They finally understood.
The monster before them existed on an entirely different plane.
Resistance?
That was nothing but a joke.
Mei Terumi sat slumped on the distant platform, unable to move with Tier Harribel's hand pressing down on her shoulder.
She watched the enormous white beast rampage through Kirigakure, watched it reshape the terrain with a casual blow.
Watched it ignore every attack, watched Kirigakure's elite get crushed like ants...
Her lips trembled, and the last glimmer of light in her eyes went out.
This was the weapon Liuyu had created.
This was the power of Las Noches.
Something that surpassed ninjutsu, surpassed kekkei genkai, even surpassed tailed beasts...
A monster.
And the price of creating this monster had been the souls of thirty clan members she had handed over herself.
"Ha... hahaha..."
Mei Terumi began to laugh under her breath, her laughter hoarse as worn-out bellows.
As she laughed, tears came pouring out.
But she no longer even had the strength to wipe them away.
"Enough."
Liuyu's voice rang out calmly.
It was not loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire battlefield.
The Ironclad Sea Emperor, its arm raised to smash down on the Kirigakure Hospital district, abruptly stopped.
Its enormous body slowly turned toward the tiny white figure on the distant platform.
Then, beneath everyone's incredulous gazes-
A pillar of pure white reiatsu erupted once more.
The terrifying, thirty-meter-tall body rapidly shrank, reverting to its original form.
Its bone armor receded, its frame grew smaller, the massive shield on its back disintegrated, and its three bony tails withdrew.
In just three seconds, the Ironclad Sea Emperor vanished.
In its place was Isobu, kneeling on one knee amid the ruins, its head respectfully lowered.
It had released its Resurrección.
Because its master had given an order.
Absolute, unquestioning