I've been alive for a very long time.
I've seen it all, experienced everything. At some point, nothing surprises you anymore—not truly. That's one of the many downsides of being a god. When you've existed for eons, novelty fades. Nothing is ever really new in your eyes.
At least… that's what I believed.
Until one day, an odd little soul drifted into my realm.
Which, mind you, should have been impossible.
It wasn't conscious—not really. I doubt it even knew how long it had been floating in the dark. Curious, I reached out, took hold of it, and peered into its memories. I wanted to know how something so fragile managed to cross into a place even gods rarely tread.
And what I saw genuinely surprised me.
This soul's universe was gone. Dead. Erased. Everything and everyone on the cosmic death list had been taken… except for him.
When his universe collapsed, his soul didn't ascend to heaven, descend to hell, or pass into any afterlife. No reapers came for him. Instead, he drifted into the void—forgotten—for centuries.
Then, somehow, a tear opened. Just a sliver. A portal barely wider than a thought. These cosmic tears are rare, fleeting things, lasting no more than a few seconds.
But that was enough. Enough for the soul to fall through… and land here.
After learning his story, I did something I haven't done in a long time—I gave him a body. I anchored his soul and watched as he opened his eyes, remembering everything. His pain. His loss. His life.
His name was Franklin Fenix.
Twenty-two.
Fresh out of college.
Just starting a job.
A life barely begun—ripped away before it even had a chance to unfold.
He grieved, of course. For his family. For his friends. For the world he would never see again.
Eventually, he moved on. Slowly.
I let him stay. I didn't see the harm. And… he talked a lot.
Humans would call him a nerd. He told me about comics, movies, cartoons—particularly DC and Marvel. I found it amusing, because I know those universes. They exist. Parallel realms, tucked neatly into the multiverse. You should've seen his face when I told him that.
His favorite show?
Ben 10.
He spoke of Ben like an old friend—praised the Omnitrix and its boundless potential. He knew every alien, every obscure bit of lore. He even lamented the ones that were hinted at but never shown on-screen.
He wished he could see more of them.
...And in that moment, I felt the rarest thing stir in my chest.
A new idea.
Without him knowing, I started building something.
My own version of the Omnitrix. But better.
Not just a tool for transformation—but a safeguard. A shield. A gift worthy of the soul who survived the death of a universe.
It would grant him immunity to my own divine powers—not out of fear, but as a gesture of trust. It would protect his soul from erasure, corruption, and manipulation. And within it… I placed not just aliens from the Ben 10 mythos or the multiverses of DC, but beings from entirely different worlds. Creatures he might recognize from stories, games, and dreams—fictional in his old world, very real in mine.
I embedded an advanced AI in the core. Intelligent, adaptive, and intuitive. It would speak to him, guide him, challenge him. I added the ultimate function too, and removed all limits—no timeouts, no cooldowns. He could stay in any form as long as he wished. And from the beginning, I granted him master control. No lockouts. No needing to earn it.
I spent a few hundred years perfecting it. Time means little to me, and the work was… fulfilling.
While I built in secret, Franklin simply enjoyed the afterlife. My realm. A pocket of serenity in a chaotic multiverse. We talked often. Laughed more than I expected. He became… a friend. A good one.
And a great listener.
I found myself telling him stories I hadn't spoken of in eons—tales of ancient wars, cosmic betrayals, the rise and fall of empires. He was fascinated. Especially by the personal ones.
I told him about my family—my daughter, my son, and my wife.
Well… my ex-wife.
We're still on good terms. We speak. Occasionally.
The truth is, our marriage fell apart because we were just too different. She was the Goddess of Heroes, of compassion, of endless hope. She had this habit of adopting wandering souls like strays, wrapping them in warmth and calling them her children. I never understood it—but it was part of her. The kind, gentle part that made me fall in love with her in the first place.
I, on the other hand, was neutral. Not good. Not evil. I watched, I guided, I judged—but I never interfered for the sake of one side or another.
She thought I should care more. I thought she cared too much.
And so, we grew apart.
But Franklin… he never judged. He just listened.
