NOVEL NEXT CHAPTER 20
"Araki, don't think that just because you defeated that wicked woman Unohana, you can beat me too~"
Drawing the Zanpakutō from her waist, Saito Furuobushi's demeanor shifted dramatically. It was as if she had become a completely different person—her aura now brimming with killing intent, like a demon freshly risen from hell.
In truth, ever since learning of Araki's victory over Unohana, Furuobushi had harbored a desire to test his strength herself. She longed to measure his power firsthand with her blade—
—and also, just maybe, to secure her future position in their "household."
Whether it was about her future standing, or about making Araki the little brother today... was still uncertain~
"Come on then~"
Araki nodded calmly in response and opened his Fullbring system panel.
He accessed the Character Awakening Binding interface for his Fullbring:
[Choose character to bind:
(1) Unohana Yachiryu (already bound)
(2) Saito Furuobushi]
"Bind."
With a thought, Araki selected (2) and completed the binding with Saito Furuobushi.
Just as he had previously suspected, his Fullbring—Everlasting Flower—was capable of binding with more than one individual. Having already completed the bond with Unohana, he now successfully linked with Saito as well.
In that instant, Araki could clearly feel a unique connection form between him and Furuobushi.
"Huh? Araki, what did you just do to me?!"
Saito, who had been readying herself to strike, suddenly paused. She glanced at Araki with suspicion.
"Don't worry," he said with a faint smile, "It's a good thing~"
"Good thing?"
Furuobushi frowned slightly. After a few seconds of thought, she gave up on trying to make sense of it, gripped her Zanpakutō, and swung at Araki.
Araki stood unmoving as the blade approached.
Even as Saito's sword neared his neck—less than five centimeters away—he didn't flinch, didn't blink, didn't even tighten his posture.
Just as the edge should've cleaved through his throat, the arc of silver steel slightly shifted downward...
The blade slashed across Araki's shoulder instead, drawing a flash of blood.
"Araki, why didn't you dodge?!"
Furuobushi sprang backward in frustration, eyes narrowed.
"Because there's no need to."
Araki responded coolly. As he spoke, he activated his Fullbring—Everlasting Flower—to heal the wound. In the next instant, the gash on his shoulder closed visibly, right before Saito's eyes.
"What the hell...?"
Her pupils quivered.
Then—a sharp sting bloomed on her own shoulder.
"Ah?! I got cut?"
Reflexively, she touched her shoulder where she'd felt the pain—but there was no wound.
"What's going on...?!"
She stood frozen, dumbfounded.
"Keep going."
Araki's voice was calm, even soft.
At that moment, he had just gained a deeper understanding of his Fullbring's power.
The Everlasting Flower, beyond its previously known effects, contained a hidden passive: "Empathy."
Not only could it ensure that Araki and those he had bound would never die until their spiritual pressure was fully depleted...
It also granted them the ability to recover from any injury—at the cost of spiritual pressure.
However—
This didn't mean they were immune to pain.
Pain was shared.
After being injured, it still hurts! Araki's Fullbring ability comes with a peculiar side effect — known as "Empathy," or more aptly, "Heart to Heart."
In short, whenever Araki or anyone bound by his Fullbring gets injured and uses his Fullbring ability to heal, everyone connected to that Fullbring will share the pain.
Theoretically, this mechanism acts as a limiter — preventing Araki and his companions from using the Fullbring recklessly and without restraint to endlessly recover from injury.
However… Araki's Zanpakutō, Yakushi Ruriko, possesses the ability to nullify pain.
So in Araki's eyes, this side effect isn't a drawback at all — it's a boon!
With this ability, Araki is practically a god of friendly fire! A civil war version of Hidan, alright?!
What's that? Domestic violence? Doesn't exist here.
"Damn it, what's going on?!"
Saito Furuobushi stared at Araki's calm face, her heart filled with confusion and guilt. He was the one who got injured — so why was she the one in pain?!
She couldn't make sense of it…
"Damn it!!"
In frustration, she cursed aloud and charged again, Zanpakutō in hand, swinging down at Araki with fresh fury.
Puff—
This time, her blade stabbed directly into Araki's instep.
"Aghh—it hurts—it hurts!!"
The moment the blade pierced Araki's foot, Saito Furuobushi let out a pained scream, feeling an identical jolt of pain shoot through her own foot. Grimacing in agony, she instinctively yanked the blade free.
As soon as she did, Araki's wound began to heal — just as quickly and seamlessly as before.
"Why? Why the hell is this happening?! Why doesn't my attack work?!"
Her bright eyes swirled with emotion. Clenching her teeth, she roared at him, demanding answers.
"Don't stop now. Keep going~"
Unbothered, Araki stood firm, his expression unchanged, even motioning for her to attack again.
In that moment, Araki's understanding of his Fullbring evolved to a new level.
He realized: his Fullbring could be activated both actively and passively.
If the damage he receives isn't life-threatening, the Fullbring won't activate on its own. It remains an active skill — something he chooses to use.
But once the injury becomes fatal, or if he dies, the Fullbring automatically shifts into a passive state — activating whether he wants it to or not.
This dual-mode function is a stroke of genius.
It prevents the Fullbring from being wasted on minor cuts, which could otherwise trigger the shared pain of empathy and make all connected parties suffer unnecessarily.
At the same time, it ensures that if Araki — or any linked individual — dies, the Fullbring still activates and saves them, rather than being lost due to unconsciousness or death.