Thank you Hyperion499 & Eagle10000 for commenting.
———
"Now… die."
In an instant, Addwaitya shot forth two massive pink fireballs at them. Ultimate Ben brought his sword arms down onto the ground and recited a chant as crystals started to form from the ground up glowing.
It collided with the makeshift crystal wall destroying it in the process and sending Ultimate Ben flying back. Using their chance, Bio Ben switched to Fourmungousour and charged the power-hungry alien while Ben changed to XLR8 and sped around them.
Fourmungousour pulled back his right fists and threw it at his face but Addwaitya didn't seem fazed at this, Bio Ben cursed while he laughed at the pathetic display. Grabbing his upper right arm, Addwaitya then slammed him into the ground before he could react and electrocuted him with a spell every time he made contact with the ground.
Bio Ben grunted out in pain but XLR8 was right behind their enemy. Speeding in a zigzag motion trying to confuse him, XLR8 pulled back his tail ready to attack but Addwaitya saw it coming as he spoke in Latin and the ground turned into mud stopping the Kineceleran in his tracks.
Laughing again, Addwaitya shocked the two Tennysons but he felt a chill go down his spine as an intangible being fazed through him freezing him in place. Ultimate Ben wrapped in Big Chill's wings spoke in latin, letting the mud dry out and XLR8 broke free and quickly blitzed the frozen Geochelone Aerio, breaking his prison.
Getting his footing he was ready to summon a bunch of golems to his aid but Shock- squatch let out an electrified punch to his gut shocking him, then punching him over and over again letting out intense electricity.
Moving out of the way as XLR8 then sped up with his claws extended slashing at Addwaitya and roundhouse kicked him into the ground.
Staggering to get to his feet Addwaitya let out a rage-filled cry unleashing a magical wave of energy trying to blow them off him as the earth underneath him started shaking. But Ultimate Ben spoke in latin bringing up a barrier protecting them. More and more magical energy was being released from the enraged Geochelone Aerio as summoned golems suddenly appeared.
"Ok, what the heck is going on?" Shocksquatch, shockingly asked as more and more golems appear.
"The Alpha Rune, it's not meant to leave Legerdomain and also not meant to wield like a weapon. It holds too much power and can drive anyone insane," Ultimate Ben explained, trying to strengthen the barrier protecting them, "Just ask Charmcaster."
"Problem solved then," XLR8 spoked with his faceplate still covering his face. He scanned the distance between the raging turtle and them, not to mention the golems blocking their path.
"Do you have a plan?"
He nodded, still looking ahead, "Yeah, but I need a clean shot through so that I can snatch the Rune."
"You're gonna need more distance if you want to get it," Ultimate Ben suggested as the Golems started bashing against his barrier.
"Can you hold them off," It sounded more like an order rather than a question. Ultimate and Bio Ben nodded their heads as he then sped off leaving a trail of smoke in his wake.
Once away Shocksquatch charged himself with electricity ready to fight, nodding at Ultimate Ben. Grunting Ultimate Ben then pushed the barrier outwards then they started attacking. Shocksquatch let out electrified punches and kicks then switched to Fourmungousour letting out a thunderous clap with his four limbs but it didn't do anything; they just stood back up as Ultimate Ben tapped his chest as the wings of the necrofriggian covered him. He took a deep breath and unleashed a massive cold breath freezing all the golems in place. He then saw Addwaitya just letting out magical energy as more and more golems. His hands then incised themselves in ice with spikes on it as he started making a path forward bashing the golems away but found it harder to make a dent in it. With only one option left, he let the ice fall apart on his left hand and reached for the Ultimatrix on his chest then turned the dial as it pooped out and he slammed it back in. His wings and hood changed, growing larger, as the colour changed to a flaming red and his eyes turned ablaze.
