It was sunny normal day for the busy streets of Bellwood however,
*Elephant shrieking*
A large humanoid elephant was thrown off from the road into a nearby river.
"Sorry, Trumbipulor. I'm quite in a hurry right now, you see..."
Four Arms reverted back to being Ben and glanced at Rooks who was still analyzing the device Albert gave them.
"This is a level 6 Technology according to Magister Tennyson… The Plumbers couldn't help but just observe the blooming of Realizer technology since they already saw it as a sign of Earth's technology rising…"
Ben pondered as if to recall something from yesterday's mess.
"Now that I remember, said something important right?"
Rook stared for a little bit and then remembered that asks for their help to defend him from the DEM Industries.
The two, having agreed what to do, headed back to the Proto-TRUK and drove away into 's aid.
Hordes of alien civilians were running away from a direction. That specific direction was that of 's shop.
The Proto-TRUK approached the scene only to be met by a scenery of destruction. The shop was in shambles, rubbles littered in the vicinity.
Ben and Rook rushed out of the truck and went inside the destroyed building.
What they have found inside was a redhead woman of an average height wearing a crimson mechanical armor. She is holding by the neck.
The woman noticed the two figures behind her and stared at them grinning.
"B-Ben… H-Hel… me…"
The woman tossed him aside into the nearby pile of rubbles, wounding Mr. Baumann and knocked him unconscious.
"It saves me a lot of time having to rat you out eh, "Ben 10"."
Ben's face turned into a serious expression and glared at her.
"I thought your organization is only after Spirits, so why are you involving civilians?"
His angered tone only made the woman in front of him laugh maniacally.
"Pffft…HAHAHAHAHA! These cretins? Civilians? They're nothing but polluting our planet! Earth is only for humans and neither for Spirits and Aliens alike!"
After her declaration, the woman aimed a rifle at them but they dodged it with ease.
Rook turned the Proto-Tool into a grappler-like device to pull a large rubble and drop it above the woman.
"Now, Ben!"
Ben and nodded and dialed his Omnitrix. What he transformed into was not an alien that he knows. It was a tall, brownish, muscular alien with vent-like openings in place of a mouth.
"A new alien at this time? Better try what think guy could do."
An alien running away from the scene suddenly bumped into him.
"Hey, are you alright?"
When Ben approached the alien, it only became terrified and ran away shouting.
"There's a Jighantik nearby! Everyone, run for your lives!"
Ben only scratched his head at what had happened.
"Jighantik? Hey, Rook what's that?"
Rook who was busy fighting the Bandersnatch responded and glanced at him.
"They're one of the 'parasite races' in the Milky Way alongside- Oh no, Ben… you're transformed into one!"
"Really? This guy's species name is cool already and I might not need to name him differently."
A laser blast came from behind Ben, knocking him a few distance away.
"Done talking now? Hah, let's start the real fight!"
When the woman charged at him, Ben grabbed her in the neck.
She broke free by expanding her Territory, separating her to Ben.
However, Ben's transformed appearance began to morph hideously, growing four arachnid appendages on his back as well as his arms turning into like those and finally having a mouth.
His consciousness became hazy for a bit but then cleared a moment later.
"Damn, I felt like I was not myself earlier... So this guy changes form after absorbing energy huh…. Quite dangerous. Anyways, who are you?"
Ben looked at the woman who is still smiling like a maniac.
"I am Adeptus 3, Jessica Bailey, the world's third strongest wizard! I will end you here and present that transformation to Wescott-sama!"
Jessica attacked again only to be blocked by the appendages on Ben's back. He was knocked back by the continuous attacks that followed.
"She's fast but not on the same level as Elen's… Maybe I could beat her with the help of 'that'."
Ben looked at a power generator just in his right side and then approached it.
"I'll only take a little bit of electricity…"
Ben absorbed from the generator which caused his appearance to change again. This time, the appendages from his back were gone and he grew in size, sporting six insectoid legs with a retractable stinger within the tail.
"Cool! Now your name is Gigantick"
Gigantick aimed his stinger to Jessica only to be blocked by her Territory.
"HAHAHA! Just like what I expected from you, Ben Tennyson, you are really a worthy opponent! Now die! Galatine!"