He laughed at the funny parts, stayed quiet during the heavy ones, and always asked questions that made me think.
He reminded me what it felt like to be… seen.
And maybe that's why I wanted to give him more than just an afterlife.
I wanted to give him a new life. A chance. A purpose.
I was almost done with the device.
And soon… I'd finally reveal it.
Franklin POV
I was just out grabbing some fruit.
I don't need to eat anymore, but I still like the taste. It passes the time, you know? Juicy, vibrant, cosmic fruit—way better than anything Earth ever had. I don't know exactly how long I've been in Thalorion's realm. Maybe 30,000 years? Give or take. But honestly… it doesn't feel like that long. I still feel like me. The same old Franklin. I guess that's part of being in this place—time works differently here.
'Franklin, can you come here, please?'
Thalorion's voice echoed gently in my mind. He does that sometimes. Not invasive—just direct. I've never felt him abuse that power.
I dropped the fruit and sprinted toward him.
It didn't take long. I can move fast here—like, really fast. Another perk of not being truly alive. No fatigue. No limits.
I found him inside one of his temple-like sanctuaries. Massive pillars. Ethereal light. A silence that felt… ancient. Thalorion was seated on a throne of obsidian and stardust, regal and still.
I smiled at him.
He smiled back—but this time, it didn't reach his eyes. He looked… sad. Or maybe tired.
"Thalorion, are you okay?" I asked.
"Yes. Everything is fine," he replied. His voice was calm, but I could feel something else beneath it.
"I just wanted to give you a gift."
A flash of light appeared before me—brilliant, blinding for just a second—and then it faded.
Floating in front of me was… it.
A device I'd dreamed about since I was a kid.
The Omnitrix.
Only… not quite.
It wasn't the classic white-and-green one from the show. No, this one was black—sleek, refined, powerful. Its surface shimmered like obsidian under a dying star. It gave off a hum… almost like it was alive.
I stared at it, breathless.
It was real.
Right in front of me.
My heart pounded—even though it technically shouldn't.
I've always loved Ben 10. Always admired the Omnitrix—not just for the power, but the idea behind it. Infinite potential. Endless forms. The ability to be more.
And now…
Now one was floating inches from my face.
"Thalorion, this is… this is an Omnitrix. How did you even get one? And… why are you giving it to me?" I asked, eyes still locked on the device floating before me.
He smiled faintly. "I didn't get it. I made it. It's not like the original—it's better. Stronger. It holds more aliens than you'd ever believe, and it will protect you far better than it ever protected Ben."
I blinked. "Okay… but why?"
"Because," he said, rising from his throne, "you're going to need it in your new world."
"Wait… what?"
"I'm sending you to a new world," he said calmly. "But not just any world. A world you know very well… Marvel and DC."
My jaw dropped.
"I've been selfish," he continued. "You've been here a very long time. I could've reincarnated you long ago. You stayed because you didn't want to leave me alone—and I let you. But you… you're still young. You deserve to live. Truly live. To fall in love. To feel heartbreak. To build a family. To choose your path. You never got that in your last life."
I was quiet.
He was right. I never thought of it that way before. I'd had relationships, sure—but I'd never really loved. Never had kids. Never built something lasting. I always wanted that. A big family. A messy, beautiful life.
I looked at him. "You're right. But what about you? You'll be alone again… for who knows how long. And what if I never see you again?"
Thalorion chuckled softly. "I'm used to being alone, my friend. And you will see me again—someday. But that day is far off. Until then, I'll be watching. I look forward to seeing what you become."
I smiled and reached for the Omnitrix. As soon as my fingers touched it, the device pulsed and gently clamped around my wrist. It adjusted on its own—perfect fit. I stared at it, still in disbelief.
"I won't let you down," I said quietly. "I'll try to live this new life without regrets."
"Ha! There will always be regrets," Thalorion said with a grin. "Just don't let them anchor you."
Then his tone shifted, a bit more serious. "Now, before you go—a quick crash course on my version of the Omnitrix. I trust you to figure out the rest."
I nodded, fully focused.
