Times Square.
Kevin paced back and forth across the plaza, glancing at the drowsy gang members sprawled around him. His patience was wearing thin.
"Is Asher really too scared to come?" Kevin muttered, running a hand through his hair. "No, that can't be right. He must have seen our broadcast on TV."
"Boss, I think he's chickened out," Rojo called from where she lounged against a fountain. She yawned sleepily, clearly bored with waiting. "Why don't we just take the initiative and go find him?"
The suggestion was immediately shot down by a small hovering robot in the sky above them.
Vilgax's low, domineering voice echoed from the mechanical drone, "No. We wait here for Asher to come. If you go searching for him, you'll scatter your forces, making it easy for him to defeat you one by one."
Kevin looked up at the robot with displeasure. "Then what do you suggest we do, Vilgax? Got any better ideas for dealing with him?"
The Mechadroid was silent for several seconds before Vilgax spoke again, his voice dripping with murderous intent, "If he doesn't come out soon, grab his two family members and take them to the TV station. Torture them in front of the cameras. I refuse to believe he won't show himself then."
"Now that's a good idea," Kevin said, an evil smile spreading across his face. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes drifting between Max and Gwen.
The two prisoners had lost all strength to struggle and were even dozing off from exhaustion. But when they heard Kevin and Vilgax's conversation, both snapped fully awake.
"Grandpa, what should we do?" Gwen asked in a weak voice, fear creeping into her tone.
Max clenched his fists tightly. "Gwen, don't be afraid. If they really try something, I won't just sit here helplessly. Until Asher comes to rescue us, I'll make sure you're safe."
Despite their anxiety, both maintained their unwavering trust in Asher. They firmly believed he would come to save them.
Another ten minutes passed.
Kevin, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, suddenly sprang to his feet with a roar. His expression was violent. "Enough! I've waited too long! Now I'm going to the TV station to show Asher what happens when he makes me wait!"
"Take the old man," Rojo suggested without emotion, pointing at Max. "He'll last longer under torture."
When she glanced at Gwen's beautiful young face, a trace of pity flickered in her eyes. She didn't want to torture a little girl unless absolutely necessary.
"Makes no difference to me," Kevin growled through gritted teeth. "I've waited too long and I need someone to satisfy my anger!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, dull footsteps echoed from the entrance to Times Square.
Because no one had dared enter the plaza earlier, the sound of someone walking in now was obviously noticeable, reverberating through the empty space.
"Is that Asher?!" Kevin perked up immediately, his eyes staring ferociously toward the gate shrouded in darkness. In the shadows, he could vaguely make out a figure as tall as a child.
It had to be Asher!
Whirr! Whirr! Whirr!
Several Mechadroids and mechanical soldiers moved to Kevin's side in unison, raising their weapons and aiming at the figure in the darkness.
"Asher? He's here?" Gwen and Max's eyes lit up with hope as they stared expectantly at the shadow near the entrance.
The dark figure walked out of the shadows and into the moonlight that bathed the plaza.
Their body was illuminated by the bright lunar glow, revealing every detail.
It was a disheveled Ben Tennyson!
"Ben? Why is it you?" Max exclaimed, looking at Ben with surprise and concern.
"Ah, Grandpa!" Ben forced a smile that looked worse than crying and greeted Max and the others awkwardly.
"He's the kid who hangs around Asher, I know him. His name's Ben Tennyson, and he's not threatening at all!" Kevin lowered his weapon in disappointment.
The mechanical soldiers and Mechadroids also withdrew, clearly not taking Ben seriously and looking down on him.
Ben felt deeply humiliated.
"Ben, what are you doing here?" Kevin asked with a mocking tone, looking at him sarcastically. "Did you come to die? Or are you offering yourself as an extra hostage?"
"That's it, Kevin!" Ben put on a fawning expression. "I think following Asher has no future, so I came to join you!"
"Oh? Why do you say that?" Kevin became interested and asked.
"Asher is too scared to come out and face you, even though he's hiding outside somewhere. I asked him to save people, and he refused! I think following him is just asking to die, so I want to surrender and become your subordinate."
Ben spoke through gritted teeth, making it sound like Asher was truly as cowardly as he claimed.
"Ben, what are you talking about? How could Asher be like that!" Max's heart was turbulent, though he managed to restrain himself. Gwen, however, asked loudly, her face full of disbelief.
"Shut up, nerd!" Ben shot back at Gwen unceremoniously before praising Kevin again. "It's better to be Kevin's follower!"
After just a few words, Kevin was overjoyed. The thought that Asher had been frightened into hiding like a mouse made him feel absolutely triumphant!
So what if you're strong, Asher? So what if you can strip away my abilities? So what if you can beat me down whenever you want? Now you're scared like a rat and don't even dare come out openly!
Rojo and the mechanical soldiers also looked pleased, their confidence soaring.
Only Vilgax remained somewhat calm. As a cosmic-level powerhouse, he had at least some mental discipline. He immediately activated his scanner to locate the Omnitrix!
The Omnitrix was right next to Times Square!
In other words, Asher had secretly come here after all!
"I just scanned Asher's location, the Omnitrix is near Times Square! Go to your designated positions now!" Vilgax's urgent voice came from the Mechadroid.
When the Omnitrix was this close, he couldn't afford to wait!
But at this moment, Kevin, Rojo, and all the robots had their eyes fixed on the hovering drone that had made the announcement. They had completely forgotten about Ben's existence!
The Omnitrix was too important to them. Ben seemed dispensable by comparison.
"Perfect, no one noticed me!" Ben raised his palm triumphantly and pressed it against his chest.
Silver armor quickly appeared on his body, spreading rapidly across his entire frame. Wisps of silver light glowed under the moonlight, making him look like a gleaming killer.
Kevin's gang still hadn't noticed that Ben had completed his transformation!
"Ben transformed..." Gwen stared blankly at Ben's current form, hardly daring to believe it was really him.
Max looked equally surprised!
Where did this steel suit come from?
"Okay, freaks, family reunion time is over. Now you're going down!" Ben raised his palm cannon domineeringly, gathering tremendous energy as he spoke in a low, confident voice.