II

The Death and the White Devil

"Phantom Blazer!"

A powerful orange beam was fire but Ulquiorra just took his right hand out of his pocket and stopped the blast with his palm. The energy was disperse when it fail to pierce his skin and the human girl who attack him took a step back. She seemed ready for another attack but he step in, covering the distance in a blink, and appearing behind her while she try to cast something.

"Cross…!" the girl managed to turn around and open her eyes in shock.

Ulquiorra hit her in the chest with his extended palm. The force send her backwards against the wall where she crashed and lay there, not moving anymore. The man let out a sigh and scan the place again for his actual target.

The control room was a real chaos with bodies lying everywhere, sometimes in a small pool of blood or just cover in dust, the controls were sparkling and their lights flicker constantly.

He found the box near the body of another girl, this one with purple hair, who had try to stop him and force him to destroy everything. It was surprising to find the other girl not only manage to survive but also counterattack. Maybe he had underestimate these humans, Ulquiorra thought, bending down to grab the container.

"Flash Impact!"

He turned around just in time to block something with his arm. The energy of the attack fail to break his defense but his new opponent was not done yet.

"Blaster System, Limit 1, Release!"

All of the sudden the energy increased and Ulquiorra felt being push back until the point of contact exploded. The blast sending him through the wall, out of the building. He spin around in midair and manage to land on his feet, using the friction to slow himself down and finally stop. He clench his left hand which seem cover in the remaining energy from the attack.

"Is not reiatsu but similar…" Ulquiorra look up when his attacker emerged from the control room and landed in front of him. That last hit had also fail to break his defense but it shake his arm in a very unpleasant manner. Maybe this one would be harder to deal with.

Nanoha did not move her eyes from the stranger or let her guard down as she descended. She touch her ear briefly to activate the communicator.

"The command center has been compromise, the Major and the rest of his staff need medical assistance" Nanoha said with a firm voice, she had casted a spell to make sure everyone was still alive before chasing after the suspect. "I will deal with the attacker, the rest focus on containing the rest of the creatures."

"Understood, good luck Captain"

The mage move Raising Heart so it pointed to the sky when her feet touched the ground. The mysterious man just stare at her with strange and intense green eyes that remind her those of a cat, with small slit-shaped pupils. He was slender, of average height, messy black hair and pale white skin. Two teal lines descended from the lower part of his eyes and upon his head he wore what look like half a helmet on the left side of his head. The helmet in question was odd, just holding to his head without any king of stap, and it reminded Nanoha of the white masks the other creatures had.

The man wore a white jacket with long coattails that reach to the floor and a high neck, black sash, and a white hakama. On his waist rested a katana with a green handle and sheath. The guard had two curved extensions from its long sides with a line going through both sides, giving it an eye-like appearance.

Nanoha was not sure what to make of the man. She had attack him out of reflex when he found him in the ruins of the command center but despite taking a direct blow from her Blaster System with his bare hands he seem to be unharmed. Nanoha sensed no magic or hostility but there was a strange aura around him that gave her a bad feeling.

"I am Captain Nanoha Takamachi of the Special Duty Section 6 from the TSAB" she said breaking the silence. "I don't know who you are or what you want but I must ask you to surrender and allow yourself to be escorted to a secure location. If possible I will want to avoid more violence."

"… Avoid more violence?" the man repeated, she could almost swear there was a slight surprise in his tone. "If that is your wish then step aside. Once my mission is complete we will leave."

"You are likely responsible for a dimensional crack and these creatures. I can't let you leave after that" Nanoha clenched her hand around Raising Heart but did not move just yet.

"The device you encounter belongs to us and I have been tasked with its recovery. Anyone who intervenes will be eliminated."

"Things don't need to be that way" Nanoha replied, holding his gaze, but the intensity of those eyes felt like they were trying to drill in to her very soul. "If what you say is true then we can find a peaceful way to solve this!"

"What a curious idea indeed" a new voice said just behind Nanoha.