The wings of her armor merged, forming a large crimson broadsword, Galatine, which was her Combat Realizer, Gawain's ultimate armament.
She was propelled mid-air by the leg thrusters of her armor into Ben's direction.
Ben however, switched into Spidermonkey to evade the slash.
"Whoa. That was close."
Bfore Jessica could swing her sword another time, Spidermonkey entangled her with webs.
"Give up, you're defeated."
Jessica only laughed at him and looked above Ben.
"Ben there's another one and she's fast approaching you!"
Curved laser beams came from every direction, surrounding Ben who quickly switched Diamondhead to refract the blasts but injured himself in doing so.
Jessica was taken away by the new Wizard and was freed from entanglement.
When Ben looked up to find out who it was, he was surprised to see a young girl only two or three years younger than him, wearing a white and blue CR-Unit.
When they're gazes met, the young girl then flew off carrying Jessica with her hands.
Diamondhead transformed back with Rook approaching him.
"Mr. Baumann's safe and the enemies are retreating now. The Plumbers will arrive in a few minutes. Let's check on Gwen now."
Ben nodded and the two departed using the Proto-TRUK.
Part 2At Hex's secret library,
"I have some grave news for you, Ben. Professor Albert was killed."
Hex's news had made Ben and Rook surprised.
"Are you sure about it, Professor Hex? Maybe he too was abducted by Natsumi."
Rook said so, but Hex shook his head.
"No, he was found dead in his apartment with a gunshot wound to his head."
"Damn. DEM has finally found him because of helping us. This is my fault…"
Ben covered his face due to feeling guilty about Albert's death.
"He gave these papers to me yesterday afternoon though. This is all the information he had gathered from DEM's files."'
Hex placed the pile of paper in the nearby computer and Ben stood up and approached the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll look for Gwen. She's the likely target now."
Hex nodded and placed back the book he was holding into its rightful shelf.
"Regarding Gwendolyn though, she's acting weird earlier in the class. Her eagerness and curiosity regarding magical artifacts were off-charts compared to her normal attitude. Maybe she's just studying really hard but there is a possibility that she's not Gwendolyn."
"I get it. Leave this to me."
Ben nodded and walked outside when Rook called for him
"I'll tag along, Ben."
"No Rook, you stay here and help Hex with reading the files. I'll search for Natsumi myself."
Ben transformed into XLR8 and began searching for Gwen.
He ran through the corridors and checked the rooms one by one, but still can't find Gwen. However, he saw Gwen exiting from the Infirmary.
XLR8 reverted back to Ben and approached Gwen who looked surprised.
"Gwen! We've been finding for you everywhere!"
"Oh, sorry. I feel really dizzy today. Shouldn't have come to school today…"
'Gwen' placed her left hand into her forehead to ease the pain from a headache.
"Are you okay, Gwen?"
Ben said with a worried voice. There was bigger why he did this though and now he is certain that this is not Gwen.
(Just like I thought, she's Natsumi. Otherwise, she'll react to me calling her just 'Gwen'.)
Ben thought to himself and gestured to 'Gwen' to follow him.
"So, where are we going exactly?"
"To Hex's library. We need some help deciphering ancient mystic symbols of some sort, you know about them right?"
'Gwen' smiled wryly at him.
"Err…I'll do what I can."
Her answer is the final assertion Ben needed to prove that this is really Natsumi.
(You've been tricking us for days now, it's time for us to counterattack.)
When the two of them went back to the library, the mana sensor beeped loudly, displayed on its screen were large traces of spiritual residue in the room.
"W-What was that?"
'Gwen' frantically said.
"Don't mind it, they're just testing the fire alarm."
After saying that, Ben locked the door behind and dialed his Omnitrix to transform into Wildmutt.
"Ben what are you trying to do!?"
"Gwarar!"
Wildmutt backed away and transformed back. He looked to Rook who nodded and aimed the Proto-Tool to the imposter Gwen.
"You can drop the act now, Natsumi."
Natsumi who was disguised at Gwen, widened her eyes due to the situation she's currently in.
"Just give up. This is my win"
"…uh"
Her broom, Haniel, showed up and its tip was pointed to Ben. It then began wriggling awkwardly.
A few moments after Haniel began shaking intensely, its mirror tip began cracking and then released a light enough to blind everyone in the room.
