BEN 10: RISING OF THE SHIELD HERO
CHAPTER 3: THE CHEATER AND HIS CHEAT CODES
THANKS FOR YOUR REVIEWS LAST CHAPTER.
In the throne room of Melromarc, a flying Ben Tennyson with a smirk, the Furious KIng Aultcray, Malty the Bitch, a group of Nobles with the eyes of disbelief and doubts, a bunch of armored guards, and the legendary three Cardinal Heroes are seen… they aren't partying.
The King's favorite Tennyson has dramatically turned the table by showing undeniable proof. But… there are still holes… that can question how Tennyson boy got his hands on such a piece of valuable evidence. And the accused shield devil is becoming more and more villainous over time.
"SILENCE!"
The King's command immediately silences the chattering nobles.
"Seems like Your Majesty likes to order around and stay superior to others, ha! While he isn't even the true ruler of the country…"
Itsuki stares at Ben with disbelief. Motoyasu's brain is in no condition to react to Ben's claims. He only has one thing… one thing for ladies.
"What do you mean?" asked Ren, since he thinks Ben won't tell lies as he can just fly off the guards.
"STOP! SHIELD DEVIL! DON'T TRICK PEOPLE LIKE–"
"What do you mean by TRICK PEOPLE? Isn't that you who tricked people, huh? Who's the true ruler of this country? Say, you nobles. The Cardinal Heroes don't even know who the true ruler is. We are like a bunch of idiots. We didn't even notice there is a bigger throne than that of Your Majesty in this hall."
Ben's smile disappears as he jumps down onto the floor, guards around retreating to give him space. And a greenish-blue circle-shaped crystal stage of about a meter wide emerges under Ben's feet, pushing him upwards a bit and acting like a hoverboard. The guards, the two heroes, and the nobles are just speechless… who the heck is this kid?!
"Now, now, now, why you go silent, buddy? I may not seem it but… You see I can't let my fellow heroes be left in the dark."
He slowly approaches Aultcray as greenish-blue crystals materialize and grab the King's legs, so he can't move from his place. The King's glare does not fade… in fact, more fury is just added and it makes the glare fierier as Ben comes near him.
"WHY ARE YOU–"
"Listen, listen to me, fellow heroes. The true ruler of this country is the Queen. I don't know where she is right now, but I heard about her at the Church. Have you been to the Church? Do you guys wonder why there are only three symbols there? Because THE WHOLE RELIGION HATES THE SHIELD HERO EVEN BEFORE WE ARE SUMMONED!"
Alright, Ben, Calm down, calm down. Breathe in slowly… Diamond Head doesn't seem to have a nose, but anyway…
Ren's eyes widen. What does it mean… and Why? He stares at Ben's back but is utterly speechless.
"I SAY ENOUGH! DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD! I WILL–"
The King is interrupted by Ben.
"Save the threatening for when you free of the binds, Your Majesty. Now…. let's forget about that for a while, since it has no connection with me being accused of a rape crime. OK…"
Ben turns in the direction of nobles.
"What do you think of my evidence? It took quite an effort to get my hands on such precious thing."
"WHY ARE YOU BRINGING FALSE EVIDENCE?! YOU RAPIST!"
Malty yells at Ben, who doesn't give an f about her. Motoyasu thinks that scum committed a crime and now is trying to just run off like nothing. I… I will kill him!
Motoyasu tightens the grip and runs towards the shield hero, whose back is facing Motoyasu. He thrusts his spear with all might into the body of the shield hero… but the spear bounces off Ben's body. What the heck?! What is he made of? Damn!
Ben tilts his head and takes a glance at the spear hero but says nothing and turns back to the nobles. Motoyasu slashes Ben's back and limbs several times, but it does not a single scratch.
Ren stares at that very scene and is frightened… but he theorizes. Probably that green jacket is enchanted… maybe it is a very durable armor.
Itsuki has no words. Mom, Dad, I wanna go home.
