It didn't take long for all the candidates to complete the first round of assessments.
The results of the four core subjects and the list of those advancing to the second round were posted on the Shin'ō Academy bulletin board.
Of the nearly one thousand fresh graduates, fewer than fifty passed into the second round.
Among them were notable standouts like Abarai Renji, Kira Izuru, and Hinamori Momo.
Crowds gathered to view the over forty names listed, eyes filled with envy and admiration.
These were the elite—future seated officers in the Gotei 13.
As for those who failed to qualify, their futures would depend on the random distribution process. With luck, they might secure a low-tier position or become replacements. Unlucky ones might be assigned to auxiliary units like the Kidō Corps or the Onmitsukidō.
Emotions varied as people scanned the lists—envy, jealousy, awe.
Next, attention shifted to the subject transcripts.
Sealed Zanpakutō category, first place: Abarai Renji, 92 points. A commanding lead.
Unsurprising. Renji was the only graduate this year who had achieved Shikai during his academy days.
Second and third places went to Hinamori Momo and Kira Izuru, respectively.
"All top three are from Class 1 again. That's why they call it the elite class."
Students sighed in amazement before moving on to the Kidō results.
Kidō, first place: Hinamori Momo, 89 points. Just one point shy of perfection.
An excellent score nonetheless, considering Kidō is an intricate and demanding art requiring precise incantation and absolute focus. One misstep in the chant can ruin the entire spell.
Scores above 80 are rare—marks of true talent.
Second place: Kira Izuru with 80 points, scraping past the excellence threshold.
Third: Ghost Step Yamada, 78 points, also from Class 1.
"Tsk, Kidō top three are all Class 1 again. That's insane!"
"I grinded just to hit 60. These guys are monsters…"
"First place and last place—Class 1 owns both!"
Bitter voices surfaced from rival classes.
"Su Li, Class 1 Grade 6—Sealed Zanpakutō: 0 points. Dead last!"
"Su Li, Kidō: 5 points, just above last. Renji got 6 points and is second from the bottom!"
"Class 1's strong alright—top and bottom both theirs! Hahaha!"
The taunts came mostly from students in other classes, sour over Class 1's dominance.
But their words drew attention.
All eyes shifted to the bottom of the report card. Su Li's name was met with laughter and ridicule.
Barely scoring in two subjects, his total was single digits.
Such a student—let alone aspiring to be a Shinigami—might not even qualify for graduation.
The worst of the worst.
How did he even get into Shin'ō Academy in the first place?
In the crowd, Abarai Renji pulled his hat low to hide his embarrassment.
"That idiot… What a disgrace…"
He muttered under his breath, forgetting he too was near the bottom in Kidō.
Eventually, the chatter faded. Su Li's results, dismissed as irrelevant, were quickly forgotten.
No one expected a failure like him to share the same world as them in the future.
Attention turned to the remaining two subjects.
Hakuda, first place: Su Li, 100 points. Perfect.
Shunpo, first place: Su Li, 100 points. Perfect.
Both lists had one name at the top—Su Li.
"What…"
Gasps filled the square.
Silence followed.
No one could believe it.
Su Li, the guy who scored 0 in Sealed Zanpakutō and 5 in Kidō.
That same Su Li had scored perfect 100s in both Hakuda and Shunpo.
Not 90, not 95—full marks. A score previously thought unattainable.
From 80 to 90, it's a gap. From 90 to 100—it's a canyon.
The former could be crossed with effort. The latter, never without absolute talent.
Hard work alone can't reach 100.
Since the founding of Shin'ō Academy, no student had ever achieved a perfect score.
Not even Ichimaru Gin, the famed prodigy and current captain of Squad 3—his highest was 98.
Now, this so-called failure Su Li had set a record with back-to-back perfect scores.
Everyone stood frozen.
Only now did they realize Penultimate wasn't the highest grade—there was a higher one.
100. Perfect.
Abarai Renji stared at the board, stunned. Was this really the Su Li he knew?
Su Li, the joke of Class 1?
"Dong… dong… dong…"
A drum resounded across the academy. The second round of assessment was about to begin.
Candidates assembled at the martial field.
This was the final stage.
The rules were simple—members of the Gotei 13 would face off against the candidates to assess real combat strength.
Performance would determine team placement and seating.
Candidates chose which squad to challenge based on preference.
But no matter the choice, the battle would be brutal. Squads typically sent their top five seats. Some even sent their top three.
The Gotei 13 took talent seriously.
There was a saying: if you lasted five minutes in the second round, you had the strength of a seated officer.
The longer you held out, the higher your potential seat.
The drum beat again. The second round had officially begun.
Students and instructors watched as the first challenger stepped forward.
It was Hinamori Momo, top of the class.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
On the proving ground, a fierce clash began.
Facing Kenjiro, the fifth seat of Squad 5, Hinamori lasted exactly five minutes before being struck by a mid-tier Hadō spell.
Despite losing, it was enough to prove her strength as a seated officer. Her status as top student was no fluke.
Hinamori was recruited by Squad 5.
Next came Kira Izuru. He endured five and a half minutes before falling, earning a seat in Squad 3.
Then came Abarai Renji.
No one knew what lit his fire, but his fighting spirit blazed.
Though he could activate Shikai, he was still too green before seasoned officers. He fell at the eleventh minute.
Still, the crowd gave thunderous applause.
Even Gotei 13 members rose in recognition.
Renji had gone toe-to-toe with a third seat.
Some now saw him as the strongest of this year's graduates. A likely contender for a top five seat.
Renji joined Squad 6.
Candidates followed one by one, but few lasted more than five minutes. In the end, only a dozen were successful.
The rest would be allocated later.
Time flew. The final candidate stepped forward.
"Class 1, Grade 6—Su Li!"
The instructor's voice echoed as Su Li walked onto the stage, calm and composed.
"Which squad do you wish to test for?"
Su Li smiled.
"Second Division."
He had decided this long ago.
The Second Division oversaw the Onmitsukidō, Soul Society's elite black-ops force.
Its captain was the commander-in-chief of the entire secret mobile corps.
This squad handled assassination, punishment, intelligence, and the internal defense of Seireitei—a force beyond measure.
To rise in the Shinigami world, one had to seize power. The Second Division was the blade to wield.
According to Tui Wan, mastering this squad would prove critical in future crises, like Aizen's betrayal or the invasion by the Wandenreich.
Joining Squad 2 was essential.
"Well well, finally someone picked Squad 2!"
A burst of laughter rang out.
Omaeda Marechiyo, vice-captain of the Second Division, stepped forward onto the field.