BEN 10: THE ONE WHO DEFIES GODS
CHAPTER 3: THE MONSTER BEHIND THE MASK
For the reviewer who mentioned Kamen Rider X Ben 10 Crossover, I've already written a story called Masked Rider OMNIX. (check it out in my profile) He also uses Tri-Omnitrix to use Alien Combos like OOO. But the story is delayed for now because it needs a lot of fixing and rewriting.
So I will consider including Ben 10 X OOO in that story. Thanks. Your idea sounds original but as a rider and Ben 10 fan, I prefer to add a henshin device instead of the Omnitrix. (Because taka, tora, and batta aren't sentient.)
"Being a hero is its own reward. You don't need to long for benefits from this work."
My grandpa was a wise man. Since he was a retired officer of "Plumbers" – the intergalactic peacekeepers' organization, he was the one who could mostly give me mental support when I was a hero.
Grandpa Max. Maxwell Tennyson. A plumber magister. He has a healthy, tall, and muscular body that was possibly trained in his prime. I think he was quite handsome when he was young – even literally the most powerful being in the third-dimensional universe at that time fell in love with my grandpa. He was a capable person. When I was forced to detransform because of the timeout, my cousin and he was the ones who had to back up although they didn't have any special powers.
"I agree. Being a hero is so much fun!"
When I said that, Gwen glared at me for some reason. Are you picking a fight with me, dweeb?
"It's because you've got fancy powers," Gwen said, sticking out her tongue to make fun of me.
"Well, Ben prefers fistfights right? I notice you mostly choose Four Arms or Humungousaur first," Grandpa interrupted Gwen.
"But you know," he continued. "Whenever a fight breaks out, people are hurt. It's the responsibility of heroes to keep everything under watch. You have to make sure everyone is safe first. You can deal with the villain later."
Now back to the present.
When the golden double door is opened, I see a large hall. There stands a vast number of crystalline purple pillars that are spaced out evenly. I guess the height to the ceiling is at least a hundred feet. So... the monster of this room must also be a supergiant.
And then I notice a giant double door on the opposite side, similar to the one behind us.
"See, that must be the entrance to the bottom," I say to Ruby.
"Seems like we have to get there… too far."
Indeed, this room is the best hall I have seen on all floors of the dungeon. The architecture, setting, and everything else. To describe it overall, it's fantastic. Stepping into the hall, you will feel like you are invading the banquet hall of giant people.
We walk down the small staircase onto the stone carpet in the middle of the room.
When we reach the center of the room…
Suddenly... a magic circle of a 90-feet diameter appears in the distance. I recognize the pattern of the circle and realize what's gonna happen.
The last boss...
"Ruby! It's a giant!" I yell out of astonishment as the magic circle glows brighter and brighter.
"But we will not lose," she tries to motivate me and gives me a thumb-up.
I look around the room to calculate the height of the ceiling and the area of the chamber.
If the enemy is this big, I may as well use a way bigger alien form to beat the crap out of him.
I am the glorious Bad Ben. I will eradicate everything that stands in my way.
-(TRANSITION)-
I don't know if living in the labyrinth and slaying every monster you encounter will harden or soften it. In fact, I have become more of a sadistic character but... why the heroics though?
How much did I hate Ben Prime, you say? I dyed my brown hair black to distinguish from Ben Prime easily. What a shame that across the multiverse, almost every Ben's got brown hair. Well, exclude Benzarro... that fellow is really pathetic, I feel pity for his Gwen.
"Hey, Tennyson. How will that sword help you if your stats are too low? Hahaha."
"Hiyama, don't be so mean to Tennyson. Regardless of the stats, he looks pretty tough."
"Nah, the stats play a significant role, dude. Tennyson is helpless."
Daisuke Hiyama. One of the top five classmates I wanna punch. But I didn't respond but continued to practice swinging my sword.
"Hey, don't bash Tennyson," a familiar female voice stopped Hiyama. "He's nothing like he looks. He... once defeated me in a dojo match."
I widened my eyes and span around to see the owner of the voice.
It was Yaegashi-san.
A long time ago, Shirasaki forced me to attend the Yaegashi family dojo. The training lasted only a few weeks but it was worth it. On the final day, Yaegashi asked me to duel her – as a test. So it happened.
I wasn't particularly interested in martial arts or anything.
"Huh, stats are everything. What's your point?"
"Hiyama-kun," Shirasaki stepped in. "His status plate shows many errors and unknown stats. That might mean he can be stronger than he's shown to be."
Hiyama went silent after hearing Shirasaki's words. Not because he had to do nothing but agree. More like... he had a thing for Shirasaki. He faced his back towards her and gritted his teeth out of visible frustration.
I witnessed something crazy. It's nice to be young... hah.
But Hiyama didn't look too innocent. His personality is rotten. I'm not gonna let him date my friend. Not in a thousand years if he doesn't change himself.
Being a target of bullying isn't my style but I'd rather avoid making a fuss out of what little I had to experience.
As Hiyama and his friend walked away, Shirasaki encouraged me. Yaegashi also pointed out that the way I swung the sword was wrong. I'd expect no less from a Samurai, lady Yaegashi (sama).
-(TRANSITION)-
Hmph, all those training days have long been wasted.
I challenge you, the boss monster of the Great Orcus Labyrinth.
Show me your strongest power.
The crystal pillars on both sides of the stone carpet begin to glow.
"It's here."
I alert Ruby as the monster finally shows up in the magic circle.
Indeed the monster is about 90 feet in length, one heck of a giant hydra.
It has six heads attached to very long necks, each of which has a different-colored pattern engraved into its head and a pair of dark red eyes.
Red, Green, Blue, White, Yellow, Black…
"Ruby…" I wink at her. "I'm already in love with this guy."
Is she naturally expressionless or something?
I step forward and make a memorable Ichigo henshin pose before transforming.
(Henshin = Transform, Transforming, Metamorphosis.)
"Hen… shin! JETRAY!"
As a manta ray-like aerophibian, I proudly shoot into the air at supersonic speed. I'm gonna enjoy every bit of the battle, ooh!
With a stomp of his tail on the stone carpet,
"Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
It lets out a peculiar howl and tries to focus all six pairs of eyes on me who is approaching it at a speed his sight can't handle.
