In the shadowy forest, a bitter wind swept through the moonlit trees, rustling the leaves with a chilling whisper. The claw-like silhouettes of the trees stretched across the body of the Humungousaur, their darkness merging with the eerie glow of his violet eyes. The sight was unsettling, even frightening.
Diamondhead's eyes filled with worry and urgency. Supporting the Humungousaur with both hands, he asked, "Cuz, your eyes look strange. What's going on?"
Gritting his teeth, the Humungousaur suddenly threw Diamondhead aside. Clutching his head in agony, he slammed his fists against the ground again and again. His violent power rippled through the forest floor, shaking the ground as grass and dirt scattered everywhere.
The commotion immediately caught the attention of the two inside the Rustbucket.
Gwen stared at Humungousaur in disbelief. "What's happening to him? Is this some kind of side effect from the alien form?"
Grandpa shook his head as he looked at the monster's purple eyes. "I don't think so. Either way, we need to calm him down before things get worse."
Watching Humungousaur's rampage, Diamondhead's expression hardened. His hands morphed into crystal hammers as he charged forward.
"Cuz, I don't know what's happening, but I won't let you lose yourself!"
He leapt into the air, raising his massive crystal hammer high before bringing it down with all his strength.
Humungousaur's violet eyes flared as he roared, his mountain-sized fist meeting the descending hammer head-on with a gust of wind that split the air.
BOOM!
The thunderous impact shattered the crystal hammer into glittering shards that rained down like broken glass. The force blasted Diamondhead backward, slamming him hard into a towering tree and shaking loose a storm of leaves.
"What power..." Diamondhead muttered, staggering to his feet, staring in disbelief.
"Roar!"
Humungousaur crushed the ground beneath his feet and charged forward with a deafening roar.
"...Aqua Arrow!"
Gwen chanted swiftly, releasing a surge of water that shot through the air and struck Humungousaur square in the chest. But it only burst into a splash of droplets—barely slowing him down.
Seeing the unstoppable beast, Diamondhead reshaped his hands into sharp spikes and charged again.
"Cuz, wake up!"
He dodged a massive punch and countered, driving his crystal spike into Humungousaur's abdomen.
The creature howled in rage and pain, then swung its tail with crushing force, sending Diamondhead flying. He hit the ground hard, rolling through the mud before falling still.
Humungousaur's violet eyes glowed brighter, his body wreathed in a chilling aura as he lumbered toward the fallen Diamondhead.
Sensing danger, Gwen began chanting another spell, summoning a swirling mass of water that took the shape of a ferocious dragon.
"Water Dragon Soul!" she cried, sweeping her hand forward.
The water dragon roared, its body twisting with fluid power before hurling itself at Humungousaur.
BOOM!
The impact was immense. The raging water dragon slammed into Humungousaur's back, knocking him off balance and sending him stumbling forward under its crushing force.
"Ben, quickly, trap him with your crystals!" Grandpa Max shouted. This was their best chance to take down the Humungousaur.
"Hero time!"
Diamondhead struggled to his feet, raising his hand toward the Humungousaur. From beneath the ground, a towering mountain of crystals surged upward.
Boom!
The massive crystal formation slammed into the Humungousaur's jaw, sending him flying backward like a broken kite. He crashed heavily to the ground and lay there, face down, unmoving.
Seeing this, Grandpa Max and Gwen both let out a sigh of relief before hurrying over to check on him. To be safe, Diamondhead used his crystals to bind the Humungousaur's limbs.
"Is he going to be okay?" Gwen asked anxiously.
"Once the transformation wears off, we'll take Lucian to the hospital," Grandpa Max said with a sigh, though his tone held uncertainty.
Diamondhead nodded. "Don't worry. Cuz is strong. He'll be fine."
Still, until the transformation ended, he refused to release the Humungousaur.
Just then, a green light burst from Humungousaur's body. The sudden brightness made everyone squint, thinking Lucian was finally returning to normal.
But what appeared next left them all stunned.
A pale, ghostly figure with violet pupils and a body covered in cracks now stood where the Humungousaur had been, its hands shackled to the ground.
"It's Ghostfreak!" Diamondhead's eyes narrowed.
"But why..." Gwen began, but before she could finish, the ghostly shadow melted into the air, instantly breaking free from the crystal restraints. It lunged savagely toward Diamondhead.
The sudden strike caught him off guard. He was slammed backward, crashing to the ground in a rough roll.
"Ben!" Gwen cried out. She quickly cast a spell, firing a sharp water arrow straight at the phantom.
Ghostfreak gave a chilling laugh and faded into the air. Gwen looked around in alarm, her pupils shrinking as realization struck.
"Grandpa, run!" she shouted.
At that moment, Ghostfreak appeared behind Grandpa Max, its deathly pale hand reaching out toward him.
"Not on your life!"
Diamondhead raised his arm, launching a volley of crystal spikes that forced Ghostfreak back.
"You'll all die~" Ghostfreak hissed, shrieking as it dove again at Diamondhead.
"Come on, tickle me," Diamondhead taunted, setting himself in a battle stance.
Just as Ghostfreak was about to strike, the Omnitrix on his chest began to flash.
Ghostfreak clutched its head, screaming in anguish. "No! I don't want to go back!"
Boom!
A burst of red light erupted from Ghostfreak's body, and in the next instant, it transformed back into Lucian.
"Cuz?" Diamondhead rushed forward.
Lucian's eyes were dazed, his mind foggy and heavy, as if he'd been asleep for an eternity.
Suddenly, a chilling cold swept over him from behind, making his skin crawl.
He turned sharply—and froze.
At some point, Ghostfreak had appeared again, hovering behind him, its single purple eye locked onto him...