Ben 10 - Ultimate Series

The Rust Bucket was traveling through the bustling streets of San Francisco, with the noise of traffic and the coming and going of people all around. Inside the vehicle, Ben was sitting in the back seat, spinning the dial of the Omnitrix while Gwen looked out the window and Max adjusted the GPS.

"Grandpa, I think I'm finally getting the hang of these new transformations!" Ben said excitedly, looking at the watch. "Tentakill is done. Now I'm gonna test the others!"

"Tentakill?" Gwen arched an eyebrow. "What a horrible name. Sounds like something a B-movie villain would use."

"Ben, be careful with those transformations," Max said from the driver's seat, his tone calm but firm. "After what happened with The Big Tick, I installed the Null Void Projector in the trailer as a precaution. It's a powerful weapon, and we can't risk an accident that triggers it here in the middle of the city."

Gwen looked over her grimoire, a teasing smile on her lips. "Yeah, Ben. Grandpa's right. Try not to blow up the trailer again. The last renovation was already expensive."

Ben, who was about to test a new form, looked up, offended. "Me?! You were the one who blew up the trailer! With that crazy electric spell of yours that ricocheted off everything!" he retorted, pointing to a still-visible scorch mark near the window. "If it weren't for Upgrade fixing your mess, we'd still be stuck in the middle of nowhere!"

"That was a calculated accident to test the limits of my mana!" Gwen defended herself, her face blushing. "At least I don't turn into a four-armed monster to open a jar of pickles!"

"Hey, that jar was stuck! And you know what? I'm tired of arguing!"

Before anyone could protest, he spun the Omnitrix dial and pressed the button. In a flash of green light, his human form disappeared, giving way to a new alien. His body became slender and yellowish, his eyes grew in size, and six thin, long arms emerged.

He looked at himself in the window's reflection and moved his arms uncoordinatedly. "Wow, this transformation is bizarre. But I feel... different. Like, I can feel things I couldn't before."

"What kind of things?" Max asked, looking in the rearview mirror.

Ben tilted his head, as if listening to something. He moved closer to the window and looked at the ground, where a group of ants was working diligently.

"I can... understand them," Ben explained, focused.

"And what are they thinking?" Gwen asked, crossing her arms.

"They don't have complex thoughts, Gwen. It's more like... an instinct. They just want to work for the colony," Ben replied. "It's like I can feel what they're going to do before they even do it."

As he spoke, Ben extended one of his six arms out the window and caught a passing butterfly, holding it delicately. He watched it for a moment before commenting, "Hey, this butterfly... it's thinking about... flowers. And... wow, it's hungry!"

"Ben, are you reading a butterfly's mind now?" Gwen asked, already expecting the worst.

"It's not mind-reading, Gwen, it's more like... understanding its intentions," Ben explained, looking at the butterfly. "And you know what? It looks... delicious."

"Ben, no!" Gwen shouted, horrified.

Too late. Ben opened his mouth and swallowed the butterfly whole.

"BEN!" Gwen screamed, rolling her eyes. "That was completely disgusting! Grandpa is infecting you with this 'expand your palate' stuff! You can't just eat a butterfly!"

"Why not?" Ben replied, wiping his mouth with one of his arms. "She deserved it."

"Deserved what?!" Gwen asked, exasperated.

"She was too appetizing and got too close!" Ben replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Gwen looked at Max, expecting support. He just shrugged.

"Well, at least he's connecting with nature," Max commented, holding back a laugh.

"Connecting with nature? He ate a butterfly!" Gwen exclaimed, indignant.

"I think I'll call this guy... Mind Muncher!" he announced, proud of the pun. "Because he 'munches' minds and... well, also munches butterflies."

Gwen crossed her arms and sighed. "That's even worse. You could use this transformation for something useful, like... I don't know, understanding people and developing empathy? How can you eat something when you can read its mind?"

Mind Muncher grimaced. "I get enough of my mom's hippie nonsense, Gwen. Besides, that butterfly deserved it."

Gwen was about to retort, but something outside caught Mind Muncher's attention.

"Hey, look there! It's the video game store! And they're having the early launch of Sumo Slammers 2.1 - Kenko's Fury!" His six arms began to gesture frantically. "Grandpa, please, can we stop? I'm begging you! I'll do anything!"

Mind Muncher then began to contort and make exaggerated poses, mimicking the ridiculous movements of the Big One's servants. Gwen couldn't hold back her laughter.

"Is this bootlicking genetic?" Gwen asked, laughing.

Mind Muncher ignored her and continued to plead, looking at Max with puppy-dog—or insect—eyes.

Max finally sighed. "Alright, Ben. We'll stop at the store. But just for a little while, okay?"

"Yes!" Mind Muncher celebrated. "Sumo Slammers 2.1 - Kenko's Fury, here I come!"

Gwen just shook her head, once again reminded that no matter how many transformations Ben had, he would always be the same hyperactive, idiotic, and ever-present kid.

After a while, the three were in front of the store. Ben was raving about the new Sumo Slammers 2.1 - Kenko's Fury.

"Grandpa, have you seen the reviews for this game? They say it's the best Sumo Slammers ever!" Ben said, jumping with excitement as he looked at the store window. "You can customize characters during the match!"

"Don't you already have all the other games in the series?" Gwen asked, crossing her arms and looking at Ben with a skeptical expression. "How many versions of Sumo Slammers do you need, exactly?"

"Gwen, you don't understand! Sumo Slammers 2.1 - Kenko's Fury isn't just another game!" Ben replied, gesturing excitedly. "It's like... the definitive evolution of the franchise! This time, you can create your own fighter and compete with people from all over the world!"

"Wow, exciting," Gwen responded sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "And here I thought you'd already played enough Sumo Slammers to last a lifetime."

"Oh, come on, Gwen! You're just jealous because you don't get how awesome this is!" Ben shot back, ignoring his cousin's mocking tone.

"I'm not jealous, Ben. I just think you could spend your time on more useful things, like... studying, maybe?" Gwen teased, a small smile on her face.

"Studying? Seriously? Says you, who spends hours reading your magic book and can't even get a single spell to work right!" Ben replied, grimacing.

"At least I'm not obsessed with little fighting games!" Gwen retorted, raising her voice.

"Oh, yeah? And who was it that got obsessed with that spellbook that made the Rust Bucket fly upside down? Oh, wait, that was you!" Ben said, pointing at Gwen with a victorious smile.

Gwen opened her mouth to respond, but Max intervened before the argument could escalate further.

"That's enough, you two!" Max said, raising his hands to calm the cousins. "Ben, you'll buy your game, and Gwen, you'll come with me to the bookstore. And no more fighting, understood?"

Ben and Gwen exchanged disdainful glances but ended up agreeing in silence. Max took out his wallet and handed fifty dollars to Ben.

"Here, this should be enough for the game. When you're done, meet us back at the Rust Bucket, alright?" Max said, with a serious look.

"Got it, Grandpa!" Ben replied, holding the money with a grin from ear to ear.

"Let's go, Gwen," Max said, starting to walk towards the bookstore.

