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Chapter 18 - 17

**Earth, Mount Rushmore, Plumbers' Base**

The Plumbers' base, carved into the heart of Mount Rushmore, was a field of ruins under the night sky, the hangar reduced to a skeleton of cracked concrete, its walls riddled with plasma burns and explosion scars. The floor, littered with debris—twisted metal, broken crates, scorched circuits—told the story of a brutal assault. The ravine outside, a graveyard of charred trees and smoking craters, held the echo of Klynn's defeat, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814. A Justice League ship landed silently, its doors opening to reveal four figures: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Flash.

Batman moved first, his cape flowing like a living shadow, his eyes beneath the cowl scanning the hangar with cold intensity. He didn't speak, only moved, his gloved fingers touching a wall melted by plasma pulses. *Military precision,* he thought, collecting a sample with a humming portable device, its sensors identifying an alien alloy—not terrestrial, not Plumber tech. *Vilgax. But not the Vilgax from the files.* He crouched, examining a destroyed drone fragment, deep claw marks suggesting amplified brute force. *Implants? Bioengineering?* His thoughts were shards, connecting invisible dots, each clue a thread in a larger web.

He approached a damaged console, its cracked screen displaying fragmented logs. Connecting a device to the system, his fingers moved with surgical precision, extracting data as his mind worked. *Selective looting. Portal gun, data discs, energy crystals. A larger plan.* The console revealed a name, "Lyra," in a partially erased log. *A team. Organized. Off the records.* He pocketed the device, his eyes narrowing, as if seeing beyond the hangar, beyond Earth, to the space where the enemy had fled.

Superman hovered inches off the ground, his red cape still, his eyes glowing with X-ray vision as he scanned the hangar. "Whatever did this wasn't just strength," he said, pointing to a crater where a green hammer construct had collided. "Klynn said Vilgax used tactics, exploited every mistake. He's… evolved."

Batman didn't respond, his focus on a pile of broken crates, where deep, precise claw marks indicated a coordinated attack. *Chimera Sui Generis, but enhanced. Something restructured him.* He activated a thermal scanner, detecting residual gravitational energy. *New technology. Not in the files.* He stood, his cape falling like a curtain, and walked to the central crater, the floor crushed by immense weight. *Vilgax didn't just defeat Klynn. He studied him. Tested something bigger.*

Wonder Woman strode to the ravine, her Lasso of Truth swaying at her hip, her eyes fixed on fallen trees and the trail of dried blood where Klynn had fallen. "He manipulated the environment, used drones to distract, turned Klynn's impulsiveness against him," she said, touching a cracked rock. "This Vilgax is a strategist."

The Flash, buzzing with energy, zipped through the hangar in seconds, returning with a piece of a destroyed drone. "This tech's heavy-duty. Not Plumber, not Vilgaxian. And check this," he showed the console to Batman, pointing to "Lyra." "He's got a crew. This is an operation."

Batman raised a hand, silencing Flash without looking. He collected a soil sample from the ravine, his device analyzing traces of plasma and kinetic energy. *Advanced implants. Possibly cybernetic. Not from Vilgaxia.* He turned to Diana, his voice cold. "The portal gun was the primary target. If he uses it to access dimensions or star systems, his reach will be limitless."

Superman crossed his arms, his expression tense. "He took down Ben, Zatanna, Black Canary, and now Klynn. He didn't go for the Omnitrix, which is odd. It's like he's testing something."

Batman connected his device to a League recon drone, calibrating sensors for transdimensional emissions. *The signal Klynn picked up. Weak, but active. The portal gun.* His thoughts were a web, each clue a node. "Prep the ship," he said, eyes fixed on the device. "We'll track him. He knows we're coming." The hangar fell silent, save for the hum of the League's drones, the promise of a confrontation looming like a storm.

**Space, Vilgax's Ship**

In low Earth orbit, my ship—a black metal fortress with blood-red lines, its cannons glowing like predatory eyes—sliced through the vacuum of space. The main deck hummed with energy, panels pulsing in shades of blue and purple, the air thick with ozone and overheated circuits. I stood at the command, my armor scarred by scratches, the cut on my forearm burning under dried blood. The **Muscle Enhancement Module** throbbed, hot, but the victory over Klynn and the raid on the base—portal gun, data discs, energy crystals—ignited a fire of ambition. The League would come, the Plumbers too, but I was one step from transcending, from becoming Vilgax 10,000, the conqueror who would bend galaxies to his will.

Lyra, at the central console, typed with precision, her face lit by screens displaying the haul's inventory. The portal gun, its silver barrel and pulsing purple core, rested in a reinforced case, surrounded by plasma weapons and glowing crystals. Krag, the gray-skinned Czarnian, tested a stolen launcher, its trigger clicking, while Tira and Jek organized crates in the cargo bay. Dren and Vok patrolled the corridors, and the five Czarnians monitored external sensors, drones floating like sentinels. Dr. Animo, rescued months ago, was in the makeshift lab, his laughter echoing as he tinkered with machines. "Haul's cataloged, boss," Lyra said, her voice sharp. "The gun had two trackers, neutralized. Recommend another scan."

