"A weapon? Like steel armor?! Or Transformers? Or an alien spaceship?" Ben asked excitedly, his imagination running wild with each suggestion.
Asher's mouth twitched at the absurd questions. "You're thinking way too big," he said, holding his forehead in exasperation. "At most, I'll make you a gun."
"Asher, don't encourage this," Gwen said worriedly. "What if Ben treats it like a toy and accidentally hurts someone?"
"Please, I'm not that kind of person!" Ben responded confidently, his eyes sincere and determined.
"Don't worry," Asher explained, his tone reassuring. "It's an air gun that uses compressed air as ammunition. There's no risk of fire, and it takes considerable time to charge between shots."
"Ah, it's just an air gun," Ben said, his excitement deflating considerably.
Asher's expression darkened with irritation. "An air gun is already quite powerful. Anything stronger would be beyond your ability to handle safely."
"Hey, I'm actually pretty good with firearms!" Ben boasted enthusiastically. "I've played this shooting game called Counter-Strike before, and I had awesome skills."
Max had remained silent during the conversation, which was equivalent to tacitly approving Ben's possession of a weapon. This wasn't meant for petty criminals, it was for the truly dangerous threats they'd been facing. Overall, the benefits outweighed the risks.
"So when do we start?" Ben asked impatiently.
"Once I transform into Grey Matter, I can begin construction," Asher replied, then looked at Max. "Grandpa, when we reach the commercial street up ahead, I'll need to pick up some materials."
He didn't just want to create an air gun, he wanted to ensure everyone could fight effectively, even in their human forms.
"Alright," Max said knowingly. He understood Asher's character well enough, but still felt compelled to add, "Just remember, don't do anything reckless."
"I know, Grandpa," Asher nodded solemnly.
While preparing combat capabilities for the Rust Bucket and its passengers, he also wanted to improve everyone's individual fighting abilities.
Deep in space, aboard a massive warship...
Vilgax was far from idle.
"Lord Vilgax," a black and red humanoid robot approached cautiously. "Since you posted the bounty across the galaxy, three mercenaries have responded, all of them renowned experts throughout the universe!"
"These three must pass my test before they're qualified to pursue the Omnitrix," Vilgax said coldly, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority.
"My lord, the test is prepared and all three mercenaries are in position," the robot reported while activating a device. "When shall we begin?"
The large screen in the spacecraft's command hall flickered to life.
CLICK!
An image appeared showing the training room. The space was shrouded in darkness, with all lights extinguished.
WHOOOM!
A yellow spotlight suddenly illuminated the center of the training room.
Standing in that circle of light was a robot with a samurai-like design, purple body, grenades attached to its waist, and a katana secured to its back. It resembled a mobile arsenal, every inch of its frame weaponized for combat.
This was SixSix!
WHOOOM!
Another spotlight activated, revealing the mercenary beside him.
This one was a crab-like robot with massive pincers and a hulking, reinforced body. If SixSix was dangerous and well-armed, then this one was pure brute force, a powerhouse built for overwhelming physical dominance.
This was Kraab!
The final light was activated.
It revealed a figure wearing a black helmet and heavy black armor, his physique unnaturally muscular beneath the thick plating. Whether this was a humanoid alien or another type of robot remained unclear, the armor concealed everything.
All three mercenaries radiated overwhelming killing intent that far exceeded anything the standard battle drones could match.
"Now," Vilgax's powerful voice boomed through the loudspeaker into the training room, "the test begins!"
The expressions of SixSix, Kraab, and the armored warrior shifted simultaneously.
Suddenly, red lights surrounded them, dozens of small attack drones floating in the air, their weapon ports targeting the three mercenaries with deadly precision.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The drones unleashed a barrage of red lasers that pierced the darkness, converging on what appeared to be the most vulnerable target, SixSix.
SHING!
SixSix's eyes flashed dangerously as he drew the katana from his back in one fluid motion. The blade gleamed like a crescent moon as it slashed through the first laser, deflecting it harmlessly away!
He rolled forward, then launched himself several meters into the air after the roll completed. While airborne, he twisted his body with acrobatic precision, dodging every subsequent attack with mechanical efficiency!
His blade flashed again!
