A/N: And here, we have a new chapter for the rewrite series. And it'll include a certain villain I think we all know alongside Kenko this time. And one of Kenko's bigger servants will be voiced by, are you ready for this?, Cary Tagawa! Enjoy. :)
Ben 10 (2005) Rewrite
Chapter 9
"Game Over"
Act I
It all started one stormy night when Ben was playing a Sumo Slammer Video Game.
"Ugh, I'm so bored! Even your stupid video game sounds good.", Gwen groaned.
"Well, it is pretty interesting. Can I play?", Emily asked.
"And me, too?", Julie asked.
"Sorry. I already have a partner. Run! And Ishiyama; Slam!", Ben only responded before Ishiyama then slammed onto the drone in the screen.
"He's the coolest; kick! Sumo Slammer. Jump! A-ball! So, why would I want to play with you?", Ben asked.
"To prove you're afraid of getting your sumo butt kicked by a girl.", Gwen answered smirkingly before Ben paused the game and turned to Gwen.
"At least one of 'em's got your back.", Emily grinned to Ben.
"I guess I'm playing on your side, then.", Julie spoke to Gwen.
Later, Gwen and Julie now have a combined new top score of 83,255,890.
"Look at that. Our own top score.", Julie grinned.
"Oh, yeah! High score for the Gwen Warrior!", Gwen smirked.
"Oh, man! I thought we had you guys on that one.", Emily groaned jokingly.
"Beginner's luck. Now, watch a real Sumo Slammer Samurai.", Ben smirked before he only wound up knocked back by a trick Akeni trunk, which turned out to be Kenko.
"Get his butt kicked by Kenko the Shapeshifter? Careful, you only have two lives left.", Gwen teased.
"Uh, Gwen? I don't think you should push his buttons like that.", Emily warned uneasily just before Ben took Gwen's controller and made her character fall off the path and lose points.
"Ben, no fair!", Gwen exclaimed.
"Careful, you only have one life left!", Ben smirked mockingly.
"Guys, can't we just have fun without being so competitive?", Julie asked in slight worry.
"Hmm, let me think. No!", Ben and Gwen only responded in unison before Max shouted slightly.
"Guys, please! I'm trying to grab some shut-eye, here! Dave seems very lucky right about now.", Max spoke.
"Sorry, Grandpa.", Gwen apologized.
"Yeah. We'll try to keep it quiet.", Emily assured.
Then, Ben used his Omnitrix to turn into Upgrade and merge with the laptop, depleting Gwen's points to 0.
"Okay. That was a low blow.", Emily glared.
Of course, Gwen was twice as mad.
"Ben Tennyson, you are such a cheater! You're gonna get yours one of these days.", Gwen threatened as Max put another pillow on top of his head to block out the noise.
"Guys, stop! Don't you think you're being too competitive?", Emily asked.
Meanwhile, lightning struck the antennae, sending said surge toward the game console before it then blasted Gwen, Upgrade, Julie, and Emily before they all disappeared.
"Ahh, finally. A little peace and quiet...", Max sighed.
Act II
Before they knew it, Upgrade, Gwen (in the same getup as her character), Emily, who is now wearing a white tank top and black miniskirt with a belt and suspenders, not to mention red and black gloves that extend to her elbows, red boots, black socks, and a metal guard on her left elbow while her hair is longer all while Julie is in a pink suit with dark blue sleeves and socks, not to mention a tanto and a scabbard for it along with pink material made of cloth covering her arms, legs, and chest with each having life counters on them, except for Upgrade, that is, as Gwen only has one life left while Emily and Julie both have 3 lives left to start off.
"Whoa! What happened?", Upgrade puzzled.
"That big lightning flash must've zapped Upgrade and we wound up in the video game.", Gwen guessed.
"We're inside 'Sumo Slammers Smackdown'? Cool!", Ben spoke excitedly.
"I wouldn't be too sure about this, Ben.", Julie warned just as a ship arrived, aimed and fired out Robo-sumos one after another as they landed and got up.
"Robo-sumos? That is so level-1.", Upgrade commented.
"Maybe, but we can't be too careful.", Emily responded before one of the robo sumos raised its flags and charged toward Upgrade, who then melded with it, taking control and ramming every other robo sumo in sight, even destroying an old water tower.
Then, Julie noticed the robo sumo behind her.
"Gwen, look out!", Julie urged while drawing her tanto outward before slashing at said Robo Sumo behind her, causing the top part of it to slide down before the lower part collapsed.
"Thanks for the save, Julie.", Gwen thanked.
"You're welcome.", Julie responded.
Then, Gwen noticed another one coming as did Emily before they both leapt up, dodged the first attacking robot, kicked the second, third, and fourth back, and then leapt on top of the fifth robot before striking it and leaping away just in time for it to collapse while Upgrade managed to short circuit another Robo Sumo.
"This isn't a challenge. It's a slobberfest.", Upgrade commented.
"That's easy for you to say. You're Upgrade. You can practically control the game world here.", Emily retorted.
"Jealous?", Upgrade teased.
"Not really. In fact, I'm more concerned than jealous.", Emily responded.
Then, Upgrade managed to grab onto a robo-sumo and merged his hand onto it.
"Sayonara, suckers!", Upgrade smirked before turning said drone into a laser blaster, which fired a green laser that destroyed the rest of the robo-sumos before they vanished with 500 points each.
"Nice shot, Ben.", Julie grinned as she placed her tanto back in its scabbard.
"Oh, yeah! You've been sumo slammed! Ben's the best, forget the rest!", Upgrade grinned.
"Can't you try and not be so competitive?", Emily sighed.