I continuously shoot neuroshock blasts at its heads as I fly above its body at immeasurable speed.
But yeah, my blasts don't really do much damage.
While I have distracted and occupied its heads, Ruby is now on the move to attack the monster.
Suddenly, the red-patterned head opens its jaw and unleashes a torrent of flames at me, which is easily dodged.
No, it's not that I dealt no damage. It's the white head that is healing the monster from the injuries.
"Ruby, the white one is– huh?"
Now I see that the green head is blasting gales at her and the yellow one blocks all her attacks with itself.
"Holy–"
My body is now half-frozen by the ice magic from the blue head and begins to descend…
Crap, I was caught off-guard.
This thing isn't a joke. I have to be serious as well.
"Yah! HEATBLAST! If you are fire, I am fire, too. If you are ice, I will show off my firepower."
My body becomes completely covered in living flames as the green light vanishes.
The ice that covered half of my body melts and disappears in a blink, thanks to the intense temperature and fire radiating from my body.
Then I jump down to the ground and create a small stone stage that is raised above the surroundings via geokinesis. And then I use transmutation on the small stage for my flames to engulf it completely.
As I start jetting in the air with the floating stone stage under my feet, I melt another ice blast and absorb the flames it fires. Then I concentrate the heat in my hands to create two powerful fireballs.
"I am not Natsu Dragneel but I'm gonna MELT YOU!"
And throw them at the hydra monster.
Heatblast is a plasma-based life-form whose body is composed of a super hot inner plasma body covered by dark reddish-brown volcanic rocks. As a fire-based entity, his body radiates high amounts of heat. His feet have a slight oval-like design with only two toes and one back toe. His tongue is also made of fire while his collarbone resembles a volcano which generates a fiery "hair" that covers his head, leaving his mask-like face visible with no nose or ears.
"Ruby, are you Ok?"
She is flying backward mid-air, concentrating a yellow ball of lightning in her hands. But I notice she isn't really ok.
"I can manage. Crimson Javelin!" (Ruby)
A powerful lightning blast shoots at the hydra but the yellow head puts itself in the line of fire and rears like a cobra.
"Shit…" (me)
"Even if we damage them, the white one will heal it…"
"But hey, are you really OK?"
I ask, absorbing the torrents of flames and blocking the ice blasts and green wind blades.
"Yeah," she responds weakly. "Probably."
"You are a vampire, right? So your main food… is… wait, you've not sucked blood for the previous 300 years!"
I unleash the powerful fire blasts that engulf the whole hydra guy. But when the flames disappear, the white head instantly heals the injuries.
"No, but…"
"Look out!" (me)
I float towards her and kick the hover stone board under my feet to use it as a shield and block the flames, wind blades, and ice shards.
"Crap, I will destroy the white one first. Watch for your own safety."
As I fly forward, I gradually descend to the ground and smack the Omnitrix insignia.
"DIAMONDHEAD!"
I block all the incoming attacks with my forearms as I charge at the monster. As I begin to gain speed, I create a small crystal board under my feet, which lifts me up from the floor. After reaching enough height, I transform my arm into a crystal blade and leap into the air aiming at the white monster.
As expected, my attack is later blocked by the yellow one that gets in my way. I don't flinch but thrust the blade into the yellow head. The blade successfully penetrates the tank skin and cuts the yellow one vertically into two parts.
"Hmm… Ruby! The tank is—"
"Nooooooo!"
What the hell just happened?
Wait, it's the black one that is right before her, and… it's… hypnotizing her?
Crap, she is falling…
"Ruby! Don't lose it! BIG CHILL!"
I transform into the necrofriggian and unfold my wings to fly faster. And then I embrace her in my arms and cover both of us with my own wings as the monster unleashes the torrents of flames, winds, and ice blasts at us.
"Hey, Ruby, say something! Uh, that piece of shit!"
I float towards the other side of the hall and put her down gently on the floor and then build a durable wall via transmutation to protect the unconscious Ruby.
"You've made a mistake, hydra guy."
Intangible, I casually walk through the thick stone wall, clenching my fists.
"XLR8!"
I become a blur and reappear before the monster before the heads can notice. And then I swiftly smack the Omnitrix emblem to transform again into–
"ECHO ECHO!"
Echo Echo! The one-man army in my Arsenal.
Because his true form is made of living sound waves, Echo Echo's appearance is actually a small, white containment suit made of silicon, making his body a living amplifier.
One of his most noticeable features is a square appendage resembling an MP3 player behind his back with a port on it, decorated with a 10 symbol and what looks like cassette tapes on his lower legs. The green circle-shaped indents on the back of Echo Echo's hands are sound holes, and the inside of his mouth is also green with lines that give it the appearance of an amplifier. He also wears headphones so he would not be hurt by his own sonic screams. The headphones are attached to a backpack.
I leap into the air to dodge the fire blasts and instantly duplicate myself into five (including myself) before falling to the ground. Then we make a superhero landing and duplicate ourselves multiple times. While constantly dodging the attacks of the monsters or blocking them using the sonic waves, we have made a small army that surrounds the monsters from all sides in a minute.
"Guys! Let's do it!"
"OK!" They respond in unison. And then…
"WALL OF SOUND!"
Sonic screams. Echo Echo's sonic attacks are strong enough to destroy Taydenite, the most durable substance known in the galaxy… at the right frequencies.
The monster begins to wag his tail to strike the Echo Echo while his other projectiles and magic attacks are useless because of the powerful repellent sonic waves.
But some of my clones couldn't successfully dodge the tail and were sent flying. But it's alright as long as one of us is alive.
I am not in the mood to joke but – fun fact: Sonorosians (Echo Echo's species) reproduce by duplicating themselves. They are literally living sound waves, they aren't doing sex.
This explains why Echo Echo lacks a D.
Forget it. Let's focus on slaying this bitc–
"Focus on white one!"
One of us (who aren't me) commands, standing on a dead Redhead. As expected, in a minute, the dead red head is fully healed… as if we never dealt damage.
Shit.
"He's right!" I shout at them, catching the sonorosian clone who dropped from the red head. "Focus on the white one!"
The closest batch right in front of the white head duplicate themselves multiple time and begin another sonic attack, which begins to shatter the outer skin of the protective yellow cobra and then kills it off.
