Chapter 18: Terraspin and the Naked Sorcerer
The museum was bathed in the warm, flickering glow of an archaic illumination method—hundreds of lit candles. Shadows danced across the ancient artifacts, casting long, eerie silhouettes against the polished marble walls.
A local tour guide, a stern-faced woman with a nasal voice, led Klein, Grandpa Max, Ben, and Gwen, along with a dozen other tourists, through the winding exhibits. She droned on, pointing out various relics with a wooden pointer.
The group eventually stopped before a reinforced glass display case. Resting on a velvet cushion inside was a heavy, leather-bound book radiating an aura of ancient mystery.
"The Archamada Book of Spells," the guide began, her tone practiced and dry.
"Containing all witchcraft, charms, and spells from the fifteenth century onwards," Gwen chimed in, her eyes sparkling with genuine fascination as she spoke in perfect unison with the guide.
The guide stopped. Her lips thinned into a severe line as she glared down at the ten-year-old. "I think you should be the guide, little girl," she snapped, her sarcasm dripping like venom. Without waiting for an apology, she spun on her heel and marched toward the next exhibit.
Gwen's excited smile faltered. She ducked her head, her shoulders slumping as a flush of embarrassment crept up her neck.
Ben, who had spent the last ten minutes trying to balance a brochure on his nose, noticed his cousin's sudden drop in mood. He sidled up next to her, leaning in close. "Hey, don't let that old lady upset you, Dork," he whispered, a mischievous glint in his eye. "She's probably older than that dusty old book anyway."
Klein lingered at the back of the group, his hands stuffed casually into his pockets. He had heard the exchange perfectly. Comforting people with soft words wasn't exactly in his wheelhouse; he found emotional speeches tedious and awkward. He watched Gwen staring longingly at the Archamada Book of Spells.
He was a pragmatist. A man of action. If his cousin wanted the creepy old magic book, there was a very simple solution.
'I'll just steal it for her later,' he decided, his expression remaining completely blank.
He was already mentally drafting a plausible lie to feed Grandpa Max about finding the book at a thrift store when a sudden, violent roar of wind shattered the quiet museum.
"Ahhh!"
The guide and the dozen other tourists shrieked as a massive, unnatural whirlwind tore through the hall. The sheer force of the gale swept them off their feet, tossing them into the air like ragdolls.
A flash of green light illuminated the room. Ben had already slapped his watch, transforming into Fasttrack. The feline speedster blurred into a streak of blue and black, darting up the walls and catching the falling civilians while Gwen rushed forward to help pull them to safety.
"The Archamada Book of Spells!" a raspy, echoing voice boomed through the chaotic winds. "The absolute power contained within these pages shall finally be mine!"
A thick, suffocating cloud of black and crimson mist billowed into the center of the room. The smoke condensed, twisting and solidifying into a towering, skeletal figure. He wore tattered, ceremonial red robes, his face painted like a skull, radiating an aura of pure, necrotic dread. It was Hex.
Hex levitated off the ground, drifting ominously toward the reinforced display case. He raised his skeletal staff, his eyes glowing with malevolent crimson energy. He muttered a harsh, guttural incantation.
The thick glass exploded outward in a shower of glittering shrapnel. The Archamada Book of Spells lay exposed, completely defenseless.
Klein stood amidst the flying debris, completely unfazed. His gaze locked onto the glowing staff and the swirling mystical energy.
'Actual magic?'
A rare spark of genuine interest lit up his dark eyes. He raised his left wrist, revealing the Another Omnitrix. Without a second thought, he slammed his palm down onto the dial.
A brilliant, quiet-blue light erupted, washing over the entire hall.
"Terraspin!" a deep, resonant voice echoed as the light faded, revealing a massive, bipedal turtle with holes in his chest and a shell that looked like a heavy industrial fan.
Hex snapped his head toward the sudden burst of light, his skeletal face contorting in rage. He glared at the towering, heavily armored alien blocking his path.
"Where did this overgrown reptile come from?" Hex snarled, gripping his staff tighter. "Filthy beast! Crawl back to your swamp and get lost, unless you wish to perish!"
Terraspin slowly extended a thick, paddle-like arm toward the master magician. His tone was utterly deadpan, completely lacking the heroic righteousness Hex was used to.
"Hand over all the magic items on your person," Terraspin demanded, his deep voice vibrating through the room. "Don't make this difficult. I'm on a tight schedule."
Hex stared at the giant turtle for a full second before a low chuckle escaped his lips. The chuckle quickly escalated into a manic, echoing cackle.
"Hahahaha! What utter insolence!" Hex roared, his eyes blazing. "A mindless brute demanding my artifacts? This is truly the most pathetic joke I have ever heard! Burn to ashes!"
Hex thrust his staff forward. A torrent of scorching, mystical hellfire erupted from the bird-shaped head of the staff, completely engulfing Terraspin in a roaring inferno.
