Listening to Gosuke Kenpachi's question, Ashido fell silent again.
His eyes were downcast, his right hand resting on his sword hilt, a few strands of reddish-brown hair gently swaying before his eyes.
The white bone cloak behind him moved without a breeze.
He imperceptibly exhaled, turned around, facing the endless darkness, and said in a low voice, "Staying here is my duty."
He seemed unwilling to say more; once that sentence fell, he said nothing further, but instead walked silently forward.
Gosuke Kenpachi was quite puzzled.
However, adhering to the principle of 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do,' he waved his hand, leading everyone to follow.
Along the way, Gosuke Kenpachi opened up topics from other aspects, and soon talked about how he entered Hueco Mundo, and then how his companions were completely wiped out…
Vasto Lorde are indeed dangerous.
If he hadn't entered his laboratory at the last moment, Gosuke Kenpachi probably wouldn't have known the name of the Vasto Lorde who instantly killed him until his death—Szayelaporro Granz.
"Szayelaporro Granz?!"
Hearing this, Ashido suddenly stopped.
He turned to look at Gosuke Kenpachi, seemingly very familiar with the name, and his tone became incredibly solemn, "Where did you meet him?"
"…What?" Ashido's change in expression and attitude made Gosuke Kenpachi very uncomfortable.
After thinking for a moment, Gosuke Kenpachi tentatively asked, "Is that Vasto Lorde very famous?"
"Of course," Ashido nodded.
"That guy was the culprit behind the invasion of Soul Society back then, and also the culprit who caused heavy casualties for the Eleventh Division."
"Even Captain Sazoku Kunishi couldn't keep him."
"From what you're saying, you met him?"
"And many people died?"
Ashido uncharacteristically spoke so much, as it was related to Kenpachi Kuruyashiki.
Furthermore, Szayelaporro Granz was also his enemy.
Now that news related to both of them had suddenly appeared, he had to thoroughly investigate it.
"…"
When casualties were mentioned, Gosuke Kenpachi's expression became somewhat downcast.
He looked at his waist, where only a hammer handle remained, sighed, and then helplessly said, "Yes, we did meet him."
"I didn't expect him to be an enemy that even Kenpachi Kuruyashiki couldn't deal with back then?"
"No wonder he's so powerful."
"No," Ashido corrected a detail in Gosuke Kenpachi's words.
"It wasn't that Kenpachi Kuruyashiki couldn't defeat him, but that Szayelaporro fled to Hueco Mundo because he was no match for him at that time."
"Szayelaporro was never Kenpachi Kuruyashiki's opponent."
"Our Captain is very powerful, extremely powerful, and we ordinary Shinigami have always been proud of him."
"It's just a pity that we fell into a Hollow's trap and were ambushed by dozens of Adjuchas."
"Otherwise…"
At this point, his voice gradually became lower.
The surrounding environment grew much brighter as time passed.
Gosuke Kenpachi watched this scene.
Suddenly, the corner of his eye caught sight of several graves not far away.
Only then did he realise that he had followed Ashido's footsteps to an unknown location.
Some quartz flowers and plants bloomed near the graves.
Several holes were opened in the sky above, and a bit of moonlight poured down, forming a bright pillar of light that shone obliquely on the graves.
It was as if a hazy veil was floating.
Ashido walked to the graves, bent down into a half-crouch, his black pupils gazing at the slightly decaying cross in front of him, and said in a heavy tone, "This is where my companions rest."
"It's also where we were ambushed."
"Gosuke Kenpachi, I thank you on their behalf."
"Your ability to defeat Szayelaporro suggests you are a strong individual, no less than Kenpachi Kuruyashiki."
"Your appearance is truly a blessing for the Eleventh Division."
"…"
"That…" Hearing this, Gosuke Kenpachi spoke hesitantly.
He wasn't sure if Ashido had misunderstood something, but Szayelaporro wasn't defeated by him.
As a member of the Eleventh Division, he hated falsehoods the most.
Moreover, the battle process was truly embarrassing…
What if Ashido asked him how he defeated Szayelaporro…
Would he have to reveal that he was instantly killed by a single finger?
The battles between Shinigami are battles of spiritual pressure.
It's illogical for a Third-Grade Spiritual Power to defeat a First-Grade Spiritual Power…
Wait…
Thinking of this, Gosuke Kenpachi suddenly noticed something was amiss.
If he remembered correctly, wasn't Tsugikuni Yoriichi also a Third-Grade Spiritual Power?
Why could he defeat Szayelaporro?
Hiss…
A toothache flared up, and Gosuke Kenpachi couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, a strange vexation flooding his heart.
He couldn't help but wonder… was he too weak?
Otherwise, why would the difference be so great?
Just then, Ashido turned around.
His black eyes, slightly hesitant, swept over the people in front of him, repeating Gosuke Kenpachi's earlier words: "That… what?"
A Shinigami explained, "Actually, that Szayelaporro…"
"Wait," Gosuke Kenpachi directly interrupted him.
His bell-like eyes glared at the Shinigami, and his large body took a step forward.
Thud!
Dust rose.
"Nothing, it's just that I feel this isn't the place to talk. If possible, how about we change locations to discuss it?"
"You've lived here for over a hundred years, so you must be very familiar with the surroundings."
"Please recommend a relatively safe place for us."
"We will also be spending a considerable amount of time here."
"…"
Ashido exhaled, and seeing Gosuke Kenpachi's bold demeanour, his doubts were temporarily dispelled.
He turned around and waved forward, "Follow me."
Whoosh!
As his voice fell, he instantly disappeared with a flash step.
Seeing this, Gosuke Kenpachi followed quickly without hesitation.
The several Shinigami behind him looked at each other in silence.
One wondered why Gosuke Kenpachi would take credit that didn't belong to him…
It was clearly something that could be seen at a glance whether he could defeat a Vasto Lorde.
Pat.
One of the Shinigami put an arm around his shoulder and quietly explained as he moved, "The Captain lost his Zanpakuto, who knows if he could defeat a Vasto Lorde at his peak."
"What is our mission? Have you forgotten?"
"This Forest of Menos is unlike other places; the Captain's strength should definitely be as strong as possible."
"Only then will Ashido respect him…"
"And we will benefit from it."
"Otherwise, if we told him the truth of his crushing defeat, how do you think Ashido would view us?"
"So… it's better to say less than more, and better to say nothing than less."
Whoosh, whoosh.
The surging wind whistled in his ears, and watching the figures of the few people above him speeding by, his tone was meaningful.
"If there's a chance, the Captain might even be able to recruit him and have him become our companion…"
"We entered here with the belief that we would die, but that doesn't mean we are doomed to die."
"Staying here for about ten years, we might be able to leave."
"By then, Vice-Captain Tsugikuni probably would have just reported our deaths to the higher-ups."
"We can both receive compensation and return as heroes…"
"This…"
"Is the best of both worlds."