Whoosh!
From Big Chill's mouth burst a torrent of freezing air that condensed beneath the falling crowd, forming a vast, crystalline curtain of ice. It spread like a dreamlike blue galaxy, instantly dispelling the museum's stifling heat as a cool wind swept across the hall.
Amid the chorus of terrified screams, panicked visitors slid down the glittering sheet of ice and landed safely on the ground. Thanks to the icy curtain's cushioning effect, most escaped with nothing worse than minor sprains—a far better outcome than the carnage that could have been.
But when they spotted the terrifying sorcerer and the blue moth-like creature hovering above, screams rang out again. Chaos erupted as people scattered in all directions, scrambling for the museum's exit.
Upgrade reverted to human form and released the two trapped inside the sphere.
Gwen gasped for air, panting.
"Jeez, doofus, I almost suffocated in there! But... thanks."
Grandpa Max caught his breath, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward Lucian and Hex locked in combat. His expression grew tense.
"Ben, go help your cousin."
He glanced around, spotted a sword in an exhibit case, drew it out, and let a faint smile tug at his lips.
High above, Big Chill floated in the air, exhaling a wave of icy breath. The frost-laden air surged forward, carrying a cutting chill as it hurtled toward Hex.
"Berdi-mordo-natta!"
As the words rang out, Hex raised his gray, bird-beak-shaped wand. The charm stone on his chest blazed to life, unleashing a torrent of roaring flame from the wand's tip. The scorching fire met the freezing air head-on.
Whoosh!
One side blazed with searing flames, the other shimmered with piercing cold. The collision unleashed a shockwave that rippled through the air, whipping the curtains wildly like frenzied witches in a storm.
The violent blast shattered the glass display cases below, sending shards scattering across the floor in glittering showers.
Big Chill beat his wings harder, amplifying the freezing gusts until they overpowered Hex's flames. The icy blast swallowed the fire completely and shot straight toward the sorcerer.
"Hero time!"
Upgrade appeared below them. From the green circle on his head, a beam of energy erupted, blasting Hex backward and slamming him into the window frame of the museum.
Perfect chance!
Seeing the opening, Big Chill unleashed another surge of cold, like an enraged ice dragon, trying to freeze Hex solid.
But the floor tiles near Hex suddenly lifted and stacked themselves in front of him, barely blocking the attack.
Crack...
Dozens of tiles froze solid under the biting cold and shattered to pieces as they hit the floor, scattering like broken glass.
Hex rose to his feet. Among the Charms of Bezel hanging on his chest, one pendant glowed brightly, its golden surface etched with complex runes.
"The Charm of Levitation!"
Big Chill's eyes narrowed. So that was how Hex had suspended everyone in the museum earlier.
"Water Dragon Soul!"
Gwen stood her ground, unflinching before the sinister mage. She chanted a water magic incantation and raised her hand, summoning a fierce dragon of swirling water vapor that roared and lunged toward Hex.
"Ancient water magic? Fascinating..."
Hex sneered, then said coldly, "But compared to my clever niece, you're still far behind."
He slammed his wand against the ground.
Thud!
A radiant purple barrier erupted around him, swirling with shimmering light and dense magical energy.
The water dragon crashed against the barrier, rippling it with force before dissolving into mist that slowly faded into nothing.
"Is that all you've got?" Hex sneered coldly, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.
"And me!"
A voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Unnoticed, Grandpa Max had quietly slipped up behind Hex. Raising the legendary sword, he swung it with all his strength at his opponent. The magnificent blade gleamed brilliantly, its sharp edge exuding an air of royal authority as it came crashing down on the purple barrier.
Snap!
A crisp sound echoed through the hall as the ancient sword shattered cleanly. It failed to even stir a ripple before breaking into two useless chunks of metal that clattered onto the cold floor.
"Guess museum artifacts aren't always genuine!" Grandpa Max turned and bolted, his movements surprisingly quick for someone his age.
Hex's face darkened. He raised his wand, unleashing a bolt of crimson energy that shot out like a venomous serpent, lashing viciously toward Grandpa Max's back.
"Grandpa!" Gwen shouted anxiously.
Whoosh!
A sharp blast of frigid air swept across the path of the crimson magic, instantly shattering it into countless wisps of vapor that rose and dissipated into the air.
At the same moment, Upgrade arrived on the scene. He glanced around, but there wasn't a single machine nearby to merge with.
After all, this was a museum...
"Oh, damn it!" Upgrade scratched his head in frustration, then fired twin emerald lasers from his eyes. The beams cut through the air and struck directly at Hex.
But even this failed to penetrate Hex's barrier, only sending out a wave of rippling energy.
"I'll handle this."
Big Chill's body dissolved into a shimmering blue silhouette that flickered rapidly as he shot toward Hex.
"Berdi-mordo-natta!"
Hex raised his gray wand. The Charm of Fire on his chest blazed to life, erupting in a torrent of fierce crimson flames that surged menacingly toward his foe.
Yet the fiery wave passed straight through Big Chill's intangible form.
Unfazed, the spectral alien radiated an even colder aura. Under Hex's horrified gaze, Big Chill phased directly through the purple barrier.
"How is this possible!" Hex exclaimed, preparing to chant another spell.
But before he could, Big Chill was already in front of him. The ghostly figure dove into his body, and in the next instant, ice began to crystallize from within, spreading rapidly outward...