"Asher, that ghost alien is seriously cool! How many powers does it have? Can it become like Sadako from those horror movies?" Ben had already started coming up with his own names for Asher's alien transformations, and this time his timing was surprisingly coincidental.
"Please, great genius, use that brain of yours for once. This isn't a horror movie. How would Ghostfreak become Sadako? Do you spend all your school time watching pointless movies instead of studying?"
Gwen shook her head in exasperation, her tone dripping with sisterly disapproval toward Ben.
"Hey, nerd, you sound exactly like our homeroom teacher. You're making me want to fall asleep right here." Ben shot back without missing a beat, refusing to let his cousin get the last word.
Listening to the two of them bicker, Asher couldn't help but smile. The lighthearted atmosphere felt good after the tension of battle, though he knew better than to let his guard down.
But they couldn't afford to stay here any longer.
"Alright, Ben, Gwen, you two can argue about this later. Don't forget, there are still two alien mercenaries actively hunting us. I only managed to temporarily incapacitate one!" Asher stepped between his cousins, physically separating them with his arms before continuing in a more serious tone.
"Asher's right," Max said, his brow furrowed with concern.
"These bounty hunters have tracking devices locked onto the Omnitrix signal. Since this warehouse's been compromised, there's nowhere left to hide in this town."
"Then where should we go, Grandpa?" Asher asked, glancing down at the recharging Omnitrix on his wrist. The device's energy reserves being replenished during their brief respite.
"Remember what I mentioned before? There used to be a silver mine beneath the Slaterville, which means there are abandoned mining tunnels still intact underground. Come on, I'll take you there!"
Max spoke quickly, already moving toward the Rust Bucket.
It was the classic guerrilla warfare tactic, hit and run, constantly changing positions to keep the enemy off balance.
First, they'd ambushed one alien bounty hunter at this location. Now they'd set up at another place to take down the second mercenary!
After the four of them piled into the Rust Bucket, Max pushed the old RV to maximum speed, racing toward the abandoned mines as fast as the vehicle could manage.
Meanwhile, back at the warehouse...
"Damn those little brats! They actually made me suffer such a humiliating defeat. I swear I'll make them pay a painful price for this, otherwise I'll never be able to show my face in the mercenary community again!"
In the cleared area outside the warehouse, Kraab slowly climbed out of the massive crater his body had created upon impact. His metallic surface bore friction marks and occasional sparks of damaged circuitry, though his one remaining pincer claw appeared completely unscathed.
However, his other shoulder, where his secondary arm should have been, was completely empty!
That entire limb had been obliterated by Ghostfreak's concentrated energy blast!
The humiliation burned through Kraab's processors. To be defeated by some human kid who'd transformed into a ghostly alien, "and to lose an entire arm in the process!
This was an absolute disgrace to his reputation as one of the galaxy's elite bounty hunters!
BOOM!
At that moment, both SixSix and Tetrax arrived in Slaterville simultaneously, though each harbored very different thoughts about the situation.
SixSix's internal monologue was dismissive: That kid's probably been eliminated already. I'll just grab the Omnitrix directly from that oversized crab!
Tetrax, on the other hand, showed no trace of panic on his armored features. He'd studied enough intelligence reports to know that the child wielding the Omnitrix wouldn't be defeated so easily. That device contained power far beyond what most beings could comprehend.
But when both mercenaries caught sight of Kraab, their expressions changed dramatically!
"Your arm... was it destroyed?" Tetrax spoke with genuine disbelief in his voice.
It seemed the Earth child hadn't just turned the tide of battle, he'd actually defeated and severely wounded this infamous cybernetic bounty hunter!
Kraab had lost an entire arm and had transformed into the Red-Haired Shanks of the mercenary world!
Is that boy truly that powerful?
"Hahaha..."
SixSix's expression shifted to one of barely concealed glee. His voice dripped with mockery and contempt as he sneered at Kraab's damaged form. The arrogance this crab had displayed earlier, and now look at him!
You couldn't even beat some kid, and yet you acted so superior? Pathetic!
"You two think this is funny?!" Kraab's mechanical voice exploded with fury, absolutely seething with murderous rage. "After you fight him head-on, you won't be laughing! That Omnitrix will be mine!"
He wasn't foolish enough to start an internal conflict here and now. Instead, Kraab pulled out his tracking device and immediately resumed the pursuit. His damaged pride demanded retribution.
Both SixSix and Tetrax stopped their mockery and picked up their pace as well, no longer holding anything back.
