Chapter 64: Devastated
The devastating sonic waves struck the transcendent devil from every angle, moving with such immense speed that the creature's ears ruptured within mere moments.
Moreover, its entire form trembled under the high-frequency assault, which had been focused into a singular point by Echo Echo terror ability, making it so that none of the energy go to waste.
From a nearer vantage, one could see the white devil's body beginning to fracture—first with visible cracks, then deepening into the very essence of its existence.
Its soul, or in this instance, its shadow.
The white devil attempted to shield itself using a form of energy—the same energy that had enveloped it since the beginning of the battle—yet, peculiarly, that energy seemed… aberrant now that Hugo was getting a better look at it.
It bore the semblance of a curse.
'Cursed energy… cursed soul essence?'
Hugo pondered, maintaining his relentless assault.
Contrary to widespread assumption, sonic attacks are profoundly lethal. A highly concentrated frequency of sonic waves, in particular, can indirectly destabilize the atoms making up a living creature.
Additionally, a sphere of sonic waves was currently encasing the devil, crafted by Hugo via his terror ability, ensuring the waves not only injured the foe but also reverberated endlessly to amplify the damage.
Yet… it was at that moment the unexpected happened.
The golde wheel upon its head…
Abruptly, it emitted a ticking noise.
TICK
TICK
TICK
…
Within seven seconds, it completed one rotation.
That alone sufficed to render the devil impervious to all sonic waves.
'No, it isn't immunity…'
Owing to the distinct capabilities bestowed by his Echo Echo transformation, Hugo perceived the situation with a new sense of clarity that no other human awakened could.
The devil had indeed adapted once more, but this time, it did not merely develop resistance to sonic waves.
Instead, it acquired the instinctive ability to generate opposing frequencies to any sonic waves it encountered, utilizing the golden wheel as the mechanism that allowed for the process to happen and the cursed energy flowing through its body as the power source.
'This is dangerous… can I still defeat it now?'
Hugo abruptly faced a dilemma.
Until now, he had overcome most adversaries by sheer overpowering force.
After all, He possessed numerous alien forms and a wide array of abilities at his disposal to aid him in any situation.
However, with Playlist 0 and Playlist 1 now locked away, his choices grew severely limited, meaning there was no way for hilt to take on this Transcendant creature through brute force.
'There is still Chromastone—'
Before he could even complete the thought, an overwhelming surge of cursed energy suddenly enveloped Hugo from all sides.
All 989 of Hugo's clones were instantly consumed by the cursed energy.
Then, simultaneously, the anti-frequency produced by the cursed energy linked with the sonic waves making Echo Echo body.
(Author's note: yes echo echo species is made of sound weaves/waves)
Recognizing the danger, Hugo attempted to wield his terror ability to seize control of the anti-frequency and stop it but that proved to be impossible.
The cursed energy that was generating the frequency was beyond his command.
Despite Echo Echo's dominion over sound waves, this energy was alien and incompatible with his very biology and existence thus, he could do nothing to stop it.
Consequently, every clone created by echo echo tyrant ability detonated at an incredible speed leaving a trail of white silicone around.
Not even the [Omni-kix] armor could shield Hugo from the uncanny abilities of his transcendant opponent.
'Damn!'
[Failsafe activated!]
The Omnitrix's failsafe activated as the final Echo Echo clone neared annihilation, preserving the wielder's life by initiating another transformation.
A green energy beam enveloped his figure once more as the change commenced.
His body, formerly composed of sound waves, rematerialized into a physical state.
His flesh then solidified and compressed, transmuting into rock and crystal while his torso elongated intensely, and threatening crystalline spikes erupted from all around his body.
Following the brief yet brutal transformation, Hugo emerged as a humanoid, silicon-based alien composed of exceptionally resilient crystals. His physique is predominantly indigo, marked by dark lines and spots. His hands and face are magenta, and he bears six magenta shards on his back, two on his chest, and one atop his head resembling a horn. His face features a mouth and a single large green eye at its center.