"Do it," I ordered, sitting in a reinforced chair that creaked, my armor groaning. "And prep the hyperspace jump. Next destination: Galvan Prime's moon. There, I'll find a future ally, someone to elevate our plans." Galvan Prime's moon, a technological hub of the Galvans, housed brilliant minds—an ally who could change the game, a step beyond Animo's rescue. Exhaustion weighed on me, but the gacha's promise sharpened my focus. I closed my eyes, and the mental interface formed, a holographic roulette spinning in my consciousness, alien symbols pulsing red and gold. *Forty points,* I thought, the power of victory—a Lantern defeated, a base subdued—coursing like electricity. The gacha was my secret, unseen even by Lyra or Animo. The roulette spun, each click a thunderclap, until it stopped. Four rewards, four keys to the future.

A hidden compartment in the console hummed, a retractable drawer opening with a hiss. To the team, it would seem like a supply drop, but I knew the truth. Inside lay the items: a black cylinder with bioluminescent green circuits, an injector with blue fluid, two dark-red crystalline vials, and a metallic sphere with a pulsing blue core. I took each carefully, masking it as inspecting the loot, my heart pounding with anticipation. First, the **Genetic Alteration Tech Tank**, its panels gleaming like obsidian, circuits pulsing with life. It was the key to transcendence, to reshaping my DNA to its pinnacle. *With you, the League will be dust,* I thought, picturing Superman crushed, Batman undone.

I stowed the cylinder in a secure compartment, out of sight, and grabbed the **Neural Nano-Enhancement**, the injector cold against my skin. With a discreet motion, I applied it to my neck, the blue fluid flooding my body, an electric tingle racing through my veins. My reflexes sharpened, my mind cleared, every sound on the ship—Lyra's tapping, Krag's growl, Animo's laugh—gaining supernatural clarity. I tested it, flicking my wrist with a speed that sliced the air, and felt the difference: I could fight, coordinate drones, and plan strategies simultaneously. *Perfect for the League's chaos,* I thought, pocketing the empty injector, unnoticed.

Then, I took the **Future Vilgax DNA** vials. The old one, clipped to my belt for months, held half the genetic code of a conqueror who'd ruled galaxies, his strength legendary in my mind. The new vial, freshly earned, completed the puzzle—100% of the DNA of a Vilgax who was myth, his form clear as a hologram: dark green skin, writhing tentacle beard, a robust body without heavy armor, driven by raw power that made planets tremble. I held the vials, one in each hand, their red glow reflecting in my eyes like stellar flames. *This is the path to the future,* I thought, the weight of transformation almost tangible. Becoming Vilgax 10,000 was my destiny, the next step to crushing any resistance, from the League to the universe's edges.

Transformation demanded sacrifice. I glanced at my armor, scarred by cuts and blasts, the **Muscle Enhancement Module** still hot in my arm. The **Repair Adhesive**, the **Sonic Clip**, the **Holo-Compass**—tools that brought me this far, crutches the Future Vilgax didn't need. His power came from pure DNA, a body optimized by genetics, free of external armor or gadgets. My laser vision, however, was part of me—an innate ability, etched into my Chimera Sui Generis physiology, perhaps amplified by implants, but eternal, like my fists or my will. It would stay, its red beams cutting battlefields like blades. *I'll shed the armor, the modules, but my vision will remain,* I mused, my chest tight but my resolve unshaken. Without the armor, I'd be vulnerable for a moment—but I'd emerge as a titan, with a god's strength.

The final item, the **Gravitational Pulse Generator**, was a compact sphere, its blue core pulsing like a star. I held it, disguising it as looted tech, and activated its repulsive mode with a touch. An invisible wave flung a crate against the deck's wall, the metal crumpling with a crash. Krag glanced over, chuckling, unsuspecting of its origin. "Nice piece, boss," he said, returning to his launcher. *This will shape battles,* I thought, picturing heroes like the Flash pinned by high gravity or attacks deflected by the pulse. It was the perfect tool to control chaos, complementing the neural nanites' mental clarity.

"Lyra," I called, my voice sharp, stowing the Generator and vials in my belt, the Genetic Tank hidden in the compartment. "Take that cylinder to the lab. Animo needs to start now. Test that sphere with the drones," I handed her the Generator, keeping up the facade. "And scan the portal gun. I want to know what it accesses—dimensions, planets, or something bigger."

Lyra nodded, taking the Generator with an appraising look. "Trackers on the gun are disabled, but I caught a residual signal. Could be ship interference. The cylinder…" She paused, eyeing the compartment. "Advanced genetic tech. Animo's gonna flip." Her mention of Dr. Animo, in the lab, underscored his utility.

