"I can't just 'not understand'! What have you been doing this whole time?! What kind of power are you using?!"
To Melt and her companions, Hugo’s nonsensical and incomprehensible fighting style was a beacon of hope. To Abyss, who was currently being driven into a corner, it was an absolute nightmare.
Abyss had no idea what kind of image Hugo was using to manifest the Clear Plate's power. Overwhelmed and outmatched, his panic reached a fever pitch as he screamed.
One moment, Hugo would transform into a sword and merge with his own armor; the next, he was displaying the finesse of a master Swordsman, unleashing elegant techniques. It was difficult enough for Abyss to counter a style that constantly shifted from staff arts to weapon manipulation, but having to analyze the mechanics behind those abilities simultaneously was pushing his mental state to the breaking point.
(Calm down! Focus! Even if I don't understand his ability, I've researched his background. He’s undoubtedly utilizing the archetype of a Hero to fight. If that’s the case—!)
Abyss decided to pivot. He would prioritize stalling for time, deducing Hugo’s abilities based on his past as Yugo Kurei. If he couldn't grasp the specifics, he could at least target the broad concept. By using his [Word] ability to seal the power of a [Hero], he could mitigate the impact even if he couldn't nullify it entirely.
That would buy time for the Finale to finish charging, allowing him to regain the advantage as the battle dragged on. Abyss immediately invoked his power.
"Hugo Clay! I have nullified your [Hero] status! Your methods are sealed! Now, it is my turn!"
Abyss lunged, parrying Hugo's sword and delivering what looked like a decisive blow. But Hugo evaded with an acrobatic flip and countered with a crossbow that had seemingly materialized out of thin air.
"What?! Gack!!"
"Sorry to disappoint," Hugo shouted over the din. "Right now, I’m not exactly a Hero... I’m a Noble and Shining Police Officer!"
After staggering Abyss with the crossbow fire, Hugo barked as he kicked him back with a sharp Sobat.
Hugo’s armor flashed with a brilliant gold light. Abyss, his irritation boiling over, tried to adapt.
"Then I shall seal the concept of [Police] as well—!"
He moved to intercept, only to be caught off guard when Hugo dove straight into his range, seemingly indifferent to the risk of being hit. The armor flickered back to silver, and massive golden cannons materialized on Hugo's shoulders. Just before pulling the trigger, Hugo gave him a predatory grin.
"My bad. Right now, I’m a Solitary and Sparkling Phantom Thief. Superior X: Get Blasted Away Shoot!!"
"Guaaaaaah!?"
Magic Bullets erupted from the crossbow and shoulder cannons simultaneously, slamming into Abyss at point-blank range. He was blown backward, rolling through the dirt amidst a cloud of black smoke. He struggled to his feet, his mind racing to make sense of the absurdity.
(How?! There isn't a police officer in any world who moves like that, let alone a phantom thief with shoulder-mounted artillery!)
Abyss stood up, cursing Hugo's strength and incomprehensible attack methods. He looked up to brace for the next assault, only to doubt his own sanity.
""Alright! Let’s go!""
"...Huh?"
The sight of Hugo rushing toward him was exactly what Abyss had expected, but the sound was wrong. Hugo's voice was doubled—a perfect, haunting harmony.
It wasn't just his voice. Two figures stood where one had been: one clad in silver-white armor, the other in Black Iron Armor. Both were charging straight at him.
"I am you, and you are me! Together, we are Double X!"
"Let’s do this, other me! Double Blaster Kick!"
"Ha, hahaha, hahahahahaha...!"
Kicked away by the two Hugos performing a perfectly synchronized combination attack, Abyss could do nothing but laugh hysterically.
High-speed Weapon Generation, electrical discharge, consciousness transfer into a weapon, master-level swordsmanship, acrobatic sniping, brute-force heavy artillery, and now duplication... all of it was being generated by the [X] Clear Plate. Yet, Abyss couldn't find a single word to define this style. Hugo Clay had become an anomaly beyond his comprehension.
The composed "Conductor" was gone, replaced by a terrified, broken man.
"I don't... I don't understand..." Abyss shrieked, his face contorted in a mask of pure terror. "I don't know what his power is! I don't know what he is! I don't understand any of this!"