A/N: Hey everyone, this is a story I thought up. Ben 10 x Solo Leveling. In this universe, Ben doesn't find the Omnitrix, Gwen does while also awakening into her anodite abilities. But that's not gonna stop our brunette who's destiny is sealed to surpass his cousin as the Greatest Hero to ever live.
Chapter 1: The Player Emerges
In a small town known as Bellwood, a certain young teenager was lying in his bed, sleeping, until a familiar ringing alerted the boy in question. He jolted from his bed falling on his head earning a quick, 'ow' from him. He rubbed his head quickly before grabbing a distinct badge. It was grey badge in the form of a green and black hourglass.
The boy quickly answered the summons when a hologram of a familiar face appeared, "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, where the hell are you?!" The voice screeched in annoyance.
The boy known as Benjamin Tennyson pulled the device away from his eardrum before gazing at his cousins holographic face. He scoffed lightly, "Sleeping, what's it to you?"
"The meeting has already started. A meeting you were supposed to be present for!" She shouted at him as he rolled his eyes.
"Oh a meeting?!" He replied sarcastically, "What am I too do? Spare me the theatrics, Gwen, you don't need me there, we both know it." He glared at her.
"Ben, if you're not here within the next ten minutes, you'll regret it." Gwen glared at him before hanging up on him. He sighed loudly before ruffling his hair in annoyance.
"Asshole." He muttered before quickly hopping to his feet and racing to the bathroom, quickly taking a shower and brushing his teeth before getting dressed in his standard converses, black jeans, white and black T-shirt, and his favorite black and green number 10 jacket.
He quickly grabbed his keys and raced down the stairs, grabbing a banana, and racing out the door. He quickly unlocked his car, opening the door, and hopping inside. He started it up, closed the door, and quickly backed out of his drive way. He floored the car out of his neighborhood heading the Plumber HQ.
It didn't take long to reach town when he stopped infront of Max's Plumbing. He turned his car off before walking into the shop. He walked straight to the bathroom. He entered one of the stalls before pulling a chain to the toilet. Instead of flushing, a hidden elevator appeared. Ben quickly stepped inside as the elevator closed. He quickly pushed the basement button before the elevator quickly descended.
He stood in the elevator with a rather annoyed look on his face, 'Stupid Gwen.' The teenager grumbled in his thoughts as the elevator soon stopped and opened revealing a hidden base under the Plumbing Shop.
Ben stepped out of the elevator as Plumber's of various alien species walk around the base. Ben wasn't really phased by the sight as he'd been dealing with aliens for the last seven years of his life. He sighed once again as he thought back to that traumatic moment his life changed forever.
Seven Years Earlier
A young 10 year old, Ben Tennyson had been super excited to get his summer vacation started. After confronting Cash and JT for the last time, he had been given a final beating for the summer. His grandfather, Maxwell Tennyson climbed out the RV, to see his grandson hanging from his underwear on a tree branch.
Only to find out moments later, his cousin Gwen had decided to tag along on what was supposedly been a trip between Ben and Max.
Later that night, Max had tried to get the two to communicate more, but that wasn't going well causing Gwen to leave and Ben to follow moments later. Ben had seen a shooting star only to find out it was a meteor. Having been almost killed by the rock, he rubbed his head before he heard a feminine scream.
He shot to his feet and slid down the crater knowing who's voice that was. As he got closer he saw his cousin fiddling with something, "Gwen?" She turned around to look at him.
"Ben, help me. This thing clamped itself onto my wrist and won't let me go!" She said as she attempted to get the watch off of herself.
Ben's eyes widen in shock as something painful shoots through his head, almost like within his head was changing. Gwen noticing her cousins discomfort raced over to him, "Ben? Are you okay?"
Ben yelled in even more pain as various memories that weren't his started erasing itself from his subconscious. Gwen was at a loss of words, trying to figure out what to do while helping her cousin, "Hold tight, I'll get Grandpa!" She reaffirmed him before attempting to race off when he grabbed her wrist, "Ben?"
"...take...it...off..." He muttered as Gwen raised an eyebrow at him.
"What?"
"...take...it...off..." He muttered louder, but Gwen looked at him.
"Take what off?" She gazed at him questioningly.
"THE WATCH! TAKE IT OFF!" He yelled as he snatched her left wrist attempting to rip it from her arm.
"BEN! LET GO! I FOUND IT!" She yelled angrily.
The two began fighting over the bulky watch when Gwen suddenly snatched her arm away, pressing a button which caused it to activate. The faceplate launched upwards with a hologram on the dial. Ben's eyes widened in fear, "Gwen, don't do it." Gwen's eyes went from the ringing of the watch to her cousin who's eyes were wide and full of fear.
