Gonna go see the 4th MHA movie tonight. Will give my thoughts next chapter.
Anyways, please enjoy this chapter. Here's the Discord: /cgFmXz3qJ5
Ochako soared through the dark corridors of the compound, her Skele-TON form allowing her to move swiftly and silently. She knew she didn't have much time, as Overhaul's defenses would only grow stronger as time passed. Plus, if he got away...
Ochako shook her head. "Don't think like that." She scolded herself. Her eyes glowed a bright pink as she scanned the area for any sign of Albedo's energy signature.
Finally, she detected a faint energy signature coming from a nearby room. As she turned a corner, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. She quickly flew towards the source, coming upon a large room filled with advanced technology and glowing screens.
She went over to some of the tech to look over it, having never seen anything like it before.
"What...is all this?" she muttered to herself.
As she approached the console, Ochako's eyes widened. The technology before her was unlike anything she had ever seen before, even considering the tech she saw on I-Island and in Mei's lab. The buttons and screens seemed to glow with an otherworldly energy, and the wires and circuits were woven together in a way that seemed almost organic.
She reached out tentatively and pressed a button. The console beeped and hummed, displaying a flurry of information on the screen. It looked important- and alien in language. Ochako blinked, and hummed. "I can't read this...but I know someone who can."
Ochako slapped down on the Omnitrix, and morphed into Grey Matter. With her new form, Ochako quickly examined the console and the information displayed on the screen. She used her enhanced intelligence and understanding of technology to decipher the alien language and analyze the complex circuits and systems.
The text is instructions for some sort of device, Grey Matter realized. But what does it do?
As she examined the various components, more terrible realizations started to hit her. The biggest of those was the fact that most of this tech was based off of Galvan designs. That was already concerning enough, but then she discovered a component that somewhat gave away the tech's function. It was made to interfere with signals, but not the usual ones. Well, that's not to say it couldn't, radio waves were definitely something it could tamper with after a few modifications, but that wasn't its main purpose. The main signal it was to intercept was something relating to the "codon stream."
"Codon Stream...that's setting off alarm bells, but why can't I place the reason?" Ochako muttered.
Ochako's mind raced as she tried to piece together the puzzle. "Codon stream...codon stream..." she muttered to herself. Suddenly, it hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"The Omnitrix!" she exclaimed. "The codon stream is the DNA code that the Omnitrix uses to transform its user into different alien forms. That means this device is designed to interfere with the Omnitrix's signal, preventing its user from transforming or even accessing their alien powers!"
The realization sent shivers down Ochako's spine. The thought of someone using this technology to control or manipulate the Omnitrix was a terrifying prospect.
"But that...that shouldn't be possible for Overhaul or the League. Then...those three aliens...but who could they be working for that has access to this?!" Ochako wondered aloud.
Who indeed…
Albedo was racing through Mimic's mess of a maze when the Ultimatrix started to beep loudly. A second later, he found himself...elsewhere.
He blinked in surprise, taken off guard by the sudden change in scenery. He looked around and, just at a glance, he could tell where he was just by the metal used in the walls. He was on a ship, landed or in space he couldn't tell, but given that the metal alloy used was really only widely used by one species, he knew he was aboard a Sotoraggian Voidjumper. It wasn't the largest ship in the galaxy, but serviceable for one or two people. Considering the lack of modifications, or modifications he recognized, he figured this didn't belong to any of the SixSix brothers.
Albedo cautiously made his way through the ship. He had no idea who or what had brought him here, but he knew that he needed to be prepared for anything.
"Oh...so I snagged you, huh? Disappointing..." A voice sighed. "I wanted the newbie..."
"Well...you were the last person I expected to run into today," Albedo said, immediately recognizing that voice.
Psyphon stepped into view, and shook his head. "Ah, Albedo. Always a pleasure to see you," Psyphon said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "You know, I always thought you'd make a fine addition to our little group."
Albedo narrowed his eyes. "I'm not interested.
Psyphon chuckled. "Oh, come on. You can't tell me that you haven't been tempted by the power that we offer. With our resources and your intellect, we could rule the galaxy together."
Albedo shook his head. "Those days are long behind me."
Psyphon shrugged. "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't offer."
Albedo frowned. "Why did you bring me here, Psyphon?"