"Since you control everything, how about getting us out of there before you...", Gwen began before Upgrade timed out and changed back to normal form, showing him to be a sort of warrior with a ponytail spiking up.
"Uh-oh.", Ben spoke in worry.
"You are such a dweeb! Now, what are we gonna do?", Gwen spoke angrily.
"We just hang out until the watch let's me go Upgrade again. No problem.", Ben assured before he turned the Omnitrix dial now on his left elbow, only for it to show no response.
"Okay. Maybe a little problem.", Ben responded.
"Wait. Let me try.", Emily suggested before she found the similar problem with her Omni-Enhancer.
"Aw, dang it! It's not working either.", Emily groaned.
"What happened to all the hero icons?", Gwen asked.
"My guess? They must've been converted into the game world like we are and scattered across it as power-ups.", Emily guessed.
"That's great! How long are we gonna last in here without Up...?", Gwen began.
"Calm down. If what Emily's saying is anything to go by and we're in the game as our own avatars, then we could use that to last as long as we can until we find that Upgrade Icon and get it so we can all go back.", Julie assured.
"Way to keep a level head, Julie. Besides, I've played this game like a million times. Nothing could surprise me.", Ben assured before he was then unexpectedly landed on by a robo-sumo, losing all his coins in the process.
"Ben!", Julie, Gwen, and Emily shouted before the coins then went up into the air and vanished.
Then, Ben reappeared at a different spot near the girls.
"Ugh. I definitely don't wanna do that again.", Ben groaned before the 2nd orb on his chest darkened to a dark gray color before Gwen and Emily looked toward the former's life counter near her left shoulder.
"Oh, no.", Emily spoke in worry.
"We're each down to our last life. Something tells me the next time we get blasted apart, it'll be for keeps.", Gwen spoke in worry.
"Well, good thing Julie and I both have 3 lives as it stands now.", Emily assured.
"Yeah. But we're going to have to be careful, though.", Julie added with caution.
Then, a bigger robo-sumo climbed up and glared at the four heroes.
"That must be the boss of the first level.", Emily guessed before said robot then tried to strike them, only to miss as they left, but not before Julie unsheathed her tanto and narrowly slashed at the arms and legs before cutting the drone down the middle, but only in the back.
"Not bad. But not good enough either.", Julie spoke as she ran.
Just as Julie caught up, though, she and the others quickly found themselves swarmed with lower-class robo-sumos with Gwen managing to kick one away with Ben only hitting another down with his elbow before getting abruptly pushed back by another before Julie then sliced the two robots cleanly in half.
"Thanks.", Ben thanked.
"Don't thank me yet. We still have to take care of them.", Julie responded.
"But there are too many. We need to find an...", Ben began before he noticed a sort of trunk at the top of the shack.
"Akeni Trunk!", Ben exclaimed before running up to the top of the shack while Gwen, Emily, and Julie each took out a robo-sumo and leapt up to where Ben is before Ben, Gwen, and Emily saw what was in the trunk, which were special coins.
"Dibs on the Samurai Sumo Sword!", Ben spoke eagerly before reaching for said coin and holding the Samurai Sumo Sword, leaping off with it, and using it to hack at the robo-sumos.
Then, Gwen reached for the coin and got a small piece of paper before Emily reached for the remaining coin and got a red bo staff.
"Whoa! A Sumo Bo Staff? Not bad. What about you, Julie?", Emily asked.
"I already have my tanto.", Julie spoke before leaping off.
"I thought so.", Emily responded before jumping off to join the fray as well.
Then, just as Ben defeated the lower-class robo-sumos and came face-to-face with the bigger robo-sumo, a snowflake-like shuriken suddenly swung by and sliced the hands off before it returned to its owner: Gwen. After that, Emily swung her bo staff and then whacked it on the head before Julie sliced the robot in half, earning a boss bonus of 100,000 points before Gwen, Emily, and Julie landed on the ground with the shuriken returning to Gwen.
"Whoa! How'd you learn how to do that?", Ben asked before the group hacked away at more robo-sumos as the conversation continued.
"I read the instructions.", Gwen responded before Ben slashed stars another robo-sumo.
"This game came with instructions?", Ben puzzled.
"You mean you didn't read them?", Julie puzzled before Emily spotted a certain area of interest.
"Guys, look! The dojo!", Emily shouted pointing to it before Gwen saw where she was going.
"That's right! We can use it to get to the next level!", Gwen realized before she, Ben, and Julie caught up with Emily.
"I knew that.", Ben fibbed a bit in response.
Then, the group advanced to the dojo before the ring went up, causing the robo-sumos to fall down the hole on the floor. It was then that they approached the 2nd level with a midair dojo surrounded by airships.
"So, what's the plan now?", Julie asked before aerial robo-sumos appeared and blasted a fireball at the group only for them to dodge it.
"Keep moving and stay alive, duh.", Ben responded before he and the others leapt up toward a ledge in the air.
"In case you haven't noticed, it's definitely more of a goal than a plan.", Emily responded before the robo-sumos closed in on the group only for one of the robots to get slashed before the rest chased after the four heroes.
As they ran, they eventually came across an Akeni Trunk on another ledge.
"There!", Emily shouted she and Ben leapt off for the Akeni Trunk with the latter slashing at it to show two hero icons, one in green showing Four Arms and the other in blue showing Wildrose.
"Hey. That looks like Four Arms.", Ben spoke.
"Yeah. And Wildrose, too. I wonder if...", Emily began before getting an idea to jump for her icon and collecting it through her Omni-Enhancer while Ben does the same for his Omnitrix.