"Call him," I replied, standing, my armor creaking. "And tell Tira to tighten external sensors. The League might be tracking." The thought of Batman, with his sharp mind, or Superman, with his brute strength, catching up twisted my gut but also sparked a challenge. *Let them come. I'm one step from the apex.*

Krag, in the corner, hefted the launcher, a savage grin on his face. "If the League shows, boss, we fight or jump to hyperspace?" His Czarnian eyes gleamed, his scar shining under the deck's blue light.

"We fight until I'm ready," I said, walking to the portal gun's case. I lifted the device, its purple core pulsing in my hand, a mystery promising power. "The cylinder is the priority. With it, and the ally I'll find on Galvan Prime's moon, we'll be invincible." I glanced at the vials on my belt, their red glow concealed. "No one will stop us."

The deck shuddered, engines roaring as the ship held orbit. I ordered the Genetic Tank moved to the lab, and Lyra oversaw it, connecting power cables. The cylinder hummed to life, its green circuits illuminating the lab like veins of a living machine. Dr. Animo was already there, his gray hair disheveled, glasses askew, a deranged smile on his face as he examined the tank. "A masterpiece!" he exclaimed, his fingers dancing over the panels, calibrating systems with feverish precision. "Galvan tech, mixed with something… older. I can work miracles with this, Vilgax!" He opened a compartment, revealing an inner chamber for genetic samples. "Give me the material, and you'll be more than a conqueror—you'll be a god!"

I nodded, keeping the DNA vials hidden in my belt, but approached, handing over the old vial under the guise of "looted material." "Prep the tank for this DNA," I ordered, my voice firm. "It's the key to my transformation." Animo took the vial, his eyes gleaming with controlled madness, and began configuring it, slotting the vial into the tank. The system hummed, green lights flashing as he adjusted the internal nanites. "This genetic code… it's magnificent," he muttered, almost to himself, manipulating controls with a dexterity that betrayed his genius. "Chimera Sui Generis, but elevated. An evolutionary apex. I need the rest—where is it?"

"Soon," I replied, the second vial secure in my belt. *You'll get what you need, doctor, on my terms.* I touched the tank's surface, cold and smooth, picturing myself inside, Future DNA flowing, armor discarded, external modules removed, except my laser vision, cutting like an eternal blade. *The future starts here,* I thought, but I knew a flaw in the tank could ruin everything. Animo, with his unstable genius, was the key to success.

"Test the sphere now," I ordered, pointing to a drone. Lyra attached the Generator, and the drone floated, activating high-gravity mode. A stack of crates collapsed on the deck, metal groaning under the amplified weight. "It works," Lyra said, noting it on the console. "Want it field-ready?"

"Prep it for combat," I replied, my mind split between the tank, the gun, and Galvan Prime's moon. "If the League comes, I want targets pinned." I took the portal gun, turning it over, its purple core glowing like a living eye. *What do you open?* I wondered, picturing portals to rich worlds, enemy bases, or the ally awaiting on Galvan Prime. But the tank came first.

The communicator beeped, Tira's voice cutting through the deck's noise. "Boss, signal 50,000 kilometers out, closing fast. Small ship, unidentified." Her caution was palpable, the voice of a mercenary who knew danger.

"Trackers," I muttered, fist clenched, the DNA vials clinking in my belt. "Or the League." I looked at Lyra. "Genetic Tank is top priority. Animo, speed up prep. And ready the hyperspace jump—next stop, Galvan Prime's moon." The Galvan tech hub was my next target, where an ally awaited—someone whose mind or power would cement my dominion.

Lyra nodded, rushing to the lab, while Krag laughed, his launcher ready. "Galvan Prime, huh? Hope this ally's as crazy as the doc," he said, his voice thick with excitement. Animo, still at the tank, chuckled softly, tweaking controls, the old DNA vial glowing in the chamber. "Divine, Vilgax. You'll be divine," he muttered, his eyes gleaming with madness. Czarnians barked orders, crates stacked, drones escorting. The haul—portal gun, tech, Genetic Tank—was secure, and the ship, a fortress in the vacuum, was my domain. I sat at the command, the DNA vials on my belt, their red glow pulsing like a warning. My laser vision sparked in my eyes, a reminder of my unbreakable essence. "To Galvan Prime's moon," I announced, my voice echoing across the deck, the crew silent, ready. "There, I'll find an ally to shape the future. The universe will be ours." The ship roared, engines spooling for the hyperspace jump, Galvan Prime ahead, where my next step awaited. Vilgax 10,000 was within reach, and nothing—not Batman's mind, not the League's strength—would stop me.

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I ALWAYS COME BACK

Guys, I want to talk about something important, I really think that Vilgax from the future is very, very powerful, since he was made to be a "caunter" All the aliens from Ben 10000, so I will take this speech into consideration as true, what if we think that this good is the same one that already has so many aliens, he can have a vast archetype that helps him This includes beings stronger than him like the giant and faster like xrl8, so I will take into account a good genetic load to deal with a lot of things, so don't be surprised if he "is super-cool" He won't win with the punch with the super or anything like that, just that he will have more chances now since he can use what would theoretically be used against the giant against Superman. and as many of these caunters have never been shown, I have free thought to imagine them.

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