As scared as Blonko had been when he used Juryrigg, it was his final alien and he didn't really have any excuse to neglect his training anymore. He was developing into a fully fledged Omnitrix bearer. When everyone had time, Tetrax coached Blonko through his aliens the best he could and tried to show Shar how to wield whatever weapons he could find. And they were both receptive to it.
For Shar, it was a chance to take the next step. She wasn't a student of Revonnah Kai. And as a woman, chances were she wouldn't have many chances to carve a name for herself. But secluded behind Wat-Sen's mountain, she could learn to be more. And besides, it felt nice to run through all the fluid motions needed to fight.
For Blonko, there was still some hesitance. He still didn't like using all of his aliens. Tidetail Wave, Four Arms, XLR8, Bloxx, and Wildvine he loved. Antigravitesla, Juryrigg, and Kringl he was a bit more uneasy with. Archfiend and Terrorsaur still scared him. But he was getting better.
Tetrax and Wat-Sen would tell them tales of the stars when they practiced. Blonko's passion for space was restoring but the stories, combined with the fact he was often in an alien's body, made him feel very small. It made him feel a bit more connected to Revonnah but Blonko knew he was forever changed.
But it was still harvest season. It was just over two thirds through the season when Blonko saw the bounty hunters for the last time. Without any immediate threats to himself or the village and with Tetrax and Wat-Sen helping with repairs, the harvest was a good one. By the time the air began to cool, the village had enough silos of amber ogia to last them the year. And now it was time to celebrate.
"Do not dirty yourselves," Bralla chastised as she straightened her children's formal wear, giving Blonko and Shar an extra hard look before realizing Young One probably deserved one too. Blonko personally thought Shi and Shim deserved one as well but apparently they'd been on their best behavior lately, especially compared to their siblings who were constantly coming home covered in mud.
"No promises," Shar replied, playfulness glinting in her eye.
"Being clean is boring," Young One complained. He had a few sticks in hand. Blonko wasn't totally sure if they were toys or Young One was just collecting but Bralla snatched them away from him before he could stick them in his pockets and stain the pale material with their dirt.
Blonko let out a resigned breath through his nose and offered a smile. "I will try my hardest for you, mother."
Shim snorted. "Like you are not going to leap behind a rock the moment a girl speaks to you."
Blonko made a face even though he knew it was true. Bralla sighed. "It would not hurt you to talk to a girl on occasion, Blonko. You are a growing boy and the proud heir to your father's farm. You will need to find a wife eventually."
"And I will," he assured her, "but that does not need to happen right now."
"As if you are not going to spend the whole evening with Rayona the moment she lays eyes on you," Shi spoke up in a cheeky tone. Young One giggled before slapping his tail over his mouth. Still, even that could not stifle his laughter.
Blonko wanted to roll his eyes but he withheld from doing so in front of his mother. Children, why did they laugh about these wonderful things? Blonko knew they would change in a few years. Then it would be his turn to laugh. "Be silent, Shi."
"You know it is true," Shi went on, a mischievous grin forming on her face. "You should see the look on your face when she is around!"
"Leave your brother alone," Da spoke as he entered the room. He too wore his formal robes. "Love is a wonderful thing."
"I am not in love," Blonko protested but it seemed his whole family was ganging up on him today. He decided to drop it but he crossed his arms to let them know they hadn't won.
"Listen to your mother and try to stay out of trouble," Da instructed as he scooped up Young One. "And I will be keeping a close eye on you, little grey tail. I do not want you getting into the crates for a pre-meal snack."
"That only happened once!" Young One whined but didn't resist being held.
"That happened last year, brat," Shar responded, sounding almost bored. Bralla gave her a sharp look and Shar slumped over slightly before apologizing. "Forgive me, Young One. I do not think you are a brat."
"You are a liar but I will let this one slide," Young One answered and clambered up onto Da's shoulders. He threw his hands up victoriously. "Look at me! I am so tall! I am the king of the mountains!"
"That you are, Young One," Da said as he headed for the door. "All of you, be on your best behavior. I mean it. I do not want to hear of any of you causing mischief today. This was a difficult harvest season and the village wants to end it well."
"Yes, Father," the five chorused. Da gave them a nod and everyone rushed out of their home and into the village.
