After reclaiming the mask, the Rustbucket sped off into the distance.
"Phew… we finally got the Mask of Ah Puch back." Grandpa Max let out a long breath, eyeing the mask in Lucian's hands with relief.
"Snare-Oh was seriously amazing! I totally admire it!" Gwen's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, man. This hero didn't even get a chance to show off. Those guys were way too weak, weren't they?" Ben lowered his head and rubbed his forehead dramatically.
"Either way, it's good we got the mask back," Grandpa Max said, pausing briefly before continuing. "But… how are we supposed to find the Sword of Ek Chuaj?"
Lucian cautiously lifted the mask and aligned it with his face.
Through the eerie green eye lenses, he vaguely made out an ancient tomb ahead of him, like a hazy three-dimensional projection flickering into view.
Suddenly, beams of light shot out from the Mask of Ah Puch's hollow eye sockets, tracing the outline of the tomb in midair. The projection sharpened, becoming crystal clear, almost as if it had solidified into something real.
This time, it wasn't just Lucian who could see it. Everyone in the Rustbucket could.
"Whoa! So that's where the Sword of Ek Chuaj is?" Ben's jaw dropped in amazement.
"Is the Sword of Ek Chuaj really that powerful?" Gwen murmured.
Staring at the three-dimensional projection of the Mayan tomb, Grandpa Max gave a firm thumbs-up. "Nice work, Lucian. We're heading out right now. We have to find the Sword of Ek Chuaj before anyone else does!"
Lucian gave a faint, helpless smile. Looks like Grandpa was taking this seriously.
"But the location the Mask of Ah Puch is pointing to is deep inside a primeval forest. The Rustbucket probably can't drive in there, right?" A trace of worry surfaced in Gwen's eyes.
Lucian nodded. That was true.
There were no proper paths in a primeval forest—just thick vegetation everywhere, along with dangerous swamps, hidden pits, and all kinds of wild animals.
On top of that, the terrain was so tangled and complex it was easy to lose your sense of direction.
Grandpa Max frowned. "That's…"
"Haha! Guess it's time for this hero to save the day!" Ben laughed, flashing the Omnitrix on his wrist. "We just turn into Stinkfly and fly over. Easy."
"Great idea. Let's get moving." Grandpa Max stomped on the brakes.
Lucian spread his hands, signaling he had no objections.
Honestly, he wasn't all that invested in this mission. The Sword of Ek Chuaj had probably already decayed into useless fragments, just like in the original story.
Still, taking a little trip to an ancient Maya tomb didn't sound so bad.
...
Three hours later.
The primeval forest stretched out in lush, vibrant green. A cool breeze swept through the canopy, rustling the leaves with a soft whisper.
A thick Titan Python lay coiled around a tree branch. Suddenly, the sound of beating wings echoed from above.
The Titan Python lifted its head, blood-red pupils reflecting two massive flying insects overhead.
What huge bugs.
One of those could last me several meals.
"Hiss!"
Flicking its tongue, the Titan Python tensed, then shot forward in a fierce lunge, jaws snapping toward one of the giant insects.
Mid-flight, Lucian suddenly sensed a strong gust rising from below.
He glanced down, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
Just a little snake…
Now transformed into Stinkfly, Lucian felt completely unafraid.
"Hiss!"
The Titan Python opened its massive jaws, rows of fangs bared as it lunged, ready to swallow its prey whole.
"Ah! Cuz, there's a snake! It's coming!" Gwen's face went pale with fright.
Slash!
A cold arc of light sliced through the air, scattering a spray of vivid blood.
The Titan Python's eyes flew wide, the light in them fading almost instantly. A thin red line appeared across its neck.
Splurt!
Its head separated cleanly from its body. Amid a burst of scarlet, both halves tumbled down into the depths of the primeval forest.
"Done." Stinkfly grinned and flashed an OK sign.
Gwen, seated on his back, stared at the fallen serpent and let out a shaky breath. "Phew… that scared me to death. I thought I was about to get eaten…"
"Relax. It was just a python," Stinkfly said casually.
Moments earlier, he had sliced straight through the Titan Python's neck with his razor-sharp tail.
An instant kill.
With that, Stinkfly beat his wings, metal-like clanks ringing out as he accelerated to catch up with the two ahead.
...
A short while later, the group arrived at the ancient Maya tomb.
The old structure resembled an Egyptian pyramid in style, arranged in a triangular formation. Its white stone walls were worn by wind and time, covered in weathered marks, yet it still stood firm and imposing.
On either side of the main gate stood two ancient stone statues, like silent guardians watching over the tomb.
One was a giant winged serpent.
The other was a monkey gripping a club.
Grandpa Max, the mask hanging at his waist, stepped up to the gate and began searching for an entrance.
Staring at the door that looked as solid as a fortress wall, Ben spread his hands and confidently stepped forward. "Grandpa, let me handle this."
Before Grandpa Max could respond, Ben slammed down on the Omnitrix and transformed into Four Arms.
Four arms, four eyes, dressed in a white shirt and black tight pants, his muscles bulged powerfully, making him look fierce and intimidating.
"Hey, what's this… some ancient Maya turtle shell?" Four Arms cracked his knuckles. "Let's see how you like getting smashed to pieces!"
Hearing the commotion, Grandpa Max turned around, froze for a split second, then shouted, "Ben, wait!"
Four Arms wasn't listening.
With a roar, he clenched his sandbag-sized fists and began hammering at the door in a frenzy.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each brutal strike shook the tomb slightly. Dust rose into the air, turning everything hazy.
After a while, Four Arms slumped down beside the door, panting heavily.
"What… what is this thing made of? It's harder than Gwen's mouth!" Four Arms muttered bitterly.
Gwen's teeth clenched in irritation. "Idiot! Who told you to use brute force?"
"Gwen's right, Ben," Grandpa Max said, nodding. "Ancient buildings like this usually have some kind of mechanism. You can't just smash your way in."
"The answer should be inside the Mask of Ah Puch," Lucian said calmly.
He stepped forward, removed the mask from Grandpa Max's waist, and lifted it to his face, aligning the eye sockets with his own.
Then he began scanning the structure.
It didn't take long before he spotted something.
Not far from the main door, one tile stood out. Its color was noticeably different from the surrounding ones, making it look out of place.
"The entrance switch should be here."
Lucian walked over and pressed down on the tile.
Click.
The tile sank inward with a crisp sound.
At last, the long-sealed door slowly began to open…
...
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