2 Chapter 2: Fighting a Giant Robot

Boom!

The impact of the red light hitting the jungle caused a massive explosion, instantly engulfing a significant portion of the forest in flames. The force of the blast made Ethan's steps waver as he stood amidst the chaos.

The four of them, including Max, Ben, Gwen, and the time-traveling Ethan, stood in shock, staring at the devastated forest in disbelief. The large robot, Vilgax's creation, still had smoking palms, its expression unyielding and cold. Vilgax, remotely controlling the robot, issued a ruthless command: "Eliminate those Earthlings and retrieve the Omnitrix!"

"Come on, don't just stand there!" Max was the first to snap out of the shock, urging Ethan and the others to action.

"No, I have to transform immediately; otherwise, we're all done for," Ethan declared with determination. He released Gwen's hand and darted towards the colossal robot.

"Ethan?! What are you doing?" Max's face showed concern as he shouted Ethan's name.

Without looking back, Ethan spoke decisively, "Grandpa, Ben, Gwen, this robot is after the watch on my hand. I'll lead it away. You guys, go!"

In that moment, Max's eyes moistened, and, for the first time, he felt inferior to a child. Gwen and Ben, moved by Ethan's selfless act, were on the verge of tears. This distant relative had left an indelible mark on their hearts.

Boom!

The heart-wrenching scene concluded as Ethan "accidentally" fell to the ground. His Omnitrix, hitting the ground by chance, caused the screen to bounce off.

Simultaneously, the large robot identified the Omnitrix in Ethan's hand, pointed its palm cannon at him, and started glowing red.

"Ethan!" Max and Gwen shouted simultaneously, and Ben, eager to help, was restrained by Max.

Who knew that, at that very moment, Ethan's Omnitrix would hit the ground, and the screen would bounce off? The large robot recognized the Omnitrix and, without hesitation, aimed its palm cannon at Ethan, unleashing a red light.

"What's this pop-up screen?" Ethan nervously felt the escalating heat on his back. Without any acting skills, he slapped his palm on the screen that had bounced up.

Pressing the Omnitrix button, the red light engulfed him. The small area flattened, and a horrifying fire enveloped Ethan, seemingly burning him to ashes.

"Ethan... Grandpa is sorry for you." Max's mood hit rock bottom, filled with regret. He blamed himself for suggesting the summer camp, unaware that it would lead to Ethan's apparent demise.

"Why?" Gwen struggled to accept the reality, her impression of the helpful boy deepening.

"The target has been eliminated," Vilgax announced.

The large robot walked toward the explosion area, ignoring Max and the others. The trio stood frozen in sadness and fear, watching the impending threat draw near.

"Who told you I am dead?!"

Suddenly, a calm voice echoed from the explosion area, different from Ethan's but with a similar tone.

"What happened?!" Max, Gwen, and Ben looked toward the explosion area in astonishment.

Boom!

A fiery red figure emerged from the smoke, landing next to Max like a meteorite. HeatBlast stood tall, his body ablaze with fiery red flames.

"He is the height of an adult, his body burning with blazing fire, his skin fiery red like pieces of fiery red rocks. He's looking at the large robot with vigilance. HeatBlast!!"

Max, Gwen, and Ben stared at HeatBlast in awe. Max, still in shock, managed to ask, "Are you Ethan?"

"Yes, Grandpa, I just pressed the dial of this watch, and it transformed me into this," HeatBlast affirmed, his expression still filled with lingering fear.

"Cool! You can actually become an alien!" Ben exclaimed excitedly, admiration in his eyes.

"He's okay," Gwen sighed in relief.

"Hide, I'll deal with this damn big guy." HeatBlast fixed his gaze on the large robot, igniting two balls of fire in his palms.

Max, Gwen, and Ben quickly retreated into the woods, observing the battle from a safe distance.

"Ding!"

"A check-in object has been detected: Vilgax's large robot!"

"Attack it to complete the sign-in!"

"Sign-in reward?! Vilgax's robot is indeed here to give me an experience pack!"

HeatBlast, thrilled by the discovery, fiercely attacked the large robot. The two fireballs he unleashed exploded upon impact, causing a massive smoke cloud.

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully signing in!"

"Get the blue reward: all the moves of Fire Fist Ace from the world of 'One Piece'!"

The blue reward astonished HeatBlast. He clenched his fists and unleashed a powerful Fire Punch, obliterating the large robot's arm. The destructive power left everyone in awe.

"Now, let's deal with the forest fire problem!"

HeatBlast, with precise control over the flames, redirected the fire back into himself, displaying an extraordinary fire control ability.

At Vilgax's headquarters, the destruction of the large robot left them in shock. Vilgax, overwhelmed, demanded the deployment of more robots to capture the powerful human child.

HeatBlast's confidence skyrocketed as he transformed back into Ethan. The encounter left everyone astonished, including Max, Gwen, and Ben, who couldn't believe the newfound strength.

"Ethan actually has such a terrifying ability," Max remarked in shock, realizing that Ethan's Omnitrix was more than just a watch.

Vilgax, witnessing the destruction remotely, grew jealous of Ethan's power. The child had become a formidable adversary.

Ethan's perspective shifted as the flames on HeatBlast's chest beeped with a strange sound. The Omnitrix pattern flashed, enveloping him in a green light. When the light dissipated, Ethan reappeared, covering his chest with his palms in wonder.

The red Omnitrix in his hand transitioned back to green, and Ethan's face displayed a mix of confusion and awe.

Gwen and Ben were about to comment when Max redirected their focus. "If you have anything to say, let's talk about it when we get back. It's not safe here!"

"Grandpa is right," Ethan agreed, subconsciously holding Gwen's hand, causing her face to turn red. Ben, witnessing the subtle interaction, was left in disbelief.

"I'm sorry," Ethan quickly let go of Gwen's hand, expressing a hint of apology. "I haven't completely escaped from the state just now."

"It's okay," Gwen reassured him, feeling a warm appreciation for Ethan.

"Okay, let's go quickly. Don't stay here chatting," Max joked, leading the way back to the campsite.

After a few minutes, the group returned to the campsite, where a bonfire awaited. The four of them sat around, and Ethan enthusiastically introduced the Omnitrix.

"This watch allows me to transform into ten different alien heroes! The first one, covered in fire, is called HeatBlast."

Gwen and Ben marveled at the incredible abilities, and Ben, with a hint of envy, remarked, "That's so cool! It would be great if you could lend me some money to play with!"

Gwen playfully teased

 Ben, "Stupid, if it were you, could you deal with so many robots?"

Even as the banter continued, Gwen thanked Ethan sincerely, her gratitude evident in her eyes. The campfire flickered, casting a warm glow on the group, whose bond had deepened through this unexpected adventure.