"What… is this?"
Daichi stared in surprise at the suddenly overflowing stream of bright yellow data within the virtual subspace.
[This is… a new power!]
X looked down at the radiance pouring ceaselessly from his body, his voice trembling with awe.
[Daichi, look at the Devizer!]
"Huh?"
Still dazed, Daichi lifted the X Devizer he had been clutching.
It's screen now glowed with a soft, golden yellow light—exactly like the moments when X had created the Doomsday Cyber Card, or the Ebon Deer Cyber Card.
But this time… a new card was forming.
Daichi reached out and gently removed the card. Golden particles scattered like motes of dust, drifting through the virtual space as if preparing to reveal the secret within.
And in that instant—
Daichi felt his consciousness had been pulled elsewhere.
He and X floated at the far edge of the universe, suspended in darkness. In front of them loomed a colossal golem.
No—this massive figure before them was only a fragment of it's true form.
It's translucent shell radiated an ancient, immeasurable presence. Light cascaded from where it's head should have been. It's enormous arms lifted an immense stone hammer high above, offering a single strike meant solely for them.
A thunderous boom—
*BOOM!*
Daichi gasped awake.
In his hand, the card finally finished materializing, it's image becoming clear.
A colossal golem made of countless stone shards… raising a hammer high, just like the scene he and X had just witnessed.
The moment frozen on the card surface was unmistakably that one.
X who had frozen momentarily shifted again. His voice brimmed with wonder.
[Is this… a gift from it?]
"I don't know, but this card appearing at this moment… it may help us."
Daichi exhaled slowly, then inserted the card back into the X Devizer.
"Let's go, X!"
[Yeah!]
{Preservation Qlipoth... loading!}
A torrent of golden yellow data burst outward, swirling around X.
Part of it melted into his body, becoming strength. The rest wrapped around him, forming new armor—layer by layer.
Stone-like plates, veined with glowing fissures, locked over his limbs. Heavy chest armor with huge X golden shaped in his chest settled over him like a fortress. Broad pauldrons formed, radiating the immutable weight of mountains.
{Preservation Aeon Armor — Active!}
X smacked his fists together. A low, seismic boom echoed through the Scalegorge Waterscape.
"That's..."
Jing Yuan's eyes widened, his usual composure shattered.
"By the Lan Bow… did X and Daichi just invoke the Preservation Aeon authority directly?"
Jingliu only tightened her grip on her sword, silently exhaling at the transformed silhouette before her.
Even Woola, who was midway through unleashing it's devouring ability froze, it's jaws hanging open.
Or perhaps that earlier sound of hammer strike had scared it silent.
Either way… it was clear that Woola is going to be stopped.
[This power… it's incredible!]
X flexed his hands, golden light spilling between his fingers.
With this, he could stop Woola!
Slamming a fist into the ground, he launched himself forward. The weight of his armor alone knocked Woola off it's feet.
X straddled Woola and unleashed a barrage of hammering blows. Each one deeper, heavier, more final than the last.
Woola roared, enduring the onslaught, then suddenly opened it's mouth and unleashed a terrifying suction. It's devouring instinct at full force trying to devour X completely.
The close-range release, coupled with a suction force comparable to a black hole, would have been fatal for X if he had been wearing the Doomsday or Ebon Deer armor.
But this time—
X had been reborn.
As Woola's jaws widened, displaying it's black hole-like suction. X opened his right hand and summoned a massive rock hammer into his right hand.
Bracing himself, he lifted the hammer high just like the vision he had seen and brought it crashing down.
A heavy, resonant impact shook the ground. The blow struck Woola head and it's mouth snapped shut, the terrifying suction vanishing instantly.
Seizing the opening, X struck again and again, each blow forcing Woola's cries into pained whimpers.
Desperate, Woola twisted it's body and attempted to bite into the ground, trying to burrow away into underground—trying to escape the agony.
Woola wanted to leave this place, to leave this place that prevented it from eating!
But before it could flee, X who have discarded the hammer, grabbed it's tail, yanked Woola out of the earth, and hurled it skyward.
Woola crashed down heavily on the ground and rolled several times before staggered to it's feet, shaking it's head and barely managing to stand—dizzy and half-broken.
One look was enough—Woola was nearly defeated.
Just by donning the new armor, the tide of battle had completely turned in X favor.
Was this truly the power bestowed by the Aeon themself?
Daichi stared at the X Devizer, the Preservation card still glowing faintly.
"It's time to end it, X."
[...]
X dismissed the armor. His original body emerged from the light.
X then placed his right hand in front of the timer on his chest, then raised it. The timer on his chest flashed golden, and his left foot began to trace an arc. He then raised both hands to the side, gathering power.
Then, he crossed his arms!
["Xanadium Beam!"]
A brilliant X-shaped beam shot from Ultraman X crossed hands heading towards Woola, engulfing it.
Woola was struck by the Xanadim Beam without resistance.
Ten seconds. Fifteen. Twenty.
But the explosion that X and Daichi expected… never came.
[Daichi—the beam… it was swallowed by Woola stomach!]
X noticed the anomaly and halted the attack.
Only then did they see Woola's condition.
The place where it's abdomen had been struck with Xanadium Beam… split apart like a gaping mouth—devouring the beam whole.
Even after the beam faded, that mouth continued opening and closing, as if savoring the last traces of energy.
