Entirely ice-blue and full of vitality, it looked like a spirit born from a world of frost and snow. The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature dropped sharply.
Vilgax charged forward with ferocious momentum, his eyes burning with rage as if he wanted to tear his opponent apart.
Big Chill stood calmly, completely unshaken.
Just as Vilgax's claws were about to strike, Big Chill phased into its spectral form, ignoring the attack and passing straight through him.
"What the hell is this thing?!"
Vilgax roared, nearly losing his mind. He hadn't expected a human from Earth to control so many alien forms. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He clawed wildly at the blue silhouette before him, but his hands only grasped empty air—useless.
"You're too hot-headed. Let me cool you down."
As soon as he spoke, Big Chill's ghostly form sank into Vilgax's body. Freezing cold spread from Vilgax's chest, frost forming and hardening until he was encased in ice. Inside the crystal-clear sculpture, Vilgax's furious expression remained frozen in place, like time itself had stopped.
Big Chill flickered, appearing mid-air. It exhaled a chilling breath, quickly shaping an animal from solid ice.
Now's the chance—finish him off!
Moments later, a massive elephant of sculpted ice, surrounded by wisps of mist, took form above Vilgax.
"Go."
Big Chill pointed.
Moo!
The icy beast swung its long trunk, tusks gleaming coldly, and charged down the frozen steps like an out-of-control train. Vilgax had just broken free of the ice when the elephant struck him squarely. He flew like a kite with its string cut, crashing through several massive trees before slamming into a tall stone cliff.
The elephant exploded in midair, unable to withstand its own force, and scattered into shards that quickly faded.
"Let's see if he's dead yet."
Big Chill flapped its wings and glided toward the cliff face.
Half-buried in the rock, Vilgax's body was spread out in a "大" shape, pain surging through every muscle. He struggled to move his arms, pushing away the stones that trapped him until he slowly climbed out.
"He's still alive?"
Big Chill froze for a moment—this had been his strongest attack.
Boom!
Vilgax burst free from the mountain, covered in dirt, gravel, and shards of ice, gasping heavily.
No, if this keeps up, he'll die at this kid's hands! Taking the Omnitrix can wait. Better to live to fight another day.
Whoosh!
As he thought that, a loud roar echoed overhead. A colossal cosmic battleship appeared, its metal frame trailing thick smoke as it descended rapidly. Its course—directly toward the center of the battlefield!
Feeling the fierce wind bearing down, Vilgax didn't hesitate. He bolted to the side; he had no intention of being flattened by his own ship. It might not kill him, but it wouldn't be pleasant either.
Big Chill spread its wings, turned spectral again, and flew straight toward the descending warship. Soon, he slipped inside and found Grandpa Max and Gwen operating the controls.
"The ship is about to crash! We need to make an emergency landing!" Grandpa Max turned his head to look at the battered Rustbucket.
But his heart sank instantly when he saw the Rustbucket's tires—they had burst at some point, now limp and deflated. He'd planned to rev up the Rustbucket at the last moment before the ship hit, using its momentum to escape the terrifying shockwaves. But this was not what he'd envisioned.
Without the Rustbucket, were they to jump directly from the ship? That would likely leave not a shred of them behind...
"Grandpa, what should we do?" Gwen looked frantic, frantically manipulating the System, hoping for a miracle.
Grandpa Max closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed.
Just as the two were at a loss, a hoarse voice came from behind.
"Grandpa, Gwen, I'll take you away."
Gwen's slender frame trembled as she slowly turned, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Cuz!" She leapt joyfully into the arms of Big Chill. "Cuz, I'm so relieved you're safe! I thought..."
Big Chill ruffled her hair, smiling gently. "Silly girl, how could anything happen to me?"
"Child, it's such a relief you're safe." Grandpa Max stepped forward and embraced Big Chill.
Whoosh!
The massive Universe ship continued its rapid descent, its piercing alarm blaring incessantly.
"We're running out of time." Big Chill pushed them away. "We must escape immediately."
As he spoke, he raised his palms, forming icy helmets atop Grandpa and Gwen's heads to shield them from the raging hurricane.
"Wait!" Grandpa Max had a sudden flash of insight. He hurried to the control console and began operating it rapidly. Soon, he finished his adjustments.
Big Chill embraced Gwen and Grandpa, unfurling his blue wings. He soared straight into the howling gale.
High above, Gwen's face was pale. Her eyes tightly shut, she dared not look down at the scene below. She clung desperately to Big Chill's arm, not daring to relax for even a moment.
"Gwen, you're crushing my arm!" Big Chill teased, soaring effortlessly through the sky.
Gwen's cheeks flushed, and she loosened her grip slightly, though she still held on tightly.
Soon, Big Chill safely landed the two of them on a distant hillside, overlooking the crashing warship.
Thanks to Grandpa Max's maneuvering, the spacecraft hadn't plummeted straight down but glided through the air. It scraped the ground, sending sparks flying and carving deep gullies before finally coming to rest without exploding.
"Where's Ben? Why can't I see him?" Grandpa Max suddenly asked, looking around.
Whoosh!
A blinding pillar of fire shot skyward near the warship.
"I'll go check over there. You two stay here."
Big Chill flapped his wings, transforming into a streaking blue shadow as he darted away.
Upon arriving, he saw Heatblast battling Vilgax, not far from the crashed ship.
Vilgax had been overwhelming Heatblast, but the moment he spotted Big Chill in the sky, his confidence evaporated. He turned and fled toward the Universe starship.
He had to escape this planet, far away from Big Chill!
"Don't run!" Heatblast pursued relentlessly, about to storm the ship.
But Big Chill was faster. He streaked before Vilgax, unleashing a blast of biting cold air straight at him.
"Get lost! You Earthlings!" Vilgax made no attempt to fight, dodging the cold blast before dashing into the command center.
Big Chill had intended to pursue, but suddenly seemed to remember something, turning back. He grabbed the furious Heatblast along the way and hurried toward Grandpa Max and the others.
"Cuz, let me go! I'm going back to beat the crap out of that damn stinky squid!" Heatblast struggled.
"No need. He'll be miserable soon enough," Big Chill rasped, swiftly returning to the hillside.
In the distance, the colossal space battleship rose into the sky once more, its powerful engines roaring as it soared into Outer Space.
"Tennyson family, I'll be back for you!!" Vilgax roared furiously from the airlock entrance.
His voice echoed across the heavens, reverberating in every direction.
Everyone watched as the starship departed, gradually fading into Outer Space.
BOOM!
The boundless sky suddenly erupted with blinding firelight, dazzlingly brilliant. For a fleeting moment, even the sun dimmed.
Big Chill stood on the hillside, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth, as if he could hear Vilgax's agonized screams...
...
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