BOOM!
Under the crushing impact of Tyler's electric-charged punch, Hex's crimson mist dispersed violently, forcing the sorcerer back into his physical form. Gasping for air, Hex frantically waved his staff, conjuring a localized gale that sent Tyler skidding backward.
Tyler landed in a low crouch, his reptilian eyes cold. "Mist or not, you still have a heartbeat. That makes you easy to break."
"Don't get cocky, beast!" Hex snarled. He lashed out with his staff, sending invisible concussive blasts of air—like demonic palms—striking at Tyler.
Tyler dug his claws into the asphalt, bracing against the wind. Ben, seeing his brother struggle, blurred into motion and braced Tyler from behind. The two stood together, a wall of flesh and alien armor "braving the wind" as one.
"If I can pin them down with the gale, I can reclaim the Grimoire!" Hex thought, his eyes lighting up with desperate hope. He believed his "kiting" strategy was working.
"Ben, let go of me!" Tyler shouted over the roar of the wind.
"You got a plan?" Ben asked, immediately retreating with the heavy spellbook in his arms.
WHOOSH!
Without Ben's weight to anchor him, the wind swept Tyler's body high into the air.
"Wait, what?!" Ben watched in horror. "I thought he was going to pull a pro-gamer move, not get carried away like a kite!"
"Haha! Victory is mine!" Hex shouted, channeling more power into the winds to carry Tyler further away.
But Tyler wasn't panicking. As he tumbled through the air, his sharp eyes locked onto Hex. He raised a single finger, aiming it like the barrel of a sniper rifle.
BOOM!!!
With a sharp flick, an armor-piercing bolt of pure bio-electricity erupted from his fingertip. The "Electric Bullet" tore through the mist and detonated directly against Hex's chest.
The sorcerer's scream was cut short as he plummeted to the earth. Tyler performed a mid-air twist, landing gracefully on his feet. He blew the static smoke from his finger. "Game over."
Tyler didn't give him a chance to recover. His feet sparked with blue light as he charged. Hex, now terrified, unleashed a barrage of desperate energy blasts. But each bolt that hit Tyler was simply absorbed, fueling the Static-Drake's speed.
"Stay back!!" Hex yelled, raising his staff to block. Tyler's fist collided with the wood, but it was a feint. Tyler's serrated tail, crackling with high-voltage current, whipped around like a steel rod, slamming into Hex's ribs.
Hex's eyes rolled back as he collapsed. "Why... is his tail... a weapon too..."
The Master of Magic was down.
"Mission accomplished," Ben chirped, checking the Omnitrix. "We can bail once the cops get here. Uh, Tyler? Why are you undressing him?"
Tyler was systematically stripping Hex of his red robes, his enchanted charms, and his staff. "It's too dangerous for him to have these," Tyler said flatly. "It's only logical that we take them."
"Shouldn't we give them to the police?" Ben asked, tilting his head.
"Ben," Tyler looked at him with mock-seriousness. "With great power comes great responsibility. As heroes, we have to carry the burden of these dangerous artifacts. It's for the good of humanity."
By the time the police arrived, Hex was curled in a fetal position, shivering in nothing but his underwear. "Can someone... get me a blanket? How can children be so cruel to an old man..."
Back in the Rustbucket, Tyler laid out the loot: the staff, the cloak, and the Archamada Grimoire.
"Grandpa, we're keeping these," Tyler explained. Max, ever the realist, nodded. "Better us than some museum that can't even stop a guy in a skull-mask."
Gwen's eyes were practically glowing as she stared at the book. "I... I'm really curious about these spells..."
"They're yours, Gwen," Tyler said with a smile, handing her the stack of magical items. He knew Gwen's potential. If she became a master mage now, his own safety—and his template progress—would skyrocket.
"Thank you, Tyler!" Gwen lunged forward, giving him a crushing hug. "I don't know how to thank you!"
"Cough—it's nothing," Tyler gasped, feeling the strength of her grip.
As she let go, Gwen's face flushed slightly. Tyler's muscles are like granite, she thought, secretly enjoying the "tactical" hug. Who said only boys appreciated a good physique?
Gwen spent the rest of the night hunched over the book, her fingers tracing the ancient runes. Tyler eventually drifted off to sleep.
In the middle of the night, a cold draft woke him. He saw a faint red light flickering in the RV's living area. He sat up to see Gwen draped in Hex's cloak. The fabric was moving like living tentacles, holding the book and staff for her while she meditated. Her body was shrouded in a soft, mystical crimson aura.
"Gwen? What time is it?" Tyler whispered.
She turned, a sweet, triumphant smile on her face. "Sorry, Tyler. I've been practicing all night. I think I've got the hang of this! I actually have a knack for it."
"Hiss," Tyler took a deep breath. "You're a total workaholic, you know that?"
[Ding! Host defeated Hex, confiscated his artifacts, and accelerated Gwen's magical awakening. Progress +1%]
[Template Mastery: 21/100. DNA Unlocked: THE DROWNING KING & THE EARTH-BREAKER!]
Tyler grinned until his face hurt. He climbed out of bed to help Gwen tidy up her new "gear," and the two of them eventually fell asleep, leaning against each other in the quiet of the night.
The Drowning King (Water Hazard Variant)
Traits: Barnacle-encrusted red armor. Shoots high-pressure boiling water that can cut through steel.
The Earth-Breaker (Armodrillo Variant)
Traits: Massive yellow piston-arms made of rusted, heavy metal. Can trigger localized earthquakes.
