Boom!
A brilliant green light burst through the dark tunnel, illuminating the walls before vanishing just as quickly.
The next instant, a tall figure appeared before the group—its entire body a translucent light green, solid and majestic. Four sharp spikes jutted from its back, emanating an immense, commanding power.
"Diamondhead!"
Ben's eyes lit up the moment he saw the familiar form, excitement and awe flooding his face. The image of Diamondhead's recent battle with the robots was still vivid in his mind.
"Cuz, you look amazing!" Gwen couldn't help but exclaim.
Grandpa Max nodded. "This alien is strong. Those blob aliens shouldn't be a problem. Let's move out."
Diamondhead gave a short nod, a glint flashing in his crystal eyes. He stretched out his right hand toward the drop below the tunnel entrance.
"Rise!"
As the word left his mouth, a layer of crystal steps burst from the opening and began spreading rapidly. More and more formed in succession, extending downward until they reached the space below.
Within seconds, a dazzling crystal staircase stood before them—grand and radiant, like a staircase built for a king's descent.
Ben and Gwen stared in awe, completely dumbfounded.
What kind of power was this? He could even make stairs appear out of thin air!
If that was possible, did it mean people wouldn't need to buy houses anymore? Just buy some land and conjure a crystal villa?
"Oh yeah, that's awesome!" Ben cheered after a moment of stunned silence.
"Alright, time to head down," Diamondhead said calmly, charging forward as his crystal feet clinked against the stairs.
"Cuz, wait for me!" Gwen shouted, sprinting after him on her slender legs.
"And me!"
Ben was just about to dash down too, eager to help him fight.
"Wait, Ben," Grandpa Max grabbed his arm. "We stay here for now. Once Lucian and Gwen lure those monsters out of the ship, we'll move in and rescue the trapped elders."
"Aww, come on! When will I finally get powers strong enough to beat up those nasty aliens myself?"
Ben sighed in frustration, his shoulders slumping like a deflated balloon.
"Ben, having powers isn't always a good thing," Grandpa said, patting his head. "I just want you to be happy and grow up healthy."
Ben shook his head. "No, Grandpa! If I had powers like Cuz, I'd love it! I'd crush alien monsters every day and become a hero everyone looks up to!"
"No... Ah, forget it. You're still young. Some things you'll understand later." Grandpa shook his head, giving up the lecture.
"At least I wouldn't be useless like now!" Ben muttered stubbornly.
Grandpa Max looked at his flushed, determined face and couldn't help but smile wryly. "You know, you remind me of myself when I was your age."
He placed his wrinkled hand on Ben's shoulder. "Ben, remember what you said today. No matter what happens in the future, I want you to hold on to that resolve."
Seeing the sincerity in his grandfather's eyes, Ben felt something stir inside him. He nodded silently.
...
Tap tap tap...
Leaping from the crystal staircase, Diamondhead slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, shaking the tunnel and sending dust billowing into the air.
Gwen followed gracefully, her movements light as a cat's. Her feet touched down on the glittering crystal steps as she descended, landing beside Diamondhead after a few swift leaps.
The noise immediately drew the enemy's attention.
Alice, her long hair flowing, had been standing at the entrance of the alien spacecraft. At the sudden sound, she snapped her head around, a crimson gleam flashing in her clear eyes—cold and menacing.
"It's the kid from Vera's family… still alive? Looks like that matcha cake I sent didn't do the job. Useless fool." Alice ground her teeth, her gaze shifting toward the other figure.
"A Petrosapien… impossible!" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "It was one thing to turn into a Vulpimancer, but this?!"
Then her gaze locked on the Omnitrix glowing on Diamondhead's chest.
"So that's it—the legendary Omnitrix, the most powerful alien weapon in the universe." Her eyes burned brighter as she clenched her fists. "If I could get my hands on it, I wouldn't have to sneak around draining human life anymore. Then the entire Earth—no, the entire universe—would be our feeding ground!"
"Hey, you creepy freak, what're you mumbling about? That matcha cake you sent last time wasn't half bad, though!" Gwen grinned, taunting her.
Alice smiled sweetly, but her eyes turned cold as venom. "Little girl, do you even know what you're saying?"
"Cut the talk!"
Diamondhead lifted both arms, transforming them into a barrage of crystal spikes that gleamed with a deadly light, all aimed straight at Alice.
"Get out here!" Alice snapped, shouting into the spacecraft.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
In the next instant, white-haired elders burst out of the spacecraft like wild beasts. Their bodies were hunched, their faces old and wrinkled, but their eyes were filled with murderous rage.
"Attack! Capture those two!" Alice ordered coldly.
"Roar!"
"Eat them!"
"Devour them all!"
...
Dozens of blob aliens charged forward like mad animals, claws flailing, snarls echoing through the tunnel.
"Come on, all of you!"
Diamondhead roared, unleashing a storm of crystal shards that shot forward like a rain of blades, tearing into the advancing horde.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The vicious blob aliens were engulfed in the barrage, their bodies pierced with glowing green spikes until they were riddled with wounds.
"That's amazing!" Gwen exclaimed.
But Diamondhead didn't let his guard down. His golden eyes stayed fixed on the grotesque creatures.
"Roar!"
"Pathetic!"
"You think that's enough to kill us? How naive!"
"We're immune to physical attacks!"
The blob aliens sneered as their slimy bodies writhed, forcing out the crystal spikes. The shards clattered to the ground in a cascade of sharp sounds.
Clatter...
Their wounds began to seal instantly. The green mucus filled the gaps in their flesh, and in seconds, they were completely healed.
"See that, Petrosapien?" Alice said, striding forward confidently. "With that kind of attack, you can't kill us."
"Why not surrender quietly? It'll save you the pain."
Standing at the head of the blob aliens, Alice smirked, utterly certain of victory.
Diamondhead's lips curled into a cold grin. "You think I can't hurt you? Do you really believe you disgusting slugs can hurt me?"
"Oh? Then let's find out." Alice's eyes glinted with killing intent.
"Then stop talking and come at me."
"Rip him apart!" Alice screamed, veins bulging as she ordered the blob aliens to attack.
Diamondhead roared back, surging forward as pure battle energy erupted from his body. He charged straight into the horde.
"By the oath of water, in thy name, I call upon the spirit's power—shoot!" Gwen chanted, firing her Aqua Arrow into the fray.
At that moment, all the blob aliens focused on Diamondhead and Gwen, howling furiously as they launched a wild assault.
But none of them noticed two figures quietly slipping into the alien spacecraft from behind...