"So what do you say, nobles?"
No one dares to open the mouth. The kid is powerful… but there also is the King.
"PERHAPS THE SHIELD DEVIL HAS DARK MAGIC THAT CAN MAKE ILLUSIONS LIKE THAT! DON'T GET SWAYED BY HIS LIES, MY DEAR NOBLES." The King tries to convince them.
"YEAH, yeah. He is lying." says Malty as she approaches the exhausted Motoyasu and hides behind his back, acting afraid of Ben.
"Trust me or not, I don't care. If you guys support an idiot of the King, you will be no less idiots. The same goes for me, if you guys want to back me up, you will be the same criminals who defend the accused. See, what's up with this law? Who's the law? The King? The Queen? No they are not the law. No one is. This is not the law. And you?!"
Ben moves to the King and grabs his collar. He jumps down as the crystal stage disappears.
"LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING AULTCRAY MELROMARC XXXII THE KING OF THE NATION, WHO ISN'T THE TRUE RULER. RATH DOESN'T CARE IF YOU TREAT HIM AS A SCUM OR DIRT! BUT RATH CARES WHEN YOU MAKE SOMEONE SUFFER! NO ONE TREATS THE OTHER PEOPLE INFERIOR JUST BECAUSE HE HAS A SUPERIORITY COMPLEX!
RATH KNOWS YOU HATE HIM. BUT HE DOESN'T CARE. WHAT HE CARES ABOUT IS ALL YOU NOBLES AND THE KING HIMSELF ARE MAKING POOR DEMI-HUMANS SUFFER! DEMI-HUMANS ARE ALSO RESIDENTS OF THE LAND, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE KING EVEN IF YOU AREN'T THE TRUE RULER! –"
The King was shaken by Ben's furious glares and tone. He can't keep himself calm….
Ben changes his facial expression quickly and turns back at the audience before rises into the air, again.
Everyone else was silent, even Malty was trembled by the outburst of Ben. Motoyasu is an exception, he is too blinded to be scared by that.
Oh crap! Rath scares them. I didn't want to use him, I'm afraid of him potentially killing everyone here… But I guess it's OK now.
Man, I just want to freak them out and lecture them. Now… It's a mess… Thankfully, I hope they step down…
"Er… Sorry guys. I was… a little angry… because of the sad reality. You guys are.. just -" says Ben pointing his index finger in the direction of nobles. " - just unfair. Look, I don't know what is happening here exactly but back in my homeland, humans coexist with aliens… Oh you don't know aliens. Aliens are like monsters… but they came from the stars… and the sky. Some of them have fearsome appearances but they are actually… like angels from the sky. And they are no different from humans. Equality… is the word we use"
Ben lectures them but he doesn't have confidence. He doesn't honestly think such a simple lesson would change the whole crappy system.
"Enough. Stop sprouting non-sense like alien craps. I will… Kill you!"
Motoyasu growls as he runs in Ben's direction and thrusts his spear again,... only for the spear to phase through Ben's body.
At first, Motoyasu felt joy… a little comfort. But then… he is surprised to see Ben, not harmed, not a single scratch from the spear all the way through his body.
"You! You MONSTER!"
"Rapist, Devil, Scum, Monster… oh, I've got many titles in a single day. And I guess I made some enemies. Er… I really want to be a hero again but I don't want-"
"YAH! DIE! DIE! DIE!"
Motoyasu swings his spears and slashes Ben.
"WHY DON'T YOU DIE?! MALTLY SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU AND WHY DON'T YOU DIE?! YOU THE ENEMY OF WOMEN!"
"Oh I just got a new title."
Ben smirks as all the other people are frightened by this view.
"What if… You get a little chill?"
Cold mist escapes Ben's mouth then it moves towards the spear and freezes. Motoyasu widens his eyes as he backs off.
Ren is surprised. Just how many super powers does this guy have? It's not like I am jealous but… It's creepy.
