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The Alien Hero of Teyvat
Chapter 6 – A Cold Heated Conflict
Following the shocking disclosure that Lumine made to Ben and Amber, they were expected to grill Lumine with additional questions. Due to the fact that it was growing late, Paimon proposed postponing this discussion until the next day, and everyone agreed with his suggestion.
The following morning arrived, and the group of four decided to meet again at Good Hunter to continue their conversation about the matter. Before Lumine and Paimon began explaining things, the four of them were filling their stomachs with Sticky Honey Roast while seated at one of the tables.
"Paimon believes it is time to leave Mondstadt and continue searching the seven nations for information about her brother." Paimon started things off by carrying on where Lumine left off with her words from the previous day.
"Right. I remember you telling me about your brother who had gone missing." Ben uttered these words while he was enjoying a heaping helping of Sticky Honey Roast.
"I guess this is goodbye for now..." Amber sadly said. Having to see your friends depart while being unsure of when they will return was not a pleasant experience.
"It is. But I will miss my Favonian Family. The journey itself, together with the experiences I had and the people I met along the way, will be memories that I hold dear for the rest of my life." It was a solemn statement that Lumine made with a wistful grin, as she acknowledged that she would truly miss being in Mondstadt.
"Hey, don't feel down! You'll always be a friend of the Knights of Favonius and our Honorary Knight. Wherever you may go, and wherever the wind may blow." In a flash, Amber shifted back into her bubbly, upbeat demeanor, which immediately lifted everyone's emotions.
"Let the Wind lead!" Lumine let out a loud exclamation of joy, much to the delight of Amber, and Ben smiled as he observed the interaction.
"That's the spirit! Keep in mind that Mondstadt will always have a place for you." Amber sent Lumine her most heartfelt compliments and words of encouragement.
"So, Ben, how about you? Will you remain in Mondstadt, or will you explore other areas in search of a return trip home?" Paimon circled back around to confront Ben with this inquiry. This was an unexpected question for the hero, and he wasn't prepared for it. Even Amber was taken aback when she learned this, and her expression changed somewhat as she waited to find out what Ben's response was going to be.
Before giving what turned out to be his definitive response, Ben did, as a matter of fact, give it considerable consideration in his mind. "Hmm. I think I'll be here for a while. If I stay in one place, my friends will be able to find me and bring me home faster."
"I see." Lumine nodded, accepting this as a reasonable response from the hero, and Amber simply let out a sigh of relief.
"But if you guys want a cool hero to help you out on your adventures, I'm down to go along. I do have a habit of making it hard for everyone to find me if I'm out of the house." When Ben made a proposition to Lumine about an opportunity, Amber once more felt a touch on edge.
"Thanks for the offer, but we'll have to pass. You also need to go home since we came from other areas." The offer that Ben made was respectfully declined by Lumine. Even while it would be simpler if the person who possessed the Omnitrix joined her, she is capable of handling things on her own as long as Paimon is by her side.
"Alright, guys, now let's eat before it gets cold!" Amber spoke out loud and pointed to everyone's meal in an effort to divert attention away from the concerns that were being asked about leaving. Except for Ben, who had just finished eating his own portion of the food. Lumine and Paimon showed their assent by nodding their heads and then beginning to dig in as well.
"Mmm, that was goooood! Note to Paimon, Amber's recommendations are worth the wait!" As Paimon continued to consume more of the meal, she voiced her approval of the dish's flavor and presentation.
"Without a doubt! While I wouldn't put my faith in my cooking skills, you can always count on me to pick out a delicious meal." Before taking another bite of her dinner, Amber made a jubilant proclamation.
"Ah, come on. Your cooking isn't that bad." The steak Amber made the day before was mentioned by Ben. When the Outrider thought back on the happy memory, she couldn't help but laugh nervously at herself.
"Ben, don't fret! I'm working hard to make the required adjustments! Oh yes, I almost forgot to bring that up. At the cathedral, Jean is waiting for you. It's something to do with the Holy Lyre der Himmel. You need to make haste to get there." Amber was able to recall what Jean had requested of her prior to her departure.
"The holy lyre ham sandwich what now?" Because the name is so difficult to articulate, Ben was unable to say it in the correct manner.
"The Holy Lyre der Himmel is an important artifact we used in trying to tame Stormterror." Lumine gave Ben an explanation, but omitted the bit where it kind of fell flat.
"What is up with weapons and artifacts having weird and long, complicated names?" Ben couldn't help but scratch his head, and he even recalled "Annihilarrgh" and how difficult it was for him to say it at the time.
"Doesn't the Omnitrix sound weird also?" Paimon countered to Ben's criticisms by pointing out his alien wristwatch.
"It's just one word and rolls right off the tongue." Ben rebutted Paimon's assertion by pointing out that the name is uncomplicated and has a memorable ring to it. The statement made by Ben caused everyone to nod their heads in acknowledgement and agreement.
"Well, we better get going to return the thing, and we'll be off." Together with Paimon, Lumine stood up as the two of them prepared to proceed to the cathedral at this very moment.
"I don't have much planned for today, so I'll tag along." Ben, who was interested in viewing the relic they were talking about, expressed an interest in going along for the ride as well.
"And I'd like to tag along, if possible. I have a little more time off before you guys have to depart, and I can use it to hang out with you." And finally, but certainly not least, Amber was the one who footed the bill for their meals before opting to accompany the rest of the group. Following that, everyone began their journey to the cathedral in order to hand over the sacred relic.
In the highest parts of the city of Mondstadt, there are two sights that are particularly noticeable. The first thing that catches your eye is the colossal and impressive statue of the Anemo Archon Barbatos. The second one is the Favonius Cathedral, which can be found directly across the street and a few stairs to the upper right of the statue. The Favonius Cathedral is a holy place managed by the devoted adherents of the Anemo Archon.
As the group of four climbed the stairs leading up to the cathedral, they were greeted by someone who had been waiting for them at the main entrance.
The person's face was adorned with a warm and welcoming smile. He has pale skin, aqua-green eyes, and short black hair with twin braids that fade into aquamarine at the tips. His attire includes a frilly white blouse with a corset-like leather midriff, teal shorts with gold embroidery, and a matching teal cape with a deep blue and gold bow. In addition, he wears white stockings with three gold diamond shapes on each leg and a cap with a cecilia. Finally, he has an "Anemo Vision" on his left hip.
A native of Mondstadt and a bard by trade, Venti is the person who is currently standing directly in front of everyone. Venti is an easygoing and jovial person who, at times, likes to rhyme with his speech. The majority of his leisure time is taken up by him wandering around Mondstadt and performing songs for the many people who admire him for his musical abilities. Even more impressively, Venti has three times won the honor of "Most Popular Bard of Mondstadt." He also has a strong tolerance for alcohol, which he uses to indulge in one of his other hobbies, which is drinking. On the other hand, it seems as though this bard is keeping something from everyone in the room.
"Ah, Lumine, we meet again! And you brought along your companions, but the green-eyed one is new in your battalion." Venti smiled and waved cheerfully in the direction of the group, and for some unknown reason, he was intrigued when he saw Ben.
"If it isn't the Tone-Deaf Bard. Paimon should have known you'd be here." Paimon spoke in a monotone, indicating that she was not looking forward to reuniting with Venti.
"This is Ben, right here. He arrived in Mondstadt just now." Lumine made the executive decision to provide an answer to the bard's question by rapidly introducing Ben to him.
"Then I welcome you stranger to this lovely land, I hope your arrival here is all planned." Venti grinned at Ben. Yet this smile was different, as if he had some knowledge about what was going on here.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too. Though my being here wasn't exactly planned." Ben assumed that Venti's use of rhyming was nothing more than a quirk on his part, so he didn't give it any thought.
"Shall we all enter this cathedral to return the lyre?" The bard inquired of the others as he hurried toward the cathedral entrance.
"You know about the Holy Lyre der Himmel?" Amber had a sneaking suspicion that Venti's presence at the location when they came to return the lyre wasn't a coincidence, and she questioned whether or not it was just a fluke.
"Of course! Everyone knows it's a legendary lyre used in Ludi Harpastum." Venti responded with a nonchalant attitude, as if this were the most obvious thing in the entire world.
"Well, you are the most popular bard in all of Mondstadt, so I guess you came here to see it in person." The Outrider did nothing more than nod her head in acknowledgement as she realized that what the bard had said was fair.
"Indeed, you've guessed correctly. The time for discussion has passed. Let's not keep the people inside waiting." After rushing inside the cathedral, Venti was shortly followed by everyone else.
The inside of the Favonius Cathedral is decorated in a manner that is appropriate for a sacred space used for worship. The interior is enormous and expansive, and it is adorned with pillars that hold everything up and a massive chandelier that sits in the center of everything. People can sit on the church benches located all around the room in order to pray, the floor is made of marble, and the windows are constructed out of colored stained glass.
At the far end of the hallway, you'll see Jean, and she's having a conversation with another person. That someone is a young maiden with ash-blonde hair in two high pigtails that spiral downward, gray-blue eyes, and fair skin. Her attire includes a white frock with an open shoulder and a giant white and blue bow in front, white tights, white ankle boots, and a blue and white cap. Finally, a little cross charm dangles from her neck, and her Hydro Vision is attached to a spell book with a light blue cover and gold accents.
That person who was just mentioned is Barbara. She is the deaconess of the Church of Favonius, and she is known for her tireless effort, her magnetic personality, and her positive outlook. Like one might expect from a deaconess, she worships the Anemo Archon Barbatos and takes care to protect holy relics. In addition to this, Barbara is well-known across all of Mondstadt for her role as the renowned singing idol who boosts everyone's spirits. Her music possesses a special allure in the sense that it has the power to erase all of your worries and pain. In connection with the subject of pain, she is a dependable healer who is available to assist others in healing their wounds and other physical problems with the use of her Hydro Vision.
Both Jean and Barbara were aware of the presence of everyone else, but the deaconess was the first to inquire about it. "Oh, Outrider Amber! What brings you here?"
"Hello Barbara. We all came here to return the Holy Lyre." Amber extended a cordial gesture in the direction of the deaconess.
After noticing that Lumine, Paimon, Venti, and Ben were interested in learning more about the deaconess, Jean proceeded to provide a condensed introduction of the individual. "This is Barbara, the deaconess of the church. She is here to retrieve the Holy Lyre der Himmel."
"May the Anemo Archon protect you." Barbara pressed her palm to her heart and wished them well before releasing it. She then broke into a smile as she proceeded to have a few more complimentary things to say about the company. "When compared to our Acting Grand Master, I am in no position to make any sort of statement... But, I'd like to personally thank you for your help on behalf of everyone in Mondstadt!"
"It was no biggie." Paimon was ecstatic to take in all of the positive feedback that was being showered on them.
"And you must have come here to say some prayers?" Barbara moved her head to look at Ben since she presumed that he arrived here at the same time as they did. Little did she know he's more than meets the eye.
"Maybe not in that case. I'm just browsing for a while." Ben shared this information with the deaconess as he continued to take in the breathtaking scenery of the cathedral.
"You needn't fret, Barbara. It's safe to say that he's a honorable person. He is actually a guest who has only recently arrived in Mondstadt." Although she hadn't informed her about Ben's true identity just yet, Jean went ahead and explained everything to her.
