Bianca pulled over near the edge of a forest.
Nico looked down at the Nemetrix.
Bianca glanced at him.
"Gonna test another one?"
Nico scrolled through the silhouettes until he stopped on the fourth transformation.
It looked like a lean black hound with a long blade for a tail.
"I want to know if one of these is built for speed."
Bianca shrugged.
"Well, there's plenty of room to run."
The two stepped out of the RV and walked a little way into the trees.
Nico took a breath.
"Let's do this."
He slammed the dial.
Red light swallowed him.
Inside the red mental space...
A lean, black hound stood before him.
Its white claws dug into the crimson floor.
Its long blade-like tail swayed behind it.
A holographic screen appeared beside Nico.
[Species: Dashslicer
Natural Predator of the Kineceleran Species
Abilities
Extreme speed
Can leave afterimages while moving
Agile enough to attack at full speed
Night vision
Blade tail
Powerful bite
Limited air control
Weaknesses
Time-based abilities
Slime
Ice]
Nico looked at the creature.
"...It's basically a dog."
Dashslicer tilted its head.
Nico cautiously reached out.
"...Can I?"
The predator sniffed his hand.
Then immediately flopped onto its back.
Its tail wagged against the red floor.
Nico blinked.
"...Seriously?"
He rubbed its stomach.
Dashslicer's back leg started kicking happily.
Nico chuckled.
"This might be the easiest one to control."
Outside...
The red light faded.
A sleek black hound now stood where Nico had been.
It stretched before letting out a low growl.
The Nemetrix translated automatically.
"This thing is fast."
Bianca folded her arms.
"How fast?"
Dashslicer vanished.
A gust of wind rushed past her.
"..."
A second later Dashslicer was sitting beside her again.
A can of soda was hanging from his mouth.
Bianca looked at the unopened can.
Then at the nearby vending machine about fifty meters away.
"...Did you pay for that?"
Dashslicer paused.
"..."
He slowly turned his head toward the vending machine.
Then back to Bianca.
"...No."
Bianca sighed.
"Put it back."
Dashslicer whined like a guilty puppy.
The Nemetrix translated the sound.
"...Fine."
With another burst of speed, he disappeared again, returning the soda before anyone even noticed it had been taken.
Bianca looked at Nico.
"So, it really is that fast?"
Dashslicer's tail wagged behind him.
"Yeah. I can also control the air... even if it's limited."
Bianca nodded.
"You know... these aliens are weird."
Nico tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Bianca kept her eyes on him.
"They're all specialists."
Nico blinked.
"...Go on."
She pointed at him.
"Think about it. Every one of these predators exists almost entirely to hunt one specific species."
She started counting on her fingers.
"Dashslicer hunts Kinecelerans. Aqua Chomper hunts Amperi. Crabdozer hunts Arburians."
She shrugged.
"But that's not how predators usually work."
Nico's ears twitched.
"Hm."
Bianca continued.
"In biology class we learned that most predators hunt whatever they can catch. Wolves don't only hunt deer. Lions don't only hunt zebras. They'll hunt different prey depending on what's available."
Nico thought about it.
"...You're right."
His tail slowly stopped wagging.
"So why are these different?"
Bianca smiled.
"That's the question."
Nico looked down at the Nemetrix.
'Why would Azmuth and Psychobos make predators this specialized?'
The watch gave a soft beep.
A holographic message appeared.
NEMETRIX DATABASE
Purpose: Countermeasure Device.
Each transformation has been genetically optimized to neutralize one or more specific Omnitrix DNA samples.
Nico and Bianca stared at the screen.
Bianca looked at her brother.
"...Well."
Nico nodded.
"That answers that."
The message vanished.
Dashslicer's tail immediately started wagging again.
Bianca laughed.
"You were thinking about science."
Nico looked back at his tail.
"...And this thing is thinking about chasing squirrels."
Bianca thought for a moment.
"You know... if these things hunt one species, they probably hunt others too."
Dashslicer tilted his head.
Nico nodded.
"Maybe Dashslicer also hunts other fast species."
The Nemetrix emitted a soft beep.
Correct.
Both siblings looked down at the watch.
The AI continued.
The Nemetrix database displays only the primary natural prey of each predator.
Each predator is capable of hunting multiple species with similar biological traits.
Nico raised an eyebrow.
"So Dashslicer doesn't just hunt Kinecelerans."
