If the sky fully brightened and sunlight reached this place, they would be burned alive and reduced to ashes.
Ectonurites, despite wielding powerful dark abilities, shared the same fatal weakness as the undead of legend. Sunlight was their natural enemy, a bane they were born to fear.
The Desert War God swung his long sword, slashing fiercely at Qyskaar, but the attack was narrowly dodged.
Stab!
The golden-sand blade carved a brilliant arc through the air before crashing into a massive tree. The terrifying force cleaved the trunk clean in half, sending it toppling onto the dust-covered road.
Fortunately, Captain Shaw had already led the alien containment units into the city to evacuate civilians, keeping them far from the battlefield. As a result, there were no civilian casualties.
Zs'Skayr raised his head, staring at the sky as it grew brighter by the second. Fear and unease churned violently in his chest.
Dodging the Sandbox's attack, he turned sharply toward Qyskaar.
"Dawn is almost here. We can't drag this out any longer. Let's attack together, force that brat back, and withdraw immediately."
Qyskaar nodded.
"Alright!"
At this point, they had no room for hesitation. Only by breaking through could they escape alive.
The imposing Desert War God, who had been dealing with two Ghostfreaks, suddenly shifted his gaze to the ground beneath him.
The enraged Kevin 11 had torn himself free from the bindings of fine sand. His bloodshot eyes locked onto the towering Desert War God with murderous intensity.
The Sandbox extended his arm, preparing to suppress Kevin once more.
But the two Ghostfreaks had already surged forward, radiating chilling hostility, clearly intent on tearing the Sandbox apart.
"Cuz, Kevin's mine. I'll handle him!"
A hoarse voice called out from the side.
The Sandbox turned his head, his eyes flashing.
A humanoid creature with a serpent's tail was slithering toward them at high speed. Slender and nearly two meters tall, its entire body was covered in crimson skin layered with hard scales.
Each fist bore a sharp spike that glinted with cold light, resembling lethal knuckle blades.
On the left side of its chest was embedded the black-and-white symbol of the Omnitrix.
"So it's Red Spikesnake," the Sandbox said, immediately recognizing him.
The last time, within the Great One's body, Lucian had encountered the Four Great Believers: Tygon, Eric, Red Spikesnake, and Chamalien. The alien gene before him had clearly been extracted from that encounter.
"Ben Tennyson, it's you again!"
Hearing Red Spikesnake call Lucian "Cuz," Kevin instantly guessed his identity. His expression twisted into something savage and feral.
"Hah! You pathetic loser. If you've got the nerve, come at me! This great hero guarantees I'll beat you into the dirt!"
As the words left his mouth, Red Spikesnake was already in front of Kevin.
Without another word, the two clashed head-on. Their brutal exchange shook the ground beneath them.
Seeing this, the Desert War God nodded slightly, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.
But in the next instant, that look hardened into icy killing intent.
The two grotesque Ghostfreaks, shrouded in chilling aura, rushed forward at terrifying speed.
Zs'Skayr tore open his chest, exposing writhing, nauseating tentacles.
"Die, you snot-nosed brat!"
The moment his voice fell, a raging purple dragon burst forth from his body, carrying dense deathly energy as it roared toward them.
Qyskaar followed suit, unleashing his signature purple beam and firing it straight at the Desert War God's head.
"Overestimating yourself."
The Desert War God let out a furious shout and planted his feet firmly.
His left hand clenched in midair, condensing a shield of golden sand out of nothing. He compressed it relentlessly, increasing its density until it became harder than solid gold.
Shield raised, he thrust it forward, blocking both purple beams head-on and deflecting them as they scattered in all directions.
In his other hand, he gripped the sharp golden longsword and swung with overwhelming force.
Rip!
The savage sand-forged blade tore through the air and struck Qyskaar in an instant.
"No!" Qyskaar shrieked, his scream shrill and ghastly.
A deep, glaring wound split open across his body, dark energy leaking out without end.
Seeing this, Zs'Skayr immediately cut off his attack and withdrew the purple beam.
His form blurred as he slipped into invisibility, dissolving into nothingness and fleeing toward the distance.
"Zs'Skayr, get back here!" Qyskaar shouted in shock and rage, never expecting him to abandon the fight.
"Heh heh. Qyskaar, just accept your fate. I'll find a chance to avenge you," Zs'Skayr's voice drifted faintly through the air.
"Trying to run? Not happening."
The Sandbox snorted coldly and hurled the shield in his left hand. Mid-flight, it unraveled into streams of golden sand that rapidly formed a cage, catching up to Zs'Skayr in an instant and trapping him inside.
The sand spread throughout the area clearly outlined Zs'Skayr's position. His invisibility was completely useless.
"Let me go!" Zs'Skayr howled hysterically, stretching out bone-white claws and hacking desperately at the prison.
At that moment, a warm ray of sunlight rose from the east, shining down on the San Francisco Bridge.
As the sunlight touched Zs'Skayr, it was as if boiling water had been poured over him. He let out a piercing scream as thick white smoke billowed from his body, sizzling violently.
"Ahhh!"
In the end, Zs'Skayr disintegrated into a cloud of ash, scattering into the sky.
"Don't kill me. Don't kill me. I'm begging you…" Qyskaar pleaded, inching closer to the Desert War God.
But the instant he drew near, a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes. Pitch-black ghostly claws shot forward, aiming straight for the Desert War God's eyes.
Already prepared, the Sandbox felt no ripple of emotion. He calmly reached out and seized Qyskaar in his grasp.
With a powerful throw, he hurled him directly into the sunlight.
"Ah!"
Severely injured to begin with, Qyskaar managed only a single scream before the blazing rays reduced him to blackened ash, slowly dispersing into the air.
[Successfully eliminated Zs'Skayr and Qyskaar]
[Ghostfreak's genetic data recovered. Qyskaar will return to Ben's watch and will no longer possess independent consciousness]
[Note: As Zs'Skayr had already restored himself to peak condition, you may inherit Zs'Skayr's full strength]