Facing the blazing arc of fire, Diamondhead stayed calm and steady. He slammed his fist into the ground.
BOOM!
Countless massive crystal spikes burst from the sand, crossing and weaving in a powerful formation as they surged toward the searing blade of flame.
In an instant, the crystal spikes collided with the fiery slash, clashing violently and ringing out with a sharp metallic shriek.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The flame blade, sharp enough to cut through iron like paper, sliced through several crystal spikes in succession, scattering showers of brilliant sparks. But it was soon overwhelmed by the relentless barrage, fading into a crimson shimmer that dissolved within the mirrored gleam of the crystals.
"Another Petrosapien!" Blackfire snarled, gripping his flaming scimitar tightly. "Then I'll just destroy you both—your kind will be wiped from existence!"
With a thunderous burst, he launched forward like a cannonball, charging straight at Diamondhead with ferocious speed.
"Come," Diamondhead said evenly, his eyes calm and unreadable.
"Be careful!" Tetrax Shard shouted, preparing to rush in, but Diamondhead stopped him.
He turned slightly and pointed toward the nearby SixSix and Kraab. "You take care of them. Those two are nearly finished—it shouldn't be hard to bring them down."
"As for Blackfire, he's mine." Determination gleamed in Diamondhead's gaze.
Tetrax Shard hesitated for a moment, then nodded. There was something about Diamondhead—an undeniable confidence—that made him believe in his words.
"Understood." Without hesitation, Tetrax Shard sprinted toward SixSix and Kraab to stop them from interfering.
Once he was gone, Diamondhead turned to Ben and the others, motioning for them to move to safety. Then he stood alone, facing the raging inferno that was Blackfire.
Wreathed in blood-red flames, Blackfire gripped his scimitar tightly, his aura twisting like a monstrous fire serpent ready to devour its prey.
"You've got guts, kid, challenging me alone. Didn't you see what happened to that Petrosapien just now?!" Blackfire roared.
"I saw," Diamondhead replied coldly. "So what?"
He raised his hand, forming a crystal spear from thin air and hurling it forward with immense force.
Blackfire's eyes widened. He didn't dare take the attack lightly—his blade swung instantly, striking the crystal spear head-on.
Clang!
The flaming scimitar crashed into the green spear, but the blade sank only halfway before getting stuck fast, unable to cut through.
"What?!" Blackfire was stunned. This was impossible.
His fire-forged blade had always shredded Petrosapien crystals effortlessly—especially against Tetrax Shard. Yet now, his weapon couldn't even pierce halfway.
Tetrax Shard was already among the most powerful of his race, and Blackfire had never encountered a stronger opponent. But the being before him... was stronger still.
"You're even stronger than that traitor? Then you can't be allowed to live!" Blackfire roared, unleashing every ounce of his power. His aura flared violently, the ground trembling beneath the weight of his fury.
He could no longer retreat. Whether it was the Galactic Warlord Vilgax or the Omnitrix's wielder, both were beyond his control. There was only one option left—kill the threat before it grew stronger.
"Then come!"
Diamondhead's arm morphed into a massive crystal blade, its edge gleaming coldly. From his body erupted a storm of sword-like crystal shards, streaking through the air like a deadly downpour.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Thousands of razor-sharp crystal swords rained down, glittering with a lethal brilliance as they descended on Blackfire.
"So cool!" Ben shouted, jumping up excitedly. It was the first time he'd ever seen something like this.
Gwen's eyes sparkled as she nodded, admiration softening her voice. "Yeah. My cousin isn't just handsome—he's awesome when he fights."
Grandpa Max chuckled. "Of course. What did you expect? Look who his grandfather is."
...
At that moment, Blackfire halted his advance and spun his flaming scimitar at high speed, forming a blood-red vortex to block the incoming storm of crystal blades.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metallic clashes rang through the air as the crystal swords struck the fiery vortex. Each impact sent waves of brutal force reverberating through Blackfire's arms.
He gritted his teeth and held on, but the relentless pressure forced him to stumble backward. The crystal blades were too strong—unfazed by his flames. He could only deflect them slightly, unable to absorb the full impact.
Finally, the onslaught proved too much. A barrage of crystal blades struck his chest, hurling him backward at blinding speed. He crashed into the ground, rolling helplessly across the sand.
Seeing the opening, Diamondhead charged forward.
The crystal blades had hit their mark, but Blackfire's armor was extremely tough—the blades had only pierced a few centimeters. It wasn't enough to finish him.
As Diamondhead closed in, he hurled several crystal spears straight at the fallen opponent.
He'd learned from Tetrax Shard's earlier mistake—he wouldn't rush in recklessly and risk a counterattack.
Sure enough, just as the crystal spears were about to strike, Blackfire rolled to his feet, twisting his body sharply to evade the attack.
He landed firmly on the scorched sand, eyes blazing with murderous rage as he faced Diamondhead head-on.
"Playing dead doesn't work on me," Diamondhead said coolly.
Blackfire's chest was riddled with wounds. He clenched his flaming scimitar, voice hoarse but filled with fury. "Then it's settled. Today, only one of us walks away alive."
With a roar, he swung his blade, unleashing a blazing arc of fire straight at Diamondhead.
Diamondhead conjured a solid crystal barrier in front of him, blocking the fiery strike.
Whoosh!
A sharp gust tore through the air. Blackfire vaulted over the barrier, raising his scimitar high. It blazed with lethal heat as he brought it down in a crushing blow.
"Good!"
Diamondhead thrust his hand upward. It expanded rapidly, transforming into a massive emerald crystal hand that seized the scimitar mid-swing.
The flaming blade sizzled and hissed under the crystal's grip, heat distorting the air around it.
"It's over."
Diamondhead swung his arm, smashing the captured weapon—and Blackfire along with it—into the rocky ground with explosive force.
He kicked the scimitar aside, then raised his hand again, forming a crystalline vest that locked tightly around Blackfire's body, pinning him to the ground.
"You—!" Blackfire struggled desperately, pulling at the crystal restraint, but it wouldn't budge.
As crimson light flared in his palm, ready to release a surge of flame, Diamondhead acted first. A crystal halberd materialized in his grip, and he drove it down hard into Blackfire's chest.
Crack... crack...
A harsh grinding echoed as the halberd pierced through the armor, pressing deeper until it sank into Blackfire's body.
Blackfire's eyes widened in shock. He thrashed violently, but the crystal bindings held him fast, giving him no chance to escape.
Then, with a final, decisive thrust, Diamondhead drove the halberd through his heart.
Blackfire's pupils shrank. His body went still, then limp, the flames around him flickering out. Moments later, he was motionless.
Bounty Hunter Blackfire — deceased.
[Ding~ Blackfire successfully eliminated]
[Random Hero Gene Chest obtained]
[Stored in inventory, accessible anytime]
A series of system chimes echoed in Lucian's mind.
Staring at the corpse before him, Diamondhead's expression remained calm. Without a word, he willed the chest open...
...
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