"NOW! ECHO CHAMBER!"
AHHHHHH–
The army right before the white healer let out powerful sonic waves that gradually destroy the white head.
"It worked."
The monster is still dumbfounded. I take the advantage of the situation to recombine with all my sonorosian clones and immediately transform into–
"HUMUNGOUSAUR! I'm gonna enjoy every second of beating the crap out of you."
My body begins to grow larger – up to two-thirds of the size of the hydra monster.
While ice shards and wind blades are all bounced off of my thick skin and hard hide, I casually block the flames… although I can still feel the pain and heat, they don't really bother me. I smirk wryly as I leap into the air and pull back my right fist, pouring my strength into it. And then throw it right in the face of the red hydra head, destroying it instantly.
What has become of me? Am I Saitama?
I dodge the ice blasts rolling to the side and then throw a heavy blow onto the base of the blue head.
"Hmph."
The white guy is gone. So I can kill these guys pretty easily.
Brute strength. I prefer fistfights as Grandpa once mentioned. When I am punching someone I want to, the more strength I pour into my blows, the more I enjoy the battle.
Here it comes! Divine Punishment!
This time, I pull back both fists and punch the sides of the blue hydra head, reducing it to a pulp.
And now... the wind guy.
The monster isn't sentient in any way so it is unfazed by his buddies dying.
I take a glance at the wall behind which Ruby is lying.
Why... why do I feel angry? Why do I feel fear? I am not someone easily attached to whoever tries to approach me. I am not someone who cries and misses for home.
Fear... what is this? What is "fear?" Something I've never experienced in the previous 3 years. I fear nothing. Death? No, I don't fear death. Pain? I just dislike pain. After all, I endured all this pain in my chest for years.
I grit my teeth as I proceed my heavy steps towards the last head standing.
And then... my hands grip its trunk... and break its neck, tearing the head apart from whatever main body.
The hydra monster... seriously pissed me off.
I know my weaknesses. Like... short temper, bloodlust, antisocial, and much more. Yeah, the reason I isolated myself was that I couldn't accept my weaknesses, and feared myself. What... what would have happened to a person who had poked me for fun? What'd have happened to someone with a funny personality who had accidentally made fun of me?
I throw the dead green head away and slowly walk back to where I left Ruby lying. The scenery behind me isn't very pretty. It's a complete mess with a bunch of giant monster corpses.
The fun isn't ending yet.
I suddenly feel the floor trembling and turn around to see the monster's corpse.
I did a mistake.
The last one standing isn't green. It's... silver. Floating on both sides of its face are two purple magic energy balls.
And the time I noticed was... a bit late.
A powerful green magic beam is blasted into my front, sending me flying multiple meters backward.
"Sh-shit... what the fuc..."
I gasp as I hold my torso and slowly get up, still not recovering from pain.
It was so damn powerful. Damn, if I weren't a Humungosaur and a maximum size at that, I'd have probably died.
"Ha… you got me there. I see."
If I need more strength, I can use more. If I need to eradicate the target completely… I can do it either.
At the same time when the monster blasts another beam at me, the green light engulfs my body as a whole. As the light dies down, the floor shakes because of a heavy stomp.
The quake triggered by the stomp is much stronger than the ones the hydra monster can ever make.
Standing before the monster is – me – a colossal humanoid figure with a metallic exoskeleton and a large red fin on the head: literally an Ultraman.
"WAYYYY BIGGGG! Sorry but I have become wayyy bigger than you, now, little boy?"
I declare with a Japanese accent.
The monster looks up at me, dumbfounded.
Ladies and gentlemen! Let me introduce Way Big from To'kustars!
Way Big is a white colossal humanoid creature with a large fin on his head, which is red at the front and black at the bottom. He has blade-like growths on his shoulders and spikes on his waist. He also has red arms with two black lines and white fins on the elbows, wristband-like outgrowths on his wrists, and yellow eyes on his head with two extra eyes protruding on his cheeks, one on each.
He has red feet with two toes, a black sandal-like covering on the middle of his feet, and three black lines on the side of his neck. The red parts of Way Big's body are made of an unknown cosmic material with metallic properties.
(A/N: Way Big's size has been inconsistent from time to time in the series, ranging from approximately 60 ft to 300 ft. So I decided to give Way Big size-shifting abilities (which also ranges from 60 to 300 ft.) Also, I use both FEET and METER (metre) for measurements because Ben is an American and he also lived in Japan for the last 3 years in the previous world.)
The purple energy balls on either side of the silver guy start firing energy beams and blasts but the asteroid metallic exoskeleton is a big advantage for me. During that time, I grow larger from 60 ft to 85 ft approximately... and then stand right below the ceiling.
I cross my hands in an "L" shape, with my right forearm vertical and left forearm horizontal in front of it, and concentrate the powerful cosmic energy in the outer shell of the hand. Holding back my power a bit, I unleash the devastating cosmic ray. At the time, the monster tries to nullify my beam with his magic blasts but fails successfully. And instead, every magic blast in the line of cosmic beam gets nullified and the beam goes straight into the silver guy, reducing the whole body to ash.
Ha... it was overkill. Why did I use a planet buster ray on a small timer...
I walk to Ruby and regain my human form. She isn't unconscious anymore but pouting at me...
"Hey, Ruby. Are you alright?"
"Hmph. Why did you leave me away from battle?" She says with a monotonous voice.
"Sorry. You weren't okay that–"
She jumps at me and seemingly embraces my body... but no. She opens her lips revealing the sharp-pointed canines.
"Hey, what are you doing!?"
"Give me some blood," she says nonchalantly. "It's a punishment for ditching me."
"No, I didn't– Ahh ah, easy. Take it easy... Ah..."
Her teeth sink into my neck... and I suppose my blood is being sucked away.
Oh, whatever. A little donation won't hurt.
I lift her off the ground and carry her in my arms, then pick up my stuff to proceed with our little exploration trip while a cute vampire girl is sucking me dry.
I walk to the other side of the hall where a grand double door exists. Supposedly it is our destination. I wonder what the dungeon will show us beyond that door.
Today! Bad Ben has cleared the 100ft floor of the Great Orcus Labyrinth!
