Ben 10: Apex Hero

CHARMCASTER/ HOPE'S POV

Was there anything so undoing as hearing your true name after centuries without even thinking about it?

"Hope." I heard the last time someone else called me that, it was my father before we went to war with the Forever Knights.

A war that forced us to seek refuge across the world, stretching across generations of them as our enemies dedicated themselves to erasing what they saw as a threat to the masses. What began with my kind being revered as all-powerful, mythical beings has now shifted in favor of our adversaries. Their relentless ingenuity, despite their brief lifespans, has armed them with the means to weaken our power and slay our once-unconquerable beasts.

My mind quickly went back to be fully alerted, as I stared back into the being that had tricked me just recently.

"How do you know that name?" I demanded, hoping he didn't know how much at a disadvantage this knowledge put me at. "Who are you?"

"Believe it or not, I know your real name because you told me." The white dressed figure tilted his head to the side and said with an unreadable tone. "As for my denomination, I could try to tell you my real name, but unfortunately not even I remember it."

'I told him?' My mind was having a hard time believing what he was saying despite him giving me no signs of deception. 'And how can he possibly not know his own name?'

"But for fairness sake I will share with you the names of what others have been calling me." The white figure announced, with a casual glance before the fabric of his clothes began shifting in both shape and color, eventually settling on an appearance of a skin tight black and green suit that appeared to be highly technological. "I'm currently known by the world and outer space communities as Omni-boy, the protector of Earth. But you can just call me Ben." 

Couldn't resist raising an eyebrow at that, even though I didn't live under a rock, the old fashioned super hero that had been impressing the masses was not who I wasn't expecting to ever come face to face.

"A bit too tall to be addressed as a boy, wouldn't you agree?" I tried to earn some time while I was still processing everything.

Omni-boy stared down at his own body before morphing into a shorter version of himself that resembled more closely his appearance in the news.

"Satisfied?" He asked while gesturing with his arms. "Now if I may…"

I stared at his politeness, still puzzled by why he was being so friendly, before eventually nodding.

"Great." He said while clapping his hands together and shifting back to his white form and height. "…as I'm sure you must've guessed, I didn't bring you here just to become your acquaintance." He said before snapping his fingers and the white void we found ourselves began changing until we found ourselves in the middle of a village of medieval times. "I was hoping that bringing you to a more familiar view would make you feel less intimidated. Please let me know if this place is having the opposite effect on you."

It wasn't just a fake environment, I could feel a soothing breeze contrasting with the warm sun, as well as hear and see the people of old living their lives as they once did. So mesmerizing was that experience that it made me doubt for a moment if I wasn't actually dreaming about everything.

"No…" I managed to murmur while overwhelmed by sheer nostalgia. "…you've achieved your goal."

"Excellent…Now, the reason I put you through all that charade of retrieving your uncle's staff was because I wanted to learn more about you." Omni-boy said before leading me to some villagers who awaited us with chairs and a table in the shade. "Incidentally, my deepest apologies for the trickery."

"Speak clearly…" I demanded. "…and get to the point."

"I wanted to see how powerful you are." He conceded to my order.

"So let me guess, I've impressed you so much that you want me to lend you my strength?" I said, confidently feeling I had finally understood where things were leading to.

"I beg your pardon, my dear." My confidence was shattered by the brief chuckle I heard from my captor. "This is not a job interview. I wanted to see how powerful you were in order to measure up how much I could teach you."

"Teach me?" I asked incredulously. "I already have my uncle who so…kindly… offers to teach me about my magical inheritance."

"Oh, but from what I recall, unlike mine, his tutelage is not offered as an option you can refuse." Omni-boy told me, obviously amused by my previous argument. "And he seems to expect you to serve him as a lowly servant as payment for such kindness."

"How did you…?" I immediately asked before being interrupted.

"Besides, can you truthfully claim that he has the intention to teach you everything he knows?" He told me, gesticulating with his hands in order to punctuate his words. "And even if he had, would you even be satisfied to limit yourself to his level?"

The words he was saying…how did he know so much about me?…could he really be speaking the truth.

"Heh…you really had me going for a minute." I finally snapped and got up from my seat, tired of the mental tricks my captor was trying to pull on me. "Your illusions are indeed flawless, but such big talk can only mean you are trying to compensate for the lack of real power." 

"Is that what you believe?" The white figure said with a sigh, totally ignoring the threatening posture I was assuming before him. "Then I suppose there's no helping it…"

Before he could say anything else, I blasted him with my most powerful fiery spell, causing an audible explosion that even I wasn't completely unaffected. But just as the smoke was dispersing, I noticed the villagers from before moving towards their home without much hurry.

"Well…just so you know, I could've literally twisted your will without you even noticing." I finally heard the voice of my captor coming through the center of my attack's destruction. "…my offer has now changed…" This time however, his appearance wasn't like the forms he had shown me before, instead before me stood still sitting in his place a hellish being with a rocky skeleton and a blazing aura. On his forehead I could actually see the Keystone of Bezel, with his other charms spread through his molten body. "…if you want to become my apprentice you must impress me, otherwise I will just send you back to your pitiful existence with no memories that all of this has ever happened."

Just standing near him brought me great discomfort, even with all my magical barriers raised, such was the magnitude of the heat he was emanating. Knowing full well I wasn't going to fare particularly well being this close to him, I chanted a speeding spell that immediately rocked me at a higher velocity away from my adversary.

But just as I set my eyes on a sufficiently further destination to retreat, on my way there I looked back just to analyze what my foe would do next, only to no longer find him there. Instead, while still moving faster than a unicorn, I tripped over something that wasn't supposed to be on my way last time I checked.

"Wow, look where you are going…princess." I heard a slightly different voice from before, mocking me, this time however his form was one of a running humanoid raptor.

'Curse you!' I thought while still in mid-air.

As I tumbled hard into the ground, I picked my spell book and began flipping through its pages, looking for a spell that would help me in this dire situation. Knowing it would require time I didn't have to spare at the moment, I quickly picked from my Bag of Tricks several totems of my strongest Golem Guardians and threw them around my position.

"Stall him!" I ordered just as the creatures began growing the size of Minotaurs and raised my best barrier around me.

Just as I found the perfect ritual for this situation, I raised my head just to see my golems all shattered underneath my opponent, who was now patiently waiting for me while sitting on the ground with his legs crossed. This time however his appearance was that of a giant hulking brute with four arms and blood-red skin.

"Ready whenever you are." He told me with his voice now much deeper than before and his tone of near boredom.

"PETULANT BOY!" I shouted at his blatant disrespect, jumping a few chants that would've unnecessarily slowed me down and retrieved a black skull from my Bag of Tricks. "Your soul will be offered to the great Dagon!"

That sentence seemed to have finally drawn some reaction from him, which wasn't unreasonable to assume that after knowing so much about me he would also be aware of the mighty patron of my people.

