Chapter 38: Accomplished Monster
Hugo stood near the edge of the hill overlooking the outer settlement, having chosen the most isolated spot to set up his camp. He was in his base form—the hulking, armored, tentacled visage of the Chimera Sui Generis.
And While Sid had done her part to explain his "peculiar situation," it didn't stop the constant stream of uneasy glances shot his way. People gave him a wide berth, their steps hurried as they passed.
'Blatant racism everywhere, huh?' Hugo mused. The irony wasn't entirely lost on him. He was, technically, a Nobel creature now—a true one, and the only uncorrupted specimen most of these people would ever see in their entire lives as awakeneds. Yet, here he was, being treated like a leper.
Although Hugo couldn't really blame them; he looked like the very thing that haunted their nightmares. (Literally)
He groaned, the sound a low rumble and sat heavily on the Rocky edge of the hill. The dark city sprawled below him, a harrowing tapestry of shadows and lurking dangers.
With a thought, he summoned the [Spirit Seed] and then activated it's [Soul fruit] ability.
two faintly glowing, golden soul fruits materialized in his palm, the harvested essence of the Awakened monsters he'd slain. Hugo ate them absently, enjoying the sweet taste as he contemplated his next move.
Firstly, He needed shelter. Building a hut large and sturdy enough to house his base form seemed like a monumental task with the scrap materials available here and there was also the fact That trying to cobble something together here was exhausting.
"Omnitrix," he muttered, "is there any Imprint within the Awakened DNA chamber that can create or manipulate building materials?"
[Affirmative. Corrupted DNA sample: Petrosapien. Matches host's current needs.]
Of course, it was corrupted. Meaning he would have to face another A pseudo-trial. The very thought made him feel weary, mainly because he was feeling extremely tired and the idea of mentally battling another corrupted spirit was profoundly unappealing at this moment.
"Omnitrix, by chance, is there any other way to clear a pseudo-trial besides me personally challenging it?" The question felt a bit desperate, even to him but he had to ask.
[Affirmative.]
His eyes widened slightly "How?"
[If the Omnitrix is of a suitable rank and class as the corrupted DNA sample, it can generate a simulation of the host to clear the trial autonomously.]
A bright, terrifying smile spread across his alien features. This was almost too good to be true. "Is there any downside? If yes, what are they?"
[Yes. The Omnitrix's other primary functions will be deactivated for the duration of the simulation to conserve energy.]
"And how long is that duration?"
[Approximately 24 hours.]
"Can you automatically generate a simulation on my command?"
[Yes.]
"Then do it. Clear the Petrosapien DNA sample."
[As you wish.]
The blue hourglass symbol on his watch glowed brightly for a moment, then faded to a dull, inert grey. A sense of quiet fell over him as the constant hum of the relic's went silent.
He was on his own, for now...
With his most powerful tool temporarily offline, Hugo decided to use the time productively. He settled into a cross-legged position—a strangely human gesture in his monstrous body—and closed his eyes. His forced, agonizing awakening had left his soul feeling ragged and his control over essence was still rudimentary at best.
So It was time to meditate, to try and smooth the mess inside his soul.
———
Almost a day later, a sharp, psychic screech echoed through a cramped alleyway as Hugo wrenched [Nothing], now formed into a brutal spear from the chest of a fallen creature.
It was a terrifying, emaciated thing with dark, leathery skin and a golden mask shaped like a stylized sun for a head. The Omnitrix was still inactive but Hugo had used the time to hunt, relying solely on the innate power of his Chimera Sui Generis form and his Memories. It felt like cheating, in a way, to use this powerful body as his base, but he had little choice about the ordeal.
[You have slain a Fallen monster: Sun Heretic.]
[You have received a Memory.]
He crushed the harvested soul shards from the corpse , watching his count tick up to [44/4000].
After leaping onto a nearby rooftop to ensure the coast was clear, he summoned his runes, his gaze scanning the familiar list. He was progressing, but it was annoying that his base form despite being a Devil, hadn't granted him any unique abilities due to his current messed up biology.
