"Let me introduce myself. I am Oi Rimi, the current Eighteenth Seat of the Ninth Division. Today, I will be leading everyone in the Soul Burial ceremony. Now, please come forward in an orderly fashion to receive your Asauchi!"
On the stage stood a middle-aged woman in a soul reaper uniform, her freckled face animated as she spoke at length, filling the air with practiced pleasantries. Beside her, two male Shinigami carried large bundles, which they dropped heavily onto the ground. As the bundles were opened, two large bags filled with Asauchi were revealed.
"Everyone, line up and come forward to receive your Asauchi. After that, you will use the Asauchi you receive to enter the Human World and participate in the Soul Burial."
The young male Shinigami with the backpack spoke loudly, his voice carrying clearly across the formation.
"Why does this sword have so many nicks? Can I exchange it?"
A petite female student examined the Asauchi in her hands and stepped forward, attempting to request an exchange. The moment she spoke up, the students below began to stir, voices rising as many clamored to exchange their swords as well.
"Silence!"
Seeing the situation escalate, Oi Rimi, the Eighteenth Seat of the Ninth Division, released her spiritual pressure, forcefully suppressing the commotion and regaining control of the scene.
Although the faint pressure made Ito Makoto inwardly amused, he could not laugh. His mind was occupied by Ichimaru Gin's warning: Be careful of the Soul Burial.
There was no doubt in his heart that Aizen was once again setting something in motion.
"How is it that wherever I go, something always has to happen?"
Ito Makoto muttered under his breath, feeling a mixture of resignation and vigilance.
"Rest assured. The Asauchi being distributed today are temporary Asauchi stored within the Spiritual Arts Academy for generations, specifically for assessments. Once you officially join a squad, you will be granted your own exclusive Zanpakuto."
As soon as Oi Rimi finished speaking, the restless crowd immediately quieted down.
Before long, Ito Makoto stepped forward and received an Asauchi that appeared old but well-maintained, its blade still intact despite the signs of age.
…
Standing before the Senkaimon, Oi Rimi carefully looked over the assembled group of Shinigami cadets and began counting.
"For this Soul Burial assessment, thirty-three people were scheduled to participate. Thirty-three people are present. No one is absent."
After confirming that the numbers and personnel matched perfectly, Oi Rimi began explaining the rules of the Soul Burial examination.
"The Technological Development Bureau has selected a suitable area in the Human World and erected a barrier. Each of you will be assigned a dummy containing a specific spiritual energy signature. Your mission is to protect the dummy while eliminating the Hollows that appear."
"Your final score will be determined by the extent of damage sustained by the dummy. If the dummy is destroyed, or if you fail to defeat the Hollows, you will fail the assessment and must return to the Spiritual Arts Academy for another year of study."
"Next, I will distribute World-Breaking Pills. These items are for emergency use only, allowing you to break the barrier and escape. Be aware that the moment a World-Breaking Pill is used, the assessment will be immediately judged as a failure."
"Even though we have made extensive preparations, unexpected situations may still arise. Everyone must remain mentally prepared."
As these words settled in, many of the Shinigami cadets felt a surge of nervous tension. Even so, this assessment was a mandatory step toward becoming an official Shinigami, and no one chose to retreat.
"Since there are no questions, we will proceed!"
Seeing that everyone was ready, Oi Rimi waved her hand decisively. A massive portal slowly opened within the void, streaks of white light rippling outward like waves.
Is this the Senkaimon? Hueco Mundo really does look more imposing.
Yekawa commented inwardly.
…
Human World, Mihua Town.
The night sky was quiet, scattered stars hanging high above. Below, rolling mountain ranges stretched endlessly, bathed in faint starlight and enveloped by a carefully constructed barrier.
Suddenly, a massive portal opened in the sky above the mountains. As it split apart, figures stepped through one after another.
Three Shinigami in black soul reaper uniforms led the way, followed by a group of young men and women dressed in white-and-blue and white-and-red academy attire.
As they gazed upon the unfamiliar landscape of the Human World below, the Shinigami cadets could not help but exclaim in admiration.
At that moment, Oi Rimi stepped forward and addressed the group.
"Your assessment will take place within the mountain range below. Your performance will be evaluated based on completion time and the degree of damage sustained by your assigned dummy. I hope all of you achieve excellent results, as this will directly affect your future rankings and promotions within your respective squads."
"Now, I declare the Soul Burial assessment officially begun!"
At Oi Rimi's command, the Shinigami beside her flicked his wrist, releasing thirty-three spirit orbs that shot outward, each one locking onto a participating cadet.
Ito Makoto received one of the spirit orbs. Guided by its movement, he descended rapidly and landed within a dense jungle.
Upon landing, the spirit orb transformed into a dummy emitting faint spiritual light, and an invisible barrier immediately rose around it.
"Roar!"
A sudden roar echoed through the forest as a Freshman Hollow lunged from behind, charging straight toward the faintly glowing dummy.
Seeing this, Ito Makoto did not even bother drawing his sword. He calmly raised his finger and pointed forward.
"Hadō #4: White Lightning!"
A bolt of pure white lightning erupted, instantly blasting the Freshman Hollow into dust. As the Hollow dissipated, the invisible barrier surrounding Ito Makoto vanished as well.
"It seems everything is proceeding smoothly, and no accidents have occurred."
Earlier, Ito Makoto had maintained a high level of tension, prepared for anything. So far, however, nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Is this Ito Makoto, the genius who completed six years of coursework in a single year? Truly impressive."
Observing from above, Oi Rimi naturally noticed Ito Makoto's performance and could not help but express her admiration. From the moment he descended into the barrier to the completion of his task, the process appeared methodical, yet the entire sequence had taken no more than three minutes.
Just as Ito Makoto prepared to regroup with the examiners, a sudden, unfamiliar spiritual pressure surged into his senses.
"Get out of the way!"
Ito Makoto shouted toward the three examiners.
Almost simultaneously, a massive rupture tore open behind them. Three enormous tentacles burst forth from Hueco Mundo itself, striking viciously toward the backs of the three Shinigami.
Oi Rimi reacted instantly, twisting aside at the last moment. Though her left shoulder was pierced, she narrowly avoided a fatal strike. The two Shinigami beside her were not as fortunate and were impaled through the back by the remaining tentacles.
"Damn it!"
Regaining her footing, Oi Rimi retreated rapidly. Before her eyes, a grotesque, fleshy mass covered in writhing tentacles crawled out from the torn space.
"This is… an incomplete Arrancar Gillian!"
Feeling the chaotic and violent spiritual pressure radiating from the monstrous entity, Ito Makoto recognized its true nature at a glance.
"Slay it, Twin Scythes!"
Oi Rimi shouted her release command. Her Zanpakuto split into two throwing knives, which she crossed together before hurling them forward.
The Twin Scythes struck the creature's surface but failed to pierce its Hierro, sending sparks flying instead.
In response, the fleshy mass lashed out, its tentacles surging toward Oi Rimi. At that critical moment—
"Hadō #31: Akahō!"
Ito Makoto released an unchanted Red Flame Cannon. A burst of crimson fire tore through the air, instantly incinerating several thick tentacles into blackened ash.
As a Shinigami, this clone could not simply stand by and watch the examiner and fellow cadets be slaughtered before his eyes. He acted without hesitation.
In the next instant, cries of alarm erupted from below. Ito Makoto looked down in shock.
Within every barrier, the Freshman Hollows originally meant for the assessment were undergoing varying degrees of Arrancar transformation!
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