"What kind of magic trick are you doing, Shield Devil?" the King says. He knows the Shield Devil can easily kill him and bring the nation down… but at the same time, he knows that Scum would not do it. The Devil likes to torment people… it's his nature. And he will consume everyone in this country… by spreading his propagada.
The King clenches his fist… but he can't do anything.
"This has been quite long, Aultcray. Now move on to the trial...bring the true justice. Or maybe you nobles are as stupid as the King to be blinded from the truth."
"SHIELD DEVIL, I KNEW YOU WOULD DO THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT IS THE SAME NATURE OF EVERY SHIELD WIELDERS IN THE FOUR CARDINAL HEROES HISTORY. YOU ARE NO HERO, YOU ARE THE DEVIL."
"Yes, YOU RAPIST! YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO US, HEROES."
Itsuki again raises his voice and agrees with the King… for no reason. Motoyasu has… nothing to say left. He can't… He can't bring justice for this poor woman. He hugs Malty as he glares at Ben.
Malty is good as dead. Fake tears can't help the situation. Even if the shield scum is branded a criminal, he is too powerful to be brought down.
Ren wants to run away. Why is this happening? And there is a cheater with super magic stats here? He'd have reported Ben if this all were a game. But this is a harsh reality.
Ben chuckled as he transforms into AmpFibian… with the ID Mask on.
Now he can read the electric data in people's brains. Since humans are no complex creatures, it is easy for the amperi to accomplish.
Wait, what? They ignore the whole Demi-Human Slavery thing? What kind of… Er… Language. Their attitude is so much like Alienist Forever Knights and Highbreed. Highbreed's case is different, though.
He recalls a time when he snapped at the Forever Knights for detaining immigrant aliens illegally and using alien tech. He threatened them to the limit… He had to hold back… himself. Now… Ben has to breathe in and out to calm himself down. Maybe I can shock them a little.
He floats towards the nobles… but at the time he notices Malty behind Motoyasu. He reads her mind… and… What?!
The human-imitating amperi smirks as he rises higher into the air, close to the ceiling.
"Interesting, hmm. Hey Malty, what's your real name? Who're your parents?"
Malty glares at Ben and shakes her head at the Spear Hero. The Hero of the Spear holds his weapon up as he feels sympathy for her and at the same time, anger at Ben.
"Why should she tell you what you want, you scum? You have traumatized her enough! Now, come down. Don't float around like a coward. Accept your punishment."
"As the Hero of the Spear says, you shield devil now come down and accept your punishment. We all know you are a coward." the King gets the advantage of Itsuki. He can't still get out of crystal binds.
"Just because you are powerless yet dominating over people, it doesn't mean you aren't a coward. In my past lives, I fought several villains, restored peace around the universe and I saved it from the calamities that are far worse than you have seen in your all life, Your Majesty and my fellow heroes."
The only one who… believes in what Ben said is Ren. All the others are thinking Ben is sprouting non-sense. Ren himself has doubts… he sure has powers, but he says bluffs.
"Isn't IT THE DARK MAGIC OF YOU SHIELD SCUM?! WHY SHOULD I CARE FOR YOUR EVIL POWERS? WE DON'T HAVE EVIL POWERS BUT WE WILL BRING JUSTICE!"
The King sounds genuine and heroic… why the Bow Hero thinks high of the King.
"And so… how about your daughter… precisely your first daughter… who has to quit from the crown princess position? Huh? Malty S Melromarc?"
Itsuki and Ren look at each other, surprised, and then look at Malty, who is sticking on the back of Motoyasu. Motoyasu himself, first has doubts, but after some seconds, he decides to defend Malty.
"So what? So WHAT's WRONG WITH HER HIDING HER IDENTITY? IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT YOU RAPED HER? YOU SHOULD JUST GO DIE SOMEWHERE!"
Ben smirks. "So you are OK with her tricking you. Well, alright, alright, I don't want to pry into your brain which is… just all about women."
"So what?"
"Nothing. I don't care."