Gwen gave Ben one last furious look before following Max, muttering something inaudible. Ben just laughed and waved, now completely focused on the line to buy the game.

As he waited, Ben couldn't stop thinking about all the epic battles he would have in Sumo Slammers All Stars. He couldn't wait to test out the online mode and show everyone who the real champion was.

"Finally, my turn!" Ben said excitedly when he reached the cashier. He handed over the money and took the game, holding it as if it were a treasure.

Gwen and Max were leaving the bookstore carrying a few new books, but they had barely taken a few steps when a thunderous noise caught their attention. They turned around quickly and saw a huge alien with four muscular arms throwing a motorcycle against the video game store's window. People around were running in panic, screaming and trying to get away from the danger.

"Wait... is that a Tetramand?" Gwen asked, confused, as she watched the alien. He looked a lot like Four Arms, Ben's classic transformation, but something about him was... different.

"Looks like it," Max replied, frowning. "But what would a Tetramand be doing attacking a video game store? Gwen, call Ben, I'll move the civilians away!"

"Right away!" Gwen said, looking around at the panicking civilians.

Max nodded in agreement and ran towards the crowd, trying to calm people down and guide them away from the danger. Meanwhile, Gwen took out her communicator and called Ben, who was in the Rust Bucket.

In the Rust Bucket, Ben was completely immersed in Sumo Slammers All Stars 2. He shouted with excitement as he mashed the controller buttons, completely oblivious to the outside world. The communicator rang repeatedly, but he didn't even hear it.

"Come on, come on, COME ON! I'm gonna win this!" Ben shouted, jumping on the couch as his character in the game delivered a final blow.

Meanwhile, at the video game store, the Tetramand grabbed a copy of Sumo Slammers 2.1 from the shelf and ran out, smashing everything in his path. He passed by Gwen, who was trying to call Ben, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. The alien smiled strangely before disappearing into a side street.

"Ben, answer the communicator, you idiot!" Gwen grumbled, frustrated, before running to help Max with the civilians.

Sometime later, Gwen and Max returned to the Rust Bucket. As they entered, they found Ben still glued to the TV screen, completely absorbed in the game.

"Ben!" Gwen called, but he didn't even move.

"Wait, wait, just one more minute! I'm in the middle of an online match!" Ben replied, without taking his eyes off the screen.

Gwen had no patience. She walked over to the console and, with a swift movement, turned off the video game.

"HEY! I was in the middle of a match!" Ben complained, jumping off the couch and looking at Gwen with indignation.

"You think I care? The video game store was attacked by a Tetramand, Ben! A four-armed alien was there destroying everything!" Gwen replied, crossing her arms.

"A Tetramand? Like... a Four Arms?" Ben asked, confused. "But I haven't transformed today!"

"Exactly! It wasn't you. It was another Tetramand, and he stole a copy of Sumo Slammers All Stars!" Gwen explained, exasperated.

"Wait, he stole the game? But why?" Ben asked, even more confused.

"How should I know, Ben? Maybe he's a video game fan too!" Gwen replied sarcastically.

While the cousins were arguing, Max was in the back of the Rust Bucket, talking on the communicator with Phil.

"Phil, do you have any information on a Tetramand on Earth? He attacked a video game store here in San Francisco," Max asked, with a serious expression.

"From what I know, no Tetramand escaped during Vilgax's attack," Phil replied from the other end of the line. "And without the space station operational, it's hard to monitor any ship entering Earth's atmosphere. And the Tetramands from UnderTown are all clean."

"Understood. What about current reports? Anything that can help us?" Max asked, holding the communicator firmly.

"Unfortunately, there are hundreds of reports and cases, Max. Most of the agents are overwhelmed. But if I find out anything, I'll let you know immediately," Phil replied.

Max nodded, even though he knew Phil couldn't see him. "Thanks, Phil. Keep in touch."

He hung up the communicator and turned his attention back to Ben and Gwen, who were still arguing.

"Ben, Gwen, enough fighting," Max said, in a firm tone. "We need to find out what this Tetramand is doing here and why he's stealing video games."

"I think he just wants to play Sumo Slammers before everyone else," Ben joked, but Max didn't fall for it.

"This is no joke, Ben. If there's an alien attacking civilians, we need to deal with it before the situation gets out of control," Max said, looking at the two of them.

Gwen agreed with a nod, while Ben sighed and finally turned off the video game.

"Alright, Grandpa. Let's go hunt this Tetramand. But if he's playing Sumo Slammers, I challenge him to a match!" Ben said, with a mischievous smile.

Gwen rolled her eyes but couldn't help a slight smile.

–

The three Tennysons returned to the video game store, but the scene they found was completely different from before. The area was surrounded by yellow caution tape, and FBI agents kept the onlookers at a distance. Several patrol cars were parked around, and a white tent had been set up on the site.

"Looks like the FBI got here first," Gwen commented, observing the activity around the store.

"Let's take a look," Max said, leading the group towards the side of the location, where some agents seemed to be controlling access.

As they approached, one of the agents recognized Max and waved for the others to let them through.

"Mr. Tennyson, this way," the agent said, lifting the tape so the three could pass.

Max led the way, going around the side of the store until they reached a tent set up in the parking lot. Several agents were analyzing evidence, and in the center of it all was Steel. He wore a black uniform with the intergalactic peace symbol on his chest, and to Ben's surprise, his arm looked brand new.

"Steel!" Max greeted, extending his hand for a firm handshake. "It's been a while."

"Max, good to see you," Steel replied, with a brief smile. "And you, Ben, Gwen. How are you?"

"We're fine," Gwen replied, while Ben stared directly at Steel's arm.

Ben, completely shocked, looked directly at Steel's arm. "Wow, Steel, your arm is brand new!" He pointed, unable to look away. "Did Grandpa already know about this?"

"I knew he was recovering, but I didn't expect to see him so soon," Max explained, looking at Steel with a concerned expression. "After being held captive by Vilgax, you should be on leave, Steel."

"Leave? With all the chaos going on? I don't have time to stand around," Steel replied, in a firm tone. "We barely have 20 agents per state. Someone needs to keep things under control."

Max nodded, understanding Steel's determination. "So, what do you know about the Tetramand?"

Steel sighed and crossed his arms. "We're waiting for a Vulpimancer to track him. We lost the trail after a block, and none of our technology could detect him again. We're trying our luck with the scent."

Ben didn't waste any time. He smiled and held up the Omnitrix. "You don't have to wait anymore. I'll take care of it!"

Before anyone could react, Ben spun the Omnitrix and transformed into Wildmutt. He sniffed the air for a few seconds before barking and taking off, following the Tetramand's trail.

"Ben, wait!" Max shouted, but it was too late. Wildmutt was already disappearing on the horizon.

"That idiot never thinks before he acts!" Gwen complained, putting her hands on her hips. "He could at least wait to hear the plan!"

"Let's go after him," Max said. "Steel, are you coming with us?"

"Of course," Steel replied, following the group. "Let's go. We can't let him face a Tetramand alone."

Gwen sighed but followed Max and Steel as they ran after Wildmutt. Meanwhile, Ben, in his Wildmutt form, followed the Tetramand's trail with determination, sniffing every detail of the path.