"Like I said- I was aiming for the kid. But the damn signal latched onto you instead..." Psyphon frowned. "Annoying."
"Signal...the warning sensor. You set it off? For the first time, I can say I'm genuinely impressed," Albedo crossed his arms.
"I can practically see the sarcasm in your words."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Oh shut up," Psyphon rolled his eyes.
"...if this is meant to be a fight," Albedo said, activating the Ultimatrix, "you couldn't be more outmatched."
"I would be, you're right. How could I ever hope to hold a candle to Ben Tennyson's palette-swapped mirror?" the former minion of Vilgax asked overdramatically, before he reached into his coat pocket and produced a small, plastic cylinder. It looked like one of Overhaul's Quirk Deleters, but the casing was blue instead of red.
"This is how. I had some...difficulties, making the dosage small enough but potent enough to induce a full change," Psyphon explained.
"Is that your Crystal Dolphin? Did you manage to enhance it without Animo's assistance?" Albedo asked.
"Indeed I did. Yes, the base formula was his, but...well, why don't I just show you how I've perfected it?" Psyphon smirked as he jabbed the plastic cylinder into his neck.
As soon as Psyphon injected himself with the drug, his body convulsed with pain. He fell to the ground, writhing and screaming as his body began to contort and shift. Albedo watched in horror as Psyphon's skin turned a bright, fiery red, and flames erupted from his hands and feet. The temperature in the room skyrocketed, and Albedo had to shield his eyes from the intense light.
When the transformation was complete, Psyphon stood up, his body now glowing like a miniature sun. He grinned at Albedo with a mad gleam in his eyes, and raised his hands to the ceiling.
"I always knew that Heatblast was a powerful alien," Psyphon said, his voice now deep and distorted. "But this...this is something else entirely. With the power of a dwarf star coursing through my veins, there's nothing I can't do!"
"Dwarf star?" Albedo silently repeated. That...was actually a significant difference. His own Heatblast, or Ben's, could reach temperatures close to the surface of Sol's own sun. Granted, dwarf star temperatures varied due to any number of factors, but still, dwarf star was not the end all for a Pyronite's fire.
Albedo didn't want to fight fire with fire. Instead, he tapped into the powers of two of his lesser-used aliens - Gutrot and Transmutor. He concentrated, and a thick cloud of fire-suppressing gas erupted from his body, filling the room and weakening Psyphon's flames.
At the same time, he used his Transmutor tendrils to manipulate the environment around him. He reshaped the metal walls and floor of the ship, fashioning them into a fireproof cage around the two.
"You really thought a punny dwarf star could handle my best form?" Albedo taunted.
Psyphon laughed as he launched himself at Albedo, his flaming body crashing against the metal walls of the cage. "You underestimate the power of the dwarf star, Galvan," he hissed through gritted teeth.
"Please. Underestimation is for the prokaryotes." Albedo dodged the attack and countered with a blast of acidic gas from Gutrot, which weakened the integrity of Psyphon's flames even further. As the flames began to die down, Albedo took the opportunity to strike with his Transmutor tendrils, wrapping them tightly around Psyphon's body.
But Psyphon wasn't done yet. With a burst of energy, he broke free of the tendrils and unleashed a massive blast of fire that shattered the cage and sent Albedo flying.
"What was that about underestimation?" Psyphon chuckled, the flames around his hands roaring. He stretched out one hand and launched a stream of pure flame at the human Glavan. Ben's counterpart rolled out of the way, quickly gaining the traits of Cannonbolt. He began bouncing around the interior of the ship, forcing Psyphon to blast everywhere. Albedo was familiar with this model ship and he knew exactly how resilient the hull of a Voidjumper was. A few hits from an Arburian Pelerota's shell would dent but not tear through.
As Psyphon continued to blast the walls and ceiling of the ship, Albedo watched for an opening. He knew that he needed to end this quickly before the ship sustained too much damage. He morphed into Humungousaur- the ground shook as Albedo's massive form took shape. He roared and charged towards Psyphon, who turned to face him with a grin on his face. "Big and slow, just the way I like it," Psyphon taunted.
But Albedo was anything but slow. He used his massive size to his advantage, grabbing Psyphon with one hand and slamming him against the wall of the ship. Psyphon grunted in pain, but he didn't go down so easily. He summoned up another blast of flame, but Albedo was ready for him.