'Maybe because my soul isn't the one that's transformed...' it his body inside the dream realm that was turned into a Chimera sui generis, not his soul or else he wouldn't have appeared as a human in his soul sea.
Turning His attention turned to the new Memory, Hugo narrowed his eyes
Memory: [Sunlight Rings]
Memory Rank:Ascended
Memory Tier:III
Memory Type:Utility
Memory Description:[Even after everything, they still prayed to the gods for salvation. But the gods were dead and their devotion slowly curdled into heresy.]
Enchantments:[Sunlight], [Restoration], [Blessing of Fire]
[Sunlight] Enchantment Description: [This set of rings can convert soul essence into pure sunlight.]
[Restoration] Enchantment Description:[This ring can heal its wearer by consuming soul essence.]
[Blessing of Fire] Enchantment Description:[Set your heart ablaze to gain the blessing of the fire.]
He summoned the Memory. Four identical rings of white gold appeared on his large, tentacled fingers.
Hugo didn't really understand what Sunlight was but he assumed that it could probably synergize well with his Pyronite form.
The restoration enchantment was also a godsend—a direct way to heal himself was always appreciated — The last one was cryptic. 'Set your heart ablaze'—was it litera? Or Metaphorical?
It seemed tailored for someone with a very specific mindset, likely not him. But the healing alone made it invaluable.
———
Later, back at the settlement, Hugo summoned [Nothing] in its storage form. From the coiling mist, he pulled out the carcasses of several Nightmare Creatures he'd hunted and hauled them towards the central distribution hut.
The young woman managing the supplies flinched violently as his shadow fell over her. All around, people tensed, their hands twitching as if ready to summon their memories.
"Y-yes? How can I help you?..." she stammered, unable to meet his gaze.
"Is there any way I can trade this meat for blankets and some Ink?" Hugo asked, keeping his voice as neutral as possible.
The girl visibly relaxed slightly, a shaky smile appearing on her face.
"Of course! Just take them to Sebastian over there. He'll get you what you need." She pointed towards a man who was clearly a craftsman, surrounded by raw materials and simple tools.
'Who names their child Sebastian in the first place?'
Hugo mused internally, finding the mundane name strangely out of place.
He completed the trade, hauling the ink and blankets inside [Nothing].
He sat again, consuming another soul fruit from the [Spirit Seed].
'Anytime now...'
As if on cue, the Omnitrix glowed with a vibrant, healthy blue.
Then A series of status lines flashed through his mind.
[Corruption Purged.]
[You have acquired an Imprint.]
A satisfied breath hissed from between his teeth.
"Finally..."
Hugo activated the Omnitrix, the dial rising with a soft click. He cycled through the holograms until a new one appeared: a tall, humanoid figure composed entirely of facets of brilliant, blue-green crystal, catching the weak light and refracting it into its body. It looked both incredibly sturdy and strangely beautiful.
He summoned the runes for a closer look.
Eighth Imprint: [Petrosapien]
Imprint Rank:Awakened
Imprint Class:Devil
Imprint Description:[The most beautiful Children of Storm God, forged in the heart of a dying star. Their home was a beautiful dystopia, a crystal lattice that sang with latent energy until it was shattered by the Cataclysm. Unyielding and radiant, they are living monuments to a glory that was unraveled a long time ago.]
Imprint Attributes:[Shapeshifter], [Reflective], [Absorption]
Imprint Abilities:[Crystal Generation], [Crystallokinesis]
[Shapeshifter] Attribute Description: [A Petrosapien can manipulate its internal crystalline structure to alter its form.]
[Reflective] Attribute Description:[A Petrosapien's skin can reflect most forms of energy cast upon it.]
[Absorption] Attribute Description:[A Petrosapien's crystal can absorb kinetic and potential energy.]
[Crystal Generation] Ability Description: [You can grow crystals from your body.]
[Crystallokinesis] Ability Description:[You have precise mental control over any crystals you create.]