"You've gotta wonder what this can do?" She whispered in curiosity as she raised her hand in trepidation.
"NOOO!" He yelled trying to stop her when she slammed her hand onto the faceplate becoming engulfed in an emerald light.
Ben shielded his eyes when in his cousins place was a rock monster who was on fire. The dial of the watch showed up in the form of a white and black hourglass badge.
Ben soon remembered the forest fire she started even after warning her not to do it. Since then they rode around defeated various villains. There was one point in time he acquired the Omnitrix, but gave it back to Gwen, even now he thought it was the worst decision of his life. His cousin had developed an arrogant attitude, became a cocky know it all. And to make matters worse, she awakened her anodite powers while studying magic. And if you thought she was worse before your dead wrong. She took everything for granted while leaving him to rot. She had the praise, the attention, the love from both sides of the family. Now she had not only the Omnitrix, but the anodite powers, and the magic, making her the family favorite. No matter where he went he was always reminded he was living in her shadow.
And he hated it.
When Gwen decided to put the Omnitrix back on, Ben had decided if he would be useful to the team to enroll in the Plumbers Academy. But once he did, Gwen and Kevin (her boyfriend and his best friend) decided to aswell. Once again, he was left in her shadow. She had been the hero, everyone needed. Defeated Vilgax, her clone Albedo, saved the Highbreed from extinction, saved Earth more times than Ben could count. After she relinquished the Ultimatrix, and was gifted the final version of the Omnitrix, she got even worse. His parents wanted him to be more like Gwen, Verdona and Max wanted him to be more like Gwen. Gwen. Gwen. Gwen. Anywhere he went he was reminded he would never escape her shadow.
At one point he admired his cousin, loved her. That love turned into jealousy, jealousy into anger, anger into resentment, and finally resentment into hatred. He hated his cousin. He knew it was wrong, to hate her, but he couldn't help it. He didn't have anything going for him. No drive. No motivation. No praise. All he got was comments on how jealous he was of her. Since then he started blowing off training, slacking off on his chores, showing up three hours late for missions. He was reprimanded more times than he could count, but all he got in return were warnings because his grandpa Max and his 'heroic' cousin Gwen 10 bailed him out. Since then he was labeled the black sheep of the family. But he didn't care. He was sick and tired of always being compared to her.
He was so lost in his thoughts he passed the room the meeting was currently taking place. He tapped the password and the door opened revealing, the Plumber Higher-Ups, his grandpa Max, Kevin, Rook, and Gwen. He scowled once his eyes landed on his perfect cousin.
"Ah, the infamous Benjamin Tennyson is here." One of the Plumber Higher-Up's inquired to the boys lateness.
Ben quickly not in the mood for this, "Yes. I know I'm late, so can we quickly hurry this up there's a new episode of Sumo Slammers: Smackdown on tonight." He waved them off dismissively.
The Higher-Ups and the Tennyson Team glared at the teenager before Gwen spoke up, "I'm so sorry for my dimwitted cousin's behavior. He wasn't always like this. Can you please be lenient with his sentencing?"
Ben rolled his eyes, 'Kiss ass. Wait, sentencing? Sentencing for what?'
One of the Higher-Ups then spoke up, "You need not to apologize, Gwendolyn, but his behavior has been unacceptable and will not be tolerated any further."
"He has been warned over two hundred and fourty two times and it is time for disciplinary actions."
Ben sighed in annoyance as the council continued discussing his punishment while Max and Gwen tried to get a lenient punishment for him. After twenty minutes they finally found one.
"Benjamin Tennyson, for not adherring to the Plumber's rules you will be sentenced to six months of house arrest. You will not leave Earth, during this sentencing. You will also be required to clean the Bases mess hall, training rooms, and bathrooms. If you are even a fraction of a second late for your assignment duties be prepared for an even worse punishment. Court adjourned!" The Plumber Higher-Up declared leaving a stunned and angered Ben Tennyson.
He gritted his teeth as the team sighed in relief as Max walked over to him, "You got off easy, Ben. I honestly thought you were gonna be suspended from duty."
Gwen walked over to him, arms crossed over her chest, "What the hell is wrong with you? First you show up late to your own hearing and then you're disrespectful to our superiors? When are you gonna grow up?"
"No one asked you to stick up for me." Ben snarled at her, "I can handle myself."
"Oh, I've seen that. Ben, we're all worried about you." Gwen replied in concern.
"Stay out of my life. I don't need you or grandpa's help. I can look out for myself." He huffed before storming out the room.
"HEY! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" Gwen yelled as Max gripped her shoulder tightly shaking his head, "But grandpa-"
"Leave Ben alone. Let him cool down. I'll talk to him." Max replied as Kevin and Rook watched with frowns on there faces.