Albedo felt the heat of Psyphon's flames wash over him, but he was undeterred. He tightened his grip on the villain's body and unleashed a primal roar that echoed throughout the ship. The sound was deafening, and Albedo could feel the vibrations in his bones.
For a moment, everything seemed to stand still. The flames flickered and died, and the ship groaned under the strain of the battle. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, Albedo lifted Psyphon high into the air and hurled him across the room.
Psyphon slammed into the far wall with a sickening thud, and Albedo could hear the sound of bones cracking. He knew that he had won, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was something off about the way that Psyphon had fought, something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Albedo approached the spot where Psyphon had landed, his eyes fixed on the unmoving form. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension as he noticed something strange happening to the villain's body. Psyphon's limbs began to twitch, and his breathing became labored as his bones started to realign themselves with a sickening crunch.
Albedo took a step back, unsure of what was happening. Psyphon's body was mending itself at an alarming rate, and the wounds that had been inflicted upon him were closing before Albedo's very eyes. In a matter of seconds, Psyphon was back on his feet, his body fully healed and ready for more.
"Ahhh. There we go." Psyphon sighed.
"Impossible." Albedo frowned.
Psyphon chuckled. "Oh, just a little something I picked up on my travels...with my Lord." He put his hands together, as if praying. "Master...I know not your location now. But...I hope you know I fight in your name, Vilgax."
Pyronites didn't have a healing factor like this. The name drop gave Albedo an idea about what this was, but even Animo couldn't get two traits to integrate so perfectly. That's what Psyphon meant when he said he perfected it. He could pick and choose what traits from an alien to add into the compound. An overall base formed the majority of the hybrid, but other traits were added in as well.
Once Psyphon was done praying, he launched back into the fight like a comet. Albedo dodged out of the way, but the former follower of the Murrian warlord copied his opponent's move. He ricocheted around the ship, landing flaming strike after strike on the tanky form of the Vaxasaurian. He needed room, he needed to get back down to the rest of the raid team. Knowing this vessel, there was bound to be a teleporter, probably even one down in the Hassaikai base itself to act as a transit point. If he could just activate it... Albedo trudged through Psyphon's assault to reach the control panel of the ship, shifting into his natural Galvan form when he got close. Psyphon was already mid-flight when the shift happened, so he simply flew over Albedo and slammed into the ship's wall. With a button press, the teleporter whirred back to life.
"Oh...you think that you can just...get out of this that easily?" Psyphon hissed as he righted himself.
"That is the idea, yes," Albedo allowed himself a smug grin before he vanished in an array of white energy particles.
"...and yet you forgot to destroy the controls," Psyphon smirked.
Albedo appeared in the teleportation room of the Hassaikai base, where Ochako was looking over the tech. Ochako turned around when she heard the hum of the teleporter, and was surprised to see Albedo.
"O-oh!" Ochako said. "There you are. Where were you-?"
"Long story. Status update, now." Albedo said.
"Um, well...we took down Mimic." Ochako said.
"Good work," Albedo nodded. "And the others?"
"Heading towards Overhaul-" Ochako and Albedo's conversation was cut short by the sound of the teleporter powering up.
"Combat form, now," Albedo advised.
"Uh, ok!" Ochako said, quickly dialing up a form and slamming down on the Omnitrix. Considering the urgency with which Albedo spoke, she didn't even get the time to really see who she got. Armor slid over her costume plate by plate, Her gauntlets and boots remained the same in shape, though now they were just reinforced by an alien metal. Four dragonfly-like wings, made of a pink hard-light energy unfurled from the successor's back as a helmet formed over her face. In the middle of the faceplate for the helmet, a single pink eye lit up. The Omnitrix symbol was displayed proudly on Nanomech's chest.
"Good choice," Albedo said. The teleporter fully activated and Ochako saw Psyphon beam in from his ship.
"Ah, there's the new blood," the crime boss smirked, eyes shifting to focus on Ochako, "Has Ben ever told you much of his 'rogues gallery?'"
"He mentioned something about a bunch of egomaniacs, lackeys, losers and nobodies. I'm not even sure you qualify as a 'loser'." Ochako taunted.
