The shock wave from the collision between Lanza del Relámpago and the dark red energy swept through the entire cavern like a tsunami.
The cavern walls cracked, rubble rained down, and swathes of dark red plants were shredded by the residual energy. Puppets fell like wheat before a scythe.
Only the innermost area survived, protected by Shiro's dark red barrier.
Ulquiorra hovered in midair, his cold green eyes looking down.
The index and middle fingers of his right hand were pressed together, traces of cyan lightning still dancing at their tips.
The dust cleared, revealing Shiro once more.
She still stood there, but the dark red markings on her body had dimmed considerably. The hardened outer layer of her skin was scorched black in several places, and a few patches had even cracked, exposing deeper, dark red tissue beneath.
Her pure white eyes fixed on Ulquiorra overhead, growing grave for the first time.
"Las Noches..." Shiro's voice was no longer as impassive as before. A trace of icy killing intent had crept into it.
"My master's records contain information on you. Dead souls from another world should not lay claim to my master's domain."
"A lapdog of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki has no right to speak of domains." Ulquiorra's voice remained calm.
"Your master is nothing but a beaten stray who lost to Kaguya a thousand years ago. He has clung to life ever since, daring only to hide in the shadows and cultivate puppets to test the waters. Pathetic."
"How dare you!"
Shiro vanished in an instant.
It was not the Body Flicker Technique, but pure speed-so fast that she left an afterimage behind while her true body appeared before Ulquiorra.
She curled her right hand into a claw, her five fingers wrapped in dark red energy as she lunged for