"It's over, Morlun," Ben declared with finality that echoed across the shattered dimensional space.
The Inheritor who had been so arrogantly confident mere minutes ago now lay broken and defeated, forced to revert from his Malware form back to his original appearance. His body resembled a battlefield after artillery bombardment, riddled with smoking holes and gaping wounds from Ultimate Way Big's devastating cosmic ray attack.
However, Ben had also exhausted the # Ultimatrix's energy reserves with that final assault, forcing him to cancel his transformation and return to human size. The device, which resembled an a gauntlet around his arm, was now flashing urgent red warning signals. White smoke poured from its internal mechanisms due to critical overheating, and the acrid smell of burning circuitry filled the air.
"Overload detected," Overkill's voice emerged from the symbiote suit as his distinctive head materialized beside Ben's shoulder. "This imitation watch really can't compare to the genuine one. It's not even close to the quality of the original Ultimatrix."
"Of course it can't match the original Albedo creation, it can't even match the prototype Omnitrix from Azmuth" Ben replied without surprise, examining the damaged device with clinical detachment.
While the original Ultimatrix had been somewhat different from his primary Omnitrix, it was still fundamentally one of Azmuth's inventions, essentially a backup system for the main device, though it lacked certain crucial functions like genetic repair protocols and emergency protection systems.
More importantly, virtually every watch-like device that appeared throughout Ben 10 history could trace its origins back to Azmuth's genius. Albedo's counterfeit had been stolen from Azmuth's laboratory, and even the Nemetrix had been barely functional until Dr. Psychobos enhanced it after Malware had copied critical data from the original Omnitrix.
The device delegate Ben currently wore was a crude replica Original Ben had constructed with his own hands using limited resources and time, naturally, it was far inferior to the master's work.
"I'm not sure if it can be repaired properly," Overkill observed with genuine concern. "What should we do if it's permanently damaged? Don't forget, we still have one major problem remaining."
The symbiote was referring to Solus, the most powerful member of the Inheritor family, who had single-handedly killed Cosmic Spider-Man.
"What are you worried about? Isn't Ben available?" Ben said, approaching Morlun's prone form with purposeful strides.
This remarkably tenacious creature wasn't quite dead yet. His shattered chest continued rising and falling with weak, labored breathing, but his body could no longer manage any meaningful movement.
All of his limbs had been vaporized by the space ray bombardment, leaving him unable to activate the Nemetrix or mount any kind of counterattack.
"This is almost a perfect one-to-one replica," Ben observed, studying the hexagonal device. "The degree of completion is significantly higher than my makeshift Ultimatrix. I'm just curious about how many predatory species are actually included in its database."
Honestly, Ben suspected the number wasn't particularly impressive.
As expected, the genetic templates included in the Nemetrix had been collected by Maltruant using his limited resources and authority. With that individual's power level, he could probably only gather natural enemies for conventional alien heroes.
The Omnitrix contained genetic data from more than one million distinct species. How could Maltruant possibly locate natural enemies for every single one using his own capabilities? Not to mention that some predatory species had evolved far beyond his ability to capture or control.
"Are you targeting the Nemetrix?" Morlun asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Despite his current helpless state, there was still a murderous gleam flickering in his eyes. As long as Ben made the mistake of getting close enough, Morlun could instantly absorb his life energy using the vampiric totem power inherent to all Inheritors.
When that moment arrived, everything would be reversed in his favor!
Victory will still be mine! Morlun thought with desperate hope.
He was like a predatory plant waiting for unwary prey to take the bait, exposing apparent vulnerability while preparing to strike the moment his enemy lowered their guard.
However, Ben wasn't Takuya Yamashiro or Cosmic Spider-Man, heroes who might be caught off-guard by such deception.
He had been anticipating this exact tactic from the moment the battle began.
The Overkill symbiote instantly flowed across his entire body like liquid shadow, and the Prime Suit reformed around him with its characteristic menacing appearance. The black and white coloration seemed to absorb light from the surrounding dimensional space, making Ben appear like a demon emerging from space void.
At this moment, Morlun's heart finally died completely.
The presence of a symbiote could isolate and neutralize vampiric totem power to a significant degree. This had been discovered during Morlun's earlier hunt of Peter Parker, and Ben had learned about this critical weakness through accessing the symbiote hive's collective memory.
This time, Morlun had completely lost all hope of reversal or escape.
He could only watch helplessly as Ben carefully extracted the Nemetrix from him, the device detaching with a soft click that seemed to echo with finality.
He couldn't even manage to roar curses or threats, because his vocal cords had been destroyed during the previous energy impact.
"I would love to ask you who provided the Nemetrix," Ben said, glancing down at Morlun with something approaching pity for his miserable condition. Of course, that sympathy didn't extend to genuine compassion for the creature.
Every single member of the Inheritor family deserved execution for their countless crimes.
Morlun actually felt a moment of relief upon hearing this question.
He wasn't afraid of death, resurrection was always possible through their cloning technology. However, if he leaked critical information about the Inheritor family's operations, that would represent true destruction.
