"This is the Second Division?!"
After recovering at the Shin'ō Medicinal Relief Institute, Rukia came alone to the gate of the Second Division. She was somewhat shocked as she looked at the metal wall that was nearly fifty meters high and seemed to have been specially built to prevent attacks from Titans.
There seem to be words here...
Rukia first stood in front of the iron gate, looked up at its height for a while, and then carefully observed and noticed the wooden sign standing in front of the heavy iron gate of the Second Division.
" Kenpachi and dogs are not allowed inside?!"
"Let's just pretend we didn't see it!"
Rukia raised an eyebrow as she looked at the contents of the sign. To be honest, the words shocked her. Kenpachi was a title that only the strongest Shinigami in Soul Society could receive. Every Kenpachi was a monster among monsters. However, this sign associated Kenpachi with a dog, which was a complete disrespect to Kenpachi, the number one Shinigami in Soul Society. But this also showed just how powerful the Second Division was!
"Knock knock knock..."
Rukia Kuchiki mustered her courage and gently knocked on the heavy iron door in front of her.
The next second, several members of the Stealth Force, dressed in black bodysuits, appeared beside Rukia, holding their Zanpakuto and pointing them at her as Rukia knocked on the door.
"I am Rukia Kuchiki, a former member of the Thirteenth Division. I have come to the Second Division for special training. This is my letter of recommendation."
Rukia seemed to have been prepared; the moment the men in black restrained her, she pulled out her letter of recommendation from her bosom.
"Look!"
The lead member of the Stealth Force beckoned to someone beside him, and someone immediately stepped forward and took the letter of recommendation from Rukia's hand.
"Real."
The soldier who received the letter of recommendation examined it carefully, then nodded slightly, indicating that the letter was accurate.
Please wait a moment.
Upon hearing this, the leader of the squad returned the letter of recommendation to Rukia Kuchiki, and then used Kidō to make remote contact with certain people.
Before long, a woman with shoulder-length hair, the Second Division insignia tied on her shoulder, and a special combat suit that perfectly showcased her beautiful figure appeared before Rukia Kuchiki, accompanied by a gentle breeze.
"Vice Captain!"
Upon seeing the newcomers, the members of the Stealth Force all nodded in greeting.
"You're Rukia Kuchiki?"
The woman, whom several Stealth Force respectfully called the vice-captain, stood in front of Rukia with her hands behind her back, scrutinizing Rukia, who was full of flaws, with a somewhat critical gaze.
"Exactly."
Rukia nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. She had heard the legend of the Second Division Vice-Captain before her. It was said that she possessed strength no less than that of the other Division Captains, and was a powerful woman who, through her own strength, made the other Division Captains choose to treat her as an equal. Of course, this was also Rukia's goal.
"Really? Come with me!"
After hearing Rukia's words, the vice-captain of the Second Division gently placed his hand on Rukia's shoulder.
Where should I go with you?
Rukia looked at the Second Division Lieutenant facing her with a puzzled expression. She didn't understand what kind of strange posture this was.
"Come with me!"
The vice-captain of the Second Division pointed to the massive steel door behind him and spoke.
"Um... that's a bit of an exaggeration."
Rukia's expression changed upon hearing the Second Division Lieutenant's words. The moment she entered the Second Division's territory, she discovered that she could no longer move through the air by stepping on Reishi. She could only rely on her own leg strength to jump, but... the door in front of her was nearly fifty meters high!
This height was completely beyond Rukia's capabilities; she couldn't possibly jump more than fifty meters into the air using only the strength generated by her leg muscles.
"It's very simple."
The Second Division's vice-captain smiled gently at Rukia, grabbed Rukia's shoulders, and in a short moment, she carried Rukia from the ground to the massive metal gate fifty meters high.
"Waaah..."
Suddenly being high in the air gave Rukia an experience she had never had before, Rukia to gasp in surprise.
Rukia's heart pounded wildly, Rukia could feel the exhilarating rush of blood through her body.
"Then it falls from the sky."
Before Rukia could recover, the vice-captain of the Second Division, Hōshō Ryo, dropped from the fifty-meter-high airway with Rukia, turning into a blur.
"Ooh!"
Rukia felt her body floating in the air, and tension and fear churned within her, causing her to cry out involuntarily.
"Calm."
Hōshō Ryo carried Rukia to the ground and spoke to Rukia, who was drenched in cold sweat.
