In the dimly lit bedroom of a decent-sized apartment in Seoul, a rather lean and athletic young man sat hunched over a desk, fingers moving swiftly over the keys of his laptop. The soft glow from the screen bathed his face, illuminating the intense concentration on his features. The clutter of his room—scattered comics, a half-eaten bag of chips, and a pile of old gaming consoles—surrounded him like relics of a simpler past. He was just nineteen, though at a glance, he could easily pass for someone younger. His slightly messy brown hair and green eyes reflected the light from the laptop, and despite the ordinariness of his setting, this was no ordinary youth

This was Benjamin Kirby Tennyson.

He wasn't the superhero Ben from other timelines, the ones who wielded the Omnitrix and saved countless universes. No, this Ben was just… Ben. At least, that's what he told himself on nights like these. But somewhere, deep inside, he knew he was more than that. He had seen and done things no ordinary person could imagine—had lived through moments that most would consider impossible. For a brief, fleeting time, he had even worn the Omnitrix.

But those days were long behind him.

Ben sighed as he scrolled through the endless array of tabs on his screen, finally settling on one particular window. Volcanic Age, his favorite web novel, had just updated with its final chapter. For years, this story had been his escape, his refuge from the pressures of life, and now it was coming to an end. He clicked the chapter and began reading, the familiar excitement bubbling in his chest.

Just as he was about to dive into the climactic final battle, a voice echoed from downstairs.

"Ben! Can you run to the store and grab some cooking oil? We're almost out, and I need it to make dinner!"

Ben groaned, closing his eyes as frustration welled up inside him. Of all the times…

"Mom, can it wait just a few minutes?" he called back, keeping his eyes glued to the screen. "I'm in the middle of something!"

Sandra Tennyson, his mother, was relentless when it came to family duties. Her voice cut through the silence like a knife. "I need it now, Ben! Your father's having guests over tonight, and I can't cook without it. You're almost twenty and just graduated—aren't you too old for this manga nonsense?"

Ben's jaw tightened. He loved his mom, but she never understood his interests To her, his love of video games, comics, and web novels was childish, a distraction from the real world. He heard her footsteps coming up the stairs, and before he could react, his bedroom door flew open.

"Ben, you need to take more responsibility. What are you doing with your life, sitting here playing games all day?" Sandra crossed her arms, her expression a mix of disappointment and frustration.

"I'm not playing games, Mom," Ben muttered, glancing away from the screen as if caught in some forbidden act. "I was just… reading"

"Reading? What exactly?" She leaned forward, squinting at his laptop screen. "This again? The same thing you've been obsessed with for years? You could spend that time studying, applying for jobs, or doing something productive!"

Ben resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I just graduated, Mom. Can't I relax for a bit?"

"You've been relaxing for months! You have a degree in computer science, Ben. Your father and I didn't move all the way to South Korea just so you could waste time on… on this." She gestured toward the laptop.

The mention of their move hit a sore spot for Ben. His parents had relocated to Seoul a few months ago, seeking better career opportunities. He had hoped it would be a fresh start for him too—a chance to step out of his cousin Gwen's shadow. But even here, thousands of miles away, Gwen had managed to follow them. She was still the shining star of the family, the S-ranked hunter, while he… well, he was just Ben.

"I'll go get the oil," Ben finally muttered, standing up and grabbing his jacket. It was better to just comply than to argue. His father had always said, "When your mom's on a warpath, just nod and do what she says."

Sandra's expression softened slightly as she stepped aside to let him pass. "Thank you, Ben. I just want what's best for you."

Ben didn't reply. He slipped his shoes on, grabbed his wallet, and left the apartment, his mind still swirling with frustration.

... Xxxxxxxx... Xxxxxxxx...
As Ben walked through the quiet streets of his neighborhood, his thoughts wandered back to the days before everything had changed. Before Gwen had become a hunter. Before his family had moved to Seoul. Before the multiverse had ever crossed his mind.

Back then, life had been simple. He and Gwen had been best friends, practically inseparable. They'd grown up together, sharing everything from video games to camping trips. But everything changed when Gwen awakened as a hunter. Suddenly, she wasn't just Gwen anymore—she was special. S-ranked, one of the elite few who had the power to take on the monsters that had started pouring out of the mysterious cracks in the sky.

Ben remembered the day she awakened like it was yesterday. He had gone to congratulate her, so proud of his cousin. But the moment she saw him, something changed. She looked at him for a moment before taking a huge whiff and ran away inside as if his scent or perhaps his very presence disgusted her. And from that moment on, everything had been different. Gwen had become distant, aloof, And Ben… well, Ben had just been left behind.

