"I... I almost died in that place!!"
Hex staggered to his feet, using his twisted staff as a crutch. His black robes were singed and torn, smoke still rising from the burn marks covering his body. He limped away from the museum grounds, clutching the Archamada Book of Spells tightly against his chest like a man protecting his most precious treasure.
"When I master its power..." he rasped, his skull-painted face twisted with rage and pain. "When I unlock the full potential of the Archamada Book of Spells, it will be your time to die, you wretched fire creature!!"
From inside the burning museum, Heatblast watched the dark magician retreat into the shadows. A wave of relief washed over him, the billowing smoke and roaring flames provided perfect cover, ensuring no one could see him deliberately letting Hex escape.
Perfect. Take the book and run, old man. You'll come crawling back for this soon enough.
Heatblast spread his rocky palm open, revealing a mysterious pendant resting in its center. The charm glowed with faint magical energy, its surface etched with ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with hidden power.
"This little thing is worth far more than that spellbook right now," he murmured, his flaming eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Ding!"
"Congratulations to the host for signing in successfully!"
"Bonus Reward: Omnitrix transformation time extended by one minute!"
Another minute added to the clock!
Heatblast quickly did the math. Counting all the extensions he'd accumulated, his transformation time had doubled from its initial limit. He could now maintain any alien form for a full ten minutes, more than enough time for most battles.
"AHHHH!! HELP US!!"
"I'M GOING TO FALL!!"
"PLEASE, SOMEONE SAVE US!!"
The terrified screams snapped Heatblast back to reality. With Hex's retreat, his levitation spell had dissipated completely. The tourists, staff, and the Tennysons who'd been pinned to the ceiling were now plummeting toward the ground!
"Not good!"
Heatblast thrust both arms outward, dispersing the thick smoke with a wave of superheated air. He caught sight of the falling crowd, a dozen people tumbling helplessly through the air, their screams echoing off the museum walls.
FLASH!
He sucked all the surrounding flames into his body in one powerful breath. The inferno that had been consuming the museum vanished in an instant, drawn into Heatblast's core like water spiraling down a drain. His rocky form blazed even brighter, radiating intense golden light throughout the exhibition hall.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Bodies hit the floor one after another.
Fortunately, the museum's wooden flooring had been reduced to thick ash by the earlier fires, creating an unexpectedly soft buffer zone. The group landed hard and painfully, but nothing was broken, just bruises and wounded pride.
"Owww!!"
Ben hit the ground back-first and immediately grabbed his spine, wailing dramatically. "That's gonna leave a mark!"
Heatblast rushed over to Ben, Max, and Gwen. Other survivors were scattered throughout the hall, but he had to be careful, too many people around meant he couldn't reveal his connection to the Tennysons. Instead, he positioned himself in front of his family while keeping his attention on everyone.
"Is anyone seriously injured?!" His voice boomed with authority, carrying easily through the devastated museum.
"No, no, we're all okay!"
"Just some bumps and scrapes!"
"Thank you! Thank you so much! If that maniac had gotten what he wanted, who knows what he would've done to us!"
"What's with all these terrorist attacks lately?! The world's going crazy!"
The rescued tourists and staff crowded around Heatblast, gratitude evident in their tear-streaked faces. Several museum employees were particularly enthusiastic, practically begging him to stay for photographs and interviews.
"Sorry, but I don't have time for that right now!" Heatblast raised both hands, politely declining their requests.
Max's eyes swept the ruined museum, then widened with realization. "That... Heatblast, was it? The dark magician escaped just now! And he took the Archamada Book of Spells with him!"
"Once he absorbs the power from that book, he'll become even more dangerous!" Gwen added, her hands clasped together anxiously. Something about magic had been calling to her ever since they'd entered this museum, a strange pull she couldn't quite explain. The thought of that power falling into evil hands genuinely worried her.