Ben had stormed out of the Plumber Base, angered at what happened. He knew he'd be punished for his recent change in behavior, but could you blame him? He was always placed up against his good for nothing cousin.
He sighed in anguish as he stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked along the sidewalk. Tears threating to fall as he mumbled to himself, "When is it my time to be a hero?"
As he passed by an alley, he soon heard a cry for help. He stopped in his tracks looking down the darkened alley, 'What was that?' He thought hesitantly when he heard it again.
"HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!" A feminine voice yelled.
Ben definitely heard it this time as he raced down the alley. He narrowed his eyes to find four guys in masks mugging a woman. He scanned once again through the group to find various weapons, a knife, a baseball bat, and a gun. He gritted his teeth, having to remember his training.
"Come on, doll, fork over the cash, now." The mugger with the gun demanded pressing it to her temple.
She shuddered in fear, closing her eyes tightly, "I-I tol-told y-you, I don't ha-have any mo-money." She shuttered nervously as she clutched her purse tightly.
"If you don't have any money, why are you clutching your purse so tightly?" The mugger with the bat laughed mockingly.
"SO-SOMEONE HEL-HELP ME!" She screamed frantically.
"Scream all you want, doll, no ones coming to save you." The mugger with the gun remarked.
"I will!" Ben announced before grabbing the mugger's wrist tightly before twisting it so he'd drop his gun. The mugger screamed as he dropped his weapons as he was soon elbowed in his side before he was flipped onto his back. Once down, Ben turned around, "Who's next?"
"You bastard!" The mugger with the bat snarled as he raced forward swinging his bat at him. Ben ducked under the swing as he soon uppercutted the robber, making him stubble, Ben soon twisted onto his hands knocking the mugger's feet out from under him as he collided on the ground.
Ben jumped back onto his feet as he turned his gaze to the woman, "RUN!" He yelled, but she didn't need to be told twice as she raced out the alley. When the mugger with the knife raced towards him and attempted to slice him.
Ben leaned back, tripping the mugger up as he landed on his face. The last mugger glared at him, "You're gonna regret playing hero, you brat!"
"Four guys robbing a woman? You guys are pathetic." Ben smirked, but unbeknownst to him the first mugger started regaining consciousness and reaching for his gun.
"You're gonna pay for that you bastard!" He muttered, grabbing his gun.
"Bring it." Ben grinned, ushering the last mugger on. The last mugger raced towards him, throwing a punch which Ben dodged before slipping into his guard before judo flipping him onto his back. He then placed his foot firmly on his throat, "And that's that." He smiled, but that smile was soon replaced with a horrid gasp as a gun shot rung out.
Ben stumbled as an audible gasp escaped his lips, he gazed down to his stomach to see a bullet wound there. Blood was are flowing from the wound, he coughed out blood as he stumbled back. When another gunshot echoed within the alley as Ben flew onto his back as another bullet ended up in his chest.
The Mugger with the gun ushered his friends out the alley before gazing at the dying teenager, "This is what happens when you wanna be a hero." He soon escaped the alley leaving the dying teenager behind.
Ben lied on the ground, coughing up blood staring into the sky, "Is...this...how...it...ends? Dying...in...some...alley?" He coughed again staining his white and black t-shirt even more, "I...just..wanted...to..prove...I...could...be...a...hero...too." He groaned weakly before tears descended from his eyes, "I...don't...want...to...die.."
He whimpered softly as his life started flashing before his eyes, even in the midst of his death, he still couldn't fight his hatred for his cousin. He just wanted to prove he could be a hero, one that would put his cousin to shame and have no choice, but to acknowledge his greatness, 'God...damnit...' His eyes started fluttering close when a blue screen appeared infront of his eyes.
[Completion Requirements for the 'Secret Quest': the Courage of the Weak has been met!]
'Secret Quest? What's going on here?'
[You have acquired the rights to become a Player! Do you accept?]
'A Player?' Ben held his stomach tightly as he bled out, 'What is happening?'
[There is not enough time left for you to make your decision! Your heart will cease functioning in precisely 0.02 seconds after you refuse to accept. Will you accept?]
Ben hesitated, after seeing that screen. He didn't know if he was hallucinating or not, but if was to avoid dying then he'd better accept the offer.
'...If...it...helps...I'll...accept...' He thought before another blue screen appeared.
[Congratulations on becoming the Player!]
Ben couldn't stay conscious anymore as his eyes rolled into the back of his head, shutting his eyelids closed. His read rolled to the side as police sirens were heard from the front of the alley.