I raised the black skull with both arms, sentencing my opponent to an afterlife of eternal torment just as the darkness of the old beyond began erupting from my artifact. Only then I began thinking about the consequences of finally using my trump card, as fear and anger were starting to battle within me, all the darkness from before evaporated.

"Wha-what happened?" I asked myself with my arms still raised and actual tears running through my face.

Before I could do anything else, I felt my artifact being picked up from my hands and a chilling voice responded. "It's not exactly what I was expecting…but hey, at least you've surprised me."

Thinking I might've actually summoned the entity of our own God, feeling its overwhelmingly strong presence I couldn't believe it could be anyone else.

'Breath…breath…' I had to actively remind myself as I began sweating.

"Hey, don't go dying on me now." The voice that reminded me of both a whisper and a gasp told me with a chilling chuckle, just as I heard what appeared to be the handle of a weapon clashing on the ground next to him. "Raise your head, Hope."

As I did just that, I was met by a demonic ghostly apparition, wielding an eerie looking scythe, that stared back at me with a purple eye.

"Now, just look at the mess you've made." The nightmarish creature told me while pointing his claws to our surroundings.

Not much further from us I sighted two shadowy undead that were just finishing their battle with several creatures that looked like some kind of lizard with green and grey gelatinous bodies as well as with red teeth like markings on their faces.

One of the shadowy figures looked like a ghoulish clown with a black top hat and wielding an oversized mallet, as for the other, it was a towering brute with a octopus for a head and massively muscular arms. 

"As much as I would like to risk Dagon's name from my list, now is just not the time." The demon remarked all so casually as the shadowy figures I saw fighting before bowed down and immediately dissipated into the air.

The dark creature that appeared to be all powerful seemed to notice my state and began morphing his image into the one of an actual kid, though his hair slowly gained its brownish color from the white it first manifested as.

"Don't tell me you got so scared you forgot our deal?" The boy asked, reminding me who he really was, while offering me a hand to stand. "If you are still interested, I can help you attain a power you never before imagined to be even possible."

As I rose back to my full height and felt my energy being restored back to normal, I voiced out the question that was wreaking havoc on my mind. "Why me?

"Hmm…" The boy genuinely began to reflect upon my words before eventually answering with a disarming smile. "…curiosity at first. But now I'm impressed by your daring…smitten by your pretty face…hard to say what else, I'm mercurial."

That last reason had caught me by surprise.

And to believe that after centuries of being infamous for charming men and women to do my bidding, I would actually blush again.

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[THEY LURK BELOW]

MC'S POV

Our gang was flying in a private jet on our way to visit an old friend of Max's who was opening up a new underwater resort, which we were fortunate enough to receive tickets to see.

'From my previous life, I recalled this little adventure as a brief and isolated conflict that never actually led to anywhere.' I thought. 'Neither the allies nor the enemies were brought back later on in the series, aside from the somewhat relevant lore about the Bermuda Triangle of this world, I actually considered skipping this quick trip.'

"Now this is cool!" Kate said, drawing me back from my thoughts, as she enjoyed the luxury of our transportation. "Picked up in a billionaire's private jet to check out his new resort before anyone else gets a chance to see it!"

"Now this is what a summer vacation is all about!" Gwen said as she opened up a soda can from the cooler. "Thanks, Grandpa."

"I'd do anything for you guys." Max smiled at us. "You know that."

Gwen turned to Lucy as the blonde kept listening to her own music with a weary smile. "Hey, Lucy, I didn't know you'd get airsick on this thing."

"It's not that…" Removing her headphones, Lucy joined the conversation. "If I can handle flying on with you on that hoverboard of yours, I can handle an airplane no problem. Now water on the other hand... I'm not as comfortable with that." Lucy said as she looked over the sea with a nervous look on her face.

"Getting seasick, then?" I asked, wondering if I could help her out somehow.

"It's not that…" Lucy said, fidgeting her fingers. "It's just that I'm not that great at..."

"Swimming?" Kate suddenly asked.

"Y-yeah." Lucy said. "I probably can hold my breath longer than any of you guys, but the water itself makes it harder for me to remain…solid."

"Don't worry, I'm here for you." I assured her with a friendly pat on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Ben." Lucy replied back with a blushing smile. "You're the best."

"Hmmm…" Gwen stared at our brief proximity before deciding to change subjects by asking her grandfather. "Why didn't you tell us before that you knew Donovan Grandsmith?" 

"It must have slipped my mind. Hehe." Max said with an awkward chuckle, still somewhat concerned about Lucy's wellbeing. "Plus, if I told you that I was close friends with a billionaire in my time, would you really believe me?"

"Makes sense to me." I remarked with a nod.

After that, our jet then went down to a seaport that also served as the entrance to the resort. Donovan was waiting for us with a young child around our age by his side, wearing a similar red sweater and white pants. 

The jet landed as the crew walked out with a smile, with Lucy looking out at the sea, nervous and feeling a bit anxious until she felt me gently grasping her hand.

"Max Tennyson." Donovan, a man with grey hair who wore a red turtleneck sweater, called out, greeting him. "It's been far too long."

"How are you, Donovan?" Max asked back, shaking his old friend's hand with a polite demeanor.

"Well, owning 16 resorts worldwide, I'm doing pretty good. Glad you finally decided to see how the other half lives." The old billionaire jested before raising an eyebrow towards the kids his old friend had brought with him.

Understanding his cue, Max smiled as he turned to introduce me and the girls. "These are my grandkids: Ben, Gwen and Lucy. And this is their good friend Kate."

"Pleased to meet you." I said, stepping forward and shaking the old man's hand. "Quite the impressive place you've got here."

"Glad you liked it." Donovan said proudly as he shook the other's hands, until he saw Lucy looking nervous.

"Forgive me, I'm not too good with water." She immediately explained.

"Don't worry my dear, aside from our top notch security, I'm sure you'll get the opportunity to get used to it." Donovan said before turning to the child next to him. "By the way, this is my grandson Edwin."

Edwin, despite being around similar age to us, looked a lot like his grandfather to the point he even wore similar clothes as him. With a dark maroon sweater, a brown turtleneck, white pants, and red shoes with white soles. He had glossy black hair with a widow's peak hairline, thick black eyebrows and blue eyes.

The girls immediately got a bad first impression from the boy's arrogant demeanor and would've merely nodded at him from where they stood if I hadn't taken the initiative.

"Good to meet you. I'm Benjamin, but I prefer to be called Ben, if you don't mind." I said with a friendly tone. "How about you? Is Edwin okay for you?"

Widening his eyes in a bit of shock, the boy eventually answered with an unusual reciprocated smile. "Eddie, I would like to be called Eddie. It's good to meet you too, Ben." 

The others looked slightly impressed at that, especially Donavan who hadn't seen his grandson behaving like that for a long while. 

Not long after everyone else greeted the grandson of the old billionaire, calling him by his preferred name, before we continued our journey into what reminded me so much of The City of Rapture from the Bioshock games.

"Er…So, are you guys ready to take the plunge?" Donovan asked as an elevator shaft opened and Lucy gulped.

