Chapter 1 - Episode 1: Echoes of the Howler

The stench hit Ben like a tidal wave – acrid, musky, and undeniably Wildmutt. He crashed through the dense foliage of the forest near Bellwood, blindly following the trail of destruction. Something big, and angry, had come this way. Really angry. He adjusted the Ultimatrix on his wrist, a familiar surge of power thrumming beneath his skin. He'd been tracking this creature for hours, ever since the first reports of property damage and unsettling howls echoed through the normally quiet town. He was starting to get annoyed. School had just let out, and he'd been looking forward to some Sumo Slammers with Kevin and Gwen. This monster of the week was cutting into his free time. "Alright, ugly," Ben muttered to himself, "time to end this." He slammed down on the Ultimatrix. The green light washed over him, bones reshaping, fur sprouting, senses amplifying. He became Wildmutt, a hulking, orange beast driven by instinct. The familiar blindness settled in, replaced by an overwhelming torrent of scents and sounds. He relied on his heightened senses to navigate the dense undergrowth, the trail of destruction now even clearer – broken trees, upturned earth, the lingering scent of fear. The creature was close. Very close. He could hear it now, a low, guttural growl that vibrated in his chest. It was trapped. Ben picked up the pace, crashing through the final layer of brush into a small clearing. And there it was. Not a monster, but a Galvanic Mechamorph, like Upgrade. Ben blinked, surprised. It was half-fused with some sort of… experimental energy core? Sparks flew from the creature as it writhed, trapped in a makeshift energy field. It snarled, a distorted, metallic sound. Ben took a step closer, trying to assess the situation. This wasn't just a random attack. This was something… different. The Galvanic Mechamorph struggled against its restraints, the energy field flickering dangerously. Whatever this thing was, it was powerful and dangerous. Ben knew he had to do something, and fast. He just didn't know what. He tried to get closer, and failed to resist the urge to examine it closer. The core was pulsating with raw energy, the same kind he sometimes saw in Kevin. He needed to be careful. Ben took another step closer. The Mechamorph thrashed again, and the energy field overloaded. A wave of chaotic energy erupted outwards, throwing Ben back against a tree. He slammed into the trunk, the impact knocking the wind out of him. His vision swam. The Mechamorph, freed from its prison, roared in triumph. But something was wrong. The energy core was unstable. It was about to explode. Ben struggled to his feet, realizing the imminent danger. He had to contain the blast, protect the forest, protect himself. But he was still Wildmutt, blind and relatively powerless against such a massive energy surge. He needed more power, more control. He needed… Ultimate Wildmutt. He slammed the Ultimatrix again. The transformation was agonizing, bones re-breaking and reforming, muscles tearing and reshaping. Armor plating erupted across his body, sensory pads glowing with intense light, echolocation spikes jutting from his back. He roared, a deafening sound that echoed through the forest. He felt the power surging through him, raw and untamed. Full-spectrum vision flooded his senses. He saw the energy core, pulsating with unstable energy, ready to detonate. He knew what he had to do. He channeled his energy into his echolocation spikes, focusing on a single point – the energy core. He unleashed a sonic roar, an overwhelming wave of sound that shattered the air. The energy core absorbed it like a sponge, the vibrations disrupting its unstable structure. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a final surge of energy, the core imploded, the energy contained within itself. The forest was safe. Ben, exhausted but triumphant, reverted back to his human form. He stumbled, catching himself against a tree. He looked back at the crater where the energy core had been, a sense of unease settling in his stomach. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. He activated his communicator. "Grandpa Max, we have a problem. A big one." The communicator crackled to life. "What is it, Ben?" "I just fought a Galvanic Mechamorph fused with an experimental energy core. And I think someone was trying to weaponize it." Silence on the other end. Then, a deep sigh. "I'm on my way, Ben. This sounds serious. Very serious." Ben deactivated the communicator, a knot forming in his stomach. Whatever was happening, it was bigger than anything he'd faced before. And he had a feeling it was just the beginning. He glanced back at the forest, now eerily silent. A chilling wind rustled through the leaves, whispering secrets he couldn't understand. He shivered, despite the warmth of the summer air. He had a bad feeling about this. A very bad feeling. As he looked back to where he stood just moments before, there was a flash of blue light. And in a moment, gone.