"None of you are allowed to escape!" Clancy's voice cracked with desperation as he broadcast his command telepathically to every wasp under his control. His eyes flared with that eerie greenish-yellow glow. "Anyone who tries to flee will be killed by the others!"
The death threat stabilized his panicking swarm somewhat, though their buzzing remained frantic and uncertain.
But it was already too late.
"Eat this!"
Buzzshock raised both hands overhead, purple electricity crackling and condensing between his palms. The energy coalesced into a massive sphere of writhing lightning that grew larger and larger, until it resembled a miniature sun blazing with violet radiance. The sheer power radiating from it made the air shimmer and buzz.
He held the devastating attack above his head like Atlas carrying the heavens, except this particular burden was designed to obliterate everything in its path.
"Damn it!" Gwen's lucky pendant suddenly felt ice-cold against her chest, and her eyes widened in alarm. She grabbed Ben and Max by their arms. "My pendant's warning me, we need to get back now! That attack's going to have serious splash damage!"
The three of them immediately retreated, putting several dozen meters between themselves and the impending explosion.
FWOOOM!
Buzzshock released the attack like launching a Spirit Bomb, the massive sphere of purple lightning hurtling forward with the weight and momentum of a collapsing mountain. Purple energy crackled and sparked in every direction as it flew.
"Take this and die!"
Clancy's expression twisted with fury and terror. He wasn't about to surrender without a fight. Raising his insect-covered arms, he directed his swarm forward with every ounce of telepathic force he could muster!
CRASH!
When the two attacks collided, the disparity in power became horrifically apparent.
Buzzshock's purple sun wasn't even slowed. It tore through the insect barrier like a flamethrower through paper, vaporizing wasps by the hundreds. The protective swarm disintegrated, their charred bodies falling like black rain as the electrical sphere continued its relentless advance.
"Listen to my advice, freak," Buzzshock called out with dark amusement, his childlike voice carrying an edge of mockery. "You might want to just beg for mercy now. Otherwise, all your little friends are going to die, and then the Friends of Fish will strip you alive for insect cruelty!"
He cackled with mischievous glee.
"Sh-shut up!" Clancy's voice cracked as he roared in desperation. "Get over here! Every insect I control, protect me now!"
From cracks in the pavement and storm drains, more insects surged forth. Cockroaches emerged in brown waves, mosquitoes rose in buzzing clouds, beetles scrambled over each other, and various other arthropods flooded toward their master. They attached themselves to his arms, layering over the dying wasps in a futile attempt to reinforce his defenses.
But it was like trying to stop a tsunami with a sandcastle.
"Useless!"
Buzzshock thrust one hand forward, and three bolts of purple lightning erupted from his fingertips. They struck the purple sun from behind like rocket boosters, dramatically accelerating its momentum and increasing its destructive output!
BOOM!
The electrical sphere shredded through Clancy's insect armor with contemptuous ease, annihilating everything in its path. The attack bore down on the villain with unstoppable force.
"Paul, protect me! Armor me up!" Clancy shrieked in panic as the purple sun loomed closer, cold sweat pouring down his face.
Following his desperate command, his remaining insects swarmed over his body in layers, forming a living cocoon around him. Within seconds, he was completely encased in a chitinous suit of insect armor, his human form hidden beneath thousands of crawling bodies.
WHOOOOSH!
The ground was carpeted with insect corpses. The purple sun collided with Clancy's armored form without slowing, detonating on impact with apocalyptic force.
KABOOOOOM!
The explosion was nuclear in its intensity. Purple lightning erupted outward in all directions, drowning the entire street in crackling violet radiance. The detonation continued for several seconds, wave after wave of electrical energy pulsing outward like rings of destruction. Thunder rolled continuously as if a dozen storms had converged on this single point.
The purple shockwaves rippled outward like aurora borealis brought down to earth, bathing everything in eerie violet light.
"My destructive output really is incredible," Buzzshock observed from a safe distance, admiring the devastation with childlike wonder. "This isn't just electricity anymore, this is genuine lightning."
Nearly half the street had been obliterated by the attack, leaving nothing but scorched pavement and the acrid smell of ozone.
"Thank god we got clear when we did." Gwen pressed a hand to her chest, still feeling her pendant's residual warmth. "Out of all your transformations, Asher, Buzzshock might be the smallest, but he's definitely the most destructive."
"That freak's finished," Ben said confidently, wiping his running nose with the back of his hand. "If he survives that, we should just call him Rubber Man instead."
"What the hell just happened here..."
"Half the street is just gone..."
"It must have been that bug-controlling freak! Thank god someone stopped him."
Neighbors who'd been watching from a safe distance whispered among themselves, their voices filled with awe and fear. This scene would be burned into their memories forever.
After several long moments, the purple light finally dissipated, blown away by a gentle breeze.
Where the attack had landed, a massive crater now dominated the street, deep, wide, and smoking. Insect corpses had been completely vaporized by the intense heat generated by the electrical discharge, leaving nothing but fine ash that coated the bottom of the pit.
"Is that guy even still alive?"
Buzzshock floated toward the crater curiously, peering down into its depths.
Through the settling dust, he could barely make out a shape, humanoid, trembling slightly, covered head to toe in ash and barely breathing. Alive, somehow, but clearly in critical condition.
WEEE-OOOO-WEEE-OOOO,
Police sirens wailed in the distance, growing rapidly closer.
"Whether you're dead or not, I guess you got lucky." Buzzshock crossed his small arms over his chest, purple sparks still dancing across his battery-like body. "The cops can finish up from here."
As the sirens approached, he vanished in a streak of purple lightning.
The police officers arrived moments later, extracting the barely-conscious Clancy from the crater before handcuffing him and loading him into their transport. His appearance was so horrific, charred, ash-covered, and twitching, that the officers could barely believe he'd survived.
A few minutes later, the street returned to an odd sort of normalcy.
Aside from the massive crater, which a repair crew was already being dispatched to handle, the area resumed its usual activity. In fact, foot traffic actually increased. News had spread about the alien hero fighting a supervillain here, and tourists flocked to the site to take commemorative photos!
The battle had turned the location into an instant internet sensation.
Inside the Rust Bucket, Gwen had changed back into her casual clothes. Asher had long since reverted from Buzzshock to his human form. Max and Ben had returned to the RV shortly before the cousins' transformations timed out.
"I really envy you guys," Ben said, looking at Asher and Gwen with genuine admiration. He sniffled and rubbed his reddening nose. "You get to punish bad guys and help people. Achoo!"
"Forget about being sick for a while, Ben." Asher's mood was noticeably better than usual. For once, a battle had gone exactly as planned with no complications, injuries, or unexpected twists. "How about I show you all around this street properly? We can experience authentic international culture and check out some unique souvenirs."
After Ben took his cold medicine, Asher led them back out onto the street, merging with the flow of tourists. They sampled candied hawthorn skewers, tried regional specialty dishes, browsed cultural exhibitions, and soaked in the vibrant atmosphere.
Everything felt prosperous and peaceful.
Meanwhile, in the police transport vehicle...
Clancy raised his charred, trembling mouth, his voice cracking with manic desperation, "I told you there really are aliens! Why won't you believe me?! And I didn't cause that crater, why should I have to pay for property damage and emotional distress?!"
His protests fell on deaf ears.
The poor bastard really was getting the worst of it.