A Year and a Half Later
The sunlight beamed brightly into the hospital room, shining its ethereal light onto a sleeping comatose teenager. Ben groaned, before opening his eyes only to be blinded by the sunlights rays. He quickly shut them again before rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He sat up within his bed before gazing around curiously. He was in a singular room, with a window over to his right, two chairs to his right aswell. A bathroom over on the far left, and he was hooked up to IV machine and heartrate monitor.
"I'm in a hospital room?" He whispered softly before memories of the accident replayed in his mind, "I was shot twice defending that woman. Then the last thing I remember is-" His voice trailed off when the door to his room opened.
His eyes narrowed when an old man in a suit walked in, he looked oddly familiar. The old man's eyes widened in shock as he raced over to the boy, "Benjamin!" The older man hugged the boy tightly.
He looked at the man, "Um, who are you? And why am I in the hospital?"
The old man released him from the hug before looking at the younger man, "You don't remember me? After being asleep for almost two years straight?"
That bit of information made Ben's eyes widen in shock, "What? I've been asleep for almost two years?! Wait, who are you?"
The old man laughed, "Its me, your grandpa Max."
Bens eyes widened once again having had forgotten about his grandpa. He quickly hugged the older man tightly, "I'm so sorry, grandpa. I didn't recognize you!"
Max patted Ben on the back, "I understand." He sighed happily, "I'm glad, your awake, Ben. Do you remember anything before you passed out?"
Ben frowned slightly before recalling what happened that day, "I had stormed out of Plumber HQ, and heard a woman being robbed and I intervened only to be shot twice in the chest." Ben absentmindedly rubbed his chest after being shot and left to bleed to death.
Max winced when Ben recalled being shot to death, "Ben, after that you were left in a coma for a year, almost two. You had me and everyone else worried."
"I just wanted to help, but ended up making things worse." Ben grimaced as his hands tightened in anger.
Max placed a hand onto Ben's, "Ben, that woman had called the cops as soon as she left the alley. She heard the gun shots and waited with you until the ambulance came. She has visited you frequently and thanked you for saving her." Ben smiled softly at that information.
"Well, I guess hearing that the woman is okay makes me feel a little better. Anyway, what's happened in the last what? Two years?"
"Year and a half." Max corrected as Ben rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, clue me in, gramps."
Max's facial expression fell and it looked like he aged ten years. He soon began retelling the tale of what happened after Ben had fallen into his coma. Strange portals had started appearing throughout the Galaxy and monsters have been coming from them. Gwen, Kevin, Rook, and the other Plumbers have been stretched thin trying to defend everyone, humans and aliens alike. Since then, humans started gaining phenomenonal powers and using it to fight back against the monsters. He also told him about Guilds and there purposes. Hunters. Raids. Ranks. Everything that's happened after Ben had fallen into his coma.
Ben was left shell shocked, "Woah. All that happened?"
"Yeah, we've been doing everything we can to help. The Plumbers have an alliance going with the Hunter's Association. And since Gwen was declared the strongest hunter everyone wanted her to join there guild, but currently she, Kevin, Rook, and some of the other plumber kids are off world at the moment."
Ben scowled at the mention of his cousin, even in the age of Hunters, she's still an influential person. He wondered in this age, where'd he rank. He knew he was no S-Class, maybe high C to low B.
"Ben, you okay, sport?" Max asked curiously.
"Yeah. I'm okay just alot to take in. Aside from all that, any major incidents occur?"
Max sighed as he rubbed his head, "Yeah, last year, a dragon came out of one of those Gates. It leveled cities across the states. Gwen with the help of some other high ranked hunters took it down."
"A dragon? Like the one we sent home?"
"No. That one pales in comparison to the one Gwen fought. We named it Kamish. One of America's greatest tragedies. We suffered many casualties that day, but the thing is we stopped it from causing anymore harm. Hopefully, we'll never be able to fight something like that again." Max sighed as Ben nodded along.
Ben and Max caught up for ten more minutes when one of his bodyguards got a call. He quickly answered it and hung up, "Sir, it's the Association President, he's requesting what time you'll be arriving?"
"Tell him, I'll be there in a few. I'm wrapping things up with my grandson who woke up from a coma." Max sent the man a slight glare for interrupting before nodding quickly. Max then sighed, "Sorry, Ben, I have to go. I'll be back tomorrow to check up on you."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll cya later, gramps." The two shared one last hug before the older Tennyson man finally left the room.
In the corner of his eye, a blue letter was flashing before his eyes. He gazed back at the door his grandpa left through, 'So, they couldn't see it either?' He gazed at the flashing mail before trying to figure out how to open it, 'Check mail?' He raised an inquisitive eyebrow.
Nothing happened.
'Open mail.'
A blue screen appeared infront of the teenager's face.
[Congratulations on becoming a Player!]