The flames raged for several seconds, melting the floor tiles and scorching the walls. But as the smoke cleared, Hex's triumphant sneer vanished.
Terraspin stood exactly where he had been, lazily brushing a speck of soot off his massive shell. He didn't even have a scorch mark.
Hex gritted his teeth. He swung his staff again, unleashing a crackling barrage of crimson lightning, followed immediately by a barrage of razor-sharp wind blades. The spells slammed into the alien's shell with deafening cracks, exploding into showers of useless sparks.
Terraspin merely blinked.
"How is this possible?!" Hex gasped, his voice cracking. He involuntarily stumbled two steps backward, his grip on his staff trembling.
"You uneducated bumpkin," Terraspin sighed, sounding more disappointed than angry. "Didn't anyone ever teach you that the Geochelone Aerio species from Aldabra are completely immune to mana and magic?"
Before Hex could process the alien terminology, Terraspin retracted his head and limbs into his massive shell. The holes on his front aligned, and the entire shell began to spin at a terrifying, blinding speed.
A localized hurricane erupted inside the museum. The sheer kinetic force of the gale hit Hex like a freight train. The master magician was lifted off his feet and blasted across the room, slamming into the far marble wall with a sickening crunch. The impact left a perfect, human-shaped crater in the stone.
Terraspin popped his head and limbs back out, his heavy footsteps thudding against the floor as he slowly, methodically approached the groaning villain.
Hex peeled himself out of the crater, his skeletal face pale with genuine terror. His previous arrogance was completely shattered. He scrambled backward across the floor, barely managing to raise a trembling hand.
"No!" Hex shrieked hysterically, his voice pitching up in panic. "Stay back! Don't come any closer! I command you to halt!"
Terraspin completely ignored the frantic screaming. He loomed over the fallen sorcerer, reaching down with his thick, clumsy flippers.
With agonizing slowness, he began prying the magical amulets and pendants off Hex's neck. It was a frustrating process; giant turtle fins were severely lacking in fine motor skills. Hex could only whimper as the heavy flippers batted against his collarbone, snapping the chains one by one.
Finally securing the jewelry, Terraspin casually snatched the magical staff right out of Hex's trembling grip. He held the ancient artifact up to the light, inspecting it with a critical eye.
"This staff is seriously ugly," Terraspin complained, his deep voice echoing with distaste. "Why does it have a weird bird head on it? It looks like a cheap prop. I wonder if Gwen is even going to want this garbage."
He tossed the staff over his shoulder, letting it clatter onto the floor. Then, his gaze slowly drifted down to Hex's elaborate, ceremonial robes.
'He's a master sorcerer,'Klein reasoned internally.'Wizard clothes usually have defensive enchantments or stat boosts, right? Might as well take the whole set.'
Hex saw the calculating look in the giant turtle's eyes. Absolute horror dawned on his painted face. He clutched his collar tightly, pressing himself flat against the wall.
"No! Don't you dare!" Hex pleaded, his voice cracking in sheer desperation. "These are just ordinary fabrics! I swear! At least leave me my dignity! Aren't you supposed to be a hero?! What kind of champion of justice acts like a common mugger?!"
Hex desperately tried to appeal to the alien's moral compass, hoping the title of 'hero' would trigger some sort of righteous restraint.
Terraspin raised his right flipper and delivered a swift, heavy slap directly across Hex's face. The sharp smack echoed through the hall, instantly silencing the sorcerer.
"Shut up," Terraspin deadpanned. "I'll figure out if they're magical or not once I take them."
Without an ounce of hesitation or shame, the massive turtle proceeded to forcibly strip the master magician down to absolutely nothing.
Leaving a shivering, traumatized Hex curled on the floor, Terraspin reached up and slapped the Another Omnitrix dial on his chest.
A brilliant flash of quiet-blue light consumed his massive frame. The heavy shell vanished, replaced by a sleek, humanoid silhouette made entirely of pure energy. He had transformed into an Anodite. His entire body pulsed with a deep, quiet-blue hue, while his eyes and the flowing, tentacle-like hair atop his head radiated a blinding mixture of blue and white light.
Klein, now fully attuned to the flow of mana, picked up the pile of tattered red robes with his glowing right hand. He let his energy seep into the fabric, scanning for any hidden enchantments.
"Huh," Klein muttered, sounding genuinely annoyed. "There really isn't any magic in these. What a cheapskate."
Losing all interest, he disdainfully chucked the bundle of clothes directly at Hex's face. The master sorcerer was currently huddled in the corner of the room, desperately clutching his knees to his chest to cover his exposed body.
Hex scrambled to catch the robes, frantically wrapping the fabric around his shivering form. As he did, he shot Klein a look of pure, unadulterated violation and resentment.
Klein caught the glare. His glowing blue eyes narrowed.
