บท 211: The Exam Begins
Buzz!
A wooden door materialized out of thin air in the World of the Living, quickly swinging open to reveal a white, swirling portal—a Senkaimon.
Over thirty Shinigami clad in black shihakushō, along with more than a hundred students in white academy uniforms, emerged from the gate.
After Ailin, the last one to exit, stepped through, the Senkaimon faded from sight.
"Students, the area within a 0.5 reiri radius from here is your examination site. Your task is to patrol this city for one month. I trust you all understand the duties and responsibilities of a Shinigami, so I won't elaborate further. Now, disperse!"
With Ailin's final command, the Shinigami and students spread out in all directions.
Once the students were gone, Ailin retrieved a Denreishinki, a communication device, from his pocket. He pressed a few buttons and held it to his ear.
"Moshi moshi? Section Chief Inaba?"
"Section Chief Inaba, this is the 5th Division's command center for the Shin'ō Academy graduation exam. The Shinigami and students are all in position."
Duang! Duang! Duang!
"Captain Aizen? I apologize, Captain. I was being careless."
As Ailin finished speaking, the sound of something being knocked over came through the Denreishinki. The initially impatient voice on the other end became noticeably more deferential.
"No harm done," Ailin said dismissively. "I didn't expect you to personally handle the Shin'ō Academy exam this year. These students are quite fortunate."
"Captain Aizen, since you're ready, we'll begin setting up the examination site."
"Yes, that's why I contacted you."
"Of course, Captain Aizen. Please wait a moment. We'll be ready shortly."
"Yes, yes. Good, good."
After hanging up, Kageroza Inaba let out a sigh of relief.
Although Captain Aizen was widely known for his approachable and affable nature, Inaba knew that none of those who had reached the rank of captain were simple individuals.
To judge someone's character and habits solely based on hearsay was a cardinal sin for a researcher. It was essential to gather information firsthand.
Therefore, Inaba preferred to err on the side of caution, ensuring that he showed the utmost respect, lest he incur the displeasure of a captain.
"Section Chief Inaba, how much Hollow bait should we deploy for this year's exam?" one of the Shinigami under Inaba's command asked.
"With Captain Aizen personally overseeing the exam, there must be someone he values among this batch of students. In that case, increase the amount of Hollow bait fivefold compared to last year."
"Huh? Section Chief Inaba, why deploy more Hollow bait with Captain Aizen present? Aren't you afraid he'll report you when he returns?"
"You fool," Inaba scoffed. "Captain Aizen is personally protecting the students. If there aren't enough powerful Hollows to allow him to showcase his strength, how will he impress the student he favors?"
Since the Shin'ō Academy graduation exam had been upgraded, the workload of the 12th Division had increased significantly. Previously, they only needed to create a few modified souls, infuse them with Hollow reiatsu, and transform them into "Gikon," artificial bodies, to produce "weak Hollows" even weaker than small Hollows.
This task was a trivial matter for Kageroza Inaba, who had nearly perfected the "Gikon technology." He could handle it with a couple of late nights before the graduation season.
Now, the 12th Division had to conduct surveys in the World of the Living to determine the density of Hollows, taking into account the size of the examination site, the number of students, and other factors.
The key to controlling Hollow density was a substance salvaged from the remnants of the Quincy and analyzed by Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi. He called it "Hollow bait."
A single drop of Hollow bait could mimic the soul signatures of over a hundred humans, attracting Hollows from Hueco Mundo. Typically, one drop could lure in around ten Hollows.
With the number of students participating in the exam ranging from 110 to 140 each year, the 12th Division had to strategically place drops of Hollow bait throughout the city, ensuring that almost every student would encounter at least one Hollow to complete their assessment.
In the past, when a Shinigami took a particular interest in a student, they would subtly suggest to the 12th Division to attract more Hollows to that student's location. Then, the Shinigami would swoop in for a dramatic rescue, showcasing their power and hopefully swaying the student to join their division.
As for those students who perished before help arrived… No one really cared.
Inaba had interpreted Ailin's message as one such subtle suggestion, hence the fivefold increase in Hollow bait.
After all, with the strength of a captain, even if a Gillian or higher-level Hollow was drawn in, it would be easily dealt with. It would also allow Captain Aizen to make a lasting impression on the students, potentially influencing their future choices.
…
In the World of the Living, Ailin sensed the Hollows appearing in the examination site. He couldn't help but be surprised.
"Did no one die in the Seireitei this year? They're really going all out. Aren't they afraid of wiping out this entire batch of students and ending up with no recruits?"
Ailin wasn't exaggerating. The number of Hollows appearing in the city was simply astounding.
The chosen city, while not a particularly spiritually dense area, had a sizable population and was usually guarded by three Shinigami from the 13th Division. Under normal circumstances, only one or two Hollows would appear in the city each day.
Even with the Shin'ō Academy graduation exam taking place, they wouldn't usually attract more than twenty Hollows per day. After all, the exam lasted for a month, and with students scattered throughout the city, they would eventually encounter a Hollow and complete their assessment.
But now, Ailin sensed over a hundred Hollows converging on the city. Could the students, numbering only a little over a hundred themselves, handle such an onslaught?
