"Are you serious...?" Max looked at Tyler and Ben with a face full of utter bewilderment.
Since sunrise, Ben had been babbling about "Multiverses" and "Carnitrixes," and now he had brought home a boy who claimed to be a grandson from another world. What was crazier was that his own granddaughter now wore the Omnitrix.
"Grandpa, I'm a traveler," Tyler said, gritting his teeth to play his final card. "In my world, you told me the truth about Grandma Verdona. She was an Anodite, and she loved your 'Stink-Bug Stew' more than anyone."
Max's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He coughed violently, his face turning a shade of pale red. "I... I believe you! I never thought multiversal travel was possible, but you know things only a Tennyson could know."
"Wait, so you're my grandson from another world?" Max asked, still processing.
"Technically, I was adopted by Gwen's parents in my timeline," Tyler explained. Max looked down, a heavy mood settling over him as he muttered something about calling an ex-girlfriend to see if she'd kept any secrets. Tyler decided it was best to stay quiet.
The next morning, the Rustbucket sped down an empty highway. Tyler was wide awake, his enhanced Mental Energy keeping him sharp.
"We're heading for Mount Rushmore," Max explained. "If anyone can explain how you got here, it's the Plumbers."
"Dr. Paradox will find me before then," Tyler smiled. "But a trip to the base doesn't hurt."
BOOM!
A massive, hammer-shaped warship slammed into the road ahead, cleaving the asphalt in two. Ben and Gwen bolted awake as the RV screeched to a halt. A slender, less cybernetic version of Vilgax stepped out, surrounded by a swarm of hovering drones with lethal-looking turrets.
"Vilgax is here?!" Max gasped.
"No way!" Ben rubbed his eyes. "In our stories, he doesn't show up for weeks! He's early!"
"Tennyson..." Vilgax hissed, his voice cold and devoid of the mechanical rasp Tyler was used to. "Still hiding behind a steering wheel, I see."
CLICK.
Tyler's Carnitrix hissed, the screen popping up with a familiar silhouette. Tyler stepped out of the RV, a predatory grin on his face. "Recommending this for a 'lite' version of Vilgax? Interesting."
WHOOSH!
A blinding flash of red light erupted. Out of the mist stepped The Bog-Stalker (Swampfire). He looked feral—his plant-like skin was darker, more gnarled, and his methane-vents were smoking.
"Let's call him... The Feral Swamp-Wraith!" Ben shouted, hiding his fear behind a name.
Vilgax lunged, but Tyler ignited the vents in his feet. His muscular, plant-like body became a blur, slamming into Vilgax with the force of a freight train. The tyrant was sent tumbling back. How is he this fast?!
Tyler didn't let up. His fists erupted in green-tinted plasma, raining blows down on Vilgax. It wasn't a fight; it was a one-sided suppression. Every time Vilgax tried to counter, Tyler's Predatory Instincts allowed him to parry and punish.
"This Vilgax is weak," Ben noted, his mouth hanging open. "But Tyler... he's fighting like he's erasing him from existence."
"Surround him! Kill him!" Vilgax roared, his pride shattered as he ordered his drones to gang up on Tyler.
The drones bombarded Tyler with lasers, but they were like pinpricks on his toughened hide. However, they bought Vilgax enough time to land a heavy kick—straight into Tyler's chest.
CLICK.
The kick slammed against the Carnitrix dial. The watch didn't error out; it accelerated. The air instantly filled with a crushing, suffocating pressure as a massive iron suit materialized.
"Vilgax," The Fallout-Forge (NRG) rasped, looming over the smaller tyrant. "Explosions are an art form."
BOOM!!
A miniature mushroom cloud erupted on the highway. The drones were vaporized instantly. Vilgax, his body mangled and smoking, feebly crawled toward his ship. "As long as... the cultivation chamber... reaches me... I will return..."
A dark red energy demon flew out of the iron suit, landing in front of the crawling tyrant.
"You are..." Vilgax whispered in terror, "a Nuclear Demon."
"Goodbye," Tyler said. He raised a foot and brought it down on Vilgax's chest.
BANG!
The nuclear discharge turned the tyrant to ash instantly. This time, there was no doubt. Tyler had personally ended the life of the Conqueror.
[Ding! Host defeated the mechanical army and executed Vilgax. Progress +1%.]
[Template Mastery: 34/100. DNA UNLOCKED: TOBY!]
Tyler rubbed his temples, his head aching as he reverted to human form. "Toby? What kind of alien is a 'Toby'?"
He didn't recognize the name. But if it came from the Carnitrix, it certainly wasn't going to be friendly.
New Transformation Log
Toby (Error/Tiffin Variant)
Traits: Though small and seemingly harmless, this "Error" version possesses a black-hole-like stomach and can absorb the kinetic energy of anything that touches it, making it an indestructible "Living Shield."
Warning: High consumption of nutrients required after transformation.
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