The mountains lay deep in darkness.
A bright silver moon hung high in the starry sky, casting down threads of icy light.
The wind howled through the mountains like the cries of evil spirits, echoing in their ears and setting their nerves on edge.
The group made their way along the mountain path. The terrain was rough and uneven, and one wrong step could send someone plunging into a bottomless chasm.
"NASA's monitoring station to the north was just destroyed by some kind of Benwolf. The guards were almost bitten to pieces," Wes said, gripping his hunting rifle as he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Strange. What would it want with all that satellite equipment?" Grandpa Max asked, puzzled.
"It also stole your receiver," Ben said.
At that moment, he was looking more and more like a Benwolf. His face was already covered in thick fur, and his body had grown even more muscular.
"Clearly, Yenaldooshi is furious that technological civilization has invaded what it sees as sacred ground," Wes said with a sigh, shaking his head. "It's probably trying to drive us away."
Lucian nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense."
Well said. Next time, don't.
Like hell I believe that. That old man's shady as can be. That thing isn't Yenaldooshi at all.
[Ding. Alien Hacker Mission Triggered.]
[Defeat the Benwolf.]
[Reward for successful completion: Random Hero Chest.]
The System's cold notification rang out in Lucian's mind.
Before they realized it, they had already walked more than ten kilometers.
Suddenly, Wes tightened his grip on his gun and scanned the surroundings warily. "I can sense it nearby!"
Grandpa Max felt it too. As if he had noticed something, he immediately turned and pointed toward an opening above them. "It's up there!"
Lucian looked back and saw a werewolf in the darkness. Its eerie green eyes gleamed as it leaped down and landed right in front of them.
Wes was about to fire, but Lucian stopped him.
"It's me, Blitzwolfer!" Ben roared. He had already completely taken on the appearance of a Benwolf.
A long, narrow snout. Rows of sharp fangs. Eyes glowing green like ghost fire. Clearly defined muscles beneath gray-blue fur. A wolf tail swaying in the wind.
"You've completely turned into a Benwolf. We need to hurry." Wes's face darkened.
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone, intending to call Kai and ask if they had found the cactus.
But when he checked it, there was no signal.
"Forget it. We'll do this another way."
Wes took out a flare gun and fired it into the sky. Brilliant fireworks burst across the night, dazzling and bright.
But that flare didn't just alert Kai. It also drew the Benwolf.
"Awooo!"
A towering Benwolf appeared on the mountaintop. Its powerful hind legs exploded with force as it sprang into the air and slammed down right in front of them.
Its purple eyes burned with killing intent.
"Hey, ugly. What are you staring at?" Blitzwolfer shouted without the slightest fear.
"Roar!" The Benwolf thrust out its sharp claws and lunged at them.
Grandpa Max and Wes quickly dodged aside.
With a low growl, Blitzwolfer charged straight at the Benwolf, and the two of them clashed.
"Ben, we need the cactus to destroy it!" Wes shouted.
"But it can tear us apart right now," Blitzwolfer said through gritted teeth as the Benwolf pinned him firmly to the ground.
Ben still hadn't fully adapted to this "new body," so losing to the Benwolf was perfectly normal.
Just then, Gwen and Kai arrived.
They took out a glass jar filled with cactus juice and handed it to Wes.
Wes immediately coated the pure silver pendant with the cactus juice and shouted, "Ben, hold it down!"
"Got it!"
Lucian watched the whole thing without making a rash move. He wanted the others to realize that this Benwolf wasn't Yenaldooshi at all.
Otherwise, when Ben's Omnitrix came up later, it would be impossible to explain clearly.
Blitzwolfer and Grandpa Max worked together, locking both arms around the Benwolf's shoulders. "Now!"
Wes lunged forward and rushed in front of the Benwolf, then slammed the pure silver pendant, coated in cactus juice, against its chest.
The Benwolf didn't react at all.
Wes was stunned, his eyes full of confusion.
How could that be?!
"Grandpa, the pure silver pendant doesn't work on the Benwolf. Maybe it really isn't Yenaldooshi!" Kai was the first to realize it.
"Roar!" The savage Benwolf broke free of its restraints and lunged viciously at Wes.
Blitzwolfer grabbed its arm, trying to pull it back, but the Benwolf's brute strength hurled him to the ground.
Grandpa Max suffered the same fate.
"Water Dragon Soul!"
A blue magic water dragon twisted through the air with a roar, heavy with mist as it slammed toward the Benwolf at full speed.
The Benwolf shattered the Water Dragon Soul with a single swipe, and its momentum didn't slow in the slightest. Its razor-sharp claws shot straight for Wes's throat.
If that strike landed, Wes would probably die on the spot.
Boom!
A flash of eerie green light burst out in the cold, dim mountains and vanished in an instant.
A thick tiger claw clamped tightly around the Benwolf's paw.