The mage turn around right away and she meet two small amber eyes that stare at her from behind rectangular-framed glasses. The new arrival was taller than the other man and dress in a similar fashion, in pure white but with a long shirt that covered his entire torso up to the top of his neck and white globes, only his face was not cover by fabric and his hair was shoulder-length pink with bangs on the right side of his forehead. He also had a katana on his hip but this one had a greyish-blue handle and grey sheath, and its tsuba look similar to the nucleus of an atom. Before Nanoha could say anything the man vanish with a strange sound and reappeared next to the first one in just the blink of an eye.

"Who are you?" Nanoha asked while she spin Raising Heart on her hand and pointed the device at the two of them.

"What a fascinating specimen, Ulquiorra" the man with glasses said, ignoring the question and talking to his companion. "Closing a Garganta just by brute force and that energy they wield… Do you mind if I take care of her? I am dying to see what else I can learn."

"You always have the same bad habits, Szayelaporro" the one identified as Ulquiorra step forward, getting between Nanoha and his partner. "Our mission has priority. Be useful and recover the Hōgyoku or step out of the way. I will deal with her."

"Why are you always so conceited?"

"I did not ask you to accompany me, you insisted" Ulquiorra said then he look at Nanoha. "Woman if you do not desire to fight just step aside or I will do it by force."

"If that is you decision then…" Nanoha took a deep breath and let her magic flow, a circle of light appearing at her feet. A strong wind blow all the dust around her. "I will just have to defeat both of you. We can talk about it later."

"Suit yourself…" Ulquiorra's aura seem to increase as well.

"In that case I will…" Szayelaporro started saying but one look from the other two made his common sense beat his natural curiosity for once. "I think I will just leave you to your business."

He vanish with another strange sound and the two combatants took that as a sign.

"Divine Shooter" Nanoha casted a series of bolts of energy around her and fired them at her opponent. The attacks hit Ulquiorra on his chest and head but while they exploded at contact he barely flinch.

"Pathetic" Ulquiorra said, taking his right hand out of his pocket.

Nanoha fire another round of magic projectiles but Ulquiorra vanished from sight and reappear to her right, striking with his open palm. Nanoha moved her device to block but the strength shaker her and she nearly let go of Raising Hearth. Ulquiorra chase after her and spin in midair, launching a kick at her, the mage casted a barrier but the impact shatter the defense and Nanoha was throw to the side, spinning in the air without control.

"Axel Fin" Raising Heart metallic voice was accompany with a cartridge being use. Two long cherry blossom color wings appear on Nanoha's ankles and allow her to control her flight as to stop herself and reorient her vertical.

'Two strikes with such power… not even Zafira-san can hit like that' Nanoha thought. She loaded another cartridge to reinforce her magic and casted a new series of magic bolts around her 'He is going to be hard to take down'.

Ulquiorra charge her once more. Nanoha launch the magic bullets but they exploded on him without causing any harm again. With a flash she elevated herself to avoid him and put some distance between them, Ulquiorra just kick the ground and fly after her without stopping for a second. The two ascended with Nanoha firing a series of magical orbs that fail to stop her attacker.

"Is useless" Ulquiorra vanish, using that strange technique and catch up with Nanoha, appearing in front of her and striking with his palm like he was going to impale her.

"Protection!"

An energy barrier surrounded Nanoha and stop the strike but it break right away. Nanoha moved Raising Heart and another cartridge was fire from her device, its head shining with power.

"Strike Flame"

An energy blade emerge from Raising Heart's tip and Nanoha made an uppercut movement with it, slashing Ulquiorra's chest. There was a small flash of energy and the sound of tearing when the blade cut the man's chest and the skin underneath. Both fighters step back to keep distances. Nanoha look at her device, it was stained with blood but not as much as she expected. Ulquiorra on the other hand seem to be examining his chest wound with interest.

"You manage to pierce my Hierro… how?" Ulquiorra ask, caressing the wound with the tip of his fingers.