Without a word, the Anodite floated forward and proceeded to ruthlessly beat the sorcerer up all over again.
'What? You got an opinion?'Klein thought, landing a heavy, mana-infused kick to Hex's ribs.'Don't give me that victimized look like I just assaulted your purity. It's disgusting!'
...
By the time the local authorities finally arrived at the museum, the situation was completely under control. Hex was promptly taken away. In fact, according to the bewildered police officers on the scene, the terrifying master sorcerer had practically begged to be arrested. He had sprinted out of the museum and dove into the back of the squad car faster than the officers could even open the door, desperately seeking refuge from the blue energy being.
With the chaos settled and the museum staff busy giving statements, Klein, Grandpa Max, Ben, and Gwen quietly slipped away, returning to the familiar comfort of the Rustbucket.
As soon as the door hissed shut behind them, Klein leaned against the counter. He looked over at his cousin, his expression carefully neutral.
"Gwen," Klein asked casually, "do you want to learn magic?"
He had deliberately hidden the stolen loot, planning to build the suspense before dropping the ultimate gift. He fully intended to reap a massive wave of absolute adoration and hero-worship from the little girl. Just picturing her starry-eyed reaction made the corners of his mouth twitch upward into a faint, trollish smirk. Messing with his family's emotions before giving them what they wanted was simply too entertaining.
Gwen blinked, looking up from the table. "Why do you ask? Of course I do." She propped her chin on her hand, letting out a heavy, frustrated sigh. "I mean, I know I have Mana now, but I can only do basic energy blasts and simple constructs. If I could actually learn real spells and incantations, it would be amazing."
Klein's smirk widened. He reached behind the driver's seat, pulling out a heavy, clinking bundle.
"Well, you're in luck," Klein said, his tone deadpan. "I just bought these at the convenience store down the street. Cost me a whole two dollars and fifty cents. See if you like them."
He dumped the haul onto the table. The Archamada Book of Spells landed with a heavy thud, followed by Hex's glowing magical amulets and the ugly, bird-headed staff.
Gwen's jaw dropped. She shot out of her seat, her hands hovering over the ancient artifacts as if afraid they were illusions.
"This is—!" she gasped, her eyes wide as saucers. "The Archamada Book of Spells! And that creepy weirdo's staff! And all his magic pendants!"
She looked up at Klein, a massive wave of overwhelming gratitude surging through her chest. Her cousin had actually gone out of his way to get these for her. These weren't just random trinkets; they were incredibly powerful, priceless magical artifacts.
"Uh, hold on a minute," Grandpa Max interjected, immediately pouring a bucket of cold water over the celebratory mood. He crossed his arms, giving Klein a stern, knowing look. He clearly didn't buy the 'two dollars and fifty cents at a convenience store' nonsense for a single second. "Those don't belong to us. We need to return them to the museum authorities."
"No! Grandpa, please!" Gwen practically threw herself over the book, looking up at Max with the most devastating, wide-eyed puppy-dog expression she could muster, desperately trying to weaponize his affection for his granddaughter.
Klein waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, Grandpa. Think about it logically. These things are going to get stolen from that museum sooner or later anyway. The security there is a joke. We were just lucky to be in the neighborhood this time. But what about next time?"
He leaned forward, counting off on his fingers. "If it isn't Hex today, it'll be Hai Ba tomorrow. If not Hai Ba, then some random zombie or cultist." Klein paused, furrowing his brow slightly. "Though, for some reason, I get the feeling a guy named Hai Ba wouldn't really care about magic books... but you get my point. They're going to get stolen regardless. Isn't it much safer to keep them securely with us?"
Klein held Max's gaze. His calm, unblinking stare carried a very clear, unspoken threat: Even if you make me return them tonight, I'm just going to break in and steal them again tomorrow.
Max fell silent, rubbing his chin as he pondered the argument. He had been raising Klein for a while now, and he understood the boy's unique pragmatism. While Klein's methods were highly questionable and rarely aligned with traditional heroics, he wasn't malicious at heart. He fiercely protected his family and rarely caused actual, unprovoked trouble.
More, Max looked down at Gwen, who was still clutching the spellbook like it was her lifeline. He really didn't have the heart to crush her excitement.
Seeing the hesitation in the old man's eyes and the way he had stopped arguing, Klein knew he had won. The matter was settled.
He tapped the table, nodding toward his cousin. "Put them away, Gwen. Grandpa agreed."
"Awesome!" Gwen cheered, her face lighting up with pure joy. She quickly scooped up the heavy tome and the amulets, hugging them tightly to her chest. "Thank you so much, Cousin! And thank you, Grandpa!"
Max let out a long, defeated sigh, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Alright, alright. I suppose this is fine too."
Accepting his defeat, Max turned around and slid into the driver's seat. He fired up the engine, and the Rustbucket rumbled back to life, continuing its journey down the dark, winding highway.
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