Heatblast slammed his foot against the floor, putting on a convincing display of frustration. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing through the ash-covered stone beneath him.
"Those flames must have blocked my pursuit!" he growled, playing the part of the disappointed hero. "He slipped away in the chaos! But don't worry, I'll track that magician down and recover the Archamada Book of Spells for this museum! You have my word!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Under their admiring gazes, Heatblast launched himself through the hole in the museum wall and soared into the sky, trailing flames behind him like a comet.
Max, Gwen, and Ben exchanged knowing glances before quietly slipping out of the museum. After saying their goodbyes to the shaken tour guides and thanking the emergency responders who'd started arriving, they made their way back to the Rust Bucket and climbed inside.
And waited.
A few minutes later, the RV's door swung open.
Asher stepped inside, back in his human form. He closed the door behind him with deliberate care, one hand cupped protectively around something hidden in his palm.
"Ugh! I can't believe that coward ran away!" Ben slammed his fist against the table, his face twisted with genuine anger. "Asher, you had him on the ropes! The way he scrambled out of there was pathetic!"
He rubbed his sore back, wincing at the memory. "I was planning to pay him back for that ceiling stunt! Now who knows where he's hiding?"
"He'll be back," Asher said, a mysterious smile playing at his lips. "He told me himself, once he absorbs the power of the Archamada Book of Spells, he's coming for revenge. I'll be waiting."
Gwen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Wait a minute... 'absorb power,' 'dark magic'..." Her fingers flew across her laptop keyboard as she pulled up a browser. "Let me check something online. Asher, Ben, come look at this with me!"
The search engine in this world was remarkably comprehensive. Within seconds, Gwen had pulled up detailed information about magical artifacts that most people would dismiss as fantasy or fiction.
Whoever originally posted this actually knew what they were talking about, Asher mused, impressed. The average reader probably thought it was creative worldbuilding for some game or story. They had no idea it was all real.
"Here!" Gwen pointed at the screen excitedly. "The Archamada Book of Spells can enhance the magical abilities of any practitioner who studies it. But more importantly, it can fully activate the power of the Charms of Bezel!"
She scrolled down, revealing more information. "The Charms of Bezel are a set of magical talismans. There are five main charms, each granting different abilities: luck manipulation, pyrokinesis, levitation and telekinesis, electrokinesis, and resurrection. When combined with the Archamada Book of Spells, they become even more powerful!"
"So that's it," Ben muttered, reading over her shoulder. "No wonder that creep wanted the book so badly. But even with enhanced magic, he's still no match for, "
"There's a problem, though." Gwen's excitement faded, replaced by concern. "If he completes whatever ritual he's planning, he might become genuinely unstoppable. And we don't even know if he'll bother coming back to fight us. He might just disappear and cause trouble somewhere else."
Asher's mysterious smile widened. "Oh, he'll definitely come back."
He raised his cupped hand slowly, then opened it.
A pendant rested in his palm.
The charm was roughly the size of a silver dollar, its surface carved with intricate magical symbols that seemed to shift and dance in the light. A soft purple glow emanated from within, pulsing gently like a heartbeat.
Ben, Gwen, and Max all stared, their eyes widening in unison.
"That's... that's one of the charms from the article!" Gwen shot to her feet, nearly knocking her laptop off the table. "Asher, how did you, ?!"
"Simple enough." Asher shrugged casually. "When Hex got hit by my Fire Fist earlier, he was too dazed to notice one of his precious charms flying off. I snatched it before it hit the ground." His smile turned slightly smug. "So yes, he'll absolutely come looking for us. This little trinket is too valuable to abandon."
Max's expression remained thoughtful. A slight frown creased his weathered features as he studied Asher. Something about his grandson's explanation felt a little too convenient, but he'd learned to trust Asher's instincts. The boy had proven himself time and again.
Whatever Asher was planning, it was clearly on their side.
"So..." Ben's eyes slowly widened as the implications sank in. "That pendant is actually one of the Charms of Bezel?!"