Abode of Traitors? What is this? Oh, probably the name of the chamber.
Beyond the double door sits a small forest with a pleasant ecosystem and house that is probably the abovementioned "Abode of Traitors."
"Hey, are you finished? Are you sucking me dry?"
"Wen... youwa warood so deriscious..." she mumbled.
Ay, of course, thanks to the cell repair of the Omnitrix, my blood is the purest in the known universe. Thanks for the compliment... but are you secretly an assassin assigned to kill me?
"Uh... I'm tired. Let's cook something and eat."
"I will pass," she says nonchalantly, jumping off my body. "I am full. Consuming blood is a better way of taking in food for me."
"As you wish," I pat her shoulders. "Good job."
"You are treating me like a child again!"
"Now, now, there is a mansion here. So there must be a kitchen. Wow, this sure looks fancy, haha."
The three-story mansion looks seriously normal but like an old building that accommodated a noble family a long time ago. With this environment... and this house... this is literally living heaven.
After exploring the house, I found out that the house has a kitchen, a living room furnished with sofas, a bedroom and extra rooms and... in the backyard most importantly... it is an open-air bath! The large bathtub is empty though. Imagine taking a bath in this place enjoying the wild scenery and pleasant sounds of nature–
There is a lion statue nearby. The lion's mouth is open mid-roar, and next to the statue is a magic circle.
Crap. This must be some water-creating magic tap. The problem is I don't know magic.
I give up the idea immediately and start scrolling the dial to find the right alien that can create water from nearby oxygen and hydrogen.
But Ruby grabs my hand and takes it away from the Omnitrix. When I look at her dumbfounded, she gently shakes her head and walks towards the lion statue. Perhaps she is pouring her mana into the statue to make it work.
Then hot water jettisons out of the lion's gaping maw.
Wait, what!? It's got a hot water bath!? Are they Japanese? Uh, no, no, it's not just the Japanese who enjoy the hot bath and hot springs. Well, it's one of the things I love in Japan.
"Amazing!" I exclaim, astounded.
"Wow... can I get in with you?" She says with a monotonous voice.
"Don't hurt my feelings, please, lady Ruby. If anything, you can take a bath first. I have things to check on–"
"Um... are you secretly planning to sniff my clothes while I am occupying the bath, huh... you are transparent, pervert Ben."
"OF COURSE NOT! I am gonna check on my friends," this girl is making an evil person blush.
Wait, by anime terms, is she... a kuudere? The "Kuu" part is okay but who is she "dere" for?
(A/N: I am not Japanese but I can explain this. Kuu comes from Kuuru – it is a katakana word. Means COOL. Ben lived in Japan for 3 years so he definitely learned some words. Although he doesn't know about the moonblood thing "Yue.")
"Your friends? Do you have friends?"
She asks, undoing the buttons of the bear hide jacket.
"Don't strip in my presence! Do you not have common sense seriously? Uh... of course, I have friends. TWO friends! I've not seen them for two or three weeks."
Now I think about it, I know her background for a very little bit and she seems to have abandoned her old identity so it isn't important. But I've never told her about myself. Frankly, I don't want to.
"Oh, I thought you were a gloomy lonely suicidal–"
"Enough. Just go take a bath ma'am. You are already naked anyway."
I have to witness the bare body of a little girl (?) ... no, she is actually a super old hag in a little girl's body. Don't mistake, Benjamin.
I slap my own face as I look at her walking into the bath... from behind.
"Alrighty, now then... the alien for the job is... BIG CHILL..."
I become a hooded humanoid moth witch, instantly turning invisible and intangible. She is peacefully taking a bath. Now then... where are they?
Since I can phase through the walls and floors, and thanks to the flight speed, I arrive at the 65th floor in no time, where I see my classmates battling the quadrupedal bull monster with large horns.
I knew it!
Hmm... seems like Mr. Hero has become much stronger in the last few weeks.
I suddenly turn off invisibility and intangibility to show my monstrous appearance before my classmates.
"Grr..."
"AHHH! What is this monstrosity!?"
Except for Amanogawa, who was scared but tried to maintain his composure, it caused quite a stir in the crowd.
"Haha, it's really fun. Thanks... " I say, and then turning around to see the bull monster. "Are you guys struggling with that thing?"
"No, we are gonna finish it," Amanogawa declares.
"I don't care anyway."
I float towards the monster, turn intangible and phase through his body to instantly freeze him from inside. After some moments, the monster becomes an ice sculpture.
Meld holds up his sword in a stance, glaring at me.
"Watch each other's back. Don't do silly things... like Hiyama."
Daisuke Hiyama helplessly stares at me with fear in his eyes. "W-who are you? What do you k-know about us!?"
"Hmm, think it out yourself. Maybe... overthink."
"Huh?"
"What did you do? You talking monster!?" Amanogawa looks seriously pissed off. He charges at me and swings his sword again and again at my intangible body.
"Due to Hiyama's silly decision, one of your classmates died, isn't it true?"
"How do you know!?" (Amanogawa)
For some reason, Hiyama looks scared... hmm, there must be more to the case than meet the eyes.
"Hiyama was the one who climbed and touched the magic crystal unauthorized although Meld Loggins warned you," I unfold my wings and cross my arms. "Hmm, is that true? Hero Hi-ya-ma? Watch your back, heroes. Someone can... probably... backstab you... anytime..."
Then I vanish on them mysteriously.
Of course, I didn't leave yet. Their reactions afterward are too entertaining to miss… priceless.
Hiyama screams weakly in horror.
"Calm down, Daisuke. It wasn't your fault," Amanogawa encourages him.
Well, technically yes. Literally no. I'm not sure who blasted me with a magic beam.
While I am not the type to put blame on others, I dislike Hiyama's personality. And I clearly remember what happened on that day.
As soon as Shirasaki said the crystals looked pretty, Hiyama crawled on the wall and rocks to the crystal chunks in the corner.
Indeed I feel nothing about my supposed death or... hold a grudge against Hiyama. Because I was already suicidal. I don't remember how many times I returned from dead. So I don't honestly care if I die more times.
But... for some reason... this guy pisses me off.
It's not like I like Shirasaki or anything. Yes! I don't like Shirasaki. Probably.