"Hierro? I just notice there was some form of energy protecting your skin, I was trying to breach it" Nanoha replied. That much seem obvious since the moment he stop her Flash Impact. "I just needed to focus the right amount of power it seems."

"I see" Ulquiorra closed his eyes and his right hand grabbed the handle of his katana. The blade came out with a slight metallic note. "I may have underestimate you after all, woman."

Nanoha could feel a sudden wave of power emanating from her opponent even if she could not sense any magic in him. It was like someone just let a large weight on her shoulders. Ulquiorra aim the blade of his katana and took his other hand out of his pocket, placing it next to the handle of the weapon, extending his index finger. A small green light appearing on the tip. Nanoha lined Raising Heart as well and started charging her own attack.

"Cero"

"Divine Buster!"

The two beams, one green and the other pink, crashed between the two fighters and cancel each other in a powerful explosion. Nanoha covered her eyes to protect them but as she lower her hand she catched a glimpse of Ulquiorra descending on her and striking with his sword. She casted a shield in front of her, deflecting the blow, but he swing again and the pink defense shatter.

Nanoha moved backwards, getting distance between the two of them and made her device load three more cartridges. Raising Heart's shaft glow with power and sprouted 4 energy wings across its head and frame. Nanoha aim the Strike Flame at her opponent and move her body to support a thrust.

"A.C.S Driver!"

Ulquiorra moved his katana and blocked the energy blade but the impact was so strong that Nanoha force him back in the air. The two moved at high speed across the air until he tip his blade up and Nanoha continue forward while he slide to the side. The white robe mage use her magic on the wings on her ankles to control the impulse and stop herself, trying to keep Ulquiorra in her line of sight.

Nanoha started to cast a new spell and a series of magic bullets appear around her. She fired them but the man vanish before they could hit him. Nanoha made a gesture with her hand, taking control of the projectiles and recalling them to her location.

The bullets home on her just as Ulquiorra reappear at her back taking him by surprise. He was caught in the explosion which allow Nanoha to move away.

'He is strong. Reacts to everything I throw at him and counterattacks right away' Nanoha thought, looking at the smoke and trying to control her breath. 'I manage to break his defense but is hard to find holes on his posture, is almost like fighting a machine'.

Bellow her there was no further signs of battle which seem to indicate the creatures have been defeated or they were inside the building. Nanoha spare a thought for Teana and the others, she was not sure if they were fully alright but she knew that if she tried to focus on that Ulquiorra would make her pay for it, she needed to keep her full attention on him.

"Not bad… for a human" the blade of his katana emerge through the smoke and a simple swing disperse the entire cloud. Ulquiorra walk out of it, his method for flying was different to anything Nanoha ever seen, he literarily stepped in the air like it was solid ground. "Each minute that passes makes me more curious about you, woman."

"Well thank you, Ulquiorra-san is quite strong as well" Nanoha replied, noticing how he didn't seem wounded. Her hands clench around Raising Heart. "Seems I will have to use that after all."

Nanoha took a deep breath and let her power flow freely from her Linker Core. She felt the energy moving across her body, at first like a warm current but she increase the flow and it became almost painful, like her veins were fill with fire. Still she hold it and cast a magic circle under her feet, letting her aura grow and push the air around her.

"Blaster System, Limit 2… Release!"

"Blaster Syster?" Ulquiorra repeated, frowning lightly.

A wave of power push against him and he took a step back. Nanoha focus on her device and look to her sides where the two small Blaster Bits appear. They were small copies of Raising Heart's golden head and reacted to her magic. She aim them and launch the two at Ulquiorra at high speed.

The man's katana flashed and there was a loud metallic sound when the blade block the first Blaster Bit, sending it to the side, then another when the second reached him right after. The katana shake quite a bit but Ulquiorra mana to keep a solid grip on it and lift his left hand to attack.

"Cero."

Nanoha extended her right hand and a shield appear on her palm. The green beam clash against the barrier but despite the intensity she manage to keep it up and the energy bypass her without hurting her or breaking the shield.