'What an interesting story...' the omnitrix was truly giving him a lot of lore about multiple races.
These born of sun god, war god, the forgotten shore, the vile and unholy and much more...
But what mattered now was the fact that this imprint was A true builder which was exactly what Hugo needed right now.
Without hesitation, Hugo slammed the dial. A flash of blue light enveloped him and his monstrous warlord form was replaced by one of towering, geometric beauty.
He stood over eight feet tall, his body a masterpiece of interlocking blue-green crystal. The Omnitrix symbol glowed proudly on his chest which caused A fresh wave of startled gasps and murmurs to ripple through the settlement as people witnessed yet another shocking transformation.
Ignoring them, Hugo knelt, placing his crystalline hands on the ground. He focused, pushing soul essence into his new abilities.
[Crystal Generation] and [Crystallokinesis] activated in tandem.
With a deep, grinding sound that was not unpleasant, crystals erupted from the earth.
With his new strange fascination for beaty, hugo decided to make a respectful structure for himself.
And so Walls of smooth, transparent crystal rose forming a small, domed dwelling. He created a wide, arched entrance with large beautiful decorated door, and inside, he grew simple, elegant furniture from the floor itself: a raised platform for a bed, a table, even shelving units seamlessly connected to the walls.
The entire process took less than ten minutes, and the result was a small, ethereal home that looked utterly out of place amidst the ramshackle huts gleaming like a misplaced jewel.
Hugo summoned [Nothing ] to bring out the blankets and materials he'd traded for, carried them inside his new crystal house, and disappeared from view, leaving the entire population of the outer settlement utterly dumbfounded.
Inside, he didn't detransform. The Petrosapien form felt solid, steady, and incredibly useful. He set the blankets on the crystalline bed. Then, he got to work.
Focusing his will, hugo began to create more objects from his own body. He grew a set of sharp, durable crystal daggers. He fashioned a robust, clear shield and multiple other forms of weapons such as spears, swords and bows and arrows.
He even made a few intricate, decorative items—a small, refracting prism, a gracefully curved vase—just to test the limits of his control. The process was intuitive like flexing a new muscle but it was strangely different from how his pyronite form controlled fire.
'It's only natural that'd it'll be different, flames can't really be compared to the beautiful crystal I'm made of, right?'
Satisfied with his creations, he pressed the Omnitrix symbol again. In a flash of blue, the towering crystal man was replaced by the small, large-headed form of a Galvan.
His perspective shifted dramatically, the crystal house now feeling cavernous around him.
He activated [Galvanic Sorcery]. His mind flooded with arcane schematics and runic languages. He picked up one of the crystal daggers and brought out the large ink supplies be traded, then With a focused thought, his small finger began to write something across the crystals.
He traced intricate, miniscule runes along the flat of the blade creating symbols for [Sharpness], [Durability], and [Edge Retention].
The runes sank into the crystal, glowing faintly before igniting as he poured his will and soul essence into the process.
He repeated the process on the shield, inscribing runes for [Impact Diffusion] and [Stability] and so on and so forth.
'It's much easier to enchant things now that I have four cores... Not to mention that the quality had also improved...'
Hugo wondered if any Nobel creature of the ancient past besides the Galvans were interested in runic sorcery... Imagining a giant creature using it's tendrils to draw some ruins was quite funny to Hugo for some reason.
After around three hours, hugo had a small arsenal of enhanced gear, he gathered it up and marched back out into the settlement. He went straight to Sebastian, the craftsman and laid the items out.
"I'd like to trade these" Hugo said
Sebastian stared, first at the towering tentacled creature then at the beautifully crafted, magically enhanced crystal weapons. He picked up a dagger, testing its balance and marveling at the sharpness.
It seemed the craftsman deserved his title considering he seemed to realize these were of awakened quality.
"These are... incredible," Sebastian breathed, his eyes wide. "What do you want for them?"
"Soul shards, updates on nephis and her cohort and lastly, more ink and papaer"
Sebastian nodded hesitantly
"The last three could be provided easily but I'm not sure if the soul shards can be given, we're using them to saturate our hunters cores... But there's always the chance to join one of the hunting parties..."