He let out a roar and massive flames escaped his mouth then incised everything around him in ice as he shot forth flaming ice at Addwaitya who blocked it with a spell. Letting his wings open up he shattered the frozen golems to pieces and let the ice melt as he charged forth to Addwaitya and the two grappled each other by their arms.
Fourmungousour then slammed the frozen golems to pieces while making a clear path for Ben to run and snatch the rune but with the way things were going and Addwaitya going mad. He wasn't sure how they were gonna grab it. But that didn't matter now, he needed to clear a path. He punched through another four of five golems and saw Ultimate Ben and Addwaitya duking it out but he saw his counterpart shooting flame that turned to ice. It gave him a nostalgic feeling as he came up with an idea. He let his Omnitrix time out as he dodged a golems strike just after he timed out.
They were a problem and he wasn't sold on using fusion as much as he wanted. AtomiX would have been really helpful or maybe ClockX, Uprigg, Heatarms, Gutpick…The list goes on and he lost count on how many fusion he had come up with. But he mainly stuck to three or more fusions at a time. Crossing his arms together, Bio Ben then into a four armed red furred skin four eyed alien. A bit hunched back with two toed yeti feet.
"Shockarms!" The alien yelled out, as all four of his fists charged with yellow electricity and gave a thunder clap that released all around him, shocking the golems and even destroying them in the process. He looked around and saw the path was clear, for now at least.
"Let's just hope this works, eh."
Ultimate Ben was blasted back by an energy beam from Addwaitya but jumped to his feet and quickly charged back delivering a swift kick across his face followed by a fire enhanced punch to his midsection. Stumbling back a little Addwaitya opened his mouth to let out a mouth beam but Ultimate Ben was faster and let out another massive wave of fire which froze him and the ground behind in ice.
Wrapping himself in the orange flame cloak he visibly started shaking from the strain of being an ultimate on top of being in his human form as well. It wasn't the first time he did but it would have been better if he was fully alien then the strain wouldn't be this painful.
The ice started to crack and heat was beginning to be released from the frozen Geochelone Aerio. Ultimate Ben then prepared himself, a mental reminder that Ben, given enough distance and a clear path, should be able to snatch the rune while also kicking Addwaitya's butt in the process.
He broke free sending chunks of ice flying away but a yell from above averted his attention as a behemoth of red fur and four arms slammed into Addwaitya sending sparks of yellow electricity in its way. A crater was created in the process as Shockarms leaped away and landed beside Ultimate Ben.
"Shockarms?" He guessed right as Bio Ben nodded his head.
"Yeah, I don't use this alien fusion much but I can't be picky in a time like this," He flexed his fingers on all arms as electricity danced on his fingertips, "And you? Did you go Ultimate on top of Ultimate?"
He let out a breathless laugh, "No, I just evolved Big Chill's DNA and the result you can see for yourself," Suddenly a chill ran down his spine and he toppled forward holding his chest in pain, "Shit!"
"You okay?"
"Backlash from using Ultimate, I'm fine."
He nodded and their attention was back to the downed Addwaitya, who wasn't knocked out, as he suddenly began chuckling. He let out a sadistic laughter that was heard miles away and stood up again. He levitated off the ground and turned towards them.
"You two better move out of the way!" That voice was XLR8, which came through their Omnitrices. When did he connect them?
Ultimate Ben fired two sets of flames from his hands as Shockarms fired electricity at him. Addwaitya intercepted them with a blast of mana and redirected the attacks to the side and saw them moving apart from each other. Before he could cast a spell a black and blue blur knocked him out of the sky back to the ground. He got up quickly but the attacker, Tennyson, blitzed him again and again and again and again.
He tried nabbing on the Kineceleran but he was too slow to react and fired a random blast of energy at anything that moved. He tried to fire but missed again as sharp claws struck him on his shell, stomach and face. He charged up energy inside him then unleashed it outward but a thundering clap was heard and electricity followed after as he was then shocked, yelling in pain.