If Ben somehow discovered their home base, there was no doubt that their cloning machinery would be lost, they would likely lose control over the imprisoned Master Weaver, and the entire Inheritor dynasty might face genuine extinction.
However, Ben quickly extinguished the flame of hope burning in Morlun's consciousness.
The massive black hand covered Morlun's face completely, and the symbiote began writhing as its tentacles penetrated his skull like organic data cables seeking neural interfaces.
The sudden invasion of his brain caused Morlun's pupils to contract violently as he released an agonized wail that echoed across multiple dimensions.
"It's somewhat disgusting... but in order to read your memories directly, there's no alternative method available," Ben observed with clinical detachment.
"Who are you calling disgusting?" Overkill protested indignantly, but the symbiote had already successfully invaded Morlun's mental defenses.
For most symbiotes, forcibly reading a host's or victim's brain memories represented an absolute moral boundary, something completely contrary to the noble character expected of Space Knights. But for Overkill, who had been born from Venom's chaotic essence, this was merely a routine procedure.
Ben's moral flexibility was already well-established, and Venom possessed no meaningful ethical constraints whatsoever.
Morlun felt as though a massive hole had been drilled directly into his brain, allowing a monster called Overkill to invade his consciousness. The symbiote rampaged through his mind with violent enthusiasm, brutally disrupting and cataloging his memories without regard for psychological damage.
He desperately wanted to resist this mental violation, but this was the moment when he was at his absolute weakest. His already confused and fragmented thoughts were instantly crushed by Overkill's overwhelming presence. Within seconds, he rolled his eyes back and assumed the vacant expression of someone whose mind had been completely shattered.
Overkill silently retracted his neural tentacles, but there was no sympathy in his tone when he spoke.
In just those brief moments of memory access, he had witnessed countless Spider-heroes being brutally killed and devoured by Morlun. Many victims had remained conscious during their consumption, forced to watch their own flesh and blood being systematically eaten away piece by piece.
The Inheritors didn't even perform these atrocities to maintain the freshest taste, they simply enjoyed observing Spider-heroes' expressions of pain, terror, and despair.
"It was Maltruant," Overkill reported with cold efficiency.
"I can't believe that thing would show up in this crisis... Let me think, are there any other major villains who haven't made appearances yet? Maybe the Contumelia?" Ben mused.
Ben dismissed Overkill's speculation without consideration.
While the Contumelia possessed significant power, they weren't nearly as dangerous as Maltruant, who was a complete megalomaniac with ambitions to threaten to destroy all realities. Now that he had arrived in the Marvel Universe, which was far more dangerous than Ben 10 universe, he might become an exponentially larger problem.
"Unfortunately, Morlun knew very limited information," Overkill continued his report. "Maltruant was extremely cautious and didn't reveal anything of strategic value to his pawns."
Not only that, Ben discovered during his examination of the Nemetrix database that Maltruant appeared to have deleted all natural enemy templates that could potentially threaten his own safety.
Obviously, that individual had no intention of allowing the Inheritors to become a threat to his personal agenda.
Ben wasn't particularly concerned about the genetic data from the natural enemies he had eliminated, but he had to admit that replicating those predatory species and raising them in the Null Void Realm would allow various imprisoned criminals to experience the sensation of being hunted for sport.
Natural enemies were, after all, simply another aspect of the space ecosystem.
"At least now we know the location of the Inheritors' base of operations," Ben observed with satisfaction.
"Finally, we can eliminate all of these creatures in one coordinated strike."
Ben looked down at the damaged Ultimatrix and sighed. "The device still requires significant charging time, and it's highly unlikely to be capable of supporting Alien X transformation. Converting the Nemetrix for our use will also require considerable modification."
Ben understood that the replica Ultimatrix wouldn't be able to withstand Alien X's overwhelming power requirements. He had hoped to use Alien X's reality-altering capabilities to eliminate the Spider-curse permanently and resurrect all the Spider-heroes who had died during this war.
This ambitious plan would require assistance from the modified Nemetrix technology.
Additionally, Solus, who possessed Cosmic Spider-Man's power, remained a significant threat that needed to be addressed.
However, Overkill was surprisingly confident about this challenge. "Don't worry about Solus. I have a method to handle him."
"Haven't I been exploring the collective memories of various symbiote species? Guess what I discovered?" Overkill's expression shifted into a predatory grin. Being naturally impatient, he provided the answer before Ben could respond.
"Cosmic Spider-Man's Enigma Force is actually a specialized type of symbiote!"
Ben immediately understood the implications.
"Exactly!" Overkill was practically vibrating with excitement, his fanged mouth protruding like the mischievous creature from classic cartoons. "I'm also a symbiote! And theoretically, I represent the most advanced symbiote evolution possible! Therefore, I should be capable of devouring that Enigma Force and turning it against our enemies!"
"It's time to let the Inheritors experience what it feels like to be restrained by natural forces!"
"Are you absolutely certain about this?" Ben asked with warranted skepticism.