"This scent is strong... and familiar," Wildmutt thought, as he moved through alleys and narrow streets. "But why would a Tetramand be stealing a video game?"

As he ran, the others tried to keep up, but Wildmutt was too fast. Gwen, already out of breath, stopped for a moment to breathe.

"I swear I'm going to kill him when we find him!" Gwen said, panting.

Max smiled, trying to calm her down. "He's just trying to help, Gwen. But I agree he could be a little more... careful."

–

Wildmutt ran through the narrow streets, his snout sniffing the air for the Tetramand's trail. He followed the trail for several blocks until he reached a dead-end alley. Strangely, the scent had disappeared, but in its place, a vaguely familiar stench hung in the air, mixed with the aroma of the Tetramand.

Growling in frustration, Wildmutt didn't give up. He looked to the sides and, without hesitation, jumped onto a nearby fence, quickly climbing the side of a building. Using his sharp claws, he agilely scaled the walls until he reached the top. His keen sense of smell picked up the trail again, guiding him to a building. He didn't know exactly what it was, but it looked like a factory.

Listening intently, Wildmutt heard metallic sounds echoing through the building—coins clinking against metal surfaces. He growled softly, concluding: he had found the Mint.

Following the intense scent, Wildmutt snuck through the structure, his senses picking up something beyond the ordinary. He 'saw' through smell and hearing a large insect attacking the guards inside the building. Without hesitation, he advanced at top speed and leaped onto the intruder, sinking his fangs into the creature's wing.

The insect roared in pain as it fell to the ground, struggling. Wildmutt wasted no time and threw it away with a powerful blow. To his surprise, the creature began to laugh.

"Ah, so you came too. I figured you'd show up after I saw Gwen."

Wildmutt growled in alarm, his fangs bared. Before he could react, the insect glowed and changed shape, shrinking until it transformed... into a human child.

"I wanted to finish you off after making a withdrawal straight from the source." The boy laughed, arrogantly crossing his arms.

Wildmutt lowered his head, sniffing. Something was wrong. That smell...

"Kevin?!" Wildmutt thought, surprised, but unable to speak in his current form.

Kevin stood up, rubbing the arm where Wildmutt had knocked him down. "Surprised, mutt? I knew you'd be here. After all, you always show up where you're not wanted."

Wildmutt growled again, baring his teeth, but Kevin just laughed.

"Oh, you must be wondering how I did that, huh?" Kevin said, holding up his wrist to reveal a strange device, similar to the Omnitrix but darker and with red details, featuring a K instead of the intergalactic peace symbol. "You're not the only one with a fancy watch now. Meet the Antitrix."

Wildmutt froze for a moment, sensing something familiar in Kevin's device. It was like the Omnitrix, but at the same time... different. He couldn't fully understand it, but he knew it was bad news.

Kevin gave a malicious smile before pressing the Antitrix, unleashing a dark glow that enveloped his body. When the light faded, his form had changed drastically. His body was now composed of a dense, polished mineral, of a deep purple-black hue that reflected the dim light around with a sinister gleam.

Kevin flexed his fists, a cracking sound resonating as his crystals adjusted. He then looked at Wildmutt with a cruel smile.

"Time for payback, Ben." His voice echoed dense and reverberating, as if from the depths of a deep cave. He raised his fists, ready for combat.

"You can call me Obsidian."

Wildmutt growled low, his instincts on high alert as he circled Obsidian. The Petrosapien moved with confidence, swinging his fists covered in sharp blades. Wildmutt knew that a direct confrontation wasn't the best option, so he bet on his speed and agility.

With a sudden leap, Wildmutt charged at Obsidian, aiming his sharp claws at the crystals covering his arms. The impact was strong enough to crack some parts of the crystalline structure, making Kevin retreat with a grunt of irritation.

"Tsk, so you can break a bit of this? Impressive, but not enough!"

Obsidian roared, annoyed, and threw a punch with all his might. Wildmutt jumped back at the last second, making the crystal fist collide with a pile of metal barrels, sending sparks flying and echoing a deafening sound through the factory.

Wildmutt began to back away, while Crystalfist laughed, convinced his opponent was retreating. "Is that all? I expected more from the mutt!" he taunted, advancing with heavy steps.

The chase stretched through the factory, with Wildmutt jumping over metal structures and squeezing through tight spaces. Obsidian, determined, broke everything in his path. Wildmutt jumped onto a set of catwalks and stopped, looking down, where Crystalfist had stepped directly under a tank of molten metal.

In a swift motion, Wildmutt struck a rusty support, causing the tank to tilt and pour the scorching metal over Obsidian. The liquid glowed orange as it engulfed him, and he let out a cry of surprise. But soon, a laugh echoed.

"Seriously, Ben? You think that could stop me?" Obsidian emerged from the puddle of solidified metal unharmed, his crystalline body shining even brighter under the reddish light. "I think you forgot that crystal doesn't melt so easily."

Without wasting time, Obsidian advanced again, launching crystals towards Wildmutt. The Vulpimancer dodged narrowly, rolling back and grabbing a nearby fire extinguisher. With an agile movement, he threw the cylinder at Obsidian.

Obsidian laughed, raising an arm and splitting the extinguisher in half with a crystal blade. However, as soon as the metal ruptured, a dense cloud of vapor and chemicals spread through the environment. The gas obstructed his vision, and Wildmutt took the opportunity to grab a large piece of twisted metal from the ground and deliver a direct blow against Obsidian.

The impact made Obsidian retreat, but it also infuriated him. "Enough! I'm ending you now!"

Still blinded by the smoke, Obsidian began to spin and attack blindly, launching sharp crystal shards in all directions. His destructive force toppled piles of boxes and broke pipes, releasing even more steam into the factory. As the cloud of chemicals finally began to dissipate, Obsidian realized that Wildmutt wasn't just standing there—he was in control of a forklift, his growl echoing in defiance.

Obsidian laughed, preparing to counterattack, but as he tried to advance, he realized something was wrong. The molten metal that had been poured on him earlier had now cooled and hardened, trapping his legs to the ground. His smile vanished. "Wait... what?!"

Wildmutt wasted no time. He accelerated the forklift and charged at Crystalfist, who couldn't move in time. The impact launched him like a rag doll through the factory, sending him crashing through a series of structures before he slammed into a steel wall with a deafening crash.

Wildmutt growled in satisfaction, watching the debris fall over Crystalfist, who was buried for a moment. But before he could celebrate, a red glow emerged from under the rubble.

The sound of melting metal filled the air as an intense wave of heat began to spread from the debris. Wildmutt growled, catching the pungent smell of sulfur and fire even before seeing the figure emerging from the flames. Crystalfist's crystalline form had disappeared, giving way to a silhouette surrounded by an aura of incandescent embers.

Kevin's new form, a modified Pyronite, had a rocky body of a burnt olive-green, covering his torso and lower legs, while his flaming arms remained exposed, pulsing with fiery energy. His eyes glowed intensely, reflecting the savagery and arrogance of his wielder.

