The Second Division had never been openly contested in any previous assessment. As such, its members had grown used to spectating—easy, yes, but monotonous over time.
With each passing match, watching talented candidates join other squads, restlessness spread among the Second Division members. So when Su Li stated he was aiming for the Second Division, Omaeda leapt to the stage without hesitation.
Sui-Feng shifted slightly in her seat, finally focusing on the combat platform. She'd been indifferent before—even when Abarai Renji had unleashed his Shikai—but now her attention was sharpened. After all, this involved her own division. As Captain, she had every reason to take it seriously.
"The Second Division actually sent their Vice-Captain? Isn't that a bit much?!"
"Tch, this guy's dead meat. Going up against Omaeda? He won't last thirty seconds."
"Su Li? Isn't he that guy who ranked last in the first class? How did he even make it this far?"
"Bro, you're out of the loop. He scored full marks in Hakuda and Shunpo! He's a monster!"
"Get real. No one in academy history's ever scored full marks in anything. Don't spout nonsense!"
"Swear on the Spirit King. Check the bulletin board if you don't believe me. It's all real!"
The crowd buzzed as students discussed Su Li. Despite the released results, most hadn't seen them. So when Su Li was matched against a Vice-Captain, many assumed he was finished. After all, anyone in the second round was elite. Reaching the top ten was an honor; defeating a Vice-Captain was unthinkable.
The proctor stepped up and handed Omaeda Su Li's candidate file, but Omaeda didn't even glance at it. His face was eager, practically glowing with impatience. He'd been sitting too long—now he needed action.
With a flourish, Omaeda drew his Zanpakutō. "Draw your blade, kid. Let's see if you're good enough for Second Division!"
Su Li remained calm, his voice steady. "I won't use my Zanpakutō."
Omaeda blinked. "No sword? Then how do you plan to fight me?"
Su Li didn't answer immediately. Instead, he paused, then asked, "Doesn't the Gotei 13 allow subordinates to challenge superiors if they're dissatisfied? If they win, they take the seat, right?"
Omaeda scratched his head. "What are you getting at?"
Su Li smiled faintly, his tone composed. "I want to challenge Captain Sui-Feng."
The entire venue went silent. Mouths fell open. Did he even know what he was saying?
This wasn't confidence—it was madness.
"Did this brat just say—what I think he said?!"
"I want to challenge Captain Sui-Feng and become the new captain of the Second Division," Su Li repeated, his tone unwavering.
"You arrogant little punk!!" Omaeda roared, veins bulging. "You need a lesson in reality! Draw your blade!!"
Furious, Omaeda activated his Shikai, summoning his massive meteor hammer. Its presence sent a chill through the spectators. Many students flinched, imagining themselves under that crushing weapon.
Su Li's tone didn't change. "I said—I won't use a sword."
"Then die!! Baka Yarō!!"
Omaeda lunged. The proctor barely had time to react. Students below the stage winced and looked away, unwilling to watch Su Li get flattened.
Renji muttered under his breath, "What an idiot... So cocky..."
In everyone's mind, Su Li would be airborne in the next second—bleeding, broken, defeated.
Sui-Feng was already standing, prepared to intervene. A graduation match couldn't end in death. Omaeda had clearly lost his head.
But then—
Bang!
A shockwave echoed.
Omaeda was airborne—launched across the arena—before slamming into the far wall and collapsing in a heap. His Shikai weapon shattered, pieces scattering across the platform.
He coughed blood and fell unconscious.
The arena froze.
No one breathed. No one moved.
The Vice-Captain of the Second Division had been obliterated—by a single kick.
Su Li stepped back, brushing dust from his leg like he had simply swatted a fly.
"Omaeda? Come on, quit pretending."
Sui-Feng was the first to react. She glared at Omaeda's fallen form, already suspicious. She knew her subordinate—lazy, greedy, cowardly. Maybe this was all a ruse.
Was he trying to shake down this new kid for money?
That would explain why he'd rushed out so fast.
Sui-Feng's expression darkened. She landed beside Omaeda and kicked him hard. No response.
Her fingers found his pulse.
Silence stretched.
Then her voice rang out—low but shocked.
"...He's really unconscious."
Her words hit the air like a thunderclap. The crowd erupted.
"No way!! One kick?! No Zanpakutō?!"
"He broke Omaeda's Shikai with just a leg?! What kind of monster is that?!"
"Holy hell! So that's what full marks in Hakuda means?!"
"I thought he was just showboating! But he really—he really didn't need a blade!"
"He's... he's incredible. I judged him too soon..."
"With this level, he could be a Vice-Captain already. Wait—could he really be aiming for Captain?!"
"Sixteen years old and aiming to be a Captain... that's terrifying!"
"Silence!"
The proctor's shout finally tamed the chaos. Murmurs faded, though tension still crackled in the air.
"Take him to the Fourth Division," Sui-Feng ordered coldly, motioning to Omaeda's body. Then her sharp eyes locked onto Su Li.
"You... are impressive."
She stepped onto the platform, her gaze like a blade. Her Vice-Captain had just been humiliated—she would not overlook that.
She bent to pick up the candidate's profile. One glance at the page, and her brows twitched.
"Omaeda didn't even read this?"
She read aloud, her tone mixed with disbelief and intrigue. "Zero in sealed Zanpakutō. Kidō, five points. Hakuda and Shunpo, full marks."
Her lips curled slightly. "Interesting. Very interesting."
The spectators held their breath.
For a moment, Sui-Feng's cold demeanor shifted. Her eyes lit with rare excitement.
Su Li's perfect scores had finally been confirmed. The entire academy now understood what they were witnessing.
And yet, that wasn't the end.
Sui-Feng untied her white haori and slipped it off, letting it drift onto the arena floor.
"I don't know why you won't draw your blade. But I don't care."
"You remind me of someone I once knew."
"And while the challenge rule you cited only applies to the Eleventh Division, not others..."
She cracked her knuckles and took a stance, her smile sharp and cold.
"I accept your challenge."