The next morning, dawn crept through the window.
Ethen slowly opened his eyes, then shut them again with a groan. He was still sleepy… but something felt off.
He frowned. Wait. Did I forget something?
Then it hit him. "Oh no— I didn't wake up early to sync the Omnitrix template!"
He sat up quickly, letting out a helpless laugh. Both wrists were empty—no Omnitrix in sight.
"Well, even heroes oversleep sometimes," he muttered.
Taking a breath, he spoke into his mind, "System, receive the Omnitrix template!"
A familiar chime answered.
Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully receiving the Omnitrix template…
Template obtained: Error Omnitrix!
Description: The most unstable version of the Omnitrix — a corrupted model with access to every alien function but no moral limiter. It can amplify combat efficiency, but carries one fatal flaw… it can control its host.
Ethen froze. His eyes widened, and he almost fainted.
"The Error Omnitrix… again? How many times is this cursed thing going to show up!?"
He rubbed his temple, thinking hard. "System, I want to replace the Error Omnitrix!"
Ding! Available replacements in ability pool:
First-Generation Omnitrix (Full Level)
Love Watch (Initial Version)
Would you like to replace it?
Ethen didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked, "If the Error Omnitrix can control the host… what if the host's mental strength is strong enough? Could I resist it?"
If the host's mental strength surpasses the Omnitrix's influence, control will remain with the host.
"Just as I thought…" he murmured.
It was the same with the "Demon Omnitrix." Whether it controlled him or not depended entirely on his willpower.
Ethen currently had over a hundred reward points saved up — enough to push his mind to new limits.
"Yesterday, when I used Alien X, I nearly collapsed from the strain," he muttered, eyes sharpening. "If I want to wield stronger aliens, I have to get stronger first—mentally and physically."
He clenched his fist. "System, enhance my mental strength!"
Ding! Mental enhancement successful. 100 reward points consumed.
A rush of clarity flooded his mind. Thoughts became sharper, his awareness expanding like an endless horizon. Even his focus felt superhuman.
"Perfect," he said softly. "I'll stick with the Error Omnitrix. Let's see if I can keep this thing under control."
Snap!
An Omnitrix suddenly materialized around his wrist.
Its shell was blackened with claw marks, strange tendrils writhing beneath the surface. One of them shot out—trying to pierce into his arm.
Ethen immediately adjusted his armored jacket, blocking the attack.
Click—click—click.
The Error Omnitrix jabbed at him several times, but couldn't pierce through the reinforced combat suit.
Then, as if realizing resistance was pointless, it retracted its tendrils and settled snugly around his wrist like a normal Omnitrix.
"...So you can attach without stabbing me. Nice to know," he muttered dryly.
But a second later—
A violent surge of energy invaded his mind, trying to seize control.
Ethen's eyes widened, but his strengthened will flared like a storm. He pushed back the pressure, holding on with sheer concentration.
Bit by bit, the energy subsided. The Error Omnitrix went still.
"Good," he breathed. "Looks like I can suppress it—barely. That's enough for now."
He lowered his wrist and nodded. "Next, I'll focus on strengthening my body and upgrading the watch itself."
"System, open personal panel."
Host: Ethen
Physique: Top-tier for Earthlings
Spirit: Beyond ordinary human limits
Genes: Human (with partial alien DNA resistance)
Skills: Mixed martial arts, expert marksmanship
Ability Pool: First-Generation Omnitrix (Full Level), Love Watch (Initial Version)
Reward Points: 5
Ethen smiled faintly. "Not bad."
Satisfied, he lay back down.
As he drifted to sleep, the Error Omnitrix glowed faintly red. It probed at his consciousness, testing for weakness—
—but found none.
Its corruption met an immovable mind.
This human's will was annoyingly strong.
By evening, the Rustbucket rolled through a dusty road and into a small town.
Ethen leaned against the window, yawning. "Grandpa, we've been driving all day… this is seriously boring."
Grandpa Max chuckled from the driver's seat. "Patience, kiddo! Our stop is the hottest attraction in town right now— a traveling circus!"
"A… circus?" Ben perked up. "Uh, please tell me there aren't any clowns."
Ethen grinned. "You afraid of clowns, Ben?"
Gwen smirked. "Honestly, letting Ben go on stage and transform would be the best act they've ever had."
Their laughter filled the RV as the Rustbucket pulled into a crowded circus lot, bright lights shining against the twilight.
The four of them stepped out together—Grandpa Max leading, Ethen and Gwen on either side, while Ben hung back nervously.
They wandered among rows of colorful stalls selling glowing trinkets and magic toys until a crowd gathered near a small stage.
At the center stood a short ringmaster with a cane and a booming voice. "Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight's Freak Show Extravaganza! Introducing our incredible trio of superpowered wonders!"
First came a massive bald man who bent a steel bar with his bare hands.
Then, a woman with writhing, snake-like hair that twisted metal like paper.
And finally, a gaunt man whose breath corroded the same steel in seconds, leaving it sizzling.
The crowd erupted in applause.
Ethen, however, noticed a faint sound from his wrist. He looked down— the Error Omnitrix's screen had flickered to life, displaying alien data.
Ding! Mission Detected — "The Weird Trio."
Targets: Acidmouth, Bald Titan, and Serpentina.
Objective: Defeat these three wanted criminals.
Reward: +10 Omnitrix Points per capture.
Ethen smirked. "Looks like playtime's over."
He turned to Grandpa Max. "Grandpa, take Ben and Gwen to the clown tent first. I'll catch up."
Without waiting for a response, he slipped away into the shadows.
Moving silently through the tents, Ethen circled behind the stage.
His dark eyes glowed faintly with reflected red light as he spotted the trio relaxing behind the curtains.
He raised his wrist. The Omnitrix glowed crimson.
"Showtime."
A sharp flash of blood-red light burst through the night.