Ben's head throbbed with a dull, incessant pain, and as he sat up in the hospital bed, he felt disoriented, his thoughts sluggish. His vision was still blurry, the room around him a haze of soft white and grey. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor, the faint hum of fluorescent lights, and the distant murmur of voices outside the door grounded him in the reality of where he was. He instinctively brought his hand to his face, wiping his eyes in an attempt to clear the fog, then blinked a few times. Slowly, the room sharpened into focus.
Sunset light bathed the sterile space in a warm, orange glow. The unfamiliar setting felt oddly peaceful, but unsettling at the same time. He hadn't been in a hospital last night, had he?
His breathing was heavy as he tried to piece together what had happened. He recalled the convenience store, the robbers, and the searing pain in his side. But now… the sterile smell of antiseptic and clean linen filled his senses.
"Was it all… just a dream?" he whispered, the words barely escaping his lips as he glanced down at himself. His body felt drained, heavy with fatigue. He was in a hospital gown, with bandages tightly wrapped around his side, faint traces of dried blood visible through the gauze.
Suddenly, the sound of the door sliding open broke the quiet. Ben tensed as the door creaked, his eyes shooting up to see who it was. His heart skipped a beat.
"…Mom?" Ben's voice cracked as he spoke, disbelief and relief flooding his senses. The last time he'd seen her was before everything went sideways.
Sandra took a hesitant step forward, her hand instinctively covering her mouth as she fought to hold back her emotions. "Oh, Ben…." Her voice quivered slightly. She hurried to his side, pulling up a chair as she reached for his hand, grasping it tightly as if afraid to let go. "I thought—" She cut herself off, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes scanned him, looking for any signs of injury beyond the bandages she could see.
Ben's hand weakly squeezed back. "Mom, I'm fine, really," he tried to reassure her, though his voice came out raspy, still trying to shake the fog of confusion. He forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I guess I've been through worse."
Sandra's brow furrowed as she gazed at him with a mixture of frustration and maternal concern. "You're always saying that," she muttered, her thumb gently stroking the back of his hand. "You always come back saying you're fine when—when you're not."
Ben winced slightly at the raw emotion in her voice. He could hear the exhaustion in it—the worry she'd carried all these years. The unspoken fear that one day he wouldn't come back.
"I know… I'm sorry." He lowered his gaze, guilt creeping into his chest. "I didn't mean to worry you. It all happened so fast. I didn't have a choice."
She shook her head, her grip on his hand tightening. "No, Ben, you always have a choice! You don't have to keep throwing yourself into danger like this! You almost—" She choked on her words, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill. "You almost died this time."
Ben looked away, unable to meet her eyes. He had been in danger countless times before, but seeing his mom like this—seeing how scared she was—it hit him harder than he expected. Perhaps this had been the greatest reason why Max always tried to protect their family from the realities of his life, the danger, the risks. It wasn't the kind of life you'd wish a loved one to have. Perhaps that's why Grampa Max wasn't too keen Ben joining him and Gwen along with other Plumber's kids like Cooper in the fight against Highbreed, sending him away to Japan instead.
Sandra's lip trembled as she took a deep breath, her emotions finally spilling over. "I don't care about that, Ben! I don't care if you're a black belt in Jiu Jitsu. I don't care if you have helped your Grampa Max and Gwen save the day many times on that summer trip all those years ago,You're my son, and I just want you safe. You're all I have."
Her words hung in the air, raw and heavy, as Ben let them sink in. His chest tightened. He hadn't realized how much weight his actions put on her. How much she carried in silence.
"I'm sorry, Mom," Ben murmured again, his voice soft. He felt a lump in his throat, something tightening deep in his chest. "I didn't mean for things to get so bad."
She wiped at her eyes, shaking her head. "I know, sweetie. I know you didn't."
For a few moments, they sat in silence, the steady beeping of the heart monitor the only sound in the room. Sandra's grip on Ben's hand finally relaxed, her thumb continuing to trace soothing circles on his skin. She looked at him with a tender yet worried expression, her voice quieter now. "What happened, Ben? What… led to this?"
