Biu~biu!
A flash of red light burst out as Ethen reappeared, calm and composed. "Time's up? Fine—then I'll transform again later."
Jonah Meier and his crew wouldn't reach the area for a while yet.
"Well… if I say I didn't see anything, would you believe me?" Captain Swan stammered, his voice trembling as he stared at Ethen and the others.
"Don't worry, Captain," Ethen said with a faint smile. "Even if you've seen the truth, it's like the Kraken—it's something the world isn't ready to accept."
In other words, as long as he didn't transform in front of crowds, it didn't matter if a few witnesses saw.
Captain Swan gulped and nodded silently.
The group sat down to rest, the tension in the air thick as they waited.
"Ben," Ethen said, glancing over. "Keep the Omnitrix ready."
Ben raised his wrist and left the watch's screen active—ready to transform at a moment's notice.
Jonah's crew could arrive any time. Ethen's calm wasn't recklessness—it was preparation. Every movement was deliberate. Every breath was control.
Captain Swan watched in confusion. "I keep learning more and more secrets," he muttered under his breath. "But… I guess that's none of my business."
Seconds crawled by.
The Demon Watch on Ethen's wrist began to recharge, the eye in its center flickering open. He rolled his wrist, selecting Diamondhead—but the watch resisted, rejecting the command.
"Huh? It won't activate…?"
He frowned, turned the dial again, and the icon shifted landing on Heatblast.
He smirked. "Guess we're going with fire."
A blood-red flash engulfed him.
When the light faded, a towering figure stood there—his entire body cloaked in blazing red-gold flames, his face sharp and angular like molten glass. The air itself trembled around him.
"Whoa…" Ben breathed. "Is that—Netherfire?"
Inside the Conscious Space
A dark void. Countless chains coiled around a flaming figure—the true Netherfire.
"Don't even think about using my power to play hero, kid!" the spirit growled. "Even with your willpower, I can stop you."
"Who said anything about being a hero?" Ethen folded his arms. "What do you want me to do?"
Netherfire's laughter echoed like burning coals. "My power exists for one thing only killing. You'll have to kill someone for me, or I'll take over your body right now."
Ethen blinked. "Just one?"
Netherfire sneered. "You're scared already, huh? Humans—so pathetic—"
"What? Only one?" Ethen interrupted. "That's not enough. I'm planning to take out an entire ship full of them."
Netherfire froze.
"What did you just say?"
"I said, if I'm doing this, I'm wiping them all out. One kill's not gonna cut it."
The flame spirit stared—then began to laugh, low and dangerous. "Heh… interesting. Fine then. Show me what you can do."
Ethen's vision snapped back to the real world. His fiery eyes locked onto Ben.
"Ben, get ready."
"Got it!" Ben smacked the Omnitrix. A flash of green light—he transformed into Stinkfly, wings spreading as he shouted, "Stinkfly—ready to roll!"
"Clear the civilians," Netherfire said, his flaming body roaring brighter. "Now."
Stinkfly darted into the air, swooping between boats, scattering panicked tourists to safety.
Ahead, the outline of Jonah Meier's ship loomed like a steel fortress on the dark water.
"There it is," Netherfire muttered, eyes narrowing.
The men aboard saw him coming—a streak of living fire in the sky—and began firing wildly.
"Shoot him down!!"
"Kill that freak!"
Bullets whizzed through the air—then melted before they even touched him.
"Wrong move," Netherfire growled. "You chose fire as your enemy."
He dove like a meteor, slamming into the deck with explosive force. The ship shook, flames spreading instantly across the hull. The air turned into a furnace; the metal itself began to warp.
"AAAAHHHH—!!"
The poachers screamed as molten fists struck one after another, burning through armor and flesh alike. Each hit turned a man into ashes in an instant.
No one could stop him.
It wasn't a battle—it was annihilation.
Some dropped their weapons and fell to their knees. "Please—don't kill us! We surrender!"
"We were wrong! Please—!"
Netherfire's eyes flickered. "You're not wrong," he said coldly. "You're just afraid of dying."
He clenched his fists, then exhaled, suppressing the killing urge. "Stay where you are. Don't move. I'll have the authorities handle you."
The terrified survivors nodded frantically.
Bang!!
The ship's hatch burst open. Jonah Meier appeared in a mechanized exosuit, rage twisting his face. "You think I'll just die like this, boy?!"
Netherfire tilted his head. "Perfect timing."
He spread his flaming wings and launched upward, slicing through the air.
BOOM!
The instant he passed the mech, it detonated in a massive explosion—fire swallowing Jonah Meier completely.
The difference in power was absurd. Jonah had never stood a chance.
Netherfire landed among the wreckage. "The water monster's egg—bring it here."
One trembling henchman staggered forward, clutching a box. He opened it and revealed the shimmering egg. At Netherfire's signal, he threw it into the water.
Beneath the surface, the Kraken emerged briefly, catching the egg in her tentacles before vanishing again.
Then, Ethen raised both arms. A sphere of roaring fire gathered between his hands—bright as a miniature sun.
"Burn."
He released it.
The fireball fell upon the ship, consuming everything—steel, wood, and flesh—until all that remained was a floating grave of molten debris. Even those who tried to swim away were overtaken by the inferno.
From below, the Kraken watched in terrified silence.
The devil in flames… was far scarier than she could ever be.
Inside Ethen's mind, Netherfire's laughter rumbled approvingly. "Hahahaha! Once this kid decides on something, he doesn't hold back! I like him!"
Ding. Mission Complete: "Blood and War."
Reward: 15 Points.
Netherfire—no, Ethen—smiled faintly beneath the flames.
And then, without another word, he turned and disappeared into the smoke.