Just as the Extinguisher's surprise at Robert's resilience left him open, a blade of ki sliced through his armor, piercing where Robert's earlier Destructo Disc had failed. Instead of blood or flesh, however, there was only a void—a dark emptiness that seemed to devour light itself, making it impossible for Robert to discern what lay beneath.
"Not a typical lifeform, are you?" Robert mused, striking again with his ki blade. The Extinguisher's insides appeared like a vast, murky fog behind the broken armor, leading Robert to abandon probing and focus on his assault.
This new attack method was much more effective. Where the Destructo Disc had only left faint marks, the ki blade carved deeper, forcing the Extinguisher onto the defensive. Now, he actively evaded Robert's attacks instead of trading blows. Yet, even though the Extinguisher dodged and countered with bursts of eradication energy, Robert could still tell that the armor possessed a regenerative quality.
Unlike typical organic healing, the Extinguisher's armor seemed to flow back into place, as if replenished by a hidden reservoir, similar to Tony Stark's nanotech armor. Robert couldn't help but admire this resilience, though it kept him guessing as to how much damage he was truly inflicting.
"You've mastered this form; your ki is sharper, condensed beyond what I'd expect, and it doesn't weaken your consciousness or control. You're still yourself," the Extinguisher noted, deftly dodging Robert's next strike.
"Your armor's fascinating," Robert replied, his gaze sharp and analytical. "It feels like a living organism, yet it's somehow mechanical—more advanced than any tech I've seen. So, is the Celestial Host just a bunch of supercharged machines? Robots? Or maybe you're controlled remotely?"
The Extinguisher's silence was broken only by the faint hum of a growing red glow in his eye visor. Robert suddenly sensed an intense lock-on, an instinctual alarm that made him brace himself.
In an instant, the Extinguisher's form shifted, his bulky, suited shape narrowing into a streamlined, almost predatory figure. Muscles and armor compressed into a sleek, lethal frame built for speed, like a hunter ready to strike. Before Robert could react, the Extinguisher's figure vanished, reappearing behind him with a speed and force unmatched by his previous form.
Robert countered with a flare of energy, intensifying his golden aura until it formed a dense barrier, pushing back against the surrounding eradication field. The surge forced a gap, enough to restore his movement speed in close combat, even if his long-range abilities remained suppressed.
The Extinguisher's hand struck out, aiming a powerful punch toward Robert's side, only to clash with Robert's ki blade, which had extended like a greatsword. This time, Robert's attack was deflected, his blade unable to pierce the now even denser armor around the Extinguisher's fist.
"Interesting, you've formed a shield around your fist to absorb blows?" Robert noted, though it didn't surprise him. The Extinguisher's armor seemed similar to Stark's nanotech, able to adapt and reshape in real-time to meet any threat.
The Extinguisher's eyes shone with a menacing intensity as he lunged at Robert, unleashing a relentless flurry of attacks. "You're quick to observe, but that won't save you. This form is built for one purpose: extermination."
Now faced with the Extinguisher's lethal intent, Robert felt the oppressive aura of a true hunter. He adjusted his strategy, pouring his combat spirit into his aura, forcing it to materialize into a concentrated field around him. His intense ki created a small zone of turbulence within the eradication field, allowing his attacks to flow unimpeded.
Robert's ki blade morphed into a heavier, more powerful weapon, a greatsword he swung with precise, crushing strikes. Each impact dented the Extinguisher's armor, filling it with fractures, though it remained intact through rapid regeneration. The two clashed, with Robert pressing his assault and the Extinguisher countering with ferocity, each trying to dominate the battlefield.
"Your ferocity grows with each blow. It's like a predator's hunting instinct—a Saiyan trait?" the Extinguisher noted as they exchanged blows. His form flickered, revealing a strange, flowing layer beneath the armor, something similar to Venom's symbiotic fluid but distinctly more powerful, as if the armor itself was alive, adapting and evolving with the Extinguisher's will.
"A living exosuit, like Venom… but stronger, more fused with you," Robert observed as he caught a glimpse of the inner layer of the Extinguisher's form. "If this is a Celestial design, then the Host is far from what they seem."
The Extinguisher's frustration grew, his red eye glow flickering more intensely. His aura surged, radiating with anger and disdain. "You speak as if you understand, but you don't. The Celestial Host is beyond mortal comprehension."
Robert's ki blade shifted to a hammering force, shattering parts of the Extinguisher's outer shell and pushing him back. As the field of eradication energy dissipated, their battle intensified, radiating cosmic energy that destroyed anything it touched. Planetary fragments within the Large Magellanic Galaxy began to crumble under the fallout from their titanic struggle.
Though Robert had gained some advantage, he noticed that each strike only created temporary dents, as the Extinguisher's armor regenerated almost instantly. Even in his Super Saiyan form, Robert had yet to see any sign of weakness in his opponent.
As he prepared his next attack, the Extinguisher's red eye glow suddenly dimmed, and his form reverted to its original bulky, heavily armored state. His aura of lethal intent subsided, replaced by his usual cold, observational presence.
Robert halted, surprised by the shift. The Extinguisher had not only withdrawn his predatory form but had shed the bloodlust that had driven his recent attacks. He looked at Robert with an expression that was almost contemplative, his initial intensity now tempered.
"Back to your old self, huh?" Robert asked, his grip still firm on his weapon.
"Yes. This battle has answered my questions, Saiyan." The Extinguisher's voice had regained its prior neutrality. "You possess a resilience and strength rare in this universe. The Host needed to understand how you, a creature of chance, wield such power."
"And?" Robert's voice carried both curiosity and caution. "Did your little test satisfy you?"
The Extinguisher inclined his head slightly. "For now. But know this: your existence disrupts the balance of our observations, Saiyan. The Celestial Host may yet return to judge you."
With that, the Extinguisher's form began to glow, signaling his imminent withdrawal.
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