His voice seemed a little hopeful for Hugo for obvious reasons.
Hugo was a bit conflicted.
On one hand hunting with others seemed like a great idea, he could ensure some of them survive which will do wonders for his mood but there was also the fact that he was too strong for most of the sleepers here.
He did not want to become a babysitter, not to mention that his flaw could lead to him causing someone's death and he did not want that guilt added to his list of mental problems.
Eventually Hugo shook his head
"I can provide help with building and crafting for a price but I don't like hunting in groups"
Sebastian sighed "As you wish, I'll speak with sid about your deal then I'll send the goods to your hut, is that good for you?"
Hugo nodded and left the crafted weapons there.
———
Atop a towering skyscraper in the dark city, a vile creature stirred within the skeletal remains of a magnificent structure. Its body was a grotesque tapestry of grey, pulsating tendrils threaded through with shattered bones and weeping flesh. It propelled itself on four gigantic, multi-jointed limbs while a fifth, thicker appendage served as both its head and neck with a blind, questing worm-maw lined with concentric rings of teeth.
This was a Fallen Devil, a particularly nasty abomination that was on the verge of evolving into a Tyrant.
Gunlaug, the lord of the Bright Castle, had sent multiple hunting parties to cull the abomination but of course , None had returned.
The creature was simply too harrowing, its defenses and instincts too sharp for mere sleepers to handle.
Unluckily for it, a more insidious hunter had already set it's eyes upon it.
Perched silently atop the same tower was a horrifying amalgamation of a raven and an eagle, standing at a twenty feet tall with jet-black feathers that seemed to drink the light around it.
Strangely, the Fallen Devil remained oblivious to tbe creature near it, its worm-head swaying sluggishly. It couldn't detect the creature right above it for two reasons. The first was the pure, absolute darkness shrouding Hugo which was the effects of [Shadow] that muffled his presence completely.
The second and more crucial reason was the subtle work of the [Spirit Seed]. For days now , Hugo had been using its [Enthrall] ability to weave a blanket of false security and drowsiness over the Devil's mind. While the Devil outranked the Awakened Echo, the two-class difference gave the seed just enough purchase to lull the beast into a vulnerable slumbering state.
The moment the creature's movements stilled and its maw drooped low, Hugo acted.
His wings, vast sheets of darkness, snapped open without a sound. He descended like a thunderbolt, his terrifying talons latching onto the Devil's fleshy back, then With powerful beats, he hauled the stunned, heavy creature into the air, climbing higher and higher beyond the city's spires, taking the abomination high into the sky until they left the dark city.
The Fallen Devil fell, woke up in the last moments of its life to feeling a rush of wind as it looked upon the sight awaiting it on the ground —a ground studded with a forest of razor-sharp crystal spikes Hugo had grown there earlier.
The impact was sickeningly final, the crystals impaling the devil despite them being of a lower rank due to the velocity of it's fall
[You have slain a Fallen Devil: Worm of Greed.]
Hugo sighed, a rough sound in his throat,
as he descended. He plucked the shimmering, intensely bright soul shards from the pulverized remains of the corpse.
"Shiny..." he growled, the Blessed Herald's innate attraction to glittering things thrumming through him a He absorbed the fragments.
[1567/4000]
Another sigh, this one of frustration. A full month of relentless, calculated hunting had brought him this far. It was progress by any sane metric, more then that as it a terrifying accumulation of power for a mere Awakened.
But for Hugo, with his four cores and his divine relic, it felt agonizingly slow.
That said there were aspects of him that saw improvement besides His powers.
His hunting strategy had evolved as He no longer charged in recklessly into fight.
He had learned to use the full extent of his Abilities to set up traps for abominations he hunted, settling on the more effective approches rather then the fancy ones.
There were also some social improvements... as He started crafting houses and more items for the settlement sleepers essentially arming all of them in his crystals, for a price of course.
Although Hugo would be lying if he said that he didn't appreciate the gratitude he got from them...