…
The moment the students dispersed into the city, the exam had begun. However, no one had anticipated such a sudden, overwhelming start.
Forty to fifty Hollows descended almost simultaneously, followed by a steady stream of others.
Drawn by the Hollow bait and the presence of over a hundred tasty souls with reiatsu, most Hollows ignored the ordinary humans, focusing on the students. The few who strayed were swiftly dispatched by the 5th Division Shinigami guarding the examinees.
Soon, the Hollows encountered the students, and fierce battles erupted throughout the city.
In a narrow alleyway, Momo Hinamori chased after a small Hollow, chanting a Kidō incantation. Red light gathered in her left palm.
"Hadō #12 - Fushibi!"
Boom!
With a shout, Momo launched the fireball from her hand. It struck the Hollow, erupting in a burst of flames. The Hollow dissolved into reishi.
Elsewhere, Renji Abarai swung his Zanpakutō, each strike leaving deep gashes on the small Hollow he was facing. He forced the creature back, then leaped high into the air, bringing his sword down on the Hollow's mask with both hands.
As Renji landed, his Zanpakutō was dripping with blood.
Blood splattered in the night air as the Hollow before him split in two, dissolving into reishi.
Izuru Kira chanted an incantation as he retreated from a pursuing Hollow.
"Bakudō #4 - Hainawa!"
Yellow light gathered at his fingertips, transforming into a glowing rope that shot towards the Hollow, binding its legs.
"Roar!"
Thump!
Its legs entangled, the Hollow lost its balance and crashed to the ground. Its momentum carried it forward, skidding across the pavement before coming to a halt.
However, its situation wasn't ideal. It had come to a stop right before Izuru.
Gripping his Zanpakutō in a reverse grip, Izuru, his face grim, aimed the blade at the Hollow's mask and thrust it forward.
Shhh...
Blood splattered. The Hollow dissolved into reishi, joining its brethren.
One might assume that these Hollows were weak, considering how easily Momo, Renji, and Izuru had defeated them. However, those three were among the strongest students in their class, their skills already rivaling those of official Shinigami. Given their rapid rate of progress, they would likely surpass even elite Shinigami in a few years.
Once they manifested their Zanpakutō, they would ascend to the level of seated officers and lieutenants.
But the average students lacked their strength. While small Hollows were weaker than official Shinigami, their power was comparable to that of the students. Furthermore, most of the students' combat experience was limited to sparring with each other. Against Hollows, creatures so different from humans, their training proved insufficient.
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บท 212: The Price
Some students, encountering a Hollow for the first time, froze in terror, their limbs trembling, their swords slipping from their grasp. They stood paralyzed, awaiting their demise.
If not for the intervention of the 5th Division Shinigami, they would have become Hollow fodder.
However, some students, after the initial shock, managed to regain their composure. Even if they couldn't defeat the small Hollows they encountered, they could still escape, preserving their lives. Some, upon encountering fellow students during their flight, even teamed up to face the threat together.
Generally, two reasonably skilled students could confidently handle a small Hollow. Even weaker students, working together in groups of three or five, could manage to slay a Hollow without sustaining injuries.
Soon, the hundred or so small Hollows lured by the Hollow bait on the first day were eliminated, divided and conquered by the students.
The strong, wielding their swords with finesse, dispatched their foes single-handedly. The weak, banding together in small groups, achieved victory through teamwork.
Colorful fireworks soared into the night sky, signaling calls for help. Ailin had provided these rescue flares to each student. Upon launching a firework, the nearest guardian Shinigami would rush to their location, rescuing them from danger. However, using the flare meant automatic failure of the exam. They would be denied entry into the Gotei 13 and instead be assigned to the Hollow extermination forces, spending the rest of their lives battling Hollows.
This was the price the commoners of Rukongai paid for aspiring to become Shinigami.
For a million years after the founding of the Soul Society, the power of the Shinigami had been monopolized by the nobles.
Then, over three thousand years ago, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto established the Genji School, sharing his knowledge of swordsmanship and breaking the nobles' stranglehold on power. He faced opposition and persecution from the nobles, but his immense strength only fueled his resolve, attracting a growing number of supporters.
Alarmed by Yamamoto's rising influence, the nobles couldn't bear the thought of a commoner challenging their authority. Hundreds of them joined forces, mobilizing their Shinigami retainers and launching an attack on Yamamoto's Genji School.
Many of Yamamoto's students, still in training, perished in the assault.
Yamamoto, consumed by rage, transformed into a "fiery demon," unleashing his wrath upon the Seireitei. He stormed through the noble district, activating his Bankai, Ryūjin Jakka, and slaughtering hundreds of nobles involved in the attack. The number of noble families in the Seireitei plummeted from over a hundred to just forty-six.
However, during his rampage, Yamamoto's reiatsu brushed against the will of the Soul King. Sensing the Soul King's boundless compassion, Yamamoto's anger subsided. He entered the Seireitei, becoming the first line of defense protecting the Soul King.
The remaining forty-six noble families, cowed by Yamamoto's strength, were forced to unite, forming the Central 46 to counter his influence.
