Bang!
Ben Tennyson teleported forward and crushed the laser turret with one boot, face set in a grimace.
"Grandpa…" Gwen covered her mouth and staggered.
A cough.
Grandpa Max stared down at the hole burned into his chest.
The wound wasn't bleeding much, but he still swayed and collapsed at Diamondhead's feet. "Thank goodness it didn't pierce my left lung…"
"Grandpa!!" Ben shouted.
Diamondhead reached out and cradled Max gently. His expression was eerily calm, his voice unusually steady.
Before any of them could react, the attack had already happened.
"Grandpa!!" Ben cried again as he rushed closer. Gwen stumbled after him.
Diamondhead shifted suddenly, folding and realigning until he took the shape of Ethen.
Ethen carried Grandpa Max's heavy body and strode toward the battered old Rustbucket, eyes blazing.
"Grandpa, I won't let anything happen to you," he growled, determination cracking his voice.
Together, the three of them eased Max into the Rustbucket and laid him on the little cot inside.
Max's breathing was thin, his voice a thread. "Get the med kit… the tools inside…"
He leaned back, fading in and out.
"Grandpa…Grandpa!" Ben's claws flexed until his fists ached.
Gwen watched in disbelief, heart pounding.
"What do we do?" Gwen whispered.
"Ethen—transform, merge with the Rustbucket and get him to a hospital as fast as you can!" Ben urged through tears.
He'd never used the Omnitrix properly, but he'd trained with the original ten aliens a lot.
Ethen's face was solemn. "Grandpa's hurt this badly. Even if I merge with the vehicle, I can't drive at high speed — he won't make it."
"Then what should we do?" Ben asked, panic rising.
Ben reached out, holding Max's arm and lifting him gently. "I'll carry him to the hospital myself!"
"Ben, are you crazy? You'll just make it worse!" Gwen snapped, her voice breaking.
"Enough! Let me handle it!" Ethen said sharply, cutting off their argument.
His authority silenced them instantly.
Click.
Ethen activated the Omnitrix on both wrists.
One screen flashed the silhouette of Alien X.
Another flashed Atomic Power.
Everyone who'd studied the Omnitrix knew that the most powerful Alien in the Full Ben 10 timeline was Alien X — the Celestialsapien, a godlike being who could reshape reality itself.
Only Alien X could save Grandpa Max now!
Mission update: 'The Best Grandpa — Plumber Max Tennyson!'
Objective: You cannot yet withstand Alien X's divine power. You are not Ben. But even if it destroys you, you must save Max! Heal all internal wounds and hidden injuries!
Reward: 20 Points.
Before the system could even finish, Ethen slammed his palm down on the Omnitrix.
He didn't need an explanation.
He just needed to save him.
A surge of emerald light exploded outward.
The Omnitrix unleashed ancient alien DNA, merging Ethan with the boundless energy of a Celestialsapien.
Two unimaginable forces intertwined — the essence of creation and destruction fused into a single, divine existence.
From the blinding surge of cosmic light, a figure emerged — his body a vast expanse of stars, his face and hands pure white, and the Omnitrix symbol glowing upon his chest. The universe itself seemed to swirl within him.
Alien X.
Alien X—took a deep breath and stepped beside Max. He raised one glowing hand over the wound in Max's chest.
Sizzle.
Max winced in pain.
"Can you really do this?" Gwen asked, trembling.
Ben wiped his tears and gripped a roll of bandages tightly.
Alien X's hand shimmered, the cosmic light within him converging into a single force — the pure essence of creation.
The divine power flowed into Max's chest.
The hole began to close. The burn marks faded. Max's breathing evened out.
A groan turned into a sigh.
"Feels… good… so warm…" he murmured.
"As long as it's working," Alien X said softly, lips curling into a faint smile.
The longer he healed Max, though, the more pain surged through Ethen's own body.
His vision blurred, energy threatening to tear him apart. Still, he refused to stop.
"This—this is a miracle!" Ben gasped. "Is there anything Ethen can't do?"
Gwen watched in awe. "Maybe… maybe he really is some kind of alien god."
With a final flash of light—
Max sat up suddenly, looking completely restored. "Morning, Ben, Gwen. I feel like I just had a great nap!"
Alien X smiled weakly and released his transformation.
Ethen collapsed to his knees, pale and trembling, faint scars glowing across his skin.
Ding! Mission complete. +20 Omnitrix Points.
Half an hour later, Ethen had recovered enough to sit upright.
Max, now fully aware of what happened, sighed deeply. "Ethen… I just hope you don't lose yourself in this. Don't kill needlessly."
Ethen's eyes hardened. "Grandpa, I understand how you feel. But we're not dealing with ordinary criminals anymore. These people have powers that can destroy lives. We have to stop them—whatever it takes."
"If Kevin escapes… I'll stop him. If Vilgax or anyone threatens innocent lives again… I'll end it."
His voice was calm but unshakably firm. "That's how we protect everyone."
Gwen looked at him softly. "I'd rather see you use that power than see Grandpa hurt again."
Max fell silent. Ethen's words stung with truth. Superpowered criminals weren't just dangerous—they were catastrophic.
Today it was him. Tomorrow… it could be Gwen.
Finally, Max sighed. "Ethen, from now on, I trust your judgment. Whether they live or die—do what you must."
Ethen nodded quietly. For the first time, he was free to decide the fate of his enemies.
Whatever anyone said—he'd protect his family, no matter the cost.