Thoom!
The repulsor released another concentrated burst of energy. Melted edges appeared on the ice block's surface as Ben's two palm cannons glowed through the frozen prison, their golden light intensifying. He wasn't waiting around, he was already working to break free.
Arctiguana stopped admiring his sign-in reward and hurried to help Ben, chipping away at the ice barrier. After half a minute of combined effort, they finally freed him from the frozen tomb.
"C-cold! I'm so c-cold!" Ben broke free from the ice, hugging his shoulders and shivering violently. His teeth chattered as he sneezed. "Achoo! Asher, I'll definitely beat you next time!"
"Sorry, but I did say I was going all out," Arctiguana replied with an apologetic look. "When I'm serious, I'm serious."
"Don't worry, achoo!, I'm not someone who can't handle losing. You won this time, fair and square." Ben lifted the battle suit's transformation, his face pale as he stumbled back toward the Rust Bucket to gulp down hot water.
Max and Gwen stared at the massive frozen area covering the training field. "What should we do about this? It wouldn't be good if someone discovered it."
Arctiguana waved off their concern. "Don't worry, these ice structures will dissipate naturally."
He paused, realizing he hadn't explained this before. "Actually, whether it's my freezing breath, Heatblast's flames, or Diamondhead's crystals... all the matter I create from my transformations slowly breaks down after I change back. Otherwise, Diamondhead could just spam crystal formations and become the world's richest person overnight!"
Understanding dawned on Max and Gwen's faces. After Arctiguana released his transformation, the three climbed back into the Rust Bucket and drove toward their next destination.
The journey passed peacefully.
Well, peaceful for everyone except Ben, who kept sneezing miserably. It seemed he'd actually caught a cold from being frozen solid.
To this, Asher could only offer one piece of advice, "Ben, drink more hot water."
The hot water didn't help much. Ben wrapped himself in a blanket, and his condition stabilized somewhat. A cold didn't pose any real danger, but it was definitely uncomfortable.
"This feeling sucks," Ben complained, his nose running. "Either my nose is completely stuffed up or it's dripping everywhere! Asher, could you turn into Heatblast and warm me up?"
Asher's mouth twitched. "Ben, I'm afraid I can't control the temperature that precisely. If I go a little too hot, you might die on the spot."
"Don't worry, Ben," Max reassured him from the driver's seat. "We're almost at the new city. First Street has a Chinatown-style area with plenty of shops run by people from Daxia, including a pharmacy that specializes in traditional Chinese medicine. I'll get you some remedies when we arrive."
When Ben heard the word "medicine," he immediately gagged. "Can I buy ice cream mixed with medicine instead? Otherwise I'll throw up!"
Hearing this, Asher couldn't help but laugh. "How would you eat ice cream while taking medicine? Besides, the Chinese medicine Grandpa mentioned is generally used for body conditioning and health maintenance."
The thought of Daxia's various specialty dishes made him practically drool. "Grandpa said there are many shops run by people from Daxia there, so besides the pharmacy, there should also be Chinese restaurants. I can't wait to try the food."
Daxia's culinary traditions were truly unique. He hadn't tasted authentic Chinese food in far too long.
Ben continued wailing about having to take medicine, while Asher grew increasingly excited about the food. The two of them arrived in the brand new city with completely opposite attitudes, the old Rust Bucket rumbling along until they reached their destination.
Just as Max had described, First Street was filled with shops owned by people from Daxia.
Restaurants lined every block, supermarkets stocked products imported from Daxia, and storefronts displayed colorful Chinese decorations. There was even a lion dance performance happening in the street, creating a festive atmosphere like the Spring Festival.
If it weren't for all the locals walking around, Asher might have thought they'd actually traveled back to Daxia.
"Here we are, Ben. I'll take you to get your medicine. Asher and Gwen, you two can browse around and buy whatever catches your eye."
After Max parked the Rust Bucket in a designated parking area, he helped Ben out to find the pharmacy, giving Asher and the others some free time to explore.
Asher, who'd been eager to stretch his legs, was the first one out of the RV. Max and Ben followed, while everyone absorbed the lively New Year atmosphere filling the street.
"Asher, should we bring back some souvenirs? Like Chinese books, textbooks, things like that?" Gwen looked around at the various shops with genuine interest.
"My God, Gwen, are you still thinking about classes during summer vacation? Do you just read books all day long?" Ben didn't miss the opportunity to tease her, even with a cold.
"You two are starting again..."
Though he enjoyed their constant banter, Asher sometimes found it exhausting. In the end, they compromised: Gwen could buy some books, and Ben would get his Guan Dao, a Green Dragon Crescent Blade replica.
Asher's choice was simple: take them both to eat pancake fruit, one of Daxia's signature street foods.
They'd been driving for a long time, and this could serve as lunch. Except for Ben, both Asher and Gwen found the food delicious.
"What's so good about this? Where's the meat in this hamburger?"
Max walked over carrying a bag filled with herbal medicine, greeting them warmly. "What are you all eating? Why doesn't this boss put any meat in his hamburgers?"
"Grandpa, this isn't a hamburger, it's pancake fruit..." Asher gave Max a systematic explanation, then bought him one to try. Max ate it with obvious appreciation and praise.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your support of the urban renewal plan we've been working hard to implement..."
At that moment, a middle-aged woman stood on a stage ahead, speaking into a microphone. Her gestures radiated confidence as various people gathered around to listen to her speech.
Asher's curiosity was piqued. "Is this the mayor? What's she talking about, this urban renewal plan? Does it affect the Chinese shops here?"
"Urban renewal plan, I know about this," Max explained. "It's when a city tears down old buildings and constructs new ones on the original site. That's why they call it a renewal plan."
"I see." Asher nodded in understanding.
"But I heard there's someone unusual who refuses to move out. They've been arguing with the construction workers about it. I don't know why, but apparently they've been negotiating for a while." Max murmured with a puzzled expression.
Refuses to move out?
An unusual person?
For some reason, Asher immediately thought of Dr. Animo!
That guy had also been behind on rent and about to be evicted when he snapped and launched his crazy scientific schemes!
In a sense, Dr. Animo was definitely considered "unusual" by ordinary people.
Were these two "unusual people" following similar scripts?
Was this world's version of a "cyberpsycho" about to emerge?