Shi and Shim took off immediately, spotting some other villagers more in their age group than their eldest siblings. That was fine. Blonko would have the chance to spend some time with them later and right now he is content with hanging around Shar. "Is there anywhere you would like to go?"
"Rayona and I spent the afternoon decorating the village center," Shar suggested. Blonko blew air out of his mouth sharply at the mention of girls. Shar chuckled. "Do not fret, brother. I will not tease you like our sisters and the brat. I was merely suggesting that we should observe the decorations before everyone is out and about."
Looking at decorations was not Blonko's idea of a good time but Shar had worked hard on crafting the thin paper from discarded amber ogia skins and cutting them into the banners and paper lanterns that were strung between villages. He'd never worked on those kinds of arts himself but he could appreciate the time and effort that went into them so he agreed. Besides, it was nice to see Shar proud of something.
When telling Tetrax about the festivities, the Petrosapien had asked how they kept the decorations from burning. The question had surprised Blonko and he'd shaken his head, explaining the light didn't come from paper. As little technology that the Revonnahganders had, they were skilled at what they did and managed to use their resources in a way to make reflective paper that collected the sunlight from Revonnah's three suns. As the pair headed towards the center of the village, Blonko could already see the lights from the distance. The soft glow illuminated the scene, a hum of orange consuming it. Combined with the setting suns, it was truly stunning.
The pair ran with the freedom of children, enjoying the feeling of the wind in their fur, down the path and into the village. A few villagers were already there, including the Rooks' baker neighbor who made famously good pies. She offered the siblings a slice each, at which Shar and Blonko declined, claiming Bralla would have a fit if they ruined their appetite, but ended up walking away with a slice to share between them. One of Young One's friends ran up to them, pestering for a taste. Shar laughed and indulged her which made Blonko smile. As stern and impatient Shar was with their younger brother, she had a soft spot for children.
A few more tailed children approached but Shar and Blonko escaped before they lost any more of their pie. The baker was generous and certainly would not turn the children away if they asked for a bite or two. Besides, Shar and Blonko were grown. They deserved the chance to enjoy some sweets on their own.
"Clever move," one of Blonko's friends laughed as the pair of siblings ran by.
"Do not pretend like you would not do the same," Blonko shot back good naturedly as he and his sister ran further into the village. Blonko noticed the decorations begin to appear, both the ones Shar and Rayona made as well as the ceremonial barrels. Blonko and Shar sat down on one of the barrels and watched the people go by.
It was nice. Warm but cooling. His friends and family around him. The gorgeous Revonnan sun was striking the plains at just the right angle, highlighting their beauty, and the smell of homemade dishes was wafting through the air. At moments like these, Blonko wondered how he could ever dream of leaving this place.
"Still have not removed the alien trap from your wrist, I see," a voice commented, jolting Blonko out of his thoughts. His head whipped around before his eyes fell on Kundo, his thin figure covered by his harvest season robes and his facial fur groomed far more neatly than it usually was. In one hand, he had a glass of some kind of orange beverage. In the other, he held the hand of his wife, a stunning Revonnahgander with fur so sleek that Blonko truly wondered how Kundo managed to score such a spouse like her.
Still, Kundo's comment was unwelcome and Blonko's hand went to his wrist. He'd forgotten Kundo's borderline unspoken promise to remove his hand by the end of harvest season if he didn't get the device off. Exploring all the Omnitrix's wonders, Blonko had forgotten about his initial panic and visit to the Revonnah Kai master.
"It has not been causing me pain or interfering with my work," Blonko spoke up, knowing his response wouldn't satisfy Kundo but wanting to try anyway.
"That does not matter. We already gained twice the alien filth this season, we do not need that thing hindering one of our own as well."
"Removing my brother's hand would hinder him more than any alien device," Shar snapped, sliding off the barrel and getting to her feet, "and our alien neighbors are not filth. Remember, it was Tetrax who made sure our people's homes had walls and Magister Wat-Sen ensured we would have roofs over our heads. Retract your words, you ungrateful-"
"Shar," Blonko murmured, putting a hand on her shoulder. He hopped off the barrel and pulled her away, dipping his head in apology to a shocked Kundo. Once they were out of earshot, he muttered, "You did not need to do that."
"He deserved it," Shar sniffed, drawing her arm away from his grip, and strutting down the path with an air of withheld anger to her. Blonko sighed and trailed after her.