Ben arrived at the convenience store, the familiar bell chiming as he walked in. The bright fluorescent lights and rows of snacks and drinks were a stark contrast to the darkness inside his mind.

He grabbed the cooking oil and made his way to the counter, barely noticing the cashier as he paid for the item. As he stepped outside, a cold breeze hit him, and for a moment, he just stood there, staring at the darkening sky. The weight of everything—his mother's expectations, Gwen's rejection, his own feelings of inadequacy—pressed down on him like a physical force.

"Why can't I just be good enough?" Ben thought bitterly. " Why do I always have to be the one left behind?."

Suddenly, something broke through his thoughts—a soccer ball, rolling toward him. Ben bent down, picking it up, and looked around for the owner. A small boy, no older than four, came running toward him.

"Mister, can I have my ball back?" the boy asked, his voice innocent and sweet.

Ben smiled despite himself. "Sure, kid. But where are your parents? " He asked out of curiosity as he knelt down to pick up the ball.

The boy shook his head, looking around with wide, innocent eyes. "I dunno..."

Ben frowned, glancing around. No adults in sight. "You shouldn't be playing so close to the road alone, you know. It's dangerous."

The boy pouted, looking disappointed. Ben sighed, remembering how much he hated lectures at that age. He decided to lighten the mood, pulling his jacket over his head and making a goofy face, stuffing the ball under his shirt.

"Look at me! I'm a monster!" Ben growled playfully, wobbling from side to side like a penguin.

The boy's eyes went wide before bursting into a fit of giggles. "Monster! Monster!"

Ben handed the ball back to the boy, who scampered off, still laughing. But something gnawed at the back of Ben's mind. He glanced over his shoulder, watching the boy kick the ball near the street again. Where are this kid's parents? he wondered.

As Ben turned and began walking away, he couldn't shake a bad feeling. Glancing back, he saw the boy still playing by the road. His parents still hadn't shown up. And then, it happened—the boy kicked the ball too hard, sending it bouncing into the street. Without a second thought, the boy ran after it.
"Whoa, hey! Don't go into the road!" Ben shouted, his heart racing as he spotted a red sports car speeding down the road.
The driver wasn't slowing down, and the boy was right in the car's path. Time seemed to slow as Ben's instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he bolted toward the road, his legs moving faster than they ever had before. In one desperate leap, Ben threw himself at the boy, pushing him out of harm's way just in time.
But Ben wasn't so lucky. The car slammed into him, sending his body flying over the hood and crashing into the pavement with a sickening thud. Pain exploded through his body as he skidded across the road, finally coming to a stop near a utility pole. He barely registered the sound of screeching tires and panicked voices before everything went black.

"Someone call an ambulance!" a voice screamed from the crowd gathering around Ben's lifeless body. His vision faded in and out, the world around him blurring.

However, that's when he saw it.

A blue text box which began floating in front of his eyes along with a soft, metallic ding sound

[Alarm!]

[You have completed all the necessary requirements of the Secret Quest: 'A Guardian's Heart!']

Ben stared at the text in disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend what was happening. What… is this? Was he hallucinating from the pain? From blood loss?

[Alarm!]

[You have earned the right to become a User. Will you accept?]

The text hovered in front of him, waiting for a response. His vision was darkening, his body growing numb. But then, more text appeared.

[Contumelia—Observers of the Multiverse—are impressed by your actions and resolve. They have estimated that given your current talent and fate, you have no chance to stand against the Itarim. Thus, they have decided to give you a system of their own creation.]

[Contumelia are curious to see how you would fare against divine beings like Monarchs and live up to the legacy of Ben 10,000.]

Ben's heart raced as he read the words. A system? Like the ones in the web novels he'd read? The idea seemed impossible, absurd even. But here it was, in front of his eyes.

[You do not have much time remaining. If you refuse, your brain will cease functioning approximately 5 seconds later and you shall fall into a permenant vegetative state. Do you accept?]

If I accept… I won't die?

The thought echoed in Ben's mind. He could live. He could survive this. He could still become smart and strong like Ben Prime and tear his way through the world.

He could still have a future and make his parents proud.

And last but not the least, he could show Gwendolyn Tennyson, the S ranked Huntress who went by the epiphet Crimson Dancer of Destruction that her cousin was much more than the useless ordinary bystander she thought him to be.

Needless to say, he didn't hesitate at all.

Not for a single moment

"I accept," he whispered.

[Welcome User!]

Ben felt something surge through his body, a bright light clouding his vision… And then everything faded away as he finally let himself go.

...xxxxxxx...

Here is the new story , A crossover between Ben 10 and Solo Levelling

I hope you all like this

Ta da