Then, as He was about to turn back towards the settlement, he felt it. —a sudden, magnetic pull in his mind that slowly turned into an irresistible lure.
Several kilometers away, two points of beautiful, golden light sparkled in his enhanced perception. They weren't just shiny; they were perfect. The [Vile Eyes] attribute of the Blessed Herald form screamed at him overriding all other thought.
He had to have them.
And so Without another conscious thought, his powerful wings beat, propelling him toward the distant sparkle.
———
[Sunny's POV]
Sunny grunted, wrenching the Midnight Shard from the carapace of a twitching, insectoid abomination. The blade came free with a wet schlick.
[You have slain an Awakened Beast.]
[Your shadow grows stronger.]
'Not enough...' he thought, the bitterness a familiar acid in his gut as He glanced at his cohort.
They were on the return leg of their expedition, weary but hardened through the months of travel.
Kai and Effie practically glowed with saturated soul cores, their power palpable to any other sleepr, while Caster and Cassie themselves weren't too far behind.
By all accounts, Sunny himself wasn't lagging. He had hunted with a frenetic, desperate energy even before the expedition.
He had pracitically bathed in soul shards, but alas these were useless to him.
But it was all rendered meaningless by her presence.
Nephis walked a few paces ahead, her posture as straight and unyielding as ever.
No matter how much sunny tried to wrap his mind around it, He simply couldn't understand it.
How could her growth be so… tyrannical? They had shared the hunts, the dangers and the spoils, going through the same amount of suffering and trials, and Yet, she always seemed a step ahead, her flame burning just a little brighter everyday and her sword falling just a little faster.
This gnawing sense of inferiority was a poison in his veins, a constant, humiliating reminder of his own perceived inadequacy.
He hated it. He hated the feeling of being second best, of being the shadow to her brilliant, terrible light. This desperate, clawing lust for more power, to finally close the gap, had become a core part of him since... A particular event that he did not like to think about.
With a sigh Sunny summoned his runes, his expression distant:
Name: Sunless
True name: Lost from light
Rank: dreamer
Class: Monster
Shadow cores: [2/7]
Shadow Fragments: [1894/2000]
Aspect: [Shadow slave]
Attributes: [Fated], [Mark of shadows], [Sparks of divinity], [blood weave]
Memories: [Puppeteer's Shroud], [Silver bell], [Azure blade], [Midnight shard], [Ordinary rock], [Endless spring], [mantle of the underworld], [Dark wing], [Blood blossom], [Moonlight shard]...
Echoes: —
Shadows: [Carapace shadow], [Stone saint], [Soul serpent]
Aspect legacy: [Shadow dance]
First Relic: Claimed
Second relic: Unearned
....
He was so close to forming his third core and unlocking the second mastery of his aspect legacy. He simply needed a push to achieve that goal...
"Sunny, are you alright?"
Nephis's voice, calm and level was like a splash of cold water momentarily scattering hi dark thoughts.
He turned to her, the bones of the Mantle of the Underworld clicking softly.
"I'm f—" A familiar, sharp pain constricted his throat as his Flaw stopped him from lying, then just as He was about to snap a clever deflecting retort, his eyes widened.
His shadow sense which had extended greatly suddenly caught something kilometers away from them.
Something was rushing towards them. A towering shadow, massive and wrong, its shape a chaotic jumble of sharp angles and bestial outlines.
It was barreling toward them with terrifying speed but There was a flicker of something familiar in its chaotic signature as if sunny had seen that shadow somewhere before...
but that feeling was drowned out by the sheer, imminent threat.
"All of you, hide!" Sunny barked, his voice filled with urgency.
But it was too late. A gale of wind whipped down, stirring dust and debris. With a sound like a falling tapestry, a colossal shadow descended and landed on the crimson Corql with a ground-shaking thud.
A twenty-foot-tall monstrosity of black feathers, cruel talons and a wicked beak stood there, its vile eyes fixed on them, radiating an aura of pure, predatory avarice.