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.