Night fell over the city as the group visited the grand museum. Inside, a curator in her sixties adjusted her glasses, gesturing toward an ancient, leather-bound tome.
"The Archamada Book of Spells," she explained. "A record of every hex and incantation documented since the fifteenth century..."
Gwen stepped forward confidently, reciting the book's history with academic precision. Ben leaned over to Tyler, whispering loudly, "See? She really is a miniature old lady. They speak the same language."
"Watch it, Ben," Gwen snapped, though her eyes were actually fixed on Tyler.
Tyler was staring at the grimoire with a strange intensity. In this universe, magic was a very real, very dangerous force. He knew Gwen had the latent talent for it. If I take that book, Max will kill me... but if it stays here, a villain will definitely come for it, he thought.
He didn't have to wait long.
WHOOSH!!
A violent, blood-red mist surged through the museum halls. A localized gale-force wind swept through the room, pinning the tourists—including Tyler's family—against the high ceiling.
"What's happening?!"
"The mist... it's turning into a person!"
The crimson vapor condensed into a tall, imposing figure in blood-red robes. His skin was the color of a shroud, and his face was painted like a ritualistic skull. He gripped a gnarled staff topped with a glowing keystone.
CLICK.
The Carnitrix screen automatically popped up, displaying the icon for The Static-Drake.
[PREDATORY TARGETING ACTIVE]
Analysis: Magical Energy detected.Counter-Measure:The Static-Drake. > * Primary Trait: Energy redirection and atmospheric absorption.
"Wow, your watch is like a thoughtful butler," Ben muttered, staring at his own green Omnitrix. "Hey! Why can't you be this helpful? You're just a glorified egg timer!" He slammed his wrist in frustration.
"The Book of Archamada... is mine!" Hex roared, raising his staff.
BOOM!
A bolt of purple energy shattered the display case. Hex snatched the book, then waved his staff again. The wind holding the tourists vanished, sending everyone screaming toward the marble floor.
FLASH! FLASH!
A green and red light strobed simultaneously. The Velocity Wraith (Ben) moved in a blur, creating air cushions out of loose banners and museum tapestries to catch the falling civilians. Meanwhile, a squat, reptilian horror—The Static-Drake—pounced toward Hex.
"What manner of beast are you?!" Hex cried, chanting a quick incantation.
A pillar of mystical fire erupted from his staff, engulfing Tyler's form. Seizing the opening, Hex dissolved back into a cloud of blood-mist, carrying the book out of the museum and into the city streets.
The fire died down instantly. Tyler stood there, unharmed, with blue sparks crackling between his scales. He looked at the empty space where Hex had been. "Seriously? He's a legendary sorcerer and his first move is to run? That's pathetic."
"Please! You have to get it back!" the curator cried.
"Don't worry, ma'am," Ben said, nodding as he zoomed off. Tyler followed, his feet crackling with stored kinetic energy.
In a deserted suburban clearing, the blood-mist condensed back into Hex. He wiped sweat from his pale forehead, clutching the grimoire. "That was... closer than expected. Those two creatures... I have never seen their like."
The blue one was fast, but the reptilian one? It radiated an oppressive aura that made Hex's skin crawl. At least I lost them, he thought, opening the book. "Now, to master the true arts..."
BOOM!
A blue whirlwind passed him, and the book was gone.
"Hey!" Ben stood several yards away, flipping the book casually. "This is overdue, pal. I'm the librarian today."
"You! How did you track my mist?!" Hex roared, leveling his staff.
"He didn't," a chilling voice rasped from directly behind Hex's ear.
Hex spun around, his heart leaping into his throat. Tyler stood there, the Static-Drake's body humming with the electricity he had absorbed from the city's power lines during the chase.
"We stayed back to avoid collateral damage in the city," Tyler explained, his voice a low growl. "Out here? You're just target practice."
"I'll burn you to ash!" Hex screamed, unleashing a massive magical impact.
Tyler didn't move. He held up his clawed hands, and as the purple magic hit him, his fingers seemed to "pierce" the energy. Instead of exploding, the magic was drawn into his skin, flowing into his conduits and turning into raw electrical potential.
"Wh-What?!" Hex gasped. "You can... absorb magic?!"
"Thanks for the recharge," Tyler smiled.
Blue lightning exploded from Tyler's feet as he launched himself like a rocket. Hex frantically chanted, switching to elemental fire. A beast of flame roared out to meet the flying drake.
BANG!!
The fire didn't just miss; it was snuffed out as if it had hit a vacuum. Tyler emerged from the smoke, his fist wreathed in high-voltage current, and slammed it into Hex's chest. The sorcerer's mist-form shattered, and he collapsed back into a physical body, howling in pain.
Hex looked up in terror. This wasn't a fight against a hero. It was a fight against a predator that ate his very power.