"Oh! I really hope you enjoy your time in our city. Lord Barbatos is the one responsible for the founding of our beautiful land." Barbara was delighted to witness more people visiting Mondstadt and gaining a deeper understanding of the nation's illustrious past.
"The city itself, as well as the food, has been wonderful. I showed up as soon as the dust from your dragon's assault had settled." Ben told everyone about the fond things the city had to offer when he arrived.
"Thankfully, everything was settled amicably... I shudder to think what would have happened if the knights had engaged the dragon in open conflict." Barbara breathed a sigh of relief when she realized that the situation did not call for the use of excessive force.
"Now the Fatui have no choice but to keep their mouths shut. They must be frustrated since their expectations were not met. They even lost their finest pretext for pressuring the Knights of Favonius this time around. In terms of diplomacy, they accomplished nothing but demonstrated their obnoxiousness." When Jean said this, she meant it to be taken seriously because the Fatui had been behaving in a suspicious manner throughout the entire incident, and Jean believed that the Fatui were the ones who were responsible for starting the dispute.
"What's the deal with the Fatui, anyway? I heard they were a suspicious group." Ben had a hazy comprehension of the Fatui, so he turned to Amber for additional information on the subject.
"It's not exactly easy to explain. Their demands are high, and they insist on taking the aggressive path whenever possible. Honestly, I have a weird gut feeling they're mostly responsible for a lot of messes, but we couldn't find the evidence to back it up." Amber informed Ben of additional details, and she shared with him that she, too, was skeptical about the Fatui.
"That is quite a tale... So, did you bring the Holy Lyre with you?" As Barbara smiled broadly at everyone and then asked for the artifact back, she turned to retrieve it.
"Umm…" Concerned about the deaconess's reaction, Lumine, Paimon, Venti, and even Jean all had cats in their tongues and didn't want to give her the lyre.
"We can't expect you to keep protecting the lyre indefinitely. The Seneschal has been pressing me for a while now..." Barbara continued to be persistent and respectfully requested the return of the church relic.
"We ahh... did bring it with us... Umm... It's just... it's a little..." Paimon was having trouble speaking clearly because she was anxious about passing on the instrument. Both Ben and Amber were mystified as to why everyone was being so hesitant to hand over the lyre.
"Oh, don't worry! I'm not here to collect a rent! The Church has always received special funding..." Barbara made the assumption that they were anxious about having to pay for something, and she reassured them. Unluckily for her, she's in for a surprise that won't be very pleasant to experience.
The Holy Lyre der Himmel was given to me by Lumine, although it was in a sorry state. It was devoid of any hue, and the left arm side of the lyre was missing, in addition to the crossbar being bent and the strings being shattered. When they were ready to give the lyre to the deaconess, Ben and Amber displayed an expression that suggested that they understood why everyone was freaking out about it. Paimon displayed an embarrassed expression and brought her index and middle fingers together. Venti nervously stroked the top of his head, and Barbara appeared to be as taken away as if Barbatos had suddenly returned to Mondstadt.
"AAAAAARGH! THE HOLY LYRE! Oh, Lord Barbatos... Even if I atoned for these sins for the rest of my life...it would still not be enough!" To everyone's amusement, Barbara quickly got down on her knees and began praying to receive forgiveness from Barbatos after she had been wronged.
"Don't take all the blame, Barbara." While everyone else was pondering what they ought to do to clean up their mess, Amber kneeled down beside her to offer her some solace.
"Give me a sec. I'll fix it." Ben remarked in a casual manner as he started to scroll through the Omnitrix. Venti was going to use a magic spell to intervene, but instead he decided to watch what Ben had to accomplish in order to proceed. Lumine, Paimon, Amber, and Jean were all curious as to what kind of otherworldly being the hero would eventually transform into. And last, Barbara did not fully understand what he meant by it.
"Fix it? Your kindness is appreciated, but unfortunately…" A bright green light suddenly filled the room just as Barbara was about to finish her sentence, prompting everyone in the room, including herself, to hide their eyes.
As the green light stopped glowing, Ben was replaced by an alien that resembled a robot. The alien's skin was composed of golden metal with black stripes, and he wore a piece of green glass that was transparent in the middle of its chest, which revealed the gears that were inside of him. In addition to it, the Omnitrix emblem is emblazoned across his upper chest.
The alien that Ben transformed into is Clockwork, which is the DNA sample of a Chronosapien in the Omnitrix. He was first unlocked after a battle with Eon, thanks to the help of Ben 10,000. Although Clockwork doesn't appear to be particularly formidable at first glance, his ability to control time makes him one of Ben's most potent aliens. He can use his time rays to transport individuals back in time, speed up the aging process of a person or an object, return objects to their previous conditions, project what happened in the past, and even stop the passage of time itself.
The emergence of the Chronosapien provoked a diverse array of responses from all of those there. Naturally, the four individuals in the room who were aware of Ben's secret weren't taken aback by this transformation; instead, they conjectured in their thoughts about the powers it has. Venti wasn't the least bit surprised; in fact, he was grinning as if he had been looking forward to this very moment all along. After slowly getting up, Barbara, who was already in a state of shock, became much more startled, and she tumbled back down to the ground. "A Ruin Guard?!"
"Don't worry, Barbara. Do you recall the news I broke a week ago, about a shapeshifter who aided in protecting Mondstadt's entrance gate? Well, that man over there is him." Jean reached out to comfort Barbara by placing a hand on her shoulder, and the deaconess's eyes widened in shock as she realized she had seen the shapeshifter in action before her very eyes
"So, how exactly will Windy-Hindy aid us here?" Paimon positioned her arms in a cross and quickly bestowed onto Clockwork the apt moniker that came to her mind in response to the clocklike aspect that he possessed.
"Avoid calling me that. I am Clockwork. Now, simply observe in silence." The Chronosapien snatched the Holy Lyre away from Lumine and simultaneously unleashed an emerald time ray from his chest in the direction of the relic. The lyre was tending to its own damage in a methodical and consistent manner. The missing left arm was recovered, the crossbar had been straightened up, and the strings were beginning to return to their original position. Following a spectacular flash, the Holy Lyre der Himmel was returned to its former splendour, shining with vibrant colors and blue-green sparkles.
The results of the repairs wowed and amazed everyone who witnessed them. Not only was Barbara overwhelmed to find that the lyre had been mended, but also that it appeared to be holy once more. "How could this– But how?!"
"It seems our friend's form looks sublime, with his special ability to control time." Venti remarked in a gentle manner after he had effortlessly determined what Clockwork's abilities are.
"Control time?!" Everyone else let out a loud yell of disbelief because this was an unbelievable and powerful ability that anyone could have.
"That's pretty much the whole point of Clockwork. He's got time powers. Speed up, slow down, forward, back." The moment Clockwork smacked the Omnitrix on his chest, he reconverted into Ben.
"Are you an Archon?!" Paimon couldn't help but voice the one thing that was on everyone else's mind regarding Ben, and she couldn't help but ask it out loud.
"No…" The operator of the Omnitrix responded with some reluctance, knowing that it was probably for the best that he didn't tell them about Alien X just yet.
"He really wasn't lying when he said the real question should be what powers he doesn't have." Jean recalled what Ben had said to the knights about his many incarnations during their discussion of his transformations.
"If I may ask, how many forms with different powers do you have?" Barbara was still having trouble understanding things, so she inquired about receiving further clarification.
"More than seventy." Ben spoke that without showing any sign of hesitancy, and it appeared as though Barbara was on the verge of passing out after hearing how powerful the hero could possibly be.
Unbeknownst to everyone else, someone was sneakily hidden behind the shadows and quietly studying all of them. This figure was suddenly fascinated and cautious as she observed Ben's transformation into Clockwork, and no one was aware of her presence.
"Time powers. Seventy different forms. There is reason to be concerned that this kid could develop into a major safety risk." After taking in all that had transpired, the enigmatic person was heard remarking to herself.
The mysterious person had ghostly pale grey skin, pale magenta eyes with small white pupils, choppy wine-colored hair and some darker red bangs. She's dressed like a nun, but with a few personal touches that make it more her style. The modification features a long white and black coif with red lining, a white sleeveless turtleneck top, long white gloves, and a black and red slit skirt that shows her left leg and partially her right. Her accessories include a tiara, pendant, and claws. And dangling from her lower back is a Cryo Vision.
That scary lady is Sister Rosaria, a nun at the Favonius Church. Before becoming a nun, she was once a bandit after being forcefully taken from her home and becoming one of their own. As a result, she had to resort to fighting and stealing as a child. Eventually, Grand Master Varka brought her to Mondstadt and had her become a nun for a chance at rehabilitation and a normal life. Yet she doesn't do a very good job of being a nun because she doesn't take any of it seriously and does things like smoking in the church, misspelling Barsibato's name, and skipping church choir rehearsals. At night, though, she secretly studies shady individuals who might pose a danger to Mondstadt.
"I'll just keep an eye on him while he's here for the time being." Rosaria carried on writing in her notepad while she awaited Ben to reveal his next set of transformations.
"It was a delight to witness one of your transformations take place right before my eyes; thank you, Ben, for restoring the holy lyre." After expressing her gratitude to Ben, Barbara turned around and proceeded to the cathedral's lower level, where she planned to put the lyre away for safekeeping.
"Arise, Lumine! Let me share some information with you that could prove useful in your journey. And if you'd like to, you can listen along with Ben." Before bursting out the front door, Venti made the decision that the moment had come to carry out the plan he had offered.
"Hey! Wait up you Tone-Deaf Bard!" Paimon let out a loud yell as she and Lumine simultaneously came to the conclusion that this presented a wonderful opportunity for them to obtain information regarding the Honorary Knight's brother. Both of them were in a hurry to get to Venti, but before they did so, they stopped to say farewell to their other friends.
As they watched the three of them leave, Jean placed her fingers below her chin, wondering what the bard meant when he made that offer. "Travels? Ah, is our Honorary Knight leaving Mondstadt?"
"I'm afraid she is, Master Jean. She needs to find more clues about her missing brother." Amber shared the news with Jean about the plans that their honorary knight had, and the Acting Grand Master nodded in accord.
"Well, that makes sense. I should have said a proper farewell to them before they left. So, Ben, how about you? Will you accept Venti's offer?" Jean turned to ask Ben since she believes this would be beneficial for the hero to do.
"I don't really need to hear what they need to talk about." Ben acknowledged that he does not see any reason why he should also delve into the dialogue that the two are having with one other.
"You might be able to gain some new knowledge by speaking with him." Jean continued to be adamant that she wished for the Omnitrix wielder to communicate with the bard.
"Oh, that's alright. But I seriously doubt that a bard could offer me exact directions to my home. All he can do is try to persuade me to sing some of my country's songs, which might make me miss home even more." Despite the fact that Ben was puzzled as to why the Acting Grand Master was so keen on getting him to speak to Venti, the hero had a fleeting thought: perhaps Jean knew something about the bard that he did not know.
"Venti!" Suddenly, a loud and alarmed scream could be heard coming from the direction of Lumine, and it appeared to have originated outside.
"What was that?" A worried expression could be seen on Jean's face, as well as on the faces of everyone else there, as their honorary knight sounded quite distressed and it appeared as though something terrible might have occurred to Venti.
"It sounds like they're in trouble." Ben followed the rest of them as they raced up to the entrance. Arriving at the enormous doors, the alien hero peered out, and his reaction to what he saw caused his eyes to bulge out of his head.