His head, of a volcanic brown, was adorned with prominent tusks and four spikes that rose in the center like a flaming mohawk, supported by a dome of unstable and furious fire. Kevin's hands and legs were encased in hardened red crusts, giving them the appearance of fingerless gloves and natural kneepads. His hands, now with five fully formed fingers, cracked as he flexed his muscles, releasing sparks into the air.

Kevin flashed a predatory smile, his voice reverberating with the distortion of heat.

"Now, this is going to be interesting." He raised his flaming fists, ready for combat.

"Allow me to introduce Hot Shot."

Wildmutt jumped to the side, narrowly dodging the fire. He started running, evading the jets of fire that Kevin launched in his direction. The mint was turning into an inferno, with machines melting and fires spreading everywhere.

It was at that moment that Gwen, Max, and Steel finally arrived at the scene. They stopped abruptly upon seeing the chaotic scene.

"First a Tetramand, now a Pyronite? What is going on here?!" Gwen shouted, confused, as she tried to understand the situation.

"Whatever it is, we need to stop him!" Max replied, already drawing his weapon. Steel, at his side, adjusted his mechanical arm, preparing for combat.

Steel, without hesitation, raised his pulse cannon and fired at the creature. The shots hit the Pyronite, throwing it back with each impact, its flames flickering with each hit.

Without hesitation, Max and Steel began firing at Kevin, who was thrown away by the impacts. He grunted in pain but quickly recovered, unleashing a jet of fire towards the two, who began to fly on their Jetpacks, dodging.

Wildmutt noticed the reinforcements arriving and ran towards them, but before he could join the group, the Omnitrix beeped red. With a flash of light, Wildmutt disappeared, bringing Ben back to his human form.

Gwen ran to him, helping him up. "Ben! Are you okay? What was that?"

Ben looked ahead, seeing the Pyronite trying to recover. "Kevin."

Gwen frowned. "What?"

Ben wiped the dust from his face. "Somehow, Kevin got his own Omnitrix... and now he's attacking us."

"Kevin?!" Gwen asked, confused. "How did he get that? And why is he doing this?"

"I don't know, but we need to stop him before he destroys everything!" Ben said, looking at the chaos around them.

Gwen looked back at the Pyronite, surprised and confused. Before she could ask any more questions, the enemy raised his arms, firing jets of fire in her direction. Gwen quickly raised her hands and conjured a shimmering blue mana barrier, containing the flames.

Ben looked at the ground and pulled out his Hoverboard. "Gwen, get on!"

Gwen didn't hesitate. She jumped on behind Ben, holding onto him as he accelerated. Meanwhile, Max and Steel advanced with their armor and jetpacks, trying to flank the Pyronite.

"Position Alpha 2!" Max shouted, giving the command.

Steel nodded, flying forward and activating a device on his arm. A translucent force field emerged, projecting a barrier as he continued to advance.

He advanced towards Kevin, protecting himself from the flames while Max went around the side, grabbing a fire extinguisher.

"Take this!" Max shouted, throwing the extinguisher towards Kevin.

The extinguisher exploded on contact with the flames, releasing a cloud of anti-fire chemicals. Max took the opportunity to fire a freeze grenade, which hit Kevin directly.

The Pyronite screamed as ice began to cover his body, extinguishing his flames. Kevin fell to his knees as the ice from the cryo-grenade spread over his flaming body, putting out his flames and restricting his movements. His magma body, once incandescent, was now covered by a layer of ice that crackled and snapped with thermal shock. He growled, trying to get up, but his strength was compromised.

Max and Steel wasted no time.

Steel fired first, activating his jetpack's thrusters and charging like a missile. His fist collided with Hot Shot's face, making a brutal crack as the Pyronite's flaming head was thrown to the side, leaving a trail of sparks and cooled magma fragments in the air.

Max took advantage of the opening and advanced from the side, drawing a concussion rifle and firing directly at the alien's chest. The impact lifted Kevin off the ground and threw him against a concrete wall, cracking it on impact.

"He's still conscious," Steel growled, seeing Hot Shot squirming in the debris. "Let's finish this quickly."

The Pyronite grunted and tried to reignite his flames, but the cryogenics still slowed his power. His hands trembled, trying to gather enough heat to attack, but Max was already on him.

"No tricks!" Max advanced with force and delivered a violent kick to the alien's stomach, which doubled over in pain as a dry sound echoed through the place.

Hot Shot let out a roar of fury and tried to lift one of his arms, but Steel acted first. The armored soldier extended his arm and activated a plasma blade, cutting through the air and hitting the side of the Pyronite's torso, generating an intense glow as the heat of the blade met the cooled magma skin.

Kevin roared in pain and staggered back, spitting sparks. His thermal regeneration began to react, but it was slow. Too slow.

Max drew an electric baton, activating a high-voltage discharge at the end. Without hesitation, he plunged the baton into Hot Shot's chest, releasing a devastating electric current.

ZAP!

The Pyronite screamed as bluish lightning coursed through his body, his flames flickering uncontrollably. He writhed, the heat from his body dissipating more and more, until he finally fell to his knees, panting.

Steel advanced and grabbed him by the flaming skull, lifting him into the air.

"End of the line," he growled.

But then, the Antitrix began to glow.

Even injured, Kevin let out a hoarse, distorted laugh, spitting sparks.

"Argh! You'll pay for this!" Kevin shouted.

The Antitrix glowed intensely as Kevin gritted his teeth, his form changing amidst a wave of energy. His body elongated, his skin taking on a metallic green hue, while plates of an aerodynamic armor formed over his torso, shoulders, forearms, and tail.

Now transformed into Rush, Kevin rose with a sudden impulse, cracking the ground beneath his feet. He tilted his body slightly forward, a growing hum filling the air as his acceleration increased dramatically.

"You think you can stop me?" Kevin said, his voice echoing, as a helmet formed around his head. "I'll be back, and next time, you won't be so lucky!"

Before anyone could react, Kevin shot off at high speed, disappearing in a cloud of dust and smoke. Ben, Gwen, Max, and Steel stood still, looking at the trail he left behind.

"He got away..." Ben said, frustrated, as he got off the hoverboard.

"But at least he's gone, for now," Gwen replied, looking around at the chaos Kevin had caused. "What do we do now?"

Max sighed, looking at the Antitrix that Kevin had used. "We need to find out how he got it and stop him before he causes more damage."

Steel agreed with a nod. "And we need to prepare. If he's using a device like the Omnitrix, it means he has access to alien powers. We can't underestimate him."

Ben looked at the Omnitrix on his wrist, with a serious expression. He knew this battle was far from over, and that Kevin had become a much greater threat than any of them could have imagined.

"Let's go back to the Rust Bucket," Ben said, determined. "We need to plan our next move."

—

Inside the Rust Bucket, the environment was illuminated by bluish and greenish tones emanating from the various holographic monitors scattered throughout the space. In the center, a holographic screen floated above the control table, displaying the figure of Phil, who was broadcasting the latest information through the communicator.

"Some records of committed crimes match the initial 10 species of the Omnitrix, or at least, variations of them," Phil was saying, adjusting the data on the screen to display a list of recent incidents. "We have reports of a criminal capable of passing through walls invading security systems, a rocky individual destroying a warehouse, a flaming being setting a refinery on fire... and of course, we have images of Kevin."

