Chapter 105: The Spark Thieves
"Damn it! Dinobots, protect the veteran Autobots now! These things are trying to steal our Sparks!"
Whether it was because of the Fallen's gaze or his own instincts, Grimlock immediately entered combat mode. His two Dinobot brothers, though unaware of the details, transformed without hesitation and stood guard before the elder Autobots. As for Starscream, he still held air superiority and wasn't about to surrender such an advantageous position.
"Rooaar!"
As expected, the newly-created Predacons, driven purely by instinct, locked onto the weakest Autobots and began advancing toward the eight veterans, baring their metallic fangs.
"Hahaha! Go ahead, my monsters! You'll have to fight for the purest Flames yourselves. Those eight are old and worn take it as an honor to claim their power! Quickly! Use your sharp claws to tear open their chests and implant the burning Flames within them! The Decepticons welcome the young!"
This was the Fallen's plan he didn't need to lift a finger. Using these Primeval Beasts, now little more than hollow shells, he could achieve his goals effortlessly. After all, direct combat didn't seem to be his specialty; his true power lay elsewhere.
"Host, we're in serious trouble. Based on my analysis of the Fallen's split spark energy, I've discovered that he himself is a massive energy source. Just a fragment of his power could create hundreds of thousands of puppet-like Primeval Beast warriors. You know how vast the population of mammalian and reptilian life is on this planet this must be his true reason for wanting to conquer it!"
After witnessing the scene, and through a chain of logical deductions and scientific calculations, the Transformers System reached a chilling conclusion: this planet contained enormous stores of geothermal and biological energy, which could be harnessed and transmitted to Cybertron, extending its dying life span by at least a thousand years. Moreover, the planet's diverse biological structure could provide the Fallen with an endless army of bio-mechanical Transformers.
It was a terrifying prospect. Even if only 10% of this planet's life forms were successfully transformed, it would be enough for the Fallen to forge a new and unstoppable Decepticon army. At that point, it wouldn't just be the Autobots who suffered the entire universe would be at risk.
Through such methods, the Fallen's ultimate ambition could be realized. With a mechanical army under his command, Cybertron would become the center of the universe. Few planets could withstand a robotic civilization of such scale and with an unending stream of new recruits, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Damn you! You won't succeed! We veterans will expose your crimes on this planet and show all of Cybertron your true identity the Fallen!"
The old Autobot warriors, filled with righteous fury, shouted in defiance. But their words were met only with the Fallen's cruel laughter.
"Hahaha! Have all you old fools gone mad? Do you really think anyone on Cybertron will answer your message? Since you're about to be wiped out anyway, let me offer you some free information: Cybertron now belongs to the Decepticons. Its new leader is a warrior named Megatron my disciple. He's already preparing to bring his army here, so I'd advise you to stop resisting!"
What?! The Fallen had allied with Megatron so quickly? The revelation left Starscream stunned.
"What's going on? Megatron's here too? No wonder all communications have been silent lately he's trying to infiltrate without me noticing!"
The Fallen's words sent a wave of dread through Starscream. Even if he couldn't defeat the Fallen, he could always flee but Megatron was another matter. If that madman discovered Starscream's betrayal, he would hunt him down to the ends of the universe.
"System, can you switch me into Beast Mode now? If the Fallen really is connected to Megatron, continuing this fight in my current form could have dire consequences. I need a completely different form one no one will recognize for the rest of this story. What do you think?"
At first glance, it seemed like a pointless move, but no one knew Megatron better than Starscream. Even if he didn't attack the Predacons directly, if Megatron saw Starscream's form appear on any combat feed, he would immediately grow suspicious. What was done was done there was no turning back. From now on, Starscream would have to vanish completely from Megatron's sight.
"It's ready. I completed your Beast Mode adjustments five minutes ago. You can channel the power of that saber-toothed tiger to transform. The Dinobots won't even realize it's you they'll never recognize your new form!"
As a master of disguise, stealth was Starscream's greatest strength. And since Megatron's arrival on this planet was inevitable, avoiding direct contact was the smartest move.
"Starscream Transform! Beast Mode!"
In that instant, all eyes including the Fallen's were focused on the Dinobots and the eight veteran Autobots. No one expected the fighter jet hovering in the air to suddenly dive toward a nearby jungle.
From the shadows of the forest emerged not the sleek combat jet from before, but a mechanical saber-toothed tiger gleaming with cold metal light. Unlike the crude husks created by the Fallen, this transformed Starscream radiated explosive power. Though his aerial combat form was gone, all his advanced systems remained intact, ready to unleash devastating strength at any moment.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sudden appearance of this unfamiliar mechanical beast didn't draw the Fallen's attention but it did catch the notice of several Predacons. These Spark-hungry predators could sense the ravenous energy emanating from the metallic creature before them.
(End of Chapter)