[Template Progress: 13/100, Unlocked: Major Mental Power Enhancement!]
Ethan's body showed no change. He asked in confusion. "System, is this an enhancement that I need to cancel my transformation to receive?"
The system quickly explained. [Ding, this one strengthens the Host's original body.]
"Understood."
Ethan glanced at the distant Kraab one more time, worried about an ambush, and dismissed the idea of chasing after him.
He began using his own abilities to rapidly repair the old beat-up car, and only after restoring the car to perfect condition did he return inside.
"Feeling a little tired for once."
Ethan sat on the lower bunk, his expression carrying a rare hint of exhaustion.
It was the middle of the day, and he had done special training and then a decisive battle. It was genuinely draining.
Ben was full of enthusiasm. "If that crab freak dares to come again, I'll turn it into barbecue!"
"Ben really has endless energy."
Ethan looked over with envy, then asked. "By the way, I feel like something is off about that crab freak!"
"I felt it too." Gwen's face showed a touch of alarm, but her tone remained calm. "It's just like the mechanical freaks we ran into at the very beginning. It knew exactly where we were! So the crab freak's appearance was not a coincidence. It was a targeted hunt!"
"We need to be careful from here on. Maybe there's more than one hunting us."
Max took the opportunity to state his own assessment.
Based on his understanding of Vilgax.
That guy would absolutely never send just one person!
Biu, biu!
With a series of distinctive sound effects, a blood-red light flickered, and Ethan appeared on the lower bunk.
In that instant.
The exhaustion on his face was swept away entirely. His mind felt sharpened countless times over, and even his senses became noticeably clearer!
It felt very much like a brain upgrade!
Ethan was completely alert and immediately said. "System, open the personal panel!"
Host: Ethan Shaw
Age: 11
Template: Error Watch [Transformation Duration: 20 minutes] [Cooldown Duration: 10 minutes] [Slaughter Mode Unlocked]
Progress: 13/100
Skills: Five major world languages, human vehicle operation, close combat techniques, firearms aiming ability.
Items: None
Aliens: Initial Ten Aliens, Snare-oh, Frankenstrike, Blitzwolfer, Cannonbolt, Eye Guy, Wildvine, Ditto, Bullfrag, Arctiguana, Benvicktor, Buzzshock!
Personal Condition: Adult-level physical strength [Mental power stronger than normal humans].
"So that means my mental power exceeds that of an ordinary person."
Ethan looked at the personal condition section with pleasant surprise and asked. "System, aside from keeping me alert and making my reactions faster, does this have any other uses?"
The system elaborated further. [Host. The energy output of certain aliens' superpowers is linked to the strength of your mental power.]
Mental power strength has such a large influence!
"Bounty hunters, I'll be waiting for you to come to me one by one!"
Ethan clenched his fist tight, and like Ben, became full of enthusiasm!
...
An long-abandoned small town with dust-covered houses. An RV drove in and parked in a hidden corner of the town.
"This town looks like it has no residents anymore."
Ethan slowly stepped down from the old beat-up car and looked around. "Ben, let's set up an ambush somewhere nearby to deal with whoever is chasing us."
"Ethan."
Ben stuck his head out, his expression determined. "Let's split up and ambush separately! You still can't transform, but I already can. If the situation gets critical, I can engage first, and it won't expose you either."
"You... alright."
Ethan was worried, but still agreed to Ben.
He did not believe in main character plot armor, but he trusted Ben's abilities.
"Grandpa, can I borrow something."
Ben went back into the car, asked Max to borrow something, and only then stepped off the old beat-up car.
He flashed Ethan a confident smile, hands tucked in his pockets. "Ethan, you're very strong on the technical side, better at using the watch than me, but I can also come up with tactics you wouldn't think of!"
The moment those words landed, he strode confidently into one building after another, and finally hid himself inside a warehouse!
"I hope so."
"Grandpa, please take care of Gwen."
Ethan watched Ben's retreating figure, said one word of reminder, then went straight to the building next door, pried open a window, and climbed inside.
The inside of the building was very dark, and the smell was very unpleasant.
Dust was everywhere, along with spider webs.
Fortunately he did not mind these things, and just patiently lay in wait.
As for Max and Gwen, neither of them needed to fight, so they moved to a spot further away and crouched there.
Time passed slowly.
The highway was still completely empty.
Bang! Bang!
But the ground alone was producing one bulge after another!
As if some kind of creature was moving beneath the earth.
Boom!!
With sand and dust flying in all directions, a massive figure burst up through the ground!!
"Mice!!"
Kraab, his head now repaired, shook the sand and dust from his body and said grimly. "You're hiding right here!"
He moved quickly, and immediately locked onto the hidden old beat-up car!
Kraab lifted his steps and walked straight up to the front of the old beat-up car.
Ethan, hiding inside a building off to one side, nearly held his breath, his heart pounding wildly.
He looked down at the Error Watch, reached out and pressed the screen. It would not press down.
Damn... the transformation timer hasn't reset yet!
And it seemed to be because of the mental power enhancement. Ethan could feel the killing intent radiating from Kraab even more sharply than before!!
"Well then!"
Kraab slowly raised his massive claw, and actually aimed it at the old beat-up car. "I'll smash this damn wreck of a car first!"
He clearly had a grudge against the old beat-up car.
"Thud."
A light but deliberate stomping sound came from the warehouse where Ben was hiding!
Kraab's eyes flickered. He immediately locked onto the warehouse and charged toward it at a quick pace. "Activating heat scanner. Such a massive heat signature. Has a Pyronite transformed!"
"Can Heatblast win? I feel like Upgrade might be better here."
Ethan anxiously clenched his fist, sweating for Ben!
Crack!!
Kraab extended his claw and tore off the warehouse door like ripping a cardboard box, and his expression froze!
Inside the warehouse, countless wooden crates were stacked up.
All the wooden crates were blazing fiercely, and the entire warehouse was nearly alight!
Boom!!
A terrifying fire fist burst out from the flames, several meters long, and struck Kraab directly, blasting him flying!!
"Bang."
Kraab crashed to the ground in a complete tumble, with severe burn marks appearing across his body. "A Pyronite managed to send me flying?"
"The lighter I borrowed from Grandpa was a huge help."
Ben walked out of the warehouse, his figure looking more impressive than ever, and smiled coolly. "Nobody lives here, so I burned freely!"
'Ben asked Grandpa for a lighter. He set the crates on fire in advance, then transformed into Heatblast to fight after starting the blaze!'
Ethan immediately figured it out, realizing Ben's combat strategy.
A very sharp combat strategy!
Ben's combat power increased greatly because of this, and he traded blow for blow against Kraab in a fierce battle!
Up in the sky, a blurry figure came rushing in, leading a large swarm of flying machines!
It was Sixsix, bringing a full dozen or more small robots, flying right above Ben's head!
He raised his laser gun and without hesitation aimed straight at Ben's head. The small robots followed suit and did the same.
Click!
Just as Sixsix was sneakily pulling the trigger.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
All the small robots, as if startled by something, flew over all at once and crashed directly into the unsuspecting Sixsix!
They swung their cannons around and aimed directly at the building where Ethan was hiding!
Inside there, a blood-red light flickered!
[Detected... an extremely intense energy reaction!!!]
The robots reported faithfully!
"?"
Sixsix stood there completely baffled, the corner of his mouth twitching hard.
A bunch of flying things got spooked by the second transformer, did they??