Psyphon smirk fell. "It seems the apple doesn't fly fall from the tree." He raised his arms and a blast of fire shot out towards Ochako. She shrank underneath the flames to dodge it, grew back to normal size andfired a barrage of energy bolts at Psyphon. He easily deflected them with a shield made of his flames.
"You'll have to do better than that," Psyphon taunted.
Ochako gritted her teeth and charged towards him, wings buzzing. She formed a giant hardlight sphere around her body and aimed herself straight at Psyphon, crashing into him with enough force to knock him off his feet. The two tumbled across the room, sparks flying from the impact.
Psyphon's hands erupted with jets of flame to keep him from hitting the floor. The hybrid crime boss rose back to his feet and, with a wave of his hand, sent a wave of fire towards Ochako. The tongues of flame crashed against her energy barrier like waves on rocks, but then Psyphon was on her. The wave was just a way for him to cover the distance without being hit. Of course, it seems he forgot the other combatant in the room. Albedo rushed in from the side and, with his arms transformed to those of Rath, landed a double-fisted slam to the side of Psyphon's head. He cried out before he slammed into the wall of the room, possibly going right through to another part of the compound. In a rage, Psyphon's flames roared hotter and he launched himself out like a projectile from a railgun. He landed a flaming spin-kick to Albedo, the human Galvan managing to block the hit, even if it still pushed him back a ways. Using the momentum, the faux-Pyronite switched targets and launched himself towards Ochako. This time, his flaming fist struck the barrier and actually managed to crack it.
Ochako was caught off guard by the strength of Psyphon's attack. She quickly realized that her hardlight shield wouldn't hold up for much longer against Psyphon's fire. "Forget defense..." Ochako said, as she boosted her shield's power to knock Psyphon back. She formed her hands into laser cannons and began firing concentrated beams of energy towards Psyphon's fiery form. The blasts were able to keep him at bay for a moment, but Psyphon quickly closed the distance and slammed his flaming fists into Ochako's stomach. Ochako yelled, the air knocked out of her as she stumbled backwards.
Albedo, meanwhile, had transformed his arms into those of Water Hazard and charged at Psyphon. As Albedo charged, he raised his water arms and created a large wave of water, hoping to douse Psyphon's flames. The water crashed into Psyphon, but instead of extinguishing his flames, they seemed to grow hotter, causing the water to evaporate on contact. Psyphon laughed maniacally and launched himself towards Albedo with a flaming uppercut.
Albedo quickly transformed into a form that could tank the hit with ease. While Psyphon's uppercut did connect, the hit wasn't exactly as strong as he had hoped for. On impact, a sound almost like a bell rang out. Psyphon grimaced and withdrew his hand in pain, shaking it off before Albedo, as NRG, grabbed the flaming hybrid by the head and slammed him into the ground. The crime lord pulled both of his legs up to his chest before kicking out at NRG's ironclad chest. A normal kick wouldn't have done anything, but adding in two jets of fire with the strength of an engine thrust would do the trick. Albedo was knocked on his back with a loud clang. Psyphon got up and was immediately met with a renewed assault from Ochako. Ben's successor used two of her dragonfly like wings and morphed them into swords, her suit replacing them with new wings once they were removed.
"Your tenacity...is so, so strange." Pysphon noted. "You fight like you're running out of time, like you need to prove something...is the raid not going well~?"
Ochako didn't respond to his taunt, instead focusing on her attacks. She swung her swords in quick, precise movements, forcing Psyphon to block with his fiery shield. As they clashed, Ochako saw an opening and quickly shrank down. She darted inbetween his legs, and regrew behind him.
But before she could make her move, Psyphon spun around and unleashed a blast of fire at point-blank range. Ochako quickly created a hardlight shield to protect herself, but the blast was so intense that it shattered the shield and sent Ochako flying across the room, crashing into a wall.
She grit her teeth, and slapped down the Omnitrix. She morphed into Big Chill. She raised her arms, and slammed them down on the ground, freezing everything in its path. Psyphon snarled and stepped back, his flames flickering and wavering as the cold air hit them. He raised his hands, and a wall of fire shot towards Big Chill. Ochako flapped her wings, and a gust of icy wind blasted towards Psyphon, extinguishing his flames and leaving him shivering in the cold.