Lumine and Venti were both rendered unconscious, and Paimon was encased in ice and rendered immobile. Fatui agents and Cicin mages were stationed all around them in the area. The one that stuck out the most, though, was the woman who was clutching what appeared to be a magical chess piece.
The presumed commander was a tall, white woman with glacial blonde hair and cold gray eyes. At the back of her head, she has two rose-shaped buns made from her hair. Her left ear is pierced with a black earring, while her right eye is hidden by a black mask. She has what seems like a catalyst floating off her right shoulder.
This dangerous woman goes by the name La Signora. She is the eighth-ranked of the Fatui Harbingers, and her codename is The Fair Lady. The Eleven Harbingers are the most prominent and high-ranking Fatui, and they also happen to be extremely wealthy and influential in Snezhnayan affairs. They inspire fear among the local population of Teyvat due to the fact that they have one of the most powerful military force in the region. As a result of the Cryo Archon Tsaritsa bestowing Delusions upon them, their capabilities are significantly higher than those of Vision bearers. Signora was given a Cryo Delusion, and she is so powerful that she can freeze anything in sight without problem. The real purpose of the Cryo Delusion, on the other hand, is to keep the latent power that is buried deep within her under wraps because it has the potential to inflict widespread disaster if it is released.
"What do you see, Ben?" As Amber readied herself to draw her Hunter's Bow in case any conflict was about to break out, she worried whether or not their friend was in danger.
"Some guys with weird mask things are… attacking Lumine and Paimon!" Ben clenched his teeth in response to the scene that was playing out in front of him, and at the same time, he was getting himself ready for battle.
"Weird mask things? The Fatui! That violates the terms of our diplomatic agreement with them." Jean had a deep frown on her face when she heard what the Fatui were secretly doing behind their backs.
"Then it's only fair that they pay the price for their corrupt practices." Ben immediately activated his Omnitrix and slammed it down as a green light covered him once more.
Ben changed into a nine-foot-tall alien with no tail that looks like an orange and white bipedal tiger. Each of his wrists now has a single silvery-gray claw. Muscular, with green eyes and black stripes over his shoulders, head, legs, and upper torso with a white jaw, neck, chest, stomach, hands, and feet. He's decked up in the traditional green and black luchador garb, complete with a mask and gloves. Finally, the Omnitrix is attached to his luchador belt.
This ferocious extraterrestrial being is known as Rath, and his DNA was taken from an Appoplexian and stored in the Omnitrix. It was Tiffin who inadvertently unlocked him the first time when Ben, Gwen, and Kevin were given the mission to bring him as a peace offering. Rath is one of the few aliens that has a significant impact on Ben's personality. As a result of the Appoplexian's influence, Ben would become quite fiery and regularly refer to himself in the third person. Rath is powerful, as evidenced by the fact that he was able to effortlessly toss tanks and cause harm to Princess Looma. Because of this, in addition to his amazing agility, speed, and proficiency in wrestling, he is one of Ben's go-to aliens in any circumstance in which muscle is required. Also, out of all of Ben's aliens, he is perhaps the one who provides the most entertainment for viewers to watch.
Given that the alien appeared to be a humanoid tiger, neither Jean nor Amber were particularly blown away when they first laid eyes on it. On the other hand, Rath banged his hands together and got ready to storm out the front doors of the building. "CASTOR TACKLE!"
"Well, we have what we came here for. Come. Before our dear Favonian friends arri—Oof!" Before Signora could finish her comment about calling for a strategic withdrawal, Rath tackled her, and the two of them were thrown falling down towards the main center area of Mondstadt.
A blustery gust of wind blasted through the area just as the Cicin mages and Fatui agents were about to start running after Rath to help their leader. This wind froze them in their tracks. After turning back, the four of them saw Jean staring at them with a serious expression on her face. "Fatui. We maintain a diplomatic connection with each and every one of you, as I'm sure you all know. But, treason against this pact is committed by attacking an innocent person of Mondstadt or harming a member of the knights. Keep the peace and let's work things out gently to restore order, or you'll have to face the consequences."
Because they were aware that they had been discovered, the minions of Fatui had no choice but to go ahead and defeat Jean in an effort to ensure that no witnesses were left behind. The first Fatui agent made a number of knife attacks directed at Jean, but the dandelion knight deflected each hit and then countered by striking the agent with a gust of wind. The other member of the Fatui agent moved in for a stabbing strike. Thankfully, Jean was nimble enough to sidestep it, and she followed that up by kicking the agent in the face.
The Cicin mages were closing in for the kill on Jean when all of a sudden, Baron Bunny materialized directly in front of them, causing an explosion that sent them back a few paces. Amber intervened and unleashed a volley of arrows at the mages, causing them to retreat in order to avoid being struck by any of the projectiles.
Both of the Fatui Agents made the decision to make advantage of their ability to conceal themselves through stealth and began to chase after Jean. As they closed in on the Dandelion Knight and made preparations to unleash a full-scale assault, they gradually duplicated themselves in the form of flaming clones and surrounded her.
"Wind, hear me!" Jean turned her blade so that it faced front before she promptly tipped it to the side, producing a wind dandelions field around herself. She did this because she was aware that doing nothing would result in her death. This elemental blast was powerful enough to destroy all of the clones that had been made of the Fatui agents, and it also made it so that they were once again visible to the naked eye. Without hesitating or second-guessing herself, Jean charged forward and used her Anemo Vision to take out one of the Fatui operatives. Having knocked him out, Jean swung around to face the lone surviving Fatui agent.
In order to put Amber off her trail, one of the Cicin mages began teleporting all over the place, moving ahead and back, and mocking her a little bit as well. The Outrider maintained her composure as she drew a long breath and readied herself to release her arrow. She trusted her instincts and fired it towards the right side towards an empty space; immediately, the Cicin mage teleported exactly to that spot, and she widened her eyes before getting struck in the head and being knocked out of the fight. Amber gave a triumphant fist pump as she confronted the last Cicin mage, who was preparing to conjure up a supercharged electrical shield.
Suddenly, ice spears descended upon the remaining Fatui minions, striking them in the legs and causing them to groan in pain as they clutched at their knees. Both Jean and Amber were taken aback by this unexpected attack because they had not anticipated their adversaries receiving such a severe level of physical punishment. They had initially speculated that it was Kaeya, but after looking around, they realized that he was not present.
The Cavalry Captain was not to blame for it, as Rosaria, who was still concealed behind the walls of the cathedral, was the one who launched the violent attack. As soon as she observed them fighting, she made the decision to come to their aid. At first, she planned on killing the Fatui, but then she came to the conclusion that this could make matters more difficult for the Acting Grand Master. Hence, in the end, she basically made the decision to render the adversaries helpless by the application of pain.
"What's happening out here?" Barbara immediately exited the cathedral in order to investigate the source of the commotion. But, the deaconess was so shocked by the sight that she had to cover her mouth in order to contain her horror.
"Barbara. I need you to heal Venti, our Honorary Knight, and the injured Fatui. These two were injured by a mysterious assailant." Immediately, Jean relayed the information to the deaconess while pointing out all of the injured individuals. In addition to this, she hoped that the Fatui would make a partial recovery since, despite the fact that their diplomatic ties had deteriorated, it would not be in anyone's best interest to display the severe injuries they had sustained as evidence.
"R-right!" Barbara hastened forward in an effort to provide assistance in Venti's recovery; nevertheless, she was in a state of bewilderment as to why her healing powers were not functioning.
"There's no need to heal me…" Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Venti began to slowly get up with relative ease, much to Barbara's surprise and astonishment.
"Venti! It's best if you just lie still so Barbara can treat any wounds that might still be there." Amber did not squander any time in advising Venti to return to his previous position.
"No big deal. I wasn't able to take the hits like an Armadillo, but tell your friends to meet me by the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero." Venti remarked as he made his way away from everyone in a leisurely manner. Also, it appeared as though he was placing his confidence in Ben to put a stop to this assault.
Barbara and Amber were about ready to rush in and try to stop him when Jean gave a signal to both of them to back off and let him go. "It's okay. Let him go."
The two of them only nodded their heads slowly in response to the command, as they did not wish to disobey any of the orders. During the time that Barbara was tending to Lumine's wounds, the Honorary Knight started to regain consciousness, while Amber used her pyro vision to melt the ice that had contained Paimon.
"Once they are healed, Amber, I need you to round them up and take them to the prison at headquarters." Following that, Jean communicated her new orders, this time to the Outrider.
"Roger that!" Amber offered a two-finger salute as she rushed forward to handcuff all four of Fatui's minions, and then she promptly ran off to bring them to the prison so that they could be detained there.
"I'll go spread the word that there's an attack underway and get all the available knights to come help us out. I just hope Ben's fight with the Fatui he tackled won't cause that much collateral damage." The Dandelion Knight bolted away as quickly as possible and began to pray that the situation would not escalate further.
Rath and Signora both fell plummeting to the ground at the same time, and they both landed close to the enormous statue of Barbatos. All of the onlookers who were in the middle of saying a prayer were taken aback when there was an abrupt break in the proceedings; some of them fled, while others decided to stay and observe what was going on.
The Appoplexian was not yet finished dealing with his challenger, as he promptly grabbed Signora and flipped her position as soon as he could. "POLARIS PILEDRIVER!" Then he sprang to a great height to get away from everyone and threw The Fair Lady with great force at the fountain that was located in the lower part of Mondstadt, which was in the middle of the entire population of dwellings.
Again, bystanders saw this happening, and they immediately evacuated the area from a safe distance. However, because they were also slightly curious about what was happening, they also made sure that the area they evacuated to was a good spot for them to watch the battle without putting themselves in danger.
"SIRIUS BUTT-KICKING!" Rath gave a swift and powerful kick to Signora, which sent her crashing into one of the brick walls. After that, the Appoplexian began to run, at which point he continued to smash her face against the wall. The citizens of Mondstadt recoiled in horror at the monstrous assault on a presumed defenseless individual, while Rath yelled at Signora. "OPHIUCHUS FACE-PLANT!"
"Insolent… PEST!" Signora cried angrily as she blasted Rath off of her with a swarm of icy bullets that she launched from her palm. The Appoplexian then found himself in the opposite position that he had been in previously, as this time it was he who was the one who was sent flying towards the already destroyed fountain. Signora extricated herself from the hole she had been placed in by channeling her seething wrath towards Rath. As she moved forward, the ground underneath her began to gently freeze.
"LEMME TELL YA SOMETHING TALL BLOND LADY WITH AN OVERSIZED AND COMPLICATED DRESS! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET RID OF THIS FIERCE PEST EASILY AS RATH DRINKS PEST CONTROL SPRAY FOR HIS VITAMINS!" When Rath ranted out loud for her and everyone else to hear, it resulted in bewildered reactions from everyone hearing the most strange things he spouted out.
"What?" Signora did not comprehend the reasoning for Rath's actions until she received a swift blow to both of her cheeks. As the Appoplexian had successfully taken her down to the ground once more, he proceeded to punch her in the face repeatedly in rapid succession. Not wanting to let this primitive creature get the better of her, The Fair Lady counterattacked with a cryo field, which was enough to knock Rath off her feet.