"Father will not let him remove my hand. And if not him, the rest of the villagers," Blonko told her, even if he wasn't totally sure he believed his own words. "You know our customs. Mutilation is highly frowned upon."
"Offworlders are even more so," Shar shot back. "We should tell Wat-Sen and Tetrax, Blonko. In case Kundo comes after you."
"He will not do that."
"How can you be so sure? Because he was your teacher?"
Blonko hesitated. He really didn't know. Shar was right about Kundo being his teacher but they weren't close. Even after spending countless hours training together. Kundo was… Well, he wasn't like Blonko. "Let us just try to enjoy the evening. How about you tell me about the decorations you made?"
Shar brightened a bit at the prompting. "Really? These sorts of things normally do not interest you."
"I am sure. I would like to hear about them."
"Well then, see that paper bird? I made that. Well, I made most of it. The wings are tricky. They are modeled after the phoenix constellation. At the end of harvest season, sometimes the second sun makes it look like the phoenix is burning Revonnah's surface when it rises…"
Shar kept talking and the pair fell into an easy rhythm, walking around the center of the village and its outskirts. Occasionally, they would see a friend or someone they frequently worked with and wave hello but Shar never interrupted her tales. Blonko had heard all these before, of course, but not recently. He'd always brushed off these stories as spirit tales for children. He found they were quite interesting though.
Maybe it was his older, more developed mind but he could see parallels between the stories and his own adventures. A spirit summoner using the ghosts of Revonnahganders who'd died before losing their bi'nthaks to fight muroids, demonic birds that could pluck a Revonnahgander clean off the ground, a mischievous thief who gained the power of incredible speed- They weren't exactly the same but they were close. After seeing so much alien activity first hand, Blonko began to wonder if there was some truth to these stories.
However, Blonko eventually found his mind drifting. The sun was sinking and more villagers were trickling out. One in particular caught his eye.
"You should talk to her," Shar suggested, ceasing her storytelling. "I do not mean to tease but literally anyone with eyes can tell you are fond of Rayona."
"She is my friend. I am fond of all my friends."
"Do not play dumb, Blonko," Shar sighed. "She is the only girl you will not run and hide from."
Blonko opened his mouth to respond but Rayona had spotted them and was waving. "Shar! Bonko!"
Blonko could feel his face heat up, white facial fur hiding any signs of it, as Rayona approached. Brallada, why did Shar have to be right all the time? He was fond of Rayona and he was terrible at hiding it. Breaking into a soft, welcoming smile, he greeted her. "Hello, Rayona. Happy harvest."
"Happy harvest, Blonko," Rayona replied as she came to a stop in front of them. "And to you too, Shar. What are you up to?"
"Ugh. Avoiding Master Kundo," Shar groaned but she didn't let it get her down and brightened a moment later. "I was considering seeing if Wat-Sen and Tetrax had joined the festivities but I am much happier that we found you. I do not particularly want to spend the night explaining the flavors of amber ogia dishes to an alien without taste buds."
"Tetrax does not have taste buds?" Blonko questioned, raising an eyebrow. He hadn't known that.
"He is the crystal one, correct?" Rayona noted. "It makes sense. But I am happy to have found you as well, Shar. My father asked me to watch my brothers this afternoon. I am more than ready to spend the night with people my own age."
"That is fantastic," Shar replied before a she smiled knowingly and elbowed Rayona in the ribs. "Though I may disappear later to keep Magister Wat-Sen from eating the entire harvest. I am sure you will enjoy the time alone. The two of you. Together."
Rayona's face flushed while Blonko stifled a groan. His sister was not subtle, though he doubted she was trying to be. Rayona stuttered and began to reply but was interrupted by a loud noise followed by a tremor rippling through Revonnah's surface. "What was that?"
"I am not sure," Blonko replied, craning his neck in the source's direction to try to get a look at what was happening. The other villagers began drifting towards the edge of the clearing, curious about what was happening. Right now, Blonko could just see a large mass sitting in the dirt at the entryway. He wondered, for a moment, if space debris had somehow fallen into the village but had to dismiss the theory quickly. The mass was moving. Rising.
"People of Revonnah," a deep, throaty voice growled as the figure unfurled, rising up to full height. "I am Vilgax the Conqueror. I have come for the Omnitrix."