A flash of emerald light and a ten knuckle sandwich later he was on the ground with wounds all over his body. He tried to stand up but found his ankles and wrist trapped in mana. He then tried to summon the power of the Alpha Rune but it wasn't there.
"Looking for this?" Ultimate Ben asked, having undone his transformed state, slight wounds on his face. He held the Rune in his hand and was panting slightly.
Addwaitya's eye widened, "Give that back, Tennyson! Give me my Alpha Rune back!" He shouted towards him but Ultimate Ben pocketed it and waved his fingers.
"Not happening, Addy, gonna keep this safe and sound and away from you." He looked to the side and saw Bio Ben on the ground laying on his back, tired, while Ben was standing upright taking in deep breaths. Guess the running did make him tired after all.
"What now? Should we capture him?" Bio Ben asked as he then sat upright looking at his counterparts.
"Yes, like we should have done with Exoskull," Ben walked over to Ultimate Ben who was keeping an eye on Addwaitya.
Bio Ben clicked his tongue, "You let one super villain escape and suddenly he hates you, go figure," He muttered and stood up, walking to the others.
"Capturing me should be the least of your problems, Tennyson," Addwaitya calmly said, staring down the three Tennyson's. Ironically he was on the ground.
"And why is that?"
"This being that has caught us all is the bigger threat than I ever am or will be," Addwaitya sternly said, "He managed to do what everyone else could only dream off. Stripping you of your alien powers and keeping you away from your friends and allies."
Bio Ben groaned, "What's the point, Addwaitya, we don't have all day, you know."
"Inpatient much." Ben said with his arms crossed giving Bio a dirty look.
"Unlike some people."
"Stopped three wars mind you."
"Four, jackass."
Ultimate Ben wanted to bang his head against a metal pipe, "How so? If he did all this then why put us in a life or death game?" He asked, trying to ignore his counterparts' bickering.
Addwaitya grinned like a madman, "For entertainment of course, why else would he do this? Besides, we who have been defeated by the great Ben Tennyson get a second chance at him," He let out a maniacal laugh that sent chills down their spines.
"We? So it's not just you, Exoskull and the Knights?"
Ben placed his hand on his chin, thinking. This was bad, for all of them. If all their old villains were on this planet or arena then they were in for a rude awakening. Not only were they back in their teen years but also their aliens were cut down to three. Whoever this person is, they were getting a kick out of this. But there was also another thing–
"Why tell us, Addwaitya? What do you get out of it?" Ultimate Ben stalked forward and placed a foot down on his chest and started his down, "You're not someone who would blindly give out information."
All he got was a massive grin from the Geochelone Aerio as a small metallic ball was thrown at Bio and Ben's feet. The two looked at it confused before it let out an electricity shock stunning them. They screamed out in pain and Ultimate Ben reached for his watch only to be stunned from behind and knocked over the head by a metallic object. Addwaitya stared at the scene with glee as he stared at the men known as the Forever Knights who appeared as if they were invisible a moment ago.
One of the Knights looked at him and blasted him in the face with their weapon, it did nothing but irritate him as he tried to get out of his shackles. Guess it didn't work as he expected it to. Damn, that Tennyson. If only he could get the Alpha Rune then he could kill these fools and then kill him.
"Why is the fat alien still alive?" A man wearing a metallic golden mask covering his face with a crown on his head. He wore a different set of armour compared to the rest. His was more detailed while the others were silver with their symbol in their chest, wearing helmets and wielding different weapons.
"I blasted him, but it didn't affect him, sire" The knight that shot Addwaitya in the face said.
Three Knights picked up Tennyson's laying on the ground and one other Knight called forth they're vehicles, it was long and had two metal prongs on each side on the front.
The golden masked man hummed then looked at Addwaitya then back at the Knight, "Leave him be, our objective is Tennyson." He made his way towards the one he held more hatred towards. He may have been younger now but he still had the same watch on his arm and those clothes.
