Chapter 46 – The Abomination of the Highs
The sanctuary was no longer a place of worship and reverence — it had become a battlefield drowned in shadows and searing light. The once-proud marble pillars, carved with ancient runes, now cracked under the pressure of colliding powers. The air itself seemed to bleed, thick with ash and infused with the oppressive darkness that radiated from the merged monstrosity of the Celtic Highs.
Where six once stood as individuals of terrible might, they had fused into a singular form, a grotesque abomination of twisted limbs and wings, pulsating with veins of black fire. Its voice was not one but many, layered chants of old tongues, echoing across the sanctuary like the cries of a thousand damned souls. Each movement of this fused being warped space, its sheer aura making the walls bend inward like glass about to shatter.
The rebels could not stand. Kaya's water aura flickered as she staggered to one knee, Herbet clutching her arm, blood dripping from his cheek. The rebel soldiers collapsed to the floor, clutching their chests as though gravity itself had become their executioner. Even the bravest of them felt their hope fray, for this was no longer just a council — it was something beyond mortal reckoning.
Moro stood at the front, his breath heavy but his eyes blazing with the sapphire glow of Ultra Fusion. His body pulsed with blue light, each heartbeat syncing with the Matrix within him, forcing back the dark pressure that threatened to crush his bones. He glanced at Xerx, who was slumped against a fallen stone, his robes soaked in blood. The old magician's lips trembled, trying to form an incantation, but the dark magic eating at his wound silenced him.
"Stay alive, Xerx," Moro muttered, his voice trembling but steady. "Just hold on a little longer…"
Beside him, Hanks — the King who once bowed to the Highs — towered in his Colossum form. His armor of golden light had cracks, but his presence was still that of a sovereign. He clenched his massive fists, veins glowing as he channeled every ounce of his strength into resisting the abomination's aura. His face twisted into a grim smile, the smirk of a man who had defied gods themselves.
"Moro," Hanks rumbled, his voice like thunder rolling in a storm, "this is no longer their council… it's their damnation."
The abomination raised a clawed hand. Shadows spilled like molten tar, dripping from its elongated fingers. With a single motion, it unleashed a wave of annihilation — a tide of black flame and gravity combined. The sanctuary shook, pillars disintegrating into dust, rebels screaming as the ground beneath them buckled.
But Moro stepped forward.
The sapphire glow of his Ultra Fusion flared brighter than ever before, his form wreathed in ribbons of light that clashed violently against the storm of darkness. He thrust his hand forward, channeling the flow of the Matrix, and the destructive tide met his shield of luminous energy. The collision roared like a collapsing sun, shaking the city above.
Hanks did not hesitate. He leapt into the fray, his Colossum fist glowing as he punched directly into the stream of darkness, his strength reinforcing Moro's stand. The impact created a shockwave that blasted the sanctuary walls apart, opening the night sky to the chaos below.
Kaya staggered to her feet, her water spirit form flickering like a beacon. She summoned torrents of liquid steel, sending massive serpents of water crashing into the abomination's lower limbs. The being shrieked, not in pain but in irritation, as though the efforts of mortals were mere distractions. It spread its wings of shadow and slammed them down, scattering the water serpents into mist.
Herbet, breathing heavily, raised his blade. "We're not distractions…" he growled, then charged, leading the last of the rebels in a desperate rush at the dark army of resurrected guards. The clash was chaos — flesh against shadows, steel against corpses that refused to fall. The dark army regenerated endlessly, their wounds closing as quickly as they were cut. The rebels screamed in rage and despair, realizing the only path to survival was through the abomination itself.
Moro's legs buckled as he forced more of the Matrix's power through him. His skin cracked with glowing blue fissures, his body straining against its own limits. But Xerx's distant hand twitched, sending faint threads of light that slipped into Moro's core. With each thread, the Ultra Fusion stabilized, the pain subsiding just enough for him to keep standing.
"I'll keep you burning, boy…" Xerx whispered, blood seeping from his lips. "Until my last breath, I'll feed the light."
The abomination lifted its head and roared, a sound that shattered stained glass windows and tore open the heavens. From its chest, a swirling orb of compressed darkness began to form, drawing in every shadow, every scream, every ounce of despair in the sanctuary. The rebels fell flat to the ground, unable to resist the pull. The orb expanded into a miniature black sun, the weight of its power threatening to crush all existence within the chamber.
