It was a scorching summer afternoon.
The sun beat down mercilessly, and people were drenched in sweat.
Still, a long line had formed outside the biggest video game store in town.
Ethen, Ben, Gwen, and Grandpa Max stood among the crowd.
Ethen turned the golden, hexagonal Element Watch on his wrist, mumbling, "Only five elemental DNAs? That's outrageous…"
Gwen crossed her arms, exasperated. "So we came all the way here early in the morning, stood in this heat, just so Ben could buy a video game?"
"Hey, not just any game!" Ben replied, eyes gleaming. "Rampage Sumo X! The ultimate fighting game of the year! This is sacred!"
Ethen sighed. "You're hopeless, Ben."
Gwen waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it, Ethen. Let him wait in line. Why don't we go cool off somewhere? Maybe the bookstore?"
Ethen smiled faintly. "Compared to that, how about ice cream?"
Gwen's eyes lit up. "Now that's the best idea you've had all day."
The two walked down the street together, chatting casually as they searched for an ice cream shop. Police sirens blared in the distance, patrol cars racing by, but neither of them thought much of it.
Soon, they found a cozy little shop and sat inside, savoring the chill of the air conditioning and the sweetness of cold ice cream.
When it came time to pay, Ethen pulled out his card.
Gwen protested softly, "You paid last time, let me do it."
Ethen shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I've got more money than I can spend anyway."
Gwen froze. "…Rich people are so annoying."
After finishing, they grabbed two extra cones—one for Ben and one for Grandpa Max—and started heading back toward the game store.
That's when it happened.
BOOM!!
A thunderous explosion ripped through the air.
"Wait—what's happening?!"
"Run!"
"Aliens!!"
People screamed and scattered as chaos erupted.
A massive red alien with four bulging arms flew out of the game store, smashing into the street and creating a crater.
"No way…" Gwen's eyes widened. "Ben turned into Four Arms just because of the line?!"
She sighed dramatically. "We literally brought him ice cream!"
The "Four Arms" alien turned his head toward Gwen, eyes narrowing as he spotted Ethen beside her. His face twisted into a feral snarl.
From inside the store, another figure emerged—a sparkling, crystal-skinned alien wielding a heavy, diamond hammer.
It was Diamondhead!
"Stay back, Gwen!" Diamondhead shouted. "That's Kevin! He broke out of prison—and he's using Four Arms' DNA to rob the store!"
"Kevin?" Ethen's expression darkened. "Already escaped? And he's mastered Tetramand DNA too?"
Kevin grinned wickedly. "That's right, Ethen! I awakened the alien DNA you thought you destroyed! This time, I'll kill Ben first—and then you!"
With a roar, Kevin swung all four fists at once, unleashing a barrage of devastating blows!
Diamondhead countered instantly, forming a massive crystalline mech around himself—a Diamond Golem, towering and gleaming.
The two clashed violently, each blow shaking the street.
"Guess Ben's been training," Ethen muttered, watching calmly.
Gwen smiled proudly. "He's grown a lot. Not bad for a knucklehead."
The two of them stood side by side, quietly observing like proud parents watching their kid grow up.
Grandpa Max ran over, shouting, "Ethen! If you don't stop them soon, they'll wreck the whole street!"
Ethen sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah. Guess it's time."
He tapped the Element Watch, cycling through its five elemental icons.
"Can't have people thinking we're an alien demolition team."
With a click, he selected Wind Element and slammed down the dial.
BZZT!
A golden flash of light erupted, brighter than the sun. Gale-force winds spiraled through the street.
When the light faded, everyone froze.
Ben blinked. "Where'd he go?"
Fourarms and Diamondhead were about to clash again when—
WHOOSH!!
A white-gray whirlwind appeared between them, twisting into a humanoid form.
It was an alien with a lean, tall frame, his body made entirely of swirling clouds and air currents.
He wore only loose shorts and slippers, with pitch-black circles around his eyes and a mischievous grin on his face.
"What the heck is that thing?!" Kevin blurted out.
Diamondhead's crystal eyes widened. "A… Wind Elemental?!"
The alien yawned lazily, voice carried by the breeze.
"Can you two tone it down a bit? You're wrecking my airspace."
Kevin snarled. "You think you can stop me?!"
The Wind Alien stretched out one hand toward Diamondhead and the other toward Kevin.
Both scoffed—until the alien's arms began expanding—stretching—growing!
In seconds, his left arm was larger than Diamondhead's entire golem body, while his right hand spun into a miniature tornado.
"Wind Crush!!"
The gale exploded outward. Kevin was swept off his feet, spiraling into the air with a scream, while Diamondhead's golem cracked under the sheer pressure.
Grandpa Max's jaw dropped. "That alien's body—elastic, air-based, and able to expand at will… That's a Gopetdin alien! A legendary species!"
Ethen—now the Storm Elemental—smirked, feeling raw, unrestrained power flow through his body.
"This strength… it's unreal."
The wind howled louder and louder, his energy radiating like a hurricane.
"With this power," he said softly, his voice echoing through the gale,
"I might just surpass even the strongest alien forms yet."