Blonko's eyes widened at the sight of the man. Tetrax had told him about him, of course, but never in his wildest dreams had he ever imagined the alien looking like this. He was tall, taller than any Revonnahgander Blonko had met, and bulkier than Tetrax himself. And his skin, it was greener than Antigravitesla's and rubberier than Tidetail Wave's, not to mention all the tentacles dangling from his face or the armor covering his massive form. Blonko had spent many nights wondering if he could face Vilgax if he came. One look at him and Blonko was pretty sure the answer to that question was no.
"Alien!" a voice barked in disgust. Blonko turned to see Kundo approaching, tossing off his dress shirt and shifting into a combative stance. "You are not welcome here."
Vilgax eyed him, unimpressed. "My bounty hunters told me about you. You gave them some trouble. I promise you, you will not have the same results with me."
"We shall see," Kundo said threateningly and flew at the warlord.
Vilgax took him out with one blow.
Blonko wished he'd spoken up and told Kundo to start off with the Stone Cutter. Even if it didn't do anything to the Omnitrix, it could've done some real damage against Vilgax. But no, he'd started off like he was fighting a Revonnahgander and Vilgax's fist knocked him out of the air like it was nothing.
Kundo seemed fine for the most part, the wind was just knocked out of him, but Vilgax pinned him down with a monstrous hand and glared into his beady eyes. "I will ask again. Where is the Omnitrix?"
Kundo spat in his face. "I do not know what you speak of but our village will never surrender to alien invasion."
"Then I will raze it to the ground and pluck you off one by one until the Omnitrix bearer steps forward," Vilgax declared, tightening his grip around the aging warrior. Kundo cried out and Blonko heard his bones creaking. Blonko knew Vilgax would do more if he didn't get what he wanted.
"Stop!" Blonko called, stepping forward before Vilgax and his entire village. "It is me. I am the Omnitrix bearer."
"Big brother?" Young One questioned from where he was still sitting atop his father's shoulders. Confused murmurs rippled through the rest of the crowd. Faintly, Blonko could hear Shar and Rayona begging him to stop what he was doing but Blonko didn't back down.
Vilgax released Kundo and the man began coughing. His wife ran to his side in a heartbeat but Vilgax ignored them. He took his time approaching the young Revonnahgander. Blonko tried not to flinch as the alien towered over him. "Show it to me."
Blonko held up his wrist, making sure to flash the green Plumber symbol on the front. He started to speak but Rayona was suddenly in front of him. "He is lying! He got his hand stuck in a trap at the beginning of harvest season. That device is no-"
"Out of my way, girl," Vilgax snarled and batted her away like a gnat.
"Rayona!" Blonko cried out. He'd already revealed himself! No one was supposed to get hurt. Shar broke from the sidelines immediately to check on her so at least there was that but Blonko was still pretty upset. "Why did you do that?"
Vilgax didn't dignify the question with a response and reached out, clasping Blonko's wrist in his hand. Da shoveled Young One off to Bralla and stepped forward. "Blonko! What are you doing? Do not be a sacrificial fool!"
Vilgax chuckled. "You really don't know what this is, do you? How about I show you?"
Blonko's eyes went wide and he began shaking his head in fearful protest but Vilgax's claw was already scraping the dial. He felt the selection menu pop up, Vilgax's finger came down, and the light of the transformation consumed him. His body grew large and his belly bulged. Heat rushed through his body, an unfamiliar sensation but one he understood, and armor appeared on his body. Oh, of all the aliens, why did he have to pick this one?
"Archfiend!"
The purple skinned demon warrior stood before the village in all his grotesque glory. The villagers screamed and the children shied away from him, hiding behind their parents' legs. Archfiend looked down in shame but he couldn't help but glance up a moment later, searching for his loved ones' reactions. Shar was unaffected, of course, but the same could not be said for the others.
Da looked shocked. Eyes wide, mouth open, hands slack- Archfiend had never seen him like this. It would be unsettling if he didn't know he was the reason his father wore such an expression. Now, it just hurt.
Bralla and Young One looked terrified, clutching each other for support and comfort. Shi and Shim were frozen, as if their minds couldn't comprehend what their eyes were telling them they were looking at. On his friends and neighbors, more fear. And hate. That stung more than fear ever could.