'As long as you don't start asking: Would you kindly…' I joked to myself, slightly sad that no one else would get that reference.

"We have to go under the sea?" Lucy whispered in my ear, nearly surprising me.

"That's where the resort is, so yes." I told her with a gentle smile before writing some runes in the air before her, Lucy immediately felt a magical barrier shielding her that was thin enough to not be noticed by anyone else. "Do you trust me?"

"Always." Lucy replied with a confident nod before turning back to the elevator.

'That barrier was no Mukagen.' I told myself in amusement. 'But I'm confident it will be enough to get the job done, even if we end up fighting an army of robotic monsters from the deep.'

Unbeknownst to Lucy though, our brief interaction was noticed by Eddie, who most likely hadn't seen anything magical, but our unusual proximity wasn't missed by him. That was until his gaze met mine, Eddie merely received a wink from me before I led Lucy away with my arm over her shoulder.

As we entered, the elevator went down to another large shaft with a large car with seats in it that the group sat down on once they reached it. 

The operators worked at the controls and commanded the lift to take us down through a path that allowed us to take in all kinds of sights in wonder of coral reefs and marine life swimming by, or in Lucy's case, actual delight as she for the first time felt safe this deep underwater.

"Are you sure this was the safest place to build a resort like this?" Max asked Donovan as Eddie noticed Gwen taking notes of the view, amidst her drawings he noticed she had drawn some of the alien heroes that had been appearing over the news.

"Omni-boy." Eddie muttered to himself, but as Gwen looked at him he feigned ignorance.

"Are you talking underwater fault lines?" Donovan asked genuinely oblivious to where Max was coming from.

"I'm talking about the fact that you're smack-dab in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle." Max said, causing the girls to look up in shock.

"Growing up you always were the worry wart, Max. Never the risk taker." Donavan laughed away Max's concerns until they closed in on the resort, with a smile he continued. "There it is, kids. I give you the world's first and only underwater resort. You won't believe what's down here."

'I'm certainly having a hard time believing it myself.' I thought to myself with an amused smirk once I received Alpha's readings of this region and whose visit I should prepare myself to finally get.

Not much later, as we walked the halls of the resort with the ocean surrounding us from open glass walls on every side, our host got the opportunity to keep impressing us.

"The official grand opening is still a week away." Donovan said as the girls ran through the halls with Edwin focused on Gwen's drawings. "Only a few special VIPs are getting a sneak peak. It sure beats that rusty old bucket of bolts you speak in."

"Hey, that rusty old bucket of bolts is letting us visit several parts of the country." Kate said with a proud chuckle. "Heh…and we are not even halfway through our summer vacation yet."

"Point taken." Donavan agreed while looking at Max who shared the proud sentiment meanwhile the girls kept admiring the fish swimming by.

"I read about your resort in Pacific Monthly Oceana, Mr. Grandsmith." Gwen eventually remarked. "Very cutting-edge. Isn't the glass reinforced with..."

Eddie was about to say something covered by a cough but was actually interrupted as I bumped past him and said while ignoring the brief contact. "Micro-titanium threads that have the capability to withstand ten atmospheres." 

"You two are absolutely right." Donovan complimented them. "Which means nobody gets wet here unless it's in one of the nine pools."

"Very impressive, Donovan." Max said with a nod.

"Well, for $2,000,000,000 it ought to be. But, you know, money isn't everything." Donavan waved it away as if it wasn't all that much for him.

"Did we change the family motto, Grandpa?" Eddie asked with veiled sarcasm that even I had to admit being indeed a very funny remark.

'Oh, this would cost a lot more than 2 billion dollars.' I was still puzzled by the amount of money Donavan said it had cost him, looking around I couldn't help myself from thinking. 'The liability laws alone…Yikes.'

That was when Kate caught a glimpse of the Guardian of the Universe's pin on Eddie's collar, causing her to perk up.

"Hey, me and the others here are fans of the Alien Heroes too." Kate said, trying to break the ice. "Where'd you score that pin?" 

"Guardian of the Universe Classic Edition in Helsinki." Eddie answered with a raised eyebrow. "We flew on my Grandpa's private jet just to get it."

"And Edwin says the pin's already tripled in value." Donovan said in amusement. "Kid's got a head for business. Grooming him to take over the empire one day. Gotta keep it in the family."

'At least he is honest about it.' I told myself, but from the others' looks I wasn't the only one thinking that.

"You know, we've been following in our Grandpa's footsteps this summer too." Gwen said with a smile but was interrupted when an alarm sounded and they all saw the lights flicker on and off slightly.

They looked out to see the diver employee who was cleaning the windows lost his balance and was tangled up in the hose he was using, the man looked down to the filters that were seeming to move in reverse as his suit started filling up with water.

"What happened?" Kate asked, telling herself that she hadn't absorbed any energy by mistake.

"A power surge must have recycled the water." Donovan said.

"Is he going to be alright?" Lucy asked concerned.

"If the sharks don't get him first." Eddie said, watching the sharks swim into the area.

"What a weird sense of humor, dude." I couldn't help myself from remarking at Eddie's comment, to the boy's immediate discomfort.

"I can't have an employee be turned into fish food before the opening!" Donovan declared before running off to get his security team. "The press will ruin me!"

"Okay, now I get where you get it from." I added, before subtly signaling for the girls to not act without thinking and that I was confident that the worker's safety was already handled. 

During our exchanged glances as we remained quiet, we watched as two figures in sleek black-and-orange diving suits maneuvered effortlessly on the other side of the resilient wall of glass, quickly driving off the sharks and rescuing the employee as they worked in unison. 

Not much later, as the three individuals were brought back inside the resort's safety, Donovan was there immediately, arms outstretched as he approached the rescuers. 

"Drs.Saturdays! That was incredible. I know this kind of thing isn't in the job description, but you've earned every penny of your fee. I'll see to it that you're rewarded for your trouble!" The old billionaire said out loud, clearly glad they had shown up just in time.

The first to remove his helmet was a tall man with deep brown skin and a broad, athletic build. His short-cropped hair and clean-shaven face lent him an approachable air, though his sharp, focused eyes betrayed a keen intellect. 

Doc Saturday gave Donovan a polite nod, his calm voice carrying a hint of warmth. "Just doing what needed to be done, Mr. Donovan. Glad we could help." 

Beside him, a lithe woman pulled off her own helmet, her striking silver hair cascading over her shoulders. Freckles dotted her pale skin, and her mesmerizing eyes shone with quiet intensity. 

Drew Saturday carried herself with confidence, her stance subtly protective as her gloved hand brushed the hilt of her belt, only to realize she hadn't brought whatever it was she was looking for.

"It's all in a day's work for us, Mr. Donovan." She said with a faint smile. "After all, marine biology isn't always glamorous." 

"Well, whatever your methods, they're effective. And I'm glad to have you two on board." Donovan chuckled nervously for a moment before turning back to the worker, now being escorted away by medics. "Just one moment, please."

I took the moment to lean closer to Grandpa Max, my voice low. "Marine biologists? Really?" 

