The wind swept across the wasteland, stirring up dust. The surroundings were desolate.
Setsuna sat on a large boulder. Suspended in his palm was a cluster of dark blue flames, and above the flames floated a Gillian-class Menos Grande, compressed down to about three meters in size.
"The temperature of the Reishi flames needs to be a bit higher." Setsuna focused on adjusting the flames, his gaze akin to a seasoned chef handling precious ingredients.
The flames suddenly blazed fiercely, completely enveloping the Menos's body.
An eerie sizzling sound rang out. The originally menacing hollow body began to distort, finally transforming into a pure, deep blue mass of Reishi essence.
Setsuna raised his hand and brought the Reishi essence to his mouth.
A faint warmth flowed deep within his soul, like parched land finally receiving a light drizzle.
But soon, this nourishing sensation came to a halt.
The injuries to his soul were too deep. Even high-concentration Reishi could only barely repair minor cracks.
"Hmm... Better than nothing, I suppose." Setsuna wasn't disappointed. His soul injuries were inflicted by Hades. Being able to mend them even slightly was considered good.
It was then that Setsuna realized a problem. His physical body had been destroyed, and with it, his Gourmet Cells.
But his Gourmet Space remained. He could even absorb Gourmet Energy from 'grilling Menos'.
"It seems because Hades's soul essence was so incredibly delicious, my Gourmet Cells have become a conceptual existence," Setsuna mused to himself.
This wasn't uncommon in the Gourmet World. For instance, [Planet Earth] in the Toriko World underwent conceptual modification by Gourmet Cells, its size increasing to 659 times its original volume.
"Truly delicious!" The voice of Don Slime was full of pleasure, breaking Setsuna's contemplation. "High-end ingredients indeed require only the simplest cooking methods!"
"Setsuna, where do we go next? Continue capturing these monsters?"
"No rush. Sharpening the axe won't delay the work of cutting firewood. I'm going to a place first that will make hunting more convenient in the future." Setsuna smiled slightly. Although his soul was powerful, his methods were self-taught and he had never undergone formal training.
Since he had come to this world of Bleach, of course he wanted to explore their power.
…
The plaza of the Shin'o Academy was bustling with people. Over a thousand new students stood in neat rows, awaiting the fateful Reiryoku test.
In front of the testing platform, a middle-aged Shinigami wearing glasses held a scroll, explaining the rules to the newcomers.
"Reiryoku is divided into twenty classes." He pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold glint. "Only by reaching the twentieth-class does one qualify to become a Shinigami."
A girl with a ponytail in the crowd timidly raised her hand. "Excuse me, if someone tests at the first-class, does that mean they can definitely become a Shinigami?"
The entire area immediately erupted into a wave of laughter, making the girl blush furiously.
The test administrator's lips curled slightly. "If you truly tested at the first-class, the question wouldn't be which division would want you. It would be that all divisions would be fighting to invite you to be their Captain."
The middle-aged Shinigami continued. "In fact, the Reiryoku of official Shinigami is generally above the tenth-class. Within the tenth-class, one qualifies to serve as a seated officer. Reiryoku around the fourth or fifth-class is typically Lieutenant-level. Third-class Reiryoku and above is something only Captains achieve."
This explanation made many of the newcomers eager to try.
"I wonder what my class Reiryoku will be?"
"Haha, I'd be more than satisfied if I tested around the tenth-class."
"Then I'll be bolder. Eighth-class for me."
Not far away, under a cherry blossom tree, some senior students were lazily watching the new student tests.
Someone snorted disdainfully. "These freshmen really dare to dream. It'll be good if even a few of them test around the seventeenth or eighteenth-class."
One of them suddenly turned to the portly fellow among them wearing an ornate hair accessory. "Speaking of which, Omaeda-senpai, you tested at the tenth-class when you enrolled, right? Your starting point is already the end goal for most of us."
Omaeda Marechiyo smugly stroked his chin, feigning humility as he waved his hand. "No, no, compared to true geniuses, there's still a gap."
His eyes shifted, and he lowered his voice. "You know Kensei-senpai, right? He tested at the eighth-class when he enrolled. Now he's the third seat of the 9th Division."
"Wow!" The surrounding students gasped in amazement.
Someone asked curiously, "And what-class are you at now, Omaeda-senpai? Surely you're at least eighth-class by now?"
Omaeda's expression suddenly turned serious. He glanced around furtively, then said mysteriously, "That's top-secret information."
He made a slashing motion across his neck. "What if it leaks out, and Hueco Mundo sends a Menos to snuff out a genius like me?"
Just as everyone was taken aback by his words, a sudden wave of exclamations erupted from the center of the plaza.
The Reiryoku gauge in the test administrator's hand trembled violently, its surface dials soaring wildly. Under the incredulous gazes of everyone, the pointer finally stopped at one of the very top markings.
"Th-third-class Reiryoku?!" The test administrator's voice cracked. "How is this possible?!"
Everyone's eyes were drawn to that figure.
"Third-class Reiryoku upon enrollment? Could he grow to first-class in the future? What's his name?"
"During registration, he said his name was Chiaki Setsuna."
"So unfair. Can't we even stand on the same starting line in the world of the dead?"
However, Setsuna, at the center of the whirlwind of discussion, merely frowned slightly. 'Only third-class? It seems the soul injuries inflicted by Hades are even more severe than I imagined.'
He had thought that with his Eighth Sense realm, he should at least reach second-class, or even approach first-class, in the Bleach world.
But the test result barely scraped the threshold of third-class.
He was still somewhat dissatisfied, but the testing Shinigami was too stunned to speak.
Only when Setsuna asked, "I assume this counts as a pass?" did the administrator snap back to reality.
"O-of course!" His tone now carried a trace of reverence. "With your level of Reiryoku, all subsequent test items are waived! Please rest for a moment. The academy will immediately arrange follow-up matters for you!"
Setsuna gave a casual nod and walked over to sit on a nearby bench.
He paid no mind to the astonished glances directed at him, simply quietly sensing the state of his soul.
After a while, a plump, round figure pushed through the crowd, a wide, ingratiating smile plastered on his face.
"Setsuna... kun, right?" Omaeda rubbed his hands together, his tone carrying a hint of flattery. "The Dean wishes to see you."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow slightly. "The Dean?"
"Yes, yes!" Omaeda nodded repeatedly, the smile on his face growing even more enthusiastic.
"Even the Captain-Commander has been alerted?!" The test administrator standing nearby couldn't help but exclaim.
Although the Shin'o Academy had several Deans after its founder, who was also the Captain-Commander, the title 'Dean' without any prefix could only refer to the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
"Lead the way," Setsuna stood up, his tone calm.
"Not a problem, not a problem at all." Omaeda hastily bowed and scraped, walking ahead to lead him across the academy plaza.
Setsuna glanced at the fawning, portly man beside him.
This guy's background was indeed formidable. Otherwise, Yamamoto wouldn't have specifically sent him to deliver the message.