As he gradually rose to his feet after being struck, the Appoplexian let out a low roar. As he stood up, he noticed a tidal wave of ice spikes on the ground and ice fragments floating in the air heading in his direction. Lucky for him, Rath is quick and nimble, so he was able to sidestep the attack and leap high into the air in the direction of Signora, setting up for a Sheer Cosmic Drop. Unfortunately for him, Signora anticipated this and fired a giant ice block to send Rath's filthy hands away from her. This attack had just a minimal effect on The Appoplexian, but it caused his rage to flare much more than it already did.
"IS THAT ALL YA GOT?! RATH HAS BEEN HURT MORE BY MR. SMOOTHY BRAIN FREEZE THAN YOUR ICE CUBES!" Rath stood up and continued to taunt The Fairy Lady, but when he tried to move forward, he didn't budge an inch, and when he looked down, he realized his legs were frozen solid and ice was slowly but steadily encasing him.
"What's wrong creature? Cat got in your tongue?" This time, it was Signora who mocked Rath as she prepared to put the finishing touches on his execution by freezing him to death. The Appoplexian wanted to respond, but there was no time. Instead, he slammed the dial on the Omnitrix, which caused the environment around him to become illuminated in green.
As the light stopped shining, Rath was replaced by another alien that wore a bulky confinement suit that resembled an oven and was dark green and teal in color. The suit had three slits that were able to release part of its radioactive energy. The seal on the suit's chest has the Omnitrix logo, which can be seen in the centre of the design.
This otherworldly being is known as NRG, and they are represented by a swath of Prypiatosian-B DNA found in the Omnitrix. Ben was able to access him for the first time after scanning P'andor, the power-hungry and self-centered louse who hailed from the Andromeda Galaxy. In truth, the suit that NRG wears is only there to hide his true form, which is an alien life form with a humanoid appearance that continually releases pure radiation energy from its body. With the suit on, NRG may unleash devastating assaults based on radioactive energy and even cause lava geysers to erupt from the earth. His armor not only makes him powerful and durable but also provides him with some protection from the elements. As he displays his actual form, all of his powers, including his agility, his skill to fly, and his capacity to absorb a limitless amount of everything having to do with energy, dramatically enhance. In addition to that, he seems to have a Russian accent when he speaks.
"Come at me and let's see if your ice can break NRG." The Prypiatosian-B made this declaration as the radioactive energy from the three incisions on his head started to flow. The revelation that the legendary shapeshifter that Acting Grandmaster Jean had described was indeed there left everyone watching in a state of amazement as they understood that they were looking at it. Even the Knights of Favonius and the Adventurers who had only just arrived in the area were forced to retreat a few paces. They were supposed to engage and stop Rath, thinking he was attacking an innocent bystander, but once they saw him change, they immediately realized this is Ben Tennyson.
"The shapeshifter." Signora stated this with malice since she was aware that it puts the diplomatic treaty in Mondstadt in jeopardy, which makes it more difficult for the Fatui to take control behind the scenes. The news made her furious, and while she debated increasing her power even more, she ultimately decided against it since doing so would imply that her impudent adversary might compete with her in terms of strength, which is something she is unwilling to acknowledge. Instead, Signora just conjured a hailstorm of ice against NRG, and the latter replied by shooting radioactive beams at it, which resulted in the continuation of their fierce battle in the center of the city.
The clash between the Harbinger and the alien was anything from quiet. Each time one of them deals a blow to the other, as well as each time they defend themselves with fire and ice, more collateral damage is caused to the city as a whole. Many are freaking out as a direct consequence of this situation, hoping beyond hope that they won't be caught in the crossfire. On the other hand, some of them couldn't help but be fascinated by the shapeshifter that was there in front of them, so they chose to observe the phenomenon from a safe distance. Both knights and adventurers are rushing to get to the battleground in order to offer their assistance in evacuating the civilians. And simultaneously, at a certain library, two notable members of the knights became aware of the conflict.
"It seems that our dear Benjamin is now engaged in an altercation in the heart of our city." Lisa said as she started picking out her catalyst to use for the fight.
"We should still give him some credit. He was able to catch one of the Fatui in the act of the crime, which would be enough evidence against them... So shall we head out and join the fray?" Kaeya turned his head to the window and saw a big ice wall far out in the distance that was being blasted by lava.
"Without a doubt. We cannot afford to see the city we call home crumble at this time." The librarian and the cavalry captain hurriedly exited the library and made their way hastily towards the fight in order to determine what kind of assistance they might provide for their newly discovered comrade.
A certain maid was standing by the sidelines and observing the scene as it unfolded, and she couldn't help but wonder what was triggering the mass exodus of knights from the headquarters.
The maid has short, neck-length light gray hair, a straight fringe, and uneven strands framing her face. A gold shield clip secures a braid over her bangs on her right side. Olive eyes. Her clothing is typical of a maid, except she wears a priestess hat, a cravat, and several fuchsia flowers. Her garment includes two bows, one at her hip and one on her posterior, where her Geo Vision rests. Her left shoulder has a pauldron and gilded white armor plate. Black tights are under her armored boots.
This responsible young girl is Noelle, and she is employed by the Knights of Favonius in the capacity of a maid. She is a generous person who would put her own life in jeopardy to safeguard the lives of others she considers to be in need. She has several responsibilities as a maid, including cleaning, feast preparation, and more. Unfortunately, many take advantage of her good nature by asking her to undertake tasks that anybody with a modicum of common sense could do on their own. Yet Noelle is still happy to provide a hand, no matter how large or little the request. Although not attending to her maid duties, she trains diligently toward her goal of becoming a full-fledged knight. She excels at most of the criteria since she is very powerful, dependable, skilled with a claymore, and kind to others. The only reason why she is not yet a knight is because she is too gentle, and Jean feels that as a consequence, she is not prepared for the truth of what takes place beyond the walls of Mondstadt.
"Why is everybody running?" As she watched each knight go by, Noelle couldn't help but be curious. She had this nagging feeling that there could be an important mission going on, and she longed that she could be a part of it. Suddenly, a person who was much smaller than her accidentally ran into her back, which caused that person to fall and rub her head.
"Oh, my apologies about the collision… Klee?" Noelle was going to offer her assistance when she saw that the person needing assistance was none other than the Spark Knight. This discovery caused her to experience a moderate level of surprise.
"Miss Noelle? Klee is very sorry about that." Klee sprung to her feet on her own initiative and immediately expressed her sorry to the maid of the knights.
"No, I am to blame. I couldn't see where I was going because I'm wondering why there are so many knights rushing outdoors." The maid thought it would be prudent to enquire about this matter with Klee given that she is an official knight and so could be aware of what is going on.
"Klee heard there's a big bad guy attacking the city, but big brother Ben is there to fight her off. So Klee flees in the hope of seeing more of his aliens." The Spark Knight seems very eager to expedite her progress since she does not want to miss any new alien life form she may encounter. In addition to her bomb notebook, Klee will also be carrying a special notebook with her. In this unique notebook, Klee has drawn representations of each and every alien form that she has seen Ben take on.
"Aliens?" The maid cocked her head to the side with a look that conveyed both curiosity and confusion as she realized that she was unfamiliar with this phrase.
"Come on, Miss Noelle! It would be the best thing ever, so you should check it out for yourself." Klee rushed up to Noelle and began pulling at her skirt, encouraging her to comply and participate in the activity.
"Some of my responsibilities have already been completed. And because an official Knight of Favonius has requested it... I will comply! Observing and assisting would be good to my knighthood training." As soon as Noelle gave her assent, Klee grabbed her hand and dashed out in the direction where all of the knights are going to go to in order to see Ben's fight.
Experiments were carried out in the whole of a laboratory that was located in the basement of the Knights of Favonius headquarters. With all of the glowing fruits, the notes on chemical formulae written on a whiteboard, and even some parts from strange animals that are being researched, there is a lot to unpack in this location. This section is typically staffed by only two individuals, and we can see one of them inside the building right now.
This experimenter has vivid turquoise eyes with three spots in each iris, light complexion, and pale blond hair that falls beyond his shoulders. He has a braided half ponytail. He wears a black-hooded white coat with short sleeves. Beneath this, he wears an indigo shirt, black shorts, silver-accented thigh-high black boots, and long black gloves. His Geo Vision is located just below the neck of the shirt he is now wearing.
This individual is Albedo, Chief Alchemist and Captain of the Investigative Team for the Knights of Favonius. Due to the fact that he often carries out his research close to Dragonspine, the fact that he is now present in Mondstadt is quite uncommon. He had just gone back to Mondstadt in order to get some supplies, but on the way back he made the executive decision to do some research here first before going back to the area with the snow-capped mountains. While Albedo spends much of his time in solitude doing experiments, he is genuinely interested in others and ready to provide a helping hand. He enjoys being in the company of kids and thinks of Klee as his younger sister. He's not only well-known for his skills as an alchemist, but also as an artist worth respect for the paintings he creates when he needs to unwind. But, he does have one secret about himself that the majority of people are unaware of: he is not originally from Teyvat, and he is an artificial lifeform.
"M-mr. Albedo!" The second individual who works in this laboratory rushed through the door with a bit of a breathless and frazzled appearance on their face.
The second individual had light green hair, amber eyes, and fair complexion. She also possesses a pair of ethereal, green animal ears. Her ensemble consists of black-framed spectacles, a blue corset with a ruffled hem and the crest of the Knights of Favonius, a pair of white boots, and black thigh-highs with garters. On the lapel of her cloak, in the form of a brooch, is her Anemo Vision.
This reserved person is known as Sucrose, and he works as an assistant alchemist with the Knights of Favonius. Sucrose, much like her friend and mentor Albedo, is exceptionally skilled in the art of alchemy. This is because Sucrose's ultimate objective is to uncover the mysteries of life. As long as her research is fruitful, she won't care if the findings are applicable to the real world or not; what matters to her is just that it was successful. Even when she takes breaks, she finds herself longing to go back to work because she becomes so bored. On the other hand, she is also a social recluse, much like Albedo, but she is much more socially awkward than he is since she is easily terrified and worries that she can accidentally insult other people. The good news is that she doesn't have any feelings of timidity when she's with Albedo since they both work in bio-alchemy and like the subject as a pastime.
"Hmm. Is something the matter, Sucrose?" While Albedo was used to this behavior from his assistant, he could sense that something was different based on the way that she was carrying herself.
"T-the city is under attack, a-and the knights need all hands on deck." Sucrose sputtered out. It was one of the knights who relayed the information to her earlier. At first, she was interested in learning more but she was too timid to ask for it. The confusion was finally put to rest when there was a deafening explosion of ice followed by the sudden appearance of a flashing green light in the distance beyond the window.
"I see. In that case, let's get to it." Despite the fact that the chief alchemist is not really one for social relations, he is willing to go to any extent to defend Mondstadt and the people that live there.
"One other thing you need to be aware of... The shapeshifter that Master Jean mentioned in a previous conversation... He's the one fending off the assailant right now. From what I understand, he transformed from a humanoid tiger into a walking furnace." Sucrose's tone remained reserved during the first few phrases of her speech, but as the conversation went and she reached the last few sentences, she grew more interested and enthusiastic as she learnt about new avenues of research that may be pursued.
"Interesting. So we had best get moving to help him and examine his various shapes and forms as soon as possible." Albedo's attention was sparked by that piece of knowledge, and he bolted out of the laboratory shortly behind Sucrose, who was carrying a notepad and pen and ready to jot down some fresh observations for today.