The standoff between Yamamoto and the nobles continued until the ancient King of Hueco Mundo descended upon the Soul Society, intending to invade the Soul King Palace, devour the Soul King, and become the supreme ruler of all existence.
Yamamoto, still young at the time, was defeated. Although the ancient Hollow King ultimately failed, vanquished by Ichibei Hyōsube, the leader of the Royal Guard, and sealed within a Zanpakutō, Yamamoto's defeat forced him to confront his limitations. He realized that he alone couldn't protect the Soul King.
He reconciled with the nobles, establishing the Gotei 13 to control the Seireitei's military might, while the nobles maintained their influence through the Central 46.
He transformed his Genji School into the Shin'ō Academy, opening its doors to the entire Soul Society, teaching those with reiatsu how to become Shinigami and wield their power to protect the Seireitei.
To ease tensions with the nobles, Yamamoto branded his past self as a "fiery demon," incorporating that incident as a mandatory lesson for the students of the Shin'ō Academy.
Since Yamamoto's Gotei 13 valued strength above all else, some nobles joined its ranks, bringing their retainers with them and assuming leadership of various divisions, their family skills dictating the division's responsibilities.
The 2nd Division, led by the 21st head of the Shihōin Clan, Chika Shihōin, was formed from her family's Onmitsukidō, becoming the "Stealth Force."
Ginrei Kuchiki, inheriting the captaincy of the 6th Division from the first captain, Furofushi Saito, established it as the division responsible for handling noble affairs.
To further strengthen the Gotei 13, Yamamoto opened the Shin'ō Academy to all who possessed reiatsu, regardless of their social standing. This decision struck at the very foundation of the nobles' power.
For a million years, what had allowed the nobles to maintain their lofty position and disregard for commoners? It was their control over the power of the Shinigami, their absolute strength.
If the commoners of Rukongai gained access to that power, how could the nobles maintain their privileged status?
However, their opposition couldn't sway Yamamoto's determination to bolster the Gotei 13.
Yet, the nobles' million-year legacy ensured that their descendants possessed exceptional talent, far surpassing that of the commoners.
After much negotiation, Yamamoto and the nobles reached a compromise.
Yamamoto would accept two noble children as his disciples and guarantee them captaincy upon completing their training, increasing the nobles' influence within the Gotei 13.
In return, the nobles would cease interfering with the Shin'ō Academy, accepting students from all backgrounds.
However, any commoner who attended the Shin'ō Academy but failed to become a member of the Gotei 13 would be sent to Hueco Mundo, joining the Hollow extermination forces and spending the rest of their lives fighting Hollows.
The Hollow extermination forces had once been a place where the nobles exiled criminals. This agreement essentially treated the commoner students as criminals, guilty of "illegally acquiring Shinigami powers without the nobles' permission."
After all, according to noble law, sharing Shinigami powers with others was a capital offense. They couldn't punish Yamamoto directly, but they could punish the students who failed to meet their standards.
Over the centuries, this system had proven effective. While many commoners from Rukongai with reiatsu attended the Shin'ō Academy each year, they either became Shinigami within the Gotei 13 or perished in Hueco Mundo.
For over two thousand years, the Seireitei remained the domain of the nobles, while Rukongai remained a slum, with no change in sight.
Now, even though it was only the first day of the exam, the sheer number of Hollows appearing in the city had already forced many students to launch their rescue flares, becoming the first casualties of the assessment.
…
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Under the cover of night, figures in black shihakushō descended before Ailin, carrying injured students covered in blood.
Most of the students wore expressions of terror, while some were severely wounded.
However, those who were rescued were the fortunate ones. Those who couldn't wait for the arrival of the 5th Division Shinigami had already perished.
After all, only a little over thirty Shinigami had accompanied Ailin to protect the examinees. No one had anticipated that the 12th Division would create such a challenging exam.
It was among the most difficult exams since the assessment format had changed.
"Bakudō #73 - Tozansho!"
As Ailin chanted the incantation, a blue light shot from his hand, expanding into a translucent, triangular barrier over ten meters tall. The barrier encompassed the injured students, preventing their wounds from worsening.
Ailin turned to one of the Shinigami. "Matsuri, your healing skills are quite impressive, if I recall correctly. I'll leave these students in your care."
To Ailin, the students' injuries were minor. He could heal them effortlessly, even without using his Zanpakutō. However, he was currently impersonating 5th Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen.
Aizen had never displayed any healing abilities, and Ailin wouldn't risk exposing himself for the sake of a few students. Fortunately, among the 5th Division members accompanying him was one who had trained in healing Kidō. While she couldn't fully heal the students in a short time, she could stabilize their condition.
"Yes, Captain Aizen."
A young woman with blonde hair tied in a bun stepped forward, entering the barrier. Green light emanated from her hands as she administered emergency treatment to the injured students.
Her name was Matsuri Kudo, and she had a twin brother, Fujimaru Kudo, who was also a seated officer in the 5th Division.
Ailin had some vague memories of the twins. However, unlike the other Shinigami, he had never seen them in the main storyline of Bleach.
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