Facing the charging SixSix, Diamondhead clenched his fist in midair, forming a gleaming crystal halberd.
Gripping it tightly with both hands, he swung it down with tremendous force, slashing straight at SixSix.
Clang!
The halberd struck the crimson light blade with perfect precision, shattering it instantly. The impact unleashed a powerful shockwave that sent SixSix flying backward like a severed kite, slamming hard into a stone wall and leaving it covered in fractures.
With his opponent thrown off, Diamondhead morphed both arms into deadly, conical spikes and lunged forward, ready to finish the fight.
Suddenly, two massive crab claws burst from the ground beneath him, clamping tightly around his legs.
"You again, you overgrown crab," Diamondhead growled, his eyes flashing with sharp light before a sly grin spread across his face.
"You just signed your own death warrant."
He slammed his crystal palm down against the ground.
Boom!
The earth rumbled violently as massive crystal peaks erupted upward, their surfaces lined with countless razor-sharp spikes. They rose in an instant, glimmering coldly under the light.
"Let go of me!" Kraab shouted, his body caught on the spikes, thrashing in vain to break free.
"You're the first fool who thought attacking Diamondhead underground was a good idea," Diamondhead said, shaking his head.
With a sweep of his arm, he conjured a magnificent crystal longsword. It shimmered like a royal blade, radiating majesty and power.
"Since you love the underground so much, I'll send you straight to it."
Gathering his strength, Diamondhead hurled the sword forward with all his might. The crystalline weapon roared through the air like a raging dragon, speeding straight toward Kraab.
Boom!
A massive cannonball suddenly struck the airborne crystal sword head-on. Though Diamondhead's crystal couldn't be destroyed, the sheer impact veered the sword off its course.
Ssshh!
The gleaming blade stabbed into the rock right beside Kraab's head, missing by inches. The alien's eyes widened in terror, his limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Even as a high-intelligence mechanical being, Kraab still feared death.
Flames erupted from SixSix's jetpack as he shot forward, grabbing Kraab and pulling him free from the spikes with all his strength.
"￥%@&*!" SixSix barked furiously from atop the crystal ridge.
Kraab nodded, murderous intent burning in his eyes. "Alright. Let's take him down together."
"The bounty... we split it evenly!"
Knowing they couldn't win alone, the two aliens joined forces. The new wielder of the Omnitrix had proven far stronger than either of them expected.
Better to cooperate than die by his hand—at least then, there was still a chance to survive.
"Even two ants together can't bring down an elephant," Diamondhead said coolly.
"Damn it!" SixSix cursed, leaping into the air and lunging straight at Diamondhead.
Kraab's mechanical legs spun rapidly as he jumped down from the crystal ridge, his sharp claws slashing through the air as he charged forward.
Whoosh! Suddenly, a green Aqua Arrow cut through the air and struck Kraab right on the head.
Clang! Water burst from the corner of Kraab's eye, splattering and falling to the ground.
He froze for a moment, then glared viciously at Gwen in the distance.
"You wretched human! How dare you attack me? Are you looking to die?"
"My Aqua Arrow didn't even work? This guy's armor is insane!" Gwen gasped, quickly backing away and running in the opposite direction.
Kraab sprinted after her on his swift mechanical legs, relentless and ferocious.
"I think the one looking to die is you!" a deep voice boomed from behind.
Kraab's body stiffened as he slowly turned around.
BOOM!
Before he could react, Diamondhead clenched his fist. It expanded with a rush of energy, turning into a massive crystal fist that sent Kraab flying into a distant mine.
Gwen looked up at the towering figure before her, her eyes filled with awe and admiration.
"Cuz, you're amazing! Thanks for saving me again!"
Diamondhead waved it off, then threw a quick punch behind him, sending the ambushing SixSix crashing away.
At that moment, Ben came running over, gripping an iron rod and catching the scene just in time.
"Oh, awesome! Cuz just wrecked those alien creeps again! That was epic!" he shouted excitedly.
Grandpa Max shook his head with a wry smile.
"Looks like Lucian doesn't need our help at all. He can take down both monsters by himself."
In his experience, Petrosapiens were never this strong. Lucian's performance defied all expectations.
Grandpa Max couldn't make sense of it. Eventually, he stopped trying—only investigation and research could unravel this mystery. Guesswork alone wouldn't get him anywhere.