"That's what we'd like to know as well."
An unfamiliar voice spoke as Ben's father entered the room with a man clad in police uniform.
"Inspector Kurazawa!" The man who entered alongside his father displayed his ID, "Would you mind telling me what led to this?"
Ben shifted slightly in his bed, still sore but now fully alert. His father, Carl Tennyson, stood tall beside the officer, his face a mixture of concern and quiet intensity. Carl wasn't usually the type to show outward anxiety, but Ben could see the tightness in his father's jaw, the way he held himself just a little too rigid.
Inspector Kurazawa, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense air, stood next to him. His uniform was neatly pressed, and there was an air of authority about him that made Ben sit up a little straighter despite the pain.
"I—I don't know how much I can explain," Ben started, his voice hesitant as he glanced between his parents and the inspector. "It happened so fast."
His mind raced, trying to piece together how much he should reveal. He could still feel the faint echo of Sona's magic—whatever it had been—and the way she had taken control of the situation. But knowing what he knew from his limited exposure to aliens and the supernatural, the stories he had heard from his cousin Gwen regarding supernatural beings like Youkai and such, he felt it was better to leave out her part unless absolutely necessary.
"I went to the convenience store to grab some cooking oil for my mom," Ben began, keeping his tone calm. "Then, these guys came in. There were five of them. They had guns, and they ordered everyone to get down."
Inspector Kurazawa's pen hovered over the notepad. "And you didn't follow their orders?"
Ben shook his head, glancing briefly at his father. "No, I did. At first, anyway. But then I noticed one of them was getting impatient, waving his gun around. I just… I had to do something. I couldn't let them hurt anyone."
Carl exchanged a glance with Sandra, but neither said a word, letting Ben continue.
"I found an opening," Ben continued, "grabbed a couple of cans, and… well, I've had some training." He left it vague, not wanting to get too deep into the specifics of how his grandfather's lessons had prepared him for moments like these. "I managed to disarm one of them, and things escalated from there."
"You've got guts, kid," Kurazawa said, scribbling something down. "I've been in this line of work for over 20 years, and let me tell you, most people would have frozen or done something reckless. But you stayed calm, acted fast, and saved everyone in that store. And even took a bullet to save a customer. But I have to ask—what made you do it? Most kids your age would have kept their heads down." He added, seemingly impressed with this foreign youth's action.
Ben offered a weak smile. "I guess I just… acted on instinct. I didn't want anyone to get hurt."
The inspector seemed satisfied with the answer, giving Ben a brief nod. "Well, it's a good thing you did. You're being hailed as a hero, you know. Local news has been all over it. They're calling you the 'Convenience Store Hero.'" He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
Ben's heart skipped a beat. He blinked, confused. What about Sona? He distinctly remembered her using magic to take down the robbers.
But then, his mind flashed back to her calm expression, the faint smile she had given him before the sirens arrived, and her cryptic words: "There's more to this world than you know, but you'll learn. In time."
Had Sona erased herself from the scene?
He wasn't the only one there, wasn't the only one who took action. Sona—she was the real force that turned the situation around. He had seen it, felt the power she wielded. But now, it seemed she had erased her presence, and the credit was all falling to him.
He swallowed hard, trying to process it. His mind was spinning, yet he couldn't say anything without sounding crazy.
How do you explain that someone erased themselves from everyone's memory?
If she had erased her presence, no one would know she was there—and he had no idea how she did what she did, let alone how the authorities would react if they found out. Unless he involved his nosy sorceress cousin or her brainy boyfriend Cooper but that might put Sona under Plumbers' scrutiny and he didn't want that.
Inspector Kurazawa snapped his notebook closed, giving Ben a small, approving smile. "We'll need you to give an official statement when you're feeling up for it. But for now, rest easy, kid. You did a lot of good."
As the inspector turned to leave, Ben opened his mouth to protest—to say something, anything—but the words caught in his throat. He glanced at his father, who looked more relieved than he had seen him in a long time
Ben leaned back into his pillows, the weight of the moment settling over him. He didn't feel like a hero. Not really. Sure, he'd acted, but without Sona's intervention, things could've gone horribly wrong. But she had erased herself, and now the spotlight was solely on him.
