It was Ditto—the so-called cutest hero.
Swampfire shook his head helplessly. Though this new hero could split into multiple clones, his combat power was far from impressive. He had no exceptional strength or speed—only the ability to divide infinitely. Worse, if even one clone died, the original would die too. The ability felt almost useless.
If it were Echo Echo, that would be different. Not only was his combat ability strong, but even if all but one clone were destroyed, it wouldn't affect his survival.
Watching the Insect Freak and Four Arms locked in fierce battle, Swampfire spread his palms and unleashed a wave of roaring flames as he charged up the towering lecture platform.
Boom!
The Insect Freak, clad in cockroach armor, swung his massive, blood-red fist, its terrifying power smashing down toward Four Arms.
"You idiot! Taste my power!" Four Arms blocked the attack with one hand and struck back with the other, slamming his iron-like fist straight into the Insect Freak's chest.
But the sandbag-sized punch vanished as if it had sunk into a swamp, swallowed by the swarm of cockroaches. The insects clung to the Insect Freak's body, trapping Four Arms' fist so tightly he couldn't pull free.
"Who's the idiot now?" the Insect Freak sneered coldly, raising his thick leg and kicking Four Arms hard, sending him flying.
Just as he was about to press his attack, Swampfire arrived in time. His towering figure stepped in front of Four Arms, his palms igniting as he hurled blazing flames that forced the Insect Freak back.
Covered in crawling cockroaches, the Insect Freak's half-exposed greenish face twisted in rage. His eyes burned with ferocity as he growled, "Plant Man, try this on for size!"
The moment his words fell, he summoned a horde of termites from beneath the ground. They surged forward at astonishing speed, flooding across the lecture hall floor like a torrent of white grains. Within seconds, they had surrounded Swampfire and Four Arms completely.
Caught off guard, Four Arms was quickly overrun. The termites crawled up his legs and burrowed into his pants, unleashing waves of unbearable itching that made him thrash and roll in agony.
Despite his thick, tough skin, even the vicious termites couldn't bite through him—they only left an unbearable itch crawling over every inch of his body.
"Hold still," Swampfire said calmly.
He swung his arm, releasing a burst of fire that scorched Four Arms' lower body, burning away the termites. Then, planting both palms against the ground, he drew a blazing circle of fire around them, forming a protective barrier.
Countless termites charged fearlessly into the flames, throwing themselves at the ring of fire like moths to a flame. One after another, they were consumed and turned to ash, leaving nothing behind.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps echoed as the Insect Freak raised his massive, hammer-like fist. The stench of decay filled the air as he brought it crashing down toward Swampfire.
Swampfire snorted coldly and stepped back with his right leg, clenching his blue-green fist. He grounded his stance, body coiling like a spring before unleashing his full strength. His fist met the Insect Freak's head-on.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out as their fists collided, sending out a violent shockwave. Swampfire's overwhelming force blasted the massive Insect Freak through the air in a sweeping arc before he slammed into a stone wall, leaving a deep, man-shaped crater in the rock.
"Holy crap, Cuz, you're so strong!" Four Arms' eyes widened in disbelief.
Though Swampfire looked lean and frail, his strength was anything but. In the original story, he could even topple an entire tower with brute force.
Watching the Insect Freak slump against the wall, Swampfire tapped the Omnitrix on his chest and instantly transformed into Diamondhead.
With a swift motion, he reached out and conjured a massive crystal sword midair. Under the sunlight, the blade gleamed with a cold green light.
"Time to send you off to the afterlife."
Diamondhead hurled the sword with explosive power.
Whoosh!
The razor-sharp crystal sword shot forward like a serpentine streak of emerald light, slicing through the air with terrifying speed as it raced toward the Insect Freak.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, the Insect Freak summoned a swarm of black beetles that fused together into a gleaming dark shield in front of him.
But the solid insect barrier shattered under the force of the crystal sword. Countless beetles were torn apart by the sword's energy, their remains scattering through the air, mixed with viscous slime that splattered down to the ground.
The sword slowed for a brief moment as it pierced through the bug shield, but its momentum didn't falter. It shot straight toward the Insect Freak pinned against the wall.
The Insect Freak twisted his body at the last moment, narrowly dodging the deadly blade. Then, stepping onto a mass of locusts, he shot upward, fleeing into the sky.
"Don't think you can get away!" Four Arms launched himself like a cannonball, leaping high to grab him.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The Omnitrix on his arm began to flash, glowing red before a burst of light forced his transformation to end.
"Oh no!" Ben's face went pale as he plummeted toward the ground at terrifying speed.
If he hit the ground directly, he'd be lucky to survive.
Diamondhead slammed his palm against the ground, summoning a massive crystal construct that rose from below. Layered like a giant emerald bowl, it caught the falling Ben just in time.
"Saved… that was close." Ben collapsed against the smooth crystal surface, breathing heavily in relief.
Looking toward the distant sky where the Insect Freak was already escaping, Diamondhead clenched his fist but didn't give chase.
His transformation time was nearly over. If he rushed in recklessly, he'd only be putting himself in danger.
After the Insect Freak fled, the surrounding swarms of insects retreated rapidly, like a receding tide. They gathered into a dense black storm that followed behind the locust army.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
As fire trucks arrived on the scene, Diamondhead waved his hand, dissolving the massive crystal construct. He scooped up the dazed Ben and returned with Gwen and the others to the Rustbucket.
"Achoo!" Ben flopped back onto the bed, sneezing loudly.
"Mr. Pus-Pocket, you'd better rest up!" Gwen teased with a grin, still vividly remembering Four Arms' pus-covered armpits.
Ben opened his mouth to snap back but was cut off by another sneeze. With a groan, he pulled the blanket over his head and went to sleep.
"Alright, Gwen, stop teasing Ben," Grandpa Max said from the driver's seat, eyes focused on the road ahead. "The Insect Mutant took that woman. We need to find them quickly."
"But we've got no clues. How are we supposed to track them?" Ben mumbled tiredly.
"Found it," Gwen said, typing rapidly on the computer. "The only old apartment building in the city center that hasn't been demolished yet—it's 8610 Chester Street."
"You're amazing, Miss Know-It-All." Ben yawned. "Let's get going. I can't wait to pound that bug freak."
"Ben, you've got a cold. Don't transform recklessly, or it'll mess with your Alien Hero," Lucian said calmly.
"He's right, Ben. You need to listen," Grandpa Max warned, his tone serious.
First a disoriented Wildmutt. Then Four Arms with boils. Who knew what the next transformation would turn into…
"Alright, fine," Ben said quickly, then muttered under his breath, "Yeah, sure..."