"Kuh──!?"
"What's Happening!?"
"You won't escape….!"
The light immediately dissipated, leaving all the other people in the room beside Natsumi to experience an impaired visual though Ben got his eyes used to it now.
In this moment, Ben noticed the two missing people who was not here before, Gwen and Kevin, who was lying on the floor.
They were the ones who were imprisoned by Haniel.
"Gwen! Kevin! You guys are alright!?"
After Ben shouted at them, Gwen pressed her head and raised her body with Kevin's support who too was still dizzy.
"That felt like a very bad dream. Ugh…..."
"I thought we were forever imprisoned there, thanks Ben."
Ben smiled back and was scratching head as to gesture that it's nothing.
On Ben's left side however was a familiar yet different silhouette.
"Is that…?"
"Natsumi…...?"
There was one girl sitting in the floor other than them. It was a girl with a large witch hat.
And the moment he saw the Natsumi who was covered by a large hat,
"Wha──!?"
Ben let out a surprised voice which differed from the tense and serious atmosphere of the room.
The reason for this was that the girl lying on the floor right now just in front of him was not the Natsumi he knew in his memories.
She has a petite body. Her skin is pale which made her look like ill and her small stature looked even smaller due to being sitted. She has thick eyebrows which are frowning right now, making her appear gloomy and depressed. Her hair color was the same as the Natsumi from before but was messy and untended instead of a flowing silky hair.
The girl over there doesn't seemed like the seductive Natsumi at all.
"A-Are you really Natsumi?"
Ben said so with a confused look. This however, caused Natsumi to made a shock expression and touched her face.
"W-WHA….!?"
She then shouted so loud that it drained all colors from her hunched her back even more to hide her figure with her hat.
"So that was…."
"So I'm correct, eh."
While Ben is still confused, Hex placed his hand in front of his chin and made a smug expression.
"That's her 'secret', none other than her real form."
Ben widened his eyes at the sudden realization.
Natsumi raised her right hand while hiding herself with her hat.
"Haniel!"
Haniel floated in front of the room and repaired the broken mirror shards back into its tip.
Natsumi's body then glowed and her silhouette transformed into a matured woman, the Natsumi from the previous encounter.
Natsumi glared at everyone present in the room before speaking in an angered voice full of hatred.
"You all found out huh… You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! You found out! ALL OF YOU FOUND OUUUTTTTTTTTTTT!"
She then grabbed Haniel while continue speaking.
"Not just once, but twice…. you saw it….my secret…! I won't forgive you. I will never forgive you. Each one of you, I won't let this just past byyyyyyy!"
"Haniel!"
When Natsumi shouted, Haniel's tip shone with a bright light that filled the room easily.
"Again…..!?"
Ben closed his eyes in reflex
Hex muttered something but Ben couldn't hear it.
"Tch."
After Natsumi saw that everyone was not there, she blew up the wall and escaped from there.
Part 3"W-Where am I….?"
When Ben looked at his surrounding he saw the other people that was with him in that room however,
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA….!?"
Gwen screamed upon looking at herself in a mirror. She was turned into her appearance of seven years ago.
"What had happened to me!?"
Gwen said so while raising her voice.
"She placed a curse on us that will turn us like her, a child."
The person who spoke was none other than Hex whose age were also reduced.
"Agh…. She's gotten away too. Can you stand there, pal?"
"Sure."
Rook lend Kevin a hand to stand up but then Kevin slipped from a nearby rock and fell down again after seeing what had happened to Gwen.
"Gwen! Are you alright!?"
"Except that I turned into a kid."
Ben who had saw what had happened to Gwen couldn't help but laugh
"Looks like you turned back to your dweeb self."
"Shut up, Ben! You're not helping."
"Anyway, we need to find Natsumi as soon as possible before DEM could get their hands on her."
Rook said that and Ben nodded.
"I'm going to give that witch a beat-up in our second encounter."
Gwen annoyingly said while clenching her fists.
A few moments after, Kevin answered a call from his phone. Everyone, except Hex, looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"It's Argit!"
Kevin put the call into loudspeaker so that everyone could hear them.
"H-Help me! The, DEM, they've found me! Please Kevin, help me!"