"Forehead..."
After hearing what Hōshō Ryo said, Rukia did not reply. She just blushed and hugged Hōshō Ryo tightly. Perhaps it was the suspension bridge effect, but Rukia looked at Hōshō Ryo's pretty face with a strange emotion.
"Walk."
Hōshō Ryo Rukia off her, uttered a single word, and then led the way.
"OK."
Rukia finally understood the Second Division's style: simple, quick, and efficient. Although her heart was still a little uneasy, she forced herself to remain calm and followed closely behind Hōshō Ryo, afraid of falling behind.
The two walked for more than half an hour in the Second Division's barracks, passing through jungles and several dojos before finally arriving at the huge courtyard built on the mountainside.
"This is?"
Rukia stared in surprise at the palace, which was as big as a mountain, and asked.
This is the team leader's room.
Hōshō Ryo answered Rukia's question: Yes, the enormous thing in front of them, which was even bigger than the entire Thirteenth Division barracks, was just the Second Division Captain.
"That's a bit too much. Compared to this place, both the Thirteenth Division and the Sixth Division are rather shabby."
Rukia Kuchiki felt that ever since she arrived at the Second Division today, she had been amazed by this mysterious division. The quality of the members and the various facilities within the division far exceeded Rukia's expectations. To be honest, she was now looking forward to seeing what the Second Division Captain looked like. She thought the Second Division Captain must be a serious and powerful person, who could be described as incredibly strong in every aspect.
"Of course... Don't you even know who our Second Division Captain is?"
After hearing Rukia's words, Hōshō Ryo nodded in satisfaction. She liked it when people praised their Second Division, and she also liked it when people praised their Second Division captain.
"Our captain is right here."
Hōshō Ryo confidently opened the gates of the enormous palace, revealing its interior.
"Ah... it's Little Fon? What's the date today?"
When the palace gates opened, what appeared before Hōshō Ryo and Rukia was a pile of comic books on the floor, and Sougo Sōgo Shihoin, who was in a withered and half-dead state, but still holding a controller and staring at the computer screen.
"..."
Hōshō Ryo glanced at the room full of comic books and the half-dead Sōgo Shihoin, gently rubbed her eyes, and then slammed the palace door shut.
"We must be opening it incorrectly."
Hōshō Ryo smiled slightly at Rukia Kuchiki, who was standing beside her, dumbfounded.
"That's... that's true!"
Rukia Kuchiki felt her eyes must be hallucinating from the recent intense stress. The captain of the Court Guard Second Division, the head of the Shihoin Family Five Great Noble Clans —he should be as calm, handsome, excellent, and perfect as his brother. How could he be so...degenerate? Besides, she had witnessed Sōgo's strength firsthand; he was a monster with overwhelming power that could make enemies give up! Shouldn't those monsters be disciplined? How could he be like this?
"Smack!"
Just as Rukia Kuchiki was feeling lost and confused, Hōshō Ryo pushed open the door in front of her once again.
" Little Fon! Get me something to eat, I'm so hungry..."
From within the dark room came Sōgo's voice, which sounded like that of a hungry ghost.
"This is not my hallucination!"
Looking at Sōgo, who resembled a hungry ghost, Rukia Kuchiki knew she hadn't misjudged him. Instantly Rukia Kuchiki's illusions about Sōgo Shihoin shattered.
"Smack!"
Hōshō Ryo once again closed the gates to Hell, smiling kindly at Rukia Kuchiki beside them.
" Rukia, please forget what you just saw, and wait for me a moment."
Hōshō Ryo patted Rukia on the shoulder and smiled gently.
"How scary! The vice-captain is so scary!"
Rukia looked slightly panicked, her forehead covered in beads of sweat, and she nervously swallowed.
" Little Fon, don't open the curtains! I can't stand the light!"
"Die! You lazy bum hiding in the shadows!"
"Oh my! Hikari!"
"And all these comics are confiscated!"
"Game console confiscated!"
"In short, you bastard who deceived my feelings, you'd better be prepared!"
Rukia her face tightly against the palace door, listening intently to the chilling words emanating from within.
The noise inside the hall lasted for half an hour before it finally subsided. And it was just as the noise ended that the hall doors opened once again in front of Rukia Kuchiki.
"Anyway, come on in! I hope you won't laugh at me on your first day."