Shirasaki shoots a short glare at Hiyama, which is unnoticed by anyone but Yaegashi, and walks away.
"Kaori... wait up."
Hmm… hope she will be safe. Until next time, Kaori Shirasaki and Shizuku Yaegashi… and Daisuke Hiyama…
-(TRANSITION)-
I found a strange chamber in the back of the third floor of the mansion. When I entered the room, there was an eight-meter-long magic circle inlaid on the floor that had some of the most complex and subtle inscriptions I had ever seen. Hmm, another confusing setting.
It startles me when I discover a corpse sitting on a fancy chair.
The corpse has already decayed until nothing but bones remain. It is clothed in a grand robe of black and gold. Oddly, there isn't a slightest hint of dust or grime anywhere on the robe.
Man, this just makes it scarier...
Suddenly, I feel a cold hand touch my nape.
"Hey..."
"AHHHH."
Once upon a time, a boy once claimed that there was nothing he feared. That boy is me.
"You are such a scaredy cat, Ben. I thought you were a heartless killer."
It was Ruby who scared me from behind.
"O-of course not. I am not s-scared. I pretended to."
"Hmm... anyway, what's his deal?" She questions, pointing at the corpse. "Looks suspicious. What should we do?"
I cup my chin in a detective pose.
"How about we take his things? I mean... it looks expensive. The robe is."
She narrows her eyes at me.
What? I am being reasonable here. We cleared all the floors, I mean, we deserve a fine reward. Since no one's here to reward us, we will take things we like.
"I found a library and a workshop, too. Can you destroy the locks?" She says.
"Sure. I will do something with the magic circle."
"Okay, be careful."
I take a step forward and advance to reach the center of the circle. Then the entire room becomes filled with bright yellow light.
Oh crap, it's bright. I am forced to close my eyes firmly and block the light with my hands. As the light begins to dim, I open my eyes slowly to examine of my surroundings.
The magic circle still glows faintly. Standing before me is a man... to be precise, a hologram – with overflowing magic power. He is wearing the same robe as the one on the skeleton. Hmm,... so he is...
I am silently gazing at the man until he finay begins to speak.
"I congratulate you on overcoming my trial. My name is Oscar Orcus. I am the man who created this labyrinth. I suppose to the world I'm known as a maverick."
Hmm... maverick? What does it mean?
A man who can create a labyrinth... I can't still imagine how powerful such a person would be. But... so the corpse lying there must be Oscar Orcus himself.
"By the way," my attention is again redirected at the man. "Please spare me the questions. This is nothing more than a recording I left behind, so I unfortunately cannot answer any queries you may have. I wanted to tell those who made it this far why it was that we, who learned the truth of the world, chose to fight against the gods..."
Wait, fighting against the gods? This is getting more and more interesting.
Gods, huh? Sounds like a tough opponent. But I... kinda want to challenge them. I've not found a formidable opponent in years.
Anyway, I continue listening to the recording.
"So I decided to leave a message. And this was the simplest form to convey that message in. I want you to know... that though we were mavericks, we were not truly rebels."
Let's see. Rebels... demons... monsters... gods... and the Holy Church that is backed up by humans.
I'm not interested in world saving or anything like that. In fact, I've got no reason to challenge the gods. I don't wanna be a hero.
But "gods" must be powerful opponents. While I don't give a fuck about the humanity, I'd love to try killing some gods rather than small-timed monsters.
A short time after the Age of the Gods, the world was engulfed in strife. Humans, demons, and even beastmen all fought against each other in a never-ending war. Their reasons were as numerous as their battles. Land, resources, personal values, greed, but most important among them was theology.
In that age, the races and countries were split up into numerous factions, each of which had their own god. And it was each tribe's god that incited its people to fight against those who worshiped others. After some time, a group appeared that sought to put an end to this centuries-long war. They called themselves the Liberators.
There was only one thing they all had in common. Each member was a direct descendant of one of the gods. Their leader was someone who had, by coincidence, happened to learn of the gods' true intentions. It appeared that the gods were using the various races like pawns, playing a grand game of chess with the world as their board. The leader of the Liberators couldn't stand their sickening disregard for life, and began looking for comrades who felt the same way he did.
After an arduous search, they were able to discover the location of Asgard, the home of the gods. There were seven among the Liberators who were exceptionally powerful, and they were chosen to be the vanguard in the battle against the gods. However, their plans were foiled before the battle could even begin. The gods manipulated the sentient races and made them believe the Liberators were trying to destroy the world. They were marked as enemies of the gods, and every human, demon, and beastman considered them their mortal foe.
After a great many conspiracies, events, and dramatic encounters, the Liberators found themselves on the run. They couldn't bring themselves to fight the people they had sworn to protect, but those very people believed they were ungrateful heretics trying to bring about the end of the world. Their true name was forgotten, and they were known simply as mavericks in the annals of history.
The Liberators were killed off one by one, until only the strongest seven remained. With the entire world against them, they realized they wouldn't be able to defeat the gods. So they scattered to the ends of the earth and built huge labyrinths to hide themselves in. They created a series of trials, praying that someone who could clear them might one day appear, so they could bequeath their powers onto them in hopes that these new warriors would carry out their dreams.
After he finishes his long speech, Oscar smiles peacefully.
"I have no idea who you are, or why you chose to fight your way down here. Nor do I have any intention of forcing my own dreams of the gods' demise onto you. I simply wanted you to know what it was we fought, and died, for... As a reward for hearing me out, I shall grant you my strength. How you use it is entirely up to you. I can only pray you won't use it for evil. That's all I have to say. Thank you for listening to the end. May the 'blessings' of the gods never reach you."
Oscar's apparition vanishes once he finishes talking.
The magic circle dims and then the light vanishes once and for all.
"So it is the liberators who built the great labyrinths, huh…"
"So what are we gonna do?" (Ruby)
"Let's explore a bit here… partner."
When she puts on a genuine smile much like a little girl, I pay her wavy blonde head.
"Yea," she whispers.
We decided to leave the corpse and his robe alone and walked out of the chamber.
"Hey, don't you wanna know about… uh, me?"
My question is indeed out of nowhere.
"I want to. But if you don't wanna talk about it, it's fine."
Her monotonous voice actually calms me down. I don't really feel nervous because she doesn't show her emotions and feelings.