Ben replies coldly as he turns his back to Motoyasu and Malty.
"So His Highness set me up… to bring me down… with a shallow reason of false justice? Uh… no… His Highness despises me and all the other shield heroes. It's the fact. But he isn't involved in Malty's plan… Which she worked together with… The Church."
Ben states every truth of the case he saw in Malty and Aultcray. Now the King is suprised… because he doesn't know Malty works with the Church.
"What… What did you do, Malty?"
"And Malty has quite a history with wrongly accusing people… mainly those who resists His Highness' power and government. Many people died because of her… Many people were branded criminals… because of her. And she has a whole list of-"
"SHUT THE F UP!"
Motoyasu yells at Ben as he hugs a crying Malty.
Ben doesn't want to speak in favor of others… he can read what they want… but he doesn't want to… just give in. He doesn't care if everyone here despises him… but no one… no one after him will suffer, he will make sure of that.
"Are you just running your mouth like that and falsing accusing the poor victim lady? You are the true scum, you know." Said Itsuki with his finger pointed at Ben.
Ben jumps down before Itsuki and grabs his armor.
"LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING KAWASUMI ITSUKI THE HERO OF BOW! ARE YOU JUST DUMB? DROP YOUR SO-CALLED JUSTICE IF YOU CAN'T GET RID OF YOUR IDIOCY."
Itsuki inside: Mom and Dad, I am coming home.
"It took quite a time. Let's–"
"GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF HERE, I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE!"
The King growls at Ben. Ben shrugs and snaps his fingers, thus setting the King free.
"Perhaps we are friends from now on, Aultcray."
"You! You shield scum!" said Motoyasu. "Say your prayers and wish you don't cross paths with me. If I see you again, you are dead."
"Sounds threatening enough, the Spear Hero. Oh,... and I don't care. I will probably be busy with saving people."
"I don't think a rapist will save people. So I WILL KILL YOU HERE AND NOW SO THAT NOBODY SUFFERS BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Motoyasu tightens the grip again and runs into Ben.
"Oh say that to the King. He goes with the name Aultcray the Thirty Second."
As the spear phases through Ben, he disappears mysteriously.
Now he is nowhere to see.
"Uh… that's it. What an… unfortunate event." muttered Itsuki.
Ren says nothing but he moves and leaves the hall. The King calls out to Ren but he doesn't respond.
He just silently walks quickly, holding onto the sword tightly, alone.
"So that's it."
Ben transforms back to human form and walks out of the valley. People are staring at him with weird looks… which he can't understand. But… he knows something's wrong. He walks along with the shops and searches for some shop where he can sell his Diamondhead crystals. Maybe the rumors are spread quite fast. Well done, Aultcray.
He grits his teeth. But he is snapped out of his thoughts by a nudge on his shoulder. He looks up and sees a familiar bald guy.
"Oh, it's you, Mr. Erhard."
"You finally call me by the name. You did well in the court, kid. You are… nothing like you seem to be. To be frank, it's… impressive."
"Huh? What are you talking about? I know people are staring at me… and I feel shivers through my spine but… I don't get it."
Erhard smiles at Ben and pushes him into the shop.
"Think no harm of it, the Shield Hero. You have proved yourself."
"What? What do you mean? I –"
"What happened at the castle this morning was… broadcast live. Perhaps the King wanted to embarass you… but it backfires and you see, everyone in the town knows you are innocent and powerful. Some people even call you the true hero!"
Erhard explains to Ben as he closes the door.
"So that happened. Whatever."
"Yes, I didn't think you are that powerful. What's that? Magic?"
Ben sighs as he rubs his small shield.
"Yep, something like that."
Erhard goes silent.
"Er… I have a question. Where can I sell these –" asks Ben as he brings out bluish crystals from his bag.
Erhard widens his eyes.
"Can I… see them?"
Shiny and Twinkling crystals are handed to the bald guy as he takes out lens.
"Oh this… is crazy. This kind of density and… looks like it's durable."
