Many times, it's not that you're not excellent — but when true gems appear before you, if you're not as dazzling, the response you receive will be far below your expectations.
With Ikkaku and Yumichika's stunning performances, the next few candidates were inevitably overshadowed and faced serious setbacks and neglect.
It wasn't their fault. Staring straight into the sun burns the eyes — doesn't it?
Standing among the examiners, a man with spiked hair looked at Ikkaku and Yumichika, then laughed and said:
"Ahhh, what a bunch of impressive guys, hahaha!"
Unfortunately for the next pair to take the stage, it was Asano Kiyoshi and a youth dressed in flamboyant clothes — Kōmyōdai Kojirō.
Kojirō had narrow, slitted eyes similar to Ikkaku's, but his gaze was different — more like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. His entire being gave off a chilling, sinister aura that made people uncomfortable.
Asano Kiyoshi didn't attempt to check the boy's stats through the scroll. Watching Ikkaku and Yumichika earlier, he realized that using that power consumed his spiritual energy. The stronger the person he observed, the more energy it drained.
In order to preserve his energy for the upcoming test, he refrained from using the scroll again. Instead, he just smiled politely at the gloomy youth. But the boy clearly ignored him, only casting a cold glance out of the corner of his eye — devoid of emotion. In his eyes, Asano Kiyoshi was no more than a speck of dust, unworthy of attention or even contempt.
Kiyoshi wasn't fazed by the arrogance. After all, including his past life, he'd lived over thirty years. Such behavior didn't bother him. In fact, he could understand it. Clearly, Kojirō was from a noble family. Why would he want to interact with someone from the slums?
Kiyoshi just shook his head and walked toward the platform where the asauchi (nameless Zanpakutō) were placed.
The testing method was simple: pour your full spiritual pressure into the asauchi. The weapon's glow would then indicate a rough estimate of your spiritual pressure level.
The keyword is "rough," because spiritual pressure is difficult to quantify precisely. It can fluctuate based on emotions, training, physical condition, and other unpredictable factors. However, no matter the variability, you wouldn't see someone jump from level three to level five just because they got mad.
The Technology Development Bureau had studied the data extensively, refining the test to define spiritual pressure in accurate brackets.
Kōmyōdai Kojirō grabbed an asauchi from the left side and began injecting his spiritual pressure. A bright light erupted from it — impressive, but not nearly at the level of Ikkaku or Yumichika. Kojirō gave it his all, face flushed, veins bulging. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the blue light just wouldn't surpass the threshold.
Finally, the examiner called time. Kojirō's score froze at Level 5 spiritual pressure.
He was clearly displeased. He lowered his head, face dark and twisted with frustration.
The surrounding students — mostly from civilian backgrounds since this was the final enrollment batch — looked on with barely concealed glee. Nobles and well-off kids had joined in the earlier rounds. Watching one of their own defeat a noble-born candidate gave them a strange sense of satisfaction.
Kojirō seemed to sense the scorn in the air. A sneer appeared on his face as he looked at Asano Kiyoshi with mocking eyes, clearly waiting for Kiyoshi to crash and burn — and become the "stepping stone" that made Kojirō look better by comparison.
Atop the highest platform, the lead examiner also sighed as he looked at Kiyoshi, his expression a mix of sympathy and hesitation. It was as if he had already imagined the humiliating scene that was about to unfold.
But Kiyoshi ignored Kojirō's gaze completely.
He took a deep breath, gathered all his spiritual energy, and — under everyone's watchful eyes — gripped the asauchi.
And at that moment…
A primordial and overwhelming aura suddenly engulfed the crowd. An ancient, desolate presence loomed over them. Deep, soul-crushing fear erupted in everyone's hearts — a fear that bypassed logic and attacked the very core of their being!
Behind the boy, a towering paifang (gate tower) slowly materialized. All around it were endless white bones and shattered skulls. At the top of the gate, in three blood-red characters, was written:
"Gate of the Underworld!"
Just looking at that terrifying gate was enough to shake one's mind and make mouths go dry — it was as if their souls were being sucked in!
At the same time, Kiyoshi underwent a dramatic transformation.
His once simple robes were replaced with an outfit completely distinct from the standard Shinigami shihakushō. The sleeves flared wide, and the black-red cross-collared robe fell just two inches above his feet. His pants were black with red trim, fitting tightly — not Japanese-style, but more like traditional Hanfu.
And that wasn't all — the asauchi in his hand began to dissolve, piece by piece, glowing faintly blue as it vanished…
In its place, an ancient scroll unfurled beside him. On it emerged countless terrifying ghosts and beasts. Just a single glance made viewers feel like their minds would shatter. Asano Kiyoshi now hovered a few inches above the ground. Framed by the Gate of the Underworld and the haunted scroll, he looked like a god presiding over life and death!
At that moment — whether they were applicants or veteran proctors — everyone was stunned.
Even Shiba Isshin, seated high above and a man of extraordinary strength, broke out into a cold sweat. For a brief moment, even he was completely entranced by the vision of the Underworld Gate.
He looked at the fading spiritual pressure around Asano Kiyoshi, then smiled with a complicated expression and said:
"What a terrifying little monster…"
Before his words even finished, his figure vanished like a blur — tearing through space — and appeared right before the unconscious boy, catching Kiyoshi just as he collapsed from spiritual exhaustion.