Then, while Ben dials up Four Arms, Emily dials up Wildrose before both pressed their devices down and transformed. While Four Arms now has shoulder pads on his shoulders and a samurai hat on top with the symbol on it, Wildrose has a silver helmet with three spikes on it, along with spikes silver pads on her shoulders and legs, retractable fist claws, and a cape.
"Oh, yeah! That's what I'm talking about. Four Arms of fun!", Four Arms grinned.
"Whoa. That armor isn't half bad.", Wildrose grinned.
Just then, a sumo warrior named Ishiyama landed near Four Arms and Wildrose with the former looking in awe.
"Wait. Is that...?", Wildrose puzzled.
"Ishiyama...!", Four Arms spoke in surprise.
"How do you know my name, strange creature?", Ishiyama asked.
"Well, he heard about you. Matter of fact, we both have.", Wildrose eagerly responded.
"Yeah. I'm your biggest fan. I know all your stats! You weigh 527 pounds; you have a 7-strength rating, 9-intelligence, 8-agility!", Four Arms added.
"Enough! Are you two or are you two not shapeshifters?", Ishiyama asked.
"Sure, I-I guess you could say that.", Four Arms responded.
"Me, too. But only by technicality.", Wildrose added.
"Then, while one of you is your possible duplicate, only one of you could be my archenemy, Kenko!", Ishiyama responded.
"This is bad.", Wildrose spoke after gulping nervously.
"Sumo...smash!", Ishiyama shouted as he gave a powerful stomp before the ledge gave way with both Four Arms and Wildrose falling.
"No! WAAAAAAIIIIIIIT!", Four Arms shouted as he and Wildrose fell.
Act III
They fell before Wildrose managed to grab Four Arms and stretch her arms toward a different ledge.
"Alley-oop!", Wildrose exclaimed as she launched herself and Four Arms up to the ledge before Ishiyama followed and landed on the other side, launching them upward.
"Wait! We don't want to fight you!", Four Arms exclaimed.
"You cannot trick me, Kenko! I will not rest until you are defeated as is my sworn task!", Ishiyama only responded.
Then, Wildrose grabbed onto the robot above and slashed it down before Wildrose and Four Arms fell as the latter grabbed the two halves and landed before Four Arms tossed them halves aside.
"But we're not Kenko! I'm Emily and he's Ben! We're heroes!", Wildrose urged.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you.", Ishiyama only responded before he then leapt up and then did a smash with his arm before Four Arms did a thunderclap to stop it from reaching him only to knock Ishiyama back.
"No!", Wildrose shouted before stretching her arms toward Ishiyama to stop him from going any further back before moving her arms back.
"It's true! I own every Sumo Slammer's comic book, doubles of every trading card! I even eat your cruddy cereal!", Four Arms shouted.
"I don't think he understands any of that, Ben.", Emily responded.
"I shall not be confused by your double talk!", Ishiyama responded before leaping up to smash the upper ledge, causing it to collapse toward Four Arms and Wildrose, who managed to grab the former and stretch herself away from the falling debris.
"Okay. If words won't work, then maybe our actions will.", Wildrose spoke as she set Four Arms down before going up toward the ledge where Gwen and Julie are just as the girls saw Four Arms and Wildrose.
"Four Arms?", Gwen puzzled.
"And Wildrose?", Julie puzzled.
"Guys, look out! Robots at your 3 o'clock!", Wildrose shouted before they turned to notice a horde of them on the air before they fired fireballs at Gwen and Julie only to miss.
Then, Wildrose stepped in and then leapt up to slash the robot in half with her fist claws.
"Sorry, robo-sumos. But you're not getting anywhere near my friends or Ishiyama.", Wildrose shouted before then slashing another into pieces as Ishiyama noticed before Wildrose then hit more robots with her fists with the claws retracted as Gwen and Julie hit and slashed at the robo-sumos.
"I had no idea your duplicate was such an honorable, magnificent warrior, for a shapeshifter.", Ishiyama spoke.
"She's no duplicate, she's a good friend. She has a habit of helping me whenever I needed it, even at times I didn't. Same goes for Julie. And even my goofy cousin. That goes to show what a great friend she is.", Four Arms responded.
Then, the trio landed on the ground.
"Back off! They're with us!", Gwen urged.
"And we're here to help.", Julie added.
"You see? Like that.", Four Arms responded.
"So, you are, indeed, related to this...creature?", Ishiyama asked.
"Please don't remind me. I'm Gwen.", Gwen greeted.
"And I'm Julie. You've already met Ben and Emily.", Julie added as she out her tanto back in its scabbard.
"I am Ishiyama.", Ishiyama greeted with a bow before turning to Wildrose.
"In spite of your shapeshifter heritage, you fight like a champion, Warrior Emily.", Ishiyama spoke.
"Uh, thanks?", Wildrose blushed before more robo-sumos arrived.
"Looks like we got more aerial robo-sumos.", Julie stated.
"That's nothing. I'll show you a real champion.", Four Arms smirked before running up, clinging onto a robo-sumo with a jump, and riding it like a horse, also ramming one of the robo-sumos back.
"Yeee-haw! Ride 'em, cowboy!", Four Arms whooped before the Omnitrix suddenly started beeping and flashing before timing out with a red flash, changing Ben back to normal.
"Probably shoulda seen that one coming.", Ben spoke fearfully before the robo-sumo then started trying to shake Ben off, flying past Gwen, Wildrose, and Julie.
"Hang on, Ben!", Julie shouted before she and the others each hitched a ride on each robo-sumo.
Then, they both leapt and/or swung from robot to robot to get closer to Ben, who's still hanging on as best as he could.
"I gotta read those instructions.", Ben spoke worriedly.
Then, Ishiyama leapt up from the ground and caught hold of the robo-sumo Ben was clinging onto before he fell down.
