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??? hours later
Night
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The first sensation Ben registered was pressure against his side and cheek. It didn’t feel soft like a bed; it was as if he was on the ground. Strangely, despite the chilly weather, he found himself without a bedcover yet fully clothed.
As consciousness fully returned, Ben confirmed his suspicion: he was indeed lying on frigid ground. Slowly, he pushed himself up and opened his eyes.
Initially, his vision could only discern a handful of blurry light sources. As his eyes adjusted, he cautiously approached the edge of the platform he found himself on.
Gazing out, he recognized the silhouettes of skyscrapers piercing the night sky, most notably the distinctive Billion Tower.
Lowering his gaze, he could barely make out the streets below, the moving lines of car headlights providing the only illumination to the otherwise dark cityscape. Based on his surroundings, Ben concluded he must be on the rooftop of a tall building.
“Why did Grandpa attack me? Why am I here?” Ben looked instinctively at his Omnitrix. Without it, he would be far more scared… no! Even worse for him, without the Omnitrix, he would be—
“The princess has finally woken up.” A hoarse and distorted voice stopped his train of thoughts.
Ben turned around. He was wary but since he wasn’t harmed while he was unconscious, he didn’t immediately transform into an alien.
‘Some alien? He looks like one of those crappy monster toys you can assemble with different parts, but then some overzealous artist had the idea to draw it in an ultra-realistic style… Wait, what?!’ His heart pounded as he finally reached a conclusion, noticing the black hair on the head of the monster.
‘This is one of the things I wanted to avoid at all costs! Grandpa! Why did you knock me out?! What happened at Mt. Rushmore?! Why is he here?!’
“Nice to meet you, Kevin E. Levin!” Ben started with a smile.
“Yeah, nice to meet you, Ben Tennyson!” Kevin continued with a smile, but on his current face, his smile wasn’t… humanlike.
Ben immediately reached for his Omnitrix and selected Heatblast, his current most optimal transformation to attack and escape if necessary. At least he thought so; Buzzshock was a no for obvious reasons against Kevin. The reason he didn’t immediately slam the dial and start throwing fire was the same reason why he didn’t transform when he woke up.
Ben couldn’t pretend anymore. He wanted answers now!
“What do you want?! What happened?! Are you still sane after absorbing the Omnitrix energy?!”
On the night, one could see a small figure on the roof and in front of him a giant bulky figure of more than 2 meters.
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[Omniversal index — Ben 10 Multiverse]
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[Section: Kevin E. Levin — Basic information (Very abridged) — Prime universe]
Due to inconsistencies in his origins, we’ll focus on the essential information:
* Kevin is either an evolved human or a human-alien hybrid.
* He possesses the power to absorb and release energy.
Key points in his story:
* At eleven years old, Kevin was a troubled youth who used his powers without restraint to fulfill his desires.
* Ben (Prime) encountered Kevin, and they briefly became friends. However, Ben soon realized that Kevin was dangerously unstable and had no regard for human life. This became evident when Kevin proposed a plan to cause a collision between two trains to steal the money being transported, showing no concern for the passengers who would be killed in the process.
* After an altercation, Kevin absorbed the Omnitrix’s energy while Ben was transformed into an alien, allowing Kevin to temporarily become that alien. After multiple absorptions, Kevin could switch between all of Ben’s alien forms before a mental breakdown caused him to transform into an amalgamation of all Ben’s aliens and blame him for this. This made him Ben’s worst enemy after Vilgax, becoming Kevin 11 (10 aliens + his power).
* At this point in the story, there’s no clear indication that the energy absorption made Kevin unhinged like five years after; it appeared he was already unstable. This might be one of the inconsistencies.
* After five years, Kevin managed to return to his normal form and discovered a new ability: matter absorption, which later evolved into matter manipulation.
* He became Ben’s ally and best friend.
* Kevin also became Gwen’s boyfriend and future husband.
(See “Lost future - 1” section for more information or Kevin 11'000 short section)
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[EXIT]
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‘If he’s crazy, I’ll kill him, no matter which side he chose!’ This thought filled Ben’s mind. He knew he had never killed before and would rather not, but the situation was already bad and unclear enough without allowing something to make it worse… Like a new version of Kevin 11 roaming free!
In front of him stood the amalgamation of his current 10 aliens. If it only had 1/10 of their capacity, it would still be dangerous… and this was the best-case scenario! It wasn’t clear whether the Kevin in the saga had only 1/10 of the alien capacities, and additionally, the situation could be different in this current universe.
The entity stood over two meters tall, its bulky humanoid form imposing and intimidating. Eight spider-like legs protruded from its back, each as thick as a tree trunk and three meters long, covered in dark, armored plating. Its body was a mesh of different textures and colors. The torso was wrapped in bandages, with glowing green eyes peeking through the gaps. The arms were muscular and covered in dark red and brown rocks, radiating heat and fire. The hands were crab-like pincers.
The entity’s face was a grotesque amalgamation of features. A large, monstrous mouth filled with sharp teeth dominated the lower half, while the upper half was covered in multiple eyes, giving it a bizarre appearance. Two large, bat-like ears protruded from the sides of its head. A Victorian-style mustache adorned its upper lip.
