"You don't have to worry about me," Asher urged, his purple-hued form crackling with restrained energy. "Just give it everything you've got."
The golden Nosedeenians exchanged uncertain glances, their small battery-like bodies bobbing in the air. Finally, unable to suppress their curiosity any longer, they released the electrical current stored within their forms.
Countless streams of golden electricity materialized in the void like luminous ribbons, converging spectacularly toward Buzzshock. The gathered energy swallowed his figure completely. Before the massive discharge, his already small body seemed to shrink even further into insignificance.
BOOM!
As the torrents of electricity struck his form, an immense surge of power erupted outward, creating a massive sphere of lightning that completely engulfed Asher.
"Did we... did we actually hurt him?"
"That's impossible! We all use electricity as our energy source. How could we electrocute one of our own kind?"
"This is your fault for not holding back! I was definitely pulling my punches!"
The Nosedeenians, who treated most things like an elaborate game, were suddenly gripped by genuine panic and fear. Had they actually killed him? They desperately hoped not.
ZZZT!
Suddenly, the light from the massive electrical sphere began to dissipate.
Asher's purple form reappeared before the assembled creatures, completely unharmed. The electrical current that had converged on his body had vanished without a trace, absorbed entirely into his enhanced physiology.
He's perfectly fine?
Witnessing this miraculous display, the Nosedeenians were stunned into silence. They now fully understood just how powerful this purple-hued member of their species truly was.
"Don't worry about the energy I just absorbed," Asher explained, his voice strained. "I'm about to release it all at once."
He wasn't exaggerating. His face flushed with concentration as he suppressed the tremendous power building within his body. Raising one trembling finger, he aimed toward a dense forest in the distance. This would be his demonstration of true power.
What good was absorbing massive amounts of current if he couldn't showcase the devastating force it produced? He had to prove his strength beyond any doubt.
WHOOSH!
A brilliant purple laser erupted from his fingertip, splitting the vast sky with its radiance. The beam illuminated everything in its path like divine judgment prepared for the gods themselves, radiating unbelievably violent and terrifying energy.
BOOM!
The laser struck the forest like a falling meteor.
In that instant, the narrow beam exploded outward, swelling countless times its original size to form a devastating storm of purple electricity. The violent discharge spread like a tidal wave, consuming a massive section of the mountainside. Countless fragments of wood, soil, and stone were hurled outward with tremendous force, rolling through the air like a sandstorm accompanied by a roar that shook the heavens.
Even Max, who had retreated to what he thought was a safe distance, held his head in shock. "Did these little guys absorb the power of an entire nuclear reactor? This is absolutely insane!"
After several long seconds, the smoke cloud hanging over the forest slowly dissipated.
Only a large, flat, scorched crater remained where vibrant woodland had once stood.
Countless trees and boulders had been vaporized by the lightning, reduced to ash that drifted away on the wind. The entire forest had been obliterated under Asher's single attack, erased as completely as if struck by heavenly judgment itself.
Every Nosedeenian stared at the blast zone, which looked as though it had been destroyed by an atomic bomb. They were gripped by overwhelming fear and deep awe of absolute power, their small forms trembling in the air.
"So," Asher asked calmly, gently floating down from his elevated position, "am I qualified to be your leader?"
Inside the purple form, Asher himself was genuinely stunned. He hadn't expected his electrical output to be quite that devastating. While his base form might be inferior to some of his other transformations, Buzzshock's upper limit was frighteningly high. He might actually be comparable to Enel, the so called wanna be god from One Piece, who ate the Thunder Fruit!
"Boss!" The champion Nosedeenian was the first to shout the title, its voice filled with newfound respect. Being the strongest among them before Asher's arrival, it was also the most acutely aware of the tremendous gap between its power and Buzzshock's capabilities.
"Boss!"
"Boss!"
The other creatures quickly agreed, their voices filled with genuine willingness and respect.
"Now then," Asher asked, nodding with satisfaction as he touched down on the ground, "you don't want to go back into that rubber ball, do you?"
"Of course not, Boss! It's so cramped and stuffy in there!"
"Boss, we're counting on you to help us find a proper home!"
Their answer was unanimous and emphatic. They were deeply tired of that claustrophobic prison.
"Alright," Asher agreed, though his expression turned thoughtful. "I'll find a way to solve this problem for all of you. After all, I'm your leader now."
He meant every word. While the System rewards for completing this event were certainly exciting, he genuinely felt these small creatures deserved better treatment. They weren't malicious, just playful and misunderstood.
He gestured for the group to remain in place while he flew back toward Max. He needed to ask if there were any abandoned power stations in the area that might serve as a new home for the Nosedeenians.
For most people, tracking down such specific information would be nearly impossible. But as a Plumber with decades of experience, Max could easily investigate through official channels.
"Don't worry, Asher," Max said warmly, already understanding what Buzzshock was thinking. He gave his grandson an approving look before pulling out his Plumber's badge and initiating a secure communication channel.
After a few moments, Max looked up with a smile. "Found one! Just a few kilometers to the southwest, there's an abandoned hydroelectric facility. It still has residual power running through some of the systems."
"Thank you, Grandpa! That's perfect!"
Asher breathed a sigh of relief, genuine gratitude filling his voice. He turned and flew back toward the assembled Nosedeenians, his purple form crackling with barely contained energy. With the goal of finding them a new home finally within reach, he led the enthusiastic group toward the southwest.
The Nosedeenian species could move at incredible speeds, rivaling the velocity of light itself when fully charged.
In mere moments, the entire group had traversed several kilometers. Without any visible landmarks to guide them, they could instinctively sense the exact location of the power station in the southwestern suburbs. The flow of electrical current through its aging systems called to them like a beacon they couldn't ignore.
When they arrived at the abandoned facility, every Nosedeenian except Asher erupted into ecstatic celebration. Not only was there a steady supply of electricity flowing through the old systems, but the building also contained various discarded equipment left behind by the human workers. Everything about this place felt new and exciting to the small energy beings.
In that moment, Asher's status in their minds transformed completely. He was no longer just "the terrifying boss" they feared, but a true leader who cared about their well-being.
"From this day forward, this is your new home," Asher announced, watching them explore their new territory with obvious delight. "But I have two important rules you must follow. First, you're absolutely forbidden from leaving this facility and disturbing humans. You can play all you want inside these walls, but you stay here. Second, don't destroy any of the critical infrastructure. If you damage important systems, dangerous people will come to capture you."
For their own safety and that of nearby humans, he established clear boundaries. He even added a threat that played on their childlike fears to ensure they took the rules seriously.
Sure enough, all the Nosedeenians shrank back slightly, their expressions filling with genuine concern as they answered in perfect unison, "Yes, Boss! We understand!"
DING!
"Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the Sign-In Event!"
The System's notification immediately confirmed that Asher had resolved the situation perfectly, earning whatever rewards came with this particular challenge.