Chapter 3: Heatblast!

Ryan reacted first, urgently shouting to Ben and Gwen beside him.

In the distance, a colossal robot over ten meters tall with four spider-like legs crushed trees in its path as it stomped toward them. It had clearly located them.

"Good!" Though slow to react, Ben was a boy and bolted toward the campsite first.

But Gwen's pretty face was etched with fear and she was frozen in place. Before she could think, Ryan didn't hesitate. He grabbed her wrist with one hand and pulled her along as he ran, before she could protest.

"Thanks!" Gwen reacted only then, her face flushing as she uttered a soft thank you.

Despite his age, Grandpa Max was surprisingly agile. He quickly scrambled out of the large crater and instantly sprinted to the front of the three children.

Ryan kept up admirably. He exercised regularly and had ample stamina. Even while pulling Gwen, he managed to stay right behind Max and Ben.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The large robot's speed was terrifying. Its four legs broke through countless trees as its glowing red mechanical eyes fixed on the fleeing group. It constantly narrowed the distance between them. "I remember the original show had a small robot, didn't it? Because of my arrival, have some small details been altered?" Ryan thought as he ran. He had indeed caused a butterfly effect, though the impact seemed minor for now.

The large robot behind them slowly raised its right palm. A large, circular opening in its palm flickered with a faint red light. The next moment!

A scorching red beam sliced through the silent night and struck the ground directly in front of Ryan, Max, and the others instantly.

Boom! Upon impact with the jungle, the red light detonated, instantly engulfing most of the forest in a massive explosion. The immense concussive force caused Ryan to stumble. All four of them stared in disbelief at the blasted forest before them.

The large robot's palm still smoked with gunpowder; its expression was as cold and ruthless as ever. Through the robot's perspective, Vilgax's voice boomed, "Eliminate those four Earthlings and retrieve the Omnitrix!" "Come on, don't just stand there!" Max was the first to recover, urgently rousing Ryan and the stunned children.

"No, I need to transform now, or we're all screwed." Ryan's eyes hardened. He instantly let go of Gwen's hand and sprinted directly toward the massive robot.

"Ryan?! What are you doing?" Max cried out in anxiety. Ryan didn't look back. His tone was firm and resolute. "Grandpa, Ben, and Gwen, this robot must be after the watch on my wrist. I'll lure it away. You guys, go!"

At that moment, tears welled up in Max's eyes. For the first time, he felt inferior to a child. Gwen and Ben were even more moved, with tears threatening to fall. This distant relative, whom they had just met, had made an indelible impression on them.

Boom. The poignant scene ended when Ryan "accidentally" tripped and fell to the ground. His Omnitrix, by sheer coincidence, struck the ground, and its faceplate popped straight up!

At the same time, the large robot recognized the Omnitrix on Ryan's wrist. Without hesitation, the robot aimed its palm cannon at Ryan, and a red light began to flash intensely. "Ryan!" Max and Gwen shouted in unison. Ben started to rush forward to help, but Max held him back. Whoosh! The large robot fired again, and a red beam struck Ryan's precise location.

"What is this pop-up screen?" Ryan's heart pounded with nervousness. He could feel the heat behind him intensifying rapidly. After delivering a line with questionable acting skills, he slapped his palm heavily onto the screen. He pressed the Omnitrix button just as the red light consumed him. The small area was instantly obliterated. Terrifying flames completely engulfed Ryan's body as if determined to leave nothing but ash.

"Ryan... Grandpa's so sorry." Max's spirits plummeted instantly. He felt a wave of despair. If he hadn't suggested going on a summer camping trip, Ryan wouldn't have died.

"How could this happen?" Gwen's face showed disbelief. She had grown quite fond of the boy who had helped her. "Target eliminated." The large robot assumed that Ryan couldn't have survived. It advanced, stomping toward the site of the explosion, completely ignoring Max and the others. The three were frozen in sadness and fear, unable to move. They could only watch as the massive robot drew nearer. "Who told you that?" "I'm dead?!" Suddenly! A calm voice, utterly different from Ryan's yet oddly similar in tone, came from the area of the explosion! "What happened?!" Max, Gwen, and Ben were startled, their faces showing shock and disbelief. They all stared intently at the explosion site. Boom!

A fiery red figure burst through the smoke and landed next to Max like a meteor. Standing at the height of an adult, its body was engulfed in raging flames and its skin was a fiery red, like plates of incandescent rock. It watched the large robot with intense vigilance. It was Heatblast!