Chapter 13: Bigger Man
Hugo, with his enhanced senses, tilted his head slightly dodging the bottle without much effort.
Not that a glass bottle would have done anything to his Dormant body which was augmented by [Anatomica].
Looking at the person who had thrown the bottle, Hugo saw a man sitting on a plastic chair that was placed directly across the door as if he had been expecting someone and waiting just so he could throw the bottle at them.
That man, of course none other then Hugo's father, completely hammered out of his mind by alcohol and whatever synthetic drugs NQSC offered.
Hugo looked at his father, who was wearing only shorts and a white shirt, his eyes slouched and his face wrinkled.
Then his father spoke. "You leave for a week without a notice and then have the balls to come back?" he said, his voice although undoubtedly affected by alcohol was still strangely... serious.
That seriousness had once terrified Hugo, even though his father had never laid a finger on him. But that did not matter anymore, now that he was stronger to the point that his father couldn't hurt him even if he wanted to.
Hugo looked at him for a moment, then spoke calmly. "I was infected by the Nightmare Spell. I spent the entire week in the nightmare and woke up this morning."
Hugo's dad tilted his head slightly, then a crooked smile formed on his face. "Good, good..." he said in a mocking Tone. "Now you can kill these damn abominations like you always wanted," he said, chuckling slightly.
But then he suddenly stopped and looked at Hugo with a strange expression. "Then why are you here? Don't tell me you came here to kill me? I didn't think I was that bad of a father," he said, his voice changing from playful to... disappointment?
Hugo glanced at him sharply. "You're not worth the bother. I just need you to sign something."
His dad smiled again. "Oh, forgive me, oh great and venerable Awakened. What would a foolish Mundane person like me even be good for? Not even worth getting your grand revenge, huh? You'd probably enjoy something like that, becoming the cause of your second parent's dea—"
He suddenly stopped himself barely conscious of what he was saying.
Hugo face contorted into a frow, clutching his hand slightly.
He was really contimplating transforming into something and ripping his father's apart but he quickly remembered awakened belle's advice and decided against it.
He stepped closer, his boots pressing against the soft wood of the house.
Reaching his father's chair, he gave him the paper and the pen.
"Sign it," Hugo demanded, his voice devoid of all emotion leaving only a cold command.
His father scoffed but obliged.
Taking the paper and pen, Hugo stepped back and headed for the exit, unwilling to stay here for more than he needed.
His father's voice suddenly made him stop. "You think you're better than me?"
The voice was high-pitched, tangled by alcohol.
"Not really," Hugo said. "But I still hate you."
He spoke without looking back.
"...Goodbye, Martin," he spoke, using his father's name, not willing to refer to him as anything else.
That seemed to have triggered something inside Martin, who rose from his chair in a quick motion but due to his current drunken state, he fell over before reaching Hugo.
With one final glance, Hugo left the house, walking down the path.
He heard a muffled, painful scream. "HUGOOOOO! COME BACK HERE! RIGHT NOW!"
Martin shouted, but his words were left unanswered.
Hugo ignoring his father shouts walked towards the PTV where Awakened Belle was waiting with messured steps.
He entered the car without a word and handed the paper to Belle.
Awakened Belle looked at him for a moment, then said with a smile, "Good job, kid. I have a feeling that you'll go far if you keep this mentality."
Hugo nodded at the compliment, yet his mind was not really set on that.
The mess of emotions was still raging deep in his heart, threatening to consume him.
And once again, Hugo remained silent as Awakened Belle drove him towards the Awakened Academy.
–––
After an hour or so, awakened belle had dropped him at the accademy leaving him with a couple of advices that consisted of the following:
- make friends with the other sleepers in case you end up in the same region as them during the winter solstice
- don't give up your flaw no matter what
- and lastly don't reveal too much about your aspect to the academy.
Hugo wasnt going to do the first two even if belle hadn't told him but he was contimplating the last advice. As giving some minor information could give him some soul shards to make his life a little easier in the dream realm.
Shacking his head slightly, Hugo looked at the towering structure of the awakened academy. There was two seemingly indestructible red gates at the entrance as The Academy was in a sense , a city within the city. It was built like a fortress, with a high wall made of hard alloy, deep moat and numerous large-caliber turrets which were placed in certain positions to create a deadly air-suppression dome. No Nightmare Creature, not even colossal titans, were supposed to be able to break through its defenses but Hugo doubted that fact.
The massive gates suddenly opened revealing the bridge leading inside.
The Omnitrix glowed slightly beneath his sleeves as With Hugo walked forward wondering how his three week stay would be in this place.
–––
Immediately after entering, Hugo was guided by one of the academy worker to an interview. Usually, he would join the batch of sleepers in a area meant for them to socialize and hear a small speech by an awakened and they would later on go through an interview. But considering the fact that Hugo had arrived one week later then the last batch of sleepers, he was immediately sent to the interview room which he didn't mind.