A series of transparent purple spikes embedded seemingly in its forearms, releasing an otherworldly smoke that wrapped itself around the creature. A large, battery-like protrusion on its body hummed with electrical energy, shooting intermittent bolts of green lightning across its body.
The result was simply a monstrous creature being the fusion of multiple disparate elements.
“It’s quite simple, Tennyson,” Kevin finally answered one of his questions. “What better way to control my new powers than to confront you!”
“I see…” The tone of Ben relaxed, but his stiff posture, ready to slam the Omnitrix, showed it was an act. “And do you intend to kill me after?”
“No, I can only obtain your current transformations’ abilities. So I will come back to you when you unlock new ones… of course, I will come back whether you like it or not.”
“What hap—”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Find out yourself! I’m not a recorder, Tennyson. Just be grateful to get to live!” The green electricity around Kevin crackled stronger. “Are you ready to fight?! I’ve chosen this city as the perfect arena!”
“Arena...? Wait! Can’t you choose an empty place?!” Ben yelled.
‘I knew it, he needs to die, quickly! Before he can do any damage, before he can become proficient with my aliens!’ There was no place for hesitation.
“No, boring. And I always wondered what a city would look like in-” Kevin 11’s words were cut short as a blinding green flash engulfed Ben.
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Transformation sequence — Duration: 0.00 seconds
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Flesh seared and cracked as volcanic rock consumed Ben’s form. Fissures erupted across his hardening skin, pulsing with molten fury. Flames burst forth, engulfing him in a terrifying inferno.
In a heartbeat, Heatblast materialized—a nightmarish fusion of flame and volcano. Magma coursed through his insides, radiating an intense, suffocating heat. Flames licked his rocky exterior, adding to the blistering temperature.
The Omnitrix symbol blazed green on his chest.
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In an instant, a roaring inferno erupted, hurling a tidal wave of flames at Kevin. The scorching blast would have incinerated any normal being, but Kevin 11 was far from ordinary. He stood his ground, a dark silhouette amidst the raging firestorm.
Beneath their feet, the rooftop began to liquefy, bubbling and hissing. Rivers of molten concrete flowed between the cracks, casting an eerie glow across the battlefield.
Kevin 11, engulfed in a raging inferno, stood defiantly amidst the flames. Suddenly, all his eyes flashed a brilliant green, and a barrage of emerald lasers erupted from them, piercing through the fiery veil. The beams streaked towards the source of the sea of flames.
The lasers struck Heatblast with devastating force. In an instant, the fiery alien was engulfed in a rapidly expanding cocoon of ice. Steam hissed violently as fire and frost collided. Within seconds, where once stood a being of living flame and magma, there was now only a frozen, crystalline statue.
Kevin tilted his head, his grotesque features twisting into a sneer of disappointment.
“That simple? Really? I was hyped for nothing!” Green electricity crackled across his body, arcing between his mismatched limbs as he began to levitate. He was about to soar away from the battlefield when something made him hesitate, his monstrous form hovering ominously above the molten rooftop.
“Were you planning to track me later, hoping to arrest or even kill me in a secluded location? Or perhaps you just want to escape like a coward?”
Inside the icy prison, Heatblast seethed. ‘Damn, he’s sharp, or it’s due to Brainstorm… Two minutes wasted, 28 to go if I don’t switch alien… To hell with it! I’m ending this now!’
Suddenly, the ice block erupted in a violent explosion of steam and flame. Heatblast emerged, his body ignited to temperatures he never dared to go. The surrounding air shimmered and distorted, unable to withstand the intense heat. The rooftop, already weakened by the previous battle, began to crack and splinter beneath their feet.
“Done playing around, Tennyson? Let’s fight!” Kevin roared.
“Fight? You’ve got it all wrong. This is an execution.” Heatblast’s voice was eerily calm as the steam dissipated. Kevin beheld a terrifying sight: Heatblast’s flames now flickered with an otherworldly blue intensity, the ground beneath him liquefying instantly.
A monstrous vortex of blue-white flames erupted from his outstretched hand, engulfing Kevin before he could react. The inferno was so intense that Kevin’s flesh, metal, and even bones seemed to disintegrate in seconds.
As the flames subsided, Heatblast collapsed to one knee, exhausted but victorious. ‘Kevin 11, eliminated with a single, untested move. My special attack… I’ve killed someone… Huh. I thought I’d feel something… No… I’m not feeling guilt… But the only thing I’m feeling is pure, unfiltered—’
“HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!” Kevin’s maniacal laughter cut through the eerie silence, sending chills down Heatblast’s metaphorical spine. “You are effectively the GOAT, Tennyson! I didn’t expect to feel fear since I became 11.”
From a small scrap of burned bandage, Kevin’s regeneration began. Flesh, bone, and metal coalesced at an alarming rate, his monstrous form materializing like a nightmare given form.
Heatblast raised his hand, desperate to finish Kevin off, but the kickback of his special move had left him drained. His flames sputtered weakly, unable to summon the inferno needed to harm the regenerating monster.