"What…?"
Woola had never had an ability like that.
Daichi was somewhat surprised. After all, the original Woola had never shown this state.
Could this… be a form unique to the Woola variant of this universe?
[No. Woola feels… wrong.]
X sensed it first.
Ever since the stomach-mouth appeared, Woola had been wailing—deep, pained cries.
Like cries of despair.
Hungry.
So hungry.
Woola continued to wail. It couldn't understand why a second mouth had appeared in it's stomach, but the moment it did, the hunger who already unbearable—became excruciating.
The hunger was more intense than ever before, causing Woola to uncontrollably open and close it's mouth, trying to alleviate it's pain through chewing.
Or perhaps, should it devour this creature before it?
Woola originally bright yellow-orange eyes turned blood-red. It staggered, then charged at X in a frenzy.
"Watch out!"
Jing Yuan's voice cracked, he finally remembered what the power of destiny that had suddenly emerged from this ancient beast was!
"That's… the blessing of Voracity!"
A Unknown Aeon—almost never seen by mortals.
Oroboros, The unsatisfied devourer of worlds.
No wonder, this ancient beast ate everything after arriving in Scalegorge Waterscape. If it was a beast blessed by Oroboros, it would eat everything in sight.
"Oroboros…"
Daichi vaguely recalled that name, the only thing he remembered was that the Oroboros is an Aeon that is in constant conflict with Qlipoth.
After all, the reason Qlipoth had been building walls was to prevent all life in the universe from being devoured by the Oroboros.
As for the Voracity path, although he didn't know how it manifested, seeing Woola open mouth ready to devour everything, he suddenly understood.
A creature born with infinite hunger… paired with a god of devourer.
A perfect, horrific match.
But wasn't it a bit excessive to unleash it's second phase at this time!?
{Preservation Aeon Armor — Active!}
X donned his Preservation Aeon armor again, raising the rock hammer to block Woola charge.
[Daichi.]
Straining against Woola strength, X spoke quietly.
[This monster… is it really only suffering because it's just craving to fill it's stomach?]
Daichi blinked, then nodded slowly.
"Yes."
However, trying to fill Woola belly was like filling a black hole.
It seemed impossible, right?
Yet as X partner, Daichi understood what X was thinking when he asked that question.
Just like before, X believed Woola existence was a tragedy.
Born inexplicably possessing the stomach of a black hole, it's body's nature caused that black hole appetite to constantly drive it to devour organic or inorganic matter.
Unfortunately, no matter how much it ate, it could never satisfy it's hunger.
Thus, Woola mind was constantly eroded by the emotion of "hunger" ultimately becoming what others called "something feared by the entire universe".
And X, what he was thinking now was, since Ultraman Taiga whom Daichi had mentioned before could satisfy the Woola of that universe through certain methods, why couldn't he satisfy the Woola before him?
Born cursed. Born starving. Born feared by all.
If there was even a sliver of hope—X wanted to help it.
"But X, we don't have any means to neutralize a black hole inside Woola stomach—"
[If we can't neutralize it… then what if we cut the black hole out?]
"...What!?"
Daichi froze in disbelief. X sudden burst of imagination surprised Daichi.
X however, only tightened his grip on the hammer.
[I don't know if it'll work, but I want to try it Daichi!]
"If you've decided—then do it, X!"
Daichi raised his fist. fully supported his partner.
"I'll always be by your side!"
[Alright! thank you Daichi.]
X looked at Woola, suddenly stretched out his hand, and releasing the Purify Wave.
["Purify Wave"]
Faced with the incoming wave of light. Woola instinctively opened it's mouth and swallowed it.
Warm… gentle. Not filling, but soothing. The pain in it's head eased.
Woola blinked, it's previously agitated movements suddenly calmed down. It tilted it's head, looking at Ultraman X with some confusion.
[The Purify Wave works!]
X extended his hand again—reaching Woola out, this time in goodwill.
[Don't be afraid, Woola.]
He approached slowly.
[I want to help you. I can solve the black hole in your stomach.]
Woola froze. It's understood X words. Hearing that X actually wanted to help it solve the problem that had been bothering it. Woola posture straightened in earnest obedience, waiting for X next words.
[But to do it—I need you to swallow me.]
…?
Woola blinked and tilted it's head, looking at X with considerable confusion.
So the solution… was to eat him?
[Only by entering your stomach and confronting the source of the problem… then I can solve it.]
X voice held no hesitation.
Seeing that X didn't seem to be lying to it, and was even willing to let himself be eaten, Woola little brain couldn't think of any harm in this method.
After all, it's stomach was dangerous. Once inside, whether he could get out was a question.
And Woola, who sensed no malice relaxed. If X succeeded, the pain would end. If he failed… well, Woola would remember that someone tried to help it, and then continue on the path that could satisfy it's appetite.
Following X signal, Woola opened it's massive jaws.
X took a breath and clenched his fist, then stepped directly into the suction of it's maw.
Inside Woola was unlike any biological creature. It's body was simply it's stomach—a black hole that swallowing everything.
Resisting the suction of the black hole, X raised his rock hammer.
This was the technique he had learned from the being who granted him this strength.
Now it was his turn to imitate it—
That is, to build a wall around the black hole in Woola stomach, isolating it and separating it from Woola body!