The hunt was still on.
The Rust Bucket finally screeched to a halt at the entrance to the abandoned mine.
Everyone quickly exited the vehicle. Asher studied the massive mine entrance looming before them in the darkness and said thoughtfully, "This place is perfect for defensive positioning. At least the narrow passages will provide cover and limit their ability to surround us."
"Ugh, it's so dark in there. There must be tons of disgusting bugs and creepy crawly things!" Gwen visibly shrank back, her voice filled with reluctance at the thought of entering the mine.
"It's still better than encountering those alien mercenaries out in the open, right? Just stay in the middle of the group, Gwen. You'll be fine."
After speaking, Asher walked into the cave entrance without any hesitation, his confidence helping to steady everyone's nerves.
Gwen watched his back for a moment, then summoned her courage and followed closely behind him.
Ben came next, with Max taking up the rear guard position.
Inside the mine, the darkness was absolute.
Even though it was difficult to see much of anything in the surrounding gloom, Asher kept running his hands along the walls and ceiling, mentally mapping out the approximate dimensions of the tunnel system.
The passage was wide enough for four people to walk side by side without bumping into each other, which gave them decent maneuvering room if combat broke out.
In the oppressive silence of the mine, only the sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls as they ventured deeper underground.
Several minutes after they'd entered the tunnel system...
SCREECH!!
A loud noise erupted from the cave entrance, reverberating through the underground passages.
"You kids can't escape from us!" Kraab's enraged roar carried from the entrance, spreading instantly to reach Asher and the others despite the distance.
"Don't panic, keep moving forward!" Asher took a deep breath, forcing his mind to remain calm as they continued their steady advance into the darkness.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
Heavy metallic footsteps began echoing behind them, growing louder with each passing second, the distinctive sound of Kraab's mechanical body sprinting at full speed through the mine.
Hearing that ominous noise, everyone unconsciously quickened their pace. The sensation was eerily similar to playing a survival horror game, being relentlessly pursued by some unstoppable monster through dark corridors!
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
In addition to Kraab's pursuit, they could now hear the distinct sound of rocket propellers firing up, along with other mechanical noises mixing together in a cacophony of danger.
More than one pursuer had entered the mine!
Asher couldn't help but glance down at the Omnitrix. The faceplate remained stubbornly red, still in cooldown mode from his previous transformation.
"Grandpa, when we reach the end of this mine tunnel system, will we be trapped in a dead end?" Asher asked Max while maintaining his rapid pace, his breathing starting to become slightly labored from the extended sprint.
"If I remember correctly, there should be an old cable car system that miners used to escape in emergencies, hopefully it's still functional!" Max's voice sounded remarkably calm despite their dire circumstances, his years of experience as a Plumber showing through.
Faster!
Need to move faster!
Asher felt his heart pounding as adrenaline surged through his system. He could feel himself approaching his maximum running speed!
But suddenly...
FLASH!
Blinding purple light suddenly refracted from a position approximately fifty meters behind them. Asher instinctively recoiled from the intense illumination, throwing up his arm to shield his eyes from the searing brightness!
The light grew stronger and closer, SixSix had caught up to them!
No matter how fast humans could run, they would never match the speed capabilities of these mechanical hunters equipped with advanced alien technology.
SixSix's helmet contained built-in recognition and targeting systems that instantly locked onto Asher's heat signature even in the darkness. The distance between predator and prey was shrinking by the second!
CLICK!
The bounty hunter smoothly drew a plasma weapon from his arsenal and aimed it directly at Asher without the slightest hesitation!
Asher's eyes darted down to the Omnitrix, still red and unresponsive!
BZZZZT!
The weapon's barrel began glowing with condensed blue energy, preparing to fire in the next instant!
"I believe I made myself clear already?" A cold, mechanical voice suddenly cut through the tension.
CLANG!
At the critical moment, Kraab's massive pincer claw shot forward with the speed of a striking serpent, clamping down hard on SixSix's armored body from behind!
The crab mercenary had caught up and intercepted his rival bounty hunter mid-attack!
"I'm the one who's going to deal with these little brats myself, not you!"
Kraab's synthesized voice dripped with possessive fury. This was his prey, his revenge to claim. He wouldn't allow anyone else, not even a fellow mercenary, to steal his kill!
Asher seized the momentary reprieve to put more distance between himself and the quarreling bounty hunters, his mind already calculating their next move.
This rivalry between them might be exactly the advantage we need...
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