'What is a player?' He raised an eyebrow as another blue screen appeared.
[Daily Quest: Preparations to become strong!]
He narrowed his eyes on his daily quest, "Becoming stronger? I can become stronger?" He whispered in a hesitant tone. He continued to read through his Daily Quests.
[Sit Ups - 100 times (Incomplete) 0/100]
[Push Ups - 100 times (Incomplete) 0/100]
[Squats - 100 times (Incomplete) 0/100]
[Running - 10km (Incomplete) 0/10km]
[Warning: Incompletion of Daily Quest will result in appropriate levels of punishment!]
Ben sighed before glaring at the screen, 'This isn't training this is a standard strength regimen. I can't become stronger with this.' He scoffed running his hand through his hair.
He flopped back onto his bed, gazing out the window to see the sun starting to set, "I'll figure out how to get stronger without this thing. While showing Gwen, I'm a better hero than she'll ever be, but first I need to get evaluated for a rank and then I'll see if I can work with grandpa."
He went back to staring at the ceiling before yawning, 'Might as well get some sleep.' He thought as he soon drifted off to sleep unbeknownst to him the clock on his daily quest was ticking downward.
As Ben slept soundly in his bed, the clock in his room, struck midnight and the daily quest timer turned red alerting him that time was up.
[You've failed to complete the Daily Quest. You'll be transferred to the Penalty Zone for a set period of time.]
Ben felt the room shaking violently. He groaned before looking around as he found himself sitting in the middle of a desert. For miles and miles around all Ben found was sand. His eyes widened before he shot to his feet, "Where the hell am I?" He gazed around before he felt the dunes rumble beneath his feet.
"What's happening?" He asked hysterically hoping he was having a freakish nightmare, "If this is a nightmare please wake up!"
Suddenly eight giant, orange centipede's bursted from the dunes towering over the fear stricken boy, "This ha-has to be a nig-nightmare?" He tried to back up, but he was surrounded by them.
Just like a monster from a video game a display name appeared in red letters.
[The Poison-Fanged Giant Desert Centipede]
Ben's eyes widened in fear when he saw the two words 'poison' and 'fanged' knowing what'll happen if these monsters ended up catching him within there giant large fangs. A blue screen soon popped up infront of his face.
[Penalty Quest: Survive]
[Goal: Survive until the allotted time limit is up]
[Time Limit: 10 hours]
[Remaining time: 10:00:00]
[9:59:59]
[9:59:58]
[9:59:57]
Ben's eyes widened in fear, "T-ten hours?! I have to survive for TEN HOURS!" The giant Centipede's roared as they rushed towards him as he immediately turned tail and bolted into the desert.
Ben was sweating profusely as he dodged the centipede's attacks for the last five hours and he felt himself slowing down. He was beyond exhausted and he still had another five hours to go. The centipede's were relentless in there assault as they continued to attack from every direction. Ben ran and ran and ran, he felt like his feet were gonna give out at the amount of running he was forced to endure.
[00:00:04]
Ben tripped and fell as the sand soon rumbled beneath him.
[00:00:03]
Ben looked up to see the bn Centipede's looming over him, menacingly as it snarled.
[00:00:02]
He backed up in fear as the Centipede snarled at him.
[00:00:01]
The Centipede launched at him as Ben closed his eyes tightly awaiting his evident death.
[00:00:00]
Ben waited a few seconds before opening his eyes to find himself back in his hospital room, surrounded by sand. A giant blue window screen appeared infront of his face, as he felt himself hyperventilating. He gripped his chest tightly before reading the screen.
[Congratulations on Surviving the Penalty Quest!]
[Rewards for completing the Penalty Quest are now available!]
[Would you like to confirm the rewards?] (Y/N)
Ben was pale as a sheet, "I almost died again!" He gripped his chest as he felt his heart pounding like a drum, "I have no choice. If I wanna get stronger, I need to use this system of some kind." He then looked at the window, "Yes!"
[The following rewards are now available]
[Reward 1: Five additional Stat Points]
[Reward 2: One Random Box]
[Would you like to collect them all?]
Ben thought for a moment before he opened his chapped lips, "Yes."
[All rewards have been claimed!]
Ben then thought on how to open his status until a larger blue screen appeared.
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 1
Class: None
Title: None
Hp: 100
Mp: 10
Fatigue: 100
[STATS]
Strength: 11
Agility: 9
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 7
Perception: 6
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 5]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
"So this is my status screen?" He started scanning over his stats, "Definitely lacking in skills, well I'll work on that." He then went to his skills, "Tenacity? Dash? Didn't have those? Must have gotten them while I was surviving in the Penalty Zone." His eyes then went to the unknown skill, "But what skill is this? Unknown? And it's maxed too? This is getting weirder and weirder by the day."
