Anime/Manga: Bankai Starting with Demon Slayer

The bird was suddenly awakened from the boundless chaos, and touched its wounds with a start, only to find that they had already healed.

No, it's not exactly a cure, because the space he's in now isn't the real world.

Without needing to look closely, it's clear that he's sitting on the street in the Xudiao district; this can only be his mental world.

He turned his head and, sure enough, found the gaunt boy who had appeared before, sitting indifferently at the entrance of a house.

Where's the raccoon? Why can't I see that raccoon wolf?

"It's disappointed in you and doesn't really want to see you." The boy saw through the bird's thoughts, or rather, he didn't need to look at it specifically to understand what the bird was thinking.

Feiniao felt a dryness in his throat, and the boy quietly handed him some food and water.

Drinking water is emergency food made from the spiritual particles and moisture in the atmosphere.

As souls who have already died, the residents of Rukongai can survive without eating solid food, but at the very least, they need food and water to replenish their consumed spiritual energy.

Otherwise, as the spirit particles gradually wither, at first they will feel hungry, and later even the feeling of hunger will disappear, and finally they will completely vanish from the world.

Normally, drinking water is a public asset, and at the very least, it should ensure that residents do not starve to death.

However, starting from the Xudiao area, the further into the area, the more chaotic it became. Even food and water were monopolized and sold as commodities.

The birds of the past must have endured countless blows and beatings to barely survive on food and water.

Things have changed, and seeing this in my own mental world inevitably evokes some feelings of nostalgia.

Gurgle...

Asuka swallowed this once most precious resource, feeling her depleted spiritual energy slowly replenished, and her body felt more comfortable.

"Can you tell me what you're thinking?" The boy leaned against the door, his eyes calm and unwavering. "You told me you've found something more important than just surviving. Does that mean you're willing to take a knife for someone else?"

Asuka did not refute this.

He himself wasn't entirely clear why he made that move.

It felt like her body acted before her brain could react, shielding Kyojuro Rengoku from a fatal blow.

He thought for a long time before finally speaking: "...Perhaps I was too arrogant in thinking I wouldn't die."

“I think so too.” The boy gazed at the gray sky, seemingly unsurprised by the bird’s answer.

If it weren't for the life force that the raccoon forcibly stole from the demon to sustain Asuka's fatally wounded body, he would have collapsed long ago.

Asuka stood up and tucked the long, thick snake around her waist into her hair.

The blade of the Nichirin Blade has turned colorless again.

"So, back then, was the power seized from us or from you...?"

At that moment, her Zanpakuto became as hot as flames, and Asuka guessed that the monstrous creature had stolen Akaza's demonic power and ignited the spiritual particles within it.

If Upper Moon Three hadn't repeatedly and deliberately severed his limbs, the intense heat from them would have almost completely suppressed his regeneration.

"Asuka, what is your wish?"

The boy, still gazing at the sky, interrupted the bird's question: "You told me so firmly that you wanted to escape that terrible place, but now you want to go back?"

He turned his head in confusion and met Asuka's gaze: "I once thought your wish was to live."

"Whether it's escaping from there or fighting demons, it's all inextricably linked to your wishes..."

"But going back to Soul Society to seek revenge? I think that's no different from suicide."

The boy's gaze was deep and mysterious; even when Asuka tried to probe him with her spiritual pressure, she felt she couldn't see the bottom of it.

"So, bird, what is it that you crave?"

Upon hearing this, Asuka's mental world began to destabilize, and even the bricks and tiles of Rukongai trembled in response to the boy's question.

Asuka frowned, and replied without thinking for long: "These two are essentially the same thing."

"Really? I don't think so."

"I wanted to escape that dark and gloomy experimental lab so that one day I could go back and end it all myself."

"...You're a bit too confident in yourself, Asuka."

"I don't believe in myself, I believe in you."

These words caused the boy's expression to change for the first time.

Asuka's gaze remained calm: "Although many things have developed to the point where I don't even know who I am anymore, I know that you and Fuzhuo have always been there."

"With your help, I can become stronger and have the possibility of fulfilling my wish."

"You ask if my wishes have changed, and I can tell you definitively: never."

The boy fell silent, trying to listen to the bird's inner voice, and the answer he received was the same as what he heard.

The two stared at each other for a long time, their breathing almost inaudible.

Finally, the boy let out a heavy sigh:

"Sigh... I hope we made the right choice, or maybe it's just fate that led us to abuse the umbrella!"

He raised his hand and gently placed his palm across the air on the bird's chest.

Uh--

Suddenly, the bird felt a sharp pain.

He looked down and saw blood gushing from his chest, his entire chest bone caved in!

"This is..."

Asuka remembered that this was the spot where Akaza's final destructive attack had hit her, a fatal wound!

Speaking of which, if her injuries as a rogue spirit don't heal, will she die completely...? Was this body prepared for her by Aizen? Or...? He created it for her? Asuka didn't know.

"...Asuka, actually, if you give up this wish, no one can force you."