"OK, look… How about I am one of the heroes summoned to this world by… those gods?"
"Summoned heroes?"
"I'd actually hate that title though. Anyway, I was kinda kidnapped into this world and forced to become a "hero" who had to take care of the demons and monsters in the wars."
I wear an awkward smile, rubbing the back of my head. We walk together all the way to the workshop, the lock of which I am gonna destroy.
"Umm, after all, you look more like a pervert than a hero."
"Oh, spare me the cliches," again, I laugh dryly at her joke.
Excuse me, lady Ruby. Which part of the glorious me looks like a pervert? Have you by chance never heard of the word "handsome villain?"
"One day, while we were fighting a large bull monster on the 65th floor…"
"It is a Behemoth." (Ruby)
"Oh yeah, I didn't know. Thanks. We were fighting Behemoth and skeleton monsters…"
"Traum Soldiers."
"Yeah, Trauma Soldiers. I used transmutation–"
"Wait, you've got transmutation?"
"Yeah. So I used it to help… my… ahem… friend, yes. Her name is Shirasaki Kaori. A girl."
Ruby glares at me for unknown reasons but I choose to ignore her reaction. If I am not fortunate enough, I will probably step right on a landmine.
"I didn't know your friend was female. And?" (Ruby)
"Hahaha," I laugh off her glare dryly. "I saved her but couldn't save myself. I was blasted away by a beam and fell into the abyss. And I explored the dungeon until I met you."
"Aw… I know you are powerful enough to just walk or fly through literally everything and anything. Why didn't you go back to your… comrades?"
I shake my head. "I only have two friends who would worry about me."
"Both are females, right?"
Wait, why do I suddenly sense a murderous aura?"
I shake off my weird feelings and try to maintain eye contact with her.
"Y-yeah. Anyway, I like slaying monsters. I mean, as you said, I've kinda become a heartless killer. I suppose that's the reason why I didn't go back."
"Hmm, I'd prefer you stay with me instead of your two girl friends."
"Spare my life, Ruby-sama."
"What is "sama?"" She asks.
"Oh, honorifics. Don't mind."
I kinda want to watch villain anime suddenly for some reason.
My favorite TV show in Japan is Kamen Rider. The main protagonists kill the antagonists. It feels somewhat good to watch.
"Will you tell me about… that thing?" She questions, pointing at the Omnitrix.
I freeze for some seconds, staring at my sworn partner – the Omnitrix. This super science device and I have come a long way. In fact…
"Thanks to this (Omnitrix), I get to walk a mile in other lifeforms' shoes. So I can totally understand what it's like to be them."
- Ben Prime -
I am standing here today, alive, well, because of the Omnitrix. Because of my hate for heroes, it never got enough credit from me.
"It's my best friend."
"Huh?"
I ought to change my mindset as well.
"I have been living with this thing for 7 years. It's called the Omnitrix. Back in my home world, the Omnitrix represents the symbol of lives of all species. Say, what do you think of the things that I transform into?"
"Bizarre? Or somewhat monstrous."
Once in a very while, I wear a genuine smile.
"Yeah, all those bizarre and monstrous forms are not actually monsters. They are like… uh, humans with different shapes and sizes from normal humans."
She cups her chin, her eyes looking away at nothing.
"Like beastmen and demons?"
"Yeah. And they aren't evil. Well, some of them are. But no one is born evil. Just… the way they live affects them and shapes their lives."
Ha. I chuckle after explaining to Ruby excitedly.
It started when an alien device did what it did.
It stuck itself upon his wrist with secrets that it hid.
Now he's got superpowers, he's no ordinary kid.
He's Ben 10.
So if you see him you might be in for a big surprise.
He'll turn into an alien before your very eyes.
He's slimy, creepy, fast, and strong. He's every shape and size.
He's Ben 10.
Armed with powers – he's on the case.
Fighting off evil from earth or space, he'll never stop till he makes them pay.
'Cause he's the baddest kid to ever save the day.
-(TRANSITION)-
"Hey, Ben, is that you?" Ruby asks, half-awake and half-asleep.
"Yea," I respond with a high-pitched voice.
"Who's tiny now?" She says, flicking my back.
"Shut up. Shoo, go away."
I am making a proto-tool with the materials that Oscar Orcus left behind. I'll name it Proto-tool Mark X. The power source is the mana but it doesn't need to be recharged all the time.
Proto-tool Mark X! Based on the Proto-tool made by rooters, the weapon provides the user with a number of options. Like… 1) Blaster: gun mode. 2) Blade: energy sword mode. 3) Shooter: bow mode. And many more.
The combination of Transmutation skills and Grey Matter's super brain results in a great combo.
Let me introduce the Grey Matter of the Galvan species.
Grey Matter is a grey-skinned, frog-like, bipedal alien that is only four inches tall with large green eyes, which have rectangular pupils and horizontal eyelids.
"The metal quality is impressive. According to the mana relativity law, the ratio between the output and input mana is…"
Ruby pouts and finally walks away from my work site. Now I can work on the proto-tool peacefully.
Indeed, it's not just a proto-tool that I've been working on.
"Alright, she's gone. Let's finish this one first. UPGRADE!"
Upgrade has a black exterior with green stripes that resemble circuitry all over him. The green circle on his head is his eye, which glows whenever he talks. His body is made up of billions of small cell-like creatures called nanites.
I have already made four USB flash drives of different colors but haven't programmed the data they contain. I grab them all and fuse them with my body, then a couple of "blank data" analysis results appear in my nanite brain.
Alright, I can rewrite this part. And some decorative tattoos on the surface...
Finally! Four Gaia Memories are done.
Now next on... is...
Transmutation + Technological Possession is a great combo that enhances all the possibilities of whatever the outcome is. Due to the undefined body of Upgrade, transmutation ability can be used in any part of the body. The liquified body made of nanites uses transmutation to shape the metal pieces at will and gives them technological properties via enhancements.
Ok. Double Memory Driver is done, too.
I revert to my human form and wear the driver around my waist.
And pick up the purple and green Gaia memory flash drives.
Pressing the button on each of them, the drives are activated.
And insert one by one into the slots of the driver.
"CYCLONE!" "JOKER!"
"Hen... shin..." I perform a W henshin pose.
