Staring at the colossal robot materializing before him, Ben felt his mind reel with disbelief.
Is this seriously happening right now?
Originally, he had anticipated that his battle with Morlun would develop into a constant rotation between predatory natural enemies and alien heroes, creating a dynamic equilibrium of mutual restraint, something like a legendary confrontation between the Omnitrix bearerand the Nemetrix predator, a duel of creation and extinction.
His strategy had been to wait until Morlun grew overconfident, then reveal an Ultimate Evolution form and turn the tables with superior tactics and raw power.
He had never expected this madman to literally pull out a giant mecha like some kind of space ace card.
This can't be right.
In truth, if it were merely Leopardon in its original form, it wouldn't represent the most troublesome threat imaginable. As a mechanical creation, the legendary robot should theoretically be vulnerable to Upgrade. But Ben truly hadn't anticipated that Morlun had also unlocked access to Malware the Galvanic Mechamorph!
At this moment, the massive Leopardon retained only the barest resemblance to its original heroic appearance. The mecha's once-proud coloration had been corrupted into something resembling diseased flesh, stained and twisted by black parasitic substance that seemed to pulse with malevolent life.
Blood-red energy conduits spread across the robot's entire frame like infected veins, pulsing with ominous power that made the air itself vibrate with menace.
"It just had to be Malware..." Ben muttered, feeling a bead of perspiration form on his brow.
This was one of the more infamous villains from Ben 10 universe, a corrupt and mutated Mechamorph whose intelligence far exceeded typical predatory enemies. Unlike other natural enemies that operated on pure instinct, Malware possessed the cunning and adaptability that made him truly dangerous.
As an unnatural creation born from genetic defects and technological corruption, Malware represented everything wrong with the fusion of organic and mechanical elements. In terms of raw destructive capability, the gap between him and a normal Galvanic Mechamorph like Upgrade could be described as the difference between a house cat and a tiger.
Ordinary Mechamorphs could interface with technological creations to enhance their capabilities temporarily, but Malware could directly absorb technological constructs into his core being and upgrade them infinitely without limitation!
"No wonder you managed to defeat Takuya Yamashiro..." Ben said with grim understanding.
The moment he recognized Malware's corruption signature, everything suddenly made perfect sense. How could Supaidaman, who had been praised by numerous Spider-heroes as a heavyweight champion, have been defeated so decisively?
Even his trump card had been completely countered, making the outcome predictably one-sided.
"Yamashiro was probably caught off-guard. If he had deployed the Sword Vigor immediately, Morlun might have been eliminated before he could react and adapt."
"But now this problem belongs to me."
Ben craned his neck upward and nearly gave himself whiplash trying to see the transformed mecha's full dimensions. The original Leopardon had been impressively large, but after being possessed and corrupted by Malware, Morlun had merged completely with the massive machine, transforming it into something resembling a nightmarish fusion of mechanical and biological elements.
Morlun's distorted voice echoed across the dimensional rift, amplified by the robot's communication systems and carrying undertones of predatory satisfaction.
"Let's end this pathetic resistance!"
The enormous palm descended like a metallic mountain, pressing down toward Ben with obvious intent to flatten him into paste against the dimensional substrate. The sheer scale made it feel like facing divine judgment from an angry god.
Ben raised his crystalline arm, and Diamondhead's matter manipulation abilities manifested at full power. Countless crystal formations erupted from the space around his position like mushrooms blooming after rain, then twisted together with the intricate beauty of frozen salt formations, creating a massive emerald palm that struck upward to meet the descending threat.
BOOM!!!
The crystal construct shattered instantly without offering any meaningful resistance whatsoever.
But Ben felt no fear or despair in the face of this overwhelming display. Crystal ore meant nothing to someone with Diamondhead's abilities, he could generate infinite quantities without limitation!
One shattered arm? No problem, in the blink of an eye, an enlarged version of Diamondhead rose from the dimensional floor like a crystalline titan awakening from slumber!
