"Eh? Big Brother failed something?!"
Momo stared at the form in disbelief.
Amidst rows of Excellent and High Aptitude evaluations, a single entry stood out clearly:
Kidō Sensitivity — Fail
Sombravida remained calm.
"Zero resonance with Kidō formula construction," he said lightly.
It wasn't surprising.
His control over reiryoku was exceptional — compression, directional output, sustained stability — all of that was refined through survival.
But Kidō was different.
Kidō was not merely releasing spiritual pressure.
It required structural reishi formation, formula imprinting, and resonance compatibility.
Either—
He truly lacked aptitude.
Or—
The Hollow-derived spiritual layer within him interfered with the Kidō structure matrix.
He leaned toward the second possibility.
Shinigami Kidō was harmonized reishi manipulation.
Hollow reiryoku was predatory and destabilizing by nature.
The two systems might simply reject coexistence in structured spells.
Still, Sombravida was unconcerned.
In true high-level combat, reiatsu dominance determined outcome.
Without sufficient pressure density, even a beautifully cast Hadō was meaningless.
Only the highest tiers — 90 and above — truly altered the battlefield.
And by the time one reached that level, spiritual pressure itself already decided victory.
"Your evaluation is extremely polarized," Momo muttered regretfully.
"Top-tier control, zero Kidō affinity…"
"It happens," Sombravida replied casually.
"The examiner said I might be more suited for Kaidō support theory or non-formula spiritual transmission fields."
That much was true.
He could shape reiryoku.
He just couldn't crystallize it into spell formulas.
Momo, on the other hand, had received positive feedback from a Fifth Division officer regarding her Kidō synchronization.
They were already diverging in specialization.
Final Assessment — Willpower Examination
The last examination chamber was small.
Pitch black.
No visible light source.
Twelfth Division technology.
A mental resilience test.
Once inside, candidates would experience personalized hallucination constructs derived from subconscious memory traces.
Emotional fluctuation, neural stability, and spiritual oscillation were recorded externally.
"Number 918. Prepare."
The door sealed.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Sombravida closed his eyes instinctively.
No visual reliance.
Only spiritual perception.
The environment shifted.
First Illusion — Human Death
A hospital room.
White ceiling.
Monitor beeping.
An elderly doctor speaking solemnly.
"I'm sorry… there is nothing more we can do."
Sombravida's breathing grew shallow.
He recognized it instantly.
The day he died as a human.
The suffocation.
The helplessness.
The quiet resignation.
Pain flooded back into phantom lungs.
For a brief moment—
His mind wavered.
Death had been terrifying not because of the end…
But because of the waiting.
"…Lord Sombravida."
A voice echoed faintly.
The scene shattered.
Second Illusion — Hueco Mundo
Desert.
White sands.
Broken pillars.
Nel.
Blood pouring from her throat.
Aizen standing calmly behind her.
Gin smiling.
Tōsen silent.
Comrades fallen.
Sombravida felt the weight of powerless rage again.
He could not move.
Could not interfere.
The helplessness.
The crushing inferiority.
"Nel!"
His spiritual pressure spiked violently.
The illusion intensified.
Momo appeared—
A blade through her abdomen.
Blood on his hands.
The emotional feedback loop spiraled.
The machine was amplifying reaction amplitude.
Sombravida felt anger surge.
Then—
He forced stillness.
He inhaled slowly.
"This is memory projection. Emotional stimulus pattern."
He centered his reiatsu.
Stabilized his core.
Refused to react.
The illusion destabilized.
Third Illusion — Unknown Presence
Hueco Mundo again.
But empty.
No corpses.
No Aizen.
Just endless white desert under a crescent moon.
Mist formed ahead.
A vague silhouette.
He could not identify it.
But—
There was no hostility.
No killing intent.
No despair.
The figure stepped closer.
Sombravida tried to move.
He couldn't.
A hand extended.
A single finger touched his forehead.
Warm.
Not painful.
Then—
Darkness vanished.
The chamber lights flickered faintly.
A dim glow revealed mechanical apparatus surrounding the room.
Translucent reishi tanks.
Neural synchronization devices.
Multi-layered memory projection arrays.
Twelfth Division illusion technology.
Not Hollow.
Not supernatural causality reading.
Just advanced spiritual neuro-feedback.
Sombravida remained silent.
"Passed," the examiner announced flatly.
Some technicians argued quietly about light exposure.
"Don't turn it on."
"He's blind."
"Still—protocol."
Sombravida did not comment.
He exited calmly.
But inwardly—
That third presence unsettled him.
It was not part of the hostility cycle.
And the machine should not fabricate non-hostile unknown entities.
He memorized the sensation.
Outside, Momo ran toward him.
"Big Brother!"
"How was yours?"
"I had to watch you, Shiro, and Grandma grow old and die!" she complained.
"Stupid test."
Sombravida smiled faintly.
"You passed."
"Yes!"
They submitted their forms.
The receptionist sorted them.
Most failures left side.
Passes middle.
Multi-division stamped forms right side.
Their forms were placed on the right.
"Results in one week," the Shinigami clerk stated.
"Understood."
They exited Seireitei's Academy district.
Commercial Street
Momo tugged his sleeve.
"Big brother, let's look around!"
Sombravida considered briefly.
The reishi density here was beneficial.
And they could bring gifts back.
"Alright."
They bought snacks.
Some preserved goods.
A few small items uncommon in outer Rukongai districts.
Silver rings from Kira still covered expenses.
As they walked—
A familiar voice called out.
"Tsukishiro-nii?"
Sombravida turned.
"Kira?"
Kira stood there in formal attire — not Academy uniform yet, but noble household clothing.
Relief and admiration were clear in his expression.
"So you really came to apply."
"Just testing my luck," Sombravida replied lightly.
"This is my sister, Hinamori Momo."
Momo bowed politely.
Kira returned it with equal courtesy.
"You've finished your exam?" Sombravida asked.
"I just arrived," Kira admitted.
"Family matters delayed me."
His tone dimmed slightly.
Sombravida understood.
Noble decline.
Commercial suppression.
Internal faction pressure.
"Your family business is fabrics, correct?"
"Yes."
Sombravida sensed the tension beneath that single word.
"Difficulties?"
Kira looked down briefly.
"After my grandfather passed and my father was injured, rival houses began cutting supply routes."
He didn't elaborate further.
Sombravida nodded.
"I'm no expert in textiles. But if you ever want to diversify into produce distribution, I can help."
"Watermelon?" Kira blinked.
Sombravida chuckled faintly.
"Long story."
Kira did not press.
He trusted him.
"You'll do well," Sombravida said quietly.
"Control your reiryoku. Don't hold back your sword precision."
Kira's expression hardened with resolve.
"Yes, Tsukishiro-nii."
He turned toward the Academy.
Momo watched him leave.
"He respects you a lot."
"I taught him something useful."
"Big brother knows combat techniques?!" Momo puffed up instantly.
"You never taught me!"
Sombravida laughed softly.
"I will."
"Hehe, promise!"
"Promise."
He ruffled her hair gently.
And the two continued walking.
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