"Captain Isshin, is it the same for Shunpo, White Hits, and Kendo?"
Ran Yan lowered his palms, and the eight Reiatsu swords that had crucified Kilian to the ground dissolved into the wind. He turned to Shiba Isshin and asked calmly.
"…"
Shiba opened his mouth but couldn't form a response.
At this point, Ran Yan's strength made the very idea of any further "assessment" seem redundant. Not only had he surpassed the standards of early graduation — if the Soul Society had a court guard captain exam, he'd probably pass that too.
Oh right — that was the next step anyway.
Ran Yan's application to graduate early was merely the prelude to taking over as captain of the Fifth Division. And as for Hirako Shinji's objection... Shiba had a feeling that wouldn't last long.
"No assessment," Shiba finally said, rubbing the back of his head. "Just consider it passed."
"Except for Zanpakutō."
Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni stood with his cane, voice calm but firm. All eyes turned toward him.
He didn't need more evidence of Ran Yan's strength — anyone with eyes had seen enough. But mastering Zanpakutō liberation was a requirement. Tradition and rules couldn't be ignored.
The vice-captains and department heads nodded in silent agreement.
"Yes, Captain."
Shiba nodded and motioned to the Kidō Corps, who quickly retreated.
When they returned, they brought with them Deputy Kidō Chief Hachigen... and an Adjuchas-class Menos Grande bound tightly in layered Bakudō restraints.
"This will be your final assessment target."
"This Adjuchas invaded the Soul Society recently," Shiba said, his voice slightly louder for the crowd. "For others, this would be a nightmare. For you? Let's call it what it is — a formality."
He glanced over the growing crowd, noting the many captains, vice-captains, and prominent officers in attendance.
"If you want your Shikai to remain secret, I can clear the field," he added in a quieter voice. "Only the captains are required to witness it for validation."
"But it's your call."
Ran Yan shook his head slightly. "No need. Let's start."
He didn't care about hiding it. Not because of arrogance — but because even revealing one ability from Shokuin, his Zanpakutō, meant nothing. Its powers were too vast, too layered. Knowing a single ability wouldn't help anyone counter it.
Besides, some Zanpakutō are like puzzles without answers.
And Shokuin — the most powerful light-and-dark–type Zanpakutō the Soul Society had ever seen — was exactly that.
"Begin!"
At Shiba's signal, Hachigen released the Bakudō.
The moment the seals came off, the Adjuchas — a muscular Hollow with jagged horns and an arrogant air — snarled.
"You… Shinigami!"
"How dare you treat me like this!"
"I'll make you pay!"
Ran Yan's calm demeanor only seemed to provoke him further. His spiritual pressure erupted, pouring out in waves. Even the nearby vice-captains and chief officers felt the crushing force.
Some took half a step back. A few clenched their teeth.
And then — it stopped.
A low voice echoed in the Adjuchas's ears:
"You shouldn't underestimate me."
BOOM.
Ran Yan's Reiatsu burst outward in all directions — an overwhelming tsunami of spiritual force that instantly obliterated the Adjuchas's aura.
The crushing pressure landed on the Hollow like a mountain.
Crack.
The sound of bones under strain.
Every eye turned toward the Adjuchas.
He was trembling. His pale face twitched. His legs buckled.
Pata!
He dropped to his knees.
The Hollow, who moments ago had declared vengeance, was now kneeling — frozen, overwhelmed, crushed.
Gulp.
Some of the observers swallowed hard.
"Just his Reiatsu… forced an Adjuchas to submit?"
"This is impossible…"
"No wonder they say he's the greatest talent the Academy's seen in 2000 years."
"He's not even on the same level as us anymore…"
Ran Yan walked slowly toward the paralyzed Hollow.
"Don't be afraid."
"You're just an insect."
"But you get to die by my Zanpakutō's Shikai. That's an honor."
He gently touched the center of the Hollow's forehead with one finger.
"Tojiru me, Shokuin." (Close your eyes, Shokuin.)
The words fell softly — and with them, darkness.
A swirl of pitch-black mist rose from Ran Yan's fingertip. It spun into a palm-sized vortex, rotating faster and faster until space itself began to ripple.
Light bent toward the spiral.
The very air grew heavy.
Then — it consumed everything.
The Adjuchas didn't even have time to scream.
The vortex drew in his head first, then his neck, then his body — like a reverse birth into oblivion. One moment he existed, and the next, he was gone.
Disintegrated.
Obliterated.
Even his legendary Hollow steel-skin couldn't resist for a second.
The vortex collapsed with a whisper.
Silence.