"It is." Asher held up the charm, letting it catch the light streaming through the RV's windows. "And I definitely don't need it. I've got the Omnitrix, magic would just be redundant for me."
He turned to look at Ben, whose expression had shifted to something between hope and pleading.
"Ben, you've already got the Iron Man armor we're building for you. That's more than enough firepower." Asher's tone was gentle but firm. "But Gwen..."
He shifted his attention to his cousin. She'd been quiet since he'd revealed the charm, her eyes fixed on the glowing pendant with an intensity that surprised even him.
"Gwen doesn't have any special abilities yet. And something tells me..." He glanced at the charm, then back at her. "Magic might suit her perfectly."
"This is... for me?"
Gwen's voice came out barely above a whisper. A rush of emotions crossed her face, surprise, gratitude, and something deeper. Ever since they'd entered that museum, she'd felt an inexplicable connection to the magical artifacts on display. The Archamada Book of Spells had practically called out to her.
And now Asher was offering her one of the legendary Charms of Bezel.
"Yeah." Asher lifted the pendant by its chain. "Try it on. Let's see what kind of magic it holds."
Ben's shoulders slumped with exaggerated disappointment, but he didn't actually protest. Deep down, he knew Asher was right, he was already getting custom-built power armor. Gwen deserved something special too.
Besides, watching his cousin become a magical superhero would be pretty cool.
Asher stepped forward and carefully placed the chain around Gwen's neck. The pendant settled against her chest, and the moment it made contact with her skin,
FLASH!
Purple light erupted from the charm, engulfing Gwen in a brilliant aura! The symbols carved into its surface blazed to life, rotating and spiraling around her like a protective constellation.
"Whoa!" Ben stumbled backward, shielding his eyes.
Max gripped the driver's seat, his expression shifting from concern to wonder.
The light faded after several seconds, leaving Gwen standing in the center of the RV with the pendant glowing softly against her chest. Her eyes, which had been closed, slowly opened.
Something was different about them now.
"How do you feel?" Asher asked, watching her carefully.
Gwen looked down at her hands, then back up at Asher. A slow smile spread across her face.
"I feel... incredible."
She raised one hand experimentally. The pendant pulsed, and suddenly, every loose object in the RV lifted off the ground. Books, dishes, Ben's collection of snack wrappers, even the heavy toolbox Max kept under his seat. Everything floated gently in midair, surrounded by faint traces of purple energy.
"Telekinesis!" Gwen gasped, her smile widening into a grin. "It's the Charm of Telekinesis! I can move things with my mind!"
With a thought, she lowered everything back into place, gently, without a single crash or spill.
"And that's not all." She focused harder, and her feet slowly lifted off the floor. An inch. Two inches. Three. She was flying.
"DUDE!" Ben's disappointment evaporated instantly, replaced by pure excitement. "Gwen, you're floating! That's so awesome!"
"The Charm of Telekinesis," Max murmured, nodding slowly as recognition dawned. "I've heard stories about the Charms of Bezel. That one grants levitation and the ability to move objects at a distance. It's one of the most versatile of the set."
Gwen touched back down, but her eyes remained bright with exhilaration. She looked at Asher, and for a moment, words seemed to fail her.
"Thank you," she finally managed. "Seriously, Asher... thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." Asher crossed his arms, his expression turning serious. "Hex is going to come back for that charm eventually. When he does, you'll need to know how to use it properly. Consider this the start of your training."
"Training?" Gwen's grin returned, fiercer than before. "Bring it on. I'm not letting some skull-faced creep take this away from me."
Asher laughed, a genuine, warm sound.
This was exactly what he'd hoped for. Gwen had latent magical potential that most people couldn't even dream of. With the Charm of Telekinesis as a foundation, she could develop into something truly extraordinary.
And when Hex came crawling back for his precious artifact?
Well, he'd find more than he bargained for.