The city was being traversed by a lady who gave off the impression of being an aristocratic descendant. Yet despite the fact that she seemed to be of a noble standing, people couldn't help but speak ill of her in private, saying certain things that were not very friendly.
The lady whose appearance is the subject of hushed conversations is said to have a sallow complexion and eyes that fade from deep purple to light yellow. Her bright blue hair is choppy. She also wears a black headband over her bangs and a four-pointed silver, white, and blue hairpin to her left. Her attire includes a blue cloak over her right shoulder, a backless black leotard covered in white, white sleeves, a blue tie, black gloves with blue palms, blue stockings, and thigh-high boots. The white cover on top is tied below her breasts with a black belt, and her leotard bears a silver clan sign on each hip. Silver heels with spurs, an extra strap, and blue bottoms complement her boots. At last, her Cryo Vision is displayed proudly on the lapel of her cloak.
She is none other than Eula Lawrence, a captain in the Reconnaissance Company of the Knights of Favonius. She is a descendent of the notorious and despotic Lawrence Clan, with whom she cut her connections in order to become a member of the Knights of Favonius. She was one of the few clan members who understood how unfair their previous authoritarian reign was, and as a result, she severed her links to her family. Her decision to become a member of the knights was, without a doubt, motivated by the desire to rectify the wrongs committed by the Lawrence clan. Sadly, the harm to her family's reputation had already been done, so even when she became a knight, she would still be viewed with skepticism. Along with that, she has a one-of-a-kind sense of humor, such as her custom of threatening vengeance against nearly anything. Amber can vouch for Eula's good nature and can speak to the fact that she is, at her core, a truly nice person who simply has a unique way of showing it.
Eula had just ended a mission of reconnaissance, and on one of the few opportunities she had, she made the decision to travel back to Mondstadt in order to have something to drink. Yet, when she continued her journey further into the city, she noticed a shift from a chilly to a hot climate. She did some investigating to find out what was going on and was caught off guard to find that a major brawl was taking place in the center of the city.
"What's this? Have the knights inside the city been so reckless as to let the city to be besieged? Tch. Whoever is responsible will face my vengeance!" Eula prepared her sword, which she called "The Song of Broken Pines," and hurried as quickly as she could in order to strike down on those who had the audacity to invade her city.
Mondstadt was not in a good state as there were cracks everywhere on the ground, some buildings were receiving damage, debris was spread everywhere, and the only thing the people could do was watch from a distance to observe the conflict that resulted in this.
The fight between the extraterrestrial hero and The Fair Lady was growing more intense, but so far no side has been able to gain an advantage in the conflict. NRG would be targeted by glacial missiles from Signora, but the latter would respond by destroying the glacial missiles with his radioactive rays.
One weakness of changing from Rath to NRG was a great decrease in speed and agility, and Signora took advantage of this, as even though the Prypiatosian-B was able to counter some of her attacks, there were some that he was not able to hit, like the explosive ice flowers and Signora teleporting to him and hitting him with a point-blank ice attack before teleporting away again. The one advantage that NRG did have over Rath in this circumstance was that he was more durable in enduring the blows. Moreover, as he was slowly becoming affected by the extreme cold, he would simply give out radioactive emission surrounding his containment suit in order to dispel its effects.
After that, Signora would attempt to completely solidify the earth around the spot in an effort to freeze everyone, including the Prypiatosian-B, in place. NRG was not going to let this to take occur, so he instantly put his hands on the ground to channel his heat towards it. In an instant, the earth began to explode with enormous geysers of lava springing out, which melted all of the ice and engulfed the Fair Lady in it. Once this onslaught came to an end, NRG was surprised to discover that Signora didn't seem to have suffered too much harm from it. It appeared as if she is used to high temperatures.
As the two stared down at each other again, waiting to strike again, footsteps could be heard, and as they both turned to see the source of the sound, they were greeted by none other than everyone in the knights of Favonius.
"See, Ms. Noelle! Isn't it cool to see an alien in action?" Klee was the first person to articulate her thoughts aloud, and she enthusiastically pointed in the direction of NRG. In her head, she was also attempting to figure out what name Ben gave to this alien. In addition to that, she extracted both her bomb notepad and her special notebook from her bag. She hastily sketched a fast drawing of the Prypiatosian-B for the former journal, while she scribbled notes in her bomb notebook about including lava in her future bomb creations.
"My word. Look at how much cleaning needs to be done! Nonetheless, it is a maid's duty to tidy up once this fight has concluded." Noelle was surprised when she saw the alien life form, but she was even more horrified when she saw the destruction that had been done across Mondstadt. She jotted down in her head to bring all of her cleaning supplies with her when she came back to this location.
"There you are, creature. Now you shall have a taste of my blade." Eula was eventually able to make it to the battlefield, and as soon as she arrived, she made haste to dash forward, getting ready to deal a devastating blow on NRG.
"Wait! Hold on, Eula! Don't attack him!" In order to stop Eula from attacking, Amber had to take her down by tackling her. The reconnaissance captain was ready to launch a counterattack, but the sound of the Outrider's voice was enough to convince her to refrain from doing so.
"Amber?! Why?! Obviously, this beast is to blame for this whole calamity, and he will feel the full vengeance of my sword!" Eula was now perplexed as to why Amber was supporting this monster that was obviously a contributing factor to the current state of disarray in the city.
"It's because he's on our side and we can count on his help. Just wait till this crisis is over and everything will make more sense." Amber swiftly described everything to her, and she didn't have time to mention who NRG's true identity is.
"Whatever you're trying to communicate, I just can't get my head around it. But if you trust him, then fine. I'll trust him too... for now." Eula withdrew from the battle with some hesitation, but she did so while keeping her sword drawn in case things went awry.
After then, Albedo and Sucrose rode into the fray as the following group of knights. They didn't approve of all the devastation that was taking place, but the presence of NRG sparked their interest in doing research. "Amazing. This monster or entity was capable of producing lava in a single blink. Sucrose, are you also composing these observations?"
"I am, Mr. Albedo. Seeing a creature of this level go about its business is utterly mesmerizing to say the least. I'm curious to know how much heat it is capable of producing at its peak, and whether or not it might possibly melt everything in the area around Dragonspine." Sucrose seemed as excited as a little child in a candy shop as she enthusiastically jotted down all of her observations about witnessing this weird extraterrestrial and thought about all of the different experiments that they may undertake.
"Oh dear. Seems like Benjamin enjoyed himself a bit too much." As soon as Lisa arrived, she covered her mouth with her palm, and she, along with the bulk of the knights who were watching the conflict, was upset to see their once lovely and quiet city being ruined.
"All the paperwork that has to be done... Whatever the case may be, at least we may seek restitution from the Fatui." Kaeya was astonished to see the Fatui make a mistake at such a crucial time. He has conducted investigations into them in the past, and he freely acknowledges that it is difficult to construct a case against them due to the efficiency with which they do their business. But, he did find it hilarious that all it took to instantaneously expose them was a teenager who had the powers of practically everything.
"I implore whomever you are to immediately surrender! The Favonius Knights have assembled to put a stop to your unprovoked assault on the people of Mondstadt." Jean brandished her sword in the direction of Signora, while the other knights stood ready behind her to assist her in the event that the suspect attempted to fight back. In addition to them, there were also other courageous adventurers who were prepared to aid the knights in protecting their home.
Signora was ready to hit her breaking point as she came to the realization that there was no way for her to rattle her way out and keep the Fatui under the radar. Her frustration was mostly focused at the extraterrestrial hero for spoiling their perfect plan. Since NRG was aware that this was essentially the end of the battle, he turned his head to take one more glance at the Fair Lady. "It would seem that you are now outnumbered. Take Jean's advice and just give up; it will be easier on you."
"No. No. No! Oh, so you think you've defeated me, shapeshifter?! All you've done is seal the fate of Mondstadt!" In an outburst of anger, Signora enveloped herself in a cocoon of ice. As a direct consequence of the frantic, last-ditch attempt, the area affected had already begun to freeze over to an even greater extent.
"Really? You had to be a sore loser." NRG heaved a sigh as he sent more powerful radioactive rays towards the ice cocoon that Signora had created, and he believed that she was just attempting to postpone the inevitable. But, when his beams struck the cocoon, it did not melt; rather, it burst, causing the ice to be dispersed in all directions.
After the cocoon was shattered, Signora emerged, but she looked quite different than before. Her gown is even more dramatic in length and sheen, with a predominance of crimson and glittering silver accents. Her hair is shorter and sharper, and she wears a mask in the form of a complete butterfly with long horns; she has also developed the blazing wings of a butterfly.
She is no longer known as La Signora, but in reality, she is Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter, also known as the Crimson Witch of Fire. Five hundred years ago, Rosalyne was a normal young lady living in Mondstadt who fell in love with a knight called Rostam. Soon after, she was admitted to study at Sumeru Akademiya, and Rostam presented her a unique hydro-timepiece to show his love and keep track of the time she would be away. Unfortunately, while she was studying at the Akademiya, an event of calamity struck, which resulted in her lover, Rostam, falling in battle. The anguish and wrath of losing her beloved drove Rosalyne to forsake her human body and let liquid fire to flow through her, transforming her into the Crimson Witch of Flames. While she destroyed every evil creature in sight, her overwhelming and uncontrollable power made the populace fearful of her. The Fatui tracked her down and administered a Cryo Delusion designed to suppress her flames at the expense of her memory.
"My word… is that… The Crimson Witch of Flames?" When Lisa saw the transformation take place in front of her own eyes, her voice started trembling. She learned in the Akademiya tales about her legendary status, including how she had the ability to destroy whatever in her path with her raging flames and leave nothing standing.
"Pale flame, lay waste to this frozen shell and witness my suffering. In fires of sin and retribution, your soul will be incinerated!" Wasting no time in extracting her revenge, Rosalyne unleashed her devastating true power that she suppresses. At a single moment, the atmosphere rapidly grew dense, making it difficult to take a breath. Molten metal oozed out of the ground everywhere. And at that point, anything that could catch fire started to do so. As the Fatui has been largely compromised already, she has come to the conclusion that she may as well destroy Mondstadt.
The only people who were unaffected by this were Rosalyne herself and NRG, who remained safe thanks to the containment suit he was wearing. The same could not be true for the remaining inhabitants living in Mondstadt. They were all beginning to perspire, and several of them had difficulty breathing due to the conditions around them. Others got down on their knees and started praying, hoping that Barbatos would come and save them.
"Tsk. Eula and Kaeya! Try to lessen the ferocity of the flames by using your Cryo Vision. Please, Sucrose, join me in combining our Anemo Visions to swirl the scorching heat away. All of you others, please keep the peace and shield the helpless! Barbatos… I know you're still recovering, but please give us your guiding wind to save Mondstadt." Right away, Jean communicated her directives to the other knights, and they acted swiftly in accordance with her instructions.
Together, Kaeya and Eula used their combined abilities to construct a massive ice wall that would protect everyone. In spite of this, they were having some difficulty keeping it up since the flames were rapidly reducing its strength. Sucrose overcame her timidity and mustered up the fortitude to join forces with Jean in an effort to use their Anemo Visions to extinguish the flames that were threatening the town. Albedo remained by the side with Klee, who was clinging to him for support. Klee was aware that her explosives would be of little help in this scenario, and the atmosphere was becoming more tense. The alchemist had a strong intuition that he could put an end to the Crimson Witch of Flames, but at the same time, he was terrified by the prospect of obliterating all of Mondstadt. Amber and Noelle were trying their best to bring people away from the flames, but it seemed like their efforts were in vain since the intensity of the burning could be felt no matter where they went.