The call ended as soon as it started making Ben and Rook tilt their heads.
Part 4A tense atmosphere filled the dim lit corridor inside the DEM Industries American branch.
It was the atmosphere that fills one's self with a feeling of killing intent.
There were two people walking in that corridor: one was a redhead woman in her mid to late twenties and a young girl that seemed to in her middle school. Both of them were two of DEM's best Wizards bearing the callsign of Adeptus-2 and 3 respectively.
"Mana Takamiya I'm asking you for the last time, why didn't you kill him? He's nothing but a hindrance to our missions!"
The one who were raising her voice was none other than Adeptus-3, Jessica Bailey.
"I only fight Spirits. Whether it is an alien or a human transforming into one, I couldn't care less. Also, the only objective given to me was to pick you up."
The one who responded was Mana Takamiya, the Wizard bearing the callsign Adeptus-2 which is just below Elen's level.
Mana hurried walking and separated away from Jessica.
Useless hag. That's what she thought to herself regarding Jessica.
After reaching into a room, Mana seated into one of the front seats and bean listening to the instructions given by the mission supervisor in front.
They were mission instructions to delay Ben Tennyson from reaching the Spirit codenamed Witch as Adeptus-1 is hunting it.
"There were changes in the mission however, Adeptus-3 will no longer be a part of the main confrontation and will be moved into patrolling the nearby area to engage any Pumbers that will arrive.
Jessica, who was still in the process of entering the room, slammed it open. Hearing those changes made her throw a tantrum at the supervisor.
"What!? Do you know who I am!? I am Adeptus-3, third-strongest Wizard! To place me into a patrol was nothing but humiliation!"
The supervisor remained calm and composed even after hearing Jessica's rant.
"Those were direct orders from Adeptus-1 herself. And that these Plumbers are not to be taken lightly. They're armed with alien weaponry that's why they won't be just a pushover."
Jessica didn't respond anymore and just walked out of the briefing room.
Several minutes had passed and the briefing came to an end.
Part 5"Are you sure Argit is here?"
"Yeah. This is where the call was made."
It was a large abandoned building, a factory of some sort.
What came out of the shadows was Argit who was panic and running away from something
Kevin grabbed him by his jacket and raised him into the air.
"What's happening here, Argit!?"
"Those Wizard guys have found me and they're trying to kill me!"
As soon as he said that, there were multiple people behind them and their numbers were dominated by females. This scene made Argit's eye widen.
"I know where Natsumi is so let's leave!"
Argit said that in a panic causing him to be dropped in the ground.
"This area is strictly off-limits to civi── It's Ben Tennyson! Adeptus-2 and the other squad are still not here!"
"Forget about them, we'll just explain it to them earlier… we just can't let them escape!"
DEM's squad were arguing whether to capture them or not. This however, gave them necessary time to escape.
"Sorry, but we're leaving. Abeo Exorior!"
After Gwen declared that, a large dome of mana engulfed them. The dome then blurred together with them inside and then disappeared completely
"Viper-1 to Adeptus-2. The targets have escaped using some sort of magic. Proceed immediately here."
"Adeptus-2 to Viper-1. No need to come there. The targets are just in front of me."
What Mana has said over the comm was true since the immediate location that Gwen had teleported them were just in front of Mana Takamiya and her squad.
"Oh crap. Do it again, Gwen!"
"Don't rush me you jerk!"
An opening was created due to Ben and Gwen's quarrel that made it possible for Mana to destroy the mana dome and prevent them from escaping.
"Sorry to tell but, you have to fight me first. I too don't want to do so but orders are orders."
After saying that, the shield parts of her CR-Unit located on the top of her shoulders slide down into her arms with beam blades emitting from the end of both parts.
Mana rushed through Ben and made a slicing stance. This was dodged however by Ben who transformed into Fasttrack.
Fasttrack kicked Mana in the groin but as expected, she was protected by a Territory. She was still thrown away nonetheless.
Rook fired off his Proto-Tool aimed at one of the Wizards which was then deflected by a Territory.
Kevin too was knocked back by a heavy beam fire that shattered his steel coat.
"Damn those Realizers… How can we attack them if we can't hit them!?"
"Leave this to me. Amplusmica!"
Gwen releases a cloud of golden powder that made the Territory of the enemy Wizards into flowers.
