Ray moved quickly through the winding, dimly lit streets of Undertown, his hood pulled low over his face. He had packed up what little he had and was trying to slip out unnoticed. After the news report and all the attention the robbery had brought, it was too risky to stay any longer. The Plumbers would be combing the area soon, and the last thing Ray needed was more eyes on him, especially not Ben Tennyson's.
His plan was simple: get out of Undertown, find somewhere quiet to regroup, and figure out how to avoid any more mistakes. But just as he was nearing the edge of the market district, a commotion caught his eye.
A crowd had gathered near the center of the square. Ray slowed his pace, curiosity pulling him toward the noise. He glanced over his shoulder, trying to get a better look at what was happening without fully stopping.
In the middle of the crowd, standing out like they always did, was Ben Tennyson. Flanked by a red-headed girl and a tall, dark-haired guy with a smirk on his face, Ben looked as cool and confident as ever. His Omnitrix, glowing faintly, caught Ray's attention immediately. There was no mistaking the polished design of Ben's device, so different from the crude belt Ray wore.
Ray: "Great, Of all people, it had to be him."
The crowd buzzed with excitement, whispering Ben's name as they watched him. Ray shifted his stance, trying to blend in with the flow of people moving around him. He wasn't about to stick around and risk Ben noticing him. Not when Ben was likely the only person in the galaxy who could recognize the makeshift Ultimatrix for what it really was.
Ray slowly edged away, keeping to the shadows as he moved through the crowd. He'd almost made it to the alley when a strange sensation tugged at the back of his mind, a soft hum, like the feeling of static electricity in the air.
His skin prickled.
Magic.
Ray's eyes darted around, his heart pounding in his chest. It was subtle at first, just a faint tingle, but it grew stronger with every passing second. His hand instinctively brushed against the Ultimatrix belt, but he knew better than to transform here in the open.
Suddenly, a soft purple glow appeared near the center of the crowd. Gwen.
Her eyes were glowing as she whispered an incantation, her fingers tracing a small, circular spell in the air. Ray cursed under his breath. She wasn't just standing around-she was searching for something. And by the feel of it, that "something" was him.
Gwen: "Found you."
Ray's heart pounded as he ducked into the alley, knowing Gwen's magic had already alerted the others. His mind raced, there was no time for subtlety now. He needed speed, power, and instincts to get him out of here.
Without hesitation, Ray slammed his hand onto the dial of his Ultimatrix belt and twisted. The familiar surge of energy coursed through his body as he activated the transformation.
Pain rippled through him as his body began to shift. His bones cracked and lengthened, muscles bulging under thick fur. His fingers twisted into sharp claws, and his face elongated into a beastly snout. His senses heightened immediately he could smell the electric pulse in the air, the scent of every alien in the crowd, and hear every tiny movement behind him.
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