Sandra reached over, her hand gently brushing the hair from his forehead, her touch soothing and filled with love. "I'm just so thankful you're alright," she whispered, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "But I hope this is the last time you ever scare me like this."
Ben gave her a weak smile, squeezing her hand gently. "I'll try, Mom," he said, though they both knew how difficult that promise would be to keep.
Carl, standing by the foot of the bed, finally let out a long breath. "Ben," he began, his voice a mixture of sternness and concern, "you've always been quick to act. But next time, don't take unnecessary risks. You're lucky to be alive."
"I know, Dad," Ben murmured. "I didn't plan for things to go that way. It just… happened."
Carl's face softened slightly, though the worry in his eyes remained. "You did what you thought was right. But your mom and I can't keep going through scares like this. Just—be more careful."
"I'm sorry, Dad. Mom," Ben murmured, his voice soft. "I'll be more careful. I promise."
Sandra sighed, her thumb still tracing soothing circles on the back of his hand. "You say that now, but the next time danger comes around, I know you'll be the first one to jump in." Her tone was half-joking, but there was a note of resignation in her voice.
"I'll try," Ben said, offering her a reassuring look. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be that simple. Danger seemed to follow him wherever he went, and staying out of it wasn't always a choice.
The room fell into a brief, comfortable silence. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor, combined with the soft hum of the hospital, created a sense of quiet that was almost lulling.
Ben's thoughts, however, remained restless. Sona. Her presence, the way she had intervened so effortlessly—how had she wiped herself from the scene so cleanly? It wasn't just a matter of making sure she wasn't on camera—she had erased her involvement from everyone's minds, leaving Ben alone to take the spotlight.
It wasn't that he wanted the attention. He just didn't like taking credit for something he didn't do alone.
Carl broke the silence, his voice casual but carrying an edge of curiosity. "You didn't mention anyone else being there, Ben. Did you really take down all those robbers by yourself?"
Ben froze for a split second, his father's question hitting closer to the truth than he was ready to reveal. He swallowed, choosing his words carefully. "I didn't… see anyone else," he said, his tone cautious. It wasn't technically a lie—Sona had ensured she wasn't seen by anyone but him.
Carl's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't press further. Instead, he gave a small, approving nod. "Well, no matter how it happened, you did what you had to do. Just… next time, don't play the hero if you can avoid it."
Ben gave a small, weak laugh. "I'll try."
As the conversation lulled, Ben's mind wandered again. He was going to have to figure out what had happened with Sona and why she had hidden her involvement so thoroughly. There were too many questions left unanswered, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Kuoh Academy—and Sona herself—than met the eye.
But for now, he would let it rest. He had just woken up, his parents were here, and despite everything, he was still alive.
Sandra opened her mouth as if to say something, her eyes still filled with worry, but before she could speak, the door creaked open again. A nurse, wearing a kind yet firm expression, stepped into the room, clipboard in hand.
"Mr. and Mrs. Tennyson," the nurse said gently but with authority, "it's time to let your son rest for a bit. He's still recovering, and he needs his strength.
Sandra looked reluctant, her gaze flickering back to Ben, but Carl placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Sandra. Let's give him some time to rest."
Sandra sighed, giving Ben's hand one last squeeze before standing up. "We'll be right outside, sweetie," she said softly, brushing a hand through his hair. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."
"I'll be fine, Mom," Ben reassured her, offering a tired smile. "Promise."
Carl gave him a small nod, his expression soft but still carrying that underlying tension. "Get some rest, son. We'll be back soon."
As they left, the nurse walked over to Ben, adjusting the blankets and checking the monitors. "You've had quite the day, haven't you?" she said with a smile, though her eyes were sharp as she examined the readings.
"You could say that," Ben muttered, sinking further into the bed. The adrenaline had long since worn off, leaving him feeling the full weight of exhaustion.
"Can I get you anything?" She asked. "Water? Something to eat?"