"Great. As expected of Gwen."
Kevin leaped into one of the Wizards and absorbed the metallic material of their Realizers and knocked it into the ground.
"Now we're equal."
Four wizards approached and encircled Gwen and Hex.
"Just give up, kids. We won't hurt you if you just behave."
One of them which annoyed Hex.
"Let's see what these kids can do!"
Hex looked at Gwen who nodded in response.
" Adfishio Potentia!"
Multiple beams of purple-colored energy shoot out from both of their hands. Those who timed their activation of Territory too were blown out and the others who didn't had gotten their Realizers destroyed.
"This would lead to nowhere if all you can do is dodge."
Fasttrack was running in circles to avoid getting hit by Mana's homing lasers.
"Those toys of hers really are a nuisance."
The rays following him finally caught up and converged into his position. Before Fasttrack could be hit, a green light flashed and transformed him into Chromastone which fired them back to Mana.
"Tch."
Mana deployed her Territory to defend herself from Chromastone's beams.
"Oh, so you can counter efficiently. As expected from a renowned hero…"
Her words fell to deaf ears as Chromastone continued firing his UV rays.
"Viper-1 to Adeptus-2, don't let the target escape since Adeptus-1 is now closing in to the target."
"Natsumi!"
Chromastone who had heard that while engaging Mana, broke from their clash and picked up Argit.
"Natsumi's in danger now, we're leaving."
"Yes! Wait for me Natsuuumiiiiiiiiiii!"
(Argit is somewhat heavy)
Chromastone flew off into the direction Argit pointed.
"The target is flying! Don't let him escape! Open Fire!"
Several bullets were aimed at Chromastone which now disrupts his flight pattern.
"These guys really don't like giving up."
Chromastone generated an energy shield around them and continued flying faster and hid within the tall buildings.
"What are you fools doing!? The target has been lost! Where are you going, Adeptus-2?"
"Pursuing the target."
Mana flew off after declaring that.
It was a destroyed mansion which is now an empty lot that Argit lead Ben.
Ben reverted back and scanned the area, finding no one.
"Are you sure Natsumi is in here? This place just looks like a ruin anyway…"
"Of course. This place however, will be your grave."
Argit covered his face with his right hand as if to pull his face off. In that moment though──
"An ID Mask!? Elen!"
What appeared in place of Argit was Elen Mira Mathers who disguised herself with an ID Mask.
"How did you get one of those and where's Argit?"
Ben raised him voice that was tinged with anger.
"Look above"
"Mmmmm….!"
Hanged in the ceiling was Argit whose mouth was duct taped.
"Now that you've reunited with your rat friend, you can both enjoy your last moments together."
Elen revealed an evil smile and pointed up to the clock in the upper part of a wall, it was a bomb with the timer remaining only at 20 seconds.
Elen took off leaving both Argit and Ben in the mercy of the time bomb.
15 seconds remaining.
"Damn, who should I pick!?"
The remaining time is only 10 seconds but Ben still couldn't think of what to do as Clockwork is too slow to do the job.
"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!"
"Damn it. Alien X!"
Ben transformed into a jet black humanoid resembling the deep space in color and having what appears to be tiny stars scattered throughout his body, making him seemed like a humanoid observable universe. It was Ben's most powerful alien transformation, Alien X.
As the time reached exactly at zero and detonated, Alien X stopped the time and rescued Argit from the ensuing explosion.
He then resumed it back and the explosion leveled the whole place.
Alien X reverted back and Ben freed Argit.
"Took you so long, Benjamin. Anyways, let's go find Natsumi before Elen could kill her! Please!"
Argit bowed his head to Ben to show he really meant his pleading.
"Are you sure? And do you know where she is now?"
"That's…."
Ben sighed at the situation they're currently in.
"So you don't know where she is now?"
"That's only because Elen took my Natsumi tracker!"
Ben laughed at what Argit had said only for Argit to grew impatient and smacked him.
"Will you help me or what!?"
Ben get up after taking the hit in his face and now seeing how serious Argit is.
"Your devotion to that bitch really is something. Anyway, do you have anything we can use to trace Elen down?"
"Here. I took it from her during my stay in DEM's jail."
