Dark green buds sprouted wildly, twisting and growing at an incredible rate until they formed a small, gnarled sapling that clawed at the air. Within seconds, the shape shifted and solidified—Swampfire had returned.
Hearing movement behind him, Heatblast turned in surprise, only for Swampfire to grab him by the collar, lifting him effortlessly in one large, vine-covered hand.
"You lose," Swampfire said hoarsely.
Heatblast let out a helpless sigh. "Alright, Cuz, you win."
Beep beep beep!
The Omnitrix emblem on Heatblast's wrist began to flash before bursting into a crimson glow, reverting him back to Ben's original form.
Swampfire set the dejected Ben down gently and said in a reassuring tone, "Don't be discouraged. You did really well just now. You almost burned your Cuz to ashes."
"Really?" Ben's eyes brightened, but the excitement quickly faded. "But... I still don't get it. How did you come out of the ground like that?"
Swampfire raised a dark green finger, flexing it casually as he explained, "This alien's real body is plant-based. It can release swamp gas and freely reshape its form."
"When you attacked as Heatblast, I transformed into roots and burrowed underground. Then I came up right beside you—catching you off guard was the goal."
Ben's jaw dropped, his eyes filled with awe.
"Whoa, that's awesome! What a powerful alien! Looks like Heatblast doesn't stand a chance against Swampfire!" he exclaimed.
Swampfire shook his head. "Not exactly, Ben. Heatblast's control over fire is impressive, but Swampfire's just more well-rounded. He's got solid healing and close-combat abilities."
"Besides, this time you didn't really know what Swampfire could do. Next time, it won't be that easy to use the same trick."
Ben nodded quietly, taking in every word.
Glancing at the original Omnitrix on Ben's wrist, Swampfire suddenly had an idea. "Ben, hold out your arm."
Since the replica Omnitrix had the ability to record DNA, it was worth testing whether it could absorb his genetic data.
"What's up, Cuz?"
Though confused, Ben extended his arm without hesitation.
Swampfire grabbed the Omnitrix, but there was no reaction.
Not enough pressure? He tried using his claws to lightly scrape at the surface of the watch—still nothing.
"System," he thought silently, "why can't the replica Omnitrix absorb my DNA?"
[Due to insufficient genetic purity, the replica Omnitrix cannot record DNA]
[Swampfire originates from the Methanosian species, but contains traces of host DNA, preventing direct extraction by the Omnitrix]
"So this method won't work after all," Swampfire sighed inwardly.
It seemed the only way for Ben to unlock more alien heroes was to come into contact with real aliens.
Two minutes later, Swampfire's form shimmered and reverted to Lucian.
Ben rubbed his growling stomach. "I'm starving! Let's grab a midnight snack, Cuz! I've still got a few chocolate bars in my backpack!"
Lucian chuckled and walked back with him toward the Rustbucket.
When the two returned, Grandpa was already waiting with a grin, holding out a bowl filled with squirming white mealworms. The sight made Lucian's scalp prickle.
"Come, come! You two must be worn out," Grandpa said with a laugh. "This is my special protein-packed late-night snack. A rare treat! In the big cities, something like this would be considered a delicacy—worth its weight in gold!"
Gwen smirked as she watched Ben's miserable expression. "Doofus, it'll taste worse when it's cold. Better eat it while it's still fresh!"
Ben glared at his cousin, then looked down at the bowl of wriggling white worms with the expression of someone walking to his doom.
"Gwen, you should have some too," Grandpa added kindly.
The grin on Gwen's face froze instantly, a twitch forming at the corner of her mouth.
"Grandpa, you two go ahead. I'm not hungry."
Lucian let out a quiet laugh and slipped back into the Rustbucket, leaving the pitiful cousins to face their "feast."
Once inside, a wave of fatigue washed over him. Lucian lay back on the soft bed, his eyelids growing heavy as he slowly drifted into sleep…
…
Silence. A deathly stillness filled the air.
Darkness and distortion stretched endlessly in all directions, broken only by fleeting flashes of white shadows that passed by with piercing, sorrowful wails—haunting and bone-chilling.
Lucian stood alone in the boundless void. He couldn't even see his own hand before his face. There was no light, no sound, no warmth. It was as if the world itself had ceased to exist—no sun, no air, no sky, no earth. Nothing but endless emptiness.
"Is anyone there?" Lucian called out, his voice echoing faintly through the abyss.
Suddenly, the darkness ahead split open, tearing wide like a monstrous wound. From within, a massive purple eye emerged, glowing eerily as it stared straight at him.
"You've come~"
The enormous violet eye locked onto him, its gaze suffocating. Compared to that vast presence, Lucian was nothing more than a speck of dust drifting in the void.
"You're... Ghostfreak?" Lucian muttered in disbelief. No wonder that eye seemed so familiar.
The purple iris flickered with murderous intent. "You… will die by my hand."
Lucian stayed calm, lifting his wrist to activate the Omnitrix—only to freeze. The watch was gone.
"The Omnitrix... it disappeared!?"
The enormous eye began to close in, its pressure crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
Lucian tried to run, but his legs felt like they were filled with lead, heavy and unmoving. He could only watch helplessly as the eye drew nearer, its glow consuming everything.
"Wait for me. I'll awaken soon~"
As the chilling words echoed through the darkness, the massive violet eye descended completely, swallowing Lucian whole...