And Rayona… Oh, Rayona. She looked just as terrified as the night she saw Terrorsaur.
"Monster!" she shrieked and scrambled away from him. Shar tried to calm her down but Rayona's father was suddenly at her side, pulling her away and curling around her protectively. Archfiend felt something crack in his heart. He knew he'd just lost any chance with her. No, he'd just lost so much more than that.
His village saw his powers. They saw him transform. They saw the monster he could be, the monster he was. They saw the creature who'd scorched Revonnah's surface down by the lake. The thing that was once one of them but now embodied everything they cursed.
Raw, unparalleled rage filled Archfiend's chest. Something rumbled deep in his belly and heat spread to his hands. Concentrated, intense heat, just waiting to explode from his fingertips and eternally burn whatever got in its path.
"I already surrendered!" Archfiend howled, flames appearing in his hands as he turned on the invader. He spread his arms, letting the fire flow around him. "You will leave me and my village alone!"
Vilgax seemed to realize his mistake when the spiral of fire flew towards him. He dodged it, throwing himself on the ground in the process, and the blaze blew past him, charring the land behind him. It didn't even burn. When Archfiend closed his hands, there was no orange blaze dancing through the grass. Just dead, black char.
The attack seemed to spur the villagers into action. All yelling and shouting, they began to flee. Archfiend expected it to hurt but the feeling was little more than a sting in his pool of anger. It was good that they were leaving. That gave him more room to make Vilgax pay.
Vilgax shifted his weight to his hands and struck out with a sharp kick, nailing Archfiend in the knee. He grunted and nearly toppled before retaliating with another blast. This one, his concentration dulled by the pain in his leg, was a bit stunted and his hands sprayed a storm of sparks and embers raining down over Vilgax's still prone form. The larger alien hissed in pain and got to his feet and away from the attack as fast as he could.
Not wasting time putting distance between them, Vilgax lunged and threw a punch towards Archfiend's face. Archfiend wasn't able to lean back much, considering how inflexible his stumpy legs and sturdy body was, but he managed to avoid it. He opened his mouth and let out a stream of fire directly into Vilgax's hand. This time, his opponent howled and was forced to retreat a few steps.
"Insolent child!" Vilgax roared but Archfiend was still too angry to properly respond. He pivoted forward, angry fingers ready to scorch Vilgax, but the other alien was quick and backed up, managing to avoid the thrust of Archfiend's palms each time they neared. When one managed to graze one of the tentacles on his face, he grabbed Archfiend's hand and shoved it downward. The sudden motion caught Archfiend off guard, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.
Vilgax clasped Archfiend's hood in his fingers and brought his head down onto his knee. Pain shot through Archfiend's nose as it was slammed into hard bone. He couldn't even let out a gust of fire to get away when Vilgax was plunging his throbbing face into the dirt.
"Get away from him!" Tetrax shouted, leaping into the fight. Archfiend didn't know where he'd been but he was grateful to see him. He flew through the air, crystal growing on his arm, and boxed Vilgax in the chest so hard he was sent skidding, giving Tetrax the chance to help Archfiend. "You okay kid?"
"No," Archfiend responded as he accepted Tetrax's hand. The other one, the one he'd punched Vilgax with, was shattered. Archfiend blinked a few times, not believing it. He hadn't seen that happen. Then again, he'd been eating dirt when it happened. "But I am still able to fight."
"That's good to hear. Shar and Wat-Sen are helping the village evacuate but I don't think they'd be right for this fight anyway. I'm not even sure we're enough to stand up to Vilgax."
"You're not," Vigax boasted. He inhaled deeply before a gust of wind slammed into Vilgax and Tetrax. Both aliens had powerful builds so they managed to stay on their feet but Archfiend would be lying if he said it was easy. He tried to summon enough fire to push back but any attempts he made were just blasted back. He hoped he wasn't accidentally burning down his village behind him.
Thankfully, Tetrax didn't face the same issue. He slammed his hands into the floor, erecting a peranite shield tall enough to block the attack. The moment the blast ceased to be effective, Vilgax cut it off and ran at the pair. This time, Archfiend was a bit more cautious. He was unaware Vilgax had any powers other than enhanced strength and durability. Who knew what other powers he had in his arsenal?