Argit presented a black and blue handkerchief to him that he presumed to be belonging to Elen's
"Good."
Ben transformed into Wildmutt and gestured Argit to ride in his back.
"Your knight will be right there so wait for me Natsumi!"
After declaring so, Wildmutt began running in the streets, freaking out the pedestrians and motorists alike.
On the of a building far from Ben's current location was Natsumi, riding her magic broomstick, Haniel, and was killing time by watching the city below.
Her current form was a beautiful woman whose age were around mid-twenties wearing the attire of a stereotypical witch. Her body proportions are on the level that would make a man charmed within seconds of glancing her, especially her slender limbs and rich chest. She was peeking on the city streets below using a giant telescope she transformed using an I-beam steel when she saw a large muscular, dog-like creature running in the streets while approaching the direction of the building she's currently atop into.
"So our hero-san finally found out where I am huh, he's still after me even after exposing secret! Would you believe that! He's just wasting his energy and effort finding me since I won't forgive him anyway."
Just a couple of hours ago, her secret was exposed by none other than Ben after ending their game.
She sighed and dismounted from Haniel to held it in her hands upside-down.
"Maybe I should research more on Ben-kun to know what should I transform next."
Natsumi made a mischievous smile and inside her were thoughts of how to harass Ben beginning to flow.
She prefers something that will drive him mad and destroy his status in the society as a superhero. She's planning to do it until Ben would be unable to go outside without receiving humiliation from the public. One of her thoughts include transforming into one of his alien forms and burn police stations and the other was scattering the clothes of any women he saves to give him a criminal record of molesting.
So many ideas popped out in her mind and she was lost in thoughts. At that moment, while Natsumi is showing a clearly nasty expression, she narrowed her eyes and changed her expression into a serious one.
"Something is going this way…!"
She hesitated at first but then realized that there really is something trying to get into her now.
"Did Ben-kun already found where I am?"
Natsumi clicked her tongue. The possibility of that happening was not zero. She recalled that Ben could transform just like her and she somewhat guessed that Ben has a transformation that could track her down. Even though Wildmutt still haven't noticed where she is, she can't deny the possibility of him tracking her down.
"I'm sorry but, our game already ended earlier this day."
Natsumi winked at the unseen pursuer and rode Haniel
"Hmph…"
Haniel then flew upwards with a speed that can outpace any human being. Natsumi imagined Ben's lackeys tiring themselves while trying to pursue her and laughed at that sudden thought.
The surrounding scenery was that of a forest clearing that is near to one of the secret passages toward the southern part of Undertown.
"I guess this place is enough for a hideout."
She didn't bother measuring how much time had passed after she flew away. She didn't think of where to go first but just to add in her safety, she landed to what she thought were an inhabited woodland.
Now that there are traps waiting for Ben to fall into, she's thinking of revising her methods of harassing Ben. However, she couldn't think of any more and forced a tired laugh.
"Haha….. hahhh…. It shouldn't end like this that's why I need to think carefully."
The moment she said that, Natsumi felt that something is aimed at her and backed away.
The next moment, the boulder Natsumi sat at turned into a small crater as a ball of light was fired to it.
"──!?"
Was I tailed? That fast!? Natsumi's face showed an astonished expression that changed into a feerless smile instantly. She of course wouldn't let her opponent see her weak composure.
"That as one hell of surprise even on Ben's comrades."
She said that wore a smug expression to look directly in the origin of the attack.
When she did that, a floating figure was looking directly at Natsumi with a cold gaze tinged with pure killing intent and was slowly descending into the ground.
It was a woman in her mid to late twenties wearing a silver CR-Unit around her body. She has a pale blonde hair, and blue eyes. Her face was comparable to a porcelain doll but her surrounding aura was not that of a lovely lady but rather bearing the atmosphere of a hungry beast looking at her prey.
"Too bad, I am not Ben Tennyson's comrade"
"Is that so? Then the AST? The SSS? The Plumbers? Or maybe the DEM? Well, whatever. I don't care. What do you need from me anyway?"
"Something you know"
After Natsumi said that, the girl pulled out a large broadsword equipped on her back while replying.
"You're my prey, Witch."
After Elen announced that, Natsumi opened her eyes wide for an instant, before immediately laughing.
