The Void Serpent flotilla drifted in shattered silence, its survivors stunned by the brutality of Vilgax's attack. Smoke curled from ruptured hulls. Atmospheres vented from open wounds in metal. Bodies—some organic, some mechanical—floated among floating debris like forgotten offerings to space. The battle had lasted minutes. The defeat would be remembered for generations.
And at the heart of it all stood Vilgax, reborn conqueror, his new form resting upon the command throne of his colossal warship—Chimera Prime. The floor vibrated with the hum of recalibrating engines, the aftershock of his ship's devastating barrage.
He inhaled slowly, savoring the metallic tang of victory.
Victory that felt… too easy.
Yes, the Void Serpents were a known nuisance, nomadic raiders with only numbers to their name. Their fleets lacked discipline. Their strategies were predictable. Their commanders relied on instinct rather than intelligence. Against the old Vilgax, they were a challenge; against him, they were little more than stepping stones.
His fingers drummed against the armrest.
This was not enough.
He needed something greater—something worthy of sharpening the blade he intended to drive through the universe.
"Lord Vilgax," the ship AI chimed, its voice crisp and emotionless, "scans indicate an incoming transmission. It is encrypted with Tetraxian frequency protocols."
Tetraxian.
His eyes narrowed.
Even without checking, he knew the sender—Tetrax Shard, the renegade hero and one of the few who would later help Ben Tennyson master the Omnitrix. A skilled warrior. A tactician. Someone who, in another timeline, fought Vilgax to a standstill several times.
So he had appeared early.
Interesting.
"Patch it through," Vilgax commanded.
The hologram flickered into existence—Tetrax, armored in his signature crystalline plating, scars of past battles etched across his form. His expression was hard, but his eyes held a cautious respect. He had clearly witnessed the aftermath of Vilgax's one-sided massacre.
"Vilgax," Tetrax said, his voice measured, "I saw your little display. You tore through that fleet as if they were children."
"Because they were," Vilgax replied simply. "Weak, undisciplined, and lacking purpose."
Tetrax crossed his arms. "Most beings would call that slaughter."
"I am not 'most beings.'"
The two stared at each other—predator and predator, analyzing, gauging, calculating.
Tetrax broke the silence first.
"Why did you spare the escape pods?"
Vilgax's lips curled into a thin smile. "Fear spreads faster when there are survivors."
Tetrax's jaw tightened.
Good, Vilgax thought. He should feel that discomfort. Only a fool trusts me. And Tetrax is no fool.
But Tetrax had not come to lecture. He had come because something had disturbed the balance of the galaxy. Vilgax could see it in his stance.
"State your purpose," Vilgax said.
"I came with a warning." Tetrax's voice hardened. "Three more factions have taken notice of your… return. The Galactic Enforcers are monitoring your activity. The Petrosapien High Council has classified you as a potential system-level threat. And… another group has begun preparing countermeasures."
Vilgax leaned forward.
"Which group?"
Silence.
Tetrax hesitated.
That alone was enough to irritate Vilgax. He did not enjoy repeating himself.
"Which group?" he said again, his voice carrying the cold edge of authority.
Tetrax finally answered.
"The plumbers."
Ah.
Of course.
The universe's oldest peacekeeping force—secretive, resourceful, and irritatingly persistent. Even at their weakest, they were never to be underestimated. They would become far more active in the future, especially after Ben obtained the Omnitrix. Their involvement so early meant that timelines were already beginning to shift because of his actions.
Vilgax felt a thrill.
Good. Let them assemble. Let them fear. Let them tremble.
Conflict bred opportunity.
"Let them come," Vilgax said. "They will kneel like the rest."
Tetrax shook his head. "The plumbers are not the Void Serpents. And you know that."
"I know they are the first wall between me and universal dominion." His eyes glinted with a terrifying resolve. "And walls exist to be broken."
Tetrax opened his mouth to argue but stopped. His expression shifted—subtle, thoughtful, conflicted.
He wasn't only here to warn. He was analyzing Vilgax. Assessing him. Testing him.
Good, Vilgax thought again. Let him look. Let him see what is coming. Let him fear it.
After a heavy pause, Tetrax spoke again.
"There is another matter." His tone changed, becoming significantly quieter. "One that concerns a device created by Azmuth."
Vilgax's entire body went still.
The Omnitrix.
Yes.
Tetrax watched his reaction closely. "You are planning something with it, aren't you?"
"Everything," Vilgax answered.
That seemed to push Tetrax over the edge. His calm façade cracked, revealing genuine frustration.
"You don't understand," Tetrax barked. "The Omnitrix is not a weapon! It was never meant for conquest or domination. It is a tool for peace—for unity—"
Vilgax raised a hand.
And Tetrax fell silent.
"Azmuth's intentions are irrelevant," Vilgax said. "Power exists. Therefore, power can be taken. If Azmuth wanted peace, he should never have created something capable of reshaping reality."
"That thinking is why you fail," Tetrax snapped.
Vilgax smiled.
"No. That thinking is why I will succeed."
The hologram flickered for a moment as static washed across the projection. Tetrax's form distorted before returning to stability.
"Then this is a warning," Tetrax said, voice low. "Stay away from Earth. Stay away from the Omnitrix. If you continue down this path… I will be forced to stop you."
Vilgax stood slowly.
"Tetrax."
The warrior paused.
"Do not mistake patience for fear," Vilgax said. "If you stand in my way, I will crush you. Not because I hate you. Not because I seek violence without purpose." His voice lowered into something far more dangerous. "But because you will be an obstacle. And obstacles must be removed."
Tetrax stared at him for several long seconds.
Then he ended the transmission.
The hologram vanished.
Silence returned to the command chamber.
A silence broken only by the steady hum of engines and the quiet rhythm of Vilgax's thoughts. Tetrax's warning was irrelevant. His threats meaningless. But the information he delivered…
That mattered.
The plumbers were watching.
The Galactic Enforcers were preparing.
The universe was beginning to notice.
Good.
A king who rises without resistance is not a king—he is a pretender.
And Vilgax was no pretender.
He turned to his crew.
"Prepare for long-range travel," he ordered. "Set our course to the Sol System."
His generals snapped to attention instantly.
"Yes, my lord!"
Vilgax gazed out the viewing window, where the stars stretched like infinite prey awaiting their predator.
"Earth," he whispered. "It is time we met."
For the first time since his transmigration, the universe trembled—not from fear, not from awe, but from awareness.
Something unstoppable had awakened.
And it was coming.