A hundred meters away, in a small house.
A figure flipped over the house, landed in front of Grandpa Max and Gwen, and placed Ben on the ground.
"What's going on, Zack?"
Grandpa Max looked at Zack's face and asked.
"A very strong alien has arrived," Zack explained seriously. "My transformation time is almost up, so we can only retreat for now."
Although he vaguely remembered that Tetrax meant them no harm... When you're out in the world, how can you leave your fate in someone else's hands?
"Yeah.. He's really strong."
Ben rubbed his ribs, wincing in pain.
Grandpa Max took a deep breath, his gaze shifting from Zack's face to the ground beside them. "I just surveyed the surrounding area—there's a mine a kilometer away. We'll hide there!"
"Alright!"
Zack nodded firmly, then reached out and hoisted the furthest-hiding Gwen onto his back. "Gwen, I'll take you over first! Heeh~"
"Ahh! Zack, stop with that horrifying smile!!!"
...
A kilometer away, at the entrance of a massive mine.
As Zack delivered Grandpa Max to the entrance, he ended his transformation, his expression relaxed. "This way, they won't be able to catch us!"
"Zack, when you can transform again, we'll double-team that alien!"
Ben shook his slightly damaged watch, which had just finished cooling down, and spoke seriously.
Then, the four of them decisively stepped forward, crossed the entrance, and entered the mine tunnel.
In the pitch-black tunnel, rustling sounds echoed all around, as if rats or similar creatures were scurrying about.
"This place is so dark..."
Gwen subconsciously hugged Zack's arm, her face filled with fear.
"It's okay, Gwen. Compared to me, rats are nothing to be afraid of," Zack said with a grin, "comforting" her in his own way.
Gwen suddenly remembered Error Ghoftfreak's face subconsciously in this dark place and shuddered.
Grandpa Max, walking at the very front, sighed. "If only I'd brought an extra lighter, it wouldn't be this troublesome!"
"Alright, I'll keep an eye on the rear!"
Ben took up the back position, keeping a close watch on the tunnel entrance behind them.
At the entrance, it was still calm and peaceful...
The four of them quickened their pace, moving deeper into the tunnel.
Before long, a discarded mine cart appeared in front of them. Grandpa Max found some tools nearby, and using the faint glow from Ben's watch, he managed to repair the mine cart.
The four of them climbed into the cart and let it carry them forward.
As the mine cart bumped along the track, Zack stared at Grandpa Max and said admiringly, "Grandpa, you really can fix anything. Do Plumbers really need to know all this?"
Heh~ If he unlocked more advanced Plumber skills, would he become as versatile as his grandpa?
"E-Ehm.." Grandpa Max turned his head away, somewhat guiltily changing the subject. "Zack, Grandpa will teach you all this later. For now, I need to watch the road."
The journey continued in silence.
After a while, the mine cart exited the tunnel and arrived at an open-pit mine surrounded by rock walls.
Zack slowly stood up in the cart, squinting as everything around him appeared blurry.
His eyes gradually adjusted to the outdoor light.
Once his vision cleared, Zack quickly located the mine entrance. His expression turned grim.
"This is bad."
The mine's only entrance gate was sealed off by terrifying crystals.
"Wait, this crystal... the one chasing us is similar to Diamondhead!" Ben exclaimed as he looked at the crystal.
"It seems we've walked right into a trap," Grandpa Max said, looking a bit embarrassed.
Whoosh!!
With a sudden sound, Tetrax, riding a hoverboard, flew to the top of the entrance.
His tone was arrogant, arms spread wide."Is hiding all you know how to do? No matter where you run, you can't escape from me!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Small robots suddenly flew out from the surrounding rock walls, aiming at Zack and the others.
Boom!!
With an explosion, Kraab burst up from underground, flipping the mine cart over!!
"Rats, you've got nowhere left to run!!"Kraab growled, waving his massive pincers as he spoke indistinctly.
The entire mine had been completely surrounded by bounty hunters and small robots!!
"Zack, do you have any good ideas?"Ben slowly retreated to Zack's side and asked.
Zack looked around, continuously rotating the error screen."Give me a few seconds, I need to think..."
Whoosh!
Along with the small robots, Kraab also advanced.
They approached the group step by step, deploying their laser turrets and aiming directly at Zack and Ben!
Tetrax observed everything, slowly flying over as well. Only by pushing you to the brink can I witness your true combat power!
"Wait."
Zack looked around, eyes firm."I have a way to take them down—but it's very risky. You need to get away!"
"Zack, what do you need me to do?" Ben clenched his fists and asked.
"I need you to trust me!"
Without hesitation, Zack turned toward a specific alien on the dial and slapped it!
In an instant, Ben, Grandpa Max, and the others all ran into the distance, choosing to trust Zack!
Kraab opened his pincers, unleashing a terrifying laser wave that blasted straight toward Zack!
The small robots also prioritized firing laser beams at him!
Even Tetrax extended his hand, launching crystal after crystal at Zack!
All the enemies on the field—whether driven by hatred, mission objectives, or other motives—chose to focus their firepower on Zack alone.
"Fuch yeah! I chose you!"
Zack's heart pounded. After selecting that familiar alien, he slammed his hand down on the error screen!
A terrifying blood-red light erupted on the spot!
A figure slowly emerged from within the red glow.
It was a tall alien, entirely black.
Sharp antennae jutted from its head, its fingers were shaped like plugs, and even the tip of its tail ended in a plug.
Its face was blood-red, as if stained with blood, and its sharp fangs gave it an even more fearsome appearance!
[Image]
"What is that thing?!"
Tetrax's heart skipped a beat at the sight of the terrifying creature!
"Then..."
Zack bared his fangs, grinning ferociously!
He raised his arms, aiming his palms at the incoming lasers from all directions. "Let your energy become my nourishment."
Bang!!
As waves of energy struck his arms, countless terrifying streams of power obediently swirled around him!
"What's going on?!"
"Increase output! Increase output!!"
Kraab's jaw nearly dropped, his massive pincers slamming hard against the ground!
The small robots kept increasing their output, but it was useless!
"Absorb!!"
With a low roar, Zack drew in the surrounding energy—countless streams of power scattering before being sucked into his body through his fingers!
Bang!!
His chest expanded in an instant, and terrifying currents burst out from him, burning like raging flames, wrapping around his form!
At that moment... Zack looked like the God of Thunder and Lightning!!
[Suggest a good spooky name for Carnitrix Feedback]