"Saito‑kun, have you thought about where you'll go after graduation?"
After finishing the siege of the Gillians, the vanguard and Arata's group immediately headed back toward the camp.
On the way, Amagai Shusuke asked Arata that question.
"I'm sorry, Captain Amagai, I haven't thought about it yet." Arata answered the same as before. How could he not understand what this man was trying to do?
Soi‑Fon also said, "Captain Amagai, I understand that you recognize Saito‑san's abilities, but he probably won't join the expeditionary unit."
What Soi‑Fon felt now was exactly the same as what Amagai Shusuke felt or even stronger.
After all, she had personally witnessed Arata's growth. In just three months he had risen from a level where she could still teach him in the training class, to a level where he could surpass a vice‑captain.
For the vice‑captains of the Gotei 13, defeating a single Gillian is not difficult.
But Soi‑Fon was certain that no other vice‑captain could, like Arata, wipe out more than ten Gillians in a single strike.
Even she would need quite some time, unless she used Bankai.
Someone with such talent and ability would certainly become a target for recruitment by every squad. How could he possibly end up in a useless expeditionary unit?
Even if Arata wished it himself, the captains would never allow it!
"That's true…" Amagai Shusuke said with a trace of regret.
When they returned to the edge of the camp, most of the ordinary Hollows had already been wiped out.
However, they found a rather gloomy atmosphere.
"What happened in the camp?" Kaien stopped a female Shinigami and asked.
"Lord Kaien!" The Shinigami was a member of the 4th Division, responsible for the medical side of this expedition.
She told them the entire course of the battle, and they finally understood what had happened.
Because of the appearance of the large Gillian group, the expeditionary unit had become chaotic.
Moreover, the number of Hollow groups was not small, and their combat power was much stronger than before.
Even with two captains on guard, this conflict produced more losses than any other battle so far.
The number of deaths did not remain at zero, it rose to seven, and among them was also a student of the Shinō Spiritual Arts Academy.
Furthermore, he was a top student, ranked among the top ten of his generation.
He died in a sudden ambush and hunt by two Hollows.
Perhaps because they personally witnessed the death of their comrade this time, everyone appeared quite dejected.
"If anyone wishes to withdraw from this examination halfway, they may submit a request to the Medical Department."
Unohana Retsu issued orders regarding the treatment of the wounded, then walked to the center of the camp.
Her voice was no longer as gentle as before, but serious and heavy.
It isn't mandatory to endure until the end of graduation, that was something Captain Yamamoto had already discussed with Unohana during the captains' meeting before departure.
Students have the right to withdraw in the middle of the exam, and she is the one responsible for handling it.
With a slight amplification of spiritual pressure, all students in the camp clearly heard Unohana Retsu's words.
For a moment, their thoughts tangled, and murmurs spread everywhere.
"Morita, let's withdraw together? I don't want to die yet."
"Yes, and if I don't graduate this year, so what? But Jian's head was blown off instantly!"
"Yuya, are you staying?"
"Momonogi, I'm not withdrawing. If you want to leave, go alone!"
"…"
Soon, everyone had made their decision.
A total of 128 sixth‑year students participated in this exam.
On the very first day, 72 chose to withdraw.
As the person responsible for the record, Kotetsu Isane wore a rather gloomy expression once the task was done.
She exhaled deeply, she hadn't expected that fewer than half would be willing to stay.
But there was also good news: Arata's name did not appear on the withdrawal list.
Moreover, Isane had heard from several captains that Arata had performed exceptionally on the front line, he had wiped out more than ten Hollows in a single strike.
He was simply too strong, and his level no longer resembled that of a Shinō Spiritual Arts Academy student.
She felt relieved and secretly happy, but at the same time she couldn't suppress her worry.
Although Saito‑san had become very strong, that also meant he would likely have to face even greater and more dangerous threats.
When Isane thought about that, her head began to ache.
After the withdrawal list was finally compiled, Unohana Retsu contacted Kurotsuchi Mayuri stationed at the base via the special communication device produced by the Technology Development Bureau.
"Hmph! What a class of weaklings!"
"They couldn't last even one day. I really don't know what kind of trash this Spiritual Arts Academy is producing!"
"I suggest we send all of them to the Technology Development Bureau to serve as test subjects!"
Although he cursed without restraint, he still promised to send people for them.
Five hours later, the support escort arrived at the camp.
The seventy‑two sixth‑year students who decided to give up the exam gathered into formation and left, carrying with them the body of the fallen student.
Through the Expedition Gate in the base, they would return to Soul Society alive and well—but would also lose the right to graduate this year.
They would regain the chance to take the graduation exam again only after three years.
Of course, that could now be considered the past.
"Hisagi‑kun, did it not occur to you to withdraw?"
After returning to the camp, Arata did not immediately go back to his unit's formation but instead first searched for Hisagi Shūhei and the others.
As someone who had been in the same class with them for six years, he still cared about them.
Although he knew they weren't weak, Hueco Mundo was not Soul Society, there was never a hundred percent guarantee of safety.
"Of course not. After all, we're also part of the top ten elites of the year." Hisagi laughed.
But although he said it casually, he still felt a trace of sadness.
Because Shimizu Ken, whose head had just been blown off by a Hollow, was also one of the top ten students of their generation.
Who goes to a battlefield without a helmet?
Moreover, even Shinigami from the expeditionary unit had casualties, no one could guarantee that nothing would happen to him specifically.
"Keep going. I believe you'll endure to the end." Arata placed his hand on his shoulder. "Senior Kaien is very strong. As long as you follow him and don't do anything reckless, nothing will happen to you."
During the earlier battle, Arata had already observed Kaien's movements and saw that he could easily confront two, even three Gillians at once, holding the trident in one hand.
Additionally, his Nejibana was, unlike Kyōka Suigetsu, a genuine water‑type Zanpakutō.
Techniques like the "water spear wall" could be used for offense, defense, and trapping enemies, a true all‑around warrior.
Later, he died at the hands of a Hollow, Aizen's experimental subject. On the surface, it looked mild and weak, but in reality, it was a classic plot‑driven sacrificial death.
It can't be said that he was as strong as a captain, but he was certainly above average vice‑captain level.
Had he not died early, in Ichigo's era he would have easily reached a level on par with most others.
"Don't worry, we're still waiting to watch you keep slaughtering Hollows!" Hisagi laughed.
Kanisawa and Aoga also nodded from the side. They had already heard about Arata's spectacular performance earlier.
A student of the Shinō Spiritual Arts Academy, with a Zanpakutō in Shikai form, wiping out more than ten Gillians in one strike.
Anyone can understand that story when each part is said separately, but put together, it sounds like someone is telling a very bad joke.
Arata gave an awkward smile, he hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly.
[You gave your all, cooperating with the vanguard to destroy the Hollow group that launched the attack, thereby indirectly saving a large number of Shinigami in the camp.]
[Yamagami Yua, thanks to your actions, has significantly altered her fate; you gain 43 destiny points.]
[Momonogi Shona, thanks to your actions, has significantly altered her fate; you gain 42 destiny points.]
[Shindō Rui, thanks to your actions, has significantly altered her fate; you gain 44 destiny points.]
[...]
The system sounds were like music to his ears, and the messages constantly refreshing before his eyes made Arata feel almost dizzy for a moment.
When all the numbers finally added up, the destiny value that appeared before him made him break into a wide smile.
----
I wish you all a Happy New Year!!