"Ben!", Wildrose shouted before taking hold of Gwen and Julie with one hand and leaping off with her other hand holding onto the robot as it stretched while protruding from it with her retractable fist claw.
Ben was screaming as he fell until he was caught by Wildrose before she landed with the others just as Ishiyama did before apparently shrinking slightly.
"Phew. That was close.", Wildrose sighed before pressing the dial on her chest and changing back to normal in a dark blue flash.
"Your skills are impressive.", Ishiyama grinned.
"Thanks. Coming from you, that's quite a...", Ben began before Ishiyama interrupted, holding up his hand for a moment.
"Not you, jester! Warrior Emily.", Ishiyama spoke.
"What? Me?", Emily puzzled.
"Oh, man!", Ben reacted in disbelief.
"Uh, thanks? I guess.", Emily blushed.
"So, what do you think, Ben? Think you can dial up Upgrade and get us out of here?", Julie asked.
Then, Ben only checked them dial to see Four Arms is the only available alien.
"I can't. Only the Four Arms icon was inside that Akeni Trunk.", Ben responded.
"Yeah. I'm out of luck, too.", Emily responded as she found she was in no position either.
"Upgrade could be hidden anywhere on any of the other levels.", Ben responded.
Then, Gwen got out a map that stated otherwise.
"Not anywhere. Looks like it's on level 13 in the arena.", Gwen stated.
"Level 13? Isn't that the final level?", Emily asked.
"We'll never make it all that way! Unless... you know any cheat code that could get us there quicker?", Ben asked.
"A sumo never cheats! However, I do know a shortcut. But the journey will be treacherous.", Ishiyama responded.
"Guess we don't have any choice. Thank you very much.", Gwen glared.
"Guys, look. Playing the blame game isn't going to help us get out of here.", Emily urged.
"And your competition isn't helping matters, either. So, for once, can we please just work together so we can get out of here?", Julie asked.
"All right. We'll cooperate. For now.", Ben sighed while glaring to Gwen.
Later, the group were walking across the dojo.
"From what land do you hail, Warrior Emily?", Ishiyama asked.
"Well, it's a bit difficult to explain.", Emily responded as Ben looked around before noticing something new.
"Whoa! I've never seen this part of the game before.", Ben grinned before walking forward, not knowing that two mysterious brings, one with long claws, blue skin, and orange, glowing eyes and another with red spike-like colorings on his black skin and a red circle on top of a bright orange star were watching nearby.
Then, as Ben caught up, he inadvertently set off a booby trap, which caused the walls ahead to close, urging Ishiyama to grow big before charging forward and then keep the walls open long enough for Ben, Gwen, Emily, and Julie to cross to the other side before Ishiyama pushed himself forward to catch up before shrinking down.
"Game? This is no game. The fate of the entire sumo world hangs in the balance!", Ishiyama urged.
"I know, I know. I read the back of the box.", Ben smirked.
"'The back of the box?'", Ishiyama puzzled before Ben eagerly nodded only for Emily to give a slight glare.
"And now, he's officially said too much.", Emily spoke before grabbing him by the ear and dragging him away.
"Hey!", Ben exclaimed before he was then shoved slightly.
"Didn't you figure it out yet? Ishiyama doesn't exactly know he's a program in a game. All of this is real to him.", Julie explained.
"And right now, what you could say about that would stretch his suspension of disbelief and not in a good way.", Emily added just as Ben noticed an Akeni Trunk in the air.
"An Akeni Trunk!", Ben spoke excitedly before getting closer, jumping up, and then striking it, causing it to drop a coin, which Gwen caught before she was given a bow and arrows.
"Thanks for the Sumo Bow.", Gwen grinned.
Then, suddenly, a wall opened up nearby.
"Looks like the way in opened for us.", Emily spoke as she and the others proceeded forward and saw a sort of trap as it showed a collection of coins with the Omnitrix symbol in a green light as well as another but in a blue light.
"Who needs it? We just hit the Omnitrix jackpot.", Ben grinned.
"Yeah. And there's another one in blue, too. But why?", Emily puzzled before Ben ran ahead eagerly.
"Ben, wait!", Julie shouted as Emily gasped.
"Careful! One may be a trap!", Ishiyama warned a bit too late before the coin turned into a laser blast, which then hit Ishiyama, zapping him before Ishiyama then reappeared, now down to 2 lives.
"You just had to get impatient, didn't you?", Emily glared.
"What? I can't help it.", Ben retorted.
"It matters not. My life is nothing in the quest to stop Kenko.", Ishiyama responded before proceeding forward.
"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of. Just like I'm also afraid of...(gulp) setting off a trap.", Emily spoke in worry.
Then, she cautiously grabbed the icon, only instead of a red laser blast, it was a green one, which then went inside her Omni-Enhancer, which then showed the silhouette of Lunawolf.
"Phew. That's a relief.", Emily sighed.
Later, she, Ben, Gwen, Julie, and Ishiyama arrived at the dojo.
"Well, it looks like we're here. So, what's the plan?", Julie asked.
"The chamber of the kappa will grant access to the level of your choosing, but only if you solve their riddle.", Ishiyama replied before the statue spoke.
"The key names your weapon, but only by sight. When uttered as vow, a gesture polite.", the statue spoke.
"What did you suppose it means?", Gwen asked.
"Beats me.", Ben responded.
"Well, I think I might have an idea.", Emily guessed just as Ben saw a Cannonbolt Icon nearby.
"But I know what that means. Bet old Cannonbolt will impress Ishiyama.", Ben smirked.
Then, suddenly, a column morphed into a villainous, blue dragon, which then spun around Gwen, Emily, Julie, and Ishiyama, constricting them like a snake while Ben managed to jump up and avoid the tail.