Hanks grit his teeth, his massive frame trembling. "This… is the judgment of false gods," he snarled, before slamming his fist into the earth, channeling every last reserve of Colossum energy. Golden barriers erupted from the ground, pillars of light bracing against the pull of the dark sun. But even his strength cracked, golden shards splintering away as the abomination poured more power into its creation.
Moro looked at him — the king who had chosen rebellion over obedience, the man who stood shoulder to shoulder with him despite the odds. He nodded once, determination solidifying in his chest.
"I won't let this world burn," Moro said, his voice echoing across the sanctuary. He pressed both hands to the glowing Matrix within him, his Ultra Fusion flaring into a radiant storm. His body floated off the ground, his entire frame wreathed in blue fire. He hurled himself into the path of the black sun, his aura expanding into a dome of light to counter its devouring pull.
The collision was indescribable. Light against darkness, reality against oblivion. The sanctuary floor split apart, fragments of stone floating in the storm like meteors. The city above felt the tremors, citizens clutching their hearts as an unnatural eclipse dimmed the skies. The world seemed to hold its breath.
And then—
The clash erupted outward, a blinding explosion that sent everyone sprawling. Rebels screamed, Kaya shielded Herbet with her water aura, and Hanks slammed his massive frame into the ground to brace himself. Xerx, with the last of his strength, raised a trembling hand and whispered a single incantation, weaving the light into Moro's heart.
The black sun shattered. The abomination screeched, its body splitting into fragments of shadow. But as the darkness broke apart, it began to reassemble, its many voices chanting in unison:
"You cannot kill what is eternal."
Moro dropped to one knee, gasping for air. His aura flickered dangerously, the Ultra Fusion nearly burnt out. Hanks staggered beside him, bleeding from his mouth. Kaya dragged herself to their side, her water spirit dimming.
The abomination towered above them still, though weakened, its form crackling with instability. The battle was far from over.
And in the shadows of the ruined sanctuary, the rebels looked on, their hope hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The fate of Shinya teetered on the edge of oblivion.
---
Chapter 46 – The Abomination of the Highs
The sanctuary was no longer a place of worship and reverence — it had become a battlefield drowned in shadows and searing light. The once-proud marble pillars, carved with ancient runes, now cracked under the pressure of colliding powers. The air itself seemed to bleed, thick with ash and infused with the oppressive darkness that radiated from the merged monstrosity of the Celtic Highs.
Where six once stood as individuals of terrible might, they had fused into a singular form, a grotesque abomination of twisted limbs and wings, pulsating with veins of black fire. Its voice was not one but many, layered chants of old tongues, echoing across the sanctuary like the cries of a thousand damned souls. Each movement of this fused being warped space, its sheer aura making the walls bend inward like glass about to shatter.
The rebels could not stand. Kaya's water aura flickered as she staggered to one knee, Herbet clutching her arm, blood dripping from his cheek. The rebel soldiers collapsed to the floor, clutching their chests as though gravity itself had become their executioner. Even the bravest of them felt their hope fray, for this was no longer just a council — it was something beyond mortal reckoning.
Moro stood at the front, his breath heavy but his eyes blazing with the sapphire glow of Ultra Fusion. His body pulsed with blue light, each heartbeat syncing with the Matrix within him, forcing back the dark pressure that threatened to crush his bones. He glanced at Xerx, who was slumped against a fallen stone, his robes soaked in blood. The old magician's lips trembled, trying to form an incantation, but the dark magic eating at his wound silenced him.
"Stay alive, Xerx," Moro muttered, his voice trembling but steady. "Just hold on a little longer…"
Beside him, Hanks — the King who once bowed to the Highs — towered in his Colossum form. His armor of golden light had cracks, but his presence was still that of a sovereign. He clenched his massive fists, veins glowing as he channeled every ounce of his strength into resisting the abomination's aura. His face twisted into a grim smile, the smirk of a man who had defied gods themselves.
"Moro," Hanks rumbled, his voice like thunder rolling in a storm, "this is no longer their council… it's their damnation."