And then activate the driver...
But nothing happens.
Of course, this is just a fake kamen rider driver with a little voice-over. Well, I transform into aliens for voice acting.
"I thought you were acting suspicious..."
Hmm... it's Ruby.
"So you are playing around without doing actual jobs." (Ruby)
"L-look, I can explain," I say, holding up the scarf I made before.
"What's that? A scarf?
"Haha, glad you asked," I say sarcastically and walk towards the coat hanger that holds a black long coat with mint green lines. The green parts were processed to light up in the dark if you pour enough mana. For that case, I'm gonna need to discuss it with Ruby.
The same coat hanger holds another outfit that is intended for little girls – no, it's specifically made for Ruby. Her innocent appearance reminded me to make the outfit white.
I grab the coat and put it on my body, together with the scarf, which isn't supposed to make me warm.
The longer part of the scarf is left hanging on the back.
"Alrighty, use wind magic on me. It will be interesting."
Ruby raises an eyebrow at my request but responds with a mild wind blow at me.
The wind carries the longer part of the scarf and keeps it floating in the air... much like Kamen Rider W.
"Watch carefully."
I make a henshin pose again.
"CYCLONE!" "JOKER!"
"Hen... shin...!"
Again, nothing happens.
Double-driver is supposed to be used by two people.
"I'm finishing the Proto-tool already so don't worry too much. For now…" I point at the outfit I made for her with my index finger. "Try that one on."
"For me?"
"Yes, you can't wear the same clothes all the time so I made it."
She grabs the white coat excitedly.
"Thanks," she whispers.
"Don't mention it, partner."
I look back at the double-driver on my waist and smile wryly.
The driver needs two people to activate, huh?
-(BREAK)-
We decided to stay there for a few days mostly I want to make equipment and weapons for the future battle. Sure the Omnitrix worked fine in the recent battles. I honestly have no idea why the Omnitrix limited its time on the Behemoth battle.
I created multiple suits. Most of them are battle suits with technological enhancements (rather than magical) .. Well, I will have two or three times to make good use of this outfit.
Omni-X driver. Before someone sued me, I discarded the idea of a double-driver. The whole Kamen rider henshin thing is to convince the heroes (my classmates) that I am the same kin as the riders... rather than letting them see me as a monster.
Proto-tool Mark X. Thanks to the Plumber training, I can use many weapons – guns, swords, bows, polearms, and claymore. So Proto-tool Mark X's idea was a success.
On the second day on the 100th floor, Ruby suggested that we buried the corpse and took his possessions away.
We found out that the key to the library and the workshop is the ring with weird symbols, on one of Oscar's fingers. Thank you, Oscar. I will make good use of your gifts.
So during the last three days, I accomplished a couple of things.
But...
"Noooo! I don't want to learn magic! I just want to study some basic handy spells!"
Yelling, I run around the mansion as Ruby follows me flying with a thick magic book in her hand.
"Don't be stubborn, Benjamin Kirby Tennyson," she orders with her usual monotonous voice. "I am doing this for your own good."
"Noooo! I don't need mag–"
5 minutes later,
At the study table, a girl with blonde wavy hair is seen lecturing a tiny alien who's forced to read a thick magic book.
Thanks to Grey Matter's learning capability, I have learned twenty-five magic spells in one hour.
We spent half an hour arguing whether I've got magic affinity or not where I lost.
And I've got an unnatural magic affinity so Ruby-sensei suggested that I tried all those spells and it happened.
My magic abilities will be a secret for now.
-(TRANSITION)-
In a certain somewhere, boulders of all sizes tumbled down into the parched canyon below. The howls of monsters punctuated the air, reminding any who passed by that this was a land where only the strong survived.
This was a land where humanity's prized magic was ineffective, and food was scarce. Climbing out of the ravine required scaling a hundred-meter-tall cliff. A cliff that held no cover, and was filled with monsters waiting to feast on any foolish enough to attempt the climb. There were staircases leading out on the eastern and western ends of the ravine, but once someone fell, the monsters lurking below had no intention of letting their prey escape.
To most people, the ravine was synonymous with hell. Though for some, it also made for convenient execution grounds.
A solitary silhouette suddenly moved within that godforsaken canyon. A pair of rabbit ears poked out from below a boulder. They twitched a little as if searching for any noises. Such a cute spectacle was completely at odds with the hellish surroundings of the ravine.
After ascertaining its surroundings were safe, the figure tentatively stuck its head out from behind the boulder. Surprisingly, the rabbit ears were attached not to a rabbit's head, but a human's. The figure was actually a bunny girl in her mid-teens.
After poking her head out, she looked around, confirming once more by the sight that there were no dangers around. She was quite beautiful. She was covered in grime and her shabby clothes were in tatters, but that did nothing to mar her stunning looks.
She had light blue hair and azure eyes and gave off this aura of majestic mystery. And that dignified-looking girl was currently...
"Ugh, I'm so scared. I wish I were in bed eating snacks right now."
Her rather undignified outburst ruined the entire effect her looks had.
The bunny girl continued muttering complaints for a while, but then she suddenly slapped her cheeks and renewed her determination.
"If I don't do something, then it's my family that'll end up being the monsters' snacks," she muttered to herself, her eyes shimmering with resolve.
"...I've gotta hurry. I need to make it to that future, to that person."
She straightened her back and dashed off deeper into the ravine.
A few minutes later, a pathetic scream echoed throughout the gorge.
"Hiiii! I'm not tasty, don't eat meeeee!"
This is where we come in.
Unknownst to the bunny girl, a magic circle suddenly appears mid-air and unleashes a teleporting pinky ray. When the light dies down... it reveals two humans – a boy and a girl.
The boy who's at least 17 years old. Wears a black hat with green linings, a black coat with mint green lines that shine under the sunlight, gloomy green pants, and black boots with mint green lines. There also is a scarf that wraps around his neck and floats in the air as if the wind is blowing. His hair is dyed black and his eyes are naturally green. Well yeah, this is me.
The girl is supposed to be 300+ years old but looks like a 13-year-old girl. Wears a white long coat with silver linings and faint golden patterns, a black skirt, tights, and boots. Her eyes are red and astonishing... like Ruby. Her name is Ruby.