"Let 'em go, Kenko!", Ben shouted.
"You are in no position to bargain, boy!", a malicious, techno voice spoke up before the source showed himself to be a sort of Galvanic Mechamorph in a red color.
"Whoa! An evil Upgrade?", Ben puzzled.
"What? Is that a mechamorph I'm looking at?", Emily puzzled.
"And here I was searching for the Omnitrix only to wind up inside this world and find out that all I need is a simple little Upgrade Icon.", the Mechamorph spoke.
"What? How'd he know that?", Emily puzzled.
"Tell us about this Upgrade Icon, boy, or your friends will pay with their lives!", Kenko threatened.
"Tell him nothing!", Ishiyama urged.
"No need. I already know myself. This icon is from another world, much like those pests who dared to interfere, and it holds the key to attaining the power to control every aspect of this world or the next.", the evil Mechamorph responded.
"Oh, boy. 'Evil speech of evil' time.", Ben groaned.
"Evil? No... Visionary! I feel power building inside me. I see the world that only I can create. It was Azmuth who thought me flawed. He gave me the name 'Malware'.", Malware spoke.
"What? You know Azmuth?", Emily puzzled.
"Who's Azmuth?", Julie puzzled.
"When all this is over, I'll tell you.", Emily responded.
"But I am not the flawed one. It is all the rest of my kind that are inferior. They bend and stretch, mimic and manipulate only what others have created. I do not upgrade others' creations, they upgrade me! And I will upgrade myself with Azmuth's greatest creation.", Malware declared before Ben looked at the Omnitrix.
"Dude, I can't even begin to tell you how much none of that is gonna happen.", Ben retorted.
"Be careful, Ben!", Julie shouted next.
"Julie's right, Ben! We can't let Kenko loose in the real world!", Gwen urged.
"Gwen! He wasn't supposed to know that!", Emily reprimanded slightly in pain.
"The real world? Yet another domain I will rule with an iron fist!", Kenko spoke.
"No way, but I'm gonna show you some real sumo slamming!", Ben retorted before he then went for the Cannonbolt Icon and then transformed into Cannonbolt.
"Cannonbolt style.", Cannonbolt added before rolling toward bouncing upward toward Kenko only for him to release them just in time for the group to jump, causing Cannonbolt to get stuck on the floor.
"Okay. Maybe that's a little too slammin'.", Cannonbolt admitted.
"Maybe. But let's see if this one's any better.", Emily spoke before activating her Omni-Enhancer and then growing claws on her hands and toes and a wolf tail as her skin then turns dark grey blue with her hair getting messier.
"Huh. I guess that works.", Lunawolf grinned.
"I will leave you to my henchmen while I find the upgrade icon.", Kenko spoke before taking his leave.
Then, as soon as said henchmen appeared from all sides, they landed beside the evil mechamorph.
"You cannot win. Even now, Kenko is searching for the Upgrade Icon. It'll only be a matter of time before he finds it for me and when he does, I shall corrupt your world, devour every molecule, until your world becomes the world of Malware! But first, I shall devour you!", Malware declared before the henchmen lunged forward.
"Warrior Gwen! Your Sumo Bow!", Ishiyama shouted before Gwen got out the arrows for her bow, aimed, and fired, destroying the henchmen as Lunawolf managed to blow some away with her ultrasonic howls, not to mention some swipes with her claws and her agile kicks and Ishiyama stepped on one of the henchmen before noticing a sort of big demon with impressive armory as he spoke to Ishiyama.
"I have heard of you, Sumo Warrior! I will relish crushing your proud skull.", the demon spoke before he and Ishiyama charged toward each other.
Meanwhile, Max woke up to notice that the game system is still on.
"Ben? Gwen? Emily? Julie? How many times have I told you guys to shut this thing off when you're done playing with it?", Max spoke in slight annoyance.
In the game, Gwen was about to use her bow when the game paused.
"What the...? What's going on?", Lunawolf puzzled.
"I can't move!", Gwen spoke.
"Yeah. Neither can I. What's happening?", Julie asked.
"Grandpa must be messing with the controls. If he turns it off now, he'll delete us along with the game!", Cannonbolt exclaimed.
"Oh, no!", Emily exclaimed.
"Indeed. And your luck is set to run its course. I have no intention of being deleted myself before I'm through with this world. Farewell.", the mechamorph smirked before laughing as he escaped just as Max was about to turn the console off.
"Grandpa!", Cannonbolt and Gwen shouted at the same time.
"No!", Lunawolf and Julie added.
"DON'T SHUT US OFF!", all four shouted in unison.
Act IV
"Grandpa!", Cannonbolt and Gwen shouted at the same time.
"No!", Lunawolf and Julie added.
"DON'T SHUT US OFF!", all four shouted in unison as lightning struck.
"Ben? Gwen? Is that you?", Max asked as he sat down before getting the headphones on.
"Oh, please tell me I'm on one of those hidden camera shows.", Max groaned.
"No. You're not.", Lunawolf responded.
"But you're not crazy, either.", Julie assured.
Later, Cannonbolt and the others had already explained the situation.
"So, now, we have this evil Mechamorph named Malware running loose with Kenko.", Lunawolf spoke.
"And we need to find the Upgrade Icon on Level 13 before Malware does so we can get out of this game.", Cannonbolt spoke.
"There must be some way I can help you guys. Oh, maybe if I push this...", Max began.
"No!", Cannonbolt, Lunawolf, Gwen, and Julie shouted.
"Uh, we mean just hit resume and don't touch anything else. And leave the rest to the game pros. And Ben.", Gwen added with a slight smirk.
"Oh. Hilarious.", Cannonbolt groaned.
