1 Chapter 1: Snagging the Omnitrix!
A warm summer night embraced the old RV as it rumbled through the dense woods, en route to the campsite. The moon, a glowing companion in the inky sky, cast a silvery glow over the towering trees.
Inside the RV, Grandpa Max, a rugged figure sporting a vibrant floral shirt, gripped the wheel with a seasoned familiarity. His hair, bleached white by the passage of time, contradicted the energy that radiated from his lively eyes. In the back, a lively scene unfolded—two youngsters, a boy with brown hair and a spirited little girl, engaged in a playful squabble. Opposite them, an emerald-green-eyed boy, seemingly out of place, exuded a mature demeanor, his gaze fixed on the woods outside the window.
This young lad was Ethan, a time traveler who had stumbled into this world. His upbringing, Maxed by the absence of parents, relied on sporadic assistance from relatives and relief funds. Grandpa Max, the relative who had become his guardian, played a crucial role in his life.
Having been a fan of "Ben 10" in his previous life, Ethan was profoundly moved by the name Max. Initial disbelief about landing in the world of "Ben 10" faded when Grandpa Max invited him on a summer trip, introducing him to the animated heroes, Ben Tennyson and Gwen Tennyson.
As the RV rolled through the darkened woods, the air buzzed with the sounds of nocturnal creatures. The rhythmic hum of cicadas provided a natural soundtrack to the journey. The vehicle's headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the winding path leading to the campsite.
"Ding!"
Amidst the nightly journey, a clear notification resonated in Ethan's ears, prompting him to explore a newfound reality.
"Signing into the system, selecting the host...confirming the selection and initiating loading..."
"Loading successful!"
"Congratulations to the host for acquiring the sign-in system!"
Mechanical, synthesized sounds filled the air, sparking a surge of excitement in Ethan's heart. Could this be the mythical system from online tales awakening at last?
"System, what functions do you possess? Can I sign in daily, or perhaps receive a monthly gift package?" Ethan eagerly inquired within his mind.
"Ding!"
"Host, this system can automatically detect nearby objects available for signing in. Once found, the host will be alerted. After signing in, you'll receive a reward, ranging from gold (highest quality) to white (lowest quality)."
Seemingly confirming the system's capabilities, as Ethan glanced at Ben Tennyson...
"Ding!"
"Check-in object detected: Ben Tennyson!"
"Approach him, tap him on the shoulder, and you're done signing in!"
Just as instructed! Golden light suddenly emanated from Ben Tennyson's head!
Golden legend?!
Ethan walked up to Ben, raised his hand, and gently patted his shoulder.
"Ethan, what's up?"
"Nothin', Ben. There was a pesky fly on your shoulder; I swatted it for ya." Ethan explained with a friendly smile.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully signing in!"
"Receive the golden reward: specific coordinates of the Omnitrix, and 100% binding to the host, Ethan!"
"Specific coordinates and 100% binding?!" Ethan felt like he'd hit the jackpot.
"Open the coordinates!" Ethan urged the system. In an instant, he saw a cosmic perspective—a fireball resembling a meteorite hurtling towards Earth, precisely into the campsite woods.
Excitement bubbling, Ethan chatted with Gwen and Ben, the evening darkening as the old RV approached the campground.
The vehicle came to a stop. Ethan leaped from his seat, trotted to the door, and declared, "Grandpa, I would like to take a night run. I'll be back soon!"
"Alright, Ethan. Don't stray too far, and watch yer steps!" Grandpa Max cautioned.
"Got it, Grandpa!" Ethan's voice echoed from afar.
In the woods, utilizing the system's guidance, Ethan agilely maneuvered through the trees, creating a rhythmic "clicking" sound as he broke branches.
Suddenly, a gleam of light pierced the dark forest. Ethan looked up.
A red fireball, like a meteor, descended just over a hundred meters ahead—an Omnitrix!
Boom!
The aircraft crashed into an open space, flames illuminating the entire forest. Covering his forehead from the initial blaze, Ethan hurried towards the impact site.
Approaching the pit, he witnessed a cracked spacecraft lodged in the crater, reminiscent of a fallen meteorite.
