[System Notification: Template Progress 10/100 reached. Milestone achieved.][Glitch Watch Permission Enabled: Protection Overload active!][Template Progress: 11/100. New Alien Unlocked: Glitch Arctiguana!]
Cian frowned slightly, retreating to a quiet corner of the RV. "System, open my personal panel."
He needed to understand what "Protection Overload" actually meant for his survival.
Host: Cian Age: 11 Template: Glitch Watch [Transformation Duration: 20 Minutes] [Cooldown: 10 Minutes] [Killer Mode: Unlocked] Progress: 11/100 Skills: Mastery of Five Earth/Galactic Languages, Advanced Vehicle Piloting, Plumber CQC, Expert Marksmanship. Aliens: Original Ten, Snare-oh, Frankenstrike, Blitzwolfer, Roaring Devil, Terror Eye, Wildvine, Ditto, Upchuck, Arctiguana. Physicality: Peak Adult Human Performance.
Cian's eyes widened at the duration. "Twenty minutes! The overload doubled my combat time. That changes everything."
"Cian!" Ben's voice pulled him back to reality. The boy ran up, looking urgent. "Grandpa says the aliens must have a base nearby! That's where they're keeping the missing townspeople... and the rest of those Mud Dogs!"
Cian looked around the empty, eerie town square. "A whole town, hollowed out..."
He began scrolling through the Glitch Watch. Ben tried to mimic the motion on his own scratched, green watch, but it just let out a sad, static-filled beep.
Voom!
In a flash of red light, an orange, eyeless beast lunged from the shadows. Glitch Wildmutt (Glitch Beast). Suppressing the urge to growl, Cian sniffed the discarded human skins left behind by the Limax, caught a scent, and bolted toward the outskirts of town.
Max immediately floored the Rustbucket, keeping pace with the orange blur.
Minutes later, Cian skidded into a local scrapyard. He slammed aside a heavy dumpster, revealing a concealed trapdoor that led into a pitch-black, descending tunnel.
Screeech!
The RV skidded to a halt. Ben hopped out, looking annoyed. "You're still transformed? Man, my piece-of-junk watch timed out five minutes ago. Totally unfair!"
"ROAR!"
Cian nudged his back toward them, letting out a low, vibrating huff.
"Cian wants us to... ride him? Wow, I can actually understand him," Gwen said, surprised by her own intuition. She, Max, and Ben climbed onto the beast's broad, muscular back, gripping his orange fur.
Before jumping in, Cian lowered his head and took a deep sniff of Gwen's hair. He wasn't checking if she was a Limax—the scrapyard just smelled like rotting metal and oil, and Gwen's scent was the only thing keeping him from getting a sensory-overload headache.
Gwen's face flushed a deep crimson. "Cian! I know we've been friends since we were kids, but... what are you doing?!"
Swoosh!
Cian didn't answer. He leaped into the abyss.
They landed heavily in a massive underground cavern, a sprawling nest connected by a labyrinth of mysterious tunnels. Cian's 20-minute timer finally ticked down, and he reverted to human form.
"I remember the layout from the scent-map. Follow me," Cian said, his voice steady.
"Lead the way, Cian! Once we get there, I'm gonna bust some heads!!" Ben slammed his fist into his palm, his watch finally green again.
They traversed the dark tunnels, dodging bats and subterranean rats. It was an eerie journey, but Cian's Plumber-enhanced senses kept them on the right path. Finally, they reached a ledge overlooking a massive central chamber.
Below them was an industrial-scale nursery. Hundreds of glowing, translucent sacs hung from the ceiling, each containing a sleeping elder from the town.
"Look, a spaceship! These geeks really are from out of town," Ben whispered, pointing to a dusty, ancient-looking Universe-class cruiser in the corner.
"How did these Earth-brats find us?!!" "Did the surface patrol fail? Worthless weaklings!" "Kill them. Now!"
Voices echoed from the shadows. A dozen Limax—Mud Dogs—emerged from the slime pools below, their bodies shifting into hulking, aggressive shapes.
Cian glanced at the Glitch Watch. It was still pulsing red. "Ben, you're up. Remember, they're weak to water."
"Got it! Water! I'll drown these losers!" Ben yelled, slamming his watch with all his might.
Flash!
Instead of a water-based alien, a figure made of living magma appeared. The heat was so intense Cian and Gwen had to stumble back.
"Heatblast?! Are you kidding me?!" Ben yelled, looking at his flaming hands.
"Ben, I forgot to tell you..." Cian muttered, rubbing his temples. "Don't slam the watch so hard. The more force you use, the more 'glitches' you get in the selection."
"Whatever! Heatblast is a powerhouse! I can handle this!" Ben thrust his hands forward. "Fireball!"
BOOM!
The flaming projectile struck the lead Limax, creating a massive explosion of steam and smoke.
"Is he done?" Ben smirked.
The smoke cleared. One by one, the Limax stepped forward. They were no longer two meters tall—they had doubled in size. Their muscles were defined, and their sludge had hardened into a ceramic-like armor.
"Our race has one advantage... we aren't afraid of heat," the lead Limax hissed, a wicked grin spreading across its face. "The hotter it gets, the denser our molecular bonds become. You just gave us a massive buff!!"
Ben froze as the super-charged Mud Dogs stomped toward him.
Cian looked down at the Glitch Watch. Ninety seconds until I can transform. He watched the Limax grow larger and more dangerous.
Wait. If they're getting stronger, does that mean...
"System," Cian whispered. "If Ben keeps buffing these guys, will the Progress Progress increase when I take them down?"
[Ding! Confirmed. The current power levels of these targets have exceeded their 'Standard' rating. Higher threat levels result in higher Progress rewards.]
Ben, you beautiful idiot. You're farming XP for me!
Voom!
The Glitch Watch hummed, the red light turning to a predatory emerald. It was harvest season.
Ten meters away, Gwen turned to Max. "Grandpa, you're the expert. Do these guys have any other strengths?"
Max sighed, checking the charge on his Plumber pistol. "In my day, we usually just washed them away before they had a chance to show off. Ben... Ben is currently giving them a masterclass in how to become gods."