The abomination raised a clawed hand. Shadows spilled like molten tar, dripping from its elongated fingers. With a single motion, it unleashed a wave of annihilation — a tide of black flame and gravity combined. The sanctuary shook, pillars disintegrating into dust, rebels screaming as the ground beneath them buckled.
But Moro stepped forward.
The sapphire glow of his Ultra Fusion flared brighter than ever before, his form wreathed in ribbons of light that clashed violently against the storm of darkness. He thrust his hand forward, channeling the flow of the Matrix, and the destructive tide met his shield of luminous energy. The collision roared like a collapsing sun, shaking the city above.
Hanks did not hesitate. He leapt into the fray, his Colossum fist glowing as he punched directly into the stream of darkness, his strength reinforcing Moro's stand. The impact created a shockwave that blasted the sanctuary walls apart, opening the night sky to the chaos below.
Kaya staggered to her feet, her water spirit form flickering like a beacon. She summoned torrents of liquid steel, sending massive serpents of water crashing into the abomination's lower limbs. The being shrieked, not in pain but in irritation, as though the efforts of mortals were mere distractions. It spread its wings of shadow and slammed them down, scattering the water serpents into mist.
Herbet, breathing heavily, raised his blade. "We're not distractions…" he growled, then charged, leading the last of the rebels in a desperate rush at the dark army of resurrected guards. The clash was chaos — flesh against shadows, steel against corpses that refused to fall. The dark army regenerated endlessly, their wounds closing as quickly as they were cut. The rebels screamed in rage and despair, realizing the only path to survival was through the abomination itself.
Moro's legs buckled as he forced more of the Matrix's power through him. His skin cracked with glowing blue fissures, his body straining against its own limits. But Xerx's distant hand twitched, sending faint threads of light that slipped into Moro's core. With each thread, the Ultra Fusion stabilized, the pain subsiding just enough for him to keep standing.
"I'll keep you burning, boy…" Xerx whispered, blood seeping from his lips. "Until my last breath, I'll feed the light."
The abomination lifted its head and roared, a sound that shattered stained glass windows and tore open the heavens. From its chest, a swirling orb of compressed darkness began to form, drawing in every shadow, every scream, every ounce of despair in the sanctuary. The rebels fell flat to the ground, unable to resist the pull. The orb expanded into a miniature black sun, the weight of its power threatening to crush all existence within the chamber.
Hanks grit his teeth, his massive frame trembling. "This… is the judgment of false gods," he snarled, before slamming his fist into the earth, channeling every last reserve of Colossum energy. Golden barriers erupted from the ground, pillars of light bracing against the pull of the dark sun. But even his strength cracked, golden shards splintering away as the abomination poured more power into its creation.
Moro looked at him — the king who had chosen rebellion over obedience, the man who stood shoulder to shoulder with him despite the odds. He nodded once, determination solidifying in his chest.
"I won't let this world burn," Moro said, his voice echoing across the sanctuary. He pressed both hands to the glowing Matrix within him, his Ultra Fusion flaring into a radiant storm. His body floated off the ground, his entire frame wreathed in blue fire. He hurled himself into the path of the black sun, his aura expanding into a dome of light to counter its devouring pull.
The collision was indescribable. Light against darkness, reality against oblivion. The sanctuary floor split apart, fragments of stone floating in the storm like meteors. The city above felt the tremors, citizens clutching their hearts as an unnatural eclipse dimmed the skies. The world seemed to hold its breath.
And then—
The clash erupted outward, a blinding explosion that sent everyone sprawling. Rebels screamed, Kaya shielded Herbet with her water aura, and Hanks slammed his massive frame into the ground to brace himself. Xerx, with the last of his strength, raised a trembling hand and whispered a single incantation, weaving the light into Moro's heart.
The black sun shattered. The abomination screeched, its body splitting into fragments of shadow. But as the darkness broke apart, it began to reassemble, its many voices chanting in unison:
"You cannot kill what is eternal."
Moro dropped to one knee, gasping for air. His aura flickered dangerously, the Ultra Fusion nearly burnt out. Hanks staggered beside him, bleeding from his mouth. Kaya dragged herself to their side, her water spirit dimming.
The abomination towered above them still, though weakened, its form crackling with instability. The battle was far from over.
And in the shadows of the ruined sanctuary, the rebels looked on, their hope hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The fate of Shinya teetered on the edge of oblivion.