Raising Heart loaded a series of cartridges and expel the empty magazine. Nanoha close her palm, making the shield dissipate and grabbed her device with both hands, a small buildup of energy already appearing on the tip of the weapon.

"Exelion Buster!"

Ulquiorra fire another beam from his finger and both attacks clashed. At first they seem equal but then the pink ray started to push the green one back and Ulquiorra was overwhelm by the attack.

Nanoha smiled but then her opponent's figure emerge from the smoke and she just barely manage to lift her device to block the blade of the katana. Nanoha could almost feel Raising Heart cracking under the pressure from the sword and try her best to hold. Ulquiorra pull the katana back and swing again, not giving the mage time to fly away and forcing her to fight in close quarters.

The katana swing in a flurry of movement and Raising Herat spin in the air to meet it. Nanoha use her device as a polearm, reinforcing her defense with a series of small shields where the two weapons crashed, each impact shattering the small defenses but diminishing the momentum enough to let her match Ulquiorra's speed and strength..

The two exchange a series of fast flows, trying to hit their opponent directly. The metal clashes were incredibly loud, like gunfire, sending waves of power each time the katana and the device made contact. Nanoha knew she could not match her opponent for long so she summon the Blater Bits back just as Ulquiorra launched a trust, extending his arm and Nanoha took the chance to counter.

A Blaster Bit appear at Ulquiorra's left and trapped his left arm with a small bind, pulling him up. He move the katana to try and destroy it but then the second Blaster Bit trap his right arm and the two pull each limb. Nanoha step back while he started to force with the binds to break free.

"Blaster Bit, Crystal Cage" Nanoha moved her hands to give the command and the two Bits broke away from Ulquiorra, forming a pyramid of pink light around him, trapping him inside of it.

"What is this?" Ulquiorra examined the walls of his prison. "You think this will stop me?"

"It seems it already did" Nanoha replied, she looked down at the base. There was the other man to consider. "I will go to look for your partner, Ulquiorra-san, for now you stay here and…"

He did not wait for her to finish and slashed at the Crystal Cage with his sword. The walls tremble with the impact but the spell didn't break nor crack. Nanoha let out a sigh of relief and allow herself to relax a bit, her breathing was quite heavy now but she only got a few seconds to recover her breath.

"… Seems I do not have a choice either" Ulquiorra lifted his sword again but this time he did not strike the cage, rather just pointed the blade forward. "I did not expect anyone here would force me to take things so far… Imprison Murciélago."

A thick smoke covered Ulquiorra and blocked him from sight. Nanoha felt how the walls of the Crystal Cage were push by a new force and despite her attempts she could not hold the together and it exploded. The blast pushing her away.

The smoke spread and condensed in the air, like a cloud blocking the sunlight over Nanoha. Then a black rain fell down as it dissipated, covering her and letting her see what happen.

Ulquorra stepped forward but he had change. Two large, black bat wings grew on his back, his hair was longer and wilder, and the half helmet center atop his head, with two large horns extending outward to the sides towards the front. His clothes now look more like a robe, being tight on the upper part and looser on the bottom.

"But what… what is that?" Nanoha asked. She felt that strange pressure around her once more, like the air became heavier just by Ulquiorra's mere presence and there she got the impression he was not entirely human.

"This is call Resurreción. It's what happen when an Arrancar releases his zanpakutō" Ulquiorra replied, he made a gesture as so signal the air around him. "We are akin to those Hollows you fought, but we have archive a higher state of evolution. I suppose I should congratulate you for forcing me to reveal my full power, woman, but we are done now."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Nanoha recover her composure and assume a fighting stance. "This battle isn't over yet!"

"It is. You already lost" Ulquiorra lifted his hand where a green light started to form. "You just don't know it yet… Luz de la Luna."

It was too fast. Nanoha was barely able to see it but Ulquiorra form a javelin of green energy on his hand and throw it at her. She reacted quicly and a barrier form around her, but the javelin crush it like it was made of glass and the shockwave almost made her lost her device.