It wasn't that he doubted Overkill's abilities, but he was concerned that the symbiote might be influenced by Venom's notoriously unreliable personality and tendency toward overconfidence.
Overkill immediately registered offense at this questioning of his competence.
"Listen, I AM you!" he said, patting his chest indignantly. "Even if I'm influenced by Venom's characteristics, I'm still fundamentally YOU! I'm not completely unreliable, okay?!"
"Even if that approach fails, I can potentially use the cosmic power to replenish the Ultimatrix's energy reserves," he added more practically.
Hearing this backup plan, Ben nodded with approval.
Ben made a deliberate decision not to kill Morlun immediately.
Executing him now would actually benefit the Inheritor, after death, he would simply return to their cloning facility and be resurrected at full strength. He would also be able to reveal that their base's location had been compromised. Killing him now represented poor tactical planning.
Instead, Ben retrieved his Phantom Zone projector and transported Morlun into that inescapable interdimensional prison.
In addition to Morlun, Ben temporarily sent the forty-meter Sword Vigor to the Null Void Realm for safekeeping and potential future use.
"Next, it's time to bring this war to the Inheritors' doorstep!" Ben declared with grim determination.
Spider-Verse Universe 000
Under the watchful observation of the Jennix, several new life forms began materializing within the massive cloning apparatus. The bodies grew rapidly as if injected with supernatural growth hormones, expanding from embryonic forms to full adult size within minutes.
The moment Daemos emerged from his cloning pod, his first words were a bitter curse directed at his absent brother.
"Morlun doesn't even care about protecting us! He's going to get himself killed eventually!"
"Give up your resentment, Daemos," Bora said wearily, her face pale with exhaustion. "You were never a match for Brother Morlun in the first place, and now you have even less chance of victory."
Being killed twice in such a short period represented genuine torture for her psychological stability. Fortunately, this most recent death had been mercifully quick, before she could even register the heat of the flames, her body had already been reduced to ash.
"It's not just us who died in that terrible attack," Brix said, donning an elegant black outfit with dignified movements. "Those insects definitely couldn't have survived such overwhelming force. The Bride is dead as well. The prophecy that our family has been working to fulfill for generations has only one final step remaining."
Upon hearing this announcement, everyone except Daemos displayed uncontrollable excitement on their features.
"Are there only the Scion left to claim?"
"Father also eliminated that cosmic-powered spider from Universe 13. We don't have any remaining obstacles," Brix said, clenching his fists with anticipation that made him want to literally jump for joy.
However, Daemos sneered with dark amusement. "That's not necessarily accurate."
He glanced meaningfully at Bora and Brix, and before he could elaborate further, the siblings seemed to realize what Daemos was implying. The excitement on their faces instantly disappeared, transforming into genuine panic and concern.
If that individual was still active...
He would indeed represent extraordinary danger to their brother.
The two quickly composed themselves and said with forced confidence, "We believe Brother Morlun will definitely achieve victory."
"I certainly hope he succeeds. Otherwise, we'll be facing enormous problems," Daemos crossed his arms and spoke with dark humor.
"I have faith in him as well," Jennix said, locating a pair of technological goggles and positioning them on his forehead. As the closest thing to a scientist within the Inheritor family, his opinion carried weight. "I personally examined the device before Brother Morlun departed. Every genetic template it contains comes from ferocious predators, perfectly suited to our family's nature. What's more, if Brother Morlun had actually lost, wouldn't he be here with us right now?"
This logical observation immediately made Bora and Brix feel substantially relieved.
Daemos pursed his lips with obvious dissatisfaction. "I suppose we'll see."
Brix remained relatively calm compared to the others, and he decided to provide additional encouragement to boost morale.
"Regardless of other concerns, we still have our father."
"I have complete faith that he will return with the Scion."
As if summoned by their conversation, a dimensional portal suddenly opened and a familiar dark silhouette stepped through.
"Time to come home," Solus announced with casual authority.
The Inheritor patriarch held a crying infant in one massive hand, surveying the chaotic ruins of their facility with an expression of satisfaction that suggested he had just completed a particularly enjoyable meal.
After eliminating Cosmic Spider-Man, he hadn't immediately returned to their home base. Instead, he had begun systematically hunting for the prophesied "Scion."
In truth, he had already learned the true identities of the Other, the Bride, and the Scion through interrogating the Master Weaver. But rather than rushing to complete the ritual, he had been savoring the hunt itself.
However, Maltruant's appearance had introduced a sense of urgency that couldn't be ignored.
This wasn't the time for leisurely games with insects.
It was time to end everything and turn their attention to conquering the broader multiverse.
"Morlun went to deal with the combined Spider-hero forces, and the Bride was among their number. I'm confident he succeeded in his mission. The ritual requires only one final step, and soon, every Spider-person across infinite realities will die simultaneously."
"Though I must admit I feel somewhat regretful..." he added, licking his lips as if mourning a delicacy he would never taste again.
Solus snapped his fingers with theatrical flair.
A new dimensional tunnel materialized before their eyes, leading toward the space web's heart, and the completion of their ultimate genocide.
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