Ben used concentrated crystal formations to construct an avatar several hundred feet tall, essentially piloting it like a massive suit of gemstone armor. He delivered several devastating punches to Leopardon's chest section, causing impressive showers of sparks to cascade from the impact points.
However, the corrupted mecha's frame didn't even tremble from the assault.
"I nearly suffered catastrophic damage acquiring this machine from its previous owner," Morlun's voice boomed with triumphant arrogance. "Your pathetic fragments that shatter at the slightest touch couldn't even scratch my paint job."
As he spoke with dismissive contempt, weapon ports opened across every section of Leopardon's corrupted frame, some were original armaments that came standard with the mecha, while others represented hybrid technologies absorbed and integrated by Malware's parasitic enhancement processes.
Massive energy reserves charged within hundreds of cannon apertures, all targeting Ben's position within the gigantic crystal construct. It was as if a thousand supernovas were simultaneously preparing to release their destructive potential into the darkness of space.
"Become space dust in the void of the multiverse!"
The towering crystal avatar collapsed instantly like a sandcastle struck by a tidal wave.
Overwhelming energy bombardment consumed Ben's position entirely.
BOOM!
The concentrated firepower nearly tore holes in the fabric of space-time itself. Within the dimensional rift, the barriers separating different universes developed visible cracks as if reality had been struck by an enormous sledgehammer. Through those fractured spaces, glimpses of alternate realities became momentarily visible, other Earths, other conflicts, other heroes struggling against their own space threats.
The barrage continued for what felt like an eternity before Morlun finally ceased his assault.
Those emerald crystals had been completely vaporized, thoroughly annihilated by the terrifying energy output. Only chaotic fragments of twisted space-time remained, distorted into impossible geometries and radiating dangerous levels of residual heat.
"It appears this is over," Morlun observed with slight disappointment.
"This is becoming rather boring. Perhaps I shouldn't have revealed my ultimate weapon so early in the engagement."
"I hope that device proves more durable than its wielder."
He felt no particular attachment to Ben as another Spider-totem, the green device was what his collection of natural enemies truly desired. The Omnitrix represented the ultimate prize, far more valuable than any individual hero's life force.
However, just as Morlun began searching for traces of the shattered watch among the debris, a crimson beam of light erupted skyward from the fractured space-time. A silver-fisted giant leaped out from the radiance and delivered a devastating punch directly to Leopardon's head, sending the massive mecha crashing backward onto the dimensional substrate.
Way Big had arrived on the battlefield!
"You're not the only one capable of deploying giant-scale combatants!"
Way Big versus Leopardon, Ultraman versus Gundam in the ultimate kaiju battle!
Watching the corrupted mecha fall backward from his surprise attack, Ben launched himself high into the air, covering several thousand meters in the blink of an eye. His To'kustar form prepared to deliver a devastating flying kick toward Morlun's prone position.
BOOM!
The dimensional passage shook violently from the impact, but Ben's attack missed its target as Morlun rolled across the substrate, barely avoiding the strike through desperate evasive maneuvers.
Malware-possessed mecha completed an immediate counterattack, its mechanical torso rotating a full 180 degrees from the waist in a movement that completely defied normal engineering principles. The resulting kick caught Ben directly in the head, sending him staggering backward several steps before he could regain his balance.
The sharp fin-like protrusion on Way Big's cranium, which appeared intimidating and dangerous to most observers, actually represented one of the To'kustar species' primary vulnerabilities, a sensitive area that could disorient the giant if struck properly.
While Way Big was indeed based on classic Ultraman design principles, this particular alien species unfortunately lacked superior mobility compared to other cosmic entities. Slow movement represented their primary tactical weakness, and when facing enemies of equivalent size, Way Big possessed no inherent advantages in close-quarters combat.
When confronting opponents who could match his scale, such as Dr. Psychobos enlargement technology, Way Big's massive size advantage became essentially meaningless.