His eyes went to the available stat points, "Hm? I have 5 stat points. I need to be smart about this." He looked over his stats, "My perception is severally lacking. If I remember correctly, it'll enhance my senses to the point, I could detect assassins or danger in general. Intelligence is also lacking, but at the moment I'm not sure if I can use Magic, so I won't touch that right now. Agility could be higher, but in order for me to become stronger, I'm gonna need to find balance or else my stats are gonna be out of order. Thank god, I played video games like this or else I wouldn't know what the hell I'm doing and would invest all my points into a single stat. So right now, I'll upgrade Agility and Perception."
[STATS]
Strength: 11
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 7
(Available stat points to distribute: 0)
"There, for now I won't touch intelligence, but I will need more stat points to upgrade it. I just need to raise my level to gain more stat points or for them to upgrade themselves. Right now, I'm at level 1, those Gates should be able to help." He then turned his attention to his skills once again
[Skill: Dash Lv. 2]
[Active Skill]
[Mana required to activate: 5]
[The constant running fortified your legs. When this skill is activated, your movement speed will increase by 30%. During it's activation, 1 MP will be spent every minute.]
'Interesting. So I'll be able to run at basically super speed in a way.' Ben thought before he turned his attention to his other skill.
[Skill: Tenacity Lv. 3]
[Passive Skill]
[No Mana required to activate]
[You possess untiring tenacity. When your stamina drops below 50%, this skill will automatically activate and reduce all damage received by 50%]
"My tenacity is lvl 3? Must have been because I kept running pushing my stamina beyond its limits. But ten hours was kinda overkill on having to survive eight killer centipedes." He sighed, "Definitely don't wanna relive that."
"Maybe, grandpa can help me get a rank, but right now. Let's start my daily quest." He was about to get to work when his mind drifted off to the second reward for surviving that desert, "How do I open my inventory?"
When another window opened with box slots in it. In one of the boxes was a random gift box. He wondered how he'd get the item out, "How do I get it out?" He wondered outloud. He spent ten minutes trying to get the item when a thought occurred, "Can I reach in and grab it?" He was a bit scared on testing that theory, but he wanted to see what was inside the gift box.
"Here goes nothing." He remarked before sticking his hand through the inventory window. His eyes widened as he grabbed the wrapped gift and brought it out into the outside world, "Woah." He held the gift and inspected it curiously, "Wonder what's inside." He grabbed the lid and pulled it off as a display window appeared as he grabbed the item inside.
[Ballpoint Pen Sword]
"A ballpoint pen?" He inspected the small pen, it was black in color, with a silver strap and a silver cap, "It's just a pen? Whys it called Pen Sword?" He quirked an eyebrow as he pushed on the cap when it suddenly extended rapidly into a ten inch long sword with a small hilt and small grip, "WOAH!"
[Ballpoint Pen Sword Mode]
[After pushing the cap, this pen has transformed into a one handed long sword used to decapitate monsters.]
Ben ran his hand across the swords blade, "This is awesome. Now with this I should be able to get stronger." He grinned as he pushed a button at the end of the swords hilt which transformed the sword into its pen mode, "Its convenient too. Hide in plain sight." He chuckled lightly, "Alright, let's start my daily quest."
Ben then quickly dropped to the ground and begun doing his push ups, seeing the meter go up as he began, but once he hit thirty, he began hitting his limit, "Come on, I can do this." He gritted as he began again, "31...32...33...34."
It took him another hour before he finally reached one hundred
[Sit Ups - 100 Times (Incomplete) 0/100]
[Push Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Squats - 100 Times (Incomplete) 0/100]
[Running 10km (Incomplete) 0/10km]
Ben was already sweating from completing just one of the exercises, "1 down 3 to go." He panted before quickly getting to work.
Compared to the push ups, the sit ups were quite easier. After he completed the sit ups, he quickly did the squats which made his legs cramp up in the process. Ben collapsed on his bed in exhaustion, "This isn't as easy as I initially thought it'll be."
[Sit Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Push Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Squats - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Running - 10km (Incomplete) 0/10km]
Ben gazed at his screen panting hard as he could see the sun coming up, "I need to get the 10km run done before Grandpa Max shows up. After I'll ask him if he can get me evaluated as a Hunter. With that, I'll be able to enter gates and level up faster." With that he set off to start his run which was just around the hospital over and over until the meter was satisfied.
Ben collapsed onto a hospital bench, drenched in sweat. As he gazed at the system window that appeared infront of him.
[You've completed 'Daily Quest' Preparations to Become Stronger]
[Completion rewards have arrived]
[Would you like to confirm?] (Y/N)
Ben tried to get as much oxygen flowing through his lungs as he gazed at the rewards for completing his daily quest, 'Yes.'
