"What criminal suspect!"
Ben swung into the clearing as Wildvine, landing defensively in front of Tyler. "Hey, don't think you can play judge just because you're wearing spandex! Tell me, what law did Tyler break?!"
"He is suspected of the mass slaughter of spectators in the Slagel Arena," Synaptak stated coldly, his brain-shield glowing with psychic energy.
"Dozens of high-ranking aliens have reported this 'Error' signature to the Galactic Enforcers," added Tini, the female Tetramand, cracking her knuckles.
The three heroes—Ultimos, Synaptak, and Tini—slowly surrounded Tyler.
"Oh, so it's about that," Tyler nodded, finally understanding. "Alright, I'm willing to explain everything clearly."
"That is... unexpectedly cooperative," Ultimos said with a hint of relief. If they could bring Tyler in without a fight, they could focus on the real villains, Sixsix and Vulkanus.
"You misunderstood," Tyler's voice dropped an octave, his manic grin returning. "My version of 'explaining' involves beating the three of you into submission with my fists."
Tyler didn't bother explaining the Glitch-Slaughter Protocol. In this universe, if you aren't strong enough to defend your actions, you're just a victim. He slammed the dial.
Ultimos lunged first, a blur of red-and-white heroic might. He punched through the red light, but his fist met nothing but cold mist. Out of the smoke stepped The Void-Wraith.
BANG!!
Tyler manifested a massive obsidian tentacle-hammer, batting the "Ultimate Superhero" through the air. Ultimos recovered mid-flight, his eyes erupting with heat vision. Tyler simply unhinged his jaw and released a wave of purple anti-energy, drowning the heat vision and blasting Ultimos into the horizon.
"Got you!" Tini pounced, her four massive arms intending to pin Tyler to the dirt.
WHOOSH!
Tyler dematerialized, letting the Tetramand slam into the pavement. Before she could recover, Tyler materialized behind her and slammed an obsidian hammer into her back, burying her waist-deep in the asphalt.
"Two down," Tyler whispered, his gaze shifting to Synaptak.
"Your wraith form might counter physical strength, but it can't hide from the mind!" Synaptak's blue light intensified, binding Tyler's spectral form. Tyler felt his dematerialization lock up.
"Three heroes are meant to handle any situation," Synaptak smiled.
CLICK.
The Carnitrix dial rotated. "Three heroes are many," Tyler's voice rasped through the Void-Wraith's hood, "but I have an entire army of demons in here."
FLASH!
A burst of blood-red light shattered Synaptak's focus. By the time the blue light returned, Tyler was gone.
"Where?! Where did he go?"
WHOOSH!!
The Velocity Wraith (XLR8) became a blur of red lightning. Synaptak fired waves of psychic energy, but Tyler was moving faster than the speed of thought. In the world of the Carnitrix, speed isn't just movement; it's a weapon.
Tyler swept past Synaptak, the sheer wind pressure of his passing flipping the brain-alien onto his back. Synaptak groaned, his levitation disabled. "I... I can't track him..."
"Stay down, monster!" Tini roared, finally pulling herself out of the crater. She lunged at Tyler, all four arms swinging.
Tyler didn't even look. He slammed the dial. CRACK!
In a spray of red sparks, Tyler became The Quad-Sunderer. He caught all four of Tini's hands in his own, his grip like iron. Tini struggled, twisting her muscular body, but she couldn't budge the "Prime" Tetramand DNA.
As she looked into Tyler's fierce, multi-eyed face, her expression changed. The struggle slowed. Her face turned a shade of... pink?
"Let me go..." she whispered, her voice losing its aggressive edge.
Tyler felt a massive chill. He immediately let go and stepped back. "What was that?"
"Sir... you are very... impressive," Tini said, blushing as she looked at Tyler's hulking, jagged form. She didn't care that he looked like a demonic warrior; in Tetramand culture, power was the ultimate beauty standard.
Tyler's mouth twitched. He quickly turned his gaze away from the lovesick alien and looked toward Ultimos, who was currently tangled in a massive web of vines.
"Hey!" Ben shouted, standing over the trapped superhero. "Do I look like an NPC to you? I can help too!"
The Galactic Enforcers were officially neutralized.
"Now," Tyler said, his voice deep and composed as he stood over the defeated trio. "You can listen to my 'explanation' regarding the Slagel Arena."
After Tyler recounted the slaughter—omitting the more horrific details of the Slaughter Protocol—the Enforcers looked skeptical.
"The Galactic Enforcer code... stipulates that specific individuals under extreme duress can be pardoned," Synaptak whispered to his teammates.
"Synaptak, I've never heard of that rule," Tini whispered back, still staring at Tyler.
"We have to pardon him!" Synaptak hissed. "Otherwise, he'll tie us into knots and leave us here! We only fight when we're winning!"
"Fine," Ultimos groaned, untangling himself from Ben's vines. "The misunderstanding is... resolved. You are pardoned."
Tyler spread his four arms, satisfied. "Good. Glad we could settle this like adults."
"However," Tini said, stepping forward with a serious face. "I think your 'confession' needs more detail. Much more."
"What?" Tyler tensed up. Was there a Round 2?
"We should have dinner tonight," Tini said bashfully, playing with her fingers. "You can explain the rest of the 'details' over a meal."
Synaptak sighed. Ultimos stared at the sky. They knew that if it came down to a fight, they'd lose—so they might as well let Tini try her "diplomacy."
DING!
The System notification pinged in Tyler's head, and his expression turned to one of utter disbelief.
[Ding! Host has successfully 'defeated' the Galactic Enforcers through combat and 'conquered' Tini through sheer masculinity. Progress +1%]
[Template Mastery: 37/100. DNA UNLOCKED: THE TERRA-STORM (Terraspin Variant)!]
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