Captain! The request from Shin'ō Academy to use the Senkaimon has been approved, and it's being overseen by Captain Aizen of the Fifth Division. The latest class of graduates is ready to pass through the gate and head to the World of the Living for their Hollow-hunting exam.
"Tch… honestly, if it weren't for an unexpected issue with our new experimental Hollows, we wouldn't have had to set up such a chaotic field exam. Forget it—since Captain Aizen himself is leading, there's no danger. Authorize them to open the gate."
"Yes, sir! Right away!"
"I just hope this new graduating class produces a few people with research talent. Otherwise, it's going to be nothing but endless overtime for us in the Research Division. We're already drowning in work—when are we ever supposed to rest? It's enough to drive me insane!"
The Soul Society existed as a world of its own, separate from the human world. To mortals, it was something like a hidden realm, or perhaps like the underworld spoken of in legends. Every human soul, once it departed the body, was destined to pass into this place.
Most souls entered properly, becoming residents of the Soul Society, or merging with its very fabric.
But others strayed from the path. Those who fell into corruption became twisted beings—Hollows. They were creatures of destruction and bloodlust, existing only to devour souls.
The moment they stepped into the Living World, the new graduates felt it. The air was heavy, tainted with corruption, the spiritual pressure of Hollows drifting everywhere, mixed with faint traces of Shinigami reiatsu scattered across the city.
Aizen drew his zanpakutō and swung casually at the sky above. The blade whispered through the air like flowing water, and in that same instant, a monstrous Hollow lurking overhead was cleaved in two.
Hinamo–no, Hinamori Momo, gasped and covered her mouth in shock. "A Hollow was hiding above us? Thank goodness Captain Aizen was here—otherwise we'd already be in danger."
It wasn't really surprising. Their spiritual senses weren't sharp enough to notice such a threat. That was why Momo's relief was so genuine.
Qingshan narrowed his eyes and studied the slain Hollow. The mask cracked, its life extinguished, and within a few breaths, it scattered into fragments, vanishing into the wind.
Aizen clapped his hands softly, drawing everyone's attention. His calm, elegant smile carried warmth as he spoke:
"Students, now that we've entered the Living World, you must be prepared to face danger. A Shinigami cannot grow stronger without facing risk. Here, I truly hope you can grow quickly—for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads need your strength. Only with you can we better protect the people of this world."
Momo listened with shining eyes, hanging on his every word like a devoted follower. She looked ready to pull out a notebook and start taking notes.
Qingshan only smirked to himself. He wasn't foolish enough to interrupt Aizen. As a mere student, he had no standing or power to cut across the words of a captain.
Soon, the groups split. Qingshan was given command of one-third of the graduates, and after saying farewell to Aizen and Momo, he led his squad in another direction. Along the way, he couldn't help but frown in thought.
"Isn't it safer to stick together? Why deliberately split into three squads? And seriously, Aizen himself, one of the captains, is leading a squad. Anyone with him is guaranteed to pass. That's basically cheating. Damn, what rotten luck."
He chuckled darkly to himself.
"As for Momo's squad… those poor bastards are going to suffer. That girl's strength is… pathetic. Honestly, she's a disgrace to the rank of lieutenant. Cute, sure—but useless. A flower vase, nothing more."
Meanwhile, Aizen walked among his squad with his usual smile, occasionally explaining the nature of Hollows. When another Hollow lunged from the shadows, he dispatched it in a single casual strike, then feigned surprise.
"Ah, forgive me. I reacted out of habit. I should have left that one for you to fight—after all, your exam requires you to defeat Hollows yourselves. My apologies."
"Captain Aizen, no—we should be thanking you!" a student blurted. "We weren't prepared at all just now. If you hadn't stepped in, there would've been casualties."
"Exactly! Thank you, Captain Aizen! I… I want to join the Fifth Division after graduation! Please accept me!"
Aizen only chuckled softly as more students voiced their gratitude.
"Listen, everyone! Captain Aizen is right—we can't rely on him for everything. From now on, the battles are ours!"
"That's right! This isn't the Academy's mock Hollows anymore—we're fighting real ones. Let's give it our best!"
Adjusting his glasses, Aizen stepped aside and gestured down the street.
"There's a Hollow presence ahead. Its reiatsu isn't too strong. If you all work together, it should be within your abilities."
A strong student—one ranked among the top of the class, much like Qingshan—stepped forward and nodded.
"I sense it too. That Hollow should be within our reach. Everyone, follow me—we'll take it down together!"
Every Shinigami's reiatsu had its own signature. With training, one could distinguish them and track their sources. Even in a crowd of thousands, spiritual pressure made it possible to find an enemy instantly.
Watching the students march off, Aizen's lips curled into the faintest of smiles. His voice was a whisper, a murmur meant for no one but himself:
"Will the rats hiding in the shadows come out, I wonder? I look forward to seeing what surprises await."
Qingshan's squad, numbering just over twenty, consisted of students who had all mastered the basics. Each had learned kidō at least up to Level 30 and had been certified in swordsmanship by their instructors—minimum requirements for the exam.
As for shunpo and hakuda, those depended more on individual talent. Most Shinigami focused on swordsmanship and kidō, with shunpo as a useful support.
Hakuda, though? Almost no one cared for it. Who needed hand-to-hand when you had a zanpakutō? In practice, it was the least respected of the four fundamentals.
But strangely, no Hollows appeared. Qingshan's squad wandered fruitlessly, sensing nothing. Restlessness built, and finally, one of the stronger graduates snapped:
"Hey! If you can't even find us a Hollow, then stop dragging us around. With our skills, we can handle them ourselves. Why waste time following you? We should just split up."
Another chimed in immediately:
He's right. Qingshan, your strength is only a little higher than mine. Ordinary Hollows? I can handle them just fine with my asauchi. I say we split too!