[The following rewards are available]
[Reward 1: Full Status Recovery]
[Reward 2: Three Additional Stat Points]
[Reward 3: One Random Box]
[Would you like to accept them all?]
'Interesting, there's more rewards compared to the Penalty Quest. Let's see what happens.' He thought, 'I accept.' Once he accepted the Status Recovery hit him hard, immediately relieving him of his fatigue and exhaustion, "That feels so much better." He sighed in contempt, 'I got three additional stat points what should I do with it?'
'Status Open.'
[Stats]
[STATS]
Strength: 11
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 7
(Available stat points to distribute: 3)
He clasped his hands together as he gazed at his stats, 'Maybe, I could put two in intelligence and one into strength? No. This is hard. Hm. Two in intelligence and one into agility? That could work for now.'
[Stats]
Strength: 11
Agility: 11
Stamina: 11
Perception: 10
Intelligence: 9
(Available stat points to distribute: 0)
'That can work for now. And last, but not least the item box.' He reached into his inventory window and pulled out the second item box, 'Let's see what's inside box number 2.' He grinned before opening the box to find an item inside.
[Band-Aids]
Ben sighed, 'Welp, that was a bust. No use crying over it.' He stuck the item back into his inventory.
"There you are." A voice called out to him, he turned his attention to see his grandpa approaching.
"Grandpa Max." Ben grinned as Max took a seat beside him.
"Took me awhile to find you, the nurse who was taking care of you, said you stepped out for a jog. Ben, are you feeling okay?" Max asked concern in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I've been asleep for almost two years. I wanna get into shape so when I get evaluated for my Hunters rank, I won't fall behind." Ben declared shocking Max.
"You wanna become a Hunter?" Max asked dread feeling his voice.
"Of course, Grandpa. If Gwen can, why can't I?" Ben asked which made Max shift uncomfortably.
"Ben, Gwen has the Omnitrix, you don't. How can you even become a Hunter if you don't have anything to defend yourself with?" Max asked with a serious expression on his face.
"I'll train. And I'll train. Until my body drops dead and get back up and go at it twice as hard. I know I'm not as special as Gwen is, but it's time I do something. I'm my own person and I'm done being compared to Gwen. I'll show you, I can be an even better hero than Gwen." Ben declared, Max watched him carefully for a few minutes before nodding his head.
"Alright." He replied with a small smile.
"Alright?" Ben questioned him.
"I'll help you, Ben. This is what I wanted for you. Not to become a Hunter per se, but if this helps you grow as a person. I'll support you, with whatever you need." Max smiled as he patted his shoulder.
"Think you can help me get evaluated for a rank today?"
"Of course, I can. I'll give them a call now. Give me a second." Max grabbed his phone from his pocket and immediately started dialing the Hunter's Association.
'Once, I get my rank, this'll be my first step forward. I wonder how my mom and dad are?' He asked himself, but remembered when his parents wanted him to be more like his cousin.
He stared into the vast sky before looking over as his grandpa walked over to him, "I got us an appointment. Come on, it'll be a quick process."
"Alright, lemme let the nurse know."
Max nodded firmly, "I'll be outfront."
"Congratulations, Mr. Tennyson, your rank is D." The woman at the podium stated which shocked Ben and Max a bit.
"D? Is that good?"
"It's better than E." Max remarked, "But it's not bad."
Ben sighed, "I guess it's better than nothing."
"I know how you feel, Ben, come on, I'll take you back to the hospital." Ben nodded as the two men left the Association on the drive back to the hospital Ben then spoke up.
"Grandpa, how were my parents after I fell into my coma?" Ben asked as he gazed out the window absentmindedly.
Max sighed as he rubbed his head, "Distraught. Your parents were by your bedside nearly everyday for the first six months and eventually stopped coming. They visited when they could. Your mom works for the Association, while your dad works with me at Plumber HQ."
"If she works at the Association, why didn't we see her" Ben this time looked at Max as they got closer to the hospital.
"I didn't wanna add anymore stress to them or you, Ben."
Ben quirked an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Ben, drop the act. I know how you really feel about Gwen, your aunt, your uncle, your mom, your dad, Verdona, and me."
Ben's eyes widened before felt something tighten inside his chest, "When did you-"
"It wasn't until after Gwen put the Omnitrix back on. I saw you change. I know. I'm sorry. I wanted you to be more like your cousin, but didn't notice you wanted nothing to do with her. But not only myself, but Verdona and even your own parents wanted you to be like her. Your grandma, Verdona, she did visit you once and apologized. She left this card for you." Max said as he reached into his wallet and pulled it out and handed it to him, "Call her, once you figure everything out."