The projection changed to display Kevin in one of his new forms: Obsidian, devastating an industrial building, his crystalline hands piercing the structure with ease. The next scene showed Hot Shot, a flaming figure incinerating a security group. Ben crossed his arms, his gaze narrowing.

"So how did he get his own Omnitrix?" Gwen asked, frowning.

Ben looked away, his mind going back to the moment Kevin attacked him. "I... I think I know. When I let my guard down, he used his power to absorb the watch."

Max, who was standing by the table, frowned and crossed his arms. "That explains a lot."

Ben looked at the Omnitrix on his wrist and grimaced. "But... I never imagined it was made of flesh."

Max frowned, explaining, "Some species use organic technology, Ben. It's not common, not even among the Galvans, but knowing Azmuth's genius, it's not surprising that he created something like this."

Steel, who was sitting beside them, snorted. "It doesn't matter how it happened. What matters is that we have to find this kid and..."

Before the conversation could continue, Phil interrupted. "I think I just found him." He typed something on the panel and another footage appeared on the screen. In it, Kevin, now as a Galvanic Mechamorph, was connected to an electric trolley, as he took control of the vehicle and sped through the streets.

"Where was this recorded?" Max asked, becoming alert.

"Two kilometers south of your current location," Phil replied. "If you're fast, you can still catch him before he causes more damage."

Max nodded, looking at Ben. "Ben, are you ready?"

Ben already had the Omnitrix activated, spinning the dial with precision. "Always," he said confidently, before slapping the watch. A green flash exploded, revealing Buzzshock in his place.

Small, electric, and with a mischievous grin, Buzzshock floated in the air with energy vibrating around him. "I'll take a shortcut through the power lines. I'll get there before he even thinks of running!"

Max nodded firmly, but his tone was still one of caution. "Go carefully, Ben. And don't underestimate Kevin."

Buzzshock let out an electric chuckle before shooting off in a luminous blast, passing through the Rust Bucket's bodywork and diving straight into a nearby overhead wiring. With a sharp buzz and a greenish flash, he disappeared into the city's power grid.

The lines above the poles vibrated with energy, as the Omnitrix's flash traveled through the cables like a living lightning bolt. Inside the electric current, silhouettes of multiple Buzzshocks formed, zig-zagging through the wires, laughing as if they were in an amusement park.

With a violent crackle, several clones jumped out of the wires and landed on top of a building, sparking and shaking electricity from their bodies. "WOOOOOOO! THAT WAS AWESOME!" one of them shouted, jumping for joy as sparks crackled at his feet.

From above, the original Buzzshock spotted the runaway trolley moving along the tracks. The wheels screeched and sparks flew from the machinery, controlled by a dark energy. Inside, Kevin—fused to the system as a Galvanic Mechamorph—was steering the vehicle.

The Buzzshocks looked at each other, electric with excitement. "IT'S HIM! IT'S HIM!" one shouted. "LET'S SHORT-CIRCUIT THIS FREELOADER!" another yelled.

Without wasting time, the clones launched forward, jumping from cable to cable like small energy missiles. Kevin, still connected to the trolley's systems, felt the energy spike coming his way.

But it was too late.

KABOOOM!! The trolley's roof exploded in a burst of green electricity.

"SURPRISE, LIVE WIRE!" a Buzzshock yelled, digging his claws directly into the console fused to Kevin's chest.

ZZZZZZAAAAAP!! The discharge ran through Kevin's circuits, making his limbs vibrate as if they were rubber bands about to snap.

"AAAAAGH! GET OFF, YOU SPARKY WORMS!" Kevin roared, trying to absorb the energy, but it was useless. The Buzzshocks were everywhere, overloading every circuit, every inch of the system.

"Kevin, time to give back the toy!" one taunted. "Or we'll rip you out of there by force!" another added.

Kevin screamed, his metallic body trembling until he disconnected from the panel. He was thrown back, spraying sparks as he returned to normal. The trolley began to lose control.

Half of the Buzzshocks chased Kevin like a swarm of crazed bees, while the other half dived into the trolley's controls.

"ARGH, WHAT A MESS!" 

"GET TO WORK, SHOCK-BROS!"

The clones took strategic positions in the electrical systems, rearranging the circuits with impossible speed. The trolley began to slow down and stabilize.

Kevin rose with effort, panting, his eyes wide as he saw the green Omnitrix symbols glowing on the sparking chests of the small electric demons surrounding him.

"Ben..." he growled, between anger and disbelief. "You again. You always show up to ruin everything!"

"Missed me, Kev!" one of the Buzzshocks taunted, doing an electric little jump. "Enjoyed our welcome shock?"

Kevin spat out the metallic taste of blood and leaned on his knee, staring at them with a tired but burning gaze.

"...Finally... I can talk to you."

One of the Buzzshocks blinked, curious.

"Last time... it was that weird dog of yours. Couldn't even exchange a word."

"Kevin..." said another Buzzshock, his voice laced with confusion. "Why? Why are you doing this?"

Kevin let out a dry, bitter laugh.

"Revenge, Ben. Just that."

"Revenge?" repeated one of the clones, narrowing his eyes. "Revenge for what?"

Kevin straightened up, staggering, and the Antitrix on his wrist glowed a deep red. He took a deep breath, as if even explaining hurt.

"Last time, when we fought... I absorbed too much energy from that damn watch of yours. Now... I don't know how, I can access almost all of your crazy aliens. But I can't turn into that idiot ghost... and I also lost my original form. It's like... like I'm stuck between versions of myself."

He clenched his fists, anger vibrating in every word.

"I can only hold a form for a short time. And every time I turn back to normal... my body screams. It's killing me slowly. But I keep using your powers. I commit the crime... and you pay the price. I cause chaos... and you lose your hero reputation."

Kevin took a few staggering steps, his gaze dark.

"And then this organization came... they tracked my signals, hunted my trails as if I were an out-of-control weapon. Maybe I am. And guess what? They're coming after you too, Ben. It's just a matter of time."

The Buzzshocks looked at each other, tense. One of them replied firmly:

"They're the Plumbers, Kevin. And now... I work with them."

Kevin stopped. His body went still, and for the first time, his gaze faltered.

"You... what?"

"That's right. I'm one of them now. And they already know about you."

A heavy silence spread. Kevin seemed to be processing more than he wanted to.

Another Buzzshock floated forward.

"They don't want to destroy you, Kev. They want to help you. I wanted to help you."

One of the clones frowned, thoughtful.

"Wait... is he talking about the Forever Knights?"

"What? No, he's talking about the Plumbers!" another retorted.

"And why not both?" a third suggested.

"Oh, shut up, you guys are getting in the way!" the last one complained, with a bossy air.

All the clones then turned to Kevin and, as if sharing a single thought, said in unison:

"Kevin... we wanted to help you. We all did. But you chose to attack us."

Kevin gritted his teeth, his eyes welling with anger and frustration.

"And I don't care!"

