Deep within the swamp forest,
an abandoned observatory stood hidden among the trees, wreathed in mist and hazy swamp gas, flickering in and out of view.
The inside was completely run-down, filled with rusted instruments that had long since broken and been discarded there.
The whole observatory was thick with the stale smell of dust and rotting wood.
At some point, an enormous telescope had been converted into a launcher. It looked like a giant cannon aimed at the sky, unsettling to behold.
The gray parrot flapped its wings and descended from the air, landing beside the launcher.
Unable to contain himself, Dr. Animo leaped off the parrot's back and hurried to the launcher's slot.
"Something that can recombine DNA and also holds tremendous energy..." Dr. Animo's heart pounded as he lowered the Omnitrix casing into the slot with trembling hands. "Let me see just how far you can evolve a lifeform!"
The moment the telescope launcher received energy from the Omnitrix casing, it immediately transformed into a "gene mutator."
Dr. Animo looked around, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and fixed on a bat hanging upside down by the window.
"Hehe, then you'll be my test subject!"
Extending both mechanical arms, Dr. Animo began operating the launcher and aimed it at the bat.
"You're about to become the first species of a new world. You should thank Ben... and me, Dr. Animo!"
The instant he finished speaking, a beam of bright green light shot out from the launcher, carrying dense alien genetic energy as it enveloped the bat.
...
On the swamp river, a small flat-bottomed boat drifted along the surging current.
Lucian and the others gripped their oars and rowed with all their strength.
Half an hour earlier, after Diamondmutt and Four Arms-Stinkfly came ashore, they had reverted to normal.
In the end, the truth couldn't stay hidden forever.
Ben reluctantly confessed that he had pried open and messed up the Omnitrix.
He had expected Grandpa Max and Gwen to chew him out, but to his surprise, they stayed unusually quiet and only said they needed to get back the Omnitrix casing that Dr. Animo had taken.
"Bright light... a ring of green energy..." Lucian muttered thoughtfully.
From Ben's scattered explanation, he quickly reached a conclusion.
Last night, after Ben pried off the Omnitrix casing, it had released a circular wave of energy. That matched the exact moment Lucian's Omnitrix started acting up.
At the time, the Omnitrix Calibration Edition had automatically popped up its hologram, flickered wildly, and even shocked him.
Lucian guessed that after the replica Omnitrix was pried open, the electromagnetic pulse it produced had not only disrupted the replica's function, but also interfered with the normal operation of the Omnitrix Calibration Edition.
Like those hybrid transformations...
[Alien Hacker Mission triggered]
[Help Ben recover the Omnitrix casing and restore the Omnitrix replica to normal]
[Upon successful completion, the Omnitrix Calibration Edition's functions will be restored, and a random enhancement effect will be awarded]
The cold system prompt suddenly rang out in Lucian's mind.
Lucian's heart skipped a beat.
He had no idea what kind of enhancement he'd get this time.
And so the group continued drifting down the swamp river, searching for any sign of Dr. Animo.
Screee!
A sharp, piercing cry suddenly came from above.
Lucian immediately looked up, and his eyes twitched.
It was a... fire bat!
It was huge, wreathed in flames, with lava-like skin covered in dense cracks.
"Oh my God, it's basically a bat version of Heatblast!" Gwen cried out in alarm.
"Oh, man... the stupid watch is still crashed..." Ben said miserably, staring at the Omnitrix's red screen.
Screee!
Under the gray, overcast sky, the fire bat dived straight down trailing crimson flames, then spewed out a surging stream of fire toward the group.
With lives on the line, Lucian didn't have time to think. Even if he transformed into some hybrid monstrosity, that was still better than being a weak human.
Thunk!
A flash of eerie green light dyed the river around them green for an instant before vanishing.
Grandpa Max froze and stared at where Lucian had just been.
"Is that... Diamond Matter?"
A small figure stood on the boat, frog-like in appearance, its entire body made of green crystal like some crystal doll.
"Grey Matter's size, plus Diamondhead's crystal form?" Ben's eyes went wide, his heart pounding.
That was more than just a slight drop in combat power.
Gwen gritted her teeth, raised one hand, and pointed at the fire bat.
"Water Dragon Soul!"
The boat drifted along the river, surrounded by thick moisture. In that environment, the fierce Water Dragon Soul formed almost instantly and shot straight toward the fire bat overhead.
But the fire bat was incredibly agile. It dodged the attack, then spat out a thick pillar of fire that came crashing down.
If that attack hit, the little boat would probably be blown apart on the spot, and everyone there would be swept away in the raging current.
Small as he was, Diamond Matter still stepped forward.
"A fire rat like you thinks it can run wild?"
Diamond Matter gave a cold snort and raised both hands, forming a crystal shield over the boat.
Though his size had shrunk, he could still control and regenerate crystal. Protecting one small boat wasn't a problem.
Boom!
The blazing torrent of fire slammed into the green crystal barrier, sending dazzling sparks flying.
After blocking the flames, Diamond Matter withdrew the shield.
Then a crystal spear appeared in his hand, gleaming coldly with razor-sharp menace.
Whoosh!
Diamond Matter hurled it with all his strength. The spear became a green blur as it shot straight at the fire bat's head.
The fire bat screeched and hurriedly dodged to the side.
Rip!
The sharp crystal spear pierced one of the fire bat's wings, and molten blood trickled out.
After taking such a serious hit, the fire bat lost all will to keep fighting. Enduring the pain in its wing, it quickly fled deeper into the swamp...
Seeing that, Grandpa Max immediately said, "Quick, after it! It's definitely going back to Dr. Animo!"
"Right!"
Everyone nodded and rowed frantically, chasing after the fire bat as fast as they could...