Phew!
At that moment, the heavily injured SixSix shot up into the sky, glaring down at Diamondhead below. It shouted something in an alien tongue—neither anger nor fear, but rather... contempt and mockery.
"Does it have something to rely on?" Diamondhead frowned, uncertainty flashing across his face.
Just as he thought that, several poison smoke bombs rolled to his feet.
Hiss...
Thick white smoke erupted, quickly engulfing Diamondhead.
A wave of dizziness hit him hard. He clutched his head and dropped to one knee, struggling to stay conscious.
"Cuz!"
"Lucian!"
The three nearby shouted, trying to rush into the dense smoke.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, a black-clad figure on a Hoverboard shot into the smoke like lightning. Effortlessly, he grabbed Diamondhead and began carrying him toward the other side of the mine.
"%￥@%!" the SixSix Monster above cursed furiously, seemingly displeased that the black-clad figure had snatched his bounty.
The black-clad figure snorted coldly, raising his palm to unleash a blue beam that instantly knocked the SixSix Monster down, sending it plummeting straight into the abyss-like mine shaft.
After this, the figure swept a glance at Ben and the others before hoisting the semi-conscious Diamondhead and vanishing into the gloomy mine passage.
"I'll chase after him—he can't harm Lucian!" Grandpa declared, sprinting forward with speed unbecoming of an elderly man.
Ben and Gwen exchanged a glance before hurrying after him.
...
On the other side of the mine tunnel, the surroundings were littered with abandoned machinery, piles of plastic lunch boxes and empty bottles, and a desolate factory building.
Standing on his Hoverboard, the man in black casually tossed Diamondhead onto the ground, where he landed with a dull thud.
Gritting his teeth against the heavy pressure in his mind, Diamondhead rose to his feet. His gaze sharpened when he saw the figure before him. He recognized this man. According to the original storyline, he should be a Petrosapien named Tetrax Shard.
"Out of billions of Earth people on this planet, they chose you, you little brat!"
The black-clad figure stowed his Hoverboard, clutching it tightly in his hand.
"So what if I was chosen?" Diamondhead snorted coldly. "Just now, I single-handedly defeated SixSix and Kraab. Isn't that proof enough of my strength?"
"What are you talking about? There was only one SixSix just now!" The black-clad figure seemed surprised, having not noticed Kraab's presence.
No wonder—Kraab had long been blasted into the mountains by Diamondhead and was nowhere to be seen.
"You didn't come here just to lecture me, did you?" Diamondhead probed indirectly.
"Of course not. I'm here to take you back and retrieve the powerful Omnitrix! It doesn't belong to you!"
"Then why did it choose me?" Diamondhead countered.
"That has to do with its inventor. I can't elaborate further. Just come back with me quietly," the man in black said slowly.
"I'm not going anywhere." Diamondhead shook his head.
"That's not up to you."
"Why should I listen to you?"
The cloaked figure stepped before Diamondhead, pointing at his chest and enunciating each word.
"Because I am a noble warrior, while you are nothing but a useless moron."
"Useless?" Diamondhead bristled at the insult. "Once we deal with SixSix, you're welcome to settle this. Who wins isn't decided yet."
As they spoke, Diamondhead gradually regained his composure, the drowsiness lifting.
"What the hell did you just throw? That stuff is pure poison!" he couldn't help but complain.
The cloaked figure replied coolly, "It was an advanced alien technology capable of rendering most silicon-based lifeforms unconscious. You're lucky you didn't pass out immediately."
"Does that include you?" Diamondhead grinned.
"What?" The cloaked figure froze.
"No need to hide it. You and I are aliens of the same species—Petrosapien," Diamondhead said slowly.
After a moment's thought, the black-clad figure removed his mask, revealing a face identical to Diamondhead's.
"How did you know my identity? I shouldn't have given anything away," Tetrax Shard asked, puzzled.
"You don't need to know that." Diamondhead shook his head. He certainly couldn't tell the other he was a transmigrator.
Tetrax Shard's gaze grew grave. "We must leave immediately. There's another mercenary here!"
"Who?"
"Blackfire—a mysterious figure," Tetrax Shard said somberly. "He's formidable. Even I can't see through him."
Just as Diamondhead was about to respond, a blood-red flame streaked across the sky...