Entering the room, Hugo found himself facing a beautiful red haired women who was wearing the most charming smile he had ever seen.
"sleeper Hugo, please take a seat" she said, gesturing towards a seat.
Hugo obliged.
The lady kept her bright smile which had the opposite effect on Hugo, making him slightly creeped out by the women.
"im awakened Emma, now shall we begin the interview? I would be asking you multiple questions about your self but remember you have the freedom to refuse answering. Just make sure not to lie, alright?"
Hugo nodded.
"perfect, then let's start with your aspect, Would you mind telling me about the type of Aspect Ability you received, as in combat, sorcery, utility?"
Hugo spoke with a natural expression "it's versatile aspect although how useful, I'm not sure yet, I haven't exprimented with it too much. "
Emma nodded then continued "are you able to directly deal damage with it?"
Hugo nodded "yes, in theory ".
She noted something down on what was probably his file.
The questions kept looping back in the same direction, such as the functions of his aspect, his attributes and what sort of nightmare he had gone through.
Hugo gave vague answers about his aspect while keeping his attributes and the events of his nightmare to himself because he did not want to over share, deciding to follow awakened belle advice.
"– lastly, this question is not really necessary but just a formality as 98% of sleepers would probably answer with no, but here we go, do you have a true name?"
Hugo looked at her for a moment then said "yes"
She smiled " just as i– what?!" in a moment,bher demeanor entirely changing as she confirmed he wasn't lying.
Slowly calming herself, Emma exhaled "do you mind telling what it is?" she said, nearly stuttering.
Hugo spoke in a calm voice, yet the words held a strange sense of authority "Pragon of purity".
–––
The cafeteria of the academy was filled with all sorts sleepers going about their daily routine.
In the centre, a screen displaying the Ranking of the sleepers of this year batched stood. Unchanged for a week.... Untill now.
"how is this possible!" a sleeper shouted.
"no way!"
"two in the same batch?! Impossible!"
"is he a legacy?"
"it's like a true name bargaining sail!"
„ what's next?! The outskirt rat pervert also has a true name?"
On the screen, occupying the top one spot was none other then changing star of the immortal flame clan, the last hier of her clan.
But he second place had changed, where caster Of the han li clan had once been now stood another name.
Name: Hugo
True Name: Paragon of purity.
The screen displayed a young man with black hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to shift the more you look at them.
That same boy was standing in a secluded spot in the cafeteria, enjoying a slice of pizza while being watched by everyone...
'well this is uncomfortable ' Hugo thought, barely able to enjoy his food as he felt both the legacy sleepers and the non affiliated clan sleepers piercing him with curious gazes... Some more dangerous then the other.
Hugo quickly finished his food, quickly escaping the cafeteria before anyone could notice him.
–––
He was now in his dorm room, examining the simple yet beautiful room.
Without wasting anytime, Hugo raised his left hand turning the dial slowly.
Instantly it shot upward, the hourglass symbol opening into the shape of a menacing tentacle figure.
"well, I've been holding out on this for a while" he said with a hesitant voice as he slammed the dial in.
Immediately, Hugo felt a profound shift in his being.
His bones, blood, flesh, mind, soul, spirt and shadow all which have been altered by Omni energy, they all changed. Not in the same change he had undergone during the first nightmare, but a more profound complete change retaining no trace of their former self.
His flesh turned green and extended, opening up and morphing into green tentacles.
His torso grew bigger and bigger, expanding in length and width.
His head shifted followed by his skull, two crimson eyes glowed.
In a brilliant flash of blue, Hugo human frame was no more. In his place was a towering figure standing over 15 entire feets, wearing a dark menacing armor. A strange glowing hourglass symbol was on his chest.
The figure head was round and near where his mouth was supposed to, tentacles took place.
His arms were also tentacles, although they were solidified and united together forming mighty muscles.
There were two tubes extending from his cheeks, pumping strange blue liquid in his mouth.
Hugo, in his new form couldn't move, as one wrong movement could wreck the entire room and possibly the floor sending him flying towards the ground...
"holy shit...." he muttuered, his voice raspy and deep...
Hugo looked down at his body, to his surprise he was not naked, instead pitch black armor made from the same material as the Omnitrix covered his body, providing solid protection.
"ah..." he found himself in a strange situation, of being unable to move.
Quickly, he gently sat on the ground locking his legs together and looking at the mirror....
Strangely enough, Hugo was not terrified by his new appearance. Quite the opposite infact. He was proud of it, as if it was only natural he'd look as fearsome as this.
"how did I exist in such a fable form before?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous....
"wait a moment...." that was not how Hugo talked...
Infact the words felt a bit hollow...
Then it clicked in his head... His new tentacle head...
"its my flaw..."
The world suddenly seemed to become much clearer as Hugo had a clear understanding of how his flaw was slowly beginning to alter his personality when he was transformed...
