A silver moon hung high in the pitch-black sky, spilling cold light over the dense forest below. A cool night breeze swept through, stirring the dry yellow leaves scattered on the ground, sending them drifting aimlessly into the air. A thick red hand, broad as a fan, reached out and lightly pinched one of the fluttering leaves before releasing it, letting it float alone into the night sky.
Lowering his gaze from the stars, Lucian—now transformed into Four Arms—turned to face the other Four Arms before him. That was Ben in his transformed state.
Unlike Lucian's Four Arms, Ben's Omnitrix emblem was on his arm, while Lucian's rested squarely in the center of his chest. It was a unique feature brought about by the recalibrated Omnitrix. And since Lucian's was older—his Four Arms form appeared noticeably stronger and more imposing.
At the moment, Lucian was guiding Ben through the traits of different alien heroes. The Rustbucket was parked under a large tree nearby, where Grandpa Max and Gwen watched intently, not daring to blink. A fight between two Four Arms was bound to be spectacular—they weren't about to miss it.
Lucian's four yellow eyes glowed as he took a fighting stance, his deep voice rumbling, "Ben, ready?"
Ben nodded, tightening his four fists until his knuckles cracked. It was his first real fight, and the tension was hard to ignore. But he'd seen Four Arms in battle before. He knew this alien's strengths—immense power, incredible speed, blood-red skin as tough as armor, resistant to bullets, with tremendous jumping ability and brutal hand-to-hand combat skills.
He'd watched when Four Arms fought the mammoth and the ancient giant ape; those moments were etched in his memory, now replaying vividly in his mind.
Seeing Ben ready, Lucian didn't hesitate. He stomped forward, shattering the ground beneath him, and charged straight at Ben.
Ben snapped to focus, raised his massive fist, gathered all his strength, and roared as he swung it toward Lucian.
Lucian twisted aside, dodging the powerful blow with ease. He grabbed Ben's arm and, channeling his full strength, flipped him over his shoulder, slamming him hard into the ground.
Boom! The impact shook the earth. Dirt flew everywhere, leaving a deep, human-shaped crater.
Gritting through the pain in his back, Ben pushed himself up with both hands, quickly regaining his stance before charging at Lucian again. Watching the determined Four Arms rushing at him, Lucian nodded slightly, a flicker of approval in his eyes.
With such tenacity, it was no wonder Ben Tennyson would one day become a mighty hero—the legendary Ben 10.000...
As Ben's iron fist came crashing in, Lucian extended one crimson hand and caught it firmly. No matter how Ben strained, he couldn't move it an inch.
"The power of Four Arms isn't just about strength," Lucian said steadily. "Use your whole body—let your waist and legs drive the motion. Don't rely only on your arms."
Ben immediately understood. He tightened his core, planted his feet firmly into the ground, and threw another fierce punch at lightning speed toward Lucian's chest.
Lucian's eyes narrowed as he reached out again, catching Ben's fist midair. This time, though, it wasn't as effortless. He managed to hold firm, but his arm trembled, the joints cracking under the pressure.
He had to admit it—Ben's instinct for combat was exceptional. With just a bit of guidance, he grasped the essence right away.
"Well done, Ben." Lucian's lips curved into a faint smile before his tone shifted abruptly. "But you still need more practice!"
With that, he pushed Ben's fists aside with both hands, unleashing a terrifying surge of energy. Before Ben could react, Lucian let out a fierce roar and charged forward like lightning. Four crimson arms shot out, grabbing Ben and lifting him effortlessly into the air.
A sudden wave of weightlessness hit him. Ben struggled desperately, but Lucian's grip was unyielding. In the next moment, Lucian hurled him away with tremendous force.
Boom!
Ben, still in his Four Arms form, was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, crashing violently into a massive tree with a thunderous crash. The tree, so thick that two people couldn't wrap their arms around it, snapped clean in half. Wood chips flew through the air as birds and beasts scattered in every direction.
From a distance, Gwen's eyes widened in shock. She had expected an intense battle, but she hadn't imagined the gap between them would be so enormous.
"Cousin Lucian, you're seriously incredible."
Admiration flickered in her bright green eyes. Women naturally admired strength—and even at ten years old, she was no exception.
Grandpa Max shook his head. "For Ben's first transformation, he's already doing great. He just needs time to grow."
In the dense forest, the swirling dust gradually began to settle, revealing the scene within. Four Arms lay sprawled in the dirt pit, his body covered in debris, but his eyes burned with determination—a fierce desire to grow stronger.
Feeling Lucian's overwhelming power didn't discourage Ben. Instead, it lit a fire within him. A deep, unshakable resolve to become stronger took root in his heart.
Beep beep beep!
The Omnitrix emblem on his arm began to flash, glowing bright red before reverting Ben to his human form.
Thud... thud...
Heavy footsteps approached as Lucian, still in his Four Arms form, extended his powerful arms and pulled Ben up from the crater.
Lucian not only possessed the Omnitrix calibration board but had also undergone System enhancements, extending his transformation duration to twelve minutes—two minutes longer than before.
"Awesome, Cuz! Once my watch finishes recharging, we'll keep fighting!" Ben shouted excitedly.
He wasn't just planning to master Four Arms. He wanted to get familiar with all ten alien heroes and learn to wield each of their powers.
Four Arms sighed, slapping his forehead as his four yellow eyes drooped slightly with a helpless smile. "Looks like there's no rest for me tonight..."
After some time, Lucian and Ben's watches finished recharging, and their training resumed once again.
Under the silvery moonlight, Lucian's sharp features were illuminated clearly. His dark eyes settled on Ben, who looked eager and ready for more.
"Ben, you transform first," he said calmly.
Ben didn't hesitate. He flipped open the Omnitrix's screen, turned the dial to select a hero, and slammed it down.
Thud!
A burst of bright green light erupted, and a new figure appeared in the dark forest—a fiery alien, tall and lean, with skin as red as molten lava and glowing cracks across his body. Flames blazed atop his head, flickering and dancing wildly.
"Cool! Heatblast!" Heatblast stared at his hands, unable to hide his excitement.
"This doofus just turned into a walking torch," Gwen said dryly.
"Pyronite..." Grandpa Max muttered under his breath. Sensing Gwen's puzzled stare, he quickly changed his words. "Uh... Let's go see what your cousin turns into next."
Gwen turned her attention away, and Grandpa Max quietly exhaled in relief.
"Close call... almost gave it away," he thought.
Meanwhile, Lucian studied the fiery figure glowing in the darkness. He brought up the holographic selection interface and began scrolling through alien options. When Heatblast's projection appeared, he instinctively reached to press it—but then paused. A better idea came to him.
"Swampfire."