Rukongai, North 80th District
"Brother, we should get going."
"If we don't leave now, we'll miss the enrollment deadline for the Spiritual Arts Academy."
"In that case, you'll have to wait another year."
Inside a humble house on the outskirts of the district, a young man gently adjusted the brown-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His gaze turned to the black-haired youth who bore a striking resemblance to him across the room.
[Because you applied for the Spiritual Arts Academy, Reiatsu grew worried you'd fail the entrance test so he pushed himself hard, broke through his bottleneck, and advanced from six to seven cars.]
Ran En's eyes lit up with a trace of amusement at the mechanical voice ringing in his ears.
Six-car Reiatsu?
For a new applicant, that was more than enough.
After all, the standard for most current captains in Soul Society hovered around that level. And the guy next to him yeah, that monster was his younger brother.
That's right.
Ran En wasn't a native of this world. He was a transmigrator.
And like any proper transmigrator, he came with a cheat.
The Shinigami System.
It was his golden finger. As long as he awakened a skill, it would cultivate itself like a background process automatic, relentless, efficient. He didn't even have to lift a finger.
Take Reiatsu, for instance.
It was the first ability he unlocked after arriving in Soul Society. Once it activated, his spiritual pressure exploded. It grew like a sage on stimulants, day and night, relentlessly pushing past its limits.
In under half a month, he'd already caught up to Aizen the man known for possessing the densest Reiatsu in all of Soul Society.
And now? He'd surpassed him.
That so-called future big bad of the Soul Society? Yeah, that was his younger brother.
The two had crossed into this world together two months ago. Without any formal training or Shinigami techniques, just through pure natural growth of spiritual pressure, they had reached the level of captain-class Shinigami.
By standard measurements, they had achieved a six-car level of Reiatsu.
But Ran En's spiritual pressure wasn't one to be outdone it was one car stronger than Aizen's.
"Let's move."
Responding to Aizen's earlier reminder, Ran En picked up a pair of black-rimmed glasses from the table, stood up, and walked out the door with his brother.
"Lord Ran En."
"Lord Aizen."
The moment they stepped outside, hundreds of men and women fell to their knees in unison.
This was North District 80 of Rukongai a place as chaotic and brutal as Zaraki itself.
And these kneeling souls? Each one was a powerhouse in this lawless zone.
Many had spiritual pressure around one or two cars nothing to scoff at. If they joined the Spiritual Arts Academy and trained in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō (Zan Quan Zou Gui), they could easily become squad-level Shinigami.
But they remained in District 80 by choice, avoiding Seireitei's rules.
Now, they had all pledged loyalty to Ran En and Aizen.
"Let's go," Ran En said flatly.
"Yes, sir!"
With a single command, the crowd dispersed like shadows.
"Brother, why waste time with those ants?" Aizen asked, the usual spring-like smile on his face hiding a chill in his voice. "Aside from draining the spirit particles in the air, I can't imagine any other use for them."
"Even toilet paper and underwear serve a purpose," Ran En replied calmly. "Let alone living souls."
"Don't waste resources any resource without thought."
As they walked, he continued, "You've noticed it too, haven't you?"
"After our Reiatsu crossed a certain threshold, it's still increasing but much slower than before."
"It's like a species nearing full maturity the growth slows as the peak approaches."
He glanced sideways at Aizen, eyes deep with meaning.
"I understand now," Aizen replied, a glimmer passing behind his lenses. His hand, which had unknowingly gripped the hilt of his sword, relaxed.
"Even a Shinigami has limits."
"When an individual hits that ceiling... they need the power of the collective to break through."
Smart as ever, Aizen immediately caught Ran En's meaning.
The scattered souls from earlier each possessing considerable spiritual power would become perfect experimental materials when that time came.
"Good," Ran En said, noting his brother's reaction. He didn't object. After two months in this savage land, he had fully adapted to the brutal rules of Soul Society.
As Aizen's elder brother and the rightful king Ran En had no intention of living under anyone else's rule.
And as a transmigrator with a cheat system, he certainly wouldn't allow himself to be looked down upon.
Whether it was applying to the Spiritual Arts Academy or recruiting the souls of District 80 as subordinates, everything was part of his plan.
North District 80 was far from Seireitei.
Along the way, they encountered several groups trying to loot water, but none dared approach. The Reiatsu released sometimes deliberately, sometimes accidentally by Aizen crushed any resistance before it could take form.
Spiritual Arts Academy
The once-spacious examination square was packed wall to wall. It was enrollment day again, and thousands had come to take the test.
"Shihouin Yoruichi."
"Reiatsu: Vice Captain Class."
"Rating: S Grade."
The examiner's announcement rippled through the crowd.
"Yoruichi? What's she doing here?"
"Why would the Shihouin Clan's head even bother enrolling in the academy?"
A disheveled young man strolled over Urahara Kisuke, ever the joker.
"Giving old man Yamamoto some face," Yoruichi replied with a shrug. "Didn't you see? Even little Byakuya is standing in line."
Urahara followed her gaze.
Sure enough, a noble boy with icy pride stood in the crowd Kuchiki Byakuya.
Urahara smiled knowingly. So the four great noble clans were playing politics, showing deference to Yamamoto Genryūsai.
After all, having the heirs of the four great families join the Academy would boost its prestige though, frankly, the Academy didn't need help in that department.
But Yamamoto would still accept the gesture. It would grease the wheels when these heirs one day became captains as long as they didn't make any major missteps.
"Master Byakuya, please place your hand on the spiritual pressure orb and inject your Reiatsu," the examiner said politely, almost flatteringly.
Byakuya ignored the stares from Yoruichi and Urahara and pressed his hand against the orb.
Light flared purple, blue, green, yellow
And finally: orange.
"Kuchiki Byakuya."
"Reiatsu: Vice Captain Class."
"Rating: SS Grade."
Gasps spread like wildfire. No one dared show envy only admiration.
"Another vice-captain-level genius?"
"First Shihouin, now Kuchiki…"
"The four noble clans are monsters."
Byakuya remained impassive, though his glance at Yoruichi carried a trace of smugness.
But then, a stunned cry from another examiner shattered the chatter.
"Aizen Sōsuke."
"Reiatsu: Captain Class."
"Rating: SSS Grade."
And just like that, the entire square fell into silence.