It could be said that the Soul Society's research on the Dangai had persisted from the creation of the three realms up to the present, spanning over a million years.
Within the 12th Division, there had always been a department dedicated to monitoring the Dangai, staffed by researchers who each possessed a profound understanding of time or space.
Among the Gotei 13, the 12th Division was perhaps the only one where seated officers were appointed not based on combat strength but on scientific research capabilities.
"We're almost there."
Traveling through the Dangai didn't take much time.
In less than a minute, everyone could see a white point of light ahead in the passage… the exit of the Senkaimon to the Human World.
Upon stepping out of the Senkaimon, what greeted Kyoya's eyes wasn't a modern landscape of towering buildings, glittering lights, or bustling streets.
Instead, it was a scene not much different from the Soul Society: wooden huts, thatched cottages, and even crude shelters made of a few branches.
Apart from a few exceptions, most of the people looked emaciated and wore tattered clothing.
Seeing this, Kyoya fell silent.
He had forgotten that it was still nearly a hundred years away from the main plot.
Human technological advancement would only begin to flourish in the next thirty years or so.
If nothing unexpected happens, the Human World right now was still in the Warring States Period.
The appearance of Kyoya and the others didn't stir any reaction among the people of Mibu Town.
Without Reiatsu, living humans couldn't see or touch spirits.
Kyoya expanded his Observation Haki, enveloping the entire town.
The town had a population of around 800.
Perhaps, a hundred years later, a settlement of a few hundred people would be considered nothing more than a desolate village.
But in this era, a town of nearly a thousand people could be called a city.
Calling this place a small town was clearly a judgment made by the Soul Reapers of the Seireitei based on the scale of the Rukongai in the Soul Society.
In truth, this was the most densely populated area within dozens of kilometers.
If a Hollow were to descend from Hueco Mundo into the living world to hunt, this would undoubtedly be the best location within a hundred-mile radius.
"Alright, students."
"Your assessment this time will involve guarding this area for one month."
"Next, I'll divide this town into nine zones. Each group of three will be responsible for one zone, performing soul burials on the spirits of the deceased within your assigned area and guiding them to the Soul Society."
"If a Hollow manifests in your designated zone, you'll be responsible for purifying it."
"There are only two criteria for passing the assessment."
"First, fulfill your duties as Shinigami and survive."
"Of course, if you encounter a Hollow beyond your ability to handle, you can call for our support."
"However, doing so will result in an automatic failure."
"Secondly, if more than five souls are devoured by Hollows in your zone within this month, you'll also be judged as failing!"
'Nine zones?'
Along with Kyoya, the twenty-plus students leaped onto the rooftops.
Though Mibu Town wasn't very large, dividing it into nine zones meant each area spanned roughly 500 meters in radius.
With three people guarding each zone, if someone encountered a Hollow, they would only need to hold out for about ten seconds before reinforcements arrived from their teammates, making the danger relatively manageable.
But that was only if they faced a single Hollow they could handle.
If they were attacked by two or more Hollows, or a medium-sized Hollow, they would inevitably have to call for the examiners' assistance.
"Examiner, if no Hollows descend in our assigned zone during this month, does that still count as passing the assessment?"
One of the students asked.
Since this Shinigami had confronted Teacher Nomura in the academy, everyone was a bit wary of him.
"Correct."
The Shinigami glanced at the questioning student and nodded.
"Luck, to some extent, is also part of one's strength."
"For the same mission, some encounter powerful enemies, while others only face small fry. The outcomes are different."
"Of course, since this is an assessment, your final results will also depend on your achievements."
"If no Hollows descend in your assigned zone, you can still pass."
"However, you won't receive the benefits that come with purifying Hollows."
"Similarly, if your zone is attacked by multiple Hollows and you manage to purify them all, your graduation assessment score will be greatly boosted."
"You might not understand now, but once you join the Gotei 13, you'll realize that those who pass by killing Hollows and those who pass without doing so receive different treatment within their divisions."
"Sir, what if a Hollow from an adjacent zone intrudes into our assigned area? Which group gets credit?"
Seeing that the examiner seemed approachable, another student asked.
"Naturally, it's credited to the zone where the Hollow is purified."
"If you can't even keep a Hollow that appears in your own zone, you don't deserve bonus points."
"Additionally, if anyone deliberately lures a Hollow from their zone into another, resulting in the death of another student, I will disqualify them."
"Thank you for clarifying, Examiner."
"Alright, you, you, and you… responsible for Zone One."
"You, the two of you, are in charge of Zone Two."
Soon, under the examiner's assignments, the students dispersed to their respective zones.
Kyoya was assigned to Zone Seven, along with two young men around eighteen or nineteen years old.
"Kyoya, it looks like we're riding your coattails for this assessment."
Once they arrived in Zone Seven, the two students smiled at Kyoya.
Though Kyoya hadn't spent much time in the sixth grade, his reputation in the Shin'o Academy was well-known.
They might question his height, but they couldn't doubt his strength.
To put it bluntly, even the instructors acknowledged that Kyoya already possessed the power of a full-fledged Shinigami… and not a weak one at that.
If anyone in this assessment was guaranteed to pass with absolute certainty, everyone present would undoubtedly point to Kyoya.
This was evident from the envious looks the other students gave the two of them.
Being grouped with Kyoya meant they had essentially secured their graduation seals in advance.
"I'm Fujita Toyohara, and this is Otomo Yusuke."
"For this assessment, we'll follow your lead completely, Kyoya."
Clearly, Fujita Toyohara and Otomo Yusuke knew their place.
They were just hangers-on clinging to Kyoya's coattails.
Their best move was to follow orders without question.