"Chromastone!" he exclaimed in slight panic as the cursed energy engulfed him once again…
Yet, unlike before, Hugo was not utterly powerless against the cursed energy this time.
The reason for this was simple, it was Chromastone's abilities and attributes.
Imprint: [Crystalsapien]
Imprint Rank: Ascended
Imprint Class: Terror
Imprint Description: [The Messiah of the Petrosapiens, created by the war goddess from the soul of a dying Petrosapien to lead her most beautiful creations, who inherited her dominion over craftsmanship and progress. The Crystalsapiens are not a race but rather, it is the ultimate state of being that every Petrosapien, whether dormant or Divine, strives to attain.]
Imprint Attributes: [Durable], [Immune], [Light], [Flight]
Imprint Abilities: [Energy Absorption], [Energy Generation], [Energy Control], [Blessing], [Dynakinesis]
[Durable] Attribute Description: [This entity possesses exceptional resilience.]
[Immune] Attribute Description: [Owing to its divine origin, a Crystalsapien is highly resistance to all natural and supernatural phenomena.]
[Light] Attribute Description: [A Crystalsapien's crystals emit light.]
[Flight] Attribute Description: [The crystals within a Crystalsapien enable flight.]
[Energy Absorption] Ability Description: [You are capable of absorbing all forms of energy.]
[Energy Generation] Ability Description: [You can produce any type of energy provided it is stored within your crystals.]
[Energy Control] Ability Description: [You can manipulate external energies.]
[Blessing] Ability Description: [You can grant lesser creatures diminished versions of your own abilities.]
[Dynakinesis] Ability Description: [You can nullify energies that you understand.]
Indeed, the abilities bestowed by Chromastone were remarkably powerful, making it the perfect weapon against energy producing foes.
And the white devil, despite not being one directly, still relied on cursed energy to use it's powers.
Hugo had intended to conclude the battle using Echo Echo, but unfortunately, circumstances unfolded otherwise.
Nevertheless, with this imprint, victory still remained within reach.
Hugo raised his hands and activated the [Energy Absorption] ability, gradually drawing in the cursed energy emanating from the white devil.
Immediately, Hugo sensed his soul essence replenishing at an extraordinary pace, while his physical form underwent enhancement, ascending to unprecedented levels of strength due to the amount of energy he was absorbing.
The experience was nearly intoxicating.
From a distance, as if seizing an opportunity, the white devil cracked its neck with its gigantic hands. It then amassed additional cursed energy around itself, to such an extent that the energy began to subtly warp reality around it.
In an instant, it lunged toward Hugo, a massive unknown blades materializing from its hands from nowhere.
Enhanced by his augmentation, Hugo not only reacted in time but also managed to intercept the attack.
THUD
A powerful shockwave rippled across the battlefield as Hugo caught the white devil's fist with his own, regarding the creature with contempt and disdain.
"Go to hell, bastard."
With those words, Hugo drove his other fist into its chest, piercing deep within it. While also enduring its assaults and feeling his soul being shredded by the peculiar blades on the white devil's hands.
Yet, it did not matter.
Now that the creature was within Hugo's range, nothing could save it from its fate.
Hugo activated Chromastone's [Energy Absorption], [Energy Control] and finally, [Energy Generation] abilities.
He began by seizing command of the cursed energy within the white devil's body, temporarily disabling its adaptive powers and halting its production of harmful anti-sound waves.
Then, employing [Energy Absorption], Hugo started draining the cursed energy, saturating his body, soul and shadow with it.
Fortunately, Chromastone's crystals converted the harmful energy into pure energy upon absorption, preventing any strange side effects.
Lastly, Hugo activated [Energy Generation].
Using the absorbed energy inside him, an immense surge of violet-pink energy manifested around Hugo, enveloping both him and the white devil.
Hugo smiled once again.
And than
BAM!
A second energy pillar erupted into the sky, engulfing both Hugo and the white devil and dramatically altering the terrain once more.
If the prior explosion had resembled a bomb, this one was akin to a small nuclear detonation.
