Crossover: The Problematic Human of Arcadia — Shaper of Anime Worlds Chapter 45: Leticia’s Test

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9 a.m., Thousand Eyes Headquarters.

Led by Miss Julie, Ryo arrived at the Thousand Eyes base dressed in typical Hueco Mundo attire.

Before long, he reached the guest room.

After waiting a bit, a drowsy and grumpy voice ca from inside: "Let Ryo in already… seriously, so early in the morning? Can't a girl get a few more minutes of sleep?"

Julie stepped aside, sliding the door open and gesturing him in. "Please, go ahead."

Ryo entered the room and imdiately saw the infamous Shiroyasha seated behind a tea table… wearing panda pajamas.

His eye twitched ever so slightly at the sight, but he understood — this was Shiroyasha's way of showing she didn't see him as an outsider.

It was subtle, but gestures like this were why Ryo, soone from a no-na community, could move freely through a major player like Thousand Eyes.

In fact, at this point, the intelligence branch probably had him unofficially categorized under "Directly Attached to Shiroyasha."

"You little... huh?"

Shiroyasha rubbed her eyes, barely squinting at Ryo — and then her expression changed.

"Who's that inside your soul?"

Her look turned weirdly serious. She stared at him for a mont, then muttered with a strange tone:

"Don't fight it. I'm pulling that person out for a chat."

Realizing what she ant, Ryo didn't resist. He walked over to the tea table and sat down across from her.

Right then, a woman materialized beside him — silver-haired, graceful, dressed in a black kimono, with two horns atop her head.

It was Byakuya, the spirit of Ryo's Zanpakutō.

She looked like a grown-up version of Shiroyasha herself.

The mont Shiroyasha laid eyes on her, her face twisted in disbelief.

"This woman...?! That's my energy signature — and your soul wavelength?! Holy crap, did you make a daughter?! What the hell?!"

As Ryo prepared the tea, he rolled his eyes. "Don't twist it. She's just the result of the powers you gave mixing with my soul and Zanpakutō. Nothing more."

Shiroyasha clutched her head in frustration, staring at the elegant Byakuya like she'd seen a ghost.

"Still counts! I'm technically still a kid myself — and I already have a daughter?! This is absurd!"

Ryo's lips twitched again. Shiroyasha, whose age was equal to the history of Little Garden, calling herself a kid? Seriously?

She had no sha at all.

"Boring," Byakuya muttered coldly, casting a glance at Shiroyasha — her so-called "mother" — before she closed her eyes, preparing to fade away.

But Shiroyasha reached out and locked her in place with a casual flick of power, grinning as she did.

"Aw, what a stubborn little thing!"

"C'mon, give mommy a smile~ "

Byakuya calmly stared down at her, expression icy and aloof. "You're even more disappointing than I imagined."

"Nope, this won't do at all."

Shiroyasha shook her head and snapped open her folding fan.

"With that look and attitude, you should be using the royal 'we' or 'one' — and acting way more arrogant. You're the descendant of my Sun Authority, rember? Hold your head high and look at everyone like they're bugs. Got it?"

Byakuya fell silent.

Ryo shot her a look, silently urging her to just go along with it — unless she wanted this hyperactive Star Spirit to drag things out forever.

Byakuya glanced back at him, sighed, then turned to Shiroyasha.

"This one is tired," she said flatly, then imdiately dematerialized.

This ti, Shiroyasha didn't stop her.

"Hehehe~ A tsundere type, huh? I like it. And she's got my grown-up looks too... Damn, am I really that hot?"

Fanning herself proudly, Shiroyasha looked totally pleased with herself.

Ryo couldn't help but speak up.

"Byakuya isn't too fond of you, you know. Maybe try not being so pervy?"

Shiroyasha rolled her eyes and smacked him lightly with her fan.

"Oh, shut it. You're also from my lineage after taking the Divinity I made. Even if you didn't inherit my lustful tendencies, don't go badmouthing ."

Ryo sighed. No point arguing with this one.

Shiroyasha twirled her fan and said wistfully:

"Such a sha though... if you were just a bit stronger — like hit the four-digit rank — I could've used that 'daughter' of ours to impersonate . Could totally fool so people."

"Imagine the chaos, hehe~"

As she smirked to herself, Ryo finally cut in.

"You called here not even a day later. What's the real reason?"

If he didn't redirect her now, he had a feeling she'd go completely off the rails.

Snap.

Shiroyasha closed her fan and tapped her shoulder with the handle.

"Right, right. Ti to get down to business."

"I was gonna give you a surprise, but turns out you gave one instead."

"Now look — any three-digit-ranked person who sees you is gonna assu we've got... sothing going on."

She sighed exaggeratedly.

Byakuya's aura and posture were way too similar to hers. With a little grooming, she could've passed as Shiroyasha herself.

Which, obviously, could cause... so misunderstandings.

"Oh well," she chuckled. "Kinda fun in its own way. I'll help you conceal her later — she'll be one of our trump cards."

Clapping her hands, she shifted focus again.

"Now, back to business."

She looked at Ryo with a sly smile.

"Yesterday I negotiated with so folks tied to Thousand Eyes. Things went really smoothly. They agreed imdiately — you've got so serious luck."

"What exactly did they agree to?" Ryo raised an eyebrow.

Shiroyasha tapped her palm with her fan.

"It's about a 'combat ntor.'"

Ryo blinked. "You found a teacher?"

"Yup!"

She nodded enthusiastically.

"And not just any teacher — a real badass. Experience, raw power — down in the lower layers of Little Garden, known as 'The Knight of Little Garden'."

Ryo's mind jumped to a certain na: Leticia Draculea.

A pure-blooded vampire, one of the rarest to exist. She was the Overall Floor Master in Little Garden. A forr high-ranking officer in [Arcadia]. One of the oldest living beings since the dawn of the Garden itself.

Only soone like that would earn Shiroyasha's high praise.

'So she found Leticia to be my teacher… or maybe Leticia volunteered herself...'

Ryo narrowed his eyes, a faint smile curling on his lips.

"A teacher, huh? Works for . I could use so expert guidance."

"Whoa, whoa, hold on a sec!"

Shiroyasha waved her fan. "You think just because you want to learn, she wants to teach you?"

"Oh, so there's a catch?" Ryo's tone turned amused.

"Ding ding ding~!"

Shiroyasha pointed her fan toward the window, gesturing east.

"Before sunset today, you'll be heading out to fight the Water God that resides outside the gates at the Edge of the World. That's your entrance exam — Leticia's test for taking you on as a disciple."

She smiled sweetly, hiding mischief behind her fan.

"Better think this through, Ryo. That Water God is a five-digit serpent deity — born way stronger than any demigod. You sure you're up for this?"

Ryo grinned slowly.

"Sounds fun."

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