Impossible...how did she-? Psyphon frowned. He quickly regained his composure and charged towards Big Chill, his fists ablaze with flames.
Ochako smirked and just waited for him to get closer. Psyphon was about to punch the Necrofriggian, but he fell for it. Ochako had actually gotten fond of the idea of taunting someone so much that they threw caution to the wind and tried to land a hit on Big Chill. Right before impact, she'd go intangible. The same happened here. Ochako's form turned to a translucent blue outline and the Pyronite phased right through her, quickly encased in a strong layer of ice.
As Psyphon's frozen form clattered to the ground, a low growl escaped his lips. Ochako watched as the ice began to crack and fracture, and then, suddenly, it exploded outward in a shower of shimmering crystals. Standing where Psyphon had been was a new form, one that Ochako had never seen before.
It was still Psyphon, but now he was something else as well. His body was covered in shimmering blue fur, and his hands and feet had become massive and ape like. Electricity crackled around him like a violent storm, and Ochako could feel the heat radiating off him even from where she stood.
"How did you-"
"I have some 'special' variants of my drug. All for my use..." Psyphon grinned. Ochako stumbled back as the electricity crackled around Psyphon's new form. Her skin tingled with an almost painful intensity.
Psyphon let out a low growl, and then he was moving. He blurred forward, faster than Ochako had ever seen anyone move before. She raised her arms to defend herself, but it was too late. A bolt of electricity shot from Psyphon's outstretched hand, slamming into Ochako with a force that sent her flying backward.
Ochako's visor glitched and her armor sparked from the sudden jolt of electricity. Psyphon charged her as soon as she hit the ground. Her armor's systems were still trying to recover and so was she. She braced herself for the impact, but Albedo came in for the save. Red slime wrapped around Pysphon's arms and legs, tripping him up and forcing him to faceplant into the floor.
"Not...giving you...another...chance," Albedo threatened, "This ends here."
Psyphon struggled against the red slime, but it held fast. He snarled and wriggled, but Albedo's hold was too strong. Suddenly, Psyphon's eyes flashed with a malevolent light, and a bolt of lightning shot out from his fingertips. The bolt hit Albedo square in the chest, but Albedo's liquid form was unaffected.
Psyphon growled in frustration and aimed another bolt of lightning at Albedo. This time, the bolt hit a nearby computer terminal, causing it to explode in a shower of sparks and shrapnel. Ochako used the distraction to get back on her feet and charge at Psyphon from behind.
Ochako shifted into Cannonbolt, her body transforming into a rolling ball of armor-plated scales. She barreled into Psyphon with incredible force, knocking him off his feet and sending him skidding across the ground. Psyphon struggled to get up, but Cannonbolt was relentless. She circled around and charged again, this time hitting him with a full-bodied slam into the ground. A few times.
Each hit was accompanied by a loud thud, courtesy of Cannonbolt's armor colliding with the thick hide of this simian-arachnid hybrid. Psyphon's anger was growing with each hit, only amplified by his more savage form. He smirked as an idea stuck him, wrapping some of the slimy binding further around his wrist. If Albedo wouldn't let go, well then he'd just turn that on him. He watched as Ochako bounced off him and prepared for another strike. She bounced off the wall and raced towards her, but then, with his enhanced strength, Psyhon threw Albedo in the way.
Ochako gasped, trying to veer off so as to avoid her new mentor, but she was too late. Albedo and Ochako collided head on, much to Psyphon's amusement. There were still some bits of red goop that were stuck in Psyphon's dark yellow fur. He dusted himself off before focusing on the duo. Albedo shifted back from Goop after reforming himself from the impact.
"Apologies for that," Albedo said, before fully transforming into Rath. Unlike Ben's Appoplexian form that always opened his fights with a declaration of "LEMME TELL YA SOMETHING!", Albedo's form was calm and collected. He just cracked his knuckles and rolled his neck, getting ready for the fight. Ochako rolled and unfurled from her ball form onto her feet. Change of tactics might be in order. She quickly slapped down on the Omnitrix and transformed once again. She went from a round tank to the more agile and lithe Spidermonkey.
"Think that's a smart move?" Psyphon taunted, "A basic Arachnochimp against a Gimlinopithecus? Not the best match up."
"Really wish you'd stop trying to 'taunt the newbie,'" Ochako huffed, "I have been practicing with this thing, ya know!"
"And yet it'll take you years to even come close to Tennyson's mastery of the device."
"It's called learning, Psyphon," Albedo spoke up, "He wasn't born with a complete control over the watch. Or did you forget that, given all the concussions you've received from him?"
Psyphon growled, lightning sparking off his hulking frame. That slight jab at how many times he's lost to Ben possibly struck a nerve.
"Besides...who said anything about coming close to his mastery?" Ochako said, tapping the Omnitrix symbol. It started to light up and flash, as her webs attached her to the ceiling. She swung towards Psyphon.
Psyphon was taken aback by Ochako's sudden change in strategy. He had expected her to continue with brute force, but instead, she was using her agility and web-slinging skills to her advantage. He tried to zap her with a bolt of lightning, but she swung out of the way just in time, leaving him hitting nothing but air.
Psyphon sneered, the bolts of electricity crackling with a malevolent energy around his massive form. Ochako swung towards him, her lithe body twisting and turning like a spider's, a mere insect trying to take down a beast.
"You think you can beat me with those puny spider moves?" he snarled, his lips curling into a cruel grin. He aimed a bolt of lightning at her, hoping to fry her on the spot. But Ochako was not to be underestimated. With a fierce determination, she transformed, her body changing and morphing before his very eyes.
"SKELE-TON!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the cavernous room. She maximized her density and slammed into Psyphon with a nasty spear kick, the force of the blow rattling his very bones. He grunted in pain as she flipped off of him, her body already transforming once more.
"GRAVATTACK!" she yelled, her body morphing into an alien form he had never seen before. With a flick of her wrist, she increased gravity to the point where it felt like Psyphon was being flattened, his massive form struggling against the invisible force. He roared in anger and pain, his body trembling as he tried to break free from her grasp.
Albedo was ready to move in on a moment's notice...but for now, she seemed to be handling things rather well. She was combo-ing off of each form incredibly well. To his knowledge, while Gravattack was a form she from when Ben first gifted her the watch, Skele-Ton was a new one. And, from personal experience, not entirely an easy form to master. But maybe that was just him. Ochako's Quirk gave her a bit of an edge when it came to powers that dealt with density and gravity.
Psyphon, on the other hand, was in massive frame was being crushed under the immense gravitational force that Ochako had unleashed. He groaned, his bones creaking and cracking under the pressure. Electricity surged around him as he tried to fight back, but it was clear that he was no match for Ochako's needed...to change again.
To something that couldn't be contained.
As Ochako continued to press her advantage, Psyphon knew he needed to act fast. He could feel his body starting to give way under the pressure, and he knew that he couldn't take much more. With a surge of energy, he began to transform once again, his body growing and contorting in ways that should have been impossible.
And then, in a flash of blinding light, he emerged as something altogether new.
A To'kustar.
"How did he-?!" Ochako began, but she was cut off when Psyphon backhanded her into the wall. Albedo rushed in, shifting into XLR8 and catching Ochako before she could make impact. The two looked up at the now towering form of Psyphon.
"What...is that?" the Omnitrix's successor asked.
"A To'kustar," Albedo explained, "Or as Ben likes to call it...Way Big."
"You know...people always wondered if I was somehow related to these things because of my own fin," Psyphon chuckled, "Now I guess I can say it's technically true."
"No one has ever asked that," Albedo clarified silently to Ochako.
Psyphon's deep laughter boomed through the room as he swung his massive arm towards them. Albedo was quick to react, morphing his limbs into Wildvine's and Crashopper's. The combination allowed him to start jumping around and ensnaring Psyphon's colossal form.
The horn... Ochako realized. He's ensnaring him so I can get a straight shot at the horn! It must be some sort of weak point!
The vines and insect legs snaked around Psyphon's body, ensnaring him in a web of green and black. Psyphon struggled, his roars filling the room as he tried to break free. But Albedo was relentless, jumping and twisting around him, keeping him trapped.
"You...think this is enough to hold me?" Psyphon grinned, as his eyes lit up. A blinding flash of light erupted from Psyphon's body as he unleashed a cosmic blast. The force of the explosion blew up the entire room, sending debris flying in all directions. Albedo and Ochako were tossed out of the room like rag dolls, their bodies tumbling through the air.