The katana released a cold arc of steel that tore through a distant drone. His other hand simultaneously drew a gun from his waist and fired a laser blast that exploded five additional drones in rapid succession,
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The entire sequence took mere seconds. SixSix dispatched his attackers with ruthless efficiency.
"Can't let you steal all the glory," Kraab's mechanized voice rang out as his four scythe-like legs stomped the ground, leaving torn gouges in the metal floor. He launched himself like a spring-loaded trap, his massive body crashing directly into the drones floating above!
His powerful pincers caught two drones mid-air, crushing them like tin cans with contemptuous ease.
BOOM!
Upon landing, Kraab's enhanced strength was fully on display, as his pincers effortlessly smashed two more robots, as if they were made of cardboard rather than military-grade metal.
The armored warrior moved last, maintaining a low profile compared to his flashier companions. He retrieved a hoverboard and mounted it smoothly.
Like a high-tech warrior from ancient mythology, he rode the floating board between the attack drones. His fighting style was direct and devastating, each punch carried invincible force, destroying the machines one by one with brutal efficiency!
Within thirty seconds, all three mercenaries had eliminated every drone in the training room!
"The test, is that all?" Kraab asked dismissively, his posture radiating arrogance. Even through his emotionless mechanical voice, disdain was unmistakable. "These?"
"You each have one final opponent," Vilgax said slowly, his tone carrying rare gravity.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
From the shadows, three massive combat robots emerged, each one dwarfing the smaller drones in size and firepower. Their heavy footsteps echoed through the chamber like thunder.
The three mercenaries were momentarily stunned. Vilgax's investment in this test was far greater than expected.
"The enemy you're about to face is exceptionally dangerous," Vilgax warned, his voice carrying unusual weight. "Not only because he possesses the Omnitrix, but because he's extraordinarily skilled at utilizing its power!"
For Vilgax to openly acknowledge even a hint of difficulty was remarkable.
The three mercenaries found this revelation both surprising and intriguing. However, they remained supremely confident in their own abilities, and a competitive fire ignited within them. They were eager to challenge this formidable child who wielded the Omnitrix!
SHING!
Without hesitation, SixSix charged toward one of the large combat robots. After expertly dodging all incoming fire with fluid acrobatics, he brought his katana down in a devastating arc!
The immense cutting force didn't just bisect the large robot, it carved a massive gash in the wall behind it as well!
"This type of robot is nothing but cannon fodder to me," SixSix declared with cold confidence. "That kid probably just defeated some expendable drones. Nothing to worry about."
"Exactly," Kraab agreed in his characteristically aggressive manner. He approached another large robot, using his massive pincers to deflect the scattered laser fire with contemptuous ease!
Finally reaching his target, Kraab clamped both pincers onto the robot's armored body.
"ROAR!!"
With a guttural mechanical bellow, Kraab lifted the massive robot directly overhead using sheer brute strength, then tore it in half with a sickening metallic screech!
CRASH!
The bisected robot collapsed to the floor, completely destroyed.
"My turn," the armored warrior said simply, his voice deep and measured.
He rode his hoverboard forward, not even bothering to defend himself. The thick armor absorbed every laser blast without sustaining visible damage, he was essentially invulnerable to the robot's standard weapons!
Flying directly in front of the final large robot, the armored warrior dismounted his hoverboard and stood casually before his mechanical opponent.
"Die."
He raised one iron fist like a master boxer and delivered a single, ordinary-looking straight punch to the robot's chassis. But the force behind that blow was equivalent to concentrated dynamite, the impact completely shattered the robot's chest cavity from the inside out!
BOOM!
The large robot toppled backward and crashed to the ground, utterly destroyed.
Every robot had been eliminated!
The raw power on display was staggering. The three mercenaries had surpassed even Vilgax's subordinates' expectations. With such a substantial bounty, could they really attract experts of this caliber?
"Impressive," even Vilgax said with satisfaction, a rare note of approval in his voice. "You're all accepted. Your objective is to retrieve the Omnitrix. If possible, bring the human child who wears it as well, I'll pay extra for live delivery!"
The three mercenaries accepted tracking devices capable of detecting the Omnitrix's energy signature. They boarded a circular spacecraft and launched toward Earth at maximum speed.
Their destination: the Rust Bucket and its unsuspecting passengers.
Asher and his family had no idea that three of the universe's most dangerous mercenaries were rapidly closing in on their location!