Within seconds, Kevin 11 stood whole again, a towering amalgamation of alien parts, each more terrifying than the last. His eyes fixed on Ben.
‘Shit…’ Ben’s mind raced, realizing the gravity of his situation. ‘He can fully regenerate like Snare-oh! Maybe I could have killed him for good with more mastery…’
Ben stood up, his stance defiant in the face of exhaustion. The world was a tapestry of past, present, and future events. Kevin’s demise was a future he had to forge. Dwelling on past possibilities was pointless; action was the only path forward because only action shapes the past, present, and future.
“Oh… can you even fight now, Tennyson?” Kevin’s voice dripped with arrogance. “I won’t kill my alien shop, but you need some lessons after what you tried to pull.”
Ben observed him, his fiery form flickering with determination. “You don’t feel good either. You can’t regenerate forever, can you?”
Kevin twitched involuntarily, betraying the limits he could instinctively feel.
‘My bluff worked…’ A glimmer of hope rose within the Omnitrix holder.
Nothing showed that Kevin was tired, but Ben refused to believe that unlimited regeneration existed. It was far from over, and both of them were far from defeated.
One minute elapsed. Neither of them moved.
‘Now, if I push myself, I can unleash my special move again, but this time, Kevin will likely dodge. However, I can temporarily increase my current heat to reach a level high enough to harm him without going to the same extreme as before. I just need to make him regenerate until he dies… I could also switch aliens, but which one? That will depend on how the situation unfolds…’
“You know…” Kevin started, his voice a low growl. “If anything, I would have loved to continue like this, but for once I did think a lot before acting.”
‘I knew it, even 1/10 of Brainstorm’s logic is too much for him!’ Ben remained stoic, his volcanic features betraying nothing.
“To begin with, this roof will soon crumble, and you showed me that if I give you the slightest opportunity, you’ll actually kill me for good.” Kevin’s eyes narrowed. “Can you switch between aliens? I’ll assume yes, since in the saga it didn’t seem that complicated. You’re waiting for a moment to switch and kill me off guard. However, even with only Heatblast, you’re dangerous…”
“Get to the point!” Ben growled, his patience wearing thin.
Kevin’s grotesque features contorted into a sinister grin.
“I see… You also have a cooldown. Since 5 minutes have elapsed, I guess it isn’t a 10-minute cooldown, or you’d be more pressed.” Ben’s fiery form flickered, betraying his shock at Kevin’s deduction. “However, like I said, the point is not to kill you… for now. But only to develop my abilities. And since our altercation made me realize I could think, then—”
“Now you’ll learn to walk?” Ben’s voice crackled with sarcasm, each word meant to be insulting. “Also, were you happy to transform into a monster when you touched the Omnitrix?”
Kevin’s entire being convulsed, his mismatched limbs twisting unnaturally.
“Or maybe you thought that you were better than Kevin Prime and could control the energy… Too bad it didn’t work out, I guess.” Ben’s words struck true, each syllable a dagger piercing Kevin’s ego. “You were not good enough, that’s all.”
Kevin’s eyes flashed with unbridled fury, his body crackling with barely contained energy. “I know what you’re trying to do, and you’ve effectively pissed me off. I’m done thinking. You can try to stop me if you want!”
Suddenly, Kevin crackled with emerald electricity, his monstrous form lifting off the crumbling rooftop. He soared towards the bustling streets below, his maniacal laughter echoing through the night like thunder. “HAHAHAHA! It was the whole point of bringing you here! It will be fun!”
“No!” Heatblast roared, unleashing a continuous stream of flames from his hands. He rocketed after Kevin 11, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. The chase was on, a deadly game of cat and mouse in the unsuspecting city.
A colossal monstrosity ripped through the night sky, its body a horrifying patchwork of mismatched parts. It tore into the city with savage force. An apartment building shuddered as the creature struck, its foundations groaning. Moments later, it collapsed, the sound of shattering glass and twisting metal drowning out any cries from within. Cars flipped with their passengers, lampposts snapped, and pavement cracked under the impacts. Sirens wailed in the distance as chaos engulfed the city.
All this destruction unfolded in less than one minute.
“HAHA! We are having fun! Right? Tennyson!” Kevin roared, his crazed eyes scanning the sky. His spider-like limbs struck out with horrifying accuracy, skewering those brave or unlucky enough to be nearby. With chilling precision, he missed vital organs, leaving his victims dangling and bleeding, their agonized cries echoing through the air.
A few of the impaled victims summoned the strength to fire at Kevin, but their bullets bounced harmlessly off his monstrous frame. Demonstrating his dominance, Kevin unleashed a burst of flames from his spider-like limbs onto the helpless victims. Their screams intensified as they burned like meat on a grill until only the sizzling of their charring flesh could be heard.
An unholy smell filled the surroundings.
“You are too slow!”
In relentless pursuit, a living inferno blazed across the night, a second sun in the sky. This fiery apparition lit up the darkness, its heat warping metal and shattering glass.
“KEVIN!”