Ulquiorra continued to hold Even's gaze without flinching, or wavering. "No," he confirmed, "it was not a Hollow."

What it was, or had been, was more difficult to answer. Some ancient thing, crafted by creatures of myth, set upon the world to protect it from danger.

It had been determined to eliminate Ienzo-san. Whether that was because of his alchemy, alchemy that could only be done by having witnessed Etro's Gate, or whether it was the fact that Ienzo-san was not native to Spira, Ulquiorra didn't know.

"I would not have lost to a Hollow," he added, a shade more quietly than he'd intended.