---
Chapter 46 – The Abomination of the Highs
The sanctuary was no longer a place of worship and reverence — it had become a battlefield drowned in shadows and searing light. The once-proud marble pillars, carved with ancient runes, now cracked under the pressure of colliding powers. The air itself seemed to bleed, thick with ash and infused with the oppressive darkness that radiated from the merged monstrosity of the Celtic Highs.
Where six once stood as individuals of terrible might, they had fused into a singular form, a grotesque abomination of twisted limbs and wings, pulsating with veins of black fire. Its voice was not one but many, layered chants of old tongues, echoing across the sanctuary like the cries of a thousand damned souls. Each movement of this fused being warped space, its sheer aura making the walls bend inward like glass about to shatter.
The rebels could not stand. Kaya's water aura flickered as she staggered to one knee, Herbet clutching her arm, blood dripping from his cheek. The rebel soldiers collapsed to the floor, clutching their chests as though gravity itself had become their executioner. Even the bravest of them felt their hope fray, for this was no longer just a council — it was something beyond mortal reckoning.
Moro stood at the front, his breath heavy but his eyes blazing with the sapphire glow of Ultra Fusion. His body pulsed with blue light, each heartbeat syncing with the Matrix within him, forcing back the dark pressure that threatened to crush his bones. He glanced at Xerx, who was slumped against a fallen stone, his robes soaked in blood. The old magician's lips trembled, trying to form an incantation, but the dark magic eating at his wound silenced him.
"Stay alive, Xerx," Moro muttered, his voice trembling but steady. "Just hold on a little longer…"
Beside him, Hanks — the King who once bowed to the Highs — towered in his Colossum form. His armor of golden light had cracks, but his presence was still that of a sovereign. He clenched his massive fists, veins glowing as he channeled every ounce of his strength into resisting the abomination's aura. His face twisted into a grim smile, the smirk of a man who had defied gods themselves.
"Moro," Hanks rumbled, his voice like thunder rolling in a storm, "this is no longer their council… it's their damnation."
The abomination raised a clawed hand. Shadows spilled like molten tar, dripping from its elongated fingers. With a single motion, it unleashed a wave of annihilation — a tide of black flame and gravity combined. The sanctuary shook, pillars disintegrating into dust, rebels screaming as the ground beneath them buckled.
But Moro stepped forward.
The sapphire glow of his Ultra Fusion flared brighter than ever before, his form wreathed in ribbons of light that clashed violently against the storm of darkness. He thrust his hand forward, channeling the flow of the Matrix, and the destructive tide met his shield of luminous energy. The collision roared like a collapsing sun, shaking the city above.
Hanks did not hesitate. He leapt into the fray, his Colossum fist glowing as he punched directly into the stream of darkness, his strength reinforcing Moro's stand. The impact created a shockwave that blasted the sanctuary walls apart, opening the night sky to the chaos below.
Kaya staggered to her feet, her water spirit form flickering like a beacon. She summoned torrents of liquid steel, sending massive serpents of water crashing into the abomination's lower limbs. The being shrieked, not in pain but in irritation, as though the efforts of mortals were mere distractions. It spread its wings of shadow and slammed them down, scattering the water serpents into mist.
Herbet, breathing heavily, raised his blade. "We're not distractions…" he growled, then charged, leading the last of the rebels in a desperate rush at the dark army of resurrected guards. The clash was chaos — flesh against shadows, steel against corpses that refused to fall. The dark army regenerated endlessly, their wounds closing as quickly as they were cut. The rebels screamed in rage and despair, realizing the only path to survival was through the abomination itself.
Moro's legs buckled as he forced more of the Matrix's power through him. His skin cracked with glowing blue fissures, his body straining against its own limits. But Xerx's distant hand twitched, sending faint threads of light that slipped into Moro's core. With each thread, the Ultra Fusion stabilized, the pain subsiding just enough for him to keep standing.
"I'll keep you burning, boy…" Xerx whispered, blood seeping from his lips. "Until my last breath, I'll feed the light."
The abomination lifted its head and roared, a sound that shattered stained glass windows and tore open the heavens. From its chest, a swirling orb of compressed darkness began to form, drawing in every shadow, every scream, every ounce of despair in the sanctuary. The rebels fell flat to the ground, unable to resist the pull. The orb expanded into a miniature black sun, the weight of its power threatening to crush all existence within the chamber.
