Asher was the first to respond, his voice cutting through the night air with urgency. "Everyone, RUN!"
In the distance, a massive forty-foot Attack Robot emerged from the tree line like a mechanical nightmare. Its three spindly insectoid legs carried its bulk forward with surprising agility, crushing trees and undergrowth under its weight. The robot's red optical sensors methodically scanned the area, having clearly detected their presence.
"Go!" Ben shouted, his initial shock quickly giving way to action as he sprinted toward the campsite.
But Gwen remained frozen in place, her face pale with terror as she stared at the approaching mechanical monster.
Without hesitation, Asher reached out and grabbed Gwen's wrist, pulling her out of her paralyzed state. "Come on, Gwen! We have to move!" he urged, breaking into a run while maintaining his grip on her arm.
"Thank you," Gwen managed to whisper, her voice barely audible over the sound of their pounding footsteps and the robot's thunderous approach.
Despite his age, Max proved to be surprisingly agile. The veteran quickly climbed out of the crater and caught up to the three children, his military training evident in his efficient movements.
Asher's regular exercise routine served him well, and even while helping Gwen, he managed to keep pace with Max and Ben as they fled through the darkening forest.
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
The Attack Robot's relentless pursuit sent shockwaves through the ground with each step. Its massive legs tore through the forest, snapping trees like twigs as it closed the distance between them.
I remember it being smaller in the original timeline, Asher thought grimly as he ran. The butterfly effect is already changing things. This robot is much more dangerous than I thought.
The mechanical giant slowly raised its right arm, revealing a circular cannon opening in its palm. A menacing red glow began to build within the weapon's core.
Without warning, a searing crimson beam sliced through the night sky, hitting the ground directly in front of the fleeing group.
BOOM!
The laser blast exploded on impact, sending a massive fireball through the forest. Trees were instantly incinerated as the shockwave from the explosion knocked all four humans off their feet.
"What the hell was that?" Ben gasped, staring in disbelief at the devastation before them.
The Attack Robot's palm cannon was still smoking from the discharge, its cold mechanical eyes fixed on its targets. Through the robot's optical feed, Vilgax's voice boomed across the room: "Eliminate these Earthlings and retrieve the Omnitrix!"
"Move! Don't just stand there!" Max barked, the first to regain his composure.
Asher's expression hardened with determination. This was the moment he'd been preparing for. "No," he said firmly, releasing Gwen's hand and turning to face the approaching robot. "I'm going to transform. If we keep running, we'll all die."
"Asher, what are you doing?!" Max shouted in alarm as the boy began to run toward the mechanical giant.
"Grandpa, Ben, Gwen, that robot is after the watch on my wrist!" Asher called over his shoulder, his voice calm despite the danger. "I'll get it away from you. Get out of here!"
For a moment, Max felt his composure shatter. The child's courage reminded him of his younger self, and he realized he'd underestimated the boy's determination.
Both Ben and Gwen watched with tears in their eyes as their cousin fearlessly charged toward certain death to save them.
The emotional scene came to an abrupt end when Asher deliberately tripped and fell, his "accident" perfectly timed to cause the Omnitrix to hit the ground and activate.
The front panel of the device popped up with a melodic chime, casting an eerie green glow over Asher's determined face.
The attack robot immediately recognized its target. Its optical sensors locked on to the Omnitrix, and its palm cannon began charging for another devastating blast.
"ASHER!" Max and Gwen shouted in unison as Ben instinctively took a step forward before Max held him back.
A bright red laser beam erupted from the robot's cannon and raced toward Asher's position.
"What is this interface?" Asher muttered, feigning confusion as his heart raced with anticipation. He could feel the heat of the approaching explosion growing more intense by the second. Without hesitation, he brought his palm down on the Omnitrix's core.
The moment his hand made contact, the laser struck his location with tremendous force.
BOOM!
The explosion completely engulfed the area where Asher had been standing, sending up a massive pillar of fire and smoke. The blast was so powerful that it seemed impossible for anyone to survive.
"Asher... Grandpa let you down," Max whispered, his voice heavy with grief and guilt. If he hadn't suggested this camping trip, the boy would still be alive.
"This can't be happening," Gwen said, her voice breaking as she stared at the inferno. She had just begun to appreciate the brave boy who had helped her.
"Target eliminated," the attack robot announced in its cold, mechanical voice. It began to move toward the blast site, completely dismissing the remaining humans as irrelevant.
Max, Ben and Gwen remained frozen in shock and grief, unable to process what they had just witnessed.
"Who told you..."
"...that I was dead?"
A calm, confident voice emerged from the flames, deeper and more mature than Asher's, but unmistakably carrying the same determined tone.
"What happened?!" Max, Ben, and Gwen gasped at the same time, their heads snapping toward the site of the explosion.
CRASH!
A fiery red figure burst through the smoke and flames like a meteor, landing gracefully beside the stunned family.
The creature stood seven feet tall, its body composed of blazing inner plasma covered in dark reddish-brown volcanic rock. Flames danced around its head like a crown of fire, and the unmistakable Omnitrix symbol glowed green on its chest.
"Heatblast!" Ben exclaimed in amazement, recognizing the alien from science fiction, though not understanding the connection.
The Pyronite flexed his rock-covered hands, feeling the incredible power coursing through his transformed body. This is it, Asher thought with satisfaction. The power to protect everyone I care about.
Heatblast turned his flame-crowned head toward the attack robot, his voice carrying the confidence of someone who finally had the power to fight back.
"Now then," he said, molten energy beginning to build in his palms, "let's see how you handle some real heat."