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The pod unexpectedly burst open, revealing a watch bathed in a mysterious green glow, lying calmly inside. The revelation of the Omnitrix caused Ethan's breath to quicken. Staring at the device, he extended his right palm, and to his surprise, the Omnitrix leaped onto his wrist as if guided by an unseen force. A cold sensation enveloped his wrist, and it locked in place.
"Really can't come off, huh?" Ethan waved his right hand, but the Omnitrix stayed firmly in place, unyielding to any attempt to remove it. The oddity didn't bother his wrist in the least.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan gently tapped the screen of the Omnitrix. A peculiar sound resonated, the screen popped up, revealing an alien pattern that swiftly transformed into an alien silhouette. Being a Ben 10 fan, Ethan felt an overwhelming urge to transform into an alien hero.
"You can't just waste the little busted watch's power. Gotta use it in emergencies when you really need it." Ethan restrained his excitement, glancing into the distance. "Can't keep Grandpa Max and them waiting too long."
Without hesitation, he trotted toward the parked RV, leaving the woods behind.
[General POV: In Space]
Meanwhile, in the vastness of space, a colossal spaceship lingered in the Milky Way like a galactic behemoth. Inside the ship's hall, a battered but imposing octopus monster, resembling a king, declared angrily, "The Omnitrix has hit the earth! Send a robot to find where it crashed!"
"Yes, Lord Vilgax!" The robots nearby displayed utmost respect, not daring to resist even in the presence of the crippled Vilgax.
Whoosh! The spaceship dispatched three small machines and one large one, descending toward Earth's atmosphere. Determined to acquire the Omnitrix, Vilgax vowed to build his army if he couldn't obtain it.
[Ethan POV]
"Grandpa!"
Returning to the camp, Ethan found the fire ablaze, with Ben and Gwen sitting on either side. Grandpa Max emerged from the old car, holding a bowl filled with squirming, maggot-like things, causing Ethan's scalp to prickle.
"How'd you get this watch? You never wore it before," Max inquired, puzzled by the Omnitrix in Ethan's hand.
"Found this watch in the woods, and it just jumped onto my wrist. Now I can't take it off!" Ethan raised the Omnitrix, allowing Ben to try pulling it off without success.
"A watch that won't come off? For real or just playin'?" Gwen expressed disbelief.
Ethan shrugged. "See, not lyin'. Can't take this off."
Gwen, finally convinced, marveled at the unique watch. "This watch is so cool! Gotta be some high-tech stuff!"
"Found this watch in a pit. Jumped onto my hand, and now it won't come off!" Ethan claimed, feigning remembrance.
"A pit?!" Max, Ben, and Gwen exchanged curious glances.
"Come on, take us there!! Might really be some 'high-tech'!" Max suggested, eyeing the sky drawn by the crashed aircraft.
"You guys come with me," Ethan agreed, leading Grandpa Max, Ben, and the others to the pit where the aircraft wreckage lay.
Observing the remnants of the crashed aircraft, Ben remarked, "Cool, just like a UFO!"
Gwen questioned the existence of aliens in the UFO, dismissing the idea that it could be a mere watch.
"She guessed right..." Ethan muttered as he listened to their banter.
"Wait a minute, somethin's there?!" Ethan suddenly became alert, protecting Gwen with his left hand, pushing Ben back with his right hand, and scanning the distance.
The ground trembled slightly. In the distant forest, a massive robot, resembling those from sci-fi movies, approached them. It had a spider-like lower body, more than ten meters long, crushing trees in its path. The robot had spotted them!
"Run, everyone!!" Ethan shouted, the first to react. Far away, the giant robot, with red mechanical eyes, advanced steadily.
"Good!" Ben, though a bit slow, led the way back to the camp. Gwen, frozen in fear, was grabbed by Ethan, who swiftly led her away.
Grandpa Max, agile despite his age, climbed out of the pit and ran ahead. Despite pulling Gwen, Ethan kept up with Max and Ben.
The giant robot, however, proved to be faster, raising its four legs and breaking trees in its path. Its red eyes fixated on their direction, narrowing the gap.
Ethan pondered as he ran, "I remember it was a small robot in the original?! Cause of me, some small details changed?"
As the giant robot raised its right hand, a circular mouth in the palm glowed faint red. Suddenly, a ray of hot red light cut through the silent night, landing in front of Ethan, Max, and the others.