Max smirked faintly as he scratched his nape in visible discomfort. "Amongst many other things, Ben."

His response opened the opportunity for me to ask more about them without sounding too suspicious. "Grandpa, for some reason it seems to me that you know them?"

"Well…heh…nothing escapes you, champ." That caught him by surprise as the girls also noticed he knew more than he was willing to share. "Met them during my late years as an active plumber. Doc and Drew are professionals. And good ones, too." 

Almost as if they noticed our hushed discussion, Doc and Drew exchanged a quick glance before Doc addressed Max directly. "Max Tennyson, isn't it? I'd recognize you anywhere." 

"Good to see you again, Doc." Max replied with a genuine smile, extending a hand. "It's been a while." 

"Too long." Drew added, shaking Max's hand in turn. Her grip was firm, her demeanor warm but guarded. Looking at me and the girls, she couldn't help but to soften a little more. "Aw, Carl and Frank have certainly blessed you with quite cute grandchildren."

"So kind of you Drew, but actually…" Max spoke up while I just let Drew Saturday gently pinch my cheeks and stretched my face, but apparently Grandpa wasn't willing to explain everything about both Lucy and Kate. "…something like that. These are Ben, Gwen, Lucy and Kate."

Before the Saturday couple could notice the hesitation in Max words, Gwen stepped forward, her curiosity getting the better of her. "So, you're marine biologists who also happen to rescue people from sharks?" 

"Not exactly, heh." Doc chuckled, his deep voice carrying a note of humility. "Similar to your Grandfather's job, ours takes us to some interesting places. Sometimes, we have to handle more than just fish and coral samples." 

"Let's just say you don't spend years studying the world without running into the unexpected." Drew added once I got tired of being treated as a kid and pushed her hands away. 

Max crossed his arms, grinning. "Well, even though I'm retired, if anything else 'unexpected' comes up, we would be glad to lend a hand." 

"Good to know, Max. Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to check in on our children." Drew smiled before exchanging a knowing look with Doc before turning to me and the girls. "You know Ben, my son Zak would certainly appreciate the company of you and the girls. Later perhaps you guys can give him a visit while we keep working on the resort?"

"Sounds like a good idea." I merely shrugged before the two scientists bid their farewell for now and left our group.

As they walked off, I turned to Max, still feigning ignorance to who the freaking Secret Saturdays really were. "They don't seem like your typical marine biologists." 

"They're not." Max's expression softened. "They work with all the strange and exotic creatures that regular science doesn't believe in, which they refer to as cryptids."

"You mean like Bigfoot?" Kate asked genuinely curious.

"Don't be ridiculous, kiddo." Max replied with a smile. "That's just a guy in a suit."

"This would've been nice to know back when we came across that Krakken creature." Lucy remarked while recalling that day.

"Yeah, for some reason I find it easier to deal with aliens instead of these mystical creatures." Max apologized before finishing up his remarks about the two secret scientists from before. "Regardless, if the Saturdays are here, I'd say we're in good hands." 

Just then, we were reunited with both Donavan and Eddie, who had previously left with the rescued employee.

"Well, I'll have to double his salary, but he won't breathe a word." Donovan said with a laugh of relief.

"Buy him off." Eddie scoffed. "That's the Grandsmith way."

'Hey, give some credit to the old man.' I thought with a smile. 'Can you imagine how much your salary must be for you to give up an easy-win lawsuit and go back to such laboring work?'

Kate snickered closely for me to hear. "I'll never understand rich people."

"Edw—er—Eddie, take the kids on a tour so Max and I can keep catching up on old times." Donavan requested, a bit more considerate than his usual self.

"Sure." Eddie replied, still a bit bummed about being dismissed so frequently by his own grandfather, but still obeyed.

"Oh, Max." Donovan said as they walked away. "It's too bad you didn't take me up on my offer 30 years ago when we were both dead broke. You wouldn't have had to spend your life unclogging drains and fixing toilets while I traveled the world."

"You'd be surprised." Max said with a smirk. "Being a plumber does have its moments."

As the two seniors went on their own way, I got an idea.

"Oh, perhaps we can get the Marine Biologist's children to join us." I asked, curious about meeting the other members of the Secret Saturdays, which apparently from their nods of approval was also the case for the girls as well. "What do you say, Eddie? I mean, since you will be the one guiding us I think it is up to you to decide."

"Whatever." The boy said with a shrug, but I could sense similar curiosity from his aura.

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ZAK'S POV

I couldn't help myself from fidgeting with the controls of my family's submarine, not because it needed any adjustments, Dad had already set everything up perfectly, but because I needed something to do with my hands. That and the fact that I couldn't be responsible for wreaking another sub.

The hum of the machinery and Fisk's soft snores from the corner should have been comforting, but my stomach was doing flips.

This resort job was supposed to be easy. Tag along, stay out of sight, and let Mom and Dad handle everything. No big deal, right? Except now there were other kids, normal kids, like the ones in movies and TV shows, and they were coming here.

"Zak, you okay?" My mom's voice crackled through the comms, calm but carrying that subtle Mom-tone of: I know you're not fine, but I'm waiting for you to admit it.

I clicked the reply button and spoke up. "Fine, Mom. Just, uh, keeping Fisk and Komodo entertained."

On cue, Komodo growled softly from his perch on the console. As I glanced at my half-lizard brother, whose sharp eyes seemed to say: You're full of it, kid.

"I'll keep an eye on them while you're gone." I added it quickly.

"You're not staying behind, sweetie. There are some old friend's kids who I want you to meet." Mom's voice softened a little. "It'll be fun. while your father and I keep searching for the Cryptid anomaly that brought us here, I think you deserve some chance to make some friends." She stopped for a brief moment as I heard my father's voice. "Gotta go, kisses. Mwah."

I couldn't help but to groan, leaning my forehead against the cool edge of the console. 'Fun for who?'

Didn't have much time to dwell on it, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor outside. Fisk's ears twitched and Komodo tilted his head as I jumped to my feet, wiping my hands on my pants like I'd been caught doing something wrong.

The door slid open, revealing the group: two boys and three girls, all slightly older—or noticeably more than that, in the case of the tall brown haired boy who had to be approaching his teens. They looked like a team: confident, curious, and…normal.

"Hi!" The tall boy in the lead said. His bright smile was contagious, but it also made my nerves spike. "You must be Zak, right? I'm Ben, and these are Gwen, Lucy, Kate…oh, and Eddie."

'Stay cool. Don't mess this up.' My mouth went dry as I thought. "Hey." I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to sound casual. "Nice to meet you guys."

Ben stepped forward, his grin not fading. "We're taking a tour of the resort, thought you might wanna tag along. Heard you're into cool stuff, like crypt—uh, cool marine biology stuff."

I immediately stiffened, glancing nervously at Fisk and Komodo, who were thankfully hidden in the shadows of the submarine. "Uh, yeah. Sure. Marine biology's cool."

"Great!" Ben said, clearly not noticing my awkwardness, or maybe just ignoring it.