"A little food would be nice," Ben said, holding his stomach as it growled. He didn't know how long it had been since he got shot and brought to this place but for some odd reason he couldn't help but feel extremely hungry right now . "Please?
The nurse smiled at him "I'll be right back with that," she turned and left, closing the door behind her.
Ben sighed inwardly as he stared towards the wall…..or more particularly towards the glowing blue text box which was floating in front of his eyes for quite some time, and no one else except him seemed to notice it.
[Ding]
[You have unread mail!]
Ben reached out to touch the screen, but his hand passed right through it. He frowned a little bit, quickly figuring out the screen was not a touch-screen.
"Um… Open Mailbox?" He asked.
The screen suddenly changed before his eyes.
[Messages]
[Welcome, User. (Unread)]
[Beginning Quest Tutorial: First Steps have arrived.(Unread)]
"So this whole thing is ….voice activated?" Ben thought to himself as he stared at the screen for a brief, attempting to make sense of it.
"Is this thing for real?" Ben stared at the screen once again before shaking his head with a sigh, " I guess it wouldn't hurt me to check this for once, Commence the tutorial task!'
The moment Ben spoke these words , a mechanical voice similar to some sort of AI talked inside his head.
[Initializing Tutorial: First Steps]
[The system is mainly divided in four functions]
[Status]
[Lucky Draw]
[Inventory]
[Shopping mall(Under Development)] ( Opening in 61 days, 24 hours, 35 minutes, 30 seconds)
[In order to access a function, Host must speak it out aloud]
Ben stared at the glowing blue screen floating before his eyes, trying to wrap his head around what was happening. A system? It felt too much like the games and web novels he used to read about. Yet here it was, floating right in front of him, and somehow, only he could see it.
Taking a deep breath, Ben muttered, "Status."
The screen shifted immediately, and new text appeared in front of him.
[Status]
Name: Ben Tennyson
Race: Human
Title : Convenience Store Hero
Skills: Basic Martial Arts (Advanced), Plumber Training (Intermediate)
Exp: 500 XP ( Offered as a Reward for Returning the Princess' toy)
Strength: 11/30
Dextersity: 13/30
Constitution: 13/30
Intelligence: 10/30
Wisdom: 9/30
Special Abilities: None
Perks: None
Ben's eyes skimmed over the details. His martial arts had been listed as "Advanced," which made sense given the years of training he had with Grandpa Max and even from attending Self Defense Classes. The "Plumber Training" was listed as "Intermediate," probably from all the field experience he'd had, even if it wasn't as extensive as Gwen's
But what really caught his attention was the Title: Convenience Store Hero. He groaned internally at the thought. Convenience Store Hero? Really? Sure, he had helped during the robbery, but it didn't exactly make him feel like a superhero. It felt more like something a headline would make up to sensationalise the event.
Still, the stats were interesting. They gave him a clearer sense of where he stood in terms of ability. His Dexterity and Constitution were higher than his Intelligence and Wisdom, which wasn't surprising. Ben had always been more about action than deep thinking, though he wasn't exactly lacking in smarts. Grandpa Max had always emphasised that training the mind was just as important as training the body, but being a man of action honing his reflexes and stamina had always been his first priority.
"Status," Ben muttered to himself. "Is this all I am now? Just a bunch of numbers and skills?"
The screen didn't react, of course, but it didn't matter. He was still trying to process what it all meant.
Seeing that the explanation regarding Status was over, he moved on to other options.
"Lucky Draw!" He spoke gently
[Ding!]
[Lucky Draw]
[Host can use 50 Experience points to draw a random item from system. List of items that can be obtained but not limited to, Perks, highly advanced scientific gadgets and tools, magical artefacts, Martial arts, Magical Spells and Talismans, free use attribute points and skills etc. Each item can only be obtained once, which means once an item is drawn by User, it's not possible to obtain for second time]
[In case of Lucky Draw failing, you shall be awarded 1 Luck point by System]
[Note: Experience Points are currency used by system. They can be used by User for various purposes, such as Initiating a lucky draw or directly buy items from Shopping mall once it opens. Experience Points can be gained from working out, gaining knowledge and accomplishing various tasks being given to you by those around yourself]
[Experience points once spend within the systems can not be refunded]
Ben couldn't help but frown upon hearing that. He wasn't expecting this system to be based on gacha. The kind of video games which were known to be bane of all freemium players
Regardless, even having a gacha based system was better than having nothing at all, so he attempted to cheer himself with a smile and positive thinking.
