Shin'o Academy, entrance examination site.
The entrance examination at Shin'o Academy consisted of three rounds.
They were a spiritual pressure test, a Kido aptitude test, and a swordsmanship aptitude test.
After the candidates completed all three rounds, the examiners would give them an overall score. The spiritual pressure test accounted for 60% of the score, while the Kido and swordsmanship aptitude tests each accounted for 20%.
Shin'o Academy had a limit on the number of new students it admitted each year, so it selected the best candidates from among those who met the requirements.
At that moment, Gilgamesh was taking the first round: the spiritual pressure test.
"Pay attention. The passing score for the spiritual pressure test is twenty-fifth class spiritual pressure."
"Anyone who fails to meet the passing score will be eliminated immediately."
The examiner's words made all the candidates nervous.
Renji Abarai and Rukia were no exception.
They were anxious, unsure whether they could pass the spiritual pressure test.
Gilgamesh had gone out of his way to bring them here, and they didn't want to disappoint him.
Gilgamesh saw what was on their minds. Stroking Yoruichi Shihouin in his arms, he reassured them, "Twenty-fifth class is the lowest level of spiritual pressure the test can detect. Ordinary members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads have spiritual pressure of around twentieth class."
"As long as you don't lose your nerve, you'll pass the test without a problem."
Gilgamesh's reassurance gave Renji Abarai and Rukia something to rely on. Their anxious hearts settled at once.
No one dared disrupt the entrance examination at Shin'o Academy, not even the children of noble families.
The spiritual pressure test proceeded in an orderly fashion.
"Koide Nakaji, twenty-fourth class spiritual pressure. Pass."
"Nagao Norika, twenty-third class spiritual pressure. Pass."
"Fukushima Yusuke, spiritual pressure below twenty-fifth class. Fail!"
Before long, the examiner's usually calm voice suddenly grew excited.
"Konishi Riko, tenth class spiritual pressure. Pass!"
The announcement stirred an uproar among the crowd.
"Tenth class spiritual pressure? Good heavens! Isn't that already Seated Officer level?"
"Seated Officers have spiritual pressure ranging from eighteenth to sixth class. She didn't just meet the standard—she exceeded it by eight classes."
"I'm so jealous. The Thirteen Court Guard Squads will probably take notice of her soon."
"I know her. She's the second daughter of the Konishi Clan in West Rukongai's First District. Her family has always looked down on her. Who would've thought she had such powerful spiritual pressure?"
Amid the commotion, the test continued.
After Konishi Riko, no one else produced a result that stunned the entire crowd.
At last, it was Gilgamesh's turn to take the spiritual pressure test.
As Gilgamesh stepped onto the testing device, everyone's gaze turned toward him almost involuntarily.
Even the examiners present and the Shinigami concealed nearby were watching him.
There was no helping it. Gilgamesh was simply too dazzling.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"He's the Charisma of the Beautiful Boy from yesterday! It's finally his turn. I wonder what class his spiritual pressure will be."
"He carries himself with such poise and nobility. He must come from a noble family, perhaps even a high-ranking one. I'd guess his spiritual pressure is above tenth class, but below fifth."
"That sounds reasonable. Fifth class is vice-captain level. Even he probably couldn't reach that."
"That's the advantage of a noble family. We can't compete with that. He'll probably top the exam."
Standing behind Gilgamesh in line, Renji Abarai and Rukia heard the chatter. Their faces filled with anticipation as they waited for Gilgamesh to amaze the crowd.
They had learned from Mr. Black Cat that Gilgamesh's strength rivaled that of a captain in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
They didn't know what class of spiritual pressure a captain had, but they knew that captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were the strongest fighters in Soul Society.
The spiritual pressure testing device began operating automatically.
Gilgamesh didn't need to do anything. The device would measure his spiritual pressure on its own.
Soon, the results appeared.
The examiner stared at them in astonishment and instinctively announced, "Gilgamesh, twenty-fifth class spiritual pressure. Pass."
The instant the examiner announced the result, the entire examination hall fell silent.
Everyone wore looks of disbelief and astonishment.
They had never imagined that Gilgamesh's spiritual pressure would only just meet the passing score. It was nothing like what they had expected.
Renji Abarai and Rukia were just as astonished.
Only Yoruichi Shihouin showed no change in expression.
She had always found Gilgamesh's spiritual pressure strange.
To her senses, Gilgamesh's spiritual pressure was pitifully weak, yet she had seen his strength with her own eyes.
So she assumed Gilgamesh had an artifact that concealed his spiritual pressure. He was deliberately hiding his abilities to avoid drawing the attention of the Shinigami and nobles.
After all, the Kingdom of Uruk was only just getting started. It wasn't time to announce its existence to the world.
Only Gilgamesh knew that his spiritual pressure really was twenty-fifth class.
According to his status panel, Gilgamesh had 50,000 spiritual pressure.
That meant 50,000 spiritual pressure corresponded to the twenty-fifth class.
By that ratio, captain-level spiritual pressure might exceed a million.
Of course, none of that mattered. Gilgamesh's confidence didn't come from his spiritual pressure.
And if he wanted to, Gilgamesh was certain he could raise his spiritual pressure to a million, ten million, or even a hundred million by assigning points to it.
After a brief silence, the examination hall erupted into commotion once more.
This time, the uproar was far louder than before.
"No way. His spiritual pressure is only twenty-fifth class?"
"Is this what they mean by all looks and no substance?"
"I knew he wouldn't amount to much. Otherwise, why would his two followers look so shabby? They're obviously from the countryside."
"I was right. He was probably driven out of his family and forced to change his name because he lacked talent."
"So that's it. I was wondering why I'd never heard of a family called the 'Gil' family."
"What a pity. His features are exactly my type, but with such poor talent, my family would never approve. Gil, it seems we're just not meant to be."
"Does that mean I have a chance? I can support him. He won't have to do a thing—he can just stay by my side."
Hearing the surrounding chatter, Renji Abarai and Rukia flared with anger, ready to explode.
But before they could say anything, a terrifying spiritual pressure flashed through the area and vanished.
Everyone present except Gilgamesh fell to their knees. Even the examiners and the Shinigami in hiding were no exception.
Their faces were filled with terror. Their hearts pounded with panic, and cold sweat soaked their clothes before they even realized it.
For a moment, they had felt as though the sky itself had collapsed.
They didn't know what had happened, but they knew that the terrifying spiritual pressure that had flashed by must have something to do with the only person still standing in the area.
That person was... Gilgamesh!
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