Nanoha was push back and even as she felt the wave of the explosion hit her she saw Ulquiorra moving faster than before and closing the distance between them. A new spear appear on his hand and the point move towards her head. Her reactions were like in slow motion. Nanoha lifted Raising Heart up, trying to use the energy blade on the tip, but as it made contact with the other javelin the world vanish in a green light.

The second explosion was even worse and it send Nanoha towards the ground at high speed. She spin in the air without control, trying to force her magic to break her fall, but the floor, or rather the roof of the base, came to meet her too fast and she was just able to cast a series of shields to reduce her speed and not crash. The magic barriers appear one at top of another and they cushion her fall enough to land softly.

'He is faster now' Nanoha thought. Her right arm was bleeding and the Barrier Jacket was starting to get stain with blood, she also felt another series of smaller pains on her entire body but she seem to be in once piece. 'If I had taken a second longer I would be dead. Only Fate-chan is that fast'.

Nanoha took a moment to gather her surroundings and condition, she was on top of one of the buildings in the base away from the command center. As for her device she notice a crack on it, there where she manage to block the last attack. Both she and Raising Heart were being stretch to the limit just to endure the Blaster System and the fight was not helping matters.

"You are still alive, impressive" Ulquiorra appeared above her. "If you had not cast that barrier at point blank you would be dead. You have good instincts. But it ends now."

"You are clearly strong, Ulquiorra-san." Nanoha said, ignoring his comments. "But we are not done yet."

"Ridiculous. My power now surpasses yours. What could you possibly do?"

Nanoha didn't answer and instead focus her senses on the air around them. She sensed the mana that had been use and now fill the base with a large amount of energy. If she could harness that power she might had a chance, but she would need to stop Ulquiorra for a few moments to gather it.

"Blaster System… Limit 3, Release!"

The sudden burst of power surprise even Ulquiorra. A large column of air push the dust around Nanoha as her aura increase in intensity and her magic flow with even more freedom on her body, now causing her physical pain, but she endure it and let the energy move with her to prepare a new spell. The cloud of dust was disperse and in front of Ulquiorra were 4 Blaster Bits floating around Nanoha and all aiming at him charging an attack.

"Divine Buster!"

The 5 pink beams of energy combine in to one and head for the Arrancar like a battering ram. His Hierro seem to expand around him like a barrier to block the blast but the energy was too powerful and it push him back, sending him away towards the ground, causing a large explosion that blind everyone in the base. Nanoha took the chance to fly over the base and she immediately started to gather her final movement, creating a larger magical emblem under her feet.

Ulquiorra emerged from the ground shaking his wings to disperse the dust and his eyes darted towards her. Nanoha send the Blaster Bits down towards the Arrancar that rush her right away. The small devices where easily deflected and he closed distances. Nanoha knew her attack was not ready and close her eyes preparing for the impact but someone else intervened.

5 mages from the 108th Battalion launch themselves from the base and attack Ulquiorra, forcing him to shift his attention to them.

"No! Wait!" Nanoha try to warn them but it was too late.

Ulquiorra block the spells with his wings and then attack. Three mages were impale by the green javelins and fall to the ground before they could even see what hit them. The other two froze for a second but the Arrancar didn't need more and close distance with them, easily dispatching the duo with well place punches that were accompany by the terrible sound of bones cracking.

Nanoha clench her teeth and prepare to fire, even if she was just at 50% strength. Her device deploy a tactical view and she focus it on Ulquiorra. He look up and seem to vanish again, reappearing 50m to her right. Nanoha try to shift position but then she saw Ulquiorra's index finger pointing at her, and she knew she would not make it in time but try anyways.

"Starlight…!"

"Cero Oscuras"

A large black beam with a green outline shine and hit Nanoha. The sky over the base was cover by a giant explosion that outshine the sun for a few seconds and Nanoha's entire world vanish in a black-green glow.