"Scary. But I think your effort chasing me here is futile. Also, I really hate that Witch name, will you call me Natsumi properly?"
Natsumi shrugged and was obviously testing Elen's patience. One could imagine that she really isn't that cautious of the woman just opposite her or maybe she really thought that this woman would never lose.
Elen knitted her eyebrows unpleasantly.
"Let's see once I tried."
Natsumi pointed her broom towards Elen. This broom, Haniel, has the power to change the target into whatever the user wants.
It really is an annoying ability but that much won't be a problem against her. Elen made a stance and activated the laser blade of Caledvwlch that she holds in her hand.
Elen disrupted Haniel's casting by knocking Natsumi's aim and followed it with a slash. This however, was blocked by Natsumi using Haniel to parry the blade. Elen and Natsumi's sights blended.
After that exchange, a few wizards landed behind Elen. They were a group of wizards that were pursuing Witch and finally caught up with them.
"You all are late."
"I-Im very sorry, Elen-sama! But we couldn't keep up with that speed!'
Elen made a small sigh from that honest reply.
"Anyways, don't stand in the way of my battle."
After Elen said that, the wizards pulled out their weapons and focused their sights into Natsumi.
Natsumi however, chuckled in response.
"Do you really think you can take me on alone? You're really a fool!"
"Don't worry, I'll give you the greatest challenge you've ever had.'
"I don't really care so, bleh."
At that moment, Natsumi aimed Haniel once again.
Several gusts of wind and several beams of mana assaulted Elen and her subordinates.
This doesn't seem to break Elen's composure and modified her territory into the direction of the blasts while in mid-air. Her subordinates too distanced their selves to each other to avoid the attack.
"Mou….!?"
The scattered wizards fired several micro missiles at Natsumi. The missiles where filled by channeled mana that the Realizers converts from the surrounding. They all approached Natsumi's direction.
"Fufu."
Even when faced by a barrage of missiles, Natsumi's fearless smile didn't waver and aimed Haniel into it while raising her voice.
"Haniel!"
Its mirror tip shone a bright light but the wizards found that the light weren't blinding. The moment the missiles made contact with the light released from Haniel, they were transformed into numerous sweets ranging from candies to chocolates.
"How sweet. Presenting me with candies!"
Natsumi activated Haniel once more and this time, Elen knitted her eyebrows from the feeling she is experiencing with her body now. Her sights were severely lowered.
"U-uwahhh!?"
"Wha-what is this….!"
At the same time, screams were coming from left and right from the wizards deployed in the area.
She looked at them and confirmed that her subordinates were but only found unfamiliar children in their place. That's when the realization hit her and that she along with subordinates were turned into children by Natsumi.
"Ahahahahahaha!"
Natsumi laughed hard and was holding her stomach.
"Don't get so confident."
"Heee? What can you even do, kiddo. Just go home and cry at nanny. Fufufufufu"
Elen narrowed her eyes, and scanned her whole body to check her condition and achieve a state of order in her mind to control her Territory. Muscle mass, bone density, metabolism rate, reflex time, various more, she grasped all that in an instant. All of her abilities where lowered and she even guessed that her reflexes were devolved. A very annoying power.
"This form is enough to kill you."
Ellen gripped Caledfwlch's handle with both hands and kicked the sky. She then closed in at Natsumi within an instant.
"Eh-?"
Natsumi was shocked at Elen's sudden attack and opened her eyes wide
Ellen didn't look and swung the Caledfwlch.
"Eh…., Eh…?"
She has no idea what had happened just now.
The moment the girl called Ellen brandished her sword, a burning feeling passed through her chest to her stomach-and Natsumi fell.
In the middle of losing conciousness, Natsumi slowly placed her hands on the part of her
stomach which was hit-and a large amount of blood enough to make it dark red was what she saw in her hand.
"Ha…."
The moment Natsumi saw that, an extreme pain that burns ran through her body.
"It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts …!"
"A-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…..!?"
Natsumi screamed from the excruciating pain that she has never felt before.
However, the repeatedly pulse of stimulation continued exploding within her and it did not allow her to pass out.
"No-way…wha, what is this…."
The attack Elen made by swinging her sword has caused a deep cut on Natsumi's body.
And the moment after that, Ellen's body glowed and turned back into her normal body.