Erhard looks up at Ben who shrugs and tilts his head. Indeed Diamondhead exerted an extra effort to create those crystals. So… they are more durable than normal Diamondhead substances.
"I will buy them."
"Er… excuse me?"
"I can forge them into… nice armor and… maybe decorations in weapons and shields. How many of these do you have?"
"Er… I have some… left at… the inn." Ben lied with a shrug.
"This is a perfect material. Where do you find them?"
"It is… a secret. Sorry. But if it's you, I will consider lowering the price."
Erhard smiles as he looks at the crystals one more time.
"OK, deal!"
Ben leaves Erhard's shop after he sold the crystals to him with a decent discount. For Ben, it's free so he doesn't mind the price. Erhard may be glad inside.
"The air around here is fresh as always. Er… I feel new!"
Ben walks into the forest and explores the areas he hasn't been to. Ben remembers camping experience… with his grandpa, Max and his cousin, Gwen, about 6 years ago.
The memory is still as new as yesterday. Oh… that Rust Bucket.
"Alright… no one here. Omnitrix…"
Green light engulfs him and a humanoid beast creature stands in his place. He becomes 7 feet tall with a long nozzle and furry grey skin. The small shield transforms into one with hide covering its exterior and a claw mark on the hide. His whole appearance is… similar to that of a werewolf. The proud loboan screams a cry into the sky before he takes off into the forest.
"BILTZWOLFER…"
He runs on all four at a high speed between the trees and vines, sometimes, leaping up to the branches and jumps from one tree to another. On his run, he slays every monster he sees… with just pure strength and speed. It is enough.
"Oh yeah, I feel…. Like a dog."
The werewolf howls and runs into the body of a orange balloon monster that is at least 9 feet tall… well it is floating above the ground.
"So… this is the mommy monster, huh? Where are your children? I feel bad for kill– Oh Sh… that's how you–"
The wolf man jumps high into the air, since his reflexes are fairly special, as several little balloon monsters escape from the mouth of big monster.
" – Damn, it is… disgusting. Sorry… I don't…"
The wolf dodges and slashes the little monsters nearby and then leaps into the air as he prepares his nozzle.
" –intend to insult. AHHH…"
The nozzle splits into 4 parts as a scream escapes his mouth.
The sonic attack immediately kills the small monsters then the loboan jumps onto the floating big ballon monster's back.
"I feel good. OK… your turn."
The monster tries to shake him off its back but unsuccessful. Biltzwolfer again leaps into the air and splits his nozzle.
The massive sonic waves are directed into the back of the monster and after a second, its thick skin explodes and falls onto the ground as a lifeless rag.
The loboan performs a superhero landing and turns at the monster corpses.
"I feel bad killing something. Man…"
He picks up the remains of biggest monster and lets his furry shield absorb them.
Suddenly he senses something in a distance. The loboan quickly turns into that direction and shouts.
"Who goes there?"
A hooded masked shadow figure with a black cape that covers their whole body walks out of the other side of a tree, that is about 30 feet far away from the werewolf.
"Your senses are sharp. Impressive."
A feminine voice comes from the figure hence the loboan notes it is a woman.
"You see a wolf, right?"
Biltzwolfer tries to not be sarcastic and he doesn't transform back to human. He is considered a monster and it's perfectly OK as far as it doesn't hurt his identity.
The figure seems to take a short look at the wolf monster's hand where resides a shield made of hide, with a claw mark and a crystal in the middle.
The sharp senses of Loboan notices that but he tries to not point it out.
"Sir Shield Hero, is that you?"
"You see I am a werewolf and you call me Shield Hero?"
She shakes her head as she walks slowly with caution towards the overwhelming creature. She… doesn't really have any weapon.
What is she doing? Biltzwolfer narrows his eyes as he looks around to foresee an escape route.
Sure enough, he doesn't want to hurt a human.
"No, I saw you turn into that monster."
