"Araki, don't you dare think for a second that just because you managed to defeat that wicked woman, Unohana, you're guaranteed to win against me." Saito declared confidently.
Her voice carried a sharp, cutting edge, much like the blade she had just drawn from her side.
As soon as she unsheathed her Zanpakuto, her entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation. She was no longer the seemingly approachable and composed individual she appeared to be moments ago.
Instead, a dark and oppressive aura emanated from her, as though she had been replaced by a vengeful spirit from the depths of hell. It was as if a deadly predator had emerged from the shadows, her presence exuding an undeniable, bloodthirsty menace.
In truth, ever since Saito learned of Araki's victory over Unohana, she had been itching for a chance to test his strength. She harbored a burning desire to clash swords with him, to experience firsthand the power that allowed him to overcome one of the most formidable warriors she knew.
Yet, her motivations were not entirely rooted in mere curiosity or admiration. There was an additional layer to her determination—one that concerned their future together. She was intent on establishing her position in their household dynamic, staking her claim for dominance in what she deemed to be a necessary battle for future hierarchy.
Of course, whether she would ultimately secure dominance as the head of their household or find herself relegated to the subordinate position remained uncertain. This battle would decide much more than physical strength; it would shape the foundations of their relationship and its balance of power.
"Come at me," Araki said with a slight nod, his expression calm and unreadable. His composed demeanor only added fuel to Saito's fiery determination as she readied her blade. However, rather than taking an immediate fighting stance, Araki turned his attention to his system interface, activating a specific feature with deliberate precision.
He opened the character awakening and binding menu for his Fullbring ability, carefully navigating through the options presented on the glowing interface.
[Select Character to Bind: (1) Unohana Yachiru (Bound), (2) Saito Furofushi (Not bound)]
"Bind," he commanded in his mind, directing his thoughts to select option (2).
Using will, he completed the binding process with Saito. As the connection solidified, he felt an unmistakable shift in his spiritual energy.
Just as he had theorized earlier, his Fullbring ability, Eternal Blooming Flower, was capable of binding to multiple individuals.
Now, in addition to his established bond with Unohana, he had successfully created a second link with Saito.
In that instant, he sensed an entirely unique connection forming between him and Saito—a bond that transcended the physical realm and extended into the spiritual plane.
"What did you just do to me, Araki?!" Saito demanded, her sharp gaze locking onto him. She had felt the momentary shift in her spiritual essence, though she could not yet comprehend its implications.
The shift left her feeling both unsettled and intrigued.
"Don't worry. It's a good thing," Araki replied with a faint smile, his tone calm and reassuring.
"A… good thing?" Saito repeated, her brows knitting together in skepticism. She mulled over his words for a few seconds, trying to piece together their meaning, but ultimately decided to shelve the thought.
Whatever he had done, she was determined to press forward. Tightening her grip on her Zanpakuto, she charged toward him.
Even as Saito's blade came hurtling toward him with unrelenting force, Araki remained perfectly still. His body was relaxed, his stance unwavering. Not a single muscle twitched in response to the attack.
It was as though he were completely unfazed by the sight of her gleaming blade slicing through the air toward his neck.
In the split second before her blade reached him, Saito made a subtle adjustment. Instead of aiming directly at his neck, she shifted her blade slightly downward.
Her sword grazed his shoulder, cutting deep and sending a spray of crimson into the air. The strike had landed, drawing blood, but Araki did not so much as flinch.
"Why didn't you dodge?!" Saito shouted, her voice tinged with a mix of frustration and confusion. With a swift motion, she retreated a few steps, her stance still poised for battle.
"Because it's pointless," Araki replied matter-of-factly. His tone was steady, almost nonchalant, as though her question needed no further explanation.
Even as he spoke, he activated his Fullbring ability. The wound on his shoulder, which had only just been inflicted, began to heal at an astonishing speed. The torn flesh knit itself back together, the crimson stain disappearing as if it had never existed. Within moments, his shoulder was as good as new.
"What… what is this?!" Saito's eyes widened in disbelief. She had never witnessed such an extraordinary display of regenerative power.
Before she could process what she had seen, a sharp pain shot through her own shoulder. The unexpected sensation made her wince and clutch at the area, though upon inspection, she found no visible wound.
"Wait… am I injured?" She murmured, confusion clouding her usually sharp eyes. She ran her fingers over her shoulder, searching for any sign of damage, but there was nothing—no blood, no cut, no evidence of harm.
"What's happening to me?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with frustration. For a brief moment, she stood frozen, unsure of how to proceed.
"Let's continue," Araki said calmly, his expression as unreadable as ever. He motioned for her to attack again, his stance unchanging.
In that moment, Araki gained a deeper understanding of his Fullbring ability. Beyond the capabilities listed in the system, he discovered a hidden passive effect known as shared sensation.
While Eternal Blooming Flower allowed both him and those bound to him to recover from any injury—at the cost of their spiritual energy—the Shared Sensation effect ensured that the pain of any injury would be experienced by all bound individuals.
This unexpected revelation added an entirely new dimension to the ability's use.
In theory, this passive effect was a limitation designed to prevent abuse of the Fullbring's regenerative power.
By sharing the pain of injuries, it discouraged reckless and excessive reliance on the ability.
However, for Araki, this feature was less of a restriction and more of an advantage. Thanks to his Zanpakuto, Yakushi Ruriko, which could nullify his pain receptors, Araki was immune to the effects of shared sensation. His bound allies, however, were not.
With this newfound understanding, Araki realized the full potential of his ability.
In any internal conflict or battle involving bound individuals, he would hold an overwhelming advantage. The pain-sharing mechanism ensured that any harm inflicted on him would be felt equally by his opponents, turning their own attacks into double-edged swords.
"Damn it! What is going on?!" Saito cursed, her confidence beginning to waver. She couldn't shake the unsettling realization that her attacks were causing her more pain than they were inflicting on him.
Determined to overcome this inexplicable phenomenon, she charged at him again, this time targeting his foot.
Her blade pierced his flesh, the sharp edge sinking into his foot with a satisfying 'shing.' However, the moment her strike landed, a searing pain erupted in her own foot.
"Ah! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" Saito cried out, her voice laced with genuine agony. She quickly withdrew her blade, unable to bear the intensity of the pain.
Meanwhile, Araki's wound healed itself almost instantly, the damaged tissue regenerating at an astonishing pace. Within seconds, his foot was as good as new, leaving no trace of the injury.
"Why?! Why is this happening?!" Saito's frustration boiled over, tears of confusion and anger welling up in her eyes. She gritted her teeth, her grip on her sword tightening as she glared at him.
"Keep going. Don't stop," he urged her, his calm demeanor unshaken. Despite the chaos of the situation, he remained entirely composed, as though he were merely observing an experiment unfold.
By now, Araki had confirmed another detail about his ability. His Fullbring could be activated both passively and actively.
If an injury wasn't life-threatening, the ability wouldn't automatically activate, leaving the choice to Araki. This prevented unnecessary pain sharing for minor injuries.
However, if a fatal blow occurred, the ability would trigger immediately, ensuring his survival.
For Araki, this discovery further solidified his confidence in the practicality of his ability.
—
"What is this?!" Saito was nearly in tears, frustrated by her inability to understand the phenomenon.
Without waiting for her to recover, he urged, "Keep attacking."
Saito hesitated for a moment before clenching her teeth and charging again.
The battle in the dojo continued, with Saito growing increasingly exasperated while Araki remained calm. It was clear who was establishing dominance in this fight—and in their future household hierarchy.
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I posted another chapter just to shamelessly beg for your powerstones... Please
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