The Antitrix on Kevin's wrist glowed blood-red. His body twisted, breaking and reassembling into something different.

With a metallic roar, Kevin now displayed a grotesque, yellow form of Stinkfly, with acidic wings, radioactive orange eyes, and stingers like poison blades.

"WOW! Turned into a lemon-fly!" laughed one Buzzshock. "Looks like spoiled juice!" another shouted.

Kevin flapped his wings, releasing a deafening sound. Dust and debris flew.

"ENOUGH JOKES!" he roared. "I'M GOING TO TOAST YOU!"

"I doubt it!" said a Buzzshock. "We're boredom-proof..."

Before Kevin had time to attack, the Buzzshocks launched like lightning, circling and firing electric bursts from all directions. Kevin tried to fly, but was closely followed.

"RUN, KEVIN!" 

"BUT IT'S NO USE, WE ALWAYS CATCH UP!"

Kevin flapped his wings hard, fleeing the swarm. In the distance, he saw the ocean approaching.

"Going for a swim now?" a Buzzshock taunted. "With those wet little wings? You'll sink like a stone!"

But Kevin didn't answer. With one last push, he dived into the sea.

"Who said I was going to fly?" he provoked.

The Antitrix glowed again—this time, a dark and deep glow. Kevin emerged transformed into a mutant version of Ripjaws, with black scales, fins like blades, and predator eyes.

"See you later, little sponges!" he shouted before disappearing into the waters.

The Buzzshocks stopped in mid-air, frustrated.

"OH, NO! HE GOT AWAY!" 

"NOW WHAT? WE CAN'T SWIM!"

The original Buzzshock sighed, crossing his little arms. "Next time. But he won't escape us again."

At that moment, the Rust Bucket appeared in the distance. Max, Gwen, and Steel jumped out of the vehicle upon seeing the Buzzshocks floating over the sea.

"Ben, what happened?" Gwen asked, looking at the still-sparking clones.

"Kevin got away," one of them answered. "Turned into a mutant Ripjaws and dived into the ocean," the original added.

Max looked at the water with concern. "He's getting more and more unpredictable... We need to act soon."

Steel adjusted his mechanical arm, firmly. "Let's go back and draw up a new plan. He won't be gone forever."

The clones nodded and, in an electric flash, merged back into a single Buzzshock. Floating to the Rust Bucket, Ben entered through the window and, with a touch of the Omnitrix, returned to his human form.

Inside the Rust Bucket. Ben was sitting on the bench, impatiently tapping his fingers on the table while looking at the hologram of Steel and Max, who were reporting on the city-wide search. Night had already fallen, and the city lights shone in the distance, but the sense of urgency only grew.

"So, nothing? No sign of him?" Ben asked, impatient. "He can't have just disappeared!"

Max, who was leading one of the search teams, sighed and looked at Ben through the hologram. "Ben, we've covered the entire city. If he were still here, we would have found him by now. He's probably not in the city anymore."

Steel, who appeared next to Max in the hologram, agreed with a nod. "We checked all possible locations. The power plant, the transportation systems, abandoned buildings... Nothing. He must have fled."

Before anyone could continue the conversation, the city lights began to flicker. Headlights, traffic lights, and even the building lights failed, creating a chaotic effect. Gwen looked out the window, worried.

"What's happening? This looks like a widespread blackout!" Gwen said, as Steel checked the data on his device.

"It's coming from the power plant," Steel replied, with a serious expression. "But we already checked there. No sign of Kevin."

"So how is he doing it?" Ben asked, getting up from his chair. "He can't be in two places at once!"

At that moment, Phill appeared on a communicator next to the hologram of Max and Steel. "Someone has hacked our communication lines. We're experiencing interference..."

Another holographic screen opened next to Phill, displaying a bizarre and grotesque figure. It was Kevin... but not as before. Now, he had assumed a hybrid form of Greymatter, only much larger, the size of an adult human.

Ben's eyes widened. "KEVIN?!"

The creature on the other side smiled, exposing its sharp teeth. Its voice, laden with a metallic tone, echoed through the communication channel.

"There you are, Ben. It's been a while... But I know you won't run from this."

"Kevin, what are you—" Ben began, but was cut off.

"Let's end this," Kevin said coldly. "1-on-1. You and me. Golden Gate Bridge. Now."

Ben looked at Kevin's image, with anger and determination. "You're on, Kevin. I'm going to defeat you!"

And then, the transmission was cut.

There was a moment of silence inside the Rust Bucket. Only the sounds of failing systems could be heard, along with the distant sound of alarms going off across the city.

Phill sighed and returned to the screen. "Kevin has spread repeaters all over the city. They're overloading the electrical infrastructure, messing up systems, and even causing internet problems. He's toying with the whole city."

"How many repeaters?" Max asked, with a serious expression.

"We don't know the exact number," Phill replied. "But they're scattered all over the city." Max looked at Steel and the other teams on the communicator.

"Split up and go after those repeaters. We need to restore the systems as quickly as possible."

The teams nodded and began to move, while Max turned to Ben. "Ben, you handle Kevin. We'll deal with the repeaters."

Ben smiled, a glint of determination in his eyes. "You got it!" he said, as he began to spin the Omnitrix dial. "It's hero time!!"

—

The night was dark, but the Golden Gate Bridge shone under the city lights, reflecting on the dark waters below. In the center of the bridge, Kevin, in his mutant Tetramand form. The two ends of the bridge were blocked by enormous crystals he had created, isolating the area for the confrontation. He looked up, with a malicious smile, as the silhouette of Stinkfly hovered in the air above him.

"Finally decided to show up, Ben?" Kevin shouted, with an echoing laugh. "Or did you just come to lose again?"

Stinkfly, with his translucent wings glowing under the moonlight, replied with a sarcastic voice: "Oh, Kevin. You really think you can beat me with that ugly face? I think you need a new hobby."

Kevin growled, irritated by the taunt. "Enough talk, Ben! Time to end this!"

He jumped with force, using his four muscular arms to propel himself towards Stinkfly. Ben, however, was fast. He dodged with an agile movement, flapping his wings to gain altitude.

"Wow, Kevin, really impressive." Stinkfly's voice echoed through the air, laden with sarcasm. "But does this form fly? Doesn't look like it!"

Kevin growled as he realized he was falling back to the bridge—and before he could react, he felt a sharp sting in his back.

"AGH!" Kevin roared, feeling Stinkfly's stinger dig deep into his muscular skin before being abruptly withdrawn, leaving a trail of throbbing pain.

And it didn't stop there.

Before Kevin could react, Stinkfly fired a wave of sticky goo, hitting Kevin in mid-air and making him lose his balance. The substance instantly stuck, hardening and messing up his aerial balance.

"Oh, yeah, I guess not," Stinkfly laughed.

Kevin tried to stabilize himself, but the extra weight made him lose control completely. His arms flailed in the air, but there was nothing he could do to prevent the inevitable.

He fell like a meteor, hitting the bridge's ground with a thunderous impact.

The asphalt exploded into smithereens, and a smoking crater formed around him.

Kevin grunted in pain, trying to get up—but as he moved his arms, he realized that Stinkfly's goo had spread over his body, gluing him to the ground.

