Early the next morning, a pale streak of light crept across the horizon as the warm glow of dawn slowly rose in the east, pushing away the chill of night.
Everyone had gotten up early and gathered in the living room to discuss their next move.
"What are you all talking about?"
Aunt Vera's voice came suddenly from behind them. She stepped out of her room with a faint smile on her face.
Lucian's eyes flickered sharply. Something felt off.
Last night, after they'd returned from Marty's house, Gwen had told him about Alice and the matcha cake. Lucian had checked Aunt Vera's room in secret but found nothing out of the ordinary.
To be cautious, he'd even examined the cake himself. Aside from its slightly warped shape, there had been nothing strange about it.
But now, looking at Aunt Vera, he could feel it—this wasn't the same person from before.
Her face looked unnaturally stiff. Though her smile was as kind as ever, Lucian's sharp eyes didn't miss the unnatural tension beneath it.
"Aunt Vera, you're awake! Did you sleep well last night?" Grandpa Max asked with a friendly grin.
"Very... well," Vera replied, stepping forward and pinching Ben's cheek.
"Ow! Come on!" Ben groaned in pain.
"Ben, go pour Aunt Vera a glass of water," Grandpa Max chuckled.
Ben opened his mouth to complain, but before he could say anything, Aunt Vera interrupted sharply.
"No need! I don't drink water!"
Her face twisted, a hint of ferocity flashing in her eyes.
Both Grandpa Max and Ben froze, exchanging puzzled looks.
Grandpa quietly gave Lucian a meaningful glance. Lucian only shook his head slightly, signaling him not to make any sudden moves.
At that moment, Gwen came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray with a cup of coffee and a glass of water.
"Aunt Vera, you're awake!" Gwen said brightly as she approached. "I made you some coffee—please, try it!"
Aunt Vera's smile stiffened. She instinctively stepped back.
Just as Gwen reached her, her foot suddenly slipped. The coffee and water flew from her hands, crashing onto the floor right at Aunt Vera's feet.
Crash!
The glasses shattered, sending a mix of coffee and clear water spilling across the floor, flowing toward Aunt Vera's shoes.
What happened next left everyone stunned.
Aunt Vera suddenly leapt into the air, her heavy frame lifting effortlessly as she braced both feet against the walls, glaring down with eyes full of malice.
"Wipe it up! Wipe it up right now!" she roared.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Vera!" Gwen panicked and hurried to clean the mess.
"Wait, Gwen. Come here—I need to talk to you," Lucian said evenly.
She was still too close to Aunt Vera. He had to get her away from the danger first.
Though confused, Gwen trusted her cousin. She stepped toward him quickly.
Lucian gave a slight nod, satisfied once she was at his side.
"I need to go out for a bit," Aunt Vera said suddenly, returning to a strangely calm tone as she turned toward the door.
"Wait, Aunt Vera," Lucian called after her.
She paused and turned her head, her expression sharpening instantly.
Lucian smiled faintly—and tossed a cup of water straight at her.
Aunt Vera reacted with shocking speed, springing back and dodging the cup with agility impossible for someone her size.
But the splashing water sprayed across her exposed arm...
"Roar!"
In the blink of an eye, Vera's face and body twisted grotesquely, morphing into a green blob alien.
"Ah!" Gwen screamed, completely caught off guard by the sudden transformation.
"Roar!"
The creature's long, slimy tentacles whipped through the air like frenzied snakes, lashing out violently toward the group.
"Gwen, use the Aqua Arrow! Take it down!" Lucian shouted.
Gwen nodded quickly, lifting her right hand. She pointed her index finger at the charging monster and began chanting softly,
"By the oath of water, in thy name, I borrow the power of the spirit—shoot!"
The moment the words left her lips, a surge of power erupted from her fingertip. A fierce, spiraling arrow of water shot forth, radiating icy killing intent as it slammed into the blob alien.
"Roar!"
The creature shrieked, its body shriveling rapidly before their eyes. Within seconds, it collapsed into a bubbling pool of foul-smelling pus.
Gwen stared at her hands in shock, amazed by the sheer force of her water magic.
Ben exhaled shakily, patting his chest to calm himself. "Oh man… no wonder Aunt Vera was so afraid of water. She'd turned into one of them!"
Grandpa Max's face hardened. "We need to find the real Vera—before it's too late."
Lucian nodded, about to respond—when a dark, long-haired silhouette flashed past the doorway.
"Who's there!"
A cold light flashed in Lucian's eyes as he dashed out the door in pursuit.
This town was full of elderly residents. For someone to move that fast, it could only mean one thing—a blob alien. Nothing else fit.
Outside, the desert sun was blinding, its glare reflecting off the sand. Lucian squinted, his gaze locking on the figure ahead—a woman, lithe and graceful, her long hair streaming behind her as she sprinted away with startling speed.
"Stop right there!" Lucian yelled.
But the woman didn't respond. She just kept running, never once looking back.
After several minutes of pursuit, she suddenly darted into a narrow alley. Lucian stopped briefly, assessing the situation, then followed her in without hesitation.
With the Omnitrix on his wrist, there was nothing to fear—not even these blob aliens. And if things went south, he could always transform into XLR8 and outrun anything.
He entered the alley and froze.
The woman stood there with her back to him, motionless—as if she had been waiting all along.
"You lured me here on purpose, didn't you?" Lucian said coldly, narrowing his eyes.
"Smart boy." Alice turned her head slowly, emerald eyes gleaming as she smiled alluringly. "You're quite the troublesome one. I didn't expect you to be able to turn into a speedster."
"But," she added with a mocking smile, "you won't be leaving this place alive."
Lucian's lips curved into a cold smirk. "You think you can kill me all by yourself?"
"Heh." Alice's soft laugh rang like silver bells as she clapped her hands lightly. "Why don't you take a look behind you?"
Tap. Tap. Tap...
A wave of footsteps echoed from the end of the alley. Lucian frowned and turned his head slightly.
Dozens of twisted old men shuffled toward him, their limbs contorted, mouths opening to reveal rows of jagged fangs. They growled and hissed like beasts, surrounding him from all sides.
Without hesitation, Lucian slammed the Omnitrix on his wrist, the device projecting holographic silhouettes as he cycled through them rapidly.
Heatblast. Grey Matter. Diamondhead. Swampfire... No good. Fire-type aliens wouldn't help—these blob aliens lived in the desert for a reason.
XLR8.
"You're up."
Lucian smacked down the Omnitrix. A blinding green light burst forth, and in the next instant, a fierce, high-speed beast appeared in the narrow alley...