Oh crap! Should he delete her memories of him?
But the voice snaps him out of his thoughts.
"Rest assured, I am no enemy, I am your ally, I dare say."
The loboan shakes his head and facepalms.
"I don't think I have one. Er… maybe… are you that bald guy from the armor shop?"
He stares at the standing hooded woman and he sighs. Then he gives up.
"Alright, alright. I don't think–"
A green light engulfs him and at the place of the werewolf stands a green jacket shield hero.
" – I can just run away. Can I?"
The woman doesn't reply and Ben just laughs off his own joke in embarrassment.
"I am here according to the Queen's orders, I dare say."
Ben looks around to see if there are any eavsdroppers. Then he turns to the woman.
"The Queen, huh? How is she doing?"
"Her Highness is currently on a journey for peace with the neighboring countries. She cannot come back for a while, I dare say."
Ben can't know if she is saying the truth or not, because half of her face is covered by a mask.
"So she left the whole country with an idiot King and a bit– sorry. I mean, a spoiled brat? And I don't like the whole country system that money is everything… as far as I've seen. And slavery…"
"Her Highness has been trying to change the mindsets of people and the system for many years, I dare say. But the Church, which is the center of the religion of people, always gets in her way, so her plans haven't worked out, I dare say."
Ben lets out a sigh as he looks away from her and walks a metre before sitting on a tree root.
"So…? Why is the Queen concerned with me?"
He knows that the Queen is one of the few people who respect the Shield Heroes. This isn't easy… and he can't just shout at the face of a Nation's Ruler to change the nation. Politics, never was his favorite. The closest thing to politics, he has experienced, is Will Harangue's false claims.
"Her Highness wants to meet with you."
"Can I say no? I have encountered several people with rotten and disgusting behaviors. I need to take a break from them. Sorry."
The woman just stares at him.
"Once you meet with Her Highness, your opinions will change, I dare say."
Ben stretches the back of his head and puts some effort in thinking.
Ben doesn't want to see another disgust… otherwise, his intent to save this world can fall…
"Then… I will try. And you will take me to her or something?"
The woman shakes her head as she brings out a crystal ball.
"I have a communication crystal ball that is connected to Her Highness' line. I will let you talk with her through this, I dare say."
Ben widens his eyes at the crystal ball but then he looks away, again.
What will you do, Ben?
"Alright, I will meet with the Queen –"
"So –"
" – in person."
The woman goes silent for a moment. But when she speaks…
"You can fly, can't you?"
"Yes, and it's a high speed one at that… Wait… how do you–"
"I have seen you use your abilities several times beforehand. Rest assured, I am only loyal to Her Highness, I dare say."
" Uh… Well, whatever. Where is she?"
After a few moments, a red stingray-like alien with pointed horns and a long tail flies out of the forest, off to the sky and goes on its short trip to the border of the nation. The shield takes a shape of the right wing, but smaller and with a core in the middle.
"JETRAY! Owww!"
In a fancy-looking tent, a well-dressed woman with a crown on her head, is sitting at a table with three or four piles of paper. The woman covers her face with her palm and sighs, without wanting to look at the piles of work.
This job is tiresome, really! And that idiot of an husband is making her job increase. That man has a skill of being useless passively.
"I never thought he is that stupid. Summoning all four heroes… hmm."
Outside of the tent, a red flying stingray flies over the tent therefore making a fuss around for the bodyguards and servants of the woman.
"I wonder what's happening outside."
Her question is answered when a humanoid red stingray casually walks on 2 into the tent. Her eyes widens… as if she is looking at the nightmare of her life.
"Oh ho ho, relax, no harm."
A high-pitched voice from the monster startles her. What is that creature? A demi-human? Which part of him looks human? None.
"Who are you?"
"You say you want to meet me and now I have arrived, Her Highness."
A green light blinds the woman's vision for some seconds. And then standing in the place of the stingray monster is… a brown-haired green-jacket shield hero.