To be completely honest, this Ben found himself missing the true Celestials Way Big from on the Omnitrix, unfortunately this Ultimatrix only have the base and ultimate Alien not the Enhanced Fusion one.
Morlun charged forward again, his corrupted black iron fists larger than meteors as they hammered toward Ben without mercy or restraint.
Ben planted his feet firmly and immediately swung his own massive fists and blade-like appendages in retaliation, meeting force with overwhelming force.
Thunder-like impacts reverberated across the dimensional space as the two giants traded devastating blows.
Compared to typical media depictions that showed To'kustar combat in dramatic slow motion, Ben's control of Way Big demonstrated far superior speed and coordination. Both combatants' fists left visible afterimages in the interdimensional void, their movements generating atmospheric disturbances that resembled space storms being born.
The pressure waves from their punches seemed capable of spawning entirely new weather systems!
As the battle progressed, Morlun's surprise transformed into growing concern and frustration.
He understood better than anyone how incredibly powerful Leopardon truly was in its original configuration. Even with the Nemetrix's advantages, defeating Takuya Yamashiro and forcing the legendary mecha to merge with Malware had required enormous effort and careful planning.
But now his opponent had somehow manifested a giant capable of matching him blow for blow! This was absolutely unacceptable to Morlun's predatory ego.
He regarded Ben and everything contained within that small device as rightful prey, making it psychologically impossible to accept that any being could meaningfully resist his power, much less that he was being somewhat suppressed by Way Big's superior combat techniques.
Morlun roared with primal fury and rage!
He swung both arms with maximum force, finally managing to knock Ben away through sheer brute strength rather than skill.
"I'm tired of these games. It's time to conclude this hunt permanently."
"Come forth, Sword Vigor!"
A forty-meter blade with an elegant, slightly archaic design suddenly materialized in Morlun's massive hands. This was the legendary instant-kill weapon from Universe 51778, the Sword Vigor that had made Takuya Yamashiro's reputation as an unstoppable hero!
"This energy signature..." Ben muttered with growing concern.
While he didn't possess comprehensive knowledge about the Supaidaman's full capabilities, he didn't need detailed statistics to recognize the terrifying power emanating from that blade. Just based on the aura radiating from the weapon, he could sense its virtually unlimited destructive potential.
"No wonder it's called the instant-kill sword. This level of energy output is almost impossible to quantify or defend against."
Ben's expression grew gravely serious as massive amounts of space energy began gathering around his wrists and forearms, preparing Way Big's own ultimate attack.
Morlun thrust the blade forward, and in that instant, the Sword Vigor's divine radiance transformed into a concentrated beam of pure annihilation that shot toward Ben with the speed of light itself.
Despite its name, the Sword Vigor's true damage came from magical energy rather than physical cutting, those light beams represented the weapon's most devastating attacks, while the physical blade served primarily as a focusing conduit.
Rosy clouds of destructive energy filled the dimensional tunnel, and before the attack even reached him, Ben could feel the stinging sensation of divine power attempting to unmake his very existence.
He crossed both massive arms in front of his chest in a defensive posture.
Cosmic storm energy surged outward from deep within his To'kustar physiology, channeling the fundamental forces that powered stars themselves.
BOOM!!!
Silver-white radiance and the golden light of the divine sword collided with cataclysmic force, creating a violent explosion within the dimensional rift that threatened to tear apart the very foundations of the multiverse itself!
The expanding shockwaves became ground zero for space-time distortions that spread continuously toward the deepest layers of infinite reality. Even the Web of Life and Destiny seemed to twist and buckle under the tremendous energy impact.
Meanwhile, in a strange blue-tinted pocket dimension, Tony Stark in his advanced armor and T'Challa found themselves surrounded by a massive swarm of silver-gray mechanical entities that moved with insectile coordination.
