Chapter 87: Exam Passed!
"What?!"
Ginrei Kuchiki exclaimed in shock.
"Hey hey hey... is this for real?!"
Shinji muttered while taking two quick steps forward to the edge of the platform.
Shunsui froze for a moment before pinching his own arm.
It hurt—so this wasn't a dream...
Kusaka's mouth hung open.
The Shinigami spectators who had been retreating instinctively halted, casting incredulous looks toward the arena.
Seinosuke's jaw nearly hit the ground.
Yamamoto stood motionless, as calm as still water.
Yet his slightly opened slit eyes, which had been closed moments ago, betrayed the shock in his heart.
Across various corners of the Seireitei, those with heightened spiritual pressure awareness instinctively turned their heads toward the training grounds.
"Is this... Satoru's spiritual pressure?"
Kirio Hikifune removed her goggles and set aside the half-finished research project in her hands.
Yoruichi and Suì-Fēng, clad in black, hid in the shadows, silently watching the gate of a courtyard.
This was a recently discovered location suspected to be a rebel gathering spot.
To avoid alerting their targets, Yoruichi hadn't sent ordinary patrol corps members but had come personally with Suì-Fēng.
Only by participating in dangerous missions could Suì-Fēng grow quickly.
Sensing the spiritual pressure in the air, the two stealthy figures couldn't help but show surprise.
Suì-Fēng looked up at Yoruichi.
Yoruichi responded with a proud smile.
Seeing this, Suì-Fēng's cheeks flushed slightly.
In the 13th Division's sickroom, Jūshirō's face lit up with joy.
In the noble district, within the depths of a grand mansion, an elderly man in noble robes sat meditating with closed eyes.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
This spiritual pressure...
Was it that brat who fought Yasushi Takada the other night?
Had he actually broken through to third-level spiritual pressure?
Considering Satoru's relationship with Yamamoto, the old man narrowed his eyes.
"Yamamoto... so you've finally made your move."
After a long silence, he spoke slowly:
"Someone."
Whoosh!
A figure instantly appeared beside him, kneeling on one knee.
"Find Kamikawa. Tell him to prepare."
The masked figure in tight clothing bowed slightly before vanishing.
The old man slowly rose and looked out the window.
"The show is about to begin."
...
...
On the training grounds, Kensei stood dumbfounded, feeling as if he'd seen a ghost.
Satoru's body erupted with terrifying spiritual pressure.
Undoubtedly—captain-level!
Third-level spiritual pressure!
Though the pressure wasn't very refined, suggesting a recent breakthrough, it was genuine captain-level power.
For a moment, Kensei felt his mentality crumbling.
After graduating from the academy, it had taken him over a decade just to become a seated officer.
Then another fifty-plus years to reach vice-captain.
He'd trained bitterly for nearly a century in that position before finally qualifying for promotion.
But Satoru?
This guy hadn't even been out of the academy for two hours!
The disparity between them filled him with an overwhelming sense of despair.
Within the towering pillar of spiritual pressure, Satoru gazed at Kensei.
"The test isn't over yet. Stay focused."
Hearing this, Kensei jolted back to attention.
Only then did he realize—he was still in the middle of being examined.
Coming to his senses, he couldn't help but feel a pang of retrospective fear.
Had he succumbed to that moment of despair and been overwhelmed by Satoru's relentless assault, he might have lost the will to train and improve for a long time to come.
Taking a deep breath, he nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, Satoru."
"Honestly, I'd rather you didn't thank me..."
Satoru shrugged.
If possible, he would have preferred to hide his true strength like Aizen, keeping to himself and only stepping forward when there was something to gain.
But before he knew it, too many figures had gathered around him.
Yamamoto, Yoruichi, his two seniors... and so many others who had helped him along the way.
Perhaps, in the beginning, Old Man Yamamoto had taken him as a disciple due to considerations of politics and benefits.
But as time passed, Satoru could feel that the old man genuinely regarded him as a true disciple.
No matter the initial reasons, at least now, he was willing to repay Yamamoto for everything he had done for him.
Even if it meant exposing his strength and becoming a thorn in certain people's sides.
Even if it meant enduring more hardships in the future.
Compared to what he had gained, such sacrifices were nothing.
Most importantly, with Aizen—an epic-level boss—as his backer, his strength wouldn't remain stagnant at its current level.
If anyone thought his current self was his final form, they were sorely mistaken!
Shaking his head, Satoru dismissed the thoughts swirling in his mind.
He raised his sword and pointed it at Kensei.
"Come at me, Kensei Muguruma!"
"Ooh!"
The white-haired giant responded with unshakable confidence.
Widening his eyes, he gripped his knuckle blades tightly, stomped the ground hard enough to shatter it, and charged forward like a cannonball.
The raging gale in his wake tore apart the ground beneath him, leaving deep trenches in its path.
Satoru met the attack head-on, gripping his sword with both hands.
Unbeknownst to anyone, under the cover of his spiritual pressure's glow, his shadow had already merged with his body, vanishing from beneath his feet.
His body, unleashing its full spiritual pressure, fused with his shadow at maximum power—combining their strength into a single devastating slash aimed at Kensei Muguruma!
Though this strike lacked the refined technique of a "Sōkotsu," it carried terrifying, overwhelming force!
BOOM!!!!
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, their attacks collided.
The dazzling glow of spiritual pressure dyed the sky gold!
The surrounding defensive barriers shattered instantly!
Chōjirō's expression changed, and he was about to act when the sound of a cane striking the ground echoed.
A new defensive barrier materialized out of thin air, containing the violent torrent of spiritual pressure and redirecting it skyward.
Everyone stared intently at the radiant glow, their excitement uncontainable even if they couldn't see what was happening inside.
A few seconds later, the light gradually faded.
Seinosuke had already risen halfway, ready to rush in and save Satoru at any moment.
Then, he saw the figure standing in the arena.
The blue-and-white uniform of the Shin'ō Academy.
Satoru!
And not far behind him, Kensei swayed unsteadily.
Then, with a sickening splatter, blood erupted from his chest—from his shoulders down to his waist—before he collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Seinosuke couldn't help but grin.
Aizen's lips curled slightly.
On the high platform, Shunsui let out a long sigh of relief.
He raised a hand to fan himself, then glanced at Yamamoto with a smirk.
"Old Man Yama, just laugh if you want to. I won't tell any—GWAH!"
Shunsui suddenly lurched forward, nearly toppling off the platform.
An ordinary person wouldn't have seen what had just happened.
Only an old monster like Ginrei Kuchiki could vaguely make out Yamamoto raising his hand in an instant and smacking the back of Shunsui's head…
Under the gaze of the crowd, Satoru slowly raised his sword and sheathed it.
Then, he spoke:
"Kensei Muguruma, Captain Proficiency Assessment…"
"Passed!"
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