"About the lake monster? Got it."
Grandpa Max nodded, looking serious. "Ethen, let's head out to fish later—maybe we can handle this water monster situation before it gets worse."
"No problem."
Ethen grinned, flashing an "OK" gesture.
"Hey, Grandpa! I've got an Omnitrix too, remember?" Ben immediately complained. "Why does he get to go and not me?"
To outsiders, it might have looked like Grandpa Max simply didn't trust Ben. But the real reason was simple: both Max and Ethen were Plumbers—it was natural for them to handle alien-related incidents together.
"Grandpa," Ethen said calmly, "let Ben and Gwen come along. With me here, it's the monster that should be scared."
The tone was arrogant, but confident. He clenched his right hand, his voice carrying quiet dominance.
"Even if I don't transform, I can still knock it down."
Max sighed. "All right. Better that than you two sneaking aboard."
After changing clothes, the four of them stepped out of the Rustbucket and walked along the lake. Before long, they spotted a small cabin with a worn fishing boat tied to the dock.
A gruff old man stood there. "I'm Captain Swan," he said curtly. "You folks here to fish? Grab your gear and hop on!"
Everyone climbed aboard and took their seats. The boat engine sputtered to life, heading toward the misty center of the lake.
"Captain Swan," Grandpa Max began, "you ever hear stories about the creature that lives in this lake?"
The captain squinted ahead as he steered. "You mean the Kraken? Been around for years. Most people don't believe it's real. But one day, I'll prove it."
"Has it ever attacked anyone?" Max asked.
"Nah," the captain replied, a little impatiently. "The Kraken's always been calm. Never bothered me."
The group chatted as the boat glided further out, until a large ship came into view, blocking their path.
A man in a formal suit stood on deck and called out, "I'm Jonah Meier, president of the Fish Enthusiasts Association. We're conducting a species survey here. Fishing's prohibited in this area—please stay near the shore."
He smiled politely. But behind him, one of his crew whispered, "Boss, that family we've been watching—they're on their way here now."
Jonah's smile sharpened. "Perfect. Once they head into the deep, the 'little devil' and the Kraken will clash. We'll swoop in afterward and take what we need."
His crew grinned. "Boss, you're a genius."
The ship soon drifted off, leaving Captain Swan's small boat free to move deeper into the lake.
"Strange," the captain muttered. "Never seen that ship before… Ah well. Time to fish!"
The group cast their lines into the shimmering water. Beneath the sun, ripples sparkled gently.
Ethen didn't cast a line. Instead, he crouched at the edge of the boat, eyes fixed on the still surface.
The lake was calm—too calm.
"They're all using worms for bait," he muttered. "Guess I'll try something better."
He slowly dipped his black, demonic right hand into the water.
Deep beneath the surface…
Two glowing eyes opened.
The Kraken saw that arm—that same cursed arm. Its body stirred with fury. This was its home. No intruder would make it suffer again!
Suddenly, a mechanical chime echoed in Ethen's mind:
Ding! Mission: "Attack of the Giant Lake Monster – Kraken" initiated.
Objective: Defeat and subdue the Kraken.
Reward: 10 points.
Note: The Kraken's aggression stems from stolen eggs. Recover them after the battle.
Ethen smirked slightly. "Got it. First the monster, then the eggs."
He raised his right arm and tapped the crimson watch embedded in it—the Demon Watch.
The eye on its surface snapped open, projecting holographic silhouettes of various creatures.
He spun the dial until it landed on a crystalline figure—Diamond Demon.
"Let's go."
He slammed the watch face down.
Fwoosh!!!
A crimson beam shot skyward. A blinding flash followed—and when the light faded, a towering warrior stood beside the fishing boat.
Its body was made of dark purple crystal, sharp and spiked from head to toe. Its eyes glowed red like molten gems.
Captain Swan staggered back. "Wh-what kind of monster is that?!"
Ben's eyes sparkled. "Whoa! Diamond Demon! That's… actually a pretty cool name."
Grandpa Max blinked in disbelief. Ethen again… where does he keep finding these insane transformations?
Gwen, ever alert, noticed the rippling water. "He must've sensed danger," she said quickly and ducked into the cabin. "Everyone stays back!"
In Ethen's Mindspace…
A blood-red void surrounded him. On a crystal throne sat the Diamond Demon, arms folded, watching him with amusement.
"You seem familiar with this device," the demon rumbled. "You picked me—the most talkative one—for your first transformation. Why?"
"I could just suppress your will," Ethen said calmly. "But I'd rather use one hundred percent of your power, not half. So—let's cooperate."
The demon smirked. "Then let's make a deal. I'll lend you my strength, but in return—you'll use the Demon Watch more often. Every day. Let each of us escape our prison for a while."
Ethen's lips curved slightly. "Deal."
The crimson void shattered.
Back in Reality
The Diamond Demon's eyes flared. Power surged through every vein of his crystalline body. The lake began to quake.
BOOM!!!
The Kraken erupted from below, water exploding in all directions. It roared furiously at the towering purple figure.
The creature might look different now—but the devilish pattern on its body told the Kraken everything. This was the same being that had wounded it!
It lunged.
The Diamond Demon crouched slightly, energy building across his spiked armor.
"Diamond Bind."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Glowing chains of purple crystal shot outward, wrapping around the Kraken's massive body again and again until it could barely move.
The beast thrashed, roaring in rage, but the crystalline chains only tightened, forming a radiant prison of amethyst light.
"Th-that's insane," Grandpa Max whispered. "I've never seen crystal generation that fast…"
Ben gawked. "No way. I can't even… do that when I have stomach cramps, and he's making crystal chains like it's nothing!"
"Kraken," the Diamond Demon said coldly, stepping forward. Each step froze the water beneath him into glowing crystal. "Calm down first. Then we'll talk."
He dragged the bound monster across the lake like an adult disciplining a child, leaving trails of glowing crystal in his wake.
Captain Swan stood frozen, jaw slack. "Who's the real monster here…?"
______________________________________________________________________________________
Author's Note:
The Demon Watch's version of Diamondhead—the Diamond Demon—looks and fights far beyond the ordinary Diamondhead. He's an evolved, ultimate form worthy of the title "Diamond God of War"!