Chapter 19: 19: Heeh~ You're next
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Small Robots unleashed a barrage of laser blasts, scorching the air as they rained down destruction. One after another, laser beams tore through the buildings.
Seeing this, Sixsix no longer bothered cursing and joined in, firing relentlessly.
Their overwhelming firepower reduced the house where Zack had been hiding to rubble, blasting it into a cloud of dust and debris.
Moments later, thick smoke billowed over the ruined area.
Sixsix glanced down at the detector in his hand.
The signal from the Carnitrix had vanished.
The Small Robots halted their assault. Their scanners showed no remaining energy signature.
Target eliminated.
Whoosh!!
Suddenly, space twisted violently—and from the smoke emerged a terrifying, ghostly silhouette, materializing right in the middle of the robotic formation.
"Extremely volatile energy detected!"
"Extremely volatile energy detected!"
The alerts blared in unison as the drones scrambled in panic, scattering in all directions like startled birds.
Every turret snapped into position, aiming directly at the phantom-like figure that had just appeared.
"Kehehe, you wanted to kill me?"
Zack unleashed his monstrous transformation, his body grotesque and terrifying. Blood-red tentacles erupted from his form, swinging out like massive axes.
"But I'm already a ghost~ You better die for your misjudgment ~"
Crack! Crack!
In the blink of an eye, three or four Small Robots were cleaved clean in half!
The remaining drones scattered in disarray, their flight paths disrupted as they frantically tried to evade. None of their laser shots landed anywhere near Zack.
"Ectonurite species! With damaged DNA!! What's with this energy rating!?" Sixsix screamed in panic, frantically raising his laser pistol and aiming at Zack's advancing figure.
"Heeh~ You're next."
Zack turned his head, his skull-like face locking eyes with Sixsix, glowing with an eerie intensity.
"…Fuck!"
Sixsix's hand shook violently, and he pulled the trigger—but his shots went wild, completely missing the mark.
Fear had overtaken him. His aim was useless under the pressure of sheer terror.
"Oh~? Missing your mark, huh~? Let me show you how it's done."
Zack's eyes gleamed with a wicked glint as deep purple waves of Mental Energy pulsed outward, condensing around him like a storm.
As Zack's brain surged with power, waves of concentrated energy erupted outward—Boom!
They struck Sixsix dead-on, sending him flying and crashing into a nearby building. The structure shattered under the impact, reduced to rubble.
"Heeh~ That felt good!"
Zack let out a low, triumphant growl, ready to press the advantage——but just then, a searing wave of heat rolled over him.
The sunlight overhead had grown harsh, burning against his alien form.
Whoosh!
Without hesitation, Zack shifted into an incorporeal state, phasing through the sunlight and avoiding the follow-up laser blasts from the remaining drones.
"Wow! It looks like…"
He clenched his fist, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"…the Mental Energy boost really powered up Ghostfreak's abilities!"
Now, activating intangibility barely drained his stamina. His energy blasts had become far more devastating. Even his biggest weakness—sunlight—wasn't as deadly anymore!
Error Ghostfreak, number one!
Zack grinned wickedly, his eyes glowing with menace as he slowly turned toward the remaining Small Robots.
"Now… the hunt begins."
Still in his incorporeal state, Zack's eyes began to glow—then flash with focused beams of energy.
Boom! Boom!
Twin laser blasts erupted from thin air, slicing through the sky and striking the remaining Small Robots.
One after another, they exploded into scrap metal, unable to locate the source of the attack before being completely destroyed.
They never even saw it coming.
"So satisfying."
Zack grinned as he continued the assault, weaving between targets, phasing in and out, and launching blast after devastating blast.
After a brief pause to recover his aim, he locked onto another drone—just as a high-pitched, eerie shriek echoed from below.
"Ahhh!!" It was Sixsix.
Zack glanced down, eyebrows twitching.
"Oh right… almost forgot about you. Heeh~"
Below him stood Sixsix, body scorched and damaged, armor cracked and sparking. His mask had been half-blasted off, exposing jagged fangs twisted in rage.
He let out another unearthly howl and charged upward toward Zack with deadly intent.
The rocket pack on Sixsix's back roared to life, spewing fire as he launched himself into the air.
"You're asking for it!" Zack snarled.
His body instantly became tangible again, and with a sharp command of his abilities, countless blood-red tentacles coiled together—forming a massive, pulsing hammer.
Whoosh!
Sixsix's expression twisted in terror. His body visibly shuddered, and his aggressive aura completely collapsed.
Without a second thought, he twisted in mid-air—narrowly dodging Zack's hammer by a hair's breadth.
Zack's attack missed, and he quickly looked up—only to see Sixsix speeding away, putting distance between them fast.
