Ben was overjoyed to see Grandpa Max, a beacon of hope in the face of overwhelming odds. But Max's urgency quickly grounded him. "Ben, I've been waiting for you. We don't have much time. Paradox is about to use the time machine, we have to stop him!"
Ben's mind raced. Max was alive, a secret he'd somehow kept even from them. But there was no time for questions, no room for explanations. The fate of the universe hung in the balance. "What's the plan, Grandpa?" he asked, his voice firm despite the turmoil within.
"Paradox has reached the nexus point, the core of the time stream. If he succeeds in altering it, reality as we know it will be rewritten," Max explained, his face grim. "We need to reach him before he can activate the machine. But he's heavily guarded. Eon, Albedo, and a legion of corrupted timelines stand in our way."
Gwen stepped forward, her mana glowing brightly. "Kevin and I can create a diversion, draw their forces away from the main chamber. That will give you a chance to confront Paradox directly."
Kevin cracked his knuckles. "Sounds like a party. Just try not to break the universe before we get there, Tennyson."
Ben nodded, a grim determination settling over him. "Alright. Let's move. It's hero time!"
As Gwen and Kevin branched off to create their diversion, Ben and Max ventured deeper into the time machine, a labyrinth of temporal pathways and shimmering energy fields. The air crackled with raw power, the very fabric of time threatening to unravel around them. The deeper they went, the more distorted the environment became. They saw glimpses of alternate realities, echoes of moments that never were, all swirling around them in a chaotic vortex.
Suddenly, they were ambushed. Figures emerged from the swirling temporal currents: corrupted versions of Ben himself, twisted reflections of his past transformations, each embodying a dark path he could have taken. "Paradox's puppets," Max growled, summoning his Plumber training. "He's using your own potential against you, Ben!"
Ben recognized the corrupted forms: a brutal Four Arms consumed by rage, a Diamondhead hardened by cruelty, a Ghostfreak stripped of all morality. These were the shadows of his own potential, weaponized by Paradox against him.
"You will not pass!" the corrupted Four Arms roared, charging at Ben with savage fury.
Ben activated the Ultimatrix. He needed a form that could counter these dark reflections, a power that resonated with his true self. He cycled through the options, searching for the right choice, until he landed on one that felt… right. He slammed down on the Ultimatrix.
"It's hero time!" he shouted. Ben was encased in a blinding green light, reshaping and contorting, until he emerged in a form unlike any he had ever known.
Ben noticed that he transformed into Alien X. He knew it was dangerous. Serena and Bellicus were inside his head. "We have to cooperate, for the sake of the universe" said Ben. The two nodded. As Alien X, Ben was more powerful than ever. He knew what he had to do.
Alien X creates two beings, one that looked like Gwen, and one that looked like Kevin. "Go. Help them against the corrupted forms." Alien X said to the two beings. The two nodded and teleported away to assist in the battle.
Now, Alien X stared at the corrupted forms. The corrupted forms, taken aback by this new form, were hesitant. However, they then quickly regained themselves and rushed to attack.
"You cannot stop us! We are you!" they cried. Alien X simply teleported away and kicked all of the corrupted forms, as they disappeared. These corrupted forms were not as strong as he thought. Ben then continued into the time machine, to confront Paradox.
Max watches in awe, at Ben's new form. He did not know that Ben was this strong. He sighs and thinks to himself. "I am so proud of you Ben. You will save us all."
Alien X appears in the time machine control room, where Paradox is. Paradox is ready to put his plan into motion, and is about to press the button. Alien X yells "Stop!".
Paradox turns around and says, "You cannot stop me Ben. I will save the universe!" Paradox then raises his hand, and time stops. Alien X, however, is not affected. He is still able to move freely.
"I thought stopping time would affect you! How are you able to move?!" shouted Paradox.
Alien X then replies, "I am beyond your control. I will stop you."
The air crackled with temporal energy as Ben, as Alien X, faced Paradox in the heart of the time machine. The fate of the universe hung in the balance, resting on this final confrontation.
But Paradox just laughs as he teleports Ben into an unknown location. Max, who was right behind Ben, looks shocked at this. But before he could do anything, Albedo confronts him. Max stares down Albedo, ready to fight, as he signals for Gwen and Kevin to come. Where did Paradox teleport Ben? And what is Paradox planning? Find out next time!