"Nice to meet you, Her Highness. I am Ben Tennyson, the Shield of the Four Cardinal Heroes."
Now her eyes widen in awe, not fear anymore.
"Oh, it's… you, The Brave One. I am Mirellia Q Melromarc, the Queen of the country."
Ben smirks as he holds onto the Queen's hand.
At the Church, the Pope meets with his disciples… And Malty.
"Shield Devil… I thought he is just a wimp but he proved to be powerful… An overwhelming power at that."
Malty couldn't care less about Shield Devil, because all she wants is to erase her sister from existence and… the throne.
"What's for me, old man? That scum matter can wait, but shouldn't we accomplish our tasks before mother returns?"
"Yes, yes, yes. But you see, Shield Hero is a threat, no doubt. So we must plan to take both targets at the same time."
"Melty… she will regret it!"
The first Princess turns her back at the Pope, with a smirk. And the Pope commands his spies to observe the Devil.
I haven't seen him use his shield… even once. Something's wrong… I can… I can feel it from the deepest of my inside. But whatever… God is the true winner at the end of the day. No one can defy God, and no one shall get in God's ways.
After talking for a time, the Queen gets a glimpse of the situation that happened this morning. The Queen is not happy about that.
"I thought my husband was a fool and an extremist but my daughter is far worse. Hmm, that idiot of a father raised her as a spoiled brat and… her personality is even rotten than her father. Aultcray hates the demi-humans and the Shield Hero because of an incident that happened in the past. But Malty… I don't regret taking back her former position."
Ben tries to smile as much as he can but the smile wears off easily. Ben endured the whole trial without exploding… and he used Rath twice to let out some anger. He is a carefree and easygoing type, but even he can't stand Aultcray and Malty.
Ben feels like a mother who has been putting up with a bad husband and a rotten daughter probably has more problems and bursting emotions than he has. So he doesn't want to blame that spoiled girl in front of her mothers.
"Yeah,... I think… you need to give some time to the family, even if it's a little but…"
Ben tilts his head to see the piles of paper on the Queen's worktable.
"... I don't think you have spare time… And your husband just creates more trouble for you. While I can't feel the same as you do, I have experienced my own share of anxiety, trust me."
Mirellia narrows her eyes at Ben as she remembers their first encounter.
"I have a question."
"As you wish, Your Highness."
"What's that thing… Er… the one before you appeared?"
Silence takes place for a couple of seconds as Ben analyzes the surroundings. After that Ben whispers.
"First… can I trust you?"
Mirellia doesn't know how to react… Ben and the other heroes are… summoned to save a world that is totally… unrelated to them. Although she doesn't know that the three heroes other than Ben are already dead in their original worlds.
"I don't… know what to say. While… I can't support you for everything you want to do, I can… guarantee you that a secret you share with me will be locked away and no one can ever find out."
Ben nods as he takes some breath in and out.
"OK. I trust you. It is transformation."
"A transformation?"
"Yes. It's not… other thing. It's me. The same me."
"The same you? I have heard you have some kind of absurd abilities from my spies. Transformation? How is–"
"Like… werewolves, you know?"
The Queen nods. "Yes, I know. I read about them in a book."
"Like that. I can transform into such… monsters as that one you saw. I have plenty of others. But for now, I don't reveal them to you, OK?"
"Monsters, hmm," muttered Mirellia as she begins to enter the thought realm.
"Uh… but not exactly. These monsters are like humans and demi-humans. They have feelings and self-awareness."
"So… it suits the SHIELD DEVIL, huh?" the Queen said sarcastically that Ben didn't mind.
Ben goes back after listening to Mirellia's requests. He has to admit. The Queen is a beautiful woman, and he can't even imagine how beautiful she was in her prime. Jokes aside, he has to consider fulfilling the Queen's requests. She assured him of some rewards which Ben didn't refuse. This is… like a part-time job, LMAO.
So Ben flies back to the capital.