Gwen smiled warmly. "You don't have to if you're busy, though. We don't want to intrude."

"No, no, I can come." My words tumbled out a little too fast as I tried to calm myself down again. "But, uh…just me. My brothers are…napping."

"Napping?" Kate, the black haired tomboyish girl raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

I nodded furiously. "Yeah. They're, uh, light sleepers. Don't wanna wake 'em."

Eddie, the Grandson of the billionaire that owns the resort, didn't seem to care either way. "Cool. Let's go!"

The others turned to leave, but Gwen lingered for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning the room, leading me to hold my breath as her gaze briefly landed on the shadows where Fisk and Komodo were hiding.

"See you out there." She said finally with a friendly wink.

Right then I exhaled as the door slid shut behind them, turning to my brothers, I muttered. "Well, that went…okay."

Komodo let out a huff that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. 

Sighing at that possibility, I went to grab my jacket and said. "Guess I better make sure I don't blow this. Wish me luck."

Fisk snorted and Komodo tilted his head in a way that I decided to interpret as encouragement. With that, I hurried out the door, trying to push down the nerves that were already threatening to overwhelm me again.

Soon after, as I joined the group of kids, we began following the boy named Eddie as he strutted ahead, his chin high as if he owned the place, which to be fair, his grandfather actually did. 

The first corridor we took opened into a dazzling water park area, complete with pools, artificial waterfalls and a lazy river that snaked through coral-like structures. The few VIPs we came across were busy sipping from their own colored drinks and enjoying their time.

"Nice." The black haired tomboyish girl said, impressed, taking in the sight.

"Meh, not bad." Eddie replied, hands in his pockets, his tone almost bored. "In the mornings, I train here with my personal swim coach. Grandpa says long-distance swimming builds character."

"Wow, a swim coach?" The ginger girl named Gwen asked, genuinely curious.

Eddie nodded, his expression half bored half smug. "Yeah. You could say I'm something of a champion in the making."

This time, while Eddie had his back to the rest of the group since he was leading us, the blonde girl smirked, glancing at the others. 

"My grandpa says it builds character." She muttered mockingly under her breath, earning a stifled laughter from the other girls, until the boy named Ben placed a hand over her shoulder and gently asked her to be respectful towards our guide.

Eddie either didn't notice them or simply chose to ignore it. "Come on, there's more to see."

Our tour continued into a sleek gallery-like hall, where an enormous submarine, sleek and painted in shimmering silver and blue, was suspended above us. The lights above it highlighted its smooth, futuristic design.

"Whoa." The blonde girl named Lucy finally said, craning her neck to take it in.

"It's called the Undersea Manta Ray." Eddie announced, pausing to let the name sink in. "It's my grandfather's personal submarine. State-of-the-art, naturally."

"Well, it looks freaking cool." The girl named Kate admitted, nodding in approval.

Eddie smirked, glancing over his shoulder. "Wanna take it for a ride?"

The final girl, which I deducted to be Gwen since the others I've already matched face to name, stepped forward and her face lit up. "Definitely!"

From where I stood I looked at Ben, noticing how he raised one of his eyebrows and crossed his arms. "Are you sure this won't get you into trouble?"

Eddie waved off Ben's concern, flashing a mischievous grin. "Relax. My grandpa's not here and I've done this before. It'll be fine."

Right then I failed to contain myself and let out an unintelligible question, drawing everyone's attention towards me since I had been quiet up until now. 

With their stares on me I've decided to ask something I've been wondering about. "A-eh…Wait, do you even know how to use it?"

Eddie shot me a look. "Do I know? Please. It's practically mine anyway. Besides, wouldn't you rather see what's out there instead of hanging around with the boring stuff?"

Without knowing I shrugged, betraying how clearly tempted I was. "I mean… it does sound pretty awesome."

"Exactly." Eddie's grin widened as he began leading the group toward the docking bay. "Trust me, this'll be way more fun than looking at pools or glass windows."

I hesitated once again, glancing at Ben, who still looked skeptical. "What do you say?"

He let out a sigh. "If Eddie knows what he is doing, I believe him. Besides, I would feel worse not being with you guys if something went wrong."

Eddie only laughed, practically skipping ahead as the group eventually followed, entering the hangar. 

The air there was cooler and filled with the faint scent of machinery as the Manta Ray rested in its docking bay, looking even larger and more impressive up close. 

Eddie stepped toward it confidently, pulling out a small keycard from his pocket.

"This baby's built for speed and depth." He said, unlocking the hatch with a dramatic flourish. "It can handle anything the ocean throws at it."

I lingered near the back, uneasy without my parents' specialized arsenal and vehicles. "If you say so."

"Yup." Eddie replied without hesitation, climbing into the pilot's seat. "So? Are you coming or not?"

Ben exchanged a look with me and shrugged with a confident and reassuring smile. "Might as well see where this goes."

One by one, we climbed into the submarine, Eddie clearly relishing the role of captain. 

I hesitated for one last time before stepping inside, my gut telling me this was a bad idea. But my curiosity, and the desire not to look like a killjoy in front of the others, pushed me to follow.

————————————————————————

Meanwhile, as both Max and Donovan strode through the power control area, the technician gave Donovan a brief nod before stepping away.

"A reverse power surge caused the whirlpool effect." Donovan explained. "But it's fixed now."

"Must take a lot of juice to keep this place running." Max said, glancing around. "We're too far offshore for mainland power."

"Volcanic vents on the ocean floor." Donovan replied. "We tap into them like a massive steam generator."

They moved toward the primary generator, accompanied by several workers. Max's eyes were drawn to a faint purple glow emanating from behind one of the panels.

"What's behind that panel?" He asked.

"Nothing important. Just a backup generator." Donovan said quickly, waving it off. "Now, watch this."

At his signal, one of his employees pressed a button, the generator hissed as steam vented from its core, workers pulled down levers in unison, releasing more steam.

"Impressive." A calm voice interjected.

Max and Donovan turned to see the two marine biologists from before, Drew Saturday and her husband, Doc Saturday, standing nearby with clipboards in hand.

"We couldn't help but notice the… energy fluctuations earlier." Drew added, her tone curious but professional. "It's fascinating how you've harnessed volcanic energy to power the entire facility."

"Indeed." Doc said, adjusting his glasses. "Though I imagine even a minor system irregularity could have significant consequences in an environment this isolated."

Donovan waved off their concerns. "All under control. Just a minor hiccup."

Drew nodded, her expression neutral. "Glad to hear it. Systems like this are incredibly complex. If you don't mind, we'd love a closer look at the generator late….purely out of professional interest, of course."

"I'll arrange something." Donovan said curtly, eager to move the conversation along. "Now if you two don't mind."

The Saturdays nodded before exchanging a quick glance, their interest piqued by the faint purple glow behind the panel. But they said nothing more, blending back into the small group of onlookers.

Above, the pressure levels climbed, and the resort emitted a glow that illuminated the ocean surface up to 500 feet above sea level.