"Oops, looks like someone got stuck," Stinkfly taunted, hovering in the air as he watched Kevin struggle uselessly against the sticky goo covering him.

Kevin growled, gritting his teeth. "When I get out of this, I'm gonna—"

PLASH!

Another blast of goo hit his face, silencing him completely.

Stinkfly cackled. "Sorry, what was that? I didn't catch it."

Kevin tried to spit out the goo, but before he could even move a muscle, Stinkfly continued to bombard him, firing a barrage of goo all over his body. His arms became completely immobilized, his legs stuck to the ground, and soon his entire body was sealed within a crust of sticky substance.

"Oh, man, this power is awesome," Stinkfly laughed, admiring his own work. "You look like a giant cocoon! I think I'll leave you like this for the rest of the night..."

Kevin grunted in anger, his body trembled, and then— the Antitrix glowed.

An intense wave of heat began to emanate from the goo, which began to melt rapidly. Stinkfly frowned, already knowing what was coming.

With an incandescent flash, Kevin transformed into a Pyronite. The flames exploded around him, vaporizing the last remnants of the sticky goo. Kevin rose slowly, his form now burning with flames. He faced Stinkfly with a sadistic smile, his eyes glowing like embers.

"Time for the furnace, Ben."

But Stinkfly didn't seem intimidated at all. He just laughed. "Cool, I was getting cold anyway."

Kevin, now in Pyronite form, wasted no time. A torrent of fiery flames erupted from his hands, illuminating the bridge with an intense orange glow as the fire fiercely advanced on Stinkfly.

"Burn! Burn!" Kevin snarled.

But Stinkfly was already on the move. With his wings vibrating, he dodged quickly, moving in an arc through the air, escaping the flaming inferno by inches.

"Seriously, Kevin? Are you a bit cross-eyed?" Stinkfly taunted, spinning in the air before firing a blast of bright green goo at Kevin.

The substance hit the Pyronite's chest squarely—but, to his surprise, there was an unexpected reaction. The goo instantly combusted, triggering a sudden explosion that threw Kevin backward. The impact didn't injure him, but it made him stumble and slide several meters across the bridge, opening up more cracks in the asphalt.

Kevin grunted irritably, recovering and looking up. That's when he noticed. A rain of goo was falling from the sky. Stinkfly was flying directly above him, firing dozens of sticky projectiles that fell like a chemical storm.

"Seriously?!" Kevin roared, furious.

His eyes glowed with anger, and without hesitation, he expanded his flames in a massive explosion, creating a wave of fire that engulfed the surrounding area. The goo reacted instantly.

BOOM!

The fire came into contact with the viscous projectiles and detonated everything at once, creating a sequence of explosions around Kevin. A dense curtain of black smoke rose into the air, completely obscuring the vision of both combatants.

Kevin took a step forward, trying to see through the thick fog. That's when he heard it. Something fell heavily behind him. He frowned and looked down—but before he could react, a wave of ice began to rise rapidly up his body, covering his legs and rising to his chest in a matter of seconds.

"What?!" He struggled, but the icy crust held him completely in place.

The smoke still covered everything around—until, from within it, Stinkfly emerged at high speed. Kevin barely had time to react before he felt Stinkfly's sharp stinger pierce his shoulder, the impact throwing him away, causing him to hit one of the bridge's pillars.

Kevin fell to his knees, feeling the pain pulse through his body. He tried to get up, but before he could even think of reigniting his flames—

ZAP!

A freezing ray hit his body. The ice spread even further, suffocating any chance of Kevin re-igniting.

The smoke began to slowly dissipate, revealing the source of the attack. Gwen, holding a cryo-gun with a bluish glow, approached with a serious expression. At her side, Stinkfly landed gracefully, his wings vibrating slightly as he looked at her.

Gwen wasted no time—she pressed the Omnitrix symbol on Stinkfly's face, and in a green flash, Ben returned to his human form.

Ben smiled arrogantly, crossing his arms as he looked at Kevin, still motionless in the ice. "Seriously, Kevin? You thought I'd come alone?" He laughed. "We're a team, man. You never stood a chance."

Kevin growled, trying to move, but the ice held his Pyronite form firmly. Ben took a step forward, picking up an ice gun that Gwen had left for him. He aimed it directly at Kevin, a playful glint in his eyes.

"And you know what else? You barely know how to use the aliens right."

Kevin's eyes widened for a second before Ben pulled the trigger.

BZZT!

The shot hit Kevin directly in the chest, and at the same moment, the Antitrix began to glow violently. Kevin's body trembled before, in a red flash, returning to his human form. Now, trapped in ice and without his powers, Kevin stared at Ben with pure hatred in his eyes.

Ben just spun the gun on his finger, smiling. "Good game, Kevin."

Kevin growled, twisting his body violently in an attempt to break free from the ice that trapped him. His muscles trembled with the effort, but the cold was relentless, keeping him immobilized. He stopped for a second, panting heavily, before looking with fury at the Antitrix on his wrist.

"This piece of crap doesn't work right!" He shouted, slamming his fist against the device.

Ben arched an eyebrow, crossing his arms as he smiled sideways. "If it's anything like the Omnitrix, it must be in recharge mode," he said, in a taunting tone. "Looks like you'll have to wait a bit, Kev."

Kevin, however, didn't seem to hear anything but his own anger. He looked at the Antitrix, his eyes glowing an intense red. "This is MY power, and I'll make it work!"

Gwen, ignoring Ben's sarcasm, quickly turned on her communicator. "Grandpa Max, we've managed to trap Kevin," she reported. "You can come get him."

Kevin continued to struggle, his red eyes glowing with frustration. His jaw was clenched, teeth gritted as he fought against the ice and his own limitations. But then, something changed. The glow in Kevin's eyes intensified, becoming fiercer, more chaotic. He stopped struggling, breathing heavily, as if feeling something deep within himself. The Antitrix began to glow irregularly, with cracks appearing on its surface. Slowly, the device began to break apart, releasing black fragments that started to spread over Kevin's body, seeping into his skin.

Ben and Gwen exchanged a look before taking a step back. "Oh, no..." Gwen murmured. "What's happening?"

The black fragments of the device began to spread over Kevin's body, like a virus merging with him, seeping into his skin. Ben swallowed hard, his eyes widening. "Bad news," he said softly, before continuing to back away.

Kevin leaned forward, panting, as his body began to expand. The first signs of the transformation were brutal. His body grew rapidly, becoming as tall as Four Arms. Then, another two arms emerged from his torso, thick and muscular—but not for long.

The upper arms were covered in sharp crystals, transforming into the cutting limbs of Diamondhead. Kevin arched his back as a long, agile tail, similar to XLR8's, grew from his spine, whipping through the air.

Cracks began to spread across his chest, and within them, alien eyes formed—ranging from large compound eyes like Stinkfly's, to small, intelligent eyes like Greymatter's. His lower arms began to change—his fingers elongating, growing sharp claws like a predator's.

