Thud!
The green giant lifted his massive hammer and brought it down with full force on the roaring fire dragon. The explosion of power sent a violent heatwave rippling outward, bending the delicate flower stems around them.
Hovering in midair, Heatblast watched as the rising steam below swallowed the giant's silhouette from sight. He turned his gaze toward Phil, ready to charge forward and seize the Null Void Projector.
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air beside him.
Heatblast flashed to the side, leaping from his fiery cloud to dodge the incoming hammer, landing steadily on the scorched lawn.
Across the garden, the green giant stood beneath a tree. His skin was blackened by the fire dragon's flames, and his breaths came heavy and ragged—clearly, the attack had left him badly injured.
Both of his hands were empty now. He had hurled his enormous hammer moments ago in a failed ambush that Heatblast easily avoided.
Seeing the creature weakened, Heatblast decided it was time to finish things.
Clenching his fists, he gathered searing flames around them, then pushed off with both legs, becoming a streak of crimson light that closed the distance in an instant.
A flicker of fear flashed in the giant's emerald eyes.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
A flurry of fiery punches tore through the air, leaving trails of blazing light. Like a storm of fire, they rained down mercilessly upon the giant's body.
Boom!
After hundreds of rapid strikes, Heatblast gathered his full power into one final blow. His fist blazed with dazzling flames before driving into the giant's abdomen like a thunderbolt.
For a moment, everything fell still.
The giant's eyes widened and his body froze in place, as if someone had hit pause on him.
Three seconds later, he toppled backward with a thunderous crash. The ground quaked beneath his weight, sending waves of dust rolling through the courtyard.
His massive arm still twitched weakly—he wasn't dead, just completely immobilized.
[Green Giant Defeated]
[Heatblast Enhanced: Fire Power +10%]
Heatblast pulled back his fist and turned toward Phil in the corner.
Meanwhile, Ghostfreak and Grandpa Max had already dealt with the two Null Guardians, knocking them out cold. Their hulking bodies lay sprawled across the shattered courtyard like drunken beasts.
The night wind howled as Heatblast strode forward, each step leaving scorched, glowing footprints on the ground. His presence radiated quiet power, a natural authority that needed no words.
"Phil, I'll say this one last time—hand over the Null Void Projector!" Grandpa Max shouted, clutching his wounded arm as he rushed forward.
Ghostfreak floated beside him, his pale form glowing faintly in the dark. His single eye glared coldly at the panicked Phil. "You scum, Phil! How dare you deceive the great hero~"
"That's because that doofus was too easy to fool…" Gwen muttered, pouting as she remembered how Ben had been bribed with a fruit platter.
If Lucian hadn't exposed Phil's true nature when he and Grandpa were away, they might still be in the dark—and Grandpa could have ended up trapped inside the Null Void himself.
The group stood together, facing Phil in the corner of the courtyard.
Against two powerful aliens, a retired Plumber, and a water mage, Phil's heart sank completely.
He let out a bitter laugh, glancing at his former comrade. "Max, you know there's no going back for me. After what I've done, the Plumbers will never forgive me."
Grandpa Max's heart tightened. He took a deep breath, steadying his voice. "If you're willing to stop now, there's still a chance. For the sake of our past, I'll plead your case with the Plumbers. Maybe I can help lessen your punishment."
Phil shook his head. "It's too late for that, Max."
The moment he finished speaking, he raised the Null Void Projector and fired. A beam of golden energy erupted from the barrel, surging straight toward them.
Heatblast reacted instantly, grabbing Gwen and Grandpa Max and transforming into a swirling tornado of flames, vanishing from sight.
Ghostfreak shifted into his intangible form, letting the golden wave pass harmlessly through his body.
Buzz!
The beam soared upward until it burst against the night sky, forming a massive golden ring. It glowed like a wound torn open in the heavens—a sight both dazzling and terrifying.
"Roar!"
A massive black serpent burst out from the golden ring—no, it was a dragon!
Twin horns jutted from its head, its eyes glowing blood-red. Its body was covered in azure scales that shimmered with a ghostly green gleam under the moonlight. Nearly twenty meters long, it coiled and twisted through the air, each breath releasing crackling threads of blue lightning.
"It's a Thunder Dragon!" Grandpa Max's face went pale.
"Hahahaha!" Phil threw back his head in manic laughter. "Thunder Dragon… perfect! Destroy this cursed world!"
"Roar!!"
The Thunder Dragon let out a thunderous roar that shook the night, diving straight down. Lightning danced wildly across its body as it plummeted toward Phil.
Gulp!
It opened its enormous jaws and swallowed the crazed Phil whole.
"Phil!" Grandpa Max shouted, his voice filled with grief and turmoil.
Once, they had fought side by side through life and death—and now his comrade was gone. Or perhaps, the real Phil had already died long ago, consumed by greed.
The appearance of the Thunder Dragon sent nearby residents screaming as they fled into the streets, terrified of being caught in the chaos.
Heatblast stood firm before the mighty creature, his blazing form radiating unshaken resolve.
"Lucian! The horns on its head emit powerful electrical currents—don't let them hit you!" Grandpa Max shouted, shielding Gwen behind him.
He didn't even bother drawing his gun; against something like this, it would be useless.
"Got it." Heatblast nodded.
He stepped onto his blazing trail of fire and strode forward through the air to face the dragon. Raising one hand, he formed a crimson fireball and hurled it straight ahead.
Boom!
The blazing orb, trailing waves of scorching heat, slammed into the Thunder Dragon's body—but it only sparked a faint burst of flame before disappearing. The eerie green scales were barely scorched, leaving the creature unharmed.
So that's it? Even with my flames boosted by ten percent?
"The dragon's scales are immune to both fire and water! Switch to another Alien Hero!" Grandpa Max shouted.
"No need. Leave this to the old Ghostfreak~"
In an instant, Ghostfreak appeared out of thin air.
He tore open the tendrils across his chest—black and white limbs whipping violently as they lashed at the Thunder Dragon's side, sinking in like biting fangs.
"Roar~"
The Thunder Dragon bellowed in pain and lashed its tail furiously, striking Ghostfreak and sending him flying.
Thud!
Ghostfreak crashed into the ground like a kite with its string cut, his white form slamming into the lawn before he could rise again.
"Roar!!"
Electric light surged between the dragon's twin horns as arcs of blue energy gathered, ready to annihilate everything before it.
Heatblast pressed his hand against the Omnitrix on his chest, triggering another transformation...
...
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