All of his organism became vegetal; his body began to transform into a mass of roots that slowly covered his entire form, as if it were a cocoon.Using the same analogy, two elongated arms parted what contained his head, similar to a carnivorous plant.From his back, enormous seeds emerged as protrusions; there were 6 in total. Two more appeared on his shoulders, but they were greenish in color with black outlines.
—Wildvine!—the creature exclaimed once the green glow disappeared.In short, it was a living carnivorous plant: elongated arms, 4 enormous roots as legs, slender yet intimidating; its head had a huge green eye, sharp teeth, and a thin but long protrusion on top. This was surrounded by a green cocoon, black on the inside and with small spikes along its edges.The Omnitrix symbol was located on its chest.
Hesitation vanished; the morbid fascination with such a creature was replaced by urgency.The tentacles tightened with murderous intent; the body of Wildvine deformed under the pressure but showed no sign of yielding.
«They're quite strong, changing forms was the right decision.»
Enormous spikes burst from his body, piercing the tentacles as if they were paper. Injured and covered in a putrid black liquid, they loosened their lethal grip just enough for Wildvine to spread his roots and create an opening; like a serpent, he slid out of the death trap with curious fluidity, took the child in his arms, and pulled him out of danger.
—Now everything is fine, I won't let anyone hurt you—he assured him as he gently set him down on the ground.—I'll take care of them…—M-my parents…—he sobbed.
And Wildvine froze.«You arrived late, too late…»He clenched his teeth and, careful not to hurt the child, placed his hand on his head.
—I know, God, I know…—
For a moment, the idea crossed his mind of turning back into a human, of crying with him, sharing his suffering, assuring him (even though it was impossible, but that he would do everything he could) that something like this would never happen to any other child.
—Aah!…—
But a huge tentacle forming below cut that idea off at the root.He took the child with one arm and extended the other toward a lamppost that dimly lit the street.As he retracted his arm, he was launched in that direction, avoiding the giant mouth that emerged accompanied by tentacles.
—Hey!—
When Wildvine had landed near the safe zone, that irritating voice emerged again.—Stealing someone else's snacks is very bad manners!—
—Creature of darkness that takes human form, vassal of evil… You, who operate through the purity of innocence, tell me, are you a product of the one we call God?—Caster roared.
—Yeah, uh, what he said—
Wildvine did not answer; he simply observed the surroundings.He was aware that those words had reawakened fear in the child he was holding; he trembled and shut his eyes, as if resigned to the end, awaiting the peaceful safety of death over the uncertainty of whether he could survive the night.
—Child… Before I transformed, you saw me, didn't you?—
—Y-yes—
—Good, you should already know this, but I'm actually 10 years old—he whispered. —The watch you saw earlier gives me the ability to turn into different heroes—
—E-eh?—he stammered in disbelief. —Are you a hero?—
—That's right, and not to brag, but I'm pretty good at my job—
From the darkness, in a corner of a house, another tentacle emerged and shot toward Wildvine. In response, he buried two of his roots into the ground, traveling through the subsurface before rising and entangling the tentacle. Spikes emerged once more, cutting the flesh like a serrated saw; two seconds later, the slimy, dark limb was severed.
—I must say, I'm quite disappointed with your attitude; we are both indisputable proof of the curious work of the Lord…—he began calmly. Soon, his tone rose with indignation—Vassal of evil!—
—Silence!—roared Wildvine—You almost hurt a child, you harmed his family…——What right do you have to call me a monster?!—His arm moved discreetly toward his back as he raised his root and blocked the criminals' view. —As far as I'm concerned, you are the monsters!—
The root flew at great speed; its target was Ryuunosuke, but as expected, Caster did not stand idly by. He pulled out a book and recited.A horrifying creature intercepted the root, so strange that even someone like Izuku, who had come face to face with beings considered grotesque by human standards, felt repulsion.It was not fear of something that could threaten one's safety, but instinctive rejection of something that was never meant to be seen.
It had no legs, yet it hovered in the air; its body had no identifiable shape. It was an amalgam of protrusions and tentacles extending in all directions without control, as if it had never been assigned a concrete form at creation, possessing free will to expand its mass at will.It had hundreds of eyes scattered across its body, asymmetrical, some bulging more than others.Its mouth was in its chest; rows of teeth lined its movable gums, spinning endlessly, changing their pattern like a labyrinth.
Its mouth bit into Wildvine's root; its viscous, gelatinous jaw snapped shut with a click. The gums rotated, and its small teeth, unable to tear off the entire root in one bite, served as an anchor that began dragging the alien forward.
«W-what strength, it's dragging me like it's nothing!»
The lamppost tore free from the pavement, and Wildvine had to plant his other three roots into the ground to slow the suction somewhat.
—Wonderful!—roared Ryuunosuke—You are simply wonderful!—
—I'm surprised, Master; any other person, regardless of bravery, would have felt revulsion at such monstrosity—he boasted—Only one who understands the selfishness of a creator God can grasp the magnificence of a creature that does not arise from His original design—
Wildvine was dragged into the air when the creature lifted its jaw, ignoring physics. Forced from the ground, his natural battlefield, his body was pulled by a force without logic.
Now airborne and at a disadvantage, Wildvine ensured the boy was secure while preventing him from seeing the creature. He took another seed from his back, twisted midair, and threw it onto a nearby rooftop. Thick roots burst forth, forming half a cocoon.
—What's your name?!—asked Wildvine.
—Y-yuta—
—Good. My name is Izuku Yagi, and I need you to trust me—
Without waiting, he sent the boy into the cocoon and sealed it.The cocoon became a safe zone: walls, ceiling, and floor reinforced by hardened roots. Spikes formed outside, flowers lit the inside, and a membrane allowed vision outward.
Free of risk to Yuta, Izuku hurled himself at the creature.They crashed through the ground; Wildvine shielded his head with the cocoon while using it as a weapon.
Two arms burst from the earth. One seized Ryuunosuke by the neck and lifted him; the other struck Caster, sending him flying.
The rest of Wildvine emerged, burying the creature underground and sealing the collapse.
—How about some last words before being put to sleep?—
Ryuunosuke was slammed into the pavement, pinned down by roots.
—You will pay for what you did—roared Wildvine—You ruined countless lives and still act as if nothing happened—
Vines wrapped Ryuunosuke, leaving only space to breathe.
—Magnificent… so many possibilities—Caster murmured.
—You're more resilient than I expected...—
—Only those with exceptional ability could stand beside the Saint—
—That makes things easier...—
Wildvine advanced to engage him in close combat.
—Of course, creature. Allow me to enlighten this ignorant being. Let me show you the flaws of an unjust God who punishes the good—