The Buzzshocks gathered in the sky above Asher, hovering just above his head like a swarm of luminous fireflies. Each Buzzshock watched him intently, searching his expression for any sign of deception or weakness. But Asher's face remained carefully neutral.
(I'm just going to keep their names as Buzzshock from now on)
"Listen, I understand your situation," the Happy Country owner said reluctantly, backing toward the nearest shop entrance. His voice carried genuine concern despite his obvious fear. "I'm really worried about your safety, but it's just too dangerous here. I need to go."
Given everything the man had witnessed, his retreat was entirely reasonable.
"Be careful, Asher." Ben patted his cousin's shoulder, squeezed gently for reassurance, then quietly retreated to a nearby shop doorway. He kept his air gun ready, finger near the trigger, prepared to provide covering fire if needed.
Gwen offered similar words of concern before opening some distance between herself and the confrontation zone.
Once everyone had withdrawn to safety, Asher looked up at the gathered Buzzshocks with a cautiously optimistic expression. He forced what he hoped was a friendly, non-threatening smile. "Look, I understand how you're feeling. Being locked in that rubber ball for so long must have been incredibly depressing. It's completely natural that you'd want to come out and have some fun."
Playing the sympathy card?
The surrounding Buzzshocks exchanged confused glances, clearly stunned by this unexpected approach. They weren't buying what Asher was selling, they knew him far too well already.
"But have you considered something important?" Asher continued, his tone becoming more persuasive, as if he were genuinely one of them, sharing their concerns and looking out for their welfare. "The batteries you're eating are limited resources. After you consume all of them, where will you find more?"
"Batteries... are limited?"
"Don't steal from me! I got you all out of their, so I deserve the most batteries!"
"If you want them, fight me for them! I'm not just handing over my share!"
"If you eat too many batteries, aren't you afraid you'll overload yourself?"
The Buzzshocks immediately turned on each other, their voices rising in heated argument. Of course, their hostility was different from adult conflicts, this was more like children squabbling over who got the best toys. None of them wanted to share!
Though Asher couldn't understand their high-pitched squeaking language, seeing their expressions shift from unified suspicion to infighting brought a touch of satisfaction to his face.
It's working!
These small aliens had spent their entire lives trapped in that rubber ball within the confines of Happy Country. Their whole world consisted of dead batteries and the meager electricity they could extract from them. Like frogs at the bottom of a well, their limited perspective was tragic.
This massive gap in their understanding of the outside world meant Asher could manipulate their expectations with ease.
"Why are you all arguing like this?" Asher adopted the expression of a trusted confidant, taking a few careful steps forward. His voice dripped with false concern. "We're friends, aren't we? How can friends fight? Have you already forgotten how beautifully you worked together to defeat that monster earlier?"
The Buzzshocks looked at each other, their anger melting away as they considered his words. Genuine remorse flickered across their small faces.
"This human's right... I'm sorry, everyone. Let's make up."
"Yeah, we're still good friends!"
One by one, they raised their tiny three-fingered hands, pressed them together, and performed what looked like their species' equivalent of a pinky promise.
After their reconciliation, however, a practical question remained.
How should the batteries be divided? Every single one of them wanted the largest share.
This was simply the nature of most sentient beings, self-interest came first.
"I've thought of a solution that would allow everyone to get the fairest possible amount of batteries," Asher said seriously, crossing his arms. He resisted the urge to smile as his plan came together. "Would you like to hear it?"
"This human can be trusted. He's much more pleasant than that big monster we fought."
"I agree! He seems reliable!"
Miraculously, the Buzzshocks believed him. They settled down right there in front of Asher, sitting on the ground like a class of students waiting for their teacher's lecture.
Mainly, they genuinely couldn't think of a better solution on their own.
Only one Buzzshock, the one that Asher had previously tangled with, kept protesting loudly, refusing to sit down with the others.
After several of its companions tackled it and delivered a few solid punches, the troublemaker became much more docile and reluctantly joined the seated group.
"The only fair way I can suggest is this: ability determines allocation!" Asher's tone was full of provocative energy, his face flushing with barely contained excitement. He felt like he was becoming a master manipulator!
In the distance, Ben and Gwen stared in disbelief at Asher's elaborate scheme, impressed despite themselves.
In his previous life, Asher had watched countless motivational speakers and con artists at work. He'd even studied their techniques as an amusing hobby.
"You'll start with a knockout tournament, one-on-one elimination matches. The winner of each match advances to the next round. The last Buzzshock standing will earn the right to enjoy the most batteries! The competition will be based on your electrical abilities!"
Asher looked at the gathered Nosedeenians with enthusiasm, explaining the tournament structure he'd conceived. He even volunteered to act as referee and announcer.
"Knockout tournament? That sounds exciting!"
"My electricity is definitely the strongest among all of us! No need to even compete!"
"You're delusional! You lost to me last time!"
"That's nonsense! That was when I was half-asleep! It doesn't count!"
Comparison was inevitable in any species. The Buzzshocks weren't surprised by the concept of determining superiority through electrical prowess, they'd actually competed secretly before. But they'd never held an official tournament!
Their competitive spirits ignited instantly.
Seeing their eager, aggressive expressions, Asher quietly allowed himself a relieved smile.
As long as he could exhaust their energy stores and send them back to confinement, the plan would succeed.
He helped the Buzzshocks locate a large platform to serve as their arena, then organized them into pairs for simultaneous matches. With nineteen total participants, one would receive a bye to the next round.
"Everyone, let the tournament begin!" Asher shouted after ten Buzzshocks had taken their positions.
ZZZZZT! CRACK! BZZZZT!
The arena suddenly erupted with bursts of electrical discharge, violent and spectacular!
They'd all consumed roughly equal amounts of battery power, which meant the enhanced strength they'd gained would gradually give way to raw natural talent as the decisive factor.
The initial matches began with violent collisions of opposing electrical charges!
Then progressed to attempts at absorbing each other's energy!
Finally devolved into using whatever residual current remained to continue the battle through sheer determination!
Several minutes passed before five victors emerged from the first round.
To Asher's surprise, the Buzzshock he'd selected earlier, the one whose DNA the Omnitrix had recorded, was eliminated in round one!
As subsequent rounds progressed, increasingly powerful Nosedeenians took the stage. By the time they reached the championship match, it resembled an epic battle between Zeus and Thor, the thunder gods from both Greek and Norse mythology!
"I thought the genetics I collected were pretty impressive," Asher muttered, staring at the arena with wide eyes. Drool practically dripped from his mouth as he watched the display of electrical mastery!
If he could somehow acquire the DNA of one of these two superior specimens and then apply his system's enhancement rewards...
An ultra-tier genetic warrior!
"System, let me ask you something," Asher said nervously. "If I switch out the Buzzshock transformation by replacing that individual with a different one, will the reward I already received still exist?"
"It will exist," the system confirmed. "Unless the host replaces the entire alien species category. If only the individual specimen is replaced, the genetic enhancements remain valid."
The system's answer made Asher's heart soar with excitement!
This was perfect!
What he'd originally intended as a simple energy-draining exercise to recapture the escaped Buzzshocks had inadvertently turned into a tournament to select the ultimate specimen for his Omnitrix!
Sometimes the best opportunities came from unexpected circumstances.