Hanks grit his teeth, his massive frame trembling. "This… is the judgment of false gods," he snarled, before slamming his fist into the earth, channeling every last reserve of Colossum energy. Golden barriers erupted from the ground, pillars of light bracing against the pull of the dark sun. But even his strength cracked, golden shards splintering away as the abomination poured more power into its creation.
Moro looked at him — the king who had chosen rebellion over obedience, the man who stood shoulder to shoulder with him despite the odds. He nodded once, determination solidifying in his chest.
"I won't let this world burn," Moro said, his voice echoing across the sanctuary. He pressed both hands to the glowing Matrix within him, his Ultra Fusion flaring into a radiant storm. His body floated off the ground, his entire frame wreathed in blue fire. He hurled himself into the path of the black sun, his aura expanding into a dome of light to counter its devouring pull.
The collision was indescribable. Light against darkness, reality against oblivion. The sanctuary floor split apart, fragments of stone floating in the storm like meteors. The city above felt the tremors, citizens clutching their hearts as an unnatural eclipse dimmed the skies. The world seemed to hold its breath.
And then—
The clash erupted outward, a blinding explosion that sent everyone sprawling. Rebels screamed, Kaya shielded Herbet with her water aura, and Hanks slammed his massive frame into the ground to brace himself. Xerx, with the last of his strength, raised a trembling hand and whispered a single incantation, weaving the light into Moro's heart.
The black sun shattered. The abomination screeched, its body splitting into fragments of shadow. But as the darkness broke apart, it began to reassemble, its many voices chanting in unison:
"You cannot kill what is eternal."
Moro dropped to one knee, gasping for air. His aura flickered dangerously, the Ultra Fusion nearly burnt out. Hanks staggered beside him, bleeding from his mouth. Kaya dragged herself to their side, her water spirit dimming.
The abomination towered above them still, though weakened, its form crackling with instability. The battle was far from over.
And in the shadows of the ruined sanctuary, the rebels looked on, their hope hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The fate of Shinya teetered on the edge of oblivion.
---
Chapter 46 – The Abomination of the Highs
The sanctuary was no longer a place of worship and reverence — it had become a battlefield drowned in shadows and searing light. The once-proud marble pillars, carved with ancient runes, now cracked under the pressure of colliding powers. The air itself seemed to bleed, thick with ash and infused with the oppressive darkness that radiated from the merged monstrosity of the Celtic Highs.
Where six once stood as individuals of terrible might, they had fused into a singular form, a grotesque abomination of twisted limbs and wings, pulsating with veins of black fire. Its voice was not one but many, layered chants of old tongues, echoing across the sanctuary like the cries of a thousand damned souls. Each movement of this fused being warped space, its sheer aura making the walls bend inward like glass about to shatter.
The rebels could not stand. Kaya's water aura flickered as she staggered to one knee, Herbet clutching her arm, blood dripping from his cheek. The rebel soldiers collapsed to the floor, clutching their chests as though gravity itself had become their executioner. Even the bravest of them felt their hope fray, for this was no longer just a council — it was something beyond mortal reckoning.
Moro stood at the front, his breath heavy but his eyes blazing with the sapphire glow of Ultra Fusion. His body pulsed with blue light, each heartbeat syncing with the Matrix within him, forcing back the dark pressure that threatened to crush his bones. He glanced at Xerx, who was slumped against a fallen stone, his robes soaked in blood. The old magician's lips trembled, trying to form an incantation, but the dark magic eating at his wound silenced him.
"Stay alive, Xerx," Moro muttered, his voice trembling but steady. "Just hold on a little longer…"
Beside him, Hanks — the King who once bowed to the Highs — towered in his Colossum form. His armor of golden light had cracks, but his presence was still that of a sovereign. He clenched his massive fists, veins glowing as he channeled every ounce of his strength into resisting the abomination's aura. His face twisted into a grim smile, the smirk of a man who had defied gods themselves.
"Moro," Hanks rumbled, his voice like thunder rolling in a storm, "this is no longer their council… it's their damnation."