"This Omnitrix has multiple modes," he began. "There's a stealth mode—it turns the Omnitrix invisible and generates a matching suit. You can stay in alien form as long as you want; it has unlimited energy and no timeouts."
He continued, "You also have full master control from the start—no unlocking needed. The AI inside is extremely advanced—think of it like a smart, adaptable guide. It knows your preferences, learns with you, and can help in combat, strategy, or even language."
I blinked. "That's… a lot."
"There's more," he said. "You have all the aliens from the original series—plus many that were never shown. And I added aliens from other universes too. Ones you'll recognize, even if they never appeared in Ben 10."
"But not Alien X or Clockwork," he added.
I raised an eyebrow. "Why not those two?"
"I have my reasons," he said cryptically. "You'll understand in time."
"Fair enough," I muttered.
"One last thing—this Omnitrix will only respond to you," he said. "It protects your mind, soul, and body. No mind control, no soul tampering, no memory erasure. You are completely shielded. Oh—and it can also tell time, though that's more of a novelty feature."
I chuckled. "Wow. Okay… that's a lot to take in. But I think I've got it."
Thalorion stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Then it's time."
I pulled him into a tight hug.
He hugged me back just as firmly.
"Thank you," I said softly. "For being my friend."
"I should be the one thanking you, Franklin," Thalorion replied. "You helped me see things in a new light… and I will be forever grateful for that."
We stood there for a moment, unmoving—just two souls from different worlds, connected by something deeper than time.
Then we stepped back from the embrace.
"Now go," Thalorion said with a warm smile. "Live your new life. Make friends. Fall in love. Do all the things you never got to do the first time."
His expression softened, glowing with pride.
"And most importantly… be a hero. I know you always wanted that."
I smiled.
He was right. I did always want to be a hero—like Ben 10.
Not because of the fame.
Not for glory.
But because Ben believed in people. He gave second chances. He did the right thing—even when it was hard, even when no one was watching. That's the kind of hero I wanted to be.
"Good luck, Franklin," Thalorion said.
He clapped his hands.
And everything went dark.
I woke up in an unfamiliar room.
There was a desk with a computer, a mini fridge humming in the corner, and a few posters on the wall—stuff that looked like it belonged to a normal teenager. A lamp, a stack of comic books, some clothes tossed over a chair. Lived-in… but not by me.
Then, all at once, memories hit me like a wave.
It wasn't painful—more like watching a slideshow of moments I hadn't lived but suddenly remembered as if I had.
My name… is Franklin Fenix. I'm 17 years old. I live in New York—Queens, to be exact. I go to Midtown High. I live alone in a small apartment near the school. And I've got two best friends: Yolanda Montez and Ava Ayala.
I met Yolanda first—at a boxing gym, when we were just kids. She was fast, tough, and determined. We clicked almost instantly. She's been in my corner ever since.
Ava lived down the street. I met her in less ideal circumstances.
There was this open lot near her place. One day, I wandered over and saw her getting bullied. Three of them. One girl, three jerks. I didn't think—I just stepped in.
Naturally… I got my ass handed to me.
I mean, I was just a scrawny teenager without an Omnitrix or any training. But after they left, bruised and bloody, I still walked her home. We talked the whole way. And somehow, that walk turned into a friendship that's lasted ever since.
Of course, those bullies got what was coming.Yolanda found out.
And she demolished them.
Seriously. That girl is a beast in the ring.
At first, Yolanda didn't like Ava. I think she thought Ava was going to "steal" me or something—classic jealousy, even if she'd never admit it. But over time, they warmed up to each other. Now, the three of us are tight. Ride-or-die type of friends.
Once the last memory faded, I sat up, staring at the ceiling for a second.
This was my new life.
Thalorion gave me a fresh start—and damn, he really built it well.
I got out of bed, sat down at the desk, and powered up the computer. First thing's first—if I'm in the Marvel and DC universe, I need to know who's active right now. Heroes. Villains. Major events. I need to know what kind of world I just dropped into.
No more sitting on the sidelines.
Time to be ready.