"Okay. Here she goes.", Max spoke before the game resumed and Max then picked up the instruction booklet for "Sumo Slammer Smackdown".
"Ah, 'Sumo Slammer Smackdown'.", Max read aloud before opening the instructions and reading them.
Meanwhile, Cannonbolt rolled toward the henchmen like a bowling pin before Lunawolf turned to Gwen and Julie.
"Girls? You may want to cover your ears.", Lunawolf warned before they did so, allowing the wolf girl to paralyze the henchmen with her softer, but louder ultrasonic howl.
"Now!", Lunawolf shouted before Gwen managed to fire her arrows at some of them and Julie managed to slash at the rest with her tanto.
It was only after Julie put her tanto back in its scabbard that the remaining henchmen disappeared only to notice the bigger henchman walking towards Julie.
"You are no match for me, little one!", the henchman threatened.
"Why not pick on a Warrior your own size?", Ishiyama retorted just before he leapt up as his feet were glowing an orange-yellow energy and descended toward him, only for the 2nd-in-command to leap up toward him and wind up getting stomped by Ishiyama straight through the ground before Ishiyama bounced back up through the hole and landed on the ground near the hole before dusting his hands against each other as Cannonbolt was bouncing around.
"Ben, look out!", Julie shouted a bit too late before Cannonbolt accidentally pushed Ishiyama off the ground toward the hole.
Then, Ishiyama reappeared on the ground farther from the hole before he folded his arms with a scolding look.
"Heh. My bad.", Cannonbolt apologized.
"In spite of the circumstances, Ben, accidents happen. We just have to be more careful, especially with Kenko and Malware around.", Lunawolf responded before pressing the badge on her chest and reverting back to normal.
"We must still answer the Kappa's riddle if we are to continue our quest.", Ishiyama stated.
"Like I said. I might have an idea.", Emily spoke.
"How?", Julie asked.
"Remember the riddle?", Emily asked.
"Yeah. 'The key names your weapon, but only by sight. When uttered as vow, a gesture polite.'", Gwen responded as she and Emily stepped closer toward the statue.
"Exactly. And your weapon is a bow. But when uttered differently, what do you get?", Emily asked before Gwen realized where she was getting at.
"That's it! My weapon is a bow, but when uttered as 'vow', it becomes 'bow.'", Gwen responded before she and Emily bowed.
"Yep. You guessed it.", Emily grinned.
Then, all of a sudden, the statue's eyes glowed blue before firing blue energy beams from its eyes at Gwen and Emily. Upon contact, both girls moaned as their bodies each grew bigger and more plump to a size befitting a sumo warrior before the change stopped as the bright blue aura faded.
"Whoa. That felt weird.", Gwen commented.
"Yeah. I feel so huge. And bulgy. This is amazing!", Emily grinned before Cannonbolt and Julie stared inquisitively.
"What? I can like being this way, can't I?", Emily puzzled before blue sparks suddenly surged around her right arm up towards her hand.
"Whoa. Especially since I can do this, too now.", Emily grinned as she formed an energy ball in her hand.
"Yeah. Me, too, now that you mention it.", Gwen responded as she formed one as well before Emily looked at the statue and got an idea.
"That's it. If we can concentrate that energy and launch it toward the statue, it should clear the way for us through.", Emily spoke.
"So, what do we do?", Gwen asked.
"First, we'll move one leg back and concentrate that energy into the leg.", Emily spoke as she moved her left leg back with a calm sweeping motion before the energy gets charged in the leg as it sparks out most there as Gwen did the same.
"Like that?", Gwen asked.
"Yeah. And on the count of three, we thrust our legs forward and release the energy toward that statue.", Emily spoke.
"Got it.", Gwen agreed before Emily counted.
"Okay. 1..., 2..., 3!", Emily shouted before she and Gwen thrusted their legs forward and slashed the statue cleanly in half with an energy propulsion from their legs, revealing the dojo as Gwen and Emily looked on with visible amazement as they smiled.
"It worked.", Julie grinned.
"Level 13, here we come!", Emily grinned before she, Gwen, Julie, Cannonbolt, and Ishiyama hopped aboard the dojo as it went up before it ascended past the dojo and numerous de-powered ships in the air.
"Hey. I think I could get used to this.", Gwen grinned as she held her belly with her hands.
"Right?", Emily agreed.
"Oh, sure. When I bust something, it's all silent stares, but when they bust something, they're heroes. Uh, nothing against you, Emily.", Cannonbolt assured.
"Yeah. I get the hint.", Emily grinned before she and Gwen then reverted back to normal as they got closer to the arena before finally arriving there.
"The arena of Sumo Warriors!", Ishiyama grinned.
"And the site of your final defeat, Ishiyama.", Kenko added as he, disguised as a sort of golden mystical lion while crawling down with Malware riding on top of him.
"Bring it on, Kenko!", Cannonbolt spoke before rolling toward Kenko and Malware only to time out and reverting back to human form, landing on the stairs in the process.
"You know, for a watch, you have a lousy sense of timing.", Ben spoke to the Omnitrix.
"I beg to differ.", Malware retorted before then firing a blast from his arm only for Ben to dodge it with a flip back on the ring before drawing out the sword in battle with Gwen, Ishiyama, and Julie catching up.
"Ben! We'll handle Kenko and Malware!", Julie assured.
"Just find that Upgrade Icon!", Gwen urged.
"No way! I wanna prove to Ishiyama that I'm a hero, too!", Ben refused as he stepped forward, holding his sword in hand.
"You will! But you have to start thinking like a hero again instead of trying to impress a computer program!", Gwen urged before Ben looked back at Ishiyama and nodded determinedly.
