The battle wasn't over.
Despite taking down a handful of drones, more kept coming, pouring out of the warship like a mechanical swarm. The dark sky was lit up by the glow of their red scanners, their metallic bodies reflecting the city's streetlights.
Ben clenched his fists, still in his rocky alien form. "Man, how many of these things are there?"
Alex, still in his sleek predator form, flicked his bladed tail, eyes scanning the battlefield. His instincts told him there were at least three dozen in the immediate area. More coming.
Buttercup punched a drone out of the sky. "Doesn't matter! The more, the better!"
Blossom landed beside them. "Not really! If they keep coming, we'll get overwhelmed."
Bubbles zipped around overhead, dodging lasers. "Maybe we can find out where they're coming from?"
Alex looked up at the massive warship still hovering above them. "They're being deployed from there." His voice was slightly different in this form—harsher, almost growling.
Ben cracked his knuckles. "Alright, so we just smash that thing, right?"
Blossom hesitated. "I don't know… it looks heavily armored."
Before they could think of a plan, the drones attacked again.
ZAP-ZAP-ZAP!
Energy blasts rained down from above.
Alex reacted on instinct, grabbing Ben by the arm and yanking him aside. A split second later, a laser beam obliterated the spot where Ben had been standing.
Ben blinked. "Uh… thanks."
Alex didn't respond. His mind was moving too fast. He wasn't just seeing the battle—he was analyzing it. Every movement, every drone's flight pattern, every possible opening.
It was his new form's instincts.
And those instincts told him exactly what to do.
"Ben, go left," Alex said suddenly.
Ben frowned. "Huh?"
"No time—just do it!"
Ben shrugged. "Okay, okay…" He sprinted to the left.
The second he moved, three drones fired at his previous spot. If he had stayed there, he would've been hit.
Ben's eyes widened. "Whoa… how'd you—?"
"No time," Alex interrupted. "Just fight."
Ben smirked. "Alright, you got it."
And with that, they charged.
The First Real Battle
The Powerpuff Girls took to the sky, keeping the droids busy in aerial combat. Bubbles zipped around, dodging every laser fired at her. Blossom used her ice breath to freeze a cluster of drones before Buttercup smashed through them like a wrecking ball.
Meanwhile, Ben and Alex worked on the ground.
Ben was getting the hang of his rocky alien body. Instead of just swinging wildly, he learned to time his attacks. He let a drone get close—then delivered a devastating punch, sending it crashing through a parked car.
Alex moved differently.
He didn't take hits. He dodged everything.
A drone fired—he slid under the blast.
Another charged him—he twisted around it, slicing its wings with a clean swipe.
It was surgical. Precise.
And it felt… natural.
A robotic arm reached for him, but Alex leapt onto the drone's back, driving his claws deep into its metal frame. Sparks exploded as it crashed to the ground.
"Dude!" Ben called, crushing another drone. "You fight like a ninja!"
Alex tilted his head. "I… guess?"
He didn't know why, but this form gave him instincts that weren't human. It was like he'd been doing this his whole life.
He didn't get to think about it long—because something changed.
The warship above them began to descend.
A massive energy pulse surged from its core. The remaining drones stopped fighting and retreated into the ship.
For a brief moment, the battlefield was silent.
Then…
A giant energy cannon extended from the warship's hull.
Max's face paled. "Oh no."
The cannon began to charge.
Alex's instincts screamed at him. That thing was about to fire.
They had to move. Now.
"RUN!" Blossom shouted.
Ben turned. "Wait, wha—"
BOOOOOOOM!
A massive energy blast fired straight at them.
Alex didn't think.
He moved.
In a blink, he grabbed Ben and dashed out of the way at impossible speed. A second later, the ground exploded where they had been standing, sending debris flying in all directions.
Alex skidded to a stop, his claws digging into the pavement. Ben groaned, shaking his head. "Okay… that was way too close."
Max ran over. "We need to go! Now!"
Blossom gritted her teeth. "We can't just leave that thing here! It'll destroy the whole city!"
Buttercup cracked her knuckles. "Then let's take it down!"
Bubbles raised her hand. "Um, but how?"
Alex's mind raced. His instincts told him the ship had weak points—but they weren't obvious.
And before he could suggest anything, his watch started beeping.
He glanced at it. The symbol was flashing red.
And then…
FLASH!
In an instant, Alex was human again.
He staggered. "Wha—?!"
Ben blinked. "Oh no, does that mean—"
FLASH!
Ben was human again too.
They both stared at their now-normal wrists.
The watches had timed out.
"Oh, that is so not fair," Ben groaned.
Alex clenched his fists. He had been so close to figuring out how to beat the warship.
And now?
They were helpless.
The Powerpuff Girls moved in front of them.
Blossom narrowed her eyes at the warship. "Looks like we're handling this part."
Buttercup smirked. "Fine by me."
Bubbles looked worried. "But the ship is really big!"
Max grabbed Alex and Ben by the shoulders. "We're retreating. Now."
Alex clenched his teeth. He hated this. Running away. Feeling powerless.
But they had no choice.
As Max pulled them back toward the Rustbucket, the Powerpuff Girls took to the sky, charging straight at the warship.
The battle wasn't over.
It was just beginning.
TO BE CONTINUED…