[BleachxMultiverse] - Conquering Worlds After Death

In the quiet dormitory that evening, Ren was deep in thought.

He had taken Aizen's analysis seriously, and when combined with his understanding of the upper limits of this mission's difficulty, he realized Aizen had a point.

It was highly likely that old man Yamamoto would assign a captain as his special examiner.

If the challenge required him to defeat a captain of equal spiritual pressure, it would be an almost impossible task. Such an outcome would naturally justify keeping him at the Shin'ō Academy under the guise of, "We gave you the opportunity; you simply weren't capable enough."

The Captain-Commander's intentions were good—if he were truly a native of this world.

But the reality was different. Ren was a traveller sent into this world by the EndSpace. If he failed this 'speedrun', he wouldn't get to stay for further training; he'd be obliterated. There was no second chance.

"Sōsuke" Ren muttered, breaking his train of thought, "who do you think might be assigned as my special examiner?"

Feeling stuck, Ren decided to seek insights from his keikaku-minded classmate.

This time, Aizen didn't dodge the question with vague politeness. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, "Given the scheduling and other factors, I believe there are three likely candidates among the captains."

"Which three?" Ren asked curiously.

"First is the Captain of the Fifth Division. I'm somewhat familiar with one of their seated officers. He mentioned recently that the Fifth Division isn't particularly busy. That captain might be chosen as your examiner."

Aizen continued, "From what I've heard, the Fifth Division Captain is extremely strong and falls into the combat-oriented category. If you're up against him, things could get tricky."

Currently, the Fifth Division Captain was someone unfamiliar to Ren from the original storyline—a man named Akiyama Yoshitaka. However, the seated officer Aizen mentioned was someone Ren did recognize: Shinji Hirako.

Shinji was only a seated officer at this time, with his promotion to captain still a century away—right before he'd fall victim to Aizen's schemes.

"And the others?" Ren pressed.

"The second is the Captain of the Eleventh Division, Kuruyashiki Kenpachi. Based on my information, the Eleventh Division hasn't been too busy lately either. But if he's chosen, it's the worst-case scenario. You know how the Eleventh Division operates—they're battle-hungry maniacs who don't know the meaning of restraint. If he's your examiner, consider it a very bad draw."

Aizen's expression was grim. The strength of Kuruyashiki Kenpachi was well-known across the Soul Society. Anyone who bore the name 'Kenpachi' was undeniably a monster. Rumor had it that Kuruyashiki had single-handedly slain a Vasto Lorde-level Hollow and even received recruitment offers from the Zero Division.

"Sounds promising," Ren chuckled. "But is there a 'good draw'?"

Aizen shot Ren a strange look, momentarily forgetting that his roommate was also a battle-crazed fighter who might get along well with the brutes of the 11th Division.

He pondered for a moment before continuing, "There's one favourable option. With the casualty rate among the Gotei 13 at a low point, the Fourth Division hasn't been too busy. Captain Unohana's recent appearances at the academy suggest she might be available as an examiner. She's known for her gentle demeanour and her role as a support-oriented captain. If she's chosen, it might be the easiest scenario for you."

Ren's expression turned peculiar. "Gentle demeanour?" he thought.

Seriously?

From a certain perspective, yes, she was the type of opponent he liked, but Unohana-sensei was far from 'easygoing' in battle.

If anyone understood her terrifying past as the first Kenpachi, it was clear she wasn't just strong—she was among the strongest in the Gotei 13, second only to Yamamoto himself.

Even in this era, before Kyōraku Shunsui had fully matured as a fighter, it was questionable whether he could rival her.

For a second, Ren doubted if this was Aizen's way of making fun of him but observing the serious expression of his roommate, he concluded that Aizen wasn't intentionally trying to mess with him.

It was just that, even for Aizen, omniscience wasn't possible. For now, Aizen was still a student, unaware of Captain Unohana's 'black history'.

After a moment of reflection, Ren asked, "Sōsuke, what kind of test format do you think it'll be?"

"Apart from spiritual pressure, it will most likely be unrestricted combat," Aizen replied. "That's why I keep urging you to abandon the idea of early graduation. If they're testing your full capabilities, the captain will have to go all out. And for someone with your combat prowess, it'll be difficult for them to hold back."

Ren nodded in understanding. Aizen's point was clear: his combat strength posed its own danger. A captain unable to fully restrain themselves could accidentally kill him during the assessment.

No matter how much the Captain-Commander seemed to appreciate him, if he died during the exam, he'd merely become another footnote in the academy's history.

A dead genius held no value.

By deciding to take this special exam, Ren was effectively signing his own death warrant.

"If their spiritual pressure is capped at level sixteen, captains can still use Shikai, right?" Ren asked.

Aizen nodded. "Of course. But as for Bankai, you don't need to worry. Without exceeding level four spiritual pressure, Bankai can't be activated."

At this point, Ren fully grasped the nightmare-level difficulty of his predicament. Even if a captain's spiritual pressure was restrained, the innate enhancements they received from their experience and skills would remain unaffected.

Externally, their speed and strength might appear on par with his, but they'd see through his every move and counter it with ease.

Defeating such a battle-hardened opponent under these circumstances was as difficult as jumping to the moon in one shot. And if his opponent turned out to be Captain Unohana? That was a nightmare within a nightmare.

Though he had confidence in his martial skills and combat instincts, completing this mission would require more than that.

Time was running out. If he wanted to stand a chance, he needed to focus on his Zanpakutō.

Besides, while Aizen hadn't explicitly mentioned it, historical records showed that all early graduates had mastered Shikai before leaving the academy. That was likely another unspoken requirement.

"Sōsuke…"

At that moment, Ren looked at Aizen with a resolute gaze. "Can you demonstrate your Shikai for me?"

He had made up his mind. Whatever Aizen might become in the future, for now, their relationship was amicable enough. Aizen had no reason to harm him.

Besides, even if Aizen did try to place him under Complete Hypnosis, the EndSpace would likely resolve it once he returned.

But if he failed this mission, there wouldn't be a future to worry about. He'd be erased outright, leaving him no time to worry about minor concerns like the effects of Kyōka Suigetsu.

Right now, mastering the Shikai of his own Zanpakutō was an absolute necessity.

Aizen smiled faintly as if he had been waiting for this request. "Ren-kun, you've finally remembered—you still have a hidden trump card."

With that, Aizen's voice carried a gentle reassurance. "Don't worry. I'll do my best to teach you how to achieve Shikai in the next two days."

He slowly unsheathed the Zanpakutō resting by his side.

The blade, like flowing water, shimmered softly under the moonlight filtering through the window with captivating elegance.

"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."

Aizen's deep and magnetic voice resonated in the quiet room as a faint mist enveloped the blade, radiating an otherworldly glow.

The way the light refracted through the haze, paired with the illusion of rippling water, made it impossible not to be drawn in. The sight was enchanting, almost dreamlike, pulling Ren's focus as if he were gazing into the depths of an endless, mesmerizing mirage.