"I'll go help look for it.", Emily added before she and Ben left to look for it as Malware and Kenko neared the trio, who jumped up just as Kenko did before Gwen fires her bows at Kenko, who only spun around and rolled toward them, knocking them toward the stairs before Kenko, now in his true form, and Malware landed in the ring before standing up and turning around just as Ben and Emily were looking for the Upgrade icon.
"No, no, no, no!", Ben spoke as he and Emily looked everywhere.
"Come on. Where is it?", Emily asked worriedly.
Meanwhile, Ishiyama lifted up a piece of debris from on top of them.
"Where'd he go?", Gwen asked.
"There!", Julie shouted, pointing toward Kenko, who is now in bird form, before he cawed and grabbed Ishiyama with his legs before tossing him toward one of the statues.
Then, Gwen tried to launch her arrows at Kenko only to miss before Kenko destroyed her bow, prompting her to get out the paper and fold it into a shuriken again before launching it toward Kenko, slicing off his feathers and causing him to caw in pain before the shuriken circled around only to get disintegrated by Malware's blaster only to get hit by Ishiyama with a surprise attack and Julie with a surprise slash from her tanto, prompting Malware to shove Ishiyama and Julie aside before Gwen rushed over to them and helped them up only to get caught in Kenko's dragon tail again.
"I really expected more of a challenge from the great Ishiyama.", Kenko smirked.
"The battle is not over so long as one of us still stands.", Ishiyama retorted.
"Excellent suggestion.", Malware agreed as he noticed Ben and Emily still looking for the Upgrade Icon.
"No, no, wait! Yes!", Ben spoke excitedly as he and Emily finally found the Upgrade Icon.
"We found it!", Emily grinned as Ben raised his sword before Malware spoke.
"You'd like to think that, wouldn't you?", Malware asked, causing Ben and Emily to turn around to notice him with gasps before getting knocked back by Malware.
"Now, it's mine.", Malware spoke just as the Upgrade Icon went up and spun around before getting grabbed by Malware, causing it to become coated in his essence as the black coating with red spikes spread, also altering Malware's appearance as his torso grew wider and spikes grew from the back of his head with the Star then distorting into a mouth with sharp, black teeth.
"No!", Ben shouted before he tossed the sword toward Malware, which severed his hand grasping the icon before it vanished, stopping the corruption.
"What?!", Malware puzzled before the spread suddenly shrunk as quickly as it grew, cleansing the Upgrade Icon.
"Hurry, Ben!", Emily shouted.
Then, Ben nodded, leapt up, and managed to grab the Upgrade Icon.
"Yes!", Ben grinned.
"You did it, Ben!", Emily grinned.
"I've had enough!", Malware exclaimed before he formed a blaster gun where his hand used to be and aimed at Ben and Emily just as Kenko caught up, took the sword, and raised it against them only to get crashed toward a wall by Ishiyama, saving Ben and Emily in the process as they looked up to see Ishiyama on the other side of the wall.
However, that joy was not to last as Ishiyama was suddenly destroyed by Kenko with Ben's own samurai sword!
"Ishiyama!", Ben and Emily shouted.
"No!", Gwen and Julie exclaimed.
"My, my. Isn't this a surprising turn of events? If I am not mistaken, this seemed to be your favorite hero, boy. Correct? Not anymore.", Malware sneered as he recovered from the attack and walked closer.
"Your Sumo Slammer hero isn't here to protect you anymore.", Kenko added before raising the sword only for Ben to transform into Upgrade.
"I can take care of myself. And you two. All alone. And for the record, I'm Ben Tennyson. Now, we play by my rules, Kenko!", Upgrade retorted before he then attacked Kenko the first time with a charge, avoided getting torched by Kenko's dragon fire, and whacked Kenko away twice before the dust cleared.
In the meantime, Emily spotted a nearby blue icon with the silhouette of Software on it.
"Software? Could it be...?", Emily puzzled before hurrying over to the icon just as Malware spotted her and gave chase only for Gwen and Julie to knock him back with their kicks, allowing Emily to collect the icon and store it in her Omni-Enhancer.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!", Upgrade spoke.
"We don't have time for this. We need to get out now before you time out again!", Julie urged.
"I'm right here, doofus!", Upgrade assured as he appeared elsewhere before laughing.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"You wouldn't leave without saying 'goodbye', would you?", Ishiyama asked.
"Ishiyama?", Upgrade puzzled.
"You're alive?!", Julie and Emily exclaimed in unison.
"But I thought you were...", Gwen began before Ishiyama laughed.
"It will take more than Kenko to finish off my last life. I just wanted to say I was wrong. You are the superior warrior. I only wish I could visit your world and fight alongside such a noble hero.", Ishiyama responded.
"What?", Emily puzzled.
"Whoa! Really?! Well, maybe I could...", Upgrade began.
"Hold on. Something isn't right.", Julie interrupted.
"Yeah. First, he knew about his three lives, then, he called you the superior warrior, and now he actually wants to go to our world? That doesn't make any sense. Unless...", Emily spoke before gasping as she and Julie come to a horrible realization.
"No, Ben! Don't do it! It's a trap!", Julie and Emily exclaimed before then knocking Ishiyama back.
"What are you two doing?! He's a good guy!", Upgrade exclaimed.
"Not this time!", Julie retorted before she and Emily leapt up and landed on top of the small shack and smashed a trunk, which housed a coin with a package of Sumo Salt on it before Emily grabbed said coin, which changed into Sumo salt before pouring it onto Ishiyama, who turned out to be Kenko.
"Kenko?!", Gwen exclaimed before a red blast fired from the walls.
"And I don't think we're done with him yet.", Julie states before Malware leapt out of the wall and landed on the arena seats.