The lower part of his body was taken over by thick, orange fur, identical to Wildmutt's, and when Kevin took a step forward, his feet cracked the asphalt with sharp claws. Translucent wings of Stinkfly grew abruptly from his back, extending and vibrating with destructive force.

But it didn't stop there. Pale tentacles of Ghostfreak sprouted from his spine, writhing in the air like living snakes. And then, the nanomachines of Upgrade began to cover them, reinforcing them with a biomechanical structure, making them even more lethal. The transformation reached its climax when Kevin's face began to burn—the flames devoured his skin, until his skull was revealed—a flaming skull, burning intensely like Heatblast's.

Kevin lifted his face to Ben and Gwen, his flames flickering with pure rage, before breaking into a cruel smile.

Ben took another step back, feeling a shiver run down his spine. "Okay. This is not good," he murmured.

Gwen quickly raised her cryo-gun and fired a freezing ray at Kevin. The jet of ice hit Kevin squarely, covering part of his body with a layer of ice. But Kevin completely ignored the impact, taking a step forward as if nothing had happened. One of his tentacles covered in nanotechnology moved forward quickly, grabbing the gun before Gwen could react. The gun began to merge with his body, the nanotechnology assimilating the material. Kevin pointed the newly absorbed gun at Gwen, trying to fire it back at her.

"Ben!" Gwen shouted, trying to dodge.

Ben touched the Omnitrix and spun the dial, transforming into Four Arms, before putting himself in front of Gwen—but it was in vain. The gun failed.

Kevin looked at his hand, gritting his teeth in anger when he realized he couldn't make the gun fire.

Four Arms laughed, crossing his arms. "You know, Kev, you can put as many aliens together as you want, but if you don't know how to use them right, you'll still be a loser."

Kevin growled, annoyed, before launching himself at Four Arms like a true battering ram, using XLR8's super speed. Before Four Arms could react, Kevin crashed into him with a devastating impact. Four Arms' massive body was thrown through the air like a mere toy, colliding with a row of sharp crystals on the bridge. Sharp fragments scattered through the environment as Four Arms' robust body sank among the crystals.

Before he could even get up, Kevin was on him. "Let's see how tough you really are, Ben!"

With a bestial roar, Kevin grabbed Four Arms by the shoulder with his lower arms and his tentacles, while his upper arms rose—and then, he began to deliver brutal punches. The first punch hit Four Arms in the face, making his skull echo with the impact. The second crushed his chest, forcing the air out of his lungs. The third made the crystals under him crack even more. Kevin didn't stop. He unleashed a barrage of blows, each one stronger than the last. Four Arms tried to block with his own arms, but Kevin was merciless, striking from different angles and dodging with superhuman precision, as if his alien mind was calculating every move.

"You know, Ben? This is fun!" Kevin snarled, a distorted and crazed smile on his flaming face.

He threw Four Arms against the ground with force, creating a crater on impact, before raising both fists for a final crushing blow.

That's when Gwen raised her hands, her eyes glowing with an intense magical gleam. Her palms glowed a bluish hue and charged with electrified energy, with sparks dancing around her fingers. She brought both hands forward and shouted the spell:

"Tempestas Fulminis!"

An explosion of electricity shot directly from Gwen's hands, cracking the air with a deafening roar. The lightning snaked through the space in a straight line, hitting Kevin squarely. He screamed in fury, his entire body trembling with electric spasms. The nanotechnological tentacles writhed uncontrollably, sparking as the electricity ran through his multiple mutations, hitting his alien nerves.

Taking advantage of the moment, Four Arms got up and ran to Gwen. He spat out some blood before asking:

"How is this hurting him?! Shouldn't he be able to absorb this?!"

Without taking her eyes off Kevin, who was still writhing, Gwen quickly explained:

"For the same reason you got fried when you turned into Upgrade or Four Arms! When he takes on the full form of an alien, he also takes on its weaknesses. And many aliens are vulnerable to electricity!"

Four Arms nodded, understanding the logic, before lifting Gwen and placing her on his shoulders. At the last moment, he dodged as Kevin, still stunned, charged at them at super speed—but went straight past, missing completely.

Surprised, Gwen looked at Ben. "How did you manage to react to his super speed?"

Four Arms smiled confidently. "Looks like he can't change direction after accelerating."

Growling in frustration, Kevin intensified his rage and charged forward, running normally. Four Arms wasted no time—he clapped his two massive palms together with force, generating a destructive sound wave. Gwen quickly muttered a new spell:

"Amplificatio Sonitus!"

The shockwave expanded violently, its impact amplified tenfold. The sound pressure hit Kevin squarely, causing his crystal-covered arms to begin to crack. He screamed, his red eyes glowing with fury and pain.

Without giving him room to recover, Four Arms advanced and began to punch him repeatedly, each blow heavier than the last. For a moment, it seemed like Ben was winning.

But Kevin roared, his muscles swelling, his strength growing uncontrollably. With a single brutal blow, he knocked Four Arms down, turning the tables. Now, it was Ben who was being dominated. Four Arms struggled to defend himself, but Kevin was simply stronger—a fusion of multiple aliens, each contributing to his brutality.

"NOW, GWEN!" Four Arms shouted.

Gwen raised her hands again, her eyes glowing.

"Fortis Fortitudo!" 

A golden halo enveloped Four Arms. His strength instantly doubled. Now, he was pushing Kevin back, blow for blow. He prepared for a decisive punch—but Kevin turned intangible at the last second. Four Arms lost his balance as he saw him disappear—and then reappear behind Gwen, advancing at super speed.

Gwen barely had time to react, but she quickly muttered another spell:

"Acceleratio Corporis!" 

Her body was enveloped in a silvery glow, allowing her to move at the last moment and escape Kevin's charge. Four Arms ran to Gwen, catching her in his arms before jumping away, but Kevin opened his wings and flew after them.

"Hey, Ben, can you fly?" Kevin taunted, hovering above.

Gwen raised her hands again.

"Fluctus Aquae!"

A stream of water shot at Kevin, drenching his wings. He tried to flap them, but the weight of the water prevented him from continuing to fly. He began to fall. Before he hit the ground, Gwen pressed the Omnitrix symbol on Four Arms' shoulder, turning him back into Ben.

Quickly, Ben spun the dial and slapped the watch, activating another transformation. A green light shone, and Cannonbolt emerged. He curled up, protecting Gwen inside him, and launched himself like a meteor towards the ground.

But when he hit the ground—Kevin wasn't there. He had used his intangibility to avoid the impact, landing softly. He shook his wings, now dry, and smiled cruelly.

"How many new forms do you still have, Ben?" he taunted. "Because they're all going to be mine when this is over."

Cannonbolt emerged from the crater, clapping one hand against the other.

"More than enough to crush you."

Meanwhile, Max and other P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. agents surrounded the area, preparing to intervene. Kevin laughed, ignoring them.

"I'll crush you first!" he roared, preparing to run at super speed towards Cannonbolt and Gwen.

Cannonbolt curled up again, protecting Gwen, and advanced. Just as the two were about to collide, a flash of light enveloped them—and both disappeared, leaving the place empty.

Max ran out of the Rust Bucket, shouting: "Where did they go? What happened?!"