Yes... he was fleeing.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The remaining seven or eight Small Robots scattered as well, frantically entering escape mode and blasting off in the opposite direction.
Zack stood there, momentarily stunned.
"…Did I just scare off Sixsix?"
His lips twitched in disbelief as he stared at the empty sky.
All his enemies… had fled.
Ding! Host has driven away Sixsix and destroyed eight Small Robots. Progress +1!
Template Progress: 14/100 — New Alien Unlocked!
Zack frowned slightly. "I don't remember this alien too well. I'll test him out when I get the chance."
Just then, a noise came from the ground.
Kraab—his armor scorched and glowing red—lay weakly on the cracked earth. He looked up at the sky, eyes burning with fury as he gritted his teeth.
"Cowards… all of them ran off!"
"Hey." Ben stepped forward and planted his foot squarely on one of Kraab's giant claws, grinning. "You couldn't even protect yourself, and you're still trash-talking your teammates? Give it a rest—Ben 1, villains 0."
He looked up at Zack with a proud smirk.
"Yeah." Zack nodded, slowly descending through the air toward him. "Ben, leave this one to me. I might get a bonus reward for taking him out."
Ben shrugged and stepped aside without hesitation. "Go for it. He's all yours."
Before Zack could even fly over—A sharp whoosh sliced through the air!
One crystal spike after another shot toward both Zack and Ben!
Zack immediately phased into his incorporeal form to evade, while Ben ignited into flames and shattered the incoming crystal with a fiery burst!
The two of them looked toward the source in unison, their expressions growing serious.
Stepping off a hoverboard, Tetrax landed at the edge of the abandoned town. Trailing behind him were the seven Small Robots that had escaped earlier.
"This one's mine!!"
Without hesitation, Ben burst into flames and shot toward Tetrax like a fireball.
"Brat." Tetrax's tone was cold and firm as he eyed Ben's approach. "You're getting cocky just because you had a lucky break. That won't fly with me."
Without even looking, he raised his arm and swung his elbow outward with brutal force—
Boom!!
Ben was smashed directly into the ground, the impact cracking the earth.
Before he could react, a massive diamond cage materialized above him and slammed down, pinning him inside with unyielding strength!
"You're next."
Tetrax glanced around the desolate surroundings with cool confidence.
Whoosh!
"Is that so?"
A low, eerie sound echoed—and in the next instant, countless blood-red tentacles erupted from the shadows, lashing straight toward Tetrax!
Bang!!
With a swift motion, Tetrax opened his palm, summoning a flurry of crystals that instantly condensed into a massive diamond hand.
The crystalline construct slammed into the tentacles, grabbing hold of them mid-air——and with a powerful twist, hurled the unsuspecting Zack straight to the ground!
"Too weak," Tetrax said coldly. "How can this possibly—"
Swoosh!!
Before he could finish, the same blood-red tentacles coiled tightly around his arms and legs.
Using the momentum of his fall, Zack yanked Tetrax down with him!
Boom!
Tetrax crashed heavily into the ground beside him, his eyes narrowing in surprise.
"...He can fight up close too?"
This shapeshifter was unexpectedly powerful!
The two clashed, grappling fiercely on the ground. While Tetrax held the upper hand in brute strength, Zack relied on his abilities and technique to hold his own. Blow after blow, they fought to a stalemate!
After several exchanges—
Zack's tentacles suddenly phased out of existence, and he vanished once more.
Tetrax stood up, his expression serious as he slipped into a combat stance. "Interesting…"
But just then, a flash of blood-red light exploded in front of him!
The ghostly silhouette of the MonXTR appeared directly before Tetrax!
Caught off guard, Tetrax instinctively swung his fist toward the incoming figure—only to miss.
Zack's mask dropped back into place as he twisted to evade the punch. Without slowing down, he darted toward Ben!
At that moment, Ben had already reverted back from his transformation, breathing heavily and vulnerable.
Several of the Small Robots were closing in on him fast.
Bang!
Zack's tail shot out like a whip, scooping Ben off the ground. With his friend secured, he bolted away from the battlefield.
Retreating was the best option—for now.
Tetrax lowered his fists, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. "This shapeshifter… his control over the Omnitrix, and even his own combat ability, is impressive."
With Sixsix having fled and Kraab already beaten, this was the perfect opportunity for him to test Zack's strength firsthand.
A good challenge.
Cough, cough...
Crackling with electricity and nearly charred, Kraab shakily pushed himself upright.
"Still alive?" Tetrax raised an eyebrow. "Sixsix ran away—aren't you going to retreat too?"
Kraab slowly raised his massive claw and growled, "No! We'll take them both down… together!"
Tetrax stared at him for a long moment, eyes narrowing.
"…Fine," he finally said.
He'd seen stubborn people before.
But never anyone this suicidally stubborn.