"Well now, a sinner from Mugen has escaped. What a headache."
Gin Ichimaru spoke in a flippant tone, tapping his palm with a look of helplessness.
"Is there really no detailed information on Azashiro Soya, the Eighth Kenpachi?"
As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the room grew even more complicated.
Shunsui Kyoraku stroked his stubbled chin. A bitter smile appeared on his somewhat weathered face as he said frankly:
"That cuts straight to the heart of the matter. Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of information regarding Azashiro Soya's strength."
"The only thing we know for certain is that he killed the Seventh Kenpachi Kuruyashiki Kenpachi in a duel..."
At the mention of that name, an unmistakable gloom appeared on Shunsui Kyoraku's face, as if he were reminiscing about the past.
Kuruyashiki Kenpachi had been one of his few close friends. They had often talked, and they got along remarkably well.
Although dueling Azashiro Soya had been his own decision, even after more than a century, Shunsui Kyoraku could not help but feel a trace of sorrow whenever his friend's death was mentioned.
"If I may ask, how strong was Kuruyashiki Kenpachi?"
Gin Ichimaru seemed not to notice the change in Shunsui Kyoraku's expression and put on a curious look.
"Kuruyashiki once drove off a Vasto Lorde that had invaded Soul Society all by himself."
Though Shunsui Kyoraku was displeased, he still answered truthfully. "He also killed a Menos Grande during the Hueco Mundo expedition."
The room immediately fell silent.
As Captains, they understood the concept of Menos Grande well enough.
He had driven one off and killed another.
That record alone was enough to make the Captains present ashamed.
After all, some of them had never even seen a Vasto Lorde.
Yet such