"All three of them, our host was correct when he said he would make this entertaining for us," He whistled and a metal horse with no legs leaped over Addwaitya and next to the man. He climbed into the horse and signalled to all his men present, "Back to the King, back to the Pits."
He grabbed the reins on the horse and yelled out as the metallic horse then sped in the opposite direction Addwaitya was lying. The rest of the Knights followed him but one of them grew another grenade at him.
A couple of metres away Enoch heard the sound of the explosion behind him but didn't look back as he kept his attention on what their King would do with Tennyson now in hand. Their ambush earlier didn't work but that was fine. They always had a backup plan in place. He smiled underneath his mask. He was going to enjoy this.
—
The sound of cheering reached his ears as the numbness finally subdued from his body. Dammit, he cursed. He didn't know it would be a stun grenade more of all that the Knight would kidnap them. He opened his eyes noticing that he was in a cell, the metal bars telling him everything. He moved but the rattling of chains made him look down. And he wasn't the only one, to his left he saw Ultimate Ben chained up and to his right was Bio Ben in the same position. They were all kidnapped, fuck.
He tried to think which of the Knights, one of the three Factions leaders not a rookie Knight, would go after them, but him mostly. His Omnitrix was clamped shut by a metal lock, same for the other two. This was getting worse by the minute. If only he had master control active then he wouldn't have a problem breaking them all out.
He sighed and leaned back against the wall. Just as he was about to get his life back in order here he was kidnapped by an unknown powerful being and held captive by the same people that ruined him. His day was just going great. Day…
From what he gathered so far they've only been here a day and it all was going to hell.
"Finally awake, I see," That all too familiar voice reached Ben's ear. He looked up and saw Enoch, still wearing that same golden mask and crown.
"Enoch," He said his name with venom and spat on the ground, "Should of figured it was you instead of the others."
"Who else would want to capture the legendary Ben Tennyson aside from my King, or of course."
He scoffed, "What King? All I see is a coward who can't even face me head on let alone fight Fajr instead of using my friends," His anger was reaching a boiling point and he hadn't talked to him yet.
"After you killed Driscoll we had no choice but to choose a New King in order to lead us," He explained.
"Should have stayed buried if you asked me. That hunk of junk will be scrap metal before you know it," He stood up and noticed the chains on his ankles as well, "You need all these chains to keep me and my brothers locked up?"
"With a freak of nature lime yourself, yes I do and if it wasn't for my King, your head would have been on the ground." He clenched his metal gauntlets hard, wanting nothing more than to open the cage and stab him through the chest.
Ben walked forward until the chains reached their limit, "You mean your head would be on a pike, Enoch. After all the times I've spared you and didn't end your miserable life right then and there was mercy at best. You thought it was luck but it wasn't."
"Silence!" He shouted and banged onto the cage with his gloved fist. He took a deep breath then turned around, his back facing Tennyson, "We shall see if you can survive the Pit, Tennyson, you think we haven't been here long? You're truly mistaken, child."
Ben growled at being called a kid again. He wasn't. He was past that childish behaviour…or was he? Shit.
"Whatever you throw at me won't work, I'll escape and kick your butts like I do every Sunday," He gave a toothy grin, "You're King will fall like the last one then he'll regret every messing with me."
Enoch glanced over his shoulder at the boy and walked away with another word. His time will come, he told himself that over and over until he was out of the prison area. Ben walked to his spot and sat on his butt again, leaning back and letting out a frustrated sigh.
This was not his day, he was gonna kill whoever thought this was a fun idea.
A groan came from his right, "Never thought I'd feel that again," Bio Ben woke up and his eyes adjusted to where he was and he saw himself chained up, "Not again." He sat in a more comfortable position and leaned his head back.
"Again?"
"Long story, so the Knights?" He asked and Ben looked away with a scowl on his face thinking back to his short conversation with Enoch. What were they planning? "And you of all people let your guard down," He chuckled and Ben shot him a glare wanting to punch him across the face.
