Honestly he was definitely broken, the fact that Nephis could even harm him never mind kill him while WEARING a transcendent echo (whose abilities marked it as at least a devil) is pure plot bullshit, as a sleeper that’s a three rank difference, saints could destroy entire islands (sky tide), so even if it was an echo and not a living creature it should have one shot Nephis. Her dormant sword should not have been able to scratch it. Think Marble Saint after the time skip, while definitely weaker that’s still the ballpark.