Correct.
The homeworld of Dashslicer contains two separate high-speed species. Dashslicer regularly preys upon both.
Bianca smiled.
"So it's less 'one predator, one prey'..."
"...and more 'one predator, one type of prey.'"
Correct.
Nico rubbed his chin.
"That actually makes a lot more sense."
The AI displayed another line.
Example: Aqua Chomper primarily preys upon the Amperi species. It is also capable of hunting other aquatic and electrically adapted lifeforms throughout known space.
Bianca nodded.
"Okay, now it feels like actual biology instead of someone making ten monsters that each hate exactly one alien."
Dashslicer's ears perked up.
Nico laughed.
"So they're real apex predators."
Affirmative.
Each Nemetrix DNA sample represents the genetically superior specimen of its species, optimized for survival and hunting efficiency.
Nico looked at the watch.
"...Azmuth really thought this through."
The AI paused for a second before replying.
Correction.
Azmuth designed the Nemetrix.
Khyber acquired the DNA samples.
Nico and Bianca looked at each other.
Bianca broke the silence.
"...I have a feeling whoever Khyber is..."
Nico nodded.
"...He's either completely insane..."
"...or the greatest hunter in the galaxy."
The AI answered without hesitation.
Both statements are accurate.
Nico thought for a moment.
"Hey, watch. Is there a way to transform back without waiting the full ten minutes?"
The Nemetrix answered immediately.
Affirmative.
Tap the center of the Nemetrix symbol while transformed.
Nico looked down at the watch on Dashslicer's chest.
"...That's it?"
Correct.
He reached over and tapped the center of the symbol.
Red light enveloped his body.
A second later, Nico was standing there again in his human form.
He blinked.
"...Well, that was easy."
Bianca smiled.
"So you don't have to waste the full ten minutes every time."
Nico nodded.
"That's going to be useful."
The Nemetrix beeped once more.
Manual deactivation conserves remaining transformation time and begins recharge immediately.
Nico raised an eyebrow.
"So if I only use a transformation for two minutes..."
Remaining transformation energy is preserved until the next activation.
Bianca pointed at the watch.
"That's actually a really smart feature."
Nico nodded in agreement.
"It means I don't have to stay transformed longer than I need to."
The two returned to the RV.
Bianca started the engine and pulled back onto the highway.
Nico activated the holographic tracker.
The blue map appeared above the Nemetrix.
One signal.
Still moving.
Still ahead.
Nico leaned back in his seat.
"We're getting closer."
Bianca glanced at the map before returning her attention to the road.
"Think we'll catch up to him today?"
Nico watched the blinking dot for a few seconds.
"If we don't run into another giant monster..."
He paused.
"...Actually, I'm not going to finish that sentence."
Bianca laughed.
"Good idea."
The RV rolled down the highway, following the Omnitrix's signal as the distance between the two watch bearers continued to shrink.
Meanwhile...
Far away.
Hidden within an ancient castle.
BOOM!
A knight in black armor crashed through the massive doors.
The guards rushed him.
"For the Order!"
The armored man didn't slow down.
He swung his sword once.
A wave of dark energy erupted from the blade, sending the knights flying into the walls.
One after another.
None could stop him.
He continued walking through the grand hall until he reached a stone pedestal.
Embedded within it were twelve swords.
Each one gave off a different aura.
The armored man looked over them before reaching for one.
"I offered peace."
His gauntlet wrapped around the hilt.
"You refused."
He pulled.
The sword refused to move.
He grunted and pulled harder.
The hall shook.
Then—
SHING!
The blade came free.
Dark crimson light burst from the sword, wrapping around his armor.
The blade pulsed as if it had come alive.
A voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"The Sword of Gluttony has accepted its bearer."
The armored man looked at the glowing blade.
"So... you chose me after all."
The remaining Forever Knights slowly stood.
One pointed his sword at him.
"You have betrayed the Forever Knights!"
The man slowly turned.
"No."
He raised the Sword of Gluttony.
"I am returning our Order..."
Dark energy gathered around the blade.
"...to its true purpose."
He swung.
A crescent of crimson-black energy tore through the hall, forcing every knight back.
The chamber shook.
Stone cracked.
The remaining eleven swords vibrated within their pedestal.
Almost...
As if they had sensed that one of their own had finally left its resting place.
"Someone stop Darius". One Knight shouted.