For a moment, everything was chaos and confusion. The sounds of destruction and agony filled the air as the heroes struggled to regain their bearings. When the dust finally cleared, they found themselves battered and bruised, lying amidst the rubble of what used to be a room.
Ochako groaned as she pushed herself up, her body aching and battered. She looked over at Albedo, who was slowly getting to his feet, his Wildvine and Crashopper forms having disappeared back into his 'human' form.
"Where'd he go?" Ochako asked.
"He must be trying to make a break for it." Albedo coughed.
"We can't...let him get out," Ochako said resolutely, "If he gets outside-!"
"I know, I know," Albedo cut her off, stopping her from panicking, "But with the energy of cosmic storms...he's easy to track."
"Cosmic storms?" Ochako inquired.
"To'kustars have the power to generate cosmic energy within themselves, which they usually discharge through the fins on their arms," Albedo explained. "It makes them incredibly dangerous. And if you add a dwarf star into the mix..."
"You've got a big powerhouse alien that can go toe to toe with some of the best pro heroes," Ochako finished, shuddering at the thought. She tapped the Omnitrix and morphed into Chromastone. "Well, in that case, I'll just send back everything he throws at me."
"Good thinking," Albedo said. Taking a note from that, several purple Crystalsapien crystals emerged from Albedo's back and arms and, just for a bit of an added punch, his arms were encased in a dark iron armor, almost like the armor was made from a hi-tech furnace.
"What alien is that?" Ochako wondered.
"Ben calls him NRG. Andromedan species, useful for dealing with dangerous energy and radiation."
"A powerful last resort." Ochako shuddered.
"And a good 'battery' for you Crystalsapien form." Albedo said. "I want you to lead the charge against him."
Ochako blinked.
"H-huh!?" Ochako yelled.
"You heard me."
"You...you want me...to lead the charge against that?!" Ochako questioned, thinking maybe Albedo suffered a concussion. Would that even affect a Galvan's judgement?
"It was calculated, precise, and efficient," Albedo continued, "Your UA training gave you a tactical advantage, and your ability to quickly adapt to each alien form's strengths and weaknesses... impressive. Plus, your lack of reliance on your Quirk makes you a valuable asset in situations where it may not be usable. You adapt fast."
Ochako was taken aback by Albedo's words. She had never received such a detailed and analytical compliment on her fighting style before .
...well, anyone besides Deku.
"I know you're a rookie, but I believe in your abilities, Ochako."
Those words worked, though. They set the fire of confidence ablaze in Ben's chosen successor, Albedo could see it in her eyes. Or well, one eye currently.
"Thank you," Ochako nodded, "You can count on me here."
"Then, shall we?" Albedo asked.
"Let's." With that, the two raced after the giant hybrid Psyphon had turned himself into.
The Hassaikai base was much more wrecked than before, probably thanks to Psyphon. It was easy to follow his path of destruction.
"Stay on your guard," Albedo warned, "We don't know what he's capable of. For all we know, there could be an extra transformation up his sleeve."
"How did he even change into that? Is that just his power?" Ochako asked.
"No. It's a drug, a refined version of an old compound another of Ben's enemies created. You may have heard of its original creator, Doctor Animo."
Ochako flashed back to the Training Camp attack and the human/cyborg gorilla that introduced himself as such. Though, he also stood out in her mind due to him being responsible for unlocking her least favorite alien, Upchuck.
"I...might have," Ochako said, trying not to admit.
"The drug, Crystal Dolphin, was originally made to-"
"It's called Crystal Dolphin?" Ochako asked.
"Don't ask me. It is...just as confusing," Albedo admitted.
"So, he developed the drug and then began selling it. He's like Overhaul for aliens." Ochako said.
"A messy but not incorrect statement." Albedo nodded.
"And now Psyphon has it," Ochako realized, "Maybe that's why Overhaul brought him on. Similar spheres of influence?"
"Very likely."