"Enough energy to light the ocean like a beacon," Donovan said proudly, though his gaze drifted to a photo on his phone, with him and his grandson, Edwin, smiling together.

Max noticed the shift in Donovan's demeanor. "That's your grandson?"

Donovan nodded, his voice softer. "Edw—Eddie. Smart kid. Got big dreams. But I wonder if he'll ever see me the way your grandkids look at you."

Max frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Donovan hesitated, then sighed. "You brought your grandkids here because they wanted to come. You listen to them, let them be themselves. Me? I'm always so focused on my business, on… results." He shook his head. "He is here because I decided he should be, not because he wanted to be."

Max softened. "It's not too late, Don. Kids don't need perfection. They just need to know you care."

Donovan offered a faint smile before shaking off the moment. "Now, let me show you my prized possession: the Manta Ray."

They approached the docking area, with Drew and Doc following at a discreet distance. Donovan, stopped short, his expression of actual worry, the sleek submarine was gone. "Oh, Eddie." 

"This should be good." Doc muttered to Drew, glancing around. "Kids love shiny, dangerous machines like this. Can't help themselves."

Drew smirked. "You mean like Zak?"

Doc chuckled. "Exactly like Zak. I swear, if there's trouble to be found, that kid—"

He paused mid-sentence, his smile fading as he met Drew's suddenly concerned gaze.

"You don't think…" Drew began, her voice trailing off.

"He wouldn't." Doc said quickly, though his tone wasn't as confident as he hoped. "I mean, you did ask him to fit in with the other kids."

Drew folded her arms and furrowed her eyebrows. "For them to play around the pools, maybe make some friends he would like to keep in touch with. Not to steal a submarine!"

Doc merely raised his arms apologetically at his previous insinuation until they exchanged alarmed looks, realizing Zack had likely joined Edwin and the other kids on their little escapade.

"I swear I'm gonna sow a GPS locator into that boy's underwear." Drew angrily remarked, as her motherly instincts took over her.

————————————————————————

MC'S POV

Moments earlier, miles away in the Manta Ray, as me and the kids marveled at our underwater journey with the submarine cutting gracefully through the ocean depths, its reinforced hull shielding its passengers from the crushing pressure of the Bermuda Triangle.

Zak pressed his face against the glass, pointing at bioluminescent jellyfish floating like tiny lanterns in the abyss for the girls to see. The underwater world came alive with glowing coral reefs, shimmering schools of fish and bursts of neon hues painting the dark.

"This is incredible." Zak breathed, his voice filled with awe.

"Yeah," Kate agreed. "If I had this view growing up, I might've stayed out of trouble."

The peaceful moment ended as a bright light pierced the murky depths ahead, illuminating the ocean floor like a submerged sunrise, throwing long shadows across the glowing reefs.

"What the…?" Eddie leaned forward, squinting before letting out a knowing scoff. "That's Grandpa. Who else would light up an entire ocean just to show off?"

Zak adjusted the submarine's controls, narrowing his eyes. "You're sure it's him?"

"Oh, I'm sure." Eddie said, leaning back with a smirk. "Classic Grandpa Donovan."

Kate arched her brow. "Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

Eddie scoffed, rolling his eyes with a playful grin. "I'll take that as a compliment, but don't get too used to seeing this side of me. I've got a reputation to maintain."

Kate chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, wouldn't want anyone thinking you're a softie."

Eddie opened his mouth to reply, but Gwen interrupted. "Uh, guys? You might wanna focus."

Unsurprisingly to me, we finally came across massive, squid-like creatures who emerged from the shadows, their cybernetic enhancements gleaming with an eerie light. These creatures immediately surrounded the submarine, their tentacles moving with unsettling precision.

"Uh, Eddie." Lucy said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Your grandfather's light show just put us on someone's dinner menu."

Scanning the waters from my own seat, with my Omnitrix glowing faintly, I eventually questioned. "Zak, any ideas what these things are?"

"M-me?" The reincarnation of Kur, the ruler of all Cryptids, was startled. "Why do you think I would know anything about…" He trailed off a little while staring at the squid-like creatures before quickly readjusting himself. "I mean, I've never seen these… things."

"My grandfather is Maxwell Tennyson, he…worked with your parents during some occasions." Ben told him while giving him a knowing look. 

Zak hesitated, carefully weighing his next words before facing the group. "My family…well, let's just say we deal with stuff like this. These creatures… They aren't supposed to look or act like this."

Eddie glanced at Zak, his sharp mind already piecing things together before remarking with a snicker. "Yeah, I figured you guys weren't your average marine biologists. My grandpa couldn't sneeze without one of you scribbling notes."

Zak managed a weak smile. "We're not, but it's for a good reason. Cryptids are a part of the natural world too. It's our job to protect them…and sometimes, to protect others from them."

Eddie arched an eyebrow. "So, what's the play? You want to save these things?"

Zak shook his head, his expression grim. "No. Not this time. Some of them might still be alive in the traditional sense, but not in a way that matters. They're in pain, Eddie. Whatever's been done to them, it's not natural. We're better off putting them out of their misery before they hurt anyone else."

Eddie's smirk faded, his demeanor unusually somber. "You're saying we have to destroy them."

Zak nodded, his tone resolute. "It's the right thing to do. If we don't, they'll keep attacking us and whoever else they are capable of reaching as they keep suffering. Trust me on this."

Gwen, chimed in from her seat. "Zak's right. These creatures aren't just dangerous, they're victims. Whatever thing that corrupted them isn't something we can reverse down here."

'Perhaps I could.' I told myself while subtly staring at my Omnitrix. 'But not before showing off a little.'

Lucy leaned back, folding her arms, and thought about what had to be done. "Fine. But don't expect me to enjoy this."

"Neither do I, believe me." Zak replied softly, his gaze drifting back to the monitors. "But sometimes, protecting the world means making hard choices."

The submarine shuddered as one of the creatures slammed against its hull, startling everyone but me.

"But why are they coming out just now? We didn't do anything to provoke them!" Eddie asked nervously.

Zak hesitated. "Remember the show lights your grandfather just gave us? Maybe it has to do with the source he used to power his underwater resort."

"Fine. My grandfather stole it, okay?" Eddie sighed, running a hand through his hair while everyone's attention was on him. "The underwater volcano idea didn't work. The resort was doomed until Grandpa found some weird energy source from a spacecraft buried under the sea. He said it was unlike anything he'd ever seen before. I tried to convince him it was a bad idea but he never listens to me."

"Alien tech?" Gwen muttered, piecing it together. "That spacecraft must be behind the corruption of these…uh…cryptids. It must be compelling them to get it back. And if these are really after the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, then we're dealing with something ancient and dangerous."

I finally stood up, cracking my knuckles. "Then it's up to us to shut it down before it manages to threaten more people."

"What can we possibly do?" Eddie asked, fear slowly rising within him. "The radio is not even working properly."

"Don't worry." I told him with my most confident smile before turning towards my team. "Gwen and Lucy, keep the submarine safe from inside and outside. Kate, you're with me, we will clear the way."

