But just as the second round of attack and defense was about to begin, at the very moment everyone's attention was drawn to that earth-shaking clash, the spatial rift radiating ominous purple and green hues opened once more.
Shali poked half her head through the rift and cautiously looked around. Then she tossed a blood-soaked sphere onto the ground. A closer look revealed that it was none other than Emperor Ilesel's severed head.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, staring in shock at the head rolling across the floor before looking toward the Emperor's spirit. His body, formed of light, was indeed much dimmer than before. But once the direct psionic shock and confrontation had ended, and the room had regained some semblance of calm, he steadied himself again with extraordinary resolve.
He glanced at his own head as if it were nothing, then turned his gaze to Shali. He was clearly much more interested in the young girl than in his own severed head. "Well done! Latis's daughter. My niece."
"I am the swarm!" Shali pointed proudly at the sky. Then she hurled three identical insects at the Emperor.
Needless to say, they were all swatted out of the air and smashed to pieces by the same means.
But this time, a great cloud of drifting spirit mist spread out from the remains of the strange insects, its pulsing colors almost indistinguishable from the Emperor's spirit.
The Emperor was shrouded in the mist, and for a time he could no longer be seen clearly. He also seemed to be trapped inside it, unable to make any other move.
As for his head, it continued to roll across the floor until it was struck by a lingering ripple of psionic energy in the room and churned into minced flesh on