On opposite sides of this bizarre space, two Earth-like planets faced each other across an impossible void, their gravitational fields creating visible distortions in the dimensional fabric.
According to their original mission parameters, they were supposed to destroy the alternate Earth to prevent an imminent collision crisis. However, E.U.N.I.C.E.'s calculations indicated they still had eight hours of buffer time before the two planets would actually collide. Despite the slim hope of finding an alternative solution, they wanted to preserve as many lives as possible during those crucial hours, a small attempt at redemption for what they might be forced to do.
To their surprise, the other Earth had already been transformed into a gray wasteland devoid of organic life, populated only by these mysterious mechanical constructs.
However, the machines had immediately attacked upon detecting Tony and T'Challa's presence, suggesting their programming included similar planetary destruction protocols.
"There's no alternative, we have to activate the annihilation device!" T'Challa shouted through his communicator as he fought off another wave of gray robots.
From his position back in Wakanda, Otto's voice crackled through the dimensional interference: "You must evacuate from that pocket space immediately, or the annihilation blast may affect your survival!"
"Easier said than done!" Tony cursed as several mechanical entities nearly tore his legs off.
If his armor hadn't been upgraded to a nanotechnology configuration long ago, he would have been reduced to component atoms by those relentless attackers.
"I'm sending E.U.N.I.C.E. to provide extraction support, wait, what the hell is this?" Otto's voice suddenly carried alarm and confusion.
Staring at his computer screens in disbelief, Otto watched as the dimensional monitoring systems detected massive spatial distortions. Ripples were spreading rapidly through the pocket space like waves across a space ocean.
"What the, ugh!" Tony began to ask for clarification, but the next second he experienced the abnormality firsthand.
It felt as though his entire body had suddenly transformed into rubber and been twisted into an impossible knot. His stomach churned violently, and Tony couldn't help but vomit inside his helmet, a sensation that reminded him uncomfortably of being dragged at high speed by Ben during one of their early encounters.
"Thank God I installed a waste disposal system..." he muttered before looking around at the gray machines.
Due to the spatial distortion, these mechanical entities had obviously been affected and entered a temporary shutdown state, their coordination completely disrupted.
"Looks like we won't need that backup support after all," Tony observed.
He swooped down quickly, grabbed T'Challa, and rushed out of the collapsing pocket dimension just as reality reasserted itself.
"Begin annihilation sequence!" T'Challa called out.
Without hesitation, Otto pressed the launch button from his remote position.
Watching an entire planet disappear in a flash of antimatter fire, T'Challa said nothing but simply stared at the cosmic fireworks and the shadow of the distant universe hanging in space.
Tony was also looking upward, his sensors analyzing the residual energy patterns.
"Why so quiet?" he asked eventually.
"I miss who we used to be, when we were still fighting purely for justice," T'Challa sighed heavily.
Although the Earth they had encountered this time appeared lifeless and their hands weren't directly stained with innocent blood, from the moment that bomb detonated, they had embarked on a path that could never be called righteous.
But they had chosen survival over moral purity.
"What about you? What are you looking at up there?"
"Those fluctuations from before," Tony replied with scientific precision. "Based on the data, they represent space-time shockwaves originating from deep within the multiverse. The vibration patterns were powerful enough to affect our dimensional pocket across vast space distances. I have no idea what could have generated that level of energy..."
The space beyond individual universes remained filled with unimaginable dangers and space conflicts that dwarfed planetary concerns.
Tony Stark felt a growing sense of anxiety about forces beyond their control or comprehension.
That same feeling was shared by the Spider-heroes monitoring the situation from Universe 2099.
"Energy readings are beyond our detection capabilities," Miguel reported grimly.
After returning to the Spider-Society headquarters, he had immediately ordered the artificial intelligence Lyla to monitor the battlefield where Ben was fighting. But as the space-time shockwaves spread outward, even the advanced 2099 universe found itself affected by the dimensional instability.
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