As the cryptids attacked once again, the submarine kept rocketing violently. 

Gwen quickly erected protective wards inside, her magic stabilizing the cabin. Meanwhile, Lucy seeped out through the cracks forming on the submarine's glass window, her body expanding and shifting into a barrier-like form that wrapped around the Manta Ray, she immediately began lessening the damage caused by these cybernetic cryptids. 

"Let's see if these tin cans can handle some real power." Kate activated her belt, transforming into a hybrid alien form with sleek fins, bioelectric streaks and powerful wings adapted for swimming. Noticing the extra gear she had on herself, I was glad to see that she finally unlocked by herself the Omni-kix function I've installed on her belt.

"Lucy and I got the submarine's protection covered." Gwen reassured us. "We just need to focus on not getting crushed."

"Not getting crushed sounds like a job for me." I said, mentally activating my Omnitrix and transforming into my Piscciss Volan (Ripjaws) form. My voice immediately deepened, gurgling as I spoke. "Time to fish out the problem."

Ignoring the shocked expressions from both Eddie and Zak, Kate and I walked towards the hatch and swam out of it, propelling ourselves with water jets from our palms. 

As the smaller cryptids kept trying to swarm the submarine on our leave, they were immediately intercepted by Lucy's massive form. She whipped her mud-like appendages with incredible speed, holding the line while shielding our weak spots.

'Alright, time to step it up.' As my sonar clicked, scanning the battlefield, I reached for my Omnitrix badge and twisted the watch's dial, triggering my next transformation. 

Which was nothing short of awe-inspiring for those looking at it, given how in my Ultimate Piscciss Volan (Ripjaws) form I was comparable to the medium sized submarine, my muscular frame shimmered with a mixture of shark-like skin and spiky protrusions. My massive tail coiled behind me and my glowing eyes kept scanning the area thoroughly

As I reached the next swarm of cryptids heading our way, my unhinged jaw extended as a surely terrifying vision, clamping down on a couple of the squid-like creatures and ripping them apart with ease.

Swimming right next to me, Kate tore through the swarm, each strike calculated to prevent them from splitting up enough to invade the resort. Under our offensive the creatures flailed, releasing a cloud of oily fluid just as we tore through these creatures' core.

Inside the Manta Ray, Zak and Eddie, having eventually accepted the surprise we all revealed to them, both worked on tracking the source of the corruption. 

"It's buried in the seafloor." Zak said, recalling Eddie's description. "If we can destroy it, we might stop its control over the cryptids."

Meanwhile outside, I unleashed my full strength. My tail whipped through the water, scattering the squid-like cryptids, while powerful jets of water shot from my palms, slamming into the creatures with tidal force.

Before Kate and I could proceed to search for the source, another submarine appeared in the murky waters. Its sleek design was unmistakable. Especially after Drew and Doc Saturday emerged, with their equipment to survive the pressure this deep and their iconic weapons at the ready.

'Nice Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos.' I mentally joked while staring at Doc's battle glove before looking at Drew. 'Though the Tibetan lightsaber seems a bit out of juice this deep into the ocean.

"What in the world—?" Doc started, apparently scared now that he was this close to me, but Drew cut him off. 

"Whoever—or whatever—you are, I can see you are protecting that submarine, we're here to help." She said while bravely looking me straight in the eyes.

'No time for re-introductions!' I thought before nodding at them and signaling for Kate to aid them, swimming away like a torpedo I continued clearing the path ahead.

At that moment, Zak's voice came through his parents' comms. "Mom, the source of these aggressive cryptids is what we believe to be alien tech buried somewhere on the seafloor. It has corrupted them—we need to disable it before it's too late."

"Alien tech?" Doc remarked a bit confused. "But isn't that…"

"…Max's expertise?" Drew complemented his line of thought.

"Well, that big guy you two just met was his grandson." Zak remarked, having a hard time to believe it himself.

"Wh-what? Like that masked kid from the news?" Doc exclaimed, his scientific mind working overtime to rationalize how the little kid he met moments ago had turned into such a terrifying creature. He turned towards Kate, who was shielding them from the more aggressive squid-like cryptids. "And who is this?"

"Must be another one of Max's kids." Drew quickly guessed, her curiosity towards their abilities showing up. "Oh boy, the other secret scientists would be so blown away by it."

As I kept speeding away from their position, my sonar picked up the coordinates Alpha had uncovered for me. I propelled myself forward even faster, ripping through the last of the latest swarm. 

Reaching my destination, I confirmed that the nest loomed ahead: a massive alien machine half-buried in the ocean floor.

'If this thing can cause so much trouble without its source of power, imagine what it can do once it gets it back.' I thought. 'But what was its original purpose? Alpha, do your magic.'

'Understood, master.' It replied back in my mind, putting all of its processing power to work on this centuries old piece of junk.

As Drew and Doc joined the fray alongside the Manta Ray, our group coordinated our attacks on the alien machinery. 

Inside the submarine, Gwen conjured protective wards around Eddie and Zak, her spellbook glowing faintly in her lap. Lucy fortified their vehicle, her body adapting to block incoming attacks, while Kate and I tore through the cryptids creating openings for Drew and Doc to plant charges around the machine.

My Omnitrix AI, Alpha, reported progress intermittently. "Scan incomplete. From what I already uncovered the Machine's origin was indeed ancient alien tech, but one designed for terraforming a planet from its oceans. Blueprints 72% scanned."

'Doing great, buddy. But make it faster!' I mentally commanded, ripping apart another attacker, while simultaneously assimilating what Alpha had just informed me.

As Drew and Doc planted more charges while aided by Kate, I held off the remaining cryptids. My ultimate form towered over most of them, my massive tail scattering the creatures with powerful sweeps. Kate covered my flank, using her fused abilities to quickly incapacitate several enemies at once.

"Hang on!" Zak called out for everyone to hear on their communication line. "We've got incoming—big ones."

Through the murky waters, the first of the giant crabs emerged. Its carapace gleamed with patches of metal plating and one of its claws was entirely replaced by a serrated blade that gleamed in the eerie light. The creature was easily the size of a small ship, its movements surprisingly quick as it barreled towards our group.

"Ben, that's all you!" Gwen shouted, weaving a shield of mana to block another squid trying to pierce the sub.

Taking my cue I roared, bursting from my position while causing perceivable shockwaves, and met the giant crab head-on. 

The crab's bladed claw swung down with terrifying force, but I blocked with my forearms, grabbing the crab's bladed claw and twisting, ripping the cybernetic limb free before going for the closest thing my opponent had for a jugular. I grabbed the crab's armored body and lifted it with both hands and a mighty roar, hurling it into a rocky outcrop. The creature's carapace shattered on impact and it sank lifelessly to the seabed.

This prompted me to turn my attention downward as another massive shadow loomed from the ocean floor, another cybernetic crab appeared.

The crab's metal-plated legs scraped against the seabed and one of its claws with a massive rotating drill whirred ominously as it advanced.