Darkness embraces the capital by the time he gets to the inn. He didn't leave any of his items here, all of them are stuffed into his shield inventory.
But the arrival at the inn has another purpose. Sleep.
If Motoyasu and the rest two aren't here, Ben will stay here as he's decided. The innkeeper and he are on good terms.
An intangible necrofriggian breaks down his body into the molecular level and phases through the wall as if he were a ghost. He looks around and enters the heroes' rooms to see if they still stay here, or not. Ben finds their things around and hints that say they will stay here tonight. So Ben decides to leave and maybe search for another inn, or mayne he will camp out in the forest. That sounds fun.
Alright… he's determined… he will just camp out like the last night.
A hulky rocky creature that is about at least 12 feet tall and several feet wide is floating above the ground with his hands being help up in front… he doesn't really have a neck, his face exists on his trunk. On the stomach, a glowing red core is situated, embedded in his belly.
From his hands, unseen forces are produced and heavy trunks of the tree rises into the air pushed up by some kind of gravity.
"Oh… this comes in handy."
The creature sighs as the tree trunks are being piled up.
When accommodation is built, the creature turns back to Ben.
"Oh… GRAVATTACK didn't even break a sweat. Ha! So a manor of my own… is here! No more inn cost! No more rent!"
Ben pushes the wooden door… it isn't exactly a door. But it's an entrance.
"No more campfire, huh? At this rate… if I make some fire, will probably burn my house. I don't want that so…"
Ben throws himself onto the leaf-bed and closes his eyes. The sun outside has long set. He was late to go to sleep.
I have to look after her people? Ben chuckles. That woman sure asks a lot of him… but her wish is something Ben would never ignore.
Her request was genuine. But she should lend me a hand or two. Well, I have the role of a hero… so it is already my job. No win complaining… so… what's the plan, Ben?
The Queen advised him to get himself a companion or two. Even having one party member is better than zero, as her advice. Ben… who is afraid of someone important to him getting hurt, can't even imagine bringing someone to a deadly battle.
The words he said to Malty that day were really meant. He doesn't need someone to hold him.
And one biggest nightmare of his,... which he has been concealing with a fake smile everytime he brings up that memory.
It was… months ago… for him.
Everyone died. No… everyone was no more existing. They stopped existing on the earth. They stopped existing in the universe.
No, no, the universe itself stopped existing.
It was erased from existence.
There was no one left… for him. Just him… alone in nowhere… there was no space and no time around him.
And then there floated Bellicus and Serena in front of him, arguing about their interests.
They never got bored,... did they?
After some time, they agreed to recreate a new universe… based on the old one Ben originally resided.
Well, that universe is no more. Even no one is left to remember the history of that universe.
A new universe… everything was created by him, and Bellicus and Serena.
Bellicus and Serena are a part of him, so you can say he actually created a whole universe.
He is… basically… a God.
For which he was sued by fellow celestialsapiens for abusing Alien X's power.
He wore a fake smile for a long time.
Deep down there is a burnt scar. Everytime he remembers his old world, his partner Rook, his old team – Gwen and Kevin, Grandpa Max… and his REAL parents.
Would they hate him if he told them that he created them?
What if they came to know he is their God?
Just an imagination about that… hurts.
Will he… save another universe?
I will just transform into Alien X and erase every evil of this universe. Then it will be all fine.
But not. He will be called for another trial.
Maybe he will be challenged by a God in the court again.
Laws… why do we have to follow even if they did no good?
CHAPTER 3 ENDS. This is shorter than the previous chapter. Sorry about that. From now on, the story will be less based on the original material… at least for some chapters. First a heroine will be introduced in the next chapter, romance is considered but not set in rock. Not Raphtalia and… I doubt Ben will get himself a slave. And I don't think he will RIDE Filo :3 LOL… and now a house is built, so you can hope Ben turning to Grey Matter, Brainstorm and Jury Rigg to construct a Tenn-speed… or a car.
Thanks for reading.
Christopher Paradox Chronos.