Beep beep beep!
A strange sound rang out as a blinding red light burst from Ghostfreak's body.
Ben stared blankly at his hands.
"What… just happened? It felt like I fell asleep for a moment. That was seriously creepy."
"Hehehe~ I've finally shaken you off, you little brat!"
A chilling laugh suddenly echoed from above. Ben's heart lurched. He snapped his head up, his pupils shrinking instantly.
"You're… Ghostfreak!!"
"That's right. I've been waiting for this day for a very long time!"
The pale Ghostfreak sneered, stretching out its ghastly white claws as it lunged toward the panicked Ben.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Blue Aqua Arrow shots mixed with a dense barrage of laser fire, merging into a surging wave of energy that slammed violently into Ghostfreak. Ghostfreak screamed and hurriedly retreated, barely avoiding the sudden assault.
"Useless trash. Step aside and let me handle this!"
Kevin took several steps forward, forcing his way through the fierce lasers and Aqua Arrow. He raised his sharp crystal blade, preparing to bring it down on Ben.
At the last possible second, a black figure rushed in. Lightning flashed around his legs as he scooped Ben up at astonishing speed, narrowly avoiding the deadly crystal blade.
Feedback crackled with electricity as he carried the stunned Ben back to the bridge tower and set him down.
"Cuz! I—"
Ben brightened in relief, but then lowered his head, looking like a kid who knew he'd messed up. Earlier, Ben had lost control of Ghostfreak, which led to his Cuz getting ambushed. The guilt weighed heavily on him.
Feedback spread his hands, his voice humming with static.
"That little scratch? Barely even itches. Now get behind the bridge tower. Kevin and the others are on me."
Ben glanced down at the Omnitrix, still shrouded in crimson light, and let out a helpless sigh.
"Alright… be careful, Cuz."
Feedback turned and became a streak of blue light, racing straight back toward the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Gwen and Grandpa Max were close to their limit. Their attacks weren't doing anything to Kevin at all.
"Hahahaha! What a bunch of weaklings! That Ben Tennyson brat—what, hiding behind the bridge tower crying now?"
Kevin stood with his hands on his hips, completely ignoring the incoming Aqua Arrow and laser fire as he strode forward.
"Water Dragon Soul!"
Gwen began chanting, and a ferocious water dragon took shape in front of her. Guided by her will, the deep-blue magical dragon let out a thunderous roar. It twisted through the air, carrying an overwhelming surge of water as it charged forward and slammed head-on into Kevin 11.
"So lame, Ben Tennyson's cousin."
Kevin reached out and crushed the water dragon in his hand, shards of water scattering instantly.
"Hahahaha, this is fun. Got any more? Send a few more little bugs over for this big shot to play with."
"You!"
Gwen clenched her teeth in fury, her chest rising and falling sharply.
"Hahahaha, I love that look. You hate me, but you can't do a damn thing about it!"
Kevin burst into manic laughter, his face twisted into a grotesque grin.
Gwen opened her mouth, about to retort—
Just then, Feedback stepped forward and appeared beside her.
"Let me handle him."
Feedback stood in front of Gwen, posture steady and imposing, the tendrils on his body swaying lightly in the breeze.
"Cuz…"
Gwen's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Be careful. I'll support you from the back."
Feedback shook his head and let out a quiet laugh.
"No need. Dealing with a mere Kevin doesn't require anyone else."
"What did you say?! You bastard!"
Kevin clenched his fists so hard they shook, his eyes practically blazing.
"You blind idiot! How dare you look down on me! You're asking to die!"
Seeing Kevin on the verge of exploding with rage, Gwen covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh. The tension in her chest finally eased. Thankfully, her Cuz was here to back her up.
Otherwise, she really would have been bullied by Kevin.
"Grandpa, you should fall back too."
Feedback turned his head toward Grandpa Max, who was still firing nonstop.
"Go behind the bridge tower and watch over Ben. His watch is still charging. We can't let Ghostfreak take advantage of that."
"Alright. Gwen, let's go."
Grandpa Max nodded and retreated with Gwen.
Provoked beyond restraint, Kevin's arm morphed into a massive sword, its crystal surface reflecting his twisted, ferocious face. He looked ready to tear Feedback apart with his bare hands.
"Come and get it!"
Kevin roared, smashing the bridge deck beneath his feet as he charged straight at Feedback.
Feedback flickered aside, narrowly evading the crystal greatsword. His speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Kevin and delivered a powerful kick that sent him crashing to the ground.
Kevin bristled with rage and lashed out behind him, but the strike cut through empty air.
Feedback leapt upward, stomped down on Kevin's head, then landed steadily on the shattered bridge surface.
He raised both hands as arcs of electricity gathered in his palms, crackling violently as they locked onto Kevin.
Just then, two Ghostfreaks arrived.
Zs'Skayr and Qyskaar dissolved into shadowy phantoms, vanishing completely. In the next instant, they attacked from Feedback's front and rear, Ghostly energy surging like a black tide with terrifying momentum.
Though Feedback couldn't see them, he clearly sensed the fierce gusts rushing in from both sides. That cold, resentful chill was unmistakable.
Electricity coiled around his palms as Feedback thrust his hands forward and backward, unleashing violent bursts of lightning in both directions.
Zs'Skayr's eyes widened. He hurriedly dodged to the side, but a bolt still caught the edge of his body, white smoke rising where it struck.
"Damned Conductoid!"
He cursed furiously as he retreated to Kevin's side.
Qyskaar fared far worse. He was blasted straight back by the electricity, rolling to the ground beside Zs'Skayr.
His pale skin was scorched black and torn apart by burn marks.
"Qyskaar, hurry up and shed that filthy skin."
Zs'Skayr's voice was hoarse as he pointed at his white outer layer.
"It only restrains our power~"
Feedback's eyes sharpened. Brilliant lightning erupted from his body, dazzling like a thunder god descending upon the battlefield. Wrapped in overwhelming killing intent, he charged forward at blinding speed.
Kevin let out a furious roar and thrust out a massive flaming palm. A scorching shockwave exploded outward as he collided head-on with Feedback, the two locking together in a brutal struggle.
Seizing the moment, Qyskaar let out a twisted laugh and began tearing at his own outer skin.
First, his palms split open, revealing black, skeletal claws. Then he ripped down the center, completely shredding the white layer.
The Original Ghostfreak.
His skin was a tattered pale purple. Black claws extended from his hands, and stark white bones jutted from his exposed ribs. The sight was grotesque and horrifying.
"This is my true form!"
Qyskaar raised both hands, standing bathed in the darkness.
Though Zs'Skayr and Qyskaar looked similar at first glance, there were clear differences between them.
Zs'Skayr was the Omnitrix-calibrated form. His skin was deep purple and mostly intact. His claws were white, and his tail was fully exposed, patterned in black and white like the tentacles within his body.
Qyskaar, on the other hand, was the original Ghostfreak, the form before Omnitrix calibration. His pale purple skin was incomplete, with bones exposed in several places. His claws were black, and only a small portion of his tail was visible.
"So terrifying…"
Ben swallowed hard.
"Now there are two Ghostfreaks. I can't even tell which is which."
Gwen frowned, completely at a loss.
Grandpa Max's expression turned grim as he spoke.
"They're actually easy to tell apart. Just look closely."
Hearing that, Ben and Gwen both widened their eyes and focused intently on the two figures.
Boom!
A massive bolt of lightning tore across the sky. Kevin's huge body was blasted away by Feedback and sent flying into the ocean below, his fate unknown.
Crackling with electricity, Feedback slowly stepped forward, advancing toward Zs'Skayr and Qyskaar.
...
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