Axel breathed a short sigh of relief as his ploy worked. He saw the flash of green light even through the flickering walls of yellow and heard the low sound through the crackling roar of the flames. He would not have taken getting hit with that well. He narrowed his eyes in concentration and ran back onto the battlefield, from a different direction to the one that the Cero was fired in.

He raced at Ulquiorra, one weapon in hand at the start of the run and the other in place by the time he reached him. He swung them hard and fast and close enough to singe Ulquiorra's clothing.