"Fools! You have led me exactly where I wanted to be. Soon, my victory will be complete!", Malware sneered.
"You were trying to fool me into taking you to the real world?!", Upgrade exclaimed.
"Let's get out of here before he succeeds!", Gwen urged.
"No. As long as Kenko's here, he poses a threat to everyone. Not to mention the fact we still have to deal with Malware.", Julie responded.
"Julie's right. Besides, a real sumo slammer never retreats. I'm going to defeat him honorably.", Upgrade agreed before confronting Kenko, who only turned into black mists, snaked toward Julie and Gwen before reforming while holding them hostage.
"Fortunately, I'm not bound by such honor.", Kenko smirked.
"Julie!", Upgrade exclaimed.
"Gwen!", Emily shouted.
"And with this new upgrade, you'll need more than your friends to defeat me.", Malware added, aiming his blaster at Upgrade and Emily.
"Which is where I come in.", Max spoke as he suddenly appeared in the game, wearing a silver arm gauntlet and a black sumo robe around his waist before then knocking Malware back, skidding him down the seats.
"Way to go, Grandpa!", Gwen cheered.
"Ben, you go deal with Kenko and save Gwen and Julie. I'll take care of Malware.", Emily spoke.
"Got it.", Upgrade nodded before heading off after Kenko just as the portal went down with Kenko holding Gwen and Julie hostage.
"I don't know why you persist in fighting me. You cannot win!", Malware discouraged.
"Actually, the truth is, you can't win.", Emily responded before she dialed up Software in her Omni-Enhancer and pressed it down, becoming a blue galvanic Mechamorph hybrid.
"Hope you're ready, Malware, because you're really about to get Sumo Slammed.", Software smirked before she leapt forward toward Malware and knocked him back with a laser blast, making him crash through the seats before she jumped and landed near Malware.
"Sorry, Malware. The Omnitrix isn't available right now. May I recommend a substitute?", Software smirked as she then fashioned a blue energy orb before thrusting it toward Malware, causing the spikes to change color from red to light blue right before distorting violently.
"NOOOOO!", Malware shouted before he split apart into atoms.
"Phew! Now, this is sumo slamming!", Software smirked as she timed out willingly and changed back into Emily.
Meanwhile, Upgrade was confronting Kenko, who held Gwen and Julie hostage.
"Destroy me and they suffer the same fate!", Kenko threatened.
"I don't think so.", Gwen spoke before she started growing again, but this time, bigger than before as the sleeves on her arms and legs, not to mention her shirt, ripped up, not only exposing most of her arms and legs, but also, mainly, her belly, taking Kenko aback as he was forced to let go of her and Julie.
"I gotcha, Julie.", Upgrade spoke before catching Julie with Upgrade then reforming.
"There. You should be safe now.", Upgrade assured.
"Uh..., thanks.", Julie blushed profusely just before Kenko growled as he recovered.
"Didn't know I could do this, did you? I know I sure didn't, so that's saying something.", Gwen smirked before then stomping on the ground, sending Kenko up on the ground before Julie leapt up and used her tanto to cut off the mechanical arms and legs, rendering him practically limbless as she out the tanto back in its scabbard.
"This game's over.", Upgrade spoke before stretching himself toward Kenko by his arm and then going inside his mouth, causing him to overload and explode.
When the smoke disappeared, though, he turned out to be a small man who then charged toward Upgrade and tried to attack, but to no avail as he punched and kicked, dislodging a mech boot before it landed on his head, tipping him back.
"Well, I guess it takes care of that.", Julie grinned before the portal started going back up.
"Go on. Say it.", Upgrade urged.
"Oh, fine! You're the better sumo slammer samurai. Happy?", Gwen asked annoyedly.
"Who cares what you think, geek?", Upgrade asked as he held a green light, which turned out to be a 1-UP before Ishiyama was brought back.
"I wanna hear it from him.", Upgrade responded before Ishiyama smiled.
"So, now who do you think is the best sumo warrior?", Upgrade asked before Ishiyama pointed to Software and Julie.
"Them.", Ishiyama responded.
"Emily?", Gwen asked.
"Julie?", Upgrade asked at the same time.
"Us?", the two puzzled in unison.
"Only a true sumo slammer would know to use the cleansing power of sumo salt to reveal Kenko's deception.", Ishiyama responded.
"It was easy. We just read the instructions.", Julie grinned.
"'Read the instructions'...", Upgrade and Gwen sighed before the latter and Emily changed back to normal form.
"But what about Malware?", Gwen asked.
"I took care of him. He won't bother us anytime soon.", Emily assured just as Upgrade's badge started beeping and flashing.
"Whoa. No time for goodbyes.", Upgrade spoke before he grabbed Gwen, Emily, and Julie before rolling himself up and disappearing.
Back in the real world, Upgrade, Gwen, Emily, and Julie burst out from the screen and landed back in the Rustbucket before Upgrade timed out and finally changed back to normal.
"Could you cut it a little closer next time?", Gwen asked.
Then, Ben checked his Omnitrix and noticed that his aliens are all back.
"Hopefully, there won't be a next time.", Ben responded.
"Well, looks like it's finally stopped raining. Look, how about you kids go out and get some fresh air. Maybe get Dave up so he could play with you.", Max suggested.
"I think I could use a little real world right about now.", Ben grinned.
"Yeah. Me, too.", Julie agreed before she, Gwen, Emily, and Ben went outside laughing.
"I thought they'd never leave.", Max chuckled before continuing his apparent game time.
A/N: So, what'd you think? Pretty great, right? Well, I gotta go prepare for my next story and the next chapters for another Ben 10 story. Until next time. :)