"Says you mister Biotrix. If you had stopped arguing with me then we would have been prepared for their ambush," He countered and honestly he knew this would happen. The Knights have vastly improved since last time.
"Look who's talking Emo face! Need I remind you who's stronger between us!"
"You don't have the skill to back it up apparently."
The two glared at each other for a solid minute until they looked away not wanting to argue and focus on their next plan of action.
"You two truly are idiots but I guess you have your limits," The strained voice of Ultimate Ben spoke out as the two looked at him, "So what's the plan?"
That was the million dollar question they all asked themselves. They could just sit tight and let Enoch or whoever comes get them to fight in the Pit. Dumb name if you ask him.
"How'd you sync our Omnitrices together?" Ultimate Ben asked, having seated himself in a comfortable position, same as them, "Didn't think it was possible with our different watches."
True their watches were all different but the core part was still the same and they all transformed just with their unique quirks added to the mix. Ultimate Ben's partial transformation plus the Evolution function, Bio Ben's fusion with any alien he has at the moment. Fourmungousour and Shockarms came to mind. While he just had the normal aliens and abilities. He was the plain one amongst them.
"It is, I just linked out watches tk the same frequency since the base is the same but the rest is different," He explained, "As for what happens next, well we're gonna have to fight our way out."
"Who are we fighting?"
"Don't know, guess we'll find out once the battle starts, which is pretty soon from the sounds of cheering," He has been hearing the cheering since he woke up and from what Enoch said it was most likely an area they were gonna brawl. Either against a common enemy or each other.
Metal footsteps started approaching their cell and Ben had to resist the urge to make a snarky remark seeing Urien dressed in fancy Forever Knight with the Forever Ninja at his side along with two other nameless Knights. He didn't seem too happy to see either.
"Stand up, Tennyson, all three of you," He commanded and Ben wanted to flip him off but a look from his Ultimate counterpart told him no. All of them stood up as he opened the cell door and the two Knights ran inside the cell and slammed a circular device on Ultimate and Bio Ben's body, leaving Urien holding the disk shaped device in hand as he approached Ben.
"What's that?" He eyed it. And from the lack of response he was getting from his counterparts might indicate that it was meant to keep them in check, like animals.
"Our insurance policy what else," Urien then decked Ben across the face with his free hand. He's head jersey to the side but his stance was firm and didn't move an inch as the Knight leader took the lucky shot, "Still standing I see."
His lip busted open from that punch as he spat on the ground. He smirked, "Lucky shot, wanna remove these cuffs so that I can show you how a real man throws hands?"
His counterpart chuckled but it soon turned into screaming as the device activated as electricity coursed throughout their body. Pain flared as they buckled down onto the concrete floor. Ben was ready to try and roundhouse kick him but Urien moved quicker and placed the device at his side. It activated and an intense shock went into his body. He screamed and was on the ground. It felt like being fried from the inside. After what felt like hours, the shocks stopped and all three of them were breathing heavily and shaking at their core.
"Step out of line again and I will personally see that you suffer for longer than you did just now," Urien spoke with authority and had a smile on his face seeing the great Ben Tennyson on his knees. He nodded, oh, how he wanted to wipe that look off his face but kept himself reigned in, "Get them on their feet." They unchained them from the wall but kept the cuffs on their hands.
The Forever Ninja and the two Knights get the three alternate Ben's up and about as they follow Urien up a staircase. With each step they all took, the louder and louder the sounds of cheering became and they were eventually standing in front of two large metal doors.
Metal changed into the ground as the cuffs were released and they all flexed their hands seeing if they hadn't tried to remove their Omnitrices. Urien then proceed tk open the door with a mighty grunt and light shined upon them.