Ochako's mind conjured up a grim picture of a world where Psyphon and Overhaul worked together to spread their influence. It was a world of chaos and destruction, with alien creatures and mutated humans roaming the streets, terrorizing the population. The sky was dark and smoky, and the ground was littered with debris and rubble. Fires burned out of control, and the sound of explosions echoed in the distance. There were no safe havens, no places to hide, and no heroes. It was a world of madness and despair, and Ochako couldn't help but feel a cold sweat run down her spine at the thought of it.
"Let's make sure that doesn't happen," Albedo said firmly, "We need to stop Psyphon before he can do any more damage. If he manages to assist Overhaul..."
"Then all of this raid was for nothing!" Ochako said, suddenly speeding up. Her crystals lit up, empowering her body. Albedo raised an eyebrow at that. Crystalsapiens usually get their powers from a direct source...what was fueling her at that moment?
Was it...
Hope?
Hope...maybe that was it. No, not maybe. Ochako was going to say it was, because that's what all the heroes here represented for that small girl. Hope. Hope for a better future.
As they ran down a corridor, a large shadow appeared before them. Albedo and Ochako skidded to a stop as Psyphon emerged from the darkness, his massive form towering over them. He charged towards them, swinging his massive arms. Ochako quickly dodged out of the way, her crystals glowing brightly. Albedo fired his beams, but Psyphon was too quick, blocking the shots with ease. He held up his blades, and deflected one of them back at Ochako...
But that was a VERY stupid move on his part.
Her crystals glowed even brighter as they began to absorb the energy of the beam. The deflected shot hit her crystal body, and she felt the energy coursing through her body. Her heart raced as she absorbed the energy, feeling a rush of power surge through her.
Albedo's hands glowed red with energy, overlapping the power of a Crystalsapien on top of it. He slammed his ironclad hands together and formed a shimmering ball of red energy, before tossing it at the alien villain. He grabbed it like it was any other ball and threw it back at Ben's mirror. Ochako jumped in the way, hands out stretched as the orb impacted. The projectile detonated, but much to Psyphon's annoyance, the girl was unharmed. She was staring down Psyphon's towering form without a hint of fear. The hybrid growled and rushed in, bringing both fists down towards the duo. They dodged out of the way and, using a small amount of power, she fired off some powered up beams to launch herself upwards. Ochako landed an uppercutting headbutt to Psyphon's chin, before she fired off a third beam at Psyphon's horn.
The blast struck Psyphon's horn directly, shattering it into tiny fragments. Psyphon roared in pain and rage, his eyes glowing bright red.
"Get ready, Albedo!" Ochako called out, her crystals glowing brighter than ever. She charged towards Psyphon, who swung his fist at her. Ochako dodged the blow and fired a powerful energy beam at the villain's torso. Psyphon roared and staggered back, clutching his chest.
Ochako felt a surge of power coursing through her veins, like electricity flowing through a circuit. She knew what she had to do. She raised her hands and began to gather energy, concentrating all her willpower and strength into one devastating attack. The air around her crackled with energy as she unleashed the attack.
"CHROMATIC..." Ochako's fist started to glow a dangerous hue. "SMASH!" A blinding burst of light erupted from Ochako's hands, illuminating the entire corridor. The force of the attack was like a physical blow, slamming into Psyphon with the power of a freight train. He was lifted off his feet and sent hurtling through the air, crashing through the wall and disappearing from sight.
Ochako fell to her knees, exhausted and drained from the effort of the attack. But she knew she couldn't rest. She had to keep going, had to stop Psyphon before he could join forces with Overhaul and wreak even more havoc.
She staggered to her feet, her vision blurred and her head spinning. She looked around, trying to get her bearings, when suddenly she heard the sounds of a fierce battle nearby. She followed the noise, her crystals lighting up the way, until she came to a massive hole in the wall.
...right into the next battle.
Ochako's heart raced as she saw the chaos unfolding before her. Izuku was battling Overhaul with all his might.
And Psyphon had just landed in the middle of the fight.
"WHAT?!" Overhaul roared, his eyes darting to see the cause of the disruption. Izuku took the chance and almost landed a powerful kick the Overhaul's head. The Hassaikai boss ducked under the blow and used his Quirk to cause a pillar of stone to erupt towards All Might's successor. A beam of rainbow light shattered the pillar before it could make contact.
"Ochako!" Izuku yelled.
"More and more of you diseased children. It's DISGUSTING!"
What...the hell happened here!?