The energy continued to surge for an extended moment before being abruptly suppressed by an unseen force...
————
[You have slain a Transcendent Shadow: Mahoraga]
Disoriented and depleted of all strength, Hugo, now returned to Ben Tennyson's form, opened his eyes.
He lay within a crater, his clothes completely torn and his body filled with scars and blood.
a long, spiked rock was impaling one of his open wounds, having pierced completely through him.
It was indeed a mortal injury, yet Hugo didn't really give it that much of a thought.
'Thank the gods that bastard died…'
The transcendent devil, Mahoraga, was unquestionably among the most formidable and daunting foes he had ever encountered in his life, dwarfing the likes of the crimson terror.
Its capacity to adapt to any and all phenomena was profoundly unsettling, making any prolonged fight with it basically suicide.
Just then, Hugo heard the voice of the spell in his mind once more:
[You have received a sacred Treasure: Ten Shadows]
'What?'
Still bewildered, Hugo removed the stone pillar from his body with a painful grunt, summoned the [Sunlight Rings], and activated their healing enchantments. Letting a golden mass of energy wash over his body, closing the wounds.
He then summoned his runes, searching for the sacred relic he had just gained.
[Sacred Treasure: Ten Shadows]
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Description: [When Shadow made death, he became death. All that Shadow consumed perished, and all that perished was consumed by Shadow. Death was an absolute law, rendering the everchanging unchanging. Time was an absolute law, rendering the everlasting finite. Space was an absolute law, rendering the endless bounded. Wielding time, space, and death, the gods vanquished and imprisoned their foes.
Yet, the Shadow god was not content to be the universe's grim reaper. Like his siblings, he desired creation. Thus, the god of death, shadows, solace, mysteries, and peace fashioned his first Ten Shadows from the depths of his dark flame, creating the prototypes of all shadows, mundane and divine, that would follow.
These ten Shadows reside within this treasure.]
'Huh… So it's the same artifact Awakened Ragna possessed… If I remember correctly, it functions as an aspect once assimilated...'
Harnessing ten powerful Shadows and acquiring a second aspect would prove immensely advantageous—exceedingly so, as it would allow him to avoid using his body as expendable fodder, thereby enhancing his safety and chance of survival.
However, Hugo found it somewhat unusual that this sacred artifact was so enigmatic that even the omnipotent nightmare spell could not make out what it was.
[Would you like to assimilate this treasure?]
Without delay, Hugo responded, "Yes."
[So be it…]
[…]
The spell suddenly halted, which was an unprecedented occurrence across all the realms.
Then...
nothing happened…
When he attempted to locate the runes, he only saw the [Assimilate sacred treasure?] prompt at the bottom, its golden hue faded to a lifeless gray as if saying "This rune is not active".
'Could it be because I already possess an aspect? Or perhaps the Omnitrix does not accommodate additional aspects…'
The second reasoning seemed more plausible to Hugo.
After all, Ben Tennyson was an Awakened, yet he did not hold any other aspect besides the Omnitrix, despite not being bound to it as Hugo was. Which meant that ben Tennyson simply could awaken another aspect.
"Great… I've obtained a sacred artifact crafted by Shadow God, and I cannot even use it…"
He muttered under his breath with a slightly annoyed expression.
'Maybe Sunny can use it? He does have a Divine aspect linked to Shadow God, after all…'
It was not an unreasonable idea, though he would certainly need something in return as a compensation—should they meet again.
Feeling a touch of nostalgia, Hugo prepared to depart when suddenly, a voice sounded behind him.
"Hoho…"
A man, moving at an imperceptible speed, materialized before him as if from nowhere.
"If it isn't the esteemed Ben Tennyson…" the man remarked, placing a hand on Hugo's shoulder.
Paralyzed by fear, Hugo took a moment to recognize the individual before him…
It was none other than Dr. Joseph Chadwick, one of the seven Transcendent Forever Kings.
Then, before Hugo could utter a word, the Forever King thrust his armored hand into Hugo's eye sockets.
In the next instant, he gouged out both eyes.