Flaw: [unstable ego]
Flaw description: [the like between your true self and that of your transformations is thin]
Realization downed at him like a cold hot blade. '... This is going to be a problem '
Battling a flaw that effected his mentality would be a nightmare, both literally and figuratively... He could already imagine hundreds of scenarios that'd lead to his death if he couldn't control who he was at the moment....
"calm down... I'm still me.... Just changed.... "
"paragon of purity...." he muttuered, drawing upon his true name to solidify his sense of self... But even that seemed not to work considering the nature of Hugo flaw, which changed his personality whenever he was transformed.
Hugo sighed, deciding to take a look at his runes
Name: Hugo
True Name: Paragon of purity
Rank: Dreamer.
Omni-Core: Dormant.
Soul fragments Fragments Fragments: [5/1000].
Memories: [Proto-Tech armor], [polymorphic crystal], [conqueror's wrath]
Echoes: —
Attributes: [mutant], [Flame of divinity], [extraordinary memory], [antamonica], [spirt core], [shadow-rend], [soul bound]
Aspect: [Omnitrix ].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect description: [You have bonded with the first divine relic created by mortal hands, transforming you into a being woven from the primordial blueprint of life itself. Created by the greatest of minds in pursuit of a perfection forbidden by the absolute law of reality, you carry the potential to become any creature. Your existence is a testament to adaptation and the boundless diversity of the world.]
Innate Ability: [Essence Imprint]
Ability Description:[No creature is an alien to your existence. You possess the ability to imprint the fundamental essence of any being onto your soul, storing its template within the relic.]
[First Imprint: Chimera Sui Generis]
[Second Imprint: Galvan]
[Third Imprint: ––]
[Fourth Imprint: ––]
[Fifth Imprint: ––]
[Sixth Imprint: ––]
[Seventh Imprint: ––]
[Eighth Imprint: ––]
[Ninth Imprint: ––]
[Tenth Imprint: ––]
Aspect Abilities: [Morph].
Aspect Ability Description: [you can transform into creatures imprinted on your soul.]
Hugo focused on the first Imprint and just as he did that, the runes shifted revealing entirely new ones.
Imprint race: Chimera Sui Generis
Imprint rank: awakened
Imprint class: beast
Imprint description: [ the first race to be banished from a divine realm, when the goddess of black sky banished her most harrowing children, they did not despair. Instead they challenged their very nature adapting to the harsh climate of the mortel realms.]
Imprint attributes: [mighty], [aquarius], [resistance], [maximum reflexes]
Imprint abilities: –
Hugo eyes, now strangely without pupils widened....
"wait, I'm an awakened?! " he said, not believing himself...
Now that he thinks about it, he did feel incredibly powerful since he transformed, but Hugo thought it was normal because that was what most transformation abilities felt like... But he was wrong. It wasn't just the fact that he transformed or undergone a gigantificaction but also the fact that he just transformed into an awakened.
He could feel it, his soul growing brighter and seeping into his body...
That strange power created from this phenomena was soul essence...
'so this is the truth power of a divine aspect...' he thought, a bit horrified and equally excited to see what he would achieve at higher ranks.
'focus Hugo...' he thought, quickly realizing that this was becoming a habit.
Hugo focused on the attributes runes.
[Mighty] attribute description: [your strength, speed, endurance and durability are all enhanced by your biology]
[Aquarius] attribute description : [you can breath underwater]
[Resistance] attribute description : [you are completely resistance to heat]
[Maximum reflexes] attribute description : [your senses and reflexes are heightened to the extreme]
Hugo read the runes carefully coming to the conclusion they were similar to [conqueror's wrath] enchantments which made sense considering the memory came from vilgax, and Hugo was now in the same race as the space squid.
'I would be incredibly powerful if I fight with that charm on'
That would make a very powerful synergy indeed...
'but no abilities huh?'
Hugo got a little disspointed at that, due to the fact that he had been receiving such generous treatment...
'wait... I'm technically an awakened beast right? And beast don't possesses abilities no matter their rank...' his tendrils slummed slightly as his disspointment grew further.
Only nightmare creatures could form more soul cores which meant he wouldn't be getting any new abilities...
'still, the fact I can become an awakened is incredibly useful!'
The thought of crushing nightmare creatures with his own hands was incredibly exciting, with his current power he could probably take on a fallen beast which would be something no sleeper could boast about.
'... I should try channeling my soul essence...'
Hugo closed his eyes in a meditative possession, tapping deep with his soul in an attempt to draw upon the force coursing through his body and soul.
He found himself able to do that but just as he was about to begin channeling it, he heard a strange beeping sound followed by the Omnitrix symbol on his chest glowing red.
Then with a flash of red energy, Hugo found himself meditating on the ground back in his human form and more importantly, he returned to being a dormant human...
"i should've expected something like this..." he muttuered bitterly...
"so 10 minutes huh? Not bad... Not bad at all...."