As soon as NRG realized that he needed to act quickly in order to save the city, he slapped the Omnitrix on his chest in order to transform into the alien suit that was designed just for this circumstance.
Ben's new alien life form resembled an iguana in appearance. He has four dorsal fins that extend from his head and smaller spikes around his chin. His clothes go way up to his head, and his chest is completely covered with a white underbelly. Not to mention, the Omnitrix emblem is prominently displayed on his chest.
This is Arctiguana, the Omnitrix DNA sample of a Polar Manzardill. He was originally seen being utilized in a timeline from the future by Ben 10,000. After some time, Ben Prime unlocked him when he was 11 years old. Arctiguana is one of Ben's ice aliens, and his freezing skills are very potent, as shown by the fact that he is able to immediately freeze enormous volumes of water and scorching molten lava. Moreover, he is able to utilize his ice to build structures and propel himself through the air.
"Did he suddenly morph into another individual? And if that's the case, why transform into something so feeble?" Eula was flabbergasted, along with most of the people, seeing another transformation before their very eyes. Yet she was just as confused as they were, wondering what this form could possibly do to assist them in any way.
"This is what sets Ben apart from everyone else, Eula. He has a variety of transformations with different powers. Yet you'd be quite wrong to judge them only by their appearance; they're capable of a lot more than you may think." Amber had faith in Ben since she was aware that he was Mondstadt's final best chance of averting a potentially disastrous event from taking place.
"For the life of me, I can't fathom your mental processes, shapeshifter. Transforming into this useless creature is the worst decision you could have ever done." Rosalyne let out a malicious cackle as she considered the possibility that the shapeshifter had committed a terrible error by assuming the incorrect form. Now, normally the hero would respond with a witty quip, but he made the decision to take this situation seriously and concentrate on putting an end to the Crimson Witch of Flames instead.
The Polar Manzardill then opened his jaws and began to shoot one tremendous long ranged freezing ray over everything that was going on. The ice that Arctiguana exhaled was able to quickly nullify the effects of the flames that were rapidly spreading across the city at the same time. The heavy, smoky air and the blazing landscape around them had completely frozen over, turning into largely snow and ice, which made the environment safer for the people who were still there. The Crimson Witch of Flames was taken aback by the strength that Arctiguana shown, and in response, she attempted to undermine his efforts by unleashing more powerful flames. On the other hand, the Polar Manzardill was anticipating this and unleashed a more powerful freezing ray, which engulfed Rosalyne and sent her flying away from the battleground.
"Incredible… Benjamin put an end to the Crimson Witch of Flames's raging inferno." Lisa, along with everyone else, was astonished to witness an ordinary-looking alien form of Ben successfully counter against such a dangerous foe. The citizens of Mondstadt were even putting their hands on the snow to test its authenticity, which only served to further obscure the reality that it is, in point of fact, real snow. Even the children who were absolutely frightened began playing in the snow as it started falling. Klee also cheerfully stroked the snow, which was an experience she rarely sometimes had.
"So if I were to guess, he most likely used Arctiguana." As Kaeya reflected about one of the first discussions he'd ever had with the alien hero about his Cryo aliens, he rested his palm just below his chin.
"Arctiguana? Is that the name of the creature he is using?" Albedo's inquisitive nature led him to question about the background of this mysterious name, while Sucrose wrote it down in her notebook for future reference.
"Those are just nicknames Ben gives for his aliens. Klee had hoped to see Big Chill, but a whole new alien is even cooler!" When Klee saw that Ben had successfully vanquished the villain and that everything was finally done, she leaped with joy. Her feelings were shared with the rest of the people, who thought that they wouldn't be burned to ash thanks to the shapeshifter. In reference to the hero, he, too, let his guard down and became a little more relaxed. Nevertheless, this was a mistake as out of nowhere, Rosalyne came from the ice and landed a hard punch to Arctiguana's gut, which sent him flying into the same wall Rath struck her into.
"I can't afford to waste any more time on this." It pained the Crimson Witch of Flames to admit it, but she had a nagging fear that she had misjudged the shapeshifter, and that there was a possibility that he may assume a form that would finally be too powerful for her to handle. In addition, she had already obtained what she desired, therefore there was no need for her to remain in Mondstadt any longer and engage in a conflict that would serve no purpose. It was with reluctance that she doused herself in fire and teleported away from Mondstadt.
Some of the knights tried their best to stop the Crimson Witch of Flames from retreating, but they were too late, as the moment they got to her, she vanished out of thin air. As the other knights, such as Amber, Klee, and Jean, rushed up to the location where Arctiguana had been sent flying to check on their comrade, who was hurt in the impact.
"Ben, are you okay?!" Amber and Klee were checking to see what aid Ben needed after they saw him being struck, since it did not seem to be a pleasant experience for him. After some time, when everyone realized that Signora was gone, the remaining knights, adventurers, and even several of the townspeople came around because they were interested in conversing with the shapeshifter. A loud beeping sound interrupted everyone's thoughts, and they could see it was coming from the emblem on Arctiguana's chest.
"Oh no! His Omnitrix is beeping! That means he'll time-" Everyone in the immediate area was once again engulfed in a blinding burst of green light. When they finally were able to restore their sight, those who were unaware of the actual nature of the shapeshifter's identity were caught off guard when they saw Ben Tennyson sitting in front of them.
"Ugh... I wasn't expecting her to hit that hard. She better hope she won't see me next time, because otherwise I'll win. Hmm? Amber, what gives?" When he wiped the dust off his arms after the battle, Ben raised an eyebrow and wondered aloud why Amber was smiling so uncomfortably at him.
"Your private life… might be hectic now." Amber pointed her thumb behind her, and as Ben turned to see what she was referring to, his eyes widened, seeing that practically the entire population of Mondstadt was staring at him.
"Oh. Eh, I figured it would come to this eventually." That was the last thing Ben was able to say before the commotion of the crowd became audible. Those individuals who already knew about Ben's secret could not help but smile sympathetically at him since they were aware that things were about to become chaotic for the hero. The knights who hadn't yet seen Ben in action reacted in a variety of different ways. Albedo and Sucrose were absolutely amazed to see Ben, and immediately they had a thought in their mind that they needed to ask him to perform some experiments for them, though for the latter, she might have a hard time initiating a conversation with the hero given her social awkwardness, but she'll muster up the courage to do so in the name of research. Once Eula realized that the formidable shapeshifter she was looking at was just a teenager, she could not help but gaze in disbelief. And naturally, Noelle was astonished, but she was also excited by the prospect, as she believed that maybe one of Ben's forms might assist her in her preparation to become a future Knight of Favonius.
A few of the individuals whom Ben has had personal interactions with sent their responses as well. Sara was so blindsided by Ben's revelation that he was the mystery shapeshifter that she had to cover her mouth with her palm. Cyrus couldn't help but give a thunderous laugh as he realized he could form the most powerful adventure team with Ben. And good old Timmie was curious about whether or not Ben could transform into a colossal pigeon.
Some unusual comments included a kid with grey hair who was wondering about how the boy's changes operate and what it's like to live as a different species than what he normally is. A young maiden with blonde hair was babbling gibberish about the threads of destiny and Ben having some kind of secret, eternal amazing ability while her electro-raven translated everything into language that casual observers could understand. And elsewhere, a little cat girl is pondering whether or not she can talk the hero into obliterating the wine industry.
"May I have a moment of your time, Ben?" As the crowd's chatter was about to reach its peak, Jean stepped forward, wanting to have a private conversation with Ben. Everyone caught on to the subtle signal since they had a lot of respect for the acting grand master, and they left Ben and Jean alone to have their crucial discussion.
"So, Jean, what's the deal here?" The alien hero exhaled a sigh of relief as he realized Jean had successfully deflected attention away from him and was now the focus of attention elsewhere. Ben didn't mind it too much since he was accustomed to it at this point; however, this was a whole other level because it would be the first time that everyone in Mondstadt observed his powers.
"There's something you need to know. Both Lumine and Paimon had complete recoveries. Venti was able to heal himself, but he took off towards the Windrise statue, and both our Honorary Knight and Paimon decided to go after him once they regained their bearings." Jean didn't go into too much detail with Ben about what happened to the other three people and where they are at the moment, but she did want him to get the message that she wanted him to check in on them. The encouraging development is that Ben seems to grasp her intentions, as shown by the head nod he gives her.
"I get it. Okay, I'll follow them also. But could you ask the people to settle down a bit, and I'll have a Q&A with everyone once I get back?" While Ben activated the Omnitrix and began scrolling to select the appropriate alien, Jean nodded her head and proceeded to do what the hero requested that her do.
"Excuse me, might I please have everyone's attention? Our Alien Knight is going on an emergency mission. That has something to do with the assault that occurred today. Don't worry, he'll be back in Mondstadt to answer your questions at some point." Once the audience had heard the news given by the Acting Grandmaster, they produced a collective sound that might be described as "aw," but because of their respect for Jean, they merely accepted it. While the other knights who didn't know Ben yet personally still wanted to get answers, just like the rest of the crowd, they had to respect the Acting Grand Master's Order. Although Klee looked like she pouted a bit and wished to see more of Ben's aliens. When it was taken care of, the alien hero finally slapped his Omnitrix, and a green glow began to envelop the surrounding area.
Ben's alien form for the public is a red humanoid manta ray with green eyes, black facial outlines, yellow horns protruding from his nose, gills under his arms, and a yellow patagia that he utilizes to soar and glide over water. His attire consists of a black harness with green circles at the shoulders and green briefs with white accents. He also has two black lightning-bolt shaped stripes that descend from his shoulders to the Omnitrix emblem on his chest.
This is Jetray, the DNA sample taken from an aerophibian by the Omnitrix. Upon the acquisition of the recalibrated Omnitrix, Ben was granted access to a total of ten additional aliens, including this one. Jetray is one of Ben's fliers and the fastest one he has, as he is capable of flying at speeds that are multiple times faster than the speed of sound and can enter hyperspace. His offensive capabilities consist of firing neuroshock blasts from both his eyes and his tail; these blasts have the potential to disable the nervous system of any organic organism they come into contact with. In addition to this, Jetray has the ability to fly and breathe both in space and underwater.
"JETRAY!" The Aerophibian yelled out as he proudly flashed his patagia in front of everyone. Even though they had seen the transformation from Rath to NRG to Arctiguana, the audience was in wonder since it was even more fascinating to them to watch an actual teenage boy transform into one of these creatures.
"Jetray? What's with the shouting, Ben?" Even while Amber was happy to meet another new alien, she was a little confused when she heard Jetray suddenly calling out his own name.
"Everyone's always asking what this alien is and what that one is every time you see a new one, so I might as well shout out their names again. Plus, it's pretty cool, right?" After explaining his reasoning, Jetray had a pang of nostalgia as he thought back to the good ol' days when he owned the Ultimatrix and recalibrated Omnitrix.
"I like it! Klee thinks it completes your awesomeness as a hero!" Klee couldn't help but agree, and she really hopes that Ben will go on with this since it's the kind of thing a heroic figure from a fairytale would do.
