At the same time, as Ōmaeda Marechiyo made his appearance, his Spiritual Pressure, akin to Conqueror's Haki, instantly swept across the entire venue.
The already silent stadium became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and even some of the Central Academy graduates who had been eager to challenge a Seat Officer to secure a bright future instantly turned into national-level retreat artists.
It made sense; those Geniuses who had been exceptionally appointed as Seat Officers during their internships wouldn't embarrass their future colleagues in such a setting.
And those opportunists who harbored fantasies saw all their illusions vanish the moment Ōmaeda Marechiyo released his Spiritual Pressure.
A Genius who makes a spectacular debut is rare.
Seeing that no one had come up to challenge him after he took the stage, Ōmaeda Marechiyo couldn't help but furrow his thick brows and gruffly said with dissatisfaction,
"Is this all the level this year's graduates have? How cowardly."
"Shinigami isn't a game of house. If this is all you've got, I advise you to go back to the Central Academy and train for another year!"
Upon hearing this, aside from Kuchiki Byakuya and Ichimaru Gin, who maintained a calm and composed expression, expressions of shame and anger simultaneously appeared on the Faces of these Central Academy graduates.
Some of the more impulsive ones gripped the Asauchi at their waists tightly.
However, all this shame and anger transformed into a helpless acceptance of reality.
No one took a step forward.
The disparity in strength was too great.
Under the Vice-Captain level Spiritual Pressure, simply standing still already made it difficult for everyone to move.
Yet, even so, a flicker of stubbornness and unwillingness remained in their eyes.
"Move! Damn it! My legs won't listen!"
"Anyone, please, go up and challenge him!"
"Damn it! I… I'm not… a coward!"
Graduates who could enter the Spiritual Arts Academy and successfully complete six years of study could truly be called the Chosen Ones of the Soul Society. While immense strength might make them recognize the gap between them, it couldn't extinguish the fire in their hearts.
After all, if young people aren't spirited, what are they called young people?
"I'll go."
Just as these Central Academy graduates gritted their teeth, determined to take a step forward and prove they weren't the cowards Ōmaeda Marechiyo spoke of, a light voice abruptly broke the "silence" and reached everyone's ears.
Holy cow, a hero!
These four words could probably describe the feelings of these Central Academy graduates at this moment. Even Kuchiki Byakuya, who had remained calm and composed, and Ichimaru Gin, who looked like he was watching a show, both cast curious glances.
A student wearing a Central Academy uniform and with his Face covered by cloth slowly walked out of the crowd.
However, as he passed by the Central Academy graduates, who were like immovable statues, and emerged from the ranks, the students of Class Seven, including their homeroom teacher, were stunned.
"Sakamaki… Sakamaki!?"
Incredulous expressions appeared on the Faces of everyone in Class Seven. No one had expected that the one to stand out at such a moment would be the usual underachiever.
Ignoring the surprised gazes, Nagasawa Masaru continued forward, slowly untying the cloth wrapped around his Face.
There was no longer any need to pretend.
Seeing that a challenger had finally arrived, Ōmaeda Marechiyo's Face revealed a hint of satisfaction. Especially upon seeing the masked student's steady, unhurried steps, he couldn't help but praise, "Oh? Finally, someone decent."
However, in the Face of Ōmaeda Marechiyo's praise, Nagasawa Masaru remained silent, simply flinging the unraveled layers of cloth to the side.
His uninhibited posture was like Fujima Kenji taking off his jacket, ready to enter the game.
His towering figure, in the eyes of all Central Academy graduates, seemed to emit a dazzling Holy Light.
Hero, appearing.jpg
Seeing Nagasawa Masaru remain silent, Ōmaeda Marechiyo raised an eyebrow, then didn't mind. He simply put one hand on his hip and lightly beckoned to Nagasawa Masaru with the other, saying softly with a relaxed expression, "Whether it's Kido, or swordsmanship, or even Hakuda, use everything you know…"
Before Ōmaeda Marechiyo could finish his sentence, not only he but also the Captains and Vice-Captains of the Gotei 13 observing from the stage suddenly realized that the young man who had just been standing in the center of the arena had suddenly vanished.
In just an instant, Ōmaeda Marechiyo's pupils contracted to pinpricks, and a brief moment of shock coupled with an intense sense of danger instantly made his scalp tingle.
It was important to know that his Second Division was the Stealth Force of the Gotei 13. He could even boast that in the Gotei 13, when it came to the mastery of Shunpo, the members of other divisions were trash.
Yet, in this situation, a somewhat absurd thought surfaced in Ōmaeda Marechiyo's mind.
This young man's Shunpo was actually three times more terrifying than his own Captain's!?
However, this thought had barely surfaced in Ōmaeda Marechiyo's mind before he quickly dismissed it.
What a joke, Captain Yoruichi earned the esteemed title "Goddess of Flash Yoruichi" simply by relying on her Shunpo. How could there be anyone faster than her!?
Nevertheless, while he thought so internally, his body was surprisingly honest.
Upon sensing the anomaly, Ōmaeda Marechiyo instinctively wanted to create distance first before making any plans.
Unfortunately, he still underestimated Nagasawa Masaru at this moment.
Who was Tenjiro Kirinji?
Although he joined Squad Zero by virtue of his skilled bathing techniques, before joining Squad Zero, he was known as "Swift Thunder Tenjiro."
Regardless of whether Swift Thunder or Goddess of Flash was stronger, it was clear that neither of them was an existence Ōmaeda Marechiyo could contend with.
Everything seemed to happen in a flash. Ōmaeda Marechiyo's body didn't even have time to make the slightest reaction before a slender fist lightly landed on his lower abdomen.
"Ah TUA! @￥＃%￥＃…%!@…!@＃"
Ōmaeda Marechiyo was stunned.
Both mentally and physically.
If all the Central Academy graduates hadn't clearly seen how he entered the arena earlier,
then when he was sent flying by Nagasawa Masaru's punch, they similarly didn't clearly see how he exited!
"Whoosh!"
At this moment, the Class Seven homeroom teacher was dumbfounded.
The Class Seven students, who had just been comforting "Sakamaki Hiroshi," fearing he might become reclusive due to ill health and a bleak future, were also dumbfounded.
Even the two young Geniuses, Kuchiki Byakuya and Ichimaru Gin, had their pupils constricted due to extreme shock.
In an instant, the entire venue was silent.