He had always been the guy who helped out, who jumped into the fight when things went wrong, even when he didn't have to. Now, with this system at his disposal, he could take things to the next level. He wasn't sure what lay ahead, but he knew one thing: this system could give him the edge he needed to protect the people he cared about.
"Alright, let's give this a shot," Ben muttered under his breath. "Lucky Draw."
The screen shifted, and the now-familiar blue box lit up with spinning icons. The mechanical voice chimed in.
[Ding! Lucky Draw Initiating…]
Ben held his breath, watching the screen intently as the icons spun, faster and faster. Suddenly, they slowed, and one icon began to glow brightly before stopping.
[Ding!]
[Thanks for your patronage, You have been awarded 1 Luck Point]
[Ding!]
[Thanks for your Patronage, You have been awarded 1 Luck Point]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Free Attribute Points has been acquired]
[Ding!]
[Thanks for your Patronage, You have been awarded 1 Luck point]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, [Genetic Template :Ditto Level (10/50)] has been acquired]
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, [Genetic Template: Buzzshock Level ( 10/50)] has been acquired]
Ben blinked in surprise as the notifications scrolled across the glowing blue screen in front of him. The spinning icons had settled on some intriguing rewards—more than he expected.
If only it hadn't taken so many XP...
He stared at the items one by one, trying to process them.
[Free Attribute Points: That was straightforward enough, and it could definitely come in handy for boosting his stats when needed. It felt like a way to fine-tune his abilities.
[Genetic Template: Ditto Level (10/50): Ben's heart skipped a beat. He knew Ditto—one of the Omnitrix's original transformations, the alien with the ability to create identical clones of himself.
[Genetic Template: Buzzshock Level (10/50): Another alien from his past, this time from the Megawhatts he and Grampa Max encountered on their adventurous summer trip. Buzzshock was a living electrical generator, able to control and manipulate electricity.
"So, wait, does this mean… I can turn into Ditto even without the Omnitrix? But how would that even work in the first place?"
He thought for a moment before speaking aloud. "What's the Genetic Template?"
The screen shifted again.
[Genetic Template: A blueprint of a species' genetic structure, allowing the User to synchronise traits, stats and abilities of said species into their own or even transform into them entirely for a limited time period depending on the level of genetic template. Templates can be strengthened or levelled up over time through the usage of Experience Points and two max level genetically compatible templates can be fused into creating a new one. Current Usage Limit: 20 Minutes, Cool Down: 4 Minutes.]
Ben's jaw dropped. "So, I can change into… them?" It wasn't the same as the Omnitrix—it was more permanent, more integrated with his own DNA. He didn't need a device on his wrist for this. The system was offering him something completely different.
He sat up straighter, excitement bubbling inside him. The possibilities of what he could do with these templates were endless. But, with great power came responsibility, right?
Ben glanced down at his stats screen, then back at the message floating in front of him. He wasn't sure what lay ahead, but now he had an edge he hadn't had before. The system wasn't just some game—it was real, and it was going to help him fight for the people he cared about.
But first… he needed to rest and regain his strength. The nurse would be back soon with food, and he could hear his parents talking softly just outside the room.
With a smile, Ben closed the screens for now, sinking back into the hospital bed, letting the warm glow of the sunset calm his racing thoughts. The system might be powerful, but he would figure it out step by step. One thing was for sure—life just got a whole lot more interesting.
As he stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts drifted back to Sona. She had told him there was more to the world than he knew, and she wasn't wrong. But now, with this system at his side, Ben felt like he had a fighting chance to uncover whatever mysteries lay ahead.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like things were about to change—and this time, he would be ready.
With a sigh of anticipation and exhaustion, Ben closed his eyes. For now, rest would be his next task, but he knew that when he woke up, a new adventure awaited him.