Vision blurry as they all stepped onto the field until they reached the middle, or what looked like the middle of the circular arena. It reminded them of when they first woke up surrounded by all the aliens in the weird place before being transported to this planet. But this time it was people, not aliens. The cheering began louder and louder as the people's voices began louder by the second. All three versions of Ben Tennyson looked around until they spotted a man covered in head to toe in heavy armour sitting on a throne on a balcony. Resting his head on one hand while leaning back in his chair.
Their eyes widened, Bio and Ultimate that is, while Ben looked furious and ready to murder the man sitting there. The man that killed his mother. The man that turned him into the very person he didn't want to become.
"Is that him?" Ultimate asked, looking at the Forever King sitting nice and comfortable in his throne. Ben nodded not once taking his eye off the King.
"He doesn't look that much, Humungousour could take him out," Bio Ben said with a cocky smirk and for once Ben wished he had his optimism. He could really use that right about now.
"Ben Tennyson," The crowd grew silent as the King spoke. Cold and detached as always, "Lovely to see you again, old friend." His brow twitched at being called that. They weren't friends. No on fucking bit.
"We're not friends, King," He glared at him from across the field and held his watch close to transform at any moment.
"True, we aren't," He stopped up from his throne and walked till he reached the rails, "We're enemies through and through. We hate each other with a burning passion so much so that you start murdering my Knights in cold blood." Ultimate and Bio Ben looked at him, surprised to hear this. They knew he killed Vilgax but this was new to them.
"Nobody would miss them, same with you, King," He crossed his arms and held his glare. The blood on his lip had dried up and the pain from the shock earlier still stung. But that mattered little to him when faced with the Forever King.
A chuckle escaped the King lips, "As cruel as ever aren't Ten Thousand or it is just Ten considering you don't have all your aliens on hand."
He growled, so they knew, of course they did. Addwaitya told them this being had brought them all here, but the question is; how long were they here? And why the game?
"Surprised you're talking about my aliens but not about how old I am now. It's a pain to look sixteen again knowing I'm in my thirties." He still won't forgive the person that did this to me. De-aging him and his counterparts won't go unforgiven till he has that person on their knees.
"Your age matters little to me Ten Thousand, what matters is breaking you apart and seeing you suffer."
"Only one who is gonna suffer is you."
"Ah, yes quick with the comebacks, aren't you. But not quick enough to save dear old mom." A blinding flash of emerald light followed by a trail of flames as Heatblast shot forward.
"Ben!" Ultimate and Bio shouted out, trying to warn him not to go but it was too late.
Rage showed on his rocky expression as his fist was pulled back, flames gathering inside ready to burn him to cinders. He's fist shot forth and it connected exploding outwards in flames, not with the Forever King but with an energy barrier protecting him. The flames licked against the barrier as Heatblast's shoulder volcanoes erupted ready for another punch. The King, not wanting to stand and watch all his life, acted and shot forth an energy beam from his helmet hitting him square against the chest and sending him flying back onto the ground with his counterparts. Heatblast coughed and stood up before an intense electric shock came from the device on his side.
"Stop this, Forever King, we'll play your game dammit!" Ultimate Ben called out, knowing that charging forth won't help.
He cried out in pain as he electricity began stronger until it stopped and a flash of red turned him back into human form. Ultimate and Bio went to check up on him but he swatted their worries away with a glare. It was his own fault, he knows it.
The Forever King simply laughed, "See that Ten Thousand even you are powerless when chained like a dog and used for their master's bidding. Thanks to him we've had time to prepare and improve our little arena. Getting those disks wasn't hard at all. Now the games can begin!" He elaborates by spreading his metal arms. The crowd cheered and screamed in excitement as it was finally starting.
"Fuck you…" Ben growled and stood up before staggering to his knees again. His Omnitrix is in the red and he was in more pain than before.
"Now our first challenge to our shape-shifting heroes!" The King nodded towards a person on his left signalling who opened the gate underneath them.
The cheering grew louder and louder as the beast within the cage growled. Its red eyes glared at the Tennyson trio and roared out loud in blind fury.
To be continued…