The boy murmured, as streams of extremely pure and domineering spiritual energy flowed from his hand, continuously pouring into the bird's body: "Think about it."

Visibly, his bones were regrowing, his muscle tissue was starting to suture itself, and even his blood was flowing back!

In the blink of an eye, the injury that could have been fatal had been completely healed!

Asuka felt the astonishing power in disbelief, and looked at the boy with suspicion:

"I've always been curious: who are you? And why can you speak to me from inside my heart?"

"...You'll understand, Asuka. Trust me, trust yourself."

Om-! !

As the boy's voice faded, Asuka's mental world finally began to crumble.

He knew that this was the other party's way of telling him to leave, and that they intended for him to return to the real world.

“Remember my words, Asuka, you can give up this wish at any time.”

In the darkness, these were the last words Asuka heard.

When Asuka regained consciousness, she was already lying in her familiar Japanese-style room.

Ornaments, incense, and the rustling of the trees in the courtyard.

Is it the Butterfly Mansion...?

Snapped!

What fell?

Asuka struggled to lift her head and saw that Kanzaki Aoi, a girl with twin ponytails, was holding medicine at the doorway and staring at her in astonishment.

"Oh my god!! Asuka-sama is awake!! Quick, call Butterfly-neechan!!!"

This exclamation woke up the butterfly house, which was already in the dark.

In an instant, the familiar members of the Butterfly Mansion rushed in, checking Asuka's various vital signs.

"Body temperature is normal!"

"Heartbeat is normal!"

"The bone... Good heavens, it's healed! It's a miracle!"

Seeing their stunned expressions, Asuka could probably imagine that it was her unusual recovery speed that had frightened them again.

He endured the dizziness in his brain and slowly asked, "What time is it now?"

"Lord Asuka! You've been unconscious for three months!"

Three months! Oh my...

Asuka thought she must have slept for quite a while, but she didn't expect it to be this long. She was a little anxious and wanted to get up, but she felt sore all over.

It seems that although that guy healed my wounds, he couldn't get rid of the lingering pain...

boom! !

The door was violently flung open once again, and a figure stumbled in.

No need to go out of your way to see it; you can tell just by looking at these special, fragrant birds.

Shinobu Kocho has arrived.

He trembled as he stretched his hand out from under the covers, raising it high, extending only his little finger:

"As promised, I have returned."

Asuka, mimicking Tanjiro, forced a smile: "I protected everyone, no one died..."

"You idiot!"

Shinobu Kocho, who originally had a lot to say, laughed in exasperation at Asuka's pathetic state.

There seemed to be tears glistening in the corners of her smiling eyes.

Chapter 64 Arashi Pillar

Three months is enough time for a lot to happen.

Kyojuro Rengoku was seriously injured, especially Akaza's last kick, which broke his sternum and almost pierced his heart.

Fortunately, Tanjiro and the others only suffered minor injuries. They rushed Asuka and Kyojuro to a nearby sanatorium for emergency treatment.

In addition, even while unconscious, Kyojuro Rengoku was using concentrated breathing to stop the bleeding from the damaged blood vessels in his body, which allowed him to hold on until the rescue arrived.

He is now out of danger and is recuperating in the purgatory.

As for birds, the situation is much more serious.

He had multiple fractures throughout his body, and his chest cavity was completely caved in, which terrified those who treated him.

If it weren't for his continued weak breathing and the fact that his fatal wounds were slowly healing under unbelievable gazes, everyone would have thought he was truly going to die this time.

The word "miracle" has been used far too many times to describe the boy.

Tanjiro and his friends were given new missions to continue their training.

The next morning, the bird was able to sit up on its own.

Looking at Shinobu Kocho, who had brought him a fruit basket, he said in a hoarse voice, "Won't you sleep a little longer? I've been busy all night."

"...You really scared everyone this time, Asuka." Shinobu Kocho gave him a slightly reproachful look, placing the fruit basket on his bedside table. "I almost thought you..."

"Also, Mr. Purgatory told me to say to you after you wake up: Thank you very much for your help."

Asuka rubbed her still aching chest and picked up an orange: "Is everyone alright?"

Shinobu checked Asuka's heartbeat and smiled helplessly: "Don't worry, everyone is safe. You protected everyone."

Hmm... Asuka nodded and remained silent.

Seeing his expression, Shinobu Kocho asked with some concern, "I heard that this time the demon is an Upper Moon?"

"Yes, Upper Moon Three."

"...That's terrifying. Just the third one was enough to severely injure you and Mr. Purgatory." She murmured, a more determined look rising in her eyes: "I will study even harder, and I will definitely find the deadly poison of the Demon King Wucan!"

"Poison?" Asuka turned her head and asked curiously, "Have you always used poison in battle?"

Thinking about it carefully, apart from seeing Shinobu Kocho confront Giyu Tomioka, Asuka has never seen Shinobu Kocho make a move.

Shinobu Kocho drew her Nichirin Blade, the blade completely missing, leaving only the tip.