Null looked warily at the sudden arrival of the clearly dangerous Stoneman.
"What kind of mineral is that?! Such a deadly aura!"
Theef actually had to reduce the intensity of the Perception treasure as he only felt the pressure of death.
He only felt a fear this strong after facing beings like the Celestial's Prisoner.
"Stay back, Theef! I'll handle him if he makes any moves," Null had stepped closer despite the choking atmosphere.
Oregon was at a loss himself, 'This is the Stoneman that stands above the rest?! How exactly am I supposed to be on his level?!'
'Not even the Immortal Stonemen here know this, but he actually reached the next step and became Transcendent!'
Speaking of the Immortal Stonemen, they were all currently trying to make themselves as small and less noticeable as possible.
"It's him."
"It really is him."
"I thought we would be spared for plenty enough time."
It had been twenty peaceful years that the Stonemen lived in the absence of the number one on the planet.
Now, it seemed he got even stronger than before!
'Hmm? I thought you said that he was fighting an outsider. Is that not one of us?'
'He's the peculiar one you should keep an eye on. It should be some kind of ability that allows him to change form.'
'Oh? Seems like I wasn't woken up for no reason.'
Their conversation passed in an instant as he acknowledged Null.
"Scratch that. Both of you come at me."
The insinuation that he could face the both of them irked a certain watery spirit.
Slowly, an ancient aura leaked from Null's body.
Null's gaze was already trained on the Stoneman, so when the aura leaked, it was focused on him.
The vastness of the Cosmic Structure was as endless as the cosmos itself, so when releasing even the slightest bit of its aura it posed to be a massive mental attack that was rooted in one's very soul.
The aura of the deadly Stoneman was instantly extinguished like a breath to a candle's flame.
'H-how am I being suppressed like this!'
Null felt the change and figured Ego was acting on their own again.
He figured he should just play along, "This is our fight. Wait patiently for your turn or else I'll turn you into the ground I walk on."
The suppression ceased, allowing the deadly Stoneman to float weakly to the side.
"Are you serious?"
"Is he actually capable of being reasoned with?"
"No way. The guy that fought everyone here and won with only a single punch was simply reasoned with?"
They could not sense the overwhelming pressure of the Cosmic Structure as it was not directed at them, so they assumed that the pride and joy of the planet just meekly obliged an outsider.
'I can't believe that I, the mighty Xep, have fallen to such a degree,' he grinded his stony mouth in anger and embarrassment.
He was a Transcendent being after all!
Oregon was not sure where to even begin after seeing the terrifying looking Stoneman backing off before throwing a single punch.
'Again, I ask, how the fuck am I supposed to fight this monster?'
His breathing had relaxed and his vibrations softened, though they remained spread out as he had yet to fully control them.
'Am I about to Transcend,' he asked Terresa.
'I'd say you've reached the half-step realm. It's odd. These outsiders do not seem to have ill intent despite your wish for a fight to the death.'
She thought to herself, 'In fact, it seems that they are helping him maintain the state of Transcendence.'
The illusory crown was on the verge of disappearing, but it never did.
Oregon was still breathing and had some fight left in him after all.
'Argh! Fuck it! Terresa! Please send me more spirit energy!'
'You better use it wisely, child. This is the only time I'll allow it.'
Her tone made it very clear that although she did favor him, she would not baby him in order to act as a shortcut to higher power.
'Even if it's just a little! And more of the motivational speeches!'
'My child! Born from a most special stone you shine in a way that others may not be able to see! I bestow upon you the spirit to grow in strength in the hopes that you may fell the monster that plagues your mind.'
Her spirit flowed inside of Oregon's Soul Stone through the connection she had ever since he was born.
The stone grew ever so slightly and his breathing grew stronger.
He let the spirit energy flow through his Stonehead as he would need boosted mental faculties to obtain this new power of vibrations.
'Feel the earth and stone! You have one goal in this life: become your own planet!'
Oregon laughed to himself, 'Become my own planet? And do what, live away my life in stasis, locked away from the path of greatness?"
He was met with a soft chuckle as Terresa's spirit enveloped him fully, 'I'm not telling you to stay a planet like me. What I mean to say is that you have the potential to be my greatest creation.'
There was something wrong with her actions that Oregon noticed.
'This is more than enough! What are you trying to do?!'
Terresa could do naught but pore out her heart, 'Maybe creating life is not to your liking. Maybe spending years pondering is not your desire. All I ask is that you become something you won't regret. Lead your people into a new age, Oregon. I leave this planet—along with all of my hope and best wishes— to you.'
'Stop this! Terresa! I said stop,' Oregon shut off the vibrations and saved the last portion of her spirit.
'What are you doing?!'
'What am I doing?! You're the one trying to get rid of yourself! Who said to go and do that?'
'I'm only acting out my desires as a proud mother! Who told you to go and fight to the death with a monster like that?! I surely did not and would never! Even for that unruly Xep!'
Oregon had never seen this side of Terresa.
She did not have a physical form, but her spirit seemed to be shedding tears.
'I-I just-," Oregon tried to say.
"No! I need to see it right now! Just as the pink one said, you have to prove it to me! Prove to me how special you are, child!"
He wanted to comfort her, to tell her something that would end her crying, but he knew he was not the best at delivery.
"I'll do it!"
Oregon yelled to all, but his words were only understood by one.
He roared in anger, but trained his mind on one thing: Transcend!
The vibrations rumbled further than before and this time were aided by Oregon's Ironheart.
It thumped with fervor and sent shockwaves through his body.
He resumed floating with nothing more than the thought in his mind telling him to reach the next level.
His spear was back in his hand and the illusory crown was more prominent.
He wanted to make another declaration, but Null said something that stopped the vibrations once more.
"Universal Rule."
'Yes,' he now reached up to the crown.
As he touched it, he felt like he was going to destabilize, but he could not stop holding it.
The vibrations changed his entire body and before anyone could even blink, he went poof.