Vilgax jumped over the crystal wall and landed neatly between them. It was a bold move that made Archfiend even more uneasy. Not wanting to hit Tetrax, Archfiend let the heat flow into his hands, supercharging them, and attempted to grab Vilgax by the shoulders as the Chimera Sui Generis began whaling on his other opponent.
Tetrax seemed to be taking the hits well and returning with a few of his own. Both species seemed well-suited for close quarters combat and grapples of strength. Vilgax grunted as Archfiend pressed his scorching palms into his back, a sizzling noise and the scent of smoke arising at the contact. For the most part, however, Vilgax seemed unbothered and seemed more concerned with beating up Tetrax than defending himself from Archfiend. That wouldn't do.
Spreading his legs into a wider stance, Archfiend wrapped his arms around Vilgax's ribs. He dug his weight into the ground and lifted the larger alien, trying his best to spin him around and slam him into the ground. Tetrax took advantage of the opening immediately and scored a number of slashes across Vilgax's front with sharpened hands.
"Enough!" Vilgax snapped as his back hit the ground and red beams of energy erupted from his eyes. Both Archfiend and Tetrax were blown back, though Tetrax's reflective hide fared much better than the Phantophage's leathery skin and Archfiend was sent back much farther. Archfiend found himself on the ground past the ring of buildings that marked the center of the village.
With only one opponent to focus on, Vilgax resumed his attack on Tetrax. This time, the ex-bounty hunter was off balance and could do little to retaliate. "Fire! Fire!"
"My fire does not work on him!" Archfiend informed him as he rolled onto his feet and hurried over to help his friend. Curse his short legs! He was so slow. His big belly certainly wasn't helping either.
"Hellfire!" Tetrax shouted as he raised his arms to defend his face from the onslaught of Vilgax's claws. The Chimera Sui Generis was overpowering at him. Straddled around the Petrosapien's abdomen, he had free access to scratch up or punch whatever he wanted and there was little Tetrax could do about it. "I'll be fine!"
"I do not understand," Archfiend protested. Tetrax wasn't making any sense! The phrase hellfire rang a bell in Archfiend's mind but Archfiend couldn't recall what he'd been told about that particular aspect of Archfiend's powers. What was the difference between normal fire and hellfire? Something about intensity? Spirituality? Maybe volume? Archfiend's mind scrambled to figure it out but Vilgax was finished beating on his friend and was ready to turn on him.
Tetrax groaned as Vilgax picked up his limp form and tossed him aside. Archfiend knew Tetrax was tough and his peranite body could take a lot but it was still scary. That was his friend and the strongest person he knew and Vilgax had just knocked him out and picked him up like one of his sisters' dolls. Archfiend was… Well, Archfiend was just Blonko in a bigger body that he didn't know how to use. But he couldn't give up. He'd already tried that and Vilgax had still attacked.
Archfiend tried his best to call upon this hellfire thing. A blaze flared up from his hands and a stream of flame erupted from his mouth. He put everything he had into it, every ounce of heat he could muster from deep within his body, and sent a pillar of the most intense heat he'd ever created directly at his approaching attacker.
It struck but Vilgax just kept powering forward right through it. Oh, he slowed down and seemed uncomfortable but it was barely noticeable. How strong was he? Maybe this wasn't hellfire. Nothing about it felt… hellish. Archfiend tried to imagine what made fire hellish and poured more power into his burst of fire but he was tiring quickly and nothing seemed to be working.
Soon, Vilgax was standing right in front of him, getting a face full of flame yet still was unaffected. A hand shot up and fingers curled around Archfiend's neck, effectively cutting off his fire and leaving the Phantophage choking. Vilgax locked his arm and lifted Archfiend off the ground so his toes were barely brushing the ground. Archfiend tried to summon his fire again but he'd already used so much and it was so hard to focus right now. He tried struggling but his lack of air and balance made his efforts useless.
The Omnitrix chose that moment to time out.
Vilgax grinned in victory at the sight of the Revonnahgander in his grip, looking tiny in his massive palm. With his other hand, he brought a finger to his forehead. Blonko braced himself but nothing he could do could save him from the blow that was coming.
Vilgax knocked him out with a simple flick of his finger.
"Let this be a lesson not to resist Vilgax the Conqueror."
