There was once a line that swept the nation and still frequently appears on various platforms even now.
That is, "High-end ingredients often only require simple cooking methods."
However, that applies to ingredients like matsutake mushrooms, which are inherently excellent in nutrition and taste, and also have a good flavor.
In reality, many high-end ingredients also require careful preparation.
For example, this little darling in front of him, Mahito.
First, in terms of nutrition, Mahito, as a Special Grade Cursed Spirit, was born relatively late among the Four Calamities but was still able to directly assume the position of leader of the Four Calamities.
Although Mahito's current strength was at the bottom among the Four Calamities, perhaps only comparable to Dagon,
this further illustrated Mahito's wisdom and potential.
Because Cursed Spirits lost their room for improvement after being consumed by Suguru, Eichi intended to fully stimulate Mahito's early potential, which was comparable to Yuji's, to maximize its nutritional value.
Then there was the taste, which was actually the least of his worries.
As long as Mahito did not want to suffer unnecessary torment, it would make itself delicious.
Unless it wanted to be thoroughly cooked.
Finally, the flavor. Cursed Spirits were aggregates of Cursed Energy born from human negative emotions.
Their unpleasant taste had been officially certified by the master of enduring hardship, Suguru.
And Mahito was a Special Grade Cursed Spirit born from humanity's fear and malice toward other humans.
Therefore, its taste was definitely more anti-human than that of ordinary Cursed Spirits.
But it did not matter. For the flavor, there was the legitimate witch, Ms. Medea, to marinate it, ensuring it would not disgust anyone.
So, what Eichi needed to do now was simple: push Mahito to the brink and thoroughly unleash its potential.
And most importantly, he could not let this little darling escape. Otherwise, he would be unable to resist cursing, "Holy whoopee!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
Shadows fell like a rain of arrows toward Mahito, and to Eichi's surprise, it did not wantonly modify its body to dodge the arrow rain.
Instead, it transformed its feet into hooves and its hands into blades, constantly dodging.
Recalling Mahito's bizarre self-transformations during the later Shibuya Incident, it was quite conservative now.
"Hey, are you a coward?"
"Why do you say that?"
Mahito swung its blade to block a few shadow arrows aimed at its body, constantly pondering ways to escape.
"Your Cursed Technique is to change the shape of the Soul, right? You're so daring when changing outsiders, which carries greater risks, yet so cautious when changing yourself, which has almost no risk. What is that if not cowardice?"
If it were Mahito during the Shibuya Incident, it probably would not be scurrying around so frantically.
Instead, it would turn itself into a net full of holes, ignoring all the shadow arrows in a way similar to the elementalization of a Logia-type user in the neighboring One Piece.
"Eh, I didn't expect you to have research on the Soul as well. Very impressive."
Mahito's eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a dangerous glint.
A person with research on the Soul was the last kind of person it wanted to encounter.
In that case, its biggest advantage would be completely gone.
"Strictly speaking, it's not me. Rather, among my Heroic Spirits, there are individuals who have profound research into the Soul."
Eichi put one hand in his pocket and raised the other.
Dark shadows converged and compressed in Eichi's hand.
Eichi grasped the shadow sphere in his palm, continuing to compress the shadow in his hand in a manner similar to Convergence: Piercing Blood.
"Let me tell you in advance. If you can't dodge this attack, you will die."
Eichi tilted his head back, revealing a smile identical to Mahito's.
For a moment, Mahito could not even tell which of them was born from human malice.
Whoosh!
'So fast! I can't dodge!'
Mahito's eyes widened to their limit, its constricted pupils fixed on the attack that instantly arrived before it.
'Dodge! Dodge! Dodge for me!'
Mahito did not dare gamble on whether Eichi's words were true or false. It could only desperately try to evade.
With its body completely unable to dodge in time, Mahito, in a moment of desperation, mimicked a drain cover in a sewer.
The next moment, Mahito's body suddenly grew a little taller, its waist elongated, and one slit after another appeared.
The shadow passed through the slits.
"Not bad, but you can be bolder."
Eichi directly raised his hand. Upon realizing this, Mahito immediately and voluntarily split itself in two from the waist up, preventing itself from being cut open.
"Hahaha, I see. Changing myself is really an easy thing."
Just now, Mahito had almost completely split itself in half, with only the area from the abdomen down to the crotch still connected.
At this moment, Mahito had a strange feeling. If it directly split itself in two, it might be able to create Clones.
Although Clones did not seem to be able to use Cursed Techniques as freely as the main body, it was enough.
Whether as a diversion for escape or as cover for a sneak attack, it would be very useful.
"Come on, keep cursing!"
Mahito's mouth was almost stretched to its ears. It was already thinking about how to use this newly acquired move to trick Eichi.
However, to Mahito's surprise, Eichi simply put both hands in his pockets, neither summoning a Shikigami nor controlling shadows.
He just stood there, doing nothing.
This scene made Mahito's freshly ignited malice feel as if a basin of cold water had been poured over it.
This feeling was somewhat similar to the match between He Jin'an and Senior Brother Duan Shuiliu.
The Senior Brother, originally full of confidence and intending to beat He Jin'an to death, found that the weakling in his eyes suddenly turned his back on him and then dared not attack.
Moreover, Mahito was not facing the previously weak He Jin'an, but Eichi, who had been suppressing it for a while.
Rumble.
'What's that sound?'
A hint of doubt arose in Mahito's heart.
It looked up and saw countless massive rocks enveloped in Cursed Energy crashing down toward it.
"This seems very bad."
Mahito's mouth twitched, and it immediately wanted to escape.
But it was too late. Eichi's Cursed Energy was far greater than Nanami's. When his shadow attack hit the ceiling earlier, it immediately spread outward, destroying a large section of the ceiling.
It only stopped when the shadow touched the barrier Eichi had set up himself to prevent Mahito from escaping.
Rumble.
Mahito was inevitably crushed by countless pieces of rubble.
"I remember Beggar's Chicken is wrapped in lotus leaves and mud, then thrown into a fire to roast. Should I light a fire..."
Eichi probed the ruins with his shadow to check on Mahito's condition while contemplating new cooking methods.
"Hmm?"
In Eichi's gaze, Mahito, like a small snake, shamelessly emerged from the ruins, then reverted to its human form, revealing those stitches that made one want to tear them off.
"Hahaha, how interesting. Speaking of which, I should probably thank you. You've taught me a lot."
Mahito seemed completely unconcerned about its current naked state and instead showed an elated expression.
"Even if the physical body is crushed to dust, as long as the shape of the Soul is maintained, I won't die. The Cursed Energy consumed is also very low, allowing for quick recovery.
And just as you said, changing my own shape is indeed a very low-risk thing. I was too cautious before, like a coward. Haha."
Looking at this naked Mahito, who seemed to have just finished a great battle and was constantly savoring the experience, for some reason, Eichi felt a bit annoyed.
Although I intended to thoroughly cook you, why are you enjoying it so much?
Pfft.
"As long as you're satisfied. Let's start round two. By the way, what are those stitches on your body? Decorations? What happens if they're removed?"
(To be continued.)