Most likely is that Natsumi's powers wears off to unimportant targets if she received damage. This is because Natsumi's mature body transformation was still intanct.
"Looks like your power is the one to weaken now. What to do next I wonder. To be honest I want you take you alive as a present for Ike but, killing you and taking out your Saphira crystal sounds more interesting"
Elen said that with an indifference in it. Natsumi squeezed her voice out from her throat desperately.
"Any…one…...please…...save me…... I…. don't…. want to die…"
"I think that is a choice of putting you into a state of not feeling pain by subjecting you to more pain until you get used to it."
At the same time Ellen said that, her subordinates who also returned to normal grouped together behind her.
"Executive chief. What should we do?"
"Let's bring her back alive. She's not going anywhere with that injury but with her annoying ability, It maybe better to just cut off her limbs in case"
"!?"
After Natsumi heard that, she distanced herself from Elen but couldn't back away as much as she wants due to not having enough strength
"Your suffering will end soon, so please endure it for a bit."
Ellen said that like a concerned nurse to someone being dissected in an operating room.
"-!"
She closed her eyes in reflex and grinded her teeth to withstand the pain that follows.
Right hand? Left hand? Right leg? Or maybe the left leg…? Which one would she cut?
Natsumi said so while panicking.
Ellen swung her sword downward.
But-
"ELEN!"
A flash of green light shone in the distance which rapidly increased in size until it revealed a colossal humanoid sporting the color of red, white, and black and having a crest on top of his head. That was one of Ben's transformations, Way Big, who was propelled by the momentum from Jetray's flight before he switched.
The massive fist struck Elen who was caught off guard and launched her several meters away.
She vomited blood and thanks to her Territory, the damaged she took from that fist were reduced into bruises although she still felt the force of the attack and that made her collapsed into her knees. If she received that attack without a Territory defending, she would really be squashed and her body would collapse from impact.
The other wizards were too shocked and was apparently frozen in fear before the giant that stood above them.
"B-Ben Tennyson!"
"To think that Elen-sama will be knocked out by a single attack!"
Way Big reverted back which caused him shrink in size and into Ben.
"Are you alright!?"
"Wh-why are you…here….."
Ben only looked at him with a smile of assurance.
"I came here because I am a hero. I wouldn't call myself one if I couldn't even save someone in need."
"Ben! Ha…..Ha…. Natsumi!?"
Argit who had caught up suddenly saw the pool of blood forming beneath Natsumi.
"Natsumi!"
I don't get it. I tried to hurt him and his comrades so why-why would a hero save a villain….
However, Natsumi's thoughts were interrupted the instant Ben called out.
"We'll get you to somewhere safe, okay?"
"Ben…. kun...?"
She couldn't say what she wants to due to losing too much blood and strength.
"I'll have you treated soon, don't worry."
"-Did you think I would let you?"
The one who said that was Elen who was back in her feet. Ben and Argit were surprised that she still somewhat survived that attack from Way Big.
"So even a To'kustar couldn't bring you down! Truly a monster befitting to be the strongest Wizard!"
Argit said so only for Elen to narrow her eyes.
"1 spirit, 1 comic book cliché hero and a nuisance. That seemed to be your best shot, Ben 10. I'm a bit disappointed to be honest. If you couldn't even pack that much power with your other forms, there's no way you can escape."
"Let's see about that."
Ben transformed into a humanoid bat-like creature, Whampire.
Whampire launched his Corrupturas into Elen's subordinates, it controlled their bodies as if they were puppets and started to group around Ellen.
"Tsk-"
She clicked her tongue in detest and stepped firmly with one of her legs. She then deployed her Territory to separate her from the other wizards that were approaching like zombies.
But, this seemed to give Ben necessary time for them to escape.
"I'm going to take Natsumi to Azmuth to see if he can help us while you run and inform the others about what had happened."
Argit knitted his eyebrows at what Ben had said.
"If that's the only way to help her then fine."
After receiving his reply, Ben dialed his Omnitrix and transformed once more into Alien X
"You won't escape!"
Elen fired off a beam from Vortigern only for them to be refracted back to her by Alien X.
Alien X then clicked his finger to teleport him and Natsumi away from the area and into Galvan Prime.
