BLEACH: SURVIVAL SYSTEM

"Third Seat, please come with me."

The individual assigned to receive Akira was the 12th Division's lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi. Keeping her usual emotionless demeanor, she silently escorted Akira through the corridors of the 12th Division, leading him to the captain's laboratory.

At the far end of the room stood Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the 12th Division's captain and the director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. His lips curled into an unsettling grin as his golden eyes scrutinized Akira.

"You're Akira, the one who caused quite the disturbance a few days ago, correct?"

Mayuri's voice carried a mix of amusement and curiosity, his unnatural smile making the atmosphere more uncomfortable.

"Yes, but I must say, I didn't expect the head of the SRDI to personally entertain me."

"Normally, it would have sufficed for my lieutenant to brief you," Mayuri replied, his grin widening. "However, I personally requested your presence. After all, your Zanpakutō intrigues me."

Without waiting for Akira's response, Mayuri began speaking to himself, his fingers tapping against his chin in thought.

"To minimize repairs to the training grounds, we incorporate Sekkiseki—the spiritual energy-dampening stone—into their construction. By all logic, it should be nearly indestructible."

He narrowed his eyes, tilting his head as if lost in analysis.

"And yet, when I examined the scene, the entire training ground had been vaporized in a single strike. Such power should not exist at the Shikai level!"

Akira remained unfazed by Mayuri's ramblings. Instead, he simply stated, "Captain Kurotsuchi, it is not my duty to answer your inquiries."

"My mission is time-sensitive. Please provide the details so I may depart immediately."

For a moment, Mayuri froze, his expression unreadable. Then, with a chuckle, he relented.

"Very well. I'll have plenty of time to study you if you return alive."

With a flick of his wrist, he presented two Kaimon Fūin—specialized seals developed by the SRDI.

"These World-Piercing Seals are one-time-use prototypes. The first will temporarily open a Garganta, allowing you access to Hueco Mundo. The second will activate after three days, reopening the portal so you may return—assuming you survive."

Akira took the seals without much thought. He was well aware of Mayuri's eccentricities, but when it came to his technology, there was never a need for skepticism. The captain's pride in his inventions ensured their reliability.

As he examined the seals, Akira smirked.

"So, they even placed a time-locked seal on my return… The Four Noble Houses really are going all out to make sure I don't come back."

Mayuri tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening.

"If you agree to become my test subject, I could ensure they lose interest in your demise."

Akira let out a short laugh.

"Not a chance. My favorite thing in the world is saying no to people who think they're in control."

Even Mayuri was momentarily at a loss for words. What an odd individual…

Regaining his composure, he waved a hand dismissively.

"Then let's move on to the mission itself. I assume you're not an idiot, so you already understand the situation."

"Your only objective is to survive in Hueco Mundo for three days. Simple enough, isn't it? Try not to die too quickly."

With that, Mayuri lost interest in further conversation and returned to his work. Since Akira refused to cooperate with his research, there was no point in prolonging their exchange.

However, what Mayuri didn't realize was that Akira had no intention of merely surviving.

Rather than waste time elsewhere, Akira made his way to a restricted chamber within the SRDI—one of the few locations in the Seireitei where a Garganta could be safely opened without compromising security.

Without hesitation, he activated the first Kaimon Fūin.

As spiritual energy surged into the seal, it disintegrated in his palm.

In its place, a small Garganta tore open the space before him. It was just large enough for a single person to pass through—far too small for a Menos Grande to force its way in.

Taking a deep breath, Akira stepped forward.

"Perfectly prepared."

And with that, he vanished into the darkness of Hueco Mundo.

…

Hueco Mundo—the eternal night sky looms overhead, a pale crescent moon casting its dim glow over the desolate, windswept expanse. The air is eerily still, yet the oppressive atmosphere is thick with malice.

Akira was no stranger to Hueco Mundo's appearance. After all, he had seen it before crossing over. A vast, barren desert stretched in every direction, its landscape dominated by lifeless white sand and twisted, skeletal trees. The moment he landed, his senses sharpened—this was enemy territory.

"Surviving here won't be easy," he muttered to himself. "But if I can't endure this environment, then what's the point of having a survival system in the first place?"

Akira had always been self-aware. Even after obtaining the survival system, he never acted recklessly. Every move was calculated, every decision weighed. To outsiders, his actions might have seemed impulsive, but in reality, they were the result of meticulous planning. His goal was twofold: to ensure enough danger to trigger survival rewards while avoiding situations where death was inevitable.

He took a deep breath, analyzing his current predicament.

"This time, I have two objectives," he thought. "First, increase my chances in the lottery draw. Second, improve my combat experience."

Though the system provided him with skills and weapons, he knew that raw power alone wasn't enough. Without actual battle experience, he'd be nothing more than a paper soldier—strong in theory but weak in practice. And the best way to gain experience? Fighting. A lot of it.

"With the true name of Excalibur—Sword of Promised Victory—even ordinary Hollows are no threat. A Gillian-class Menos Grande? I can take it down in an instant."

However, his expression darkened slightly.

"But if I run into an Adjuchas-class Menos… three seconds of liberation might not be enough. Best to avoid them for now."

Having assessed the risks, Akira tightened his grip on Excalibur and sprang into action.

Hueco Mundo's lesser Hollows were pitifully weak, crumbling before his onslaught. With masterful swordplay and exceptional close-combat prowess, he carved a path through the creatures with ease. Yet, by the time the battle ended, he was left battered and bruised, his spiritual power nearly depleted.

"Hah… Hueco Mundo's danger level really isn't exaggerated." He exhaled sharply, leaning against a hidden dune. "But at least I survived the first day."

As night deepened, he activated the system.

[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully survived one day in Hueco Mundo. A lottery reward has been granted!]

Akira's gaze fixed on the system prompt. With a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation, he clicked to start the draw.

"The dangers of Hueco Mundo are entirely different from Soul Society," he mused. "This time, I better get something good."