The castle trembled.
Stone pillars collapsed as Darius walked through the ancient hall, the Sword of Gluttony leaving trails of crimson energy with every swing.
Forever Knights rushed him.
None lasted more than a few seconds.
Then—
Clang!
A sword blocked his next strike.
The shockwave blasted through the room.
Darius looked up.
Standing before him was another knight.
His armor was different from the others. Simpler. Older. His face was hidden behind a steel mask.
He carried a plain longsword.
[Insert image of Enoch]
Enoch held his ground.
"You shall not pass, Darius."
Darius looked at the ordinary blade before chuckling.
"Do you really think your sword can stand against one of the Twelve Ascalon Blades?"
Enoch lowered his stance.
"Maybe not."
"But I can't let you leave with that sword."
Darius smiled beneath his helmet.
"Then you've chosen your grave."
He swung.
Enoch met the attack head-on.
CLANG!
The two blades collided.
Crimson energy exploded through the hall, shattering nearby stained-glass windows.
Enoch slid back several meters, his boots carving trenches into the stone floor.
He steadied himself.
"...Just as strong as the records said."
Darius rested the Sword of Gluttony on his shoulder.
"I was hoping you'd be stronger."
Then he vanished.
Enoch's eyes widened beneath his mask.
"Fast—"
BOOM!
The Sword of Gluttony slammed into his guard, launching him through three stone pillars.
Dust filled the hall.
Darius continued walking toward the castle entrance.
"I don't need to defeat the Forever Knights."
He glanced back at the fallen knight.
"I only need to leave."
Enoch slowly stood, gripping his sword tighter.
"...Then you'll have to walk over me."
For the first time since entering the castle...
Darius stopped smiling.
Darius raised the Sword of Gluttony.
"I hope you're ready."
The blade gathered crimson energy.
It spread along the edge until the entire sword glowed.
Darius swung.
"Dragon Slash."
BOOM!
A massive arc of dark crimson energy tore through the castle.
The walls split apart.
The floor cracked.
The explosion echoed for miles.
Dust covered everything.
...
A few moments later.
Darius walked through the shattered front gates without looking back.
The Sword of Gluttony rested on his shoulder.
His footsteps echoed as he disappeared into the forest.
Behind him...
Enoch lay outside the ruined castle.
His armor was cracked.
His sword had snapped in half.
He coughed before forcing himself onto one knee.
"...I lost."
He looked back toward the castle.
The stone pedestal still stood.
But one space was now empty.
The Sword of Gluttony...
...was gone.
Enoch slowly clenched his fist.
"The Twelve have become Eleven."
He activated the communicator hidden beneath his armor.
"This is Enoch."
His breathing was heavy.
"The Sword of Gluttony has chosen a bearer."
He looked toward the distant forest where Darius had vanished.
"...Inform the Grand Council."
"The hunt begins."
Meanwhile...
Nico and Bianca drove into the lakeside campground.
Several police cars were parked near the shore.
Yellow tape still blocked off part of the dock.
People stood around talking about what had happened the day before.
Bianca looked at her brother.
"You sure this is the place?"
Nico glanced at the Nemetrix.
"The tracker says the Omnitrix user was here yesterday."
He tapped the scanner.
The Nemetrix projected a hologram over the lake.
Scanning...
A few seconds passed before the AI spoke.
[DNA traces detected.
Kineceleran
Piscciss Volann
Tetramand
Lepidopterran]
Nico blinked.
"...Four different species?"
The AI answered.
[Confirmed. Residual DNA signatures match Omnitrix transformations used within the last twenty-four hours.]
Bianca looked out across the lake.
"So the kid really fought something here."
Nico nodded.
"Looks like it."
He stared at the list.
"...Still doesn't help."
Bianca looked over.
"Why?"
Nico scratched the back of his head.
"I still have no idea what any of those species actually look like."
The Nemetrix beeped.
Image database locked.
[Reason: User observation and field experience recommended before database access.]
Nico sighed.
"So... you want me to learn the hard way."
Affirmative.
Bianca laughed.
"Honestly..."
"...that sounds exactly like something Azmuth would program."
Nico couldn't argue with that.
He looked out over the calm lake.
The battle was already over.
The Omnitrix user had moved on.
Which meant...
"So are we."
The siblings returned to the RV, following the tracker once again as it pointed farther down the road.
To be continue.
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy