Abyss drove the Clear Plate—engraved with a 'W' composed of sharp, zigzagging lines—straight into his own chest.
In that instant, Woz and Torin felt the pressure weigh down on them, magnifying a thousandfold.
"Ugh...!?"
"Wh-what incredible power...!"
The two gasped as the sheer weight threatened to crush them, their eyes seared by the erupting radiance. Once the light and pressure reached their zenith, Abyss stepped out from the glow.
"Apologies for the wait. How do I look? This is my form after utilizing the Clear Plate..."
Abyss’s appearance was in a league of its own compared to any Magic Armor Beast they had seen before. It was a masterpiece of design, primarily pure white. His body possessed a divine quality, contrasted sharply by a pitch-black mantle. Black patterns resembling long gloves stretched from his hands to his forearms, the boundary between white and black defined by the same zigzagging lines that formed his 'W'.
Something... something fundamental separated him from them. Both Woz and Torin felt the same chill.
If they were monsters, then this transformed Abyss was the one destined to slaughter them. He was a higher being. For a heartbeat, they recoiled, but they quickly screamed to drown out their fear.
"H-ha...! I don't know what's going on, but that Plate of yours is the strongest, isn't it? If I kill you and take it, I'll be even more powerful!"
"We’ve gained power too...! We’re not passing up a chance to make this strength even greater. Of course we’re going to challenge you!"
They understood their opponent was alien, but they were fighting as a pair—a pair possessed of immense strength. No matter who they faced, they believed they had a chance.
Spurred on by their own desperation, Woz and Torin lunged at Abyss. Woz swung his massive greatsword while Torin unleashed a volley of golden bullets. Abyss didn't even bother to take a defensive stance; he simply waited for them, entirely composed.
"Uooooooooh! Die!"
Woz roared, pouring every ounce of murderous intent into a blow using his entire body weight. As Torin provided covering fire, Woz swung the greatsword down from overhead, certain of his victory. But right before his eyes, Abyss offered a cold, mocking smile.
"It is useless. Neither 'Slash' nor 'Shooting' will work on me."
"What...?"
Woz stared in horror. His greatsword and Torin’s golden bullets had frozen in place just inches from Abyss. No matter how much strength he poured into the blade, it wouldn't budge, as if blocked by an invisible wall. The bullets hung perfectly still in mid-air, defying Torin’s commands as they abandoned all movement.
(What is this!? Why isn't our attack...!?)
They could see their strikes were being blocked, yet Abyss wasn't even guarding. He was just standing there. Even against their absolute best efforts, his composure didn't flicker for a second.
"Now then... I believe it's my turn to attack. This will hurt, so do try to bear it."
(This is bad...!)
Abyss spoke softly but firmly as he clenched his fist. Sensing danger instinctively, Woz shifted his left arm into a shield to block the coming blow, but...
"'Guard' is a meaningless concept. Give up and accept the pain."
"Huh? A-Ghah...!?"
The impact of the punch tore through Woz’s torso. He had blocked the fist with his shield, yet for some reason, the agony and shock vibrated through his body as if he hadn't been guarding at all.
It was incomprehensible. This wasn't some petty trick like a shockwave or damage penetration; it was something else entirely. Groaning in agony, Woz was blown backward, crashing into Torin and sending them both tumbling across the ground.
Neither could understand what had just happened. They only knew that something terrifying—something beyond their imagination—was occurring.
Acting on survival instincts, they tried to scramble back to their feet, but Abyss’s voice cut through the air.
"Don't move. Stay crawling on the ground."
"Gah...!?"
"Wh-why...? My body... it won't...!"
The moment they heard the command, their movements ceased. Their fingers and necks could twitch slightly, but their bodies were locked in a rigid state of paralysis. Horror filled them as Abyss calmly walked over.
"Hmm. I see, I see. Fufufu... Hmph!"
"Ogu-eh!?"
"Gah...!"
After humming with interest and nodding to himself, Abyss abruptly began to stomp on Woz and Torin as they lay helpless. He ground them into the pitch-black earth with enough force to crack the ground, and as they screamed and writhed in agony, Abyss continued to toy with the pathetic pair who could offer no resistance.