"Wait for me, here, Ruby. I'm gonna go talk to those two fellows."
I jokingly say to Ruby, waving my hands at the two-headed tyrannosaurus rex-like monsters whose attention is directed at me, thanks to the explosion caused by the magic beam recently.
"However lonely you are, they won't even return a single word to you. Too back, Ben Tennyson," Ruby mocks me with a straight face.
"Uh... too depressing. Well, loneliness WAS my identity anyway but not now. You are with me after all,... uh, partner."
I don't know why but the mostly expressionless Ruby blushes at my words.
Well, I have to drop the subject as the two dinosaur monsters are finally approaching us at a raptor speed. Dinosaur monsters are one thing but... what the heck is with that bunny cosplay girl behind them?
"It's time to test my Proto-tool Mark X."
Fusing the magic of the gems I crafted from Orcus' special materials and the super technology enhancements of Upgrade and Grey Matter – this thing happened.
I mentally command the Omnitrix to summon my sacred weapon.
But strangely… nothing happens.
"Huh… what happened?"
"Magic doesn't work in this place," Ruby answers.
"Oh,... then how do we get here? We are teleported by magic."
She shrugs off my question nonchalantly.
Here I was thinking to use proto-tool instead of alien forms to resolve the witness matter.
Now it comes to this… the monsters are coming for me, too.
"Got no choice huh? HUMUNGOSAUR!"
Well, what then? I will punch the monsters to the pulp as always.
The two monsters that are coming for me are both sent flying by my punches. Before they can recover, I punch the earth, creating a small tremor that makes the monster lose balance and fall to the ground again. At the time, I charge at the closer one and punch in his guts before tearing him apart into two parts. The other monster freaks out at the scene but as he begins to run, I, the humungosaur, land before him and strike him with my tail, instantly killing him.
"I've not killed monsters for four days. Feel better…"
"Yes, you do," Ruby shoots a glance at the corpse and facepalms. Anyway, that rabbitman…" she says pointing at the girl who's supposedly hiding in the bushes.
Who wouldn't hide from someone who they just witnessed killed someone brutally?
I walk towards her with a questioning smile.
But she flinches when my eyes accidentally meet hers.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Y-yeah. I am okay. T-thanks for saving me."
It's her somewhat beautiful and attractive body and exposed outfit that caught my eyes. Her breasts... they are so– wait, the heck am I thinking!? How indecent! I snap myself out of "indecent" thoughts and try to maintain eye contact with her... whilst she is almost intentionally avoiding my eyes.
"What's the matter?" I question her. I so well understand that she isn't shy or anything but she fears me...
After what's happened, I can't blame–
"I-I've been... waiting for you," she begins to talk. "I-I finally get to meet you."
I don't really get why she's acting excited suddenly.
"Huh, what do you mean?"
I shoot a questioning glare at her brea– I mean, her eyes, which makes her flinch again.
"But… wh-what are you? You can't use magic here."
I cup my chins and ask myself silently. How should I respond to the question…
"Oh, I am Bad Ben."
"Wh-what!? You are evil?! W-wait, are you gonna… do… s-something to me?" she stammers.
"Don't mind him. He is crazy," Ruby's voice suddenly interrupts our interview.
The silence takes over our conversation.
And it restarts the moment the bunny girl grabs my hand and begs…
"I'm begging you! Please save my family!"
"Huh? Do I know you?" (me)
"No, but…"
"That's my point. I don't find a reason to save some people I don't even know."
I retract my hand and look at Ruby. But Ruby isn't someone who will boss me around, instead, she will likely follow me and share the same fate as me.
"Let's go." (me)
"Okay, Benny." (Ruby)
After walking for some moments…
"Wait, did you just call me Benny?" (me)
"Hmm, why? Isn't it cute?" (Ruby)
"Kinda… but… well, you can call me by any name you like."
I don't want to tell her that I can't handle cute things. In an aggressive way. Don't get me wrong.
I am not even sure I am on the vampire princess route or swaying from it. I don't want to take advantage of the fact that I saved her and she owed me. It is bullshit.
"Thanks," additionally, I thank her. Dunno why but I am getting a feeling that she is enough–
"I'm begging you!" (Random Rabbit Girl)
Wait, did I just catch a rabbit with my leg?
Hell no, she is clinging to my leg, screaming and crying.
"Please save my family!"
"Get off him," Ruby pulls her bunny ears. What!? Her ears are… real thing?!
"No! If I get off, you'll just toss me aside, won't you?!"
I smirk wryly at her. "Of course. While I don't have any reason to save a random rabbit family, I have reasons to toss you aside!" I declare.
Finally, Ruby pulls her off my leg and toss her aside, even making a crater in the ground.
The rabbit girl quickly recovers.
"You even saved me!"
"I didn't. I just like slaying monsters," I clarify.
I can feel Ruby's glare on my back: it sends shivers through my spines.
"Won't it wound your heart to turn away a beautiful lady in need?!"
She begs, making a cute girl pose on the ground.
"Please. If you help me… I will… do… a-anything for you."
"An… Anything!?"
Ruby slaps my back. "Hey, you haven't even touched me…"
Girl, I pat your head… it doesn't count?
"I'm just confirming…" I laugh off her glare and turn towards the rabbit girl. "Listen here, if you want our help, then let us know who you are and try to know who we are. I don't blindly help random people. In fact, I don't help anyone at all."
"Try to know you… uh, I am Shea. The eldest daughter of the Haulia beast tribe."
Hmm… beast… beastman!? It's a good opportunity to practically see what beastmen are.
"I am Bad Ben. You don't need to know my real name to know me. As long as you don't pry into my past, we can be good friends."
"I am Ruby. As Tennyson forbids, I also want to warn you not to try to know my past."
But yeah, she looks like an airhead. No way she will know…
"OK, now speak. Tell us what happened."
THE END OF CHAPTER (3).
From now on, I will update this story weekly. I've got another ongoing story "Ben 10: Rising of the Shield Hero." I have written 21 chapters for that story. So if you are interested, please check it out. Every week, I will update a chapter for "Ben 10: the One Who Defies Gods" and a chapter for "Ben 10: Rising of the Shield Hero."
Thanks for reading and writing reviews on my chapters.
Christopher Paradox Chronos.