Hōshō Ryo peeked out from the crack in the door and smiled slightly at Rukia.
"Uh... it's nothing, I'm not ashamed of myself. I was just a little surprised. I didn't expect Captain Shihoin to be such a... hmm? cheerful and outgoing person in private?"
Rukia thought for a long time but couldn't think of a good word to describe Sōgo. In the end, she could only use a word that she herself felt was a little inappropriate: lively and cheerful, to describe Sōgo's somewhat eccentric spirit.
"Is she lively and cheerful!?"
After hearing Rukia's words, Hōshō Ryo smiled bitterly; that Sōgo was indeed the most fitting description of Sougo.
The two didn't say anything more; some things just get more awkward the more you talk about them, so it's better to say nothing at all.
As soon as Rukia entered the palace, she felt a sudden heaviness, an inexplicable pressure pressing down on her shoulders.
"Such strong Spiritual Pressure?!"
Rukia felt the heavy Spiritual Pressure on her shoulders, her body trembling uncontrollably, her bones creaking under the immense Spiritual Pressure.
"Too strong! It's like they're from a different dimension! Just wanting to move forward used all my strength! Is this the power of the current head of the Shihoin family?"
Rukia Kuchiki's face turned deathly pale. To be honest, she was already prepared to kneel before Sōgo, to Sōgo Shihoin him as a king, a god! But her inherent pride wouldn't allow her to bow her head here. She had to hold on! To prove herself to Sōgo Shihoin! She knew this was a test from Sōgo Shihoin! Sōgo Shihoin all this for her own good!
"What are you doing?! Sōgo's Spiritual Pressure is way too much for Little Rukia right now!?"
Hōshō Ryo felt the immense Spiritual Pressure in the air and frowned deeply. The Spiritual Pressure that Sōgo was intentionally releasing was a nightmare for any Soul Reaper below the captain level!
"No need to say anything, Vice Captain. I understand Captain Shihoin's good intentions."
Rukia Kuchiki pulled Hōshō Ryo, who was standing beside her, and spoke seriously.
Rukia.
Looking at Rukia's Hōshō Ryo, which was clearly on the verge of collapse but still remained strong, the resentment and prejudice that Rukia connections to get into the Second Division vanished with Rukia's words and resolute gaze. All that remained in her heart was pity and affirmation, because Hōshō Ryo saw her own reflection in Rukia. They were the same kind of people, both strong-willed and fearless.
However, precisely because Hōshō Ryo knows what kind of person Rukia is, she is even more determined to stop Sōgo's trial. The test that Sōgo has given is still a bit too much for Rukia.
" Sōgo..."
Hōshō Ryo took a deep breath, intending to call off Sōgo's trial.
"Really! You noticed?"
However, before Hōshō Ryo could answer, Sōgo, who sat on his throne like a god-king looking down upon all living beings, suddenly spoke.
"Okay! I understand!"
Rukia gave Sōgo a determined look.
"I understand that you intend to give me a trial, to train me well, and to make me stronger."
"So you knew that you saw my Little Mimi and that's why I was deliberately causing you trouble!"
The next second, Rukia and Sōgo spoke at the same time.
"..."
The situation became quite awkward.
"So the reason you're putting pressure on me is just because you're petty?" Rukia's eyes welled with tears as she roared inwardly, "Give me back my gratitude, you bastard!"
"Hahaha, as expected of a child of the Kuchiki Clan, you saw through my good intentions at a glance. Indeed, there was one reason why I put pressure on you. There's no need to thank me."
After a moment of silence, Sōgo burst into laughter.
"Don't try to fool me!"
Rukia didn't trust Sōgo at all; her young heart had already been hurt by Sōgo.
Don't you believe me?
"You actually don't trust me, the team leader?"
Sōgo frowned and questioned Rukia.
"I... I... "Rukia looked at Sougo's serious Sōgo and her heart wavered.
"Fine, I give up. I was lying all along. I just wanted to tease you a little. So what? Was I wrong? I'm the Second Division Captain, and you all have to listen to me!"
Just when Rukia was about to believe Sōgo, Sōgo suddenly gave up and immediately adopted the look of the biggest fat tiger in Soul Society.
You actually gave up! And you gave up so quickly!
Rukia was at a loss for words; Sōgo simply a walking, talking joke.
(End of this chapter)