"Jetray. If I had to guess, I'd say you're some kind of flying manta ray, given your colloquial name and apperance." After examining the Aerophibian, Albedo couldn't help but feel compelled to further investigate it. The same thing could be said for Sucrose, who was fighting the impulse to go conduct some tests, but she managed to hold himself back.
"Correct dude who looked like he got out of bed. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for takeoff." Upon saying so, Jetray immediately took to the air and flew off in the direction of Lumine's location. As soon as he departed, everyone went back to conversing among themselves, and the topic of conversation quickly moved back to Ben and his alien powers.
Windrise is a section of Galesong Hill, and much like the other notable locations in Mondstadt, it is densely forested and cooled by the breeze that blows through the region. The historical significance of Windrise lies in the fact that it was here that Venessa, a famous hero from Mondstadt who lived a thousand years ago, ascended to Celestia to become a god in the form of a falcon so that she might continue to watch over the land of Barbatos. This is what makes Windrise so unique. In addition to it, there is the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero, which is a monumental oak tree topped with a statue of Barbatos. Many people believe that this tree started growing once Venessa reached her enlightened state after she had finished her ascent.
As was reported earlier by Jean, Lumine and Paimon had made their way there to catch up with Venti. Yet there was something peculiar about this bard, as it seemed as if he exudes a divine aura surrounding his presence. Now the Honorary Knight seemed to be inquiring about multiple things from Venti, and instead of his cheerful demeanor, he sounded wise right now. Gnosis, allogenes, Tsaritsa, Liyue, Geo Archon, and the Rite of Descension were some of the topics that they discussed throughout their drawn-out chat.
"Remember that getting there isn't everything. Thus, keep your eyes open till you get there. Take in your surroundings and appreciate the time you have..." That was the last of the profound words of advice that the bard had to offer to Lumine. And still in a very unusual occurrence, Venti maintained an air of seriousness during the whole exchange.
"I understand." The Honorary Knight acknowledged his words of wisdom by nodding her head and taking them to heart.
"Great. I want to say that's that for the Anemo Archon's admonishments! Nonetheless, it seems that another interested person is eager to expand their knowledge…" Venti emphasized the second half of his phrase more than he normally would have, as if he were speaking to an audience floating in space. Lumine and Paimon were both left wondering about the meaning of the bard's words. They were startled by a gust of wind that came from behind them, and as soon as they turned around, they saw Jetray touch down.
"Ben?" Paimon made this assumption about the alien life form based on the presence of the Omnitrix insignia on its torso. Nevertheless, she was correct, as the aforementioned alien smacked the insignia, which caused him to transform back into Ben Tennyson.
"So, you're the Anemo Archon in disguise." Ben approached the group, but more especially, his eyes were focused on Venti as he made his way closer to them. Given that this wasn't the hero's first encounter with a divine creature, it stands to reason that he didn't show any signs of shock or astonishment.
"Righto, Ben Tennyson! As expected of the legendary bearer of the Omnitrix to decipher who I am." The Anemo Archon grinned at the hero as he communicated some vital information to him and gave him a wink.
As Venti has mentioned, his true identity is Barbatos, the god of freedom. Along with the Geo Archon Morax, they are the last remaining original members of The Seven who are still alive after the events of the Archon War. At the beginning, he was nothing more than a nameless, shapeless wisp of wind. Later on, he became friends with a Nameless Bard and forged a bond with him. Barbatos participated alongside him and others in a rebellion against the tyrannical lord Decarabian. The rebellion was victorious after a protracted and intense struggle, but the loss of the Nameless Bard's life was the price that had to be paid. To remember his memory, Barbatos used the Nameless Bard as a vessel, and he became the Anemo Archon. Due to the fact that Barbatos does not directly rule Mondstadt because he wants it to be a Land of Freedom, he is the Archon who has the least amount of power. Nevertheless, he doesn't mind it, and he still has lots of followers and devotees, which baffles many foreigners as Barbatos rarely makes his presence felt in Mondstadt.
"Wait… you know who I am?" Now, this one actually stunned Ben since he didn't exist in this universe and this was his first time visiting it, so he was left wondering how Barbatos knows about the Omnitrix.
"Without a doubt! Your sudden appearance is unexpected but very appreciated." Barbatos did not communicate the facts in an appropriate manner and instead chose to be ambiguous about it. So, Ben's only presumption was that divine entities had an extensive breadth of knowledge.
"Then… that means you can send me back. Right?" Ben suddenly seemed optimistic that maybe this was his opportunity to come home earlier than expected. Lumine and Paimon both questioned the same thing, and both of them speculated that this may be the very last time that they see the Omnitrix wielder.
"Nope." Of course, it was quite disappointing for Ben that Barbatos had so nonchalantly knocked down his hopes.
"Nope? How?! Aren't you like some sort of god here?" Ben made an effort to locate an argument that may refute the assertions made by the Anemo Archon; yet, it seems that he was also prepared to refute this explanation as well.
"I may be an Archon, but that doesn't mean I can send you beyond." Barbatos fully explained his reasoning for his power limitations. As even gods need to have limitations, Lumine couldn't help but concur in her thinking.
"*sighs* Guess I still need to wait for the Plumbers to build a gizmo or whatever that can send me back." In spite of the bad news, Ben continued to maintain his hope and optimism that he would ultimately return to Bellwood and indulge in some smoothies once again.
"Hehehe. Have no fear! I'm sure your friends from the other world are doing everything they can to bring their champion back home. Relax and take pleasure in life. I mean, by the looks of things, you're enjoying yourself in Mondstadt." Like the cheerful Archon he is, Barbatos did his best to also lift up Ben's spirits, as he too was an optimistic individual.
"If you can't help, then I just have one question for you. Tell me about the chess piece that the crazy witch lady stole from you." Since he can't go home yet, Ben decided he might as well try and help in the conflicts happening right now in this world, so he started this by asking the victim of the incident.
"I'm sorry, but I can't share any details about it with you. We Archons are forbidden from discussing the topic. While I am aware of your godly transformation abilities, I must remind you that you are still a mortal being." Barbatos resumed the serious bearing he had before shown. Even if Ben were a reliable hero from another universe, it is against the laws of an archon to share the specifics of some parts of the situation.
"Are you saying she stole something from you that makes her a god? Don't you think that's risky?!" Ben did not like how Barbatos described the stolen relic since it brought up memories of Aggregor and the map of infinity in his head at the same time.
"As I've told you earlier, classified information is not to be revealed to mortals. But rest assured, she can't harness my divine powers with it, and the world won't be in danger." The Anemo Archon took precautions to ensure that Ben was able to relax and expressed his desire that Ben would not take any unnecessary risks in his pursuit of Signora to the ends of the world. Even though he is certain that it won't be an issue for the hero, he doesn't want him to simply walk about arbitrarily going alien in all of the different regions.
"This better be correct, if you say so yourself. I've seen something similar with people stealing powers for dominance, and it went ugly." Ben maintained his skepticism over Barbatos' explanation for his actions. But for the time being, he will have to place his faith in him since he has been immersed in this world for a longer period of time than he has and is aware of the threats posed by the stolen object as well as its limitations.
"Don't stress, I know what's best for you. Maybe it would be preferable for you to remain in Mondstadt for the time being. Working with the knights first to solve the Fatui issues is beneficial, other than making it simpler for your friends from other worlds to reach you. You are the reason their diplomatic relations could be in jeopardy." Once again, Barbato cracked a grin, and if he was being really honest, he couldn't help but be a little amazed by how, in an instant, the Omnitrix Wielder altered the terrain for the Fatui in their covert attempts to take over Mondstadt and make it more difficult for them to do so.
"Uh… yeah… for some reason, I always find myself messing up those situations." Ben didn't say anything else; he only stroked the back of his head sheepishly. He has gotten used to the strange ways in which the universe wants him to be the center of attention in every single scenario.
"Paimon thinks what you did is fine. That way the Fatui will now have to think twice about messing with the likes of the Knight of Favonius and manipulating them to do their ways. Or else the combined might of Ben 10 and Captain Pyro will be unleashed against them!" Paimon, along with Lumine, does not get along well with the Fatui, and they despise the way that the Fatui attempt to act dirty in the shadows when sneaking about. Hence, Paimon was satisfied when things turned out the way they did.
"So, Ben Tennyson, is there anything more you'd want to know?" Barbatos had a sense that this conversation wouldn't go on for much longer than it already had.
"I'm good." Ben didn't feel the need to pursue it any further since he was content with the responses he had already received. Except for the one that's about the chess piece that was stolen; he'll have to figure out some other method to acquire additional details about that.
"Great. Now I can finally say it's back to Venti Time!" The Tone-Deaf Bard smiled broadly as he resumed playing his music and waved his farewells to the group as they made their way away from the tree that served as the Symbol of Mondstadt's Hero.
"Your reaction to finding out Venti's identity as an Archon… It seems normal." As the three of them made their way out from Windrise, it was Lumine who took the initiative to start a dialogue between themselves.
"I've got a watch that can turn me into possibly millions of different aliens, and I've been on hundreds of different adventures. Just another ordinary day for me." Ben simply and nonchalantly enumerated all of the reasons why he was not very shocked, which was met with a simple and uncomplicated nod of the head from the other two.
"Lumine, we need to get going. Or else we'll miss the Rite of Descension the tone-deaf bard talked about." Despite the fact that this was a welcome thing, Paimon is becoming more concerned that they will not get the opportunity to speak with another Archon and obtain further information on Lumine's brother.
"Right of Descension… I take it that Venti gave you some important information about finding your brother?" The Omnitrix user made an educated guess on the significance of Paimon's comments.
"Correct. He said that the Geo Archon makes a yearly appearance at the gathering to share his prophetic insights. As a result, we plan to attend the event in order to consult with him about his estimates. Well, I suppose that means we have to part ways now." Lumine felt obligated to admit that she was feeling down since she was going to have to leave Mondstadt, and she was going to miss all of the friends that she had established there.
"Yeah. It was nice meeting and hanging out with you, Lumine." Ben broke into a broad smile as he approached Lumine for a firm handshake.
"Same to you, Ben." The grin was reciprocated by the Honorary Knight, who then delightedly shook his hand as a gesture that their friendship would not be forgotten.
"You also owe Paimon more aliens to show. We've only seen eight aliens from you, even though you call yourself Ben 10. Honestly, Paimon thinks you should just be called Freaky Alien Wonder." Paimon added her voice to the conversation and enumerated the top reasons why she would miss Ben.
"I'm really just glad you aren't in charge of naming my aliens." Ben would be lying if he claimed that he wouldn't miss hearing all of the absurd nicknames that Paimon would come up with for everyone, but he had to admit that it was sort of entertaining to hear all of them deep down.
"May the wind guide us in our journeys." That was the last thing that Lumine said before she and Paimon made their way down the route that led to Liyue. Along the way, they said their goodbyes to Ben, who was traveling back to Mondstadt, and Ben, in turn, waved to them as he continued on his journey. Maybe the two will cross paths once again in the future on an adventure to vanquish a sea deity or something similar; however, there is no telling whether or not the wind will guide them back.
Venti continued to sing and play music cheerfully as he sat contentedly on some rocks close to the statue of Windrise. He wasn't alone for long, as a mysterious stranger suddenly materialized out of nowhere and began to approach the disguised Archon in a moderate way.
