"You've turned into a wolf cub—and now you're asking for death?!"
Krab swung his massive claws with disdain, slashing toward the charging War Wolf!
War Wolf lowered his head and unleashed a blast of sonic energy toward the ground. The powerful shockwaves cracked the surface, propelling his figure forward in a blur!
Bang!!
Krab barely had time to raise his claws before War Wolf slammed into him head-on, his fists pounding like artillery!
The metal suitcase beside Krab hit the ground with a heavy thud!
Crack! Crack!
Fissures spread across Krab's exoskeleton, even creeping up to his head! His pupils trembled in disbelief.
This Earthling… isn't weak at all!
He's a complete monster!!
"Get out of here!!" Krab roared, drawing the samurai sword from his back and thrusting it toward War Wolf's waist!
But War Wolf's sharp eyes caught the movement instantly. He twisted aside and avoided the strike. Dust fell from his fur as he straightened up, his tone turning dangerously calm.
"Your sneak attack worked once. That won't happen again."
Krab didn't respond—he simply grabbed the metal suitcase from the ground.
Clack-clack-clack!
The case unfolded and transformed, snapping into a massive metal exoskeleton that locked onto his body!
"What is that...?"
War Wolf narrowed his eyes, his pulse quickening.
"It's a specialized exosuit," Grandpa Max said sharply from a distance. "It boosts kinetic energy to impossible levels—it's a planetary invasion weapon!"
He gasped. "Only Vilgax ever used something like that… and now he's using it against Ethan?"
Ben clenched his fists. "That's bad."
"Broken!" Ben tried to rise, but he was too weak to help. "Come on, Ethan…"
A familiar mechanical chime echoed in Ethan's ears.
Ding! Mission: [Cosmic Bounty Hunter Krab]
Objective: Defeat Over-Limited Krab using brute force.
Reward: 20 Points.
Ethan grinned through the War Wolf's fanged snarl. "A high-value target, huh?"
Krab's confidence wavered. "What is he smiling for…?"
Boom!!
War Wolf's muscles bulged. With a feral howl, he shot forward like lightning!
Swish!!
Krab's exosuit flared with blue light. His kinetic energy spiked as he charged forward like a freight train!
Crash!!
The two collided, shaking the desert itself. A massive crater formed at the impact site, sand exploding outward in waves.
Inside the pit, claws and fists clashed in a blur. War Wolf's strikes tore through Krab's pincers, while his tail lashed like an iron whip, colliding with Krab's sword in showers of sparks.
Neither could gain the upper hand. The entire desert trembled under their blows.
"This Earthling…" Krab thought, his body shuddering. "Even with my exoskeleton, I can't overpower him!"
As the battle raged, Gwen exhaled in relief. "Looks like Ethan's winning. He gets stronger the longer he fights."
Ben nodded weakly. "That's just how he is."
Grandpa Max, however, looked toward the sky. "I just hope there's only one cosmic bounty hunter…"
Seconds passed. Krab's movements began to slow—his exosuit running out of power.
War Wolf's pace didn't falter. If anything, he got faster, more feral, more relentless!
Krab could barely raise his claws now, only blocking blows, his offense gone.
War Wolf bared his fangs. "Boring. Let's finish this."
He lunged, biting down on Krab's claw with savage force!
"What?!" Krab tried to pull back, but War Wolf's kick followed through—slamming into his neck like an axe!
Once.
Twice.
Over and over!
Krab's defenses shattered. He stumbled back, body twitching, before collapsing with a heavy boom!
Ding! Mission complete.
Reward: 20 Points.
Ethan—still in War Wolf form—exhaled deeply. "It's done."
Ben peeked over the crater's edge. "He actually won… again!"
Ethan raised his claws, aiming for Krab's head—ready to finish it.
"Wait!" Ben shouted. "We haven't asked him why he's after us!"
Krab's voice rasped, weak but defiant. "You really don't know…? You've angered the Overlord of the Galaxy—Vilgax! He sent me… and two others!"
His eyes dimmed.
Then a shadow passed overhead.
Whoosh—
A formation of alien craft streaked across the sky, descending fast.
War Wolf's ears twitched. He glanced once at Krab—then leapt from the crater, scooping up Ben as he sprinted for the Rustbucket.
"Let's move, Gwen!" Max yelled.
The old RV roared to life, kicking up dust as it sped away.
Inside, Ethan's transformation faded. He wiped sweat from his brow, chuckling weakly. "That got… out of hand."
———
Back in the crater, Krab groaned, clutching his cracked neck. "I… slipped. That's all. You believe me, right?"
Diamondhead and SixSix exchanged unimpressed looks.
Krab sighed. "That Earth lunatic is strong. It'll take all three of us to bring him down."
SixSix smirked. "Good. I like a challenge."
Diamondhead nodded. "Then it's settled."
They turned their eyes toward the horizon—toward the one who had humiliated them all.
The "Earth Madman."
The boy named Ethan.