The abomination raised a clawed hand. Shadows spilled like molten tar, dripping from its elongated fingers. With a single motion, it unleashed a wave of annihilation — a tide of black flame and gravity combined. The sanctuary shook, pillars disintegrating into dust, rebels screaming as the ground beneath them buckled.
But Moro stepped forward.
The sapphire glow of his Ultra Fusion flared brighter than ever before, his form wreathed in ribbons of light that clashed violently against the storm of darkness. He thrust his hand forward, channeling the flow of the Matrix, and the destructive tide met his shield of luminous energy. The collision roared like a collapsing sun, shaking the city above.
Hanks did not hesitate. He leapt into the fray, his Colossum fist glowing as he punched directly into the stream of darkness, his strength reinforcing Moro's stand. The impact created a shockwave that blasted the sanctuary walls apart, opening the night sky to the chaos below.
Kaya staggered to her feet, her water spirit form flickering like a beacon. She summoned torrents of liquid steel, sending massive serpents of water crashing into the abomination's lower limbs. The being shrieked, not in pain but in irritation, as though the efforts of mortals were mere distractions. It spread its wings of shadow and slammed them down, scattering the water serpents into mist.
Herbet, breathing heavily, raised his blade. "We're not distractions…" he growled, then charged, leading the last of the rebels in a desperate rush at the dark army of resurrected guards. The clash was chaos — flesh against shadows, steel against corpses that refused to fall. The dark army regenerated endlessly, their wounds closing as quickly as they were cut. The rebels screamed in rage and despair, realizing the only path to survival was through the abomination itself.
Moro's legs buckled as he forced more of the Matrix's power through him. His skin cracked with glowing blue fissures, his body straining against its own limits. But Xerx's distant hand twitched, sending faint threads of light that slipped into Moro's core. With each thread, the Ultra Fusion stabilized, the pain subsiding just enough for him to keep standing.
"I'll keep you burning, boy…" Xerx whispered, blood seeping from his lips. "Until my last breath, I'll feed the light."
The abomination lifted its head and roared, a sound that shattered stained glass windows and tore open the heavens. From its chest, a swirling orb of compressed darkness began to form, drawing in every shadow, every scream, every ounce of despair in the sanctuary. The rebels fell flat to the ground, unable to resist the pull. The orb expanded into a miniature black sun, the weight of its power threatening to crush all existence within the chamber.
Hanks grit his teeth, his massive frame trembling. "This… is the judgment of false gods," he snarled, before slamming his fist into the earth, channeling every last reserve of Colossum energy. Golden barriers erupted from the ground, pillars of light bracing against the pull of the dark sun. But even his strength cracked, golden shards splintering away as the abomination poured more power into its creation.
Moro looked at him — the king who had chosen rebellion over obedience, the man who stood shoulder to shoulder with him despite the odds. He nodded once, determination solidifying in his chest.
"I won't let this world burn," Moro said, his voice echoing across the sanctuary. He pressed both hands to the glowing Matrix within him, his Ultra Fusion flaring into a radiant storm. His body floated off the ground, his entire frame wreathed in blue fire. He hurled himself into the path of the black sun, his aura expanding into a dome of light to counter its devouring pull.
The collision was indescribable. Light against darkness, reality against oblivion. The sanctuary floor split apart, fragments of stone floating in the storm like meteors. The city above felt the tremors, citizens clutching their hearts as an unnatural eclipse dimmed the skies. The world seemed to hold its breath.
And then—
The clash erupted outward, a blinding explosion that sent everyone sprawling. Rebels screamed, Kaya shielded Herbet with her water aura, and Hanks slammed his massive frame into the ground to brace himself. Xerx, with the last of his strength, raised a trembling hand and whispered a single incantation, weaving the light into Moro's heart.
The black sun shattered. The abomination screeched, its body splitting into fragments of shadow. But as the darkness broke apart, it began to reassemble, its many voices chanting in unison:
"You cannot kill what is eternal."
Moro dropped to one knee, gasping for air. His aura flickered dangerously, the Ultra Fusion nearly burnt out. Hanks staggered beside him, bleeding from his mouth. Kaya dragged herself to their side, her water spirit dimming.
The abomination towered above them still, though weakened, its form crackling with instability. The battle was far from over.
And in the shadows of the ruined sanctuary, the rebels looked on, their hope hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The fate of Shinya teetered on the edge of oblivion.
---