"Gumball?" A single piece of red bubblegum was handed up to the bard by the gentleman. Starting things off, you'll see that he has some side gray hair and some creases on his face. He wears a black turtleneck with a white scarf and a brown vest with gold buttons and pouches beneath a white lab coat with brown and black pouches and gold trim. There are goggles slung over his neck, a metal gauntlet on his right hand, and a fingerless glove on his left. In addition to the brown kneepads on his black jeans, he sports a pair of brown boots with gold straps.
This gentleman is referred to as Professor Paradox, a time traveler who has forgotten his real identity and has the ability to go anywhere in space or time as long as it is reasonable. During his early days in Area 51, Paradox was engaged in a project that required him to create a breach in the space-time continuum. Yet, because of a miscalculation that was made during the experiment, there was an explosion, and Paradox was sent outside of time. There, he lost the capacity to get older and was unable to sleep or eat; all he could do was exist. He descended into insanity for a while, but eventually he became bored in his condition and came to his senses again. Having achieving a comprehensive comprehension of the space-time continuum, he is now putting his newfound knowledge to use by traveling across time in order to improve various aspects of history for the benefit of other people.
"Ah, come on now, Paradox! You are well aware of my aversion to anything sticky." Barbatos protruded his tongue in distaste as he thought of the many years he had spent as an Archon and how much he detested odorous, sticky, and slimy foods like cheese.
"My sincere apologies, old friend. Next time, I will offer you apples to snack on. To return to the matter, I notice you've now met Benjamin. Was he up to par with your expectations?" As Paradox watched Ben make his way back to Mondstadt from a safe distance, he couldn't help but crack a smirk. When he heard that his close friend was doing well in this dimension, he felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Certainly! He exudes the heroic persona of someone who would risk his life to protect those he cares about. Sincerity tells me we would get along well if we went out for a drink together." The Anemo Archon has been mulling over the possibility of bringing Ben to Angel's Share at some point in the future in the hopes of convincing him to buy him drinks without charging him.
"I am astonished that you did not attempt to convince him to make the trip to Liyue." In spite of the fact that he was eager about the answer, Paradox already knew what response he would get from Barbatos.
"Give him some time to unwind in Mondstadt. It would seem that he is on excellent terms with many influential individuals. Even heroes need to recharge every once in a while. As long as he reaches Liyue in time, everything will be OK. I mean, he has that fast alien called XLR8, right?" Barbatos seems to have some hazy recollection of the Kineceleran from a tale that the Professor had once told him in the distant past. Naturally, in response to the question, Paradox nodded his head to indicate his agreement.
"You are accurate. Well, look at the time; I'm required to go immediately. It seems that one of Benjamin's counterparts requires some assistance." When Paradox was looking at the time on his pocket watch, a massive whirling gateway materialized behind him. Before turning back to exit the portal, he gave Barbatos a last wave before saying his farewell. The Anemo Archon did the same thing, waving back at him and wished him luck on his journey through time.
As Ben arrived back in Mondstadt, he made preparations for what he knew was going to happen, which was that he would be questioned about how he was able to accomplish what he had done and how many aliens he had, among other things. After he arrived in the city, to his genuine surprise, everything seemed to be operating normally. Even though construction work was being done to restore the collateral damage caused by his struggle against Signora, the people merely continued on with their normal lives as if nothing had happened. Together with some of the children who were having fun playing in the snow that was left over from when Arctiguana cast his freeze ray.
Before continuing with what they were doing, everyone he passed would cordially greet him and thank him for rescuing the city. Then they would go back to what they were doing. Now, for some reason, it felt weird to Ben; however, he also didn't mind it since that would mean it was peaceful. Although he wanted to know why the townspeople weren't overly curious about his newly revealed identity. As he walked through the city, he found someone who could help him get answers, and it was Amber, who was talking with Sara at the good hunter.
"Ben! Welcome back!" The alien hero was recognized by the Outrider, and both she and Sara were delighted to give him a friendly wave.
"Amber. Not that I'm complaining, but why is everyone here not hounding me with their curiosity about my aliens?" Ben questioned with an expression of bewilderment on his face as he sat down in one of the available chairs.
"Master Jean deserves all the credit. For your convenience, she told the audience that you're a hero from a different part of the world. She also said that it's usually better to not inquire about the aliens, since it's more exciting to have people be shocked when you show a new transformation." Amber had explained everything, and to be quite honest, she had anticipated more opposition from the people; but, she was not shocked to see that everyone was orderly and just accepted everything.
"That excuse worked?" Ben maintained his skepticism, since he did not believe that the people of Mondstadt would readily accept such a proposition under any circumstances.
"Like a charm." It didn't come as a shock to Amber that the amount of respect that people had for Jean was really astounding, nor did it surprise her how readily they would comply with her directives. Naturally, she harbors the hope that one day the crowd would give Jean some space to relax and take a well-earned vacation.
"Huh. I should thank her when I get the chance." Ben made a mental note to take the trip to Jean's workplace at some point in the future. In addition to that, a number of children ran up to the hero and ecstatically extended their hands for a high five. Naturally, Ben could not let down these new fans, so he cooperated with their request in a cheerful manner and gave each of them some sweet high fives. The children's spirits were lifted as a result of that kind deed, and they expressed their gratitude to the Omnitrix user before continuing their snow play. While she watched that scenario, Amber couldn't help but smile as she thought about how much of an uplift Ben had brought to Mondstadt.
"A little heads up, though: you may find yourself quite busy in the next weeks. All my friends from the knights who saw you in action for the first time told me to come to you and ask when's your free time." The Outrider was able to recall that previously, Albedo, Noelle, and even Eula had asked that she bring the alien hero to them for a variety of reasons.
"Just tell them they can approach me anytime." The best possible outcome would be for Ben to have as many exciting experiences as possible while he is in this place. Whenever he's back in his own dimension, he'll be able to fill Rook in on all the incredible things he's accomplished in this one. Even so, he felt a pang of regret at the prospect of having to abandon Teyvat at some point in the future.
"I can guarantee that you will have an unforgettable experience when you finally get to meet them." Amber was imagining what a conversation might be like between Ben and her best buddy Eula in her brain while they were talking. And she couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she thought it would be a hilarious exchange, in addition to potentially bringing more friends into Eula's life.
"All right, you've had enough with the aliens and all that. Here's some food as a token of our gratitude to Ben for rescuing the city." And yet again, Ben and Amber were treated to Sara's delicious Sticky Honey Roast that she had prepared. The two of them cheerfully accepted it and started their routine of eating and conversing together as pals, speculating about what would happen now that everyone knew Ben's secret and how it would affect their lives moving forward. Even though they should be careful about what they wish for, there was a Fatui Agent sneaking about in the shadows and making sure not to be discovered while gathering information.
As of right now, Rosalyne has managed to tamp down in her power once again and has resumed her role as La Signora. Currently, Signora and a few of her minions were currently en route to Liyue when we last checked in on them. The Fair Lady's foul disposition persisted, and she lashed out at her Fatui troops, which led to their distancing themselves from her. As a consequence, the soldiers were estranged from her. She hasn't been able to get beyond the repercussions of the battle she had with the shapeshifter up to this point. She may have gotten what she needed, so in that sense, the fight was a victory for her, but she still had the impression that she had lost it since she had to flee the battlefield out of fear that she would be defeated. Her thoughts of anger were put to a halt when she heard a sound coming from within her.
"The Fair Lady. Why did this occur? You are aware that we must undertake this operation in secrecy in order to not expose our cover, right? Due to your arrogant act, establishing our authority in Mondstadt will now be arduous." After Signora conjured up the artifact that was responsible for producing the noise, she was addressed by the voice of someone, and it is thought that it was from a higher-ranking Fatui Harbinger.
"I was not expecting the rumored myth of a shapeshifter to be true." It was the only explanation that Signora could come up with. Yet, it would seem that the mysterious voice accepted this excuse since he had a great deal of knowledge to impart to her, which is something that the Harbingers do not do very often.
"Ben Tennyson is the identity of the shapeshifter, according to intelligence. We have suspicions that he may be a sixth Descender of Teyvat. However, our data is insufficient to substantiate this hypothesis. In actuality, this is not our primary issue; our major concern is his extraterrestrial horde. He may perhaps provide certain forms that could create a gap in our strategies. The fact of the matter is that it seems he intends to remain in Mondstadt, so not only would we have the opportunity to secretly study him, but he would also be unable to hinder our intentions for Liyue. But just in case, we'd be remiss in letting you know that Childe is present at Liyue. Now make sure you don't disappoint again, Fair Lady." The mystery Harbinger cut the conversation off at an unexpected moment.
A variety of responses were shown by the Fair Woman in response to the information. She had seen the strange changes that the extraterrestrial hero through firsthand, so she had no trouble believing the fact that he was a probable Descender. Hence, this news did not come as much of a shock to her as it could have to others. She was also glad to learn that they would be collecting data about the alien Descender. If a rematch between the two of them does take place, she will have the opportunity to prepare herself for it. And last, even though it would make things simpler to know that the alien hero would not follow her, she was a little irritated that she will have to see Childe. Anyhow, she will simply have to do everything first quickly before he can even have a chance at receiving it.
"Ben Tennyson. You had best cross your fingers that we don't cross paths again any time soon. Otherwise, I'll make sure to incinerate every cell in your body in a slow and painful way." It was the last hateful thing that Signora spoke before hastening her journey to Liyue in order to get the next "Gnosis" for the Archon she serves.
Author's Notes
It took a while, but I'm happy to say that I've finished the next chapter. I apologize for the delayed posting; I've been swamped with college work. So with how the updates go, it might change. However, I decided that it would be better for the story if Lumine and Ben went their own ways, but have no fear; Ben will ultimately make it to Liyue and see them again. Anyway, thank you all for supporting this story; I really appreciate it.
To Frontiers9: First, I think you'll get the answer to this question towards the end of this chapter. Second, Zhongli doesn't seem like the kind to fight Ben, so I'm not sure how to make it happen; nevertheless, a Raiden vs. Ben battle would be awesome and may happen in the future if the plot goes that far. Third, we'll find out in due time. Fourth, because he met Signora, there's a good chance he'll meet them too. Fifth, to be honest, I'll see if I make it that far to Sumeru. And sixth, since he's a hero, I'll be sure he has moments like that.
To Legendary Destroyer Ice: Probably a serious Clockwork or full-powered Way Big and Atomix. And to answer your second question, I'm sure there will be interesting reactions.
To Ariel69: That's an excellent question. I'm not sure how far I'll take the story. I'll simply have to watch how it goes along the road.
To Eygptian dragon: Once you've read this chapter, I'm sure you'll get your answer to this question.
To Milo S Darek: Yeah, I plan to make him scan some youkais if he ever makes it to Inazuma.
To Zoomm: First, we'll see if he does. Second, it's hard to say for my update schedule since I also have some other things to do and this is just a hobby of mine. Third, it'll be interesting to see their reactions to all of them. Fourth, we'll also see if he makes it to that part of the story.
To 2: It's hard to say for my update schedule since I also have some other things to do and this is just a hobby of mine.
To Jeremy Steinmark: Thank you for your support, and to answer your first question, no, I don't plan on him having a harem. Just a singular pairing with Amber, probably. And to your second question, this new chapter should answer it.
To Lenyo456: To be honest, it's most likely Amber. But because I've never actually written anything romantic before, we'll see how well I can execute it. And romance will probably be a side plot like how it was done in UAF and Omniverse.