Boom!
A surge of fighting spirit erupted.
The speed of the War Rath form was incredible, a blur of motion slicing through the alien prisoners like lightning.
Puff! Puff!
In a series of brutal blows, Ethen took down the aliens one after another—like a predator tearing through prey.
The once vicious prisoners who had given the Plumbers so much trouble now fled in terror, scattering like a flock of frightened sheep.
Ethen charged after them relentlessly, a lone figure against a horde.
Phil watched in disbelief, his legs trembling before he finally collapsed to the ground.
"Move, you useless legs…" he muttered weakly.
"Tch…"
Gwen clenched her fists, anxiety flashing across her face as she watched Ethen's overwhelming ferocity.
Max, however, looked more amused than alarmed. "Ethen… those prisoners are already serving life sentences. Why are you wiping them out?"
Ethen grinned faintly. "It's fine… I'm fine. Brothers, let's head back to the Void Zero Realm."
At the gate to the Void, a few new alien prisoners emerged—only to freeze in place when they saw Ethen's bloodthirsty glare.
One by one, they silently retreated back into their cells.
Soon, not a single prisoner dared to move. Staying locked up suddenly seemed far safer than facing the wrath of the War Rath.
Ethen paused, surveying the battlefield littered with unconscious and battered aliens. He had taken down over a dozen—maybe even twenty.
"That's not enough!" he growled, eyes fixed on the gate as if ready to leap inside.
"Oh no! He's coming in!"
"Run for your lives!"
The Void Realm erupted in chaos as alien prisoners scrambled to escape. The terrifying tiger-like alien was coming for them.
"Tch…"
Gwen leaped into the air, her magical pendants glowing brightly.
She extended her arms, channeling her mana into the space ahead.
"Break the wind!" she commanded.
Bang!
A fierce gust swept across the field, halting Ethen in his tracks.
Four Arms landed beside Max, his expression tense. "We can't let him enter the Void!"
Max's eyes darted around. "Phil must be nearby with a catapult—otherwise, the gate couldn't stay open! Let's find him and close it!"
The three of them split up. Within moments, Phil was caught, the catapult seized, and the gate sealed shut.
Phil groaned, glaring weakly. "Max, get that maniac trainee away from me!"
"Me?" A calm, teasing voice echoed behind him.
Ethen had returned to his normal form, hands in his pockets, staring Phil down coldly.
"You want me away? Fine. I can always throw you into the void instead."
Phil immediately shut up, pale as a ghost.
Just then, the roar of engines filled the air.
Several Plumber vehicles pulled up, and armed officers in combat uniforms jumped out, moving swiftly toward the group.
Phil's eyes lit up. "Finally! They're here to save me!"
Ethen's gaze darkened. If these Plumbers were really here for Phil, things wouldn't end well.
Max, however, stepped forward calmly. "You've arrived."
"Yes, Senior Max."
The leading young Plumber saluted, then turned to Ethen with genuine respect.
"Headquarters received your evaluation report and sent us immediately."
"Evaluation report?" Ethen blinked in confusion.
The Plumber nodded. "All trainees are monitored and assessed. Your report reached HQ an hour ago, and after verification…"
He paused for dramatic effect.
"…the higher-ups have decided, Ethen—you're now a full-fledged Plumber. You're also being awarded the Legendary Plumber Medal, granting you authority over standard Plumbers."
Behind him, a pair of officers opened a small chest, revealing a dazzling golden medal.
"Legendary Plumber?!" Phil nearly fainted.
Ethen raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
He casually took the medal. "Cool. I'll take it… but I'll stay a trainee for now."
"Wha—?" the young Plumber stammered. "You're refusing the promotion?"
Ethen shrugged. "I just want the medal."
Every Plumber present was left speechless. Who the heck refuses a promotion but keeps the medal?
Max simply chuckled.
Phil, meanwhile, lowered his head in shame—he might have bullied a trainee before, but not one powerful enough to crush him and outrank him.
The Plumbers took Phil away, retrieved the Void Projector, and promised Ethen a few extra rewards. He just smiled and waved them off.
Later that evening, back in the old Rustbucket, they enjoyed a peaceful dinner.
"Ethen," Max said between bites, "you earned that medal mainly because you defeated Vilgax. That's a huge deal."
"Vilgax, huh…" Ethen smirked. "Gwen, if Vilgax comes back, I'll let you handle him. You can earn your own Legendary Plumber Medal."
"You got it!" Gwen replied with a grin.
Max nearly choked on his sandwich. At this rate, Vilgax was becoming a Legendary Medal generator! Whoever beat him got promoted.
Dinner ended with laughter. Everyone drifted off to sleep—until midnight.
Ethen awoke to a familiar digital chime.
"Ding! The host's War Table has expired. Keep it permanently in your ability pool?"
Confidence surged through him. Last time, he hadn't even dared ask for the cost. But now?
"System," he said calmly, "how many reward points for the War Table?"
After the system responded, Ethen smirked. "Accepted. Receive my Omnitrix template for today."
"Ding! Congratulations! The host has obtained the Omnitrix template: Love Watch (Advanced Version)!"