Ben took the card and glanced at the number inscribed onto it, "Thanks grandpa. It's not your fault. I-I just wanted to do the right thing, and prove Gwen wrong."
"I understand, Ben. If you need anything. Let me know."
"I will." Ben then got out of the car before closing the door and headed inside the hospital.
A Week Later
"...96...97...98...99...100." Ben counted as pushed off the ground.
[Daily Quest]
[Push-Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Sit-Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Squats - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Running - 10km (Incomplete) 0/10km]
"All that's left is the 10km run." He remarked as he wiped the sweat from his face.
Over the course of a week, Ben had been doing his daily quest and gaining random items from the rewards such as, more Band-Aids, alcohol, and various other useless items. While doing his daily quest, daily, Ben's muscles started forming into a lean six pack, since he was a bit lanky, it was easy for him to develop the muscles thanks to the system.
As Ben started his run, he remembered his conversation with his parents a few days ago. They cried hysterically when they saw him and were happy to see him back on his feet. He had also called his grandmother, who was relived her grandson was okay. She told him, if he ever needed anything, anything at all, she'll be there.
Ben felt conflicted after all these years, his parents and grandparents just wanted him to be like his cousin, but let's face the facts, he'll never be like her and never wanted to be like her either. He wanted to be better than her more than anything and thanks to the system he could. He just needed some actual dungeon experience which was hard since he couldn't get access to a dungeon.
He soon heard the system's alert of his daily quest before stopping in his tracks.
[Daily Quest]
[Push-Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Sit-Ups - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Squats - 100 Times (Complete) 100/100]
[Running - 10km (Complete) 10/10km]
[You've completed 'Daily Quest' Preparations to Become Stronger]
[Completion rewards have arrived]
[Would you like to confirm?] (Y/N)
'Yes.' He replied before the usual rewards popped up.
[The following rewards are available]
[Reward 1: Full Status Recovery]
[Reward 2: Three Additional Stat Points]
[Reward 3: One Random Box]
[Would you like to accept them all?]
'Yes.' Ben replied once again as the status recovery relieved him of his stress which made him smile and sigh in relief.
'Status open.'
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 1
Class: None
Title: None
Hp: 1150
Mp: 1400
Fatigue: 0
[STATS]
Strength: 14
Agility: 14
Stamina: 14
Intelligence: 14
Perception: 14
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 3]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
Ben has gazed over his stats, he was a bit annoyed since he was still at level one and he couldn't do anything about it, 'Gotta find a way to level up. Before that, let's distribute my available stat points, and open the gift box.'
[STATS]
Strength: 14
Agility: 14
Stamina: 14
Perception: 14
Intelligence: 14
(Available stat points to distribute: 3)
He already knew what he wanted to upgrade as a small smile graced his lips.
[STATS]
Strength: 15
Agility: 15
Stamina: 15
Perception: 14
Intelligence: 14
(Available stat points to distribute: 0)
"There, that should be good." He spoke to himself quietly, "Now for the random gift box. Inventory open."
The inventory window soon opened as he reached in and grabbed the item inside. He held the small wrapped box before opening it and finding a key inside, 'A key?'
He held the small black jaded key within his hand before an item window opened.
[Jade Key]
[A key to a dungeon that lies within Mr. Smoothie]
Ben's eyes widened, he couldn't believe it. His favorite place in the world had a dungeon. He gripped the key in his hand and smiled, 'It's time to finally level up.' His excitement couldn't be contained. He hoped Mr. Smoothie wouldn't be destroyed when he conquered this dungeon.
Ben had waited till night fell before sneaking out of his hospital room. He wore some of the clothes his parents had brought him. He wore his usual converses, black jeans, a green hoodie, with his usual green and black number 10 jacket.
He walked for an hour before he arrived at Mr. Smoothie which was closed. He placed his hood on as he walked towards the small building. He gazed around to make sure, he wasn't being followed or if anyone had seen him. Seeing the cost was clear, he reached into his inventory and pulled out the key and placed it inside the lock, 'Perfect fit.' He remarked before turning the key to the right, hearing the lock click. He pushed the door open and instead of being greeted by his usual favourite Smoothie establishment, a white portal formed infront of his eyes.
"It's time." He replied before taking a step inside as the door behind him slammed shut behind him.
To Be Continued...
A/N: Hey everyone, to be honest I've always thought of making this crossover, but could never think of the plot, but I've finally done it. Somethings will remain the same as it did in Solo Leveling, somethings will be changed drastically, but will work out in Ben's favor. Will Ben's hate for Gwen change? Probably not, but he will learn that no matter how much he hates her, she'll always have his back. Questions or concerns leave 'em and I'll get back to them.