
Ryoumen Sukuna noticed the magic circle on Mahoraga's head spinning once more.
That little demon is intentionally provoking me, trying to force me into the binding ritual and making both me and him the target of this shikigami.
To defeat this troublesome opponent, it looks like I'll have to deal with this annoying shikigami first. The spinning of the magic circle doesn't tell me much for now, but dragging this out would work against me...
In that case, I'll deal with both the shikigami and the little demon at the same time!
He raised both hands, ready to activate his domain.
But the next moment, a high-pressure water jet shot toward him from the side. Turning to look, he saw an elephant shikigami, and the water jet was shooting from its trunk.
Ryoumen Sukuna had to halt his actions and dodge the shikigami's attack.
Once the elephant shikigami finished its attack, Hayashizaki immediately canceled the spell, pulling it into the shadows where it disappeared. The infuriating voice of mockery followed.
"You want to activate your domain? No way! I don't want this to end too quickly!"
"Tch."
Hearing the mocking tone, Sukuna immediately furrowed his brows.
This person is far better at using shikigami than that brat Fushiguro Megumi. Any place with a shadow could become a medium for summoning shikigami, and besides this white shikigami, all the other shikigami are just distractions. There's no opportunity to completely destroy them.
It's all just tricks.
How annoying!
"Well, I'm kind of getting bored."
Hayashizaki stretched his neck and said with some indifference, "It's about time to end this."
[System, claim reward.] He quietly called out in his mind.
[Received, reconstructing your body.]
[Body reconstruction complete.]
[Transferring your soul now, there may be a 0.001-second delay. Please be aware.]
"It's done?"
Ryoumen Sukuna froze, just as he was about to figure out how this kid planned to deal with both himself and the strange shikigami. "What... is this?"
Suddenly, a tiny particle of golden light floated down from mid-air. But this was just the beginning. More and more golden light particles fell, like fireflies flying in the air, creating a breathtaking scene amidst the chaotic and dark battlefield.
What is this? It doesn't have any cursed energy?
Ryoumen Sukuna kept a wary eye on the scene, fearing it might be another trick by Hayashizaki.
Countless light particles gathered, forming a golden cocoon as tall as a person, covered with intertwined spiral-like patterns.
Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly realized that control over her body had returned to her.
When Hayashizaki took over to fight on her behalf, she had been sitting peacefully in the VIP section, watching. Although she couldn't see the battle clearly—it was far beyond her level, with dazzling movements and dizzying camera angles—she watched on, worried about Hayashizaki. She didn't block her senses and kept her focus until now.
Her gaze was absent as she stared at the golden cocoon, and for some reason, a faint feeling of loss, as if she had lost something, rose in her heart.
[Hayashizaki-kun?]
She tried calling out in her mind, but this time, there was no response.
Thirty seconds later, a crack suddenly appeared on the cocoon. With a crisp sound, the crack spread and the cocoon shattered into countless golden particles, scattering in the air.
From the golden cocoon emerged a handsome young man, as graceful as jade.
"Sorry for the wait. I was just picking out clothes."
The black-haired youth smiled at Yukinoshita Yukino, showing no apology on his face.
The outfit the system had prepared for him was a white kimono, but he didn't like it. After thinking for a while, he finally chose the hoodie and sweatpants Yukinoshita Yukino was wearing.
Hayashizaki knew he had no fashion sense. He always chose clothes based on durability, looseness, and comfort, but that didn't affect his looks.
Just like the handsome face he had seen in the previous domain, but without the black markings and extra eyes, his face was just a clean, charming smile.
"Go ahead and leave for now. I'll wrap up the battle here soon."
Hayashizaki patted Yukinoshita Yukino's shoulder and then summoned Divine Dog. "Follow it. It'll lead you out."
"Eh? Hmm... Got it."
Yukinoshita Yukino snapped back to reality. Though she had many questions, she knew now wasn't the time to ask. She turned and prepared to leave with the white wolf.
The white wolf barked and wiggled its tail, signaling her to hop on.
After Yukinoshita Yukino disappeared from his sight, Hayashizaki turned back to face Ryoumen Sukuna.
Not only Sukuna, but even Majora showed respect and didn't attack during this time.
"Alright, let's continue."
Hayashizaki clapped his hands.
"Unlike cursed objects absorbing flesh, you created a body out of thin air? Who exactly are you?"
Sukuna wanted to ask more, but just as he was about to, Mahoraga, who was not far behind him, launched an attack after hearing Hayashizaki say, "You can go now." Naturally, the target was the closest person to it—Sukuna.
The sound of something cutting through the air came from behind Sukuna's head. Mahoraga's right arm shot out a black blade, slashing toward Ryoumen Sukuna. Sukuna raised his hand to block, but the immense force traveled down his arm, spreading throughout his body. The ground under his feet cracked in layers. Sukuna's posture dropped slightly, and he suddenly narrowed his eyes, dodging the blade. He then threw a punch at Mahoraga's cheek and followed up with a kick to its head, quickly leaping backward to put some distance between them.
That blade, like the reversal technique, was charged with positive cursed energy.
If he had been a curse spirit, that attack would have killed him instantly.
Sukuna glanced at Hayashizaki in the distance and finally understood that he couldn't end the fight quickly. However, his actions left Hayashizaki stunned.
"No way. He's running away already?"
Seeing Ryoumen Sukuna flee, Hayashizaki couldn't help but laugh.
Let him run for a bit.
Hayashizaki turned to look at Mahoraga, quickly darting to its back. He then placed his palm lightly on its back.
"[Eight]"
A powerful slash, charged with maximum cursed energy, struck the white shikigami in an instant. Blood began to pour out of its wounds, drenching it in red.
This time, the magical formation above its head didn't turn again.
...
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