Surging towards it, my bioluminescent streaks flashed in the dark water. The crab swung its drill-claw in a wide arc, barely missing me as I twisted out of its path. Clamping down on one of its legs with my serrated jaw, I snapped through the metal like it was brittle coral.

The massive crab was relentless, swinging its drill and claw with brutal force. One strike actually grazed my side, sparks flying as the metal edge scraped against my armored scales. Undeterred, I darted under the crab, using my jaws to tear through the exposed joints of its legs.

The crab staggered, its movements sluggish as it lost stability, but I didn't hesitate. With a powerful whip of my tail, I launched myself upward, piercing through the crab's underside. The creature spasmed, its lights flickering before it went still, sinking to the seabed to join the first giant crab.

Just as I finished my fight, as I got distracted by how my own sonar informed me that there were still more giant crabs rising from the abyss underneath me, far from me, a sleek, vicious shark-like cryptid with metallic teeth and glowing eyes lunged forward the Manta Ray. Its body shimmered as if cloaked in a stealth field, making it nearly invisible until it struck.

Lucy barely managed to move most of her mass as a last ditch barrier in time, the shark's jaws snapping most of her as if she was its lunch.

"Lucy!" Gwen cried out, thinking she was badly hurt from that surprise attack.

The shark circled back, this time aiming for another unprotected area of the submarine. Before it could strike though, Lucy exploded half of the creature's maw by quickly expanding herself from within, which forced the shark-like cryptid to retreat. 

The creature thrashed violently, retreating into the shadows but not before Zak caught a glimpse of more similar shapes, three, maybe four, lurking just out of sight of his monitors.

"Keep fighting!" Lucy shouted as a mud clone of hers spawned from within the Manta Ray. "We're not out of this yet!"

"These things just keep coming! And in different forms!" Eddie shouted, momentarily impressed by how both Gwen and Lucy were powerful despite their ages. "How long until your parents finish setting their bombs?"

"They're predators. They'll target the weakest first! Stay alert!" Zak called out from his seat. "As for my parents, they are moving as fast as possible with all this chaos."

"Got it!" Both Lucy and Gwen replied and resumed their skirmish with the stalking cryptid sharks.

Once all the sharks were defeated, thanks to a well organized effort from the Manta Ray team, I swam back to the sub, my glowing eyes briefly meeting my group's through the front porthole. 

The threat was neutralized, for now, but more would soon arrive.

Eddie slumped in relief, wiping sweat from his brow. "Next time, can we just deal with regular squids?"

Gwen smirked, flipping the pages of her spellbook. "What? And miss all the fun?"

"Charges set!" Drew finally called out to the entire group's delight. "Everyone, clear out!"

"Don't celebrate yet." Doc said, his voice tense. "There's more movement closing in. And it's coming from below."

As if on cue, the ground trembled. The squad braced themselves as a massive swarm of sharks, squids and crabs surged upward, surrounding the two subs like a living storm. Their glowing eyes pierced the darkness and their cybernetic enhancements buzzed ominously.

I glanced at both submarines before facing Kate, determination burning in everyone's eyes. 

The team retreated as the charges detonated, imploding the machine. Its hold over the cryptids shattered and the creatures all were turned off, their lifeless shells began to slowly sink to the ocean floor.

Soon after, the targeted alien spacecraft was a swirling graveyard of debris and destruction since the planted charges had gone off spectacularly, the shockwave rattled even our sturdily built submarines. Glowing fragments of machinery and bioluminescent cryptid remains floated in the black water.

Kate and I, still in our monstrous forms, swam back into view outside, both of us motioning with a satisfied thumbs-up before swimming for the Manta Ray's hatch and turning back to our human forms.

Inside the submarine, Eddie finally collapsed into his seat, his chest letting out a breath I bet he didn't know he was holding. 

"Tell me we got all of them." The young Grandsmith muttered, still gripping the edge of his chair.

Zak, our expert on these creatures, was still standing at the observation monitors, scanning the wreckage. 

"I think that's it. Nothing is moving out there." He replied, though his voice carried a grim undertone. Zak then turned towards the cockpit where Eddie was now checking the sub's readouts. "I think we should see my parents."

He looked at me and the girls, who didn't protest against it, and I said. "Sure, just give me a sec to connect our submarines."

As we finally boarded through an improvised bridge between both submarines, Zak's father was already at the entrance of their vehicle, still wearing his swimming gear, his arms crossed and his usual warmth in the eyes was overshadowed by concern.

"Good work, team." He said while greeting us, his tone calm as usual before focusing on his son. "Everybody is alright?"

"We are fine, dad." Zak replied with a smile.

"Good, because I'd hate for sympathy to ruin all the wonderful punishments I'm planning if this really was your fault." The man known as Doc replied with a knowing smile. "Care to start explaining?"

"Not at all, dad." Zak sighed, having already taken his time to understand how we got ourselves into that position.

As we reached the Saturdays submarine's command center, Zak had already covered most of it, with Eddie even confessing his guilt at convincing us to follow him into the Manta Ray.

"Well, that was fun." Ben said, flopping into a seat, while also ignoring the weird looks Doc and Drew gave me.

"So…" Eddie approached me, unable to hide how awe-struck he was now that things calmed down. "You're Omni-boy, aren't you?"

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah, that's me."

Kate smirked while puffing her chest. "And don't forget about us. Superheroes, too…just less famous and still working on names."

Zak and Eddie exchanged confused looks. "Really, but you're not in the news, right?"

The girls groaned while both boys tried to explain they were making less of them.

"Regardless…" I spoke up, drawing the attention back to me. "Now, about keeping this a secret…"

Eddie grinned. "Don't worry. Your secrets are safe with me."

"Same here, for me and my family." Zak nodded with a smile. "Besides, I owe you for the show."

I smiled back, glancing towards Drew Saturday as she removed her swimming gear, leaving her in a spandex-like uniform that was still dripping wet with sea water. 'Then I suppose we are even.'

Drew eventually leaned over a console, her brow furrowed as she analyzed the little data they got from the nest. 

"Zak." She began, looking up as the kids filed in. "We're seeing signs that the nest wasn't just a random hideout. Those cryptids were being coordinated."

"We sort of got that impression given how much we struggle to push them away, mom. But we're still not completely sure about what exactly that thing was and why it caused the bad rumors about the Bermuda Triangle." Zak said, with his feelings for the fallen cryptids being balanced by his concern about what really caused it.

"From what you told me…" Drew began, her sight still focused on the date she just recently got. "…their grandfather might have some better guesses."

Gwen's expression tightened and she shared a glance with me. "So we were really dealing with aliens?"

I crossed my arms and replied while feigning ignorance. "I suppose it makes sense that alien tech would be powerful enough to cause that much trouble. But whatever its purpose was or whoever sent it here, centuries have come and gone since it was abandoned there."

"Nice assessment." Drew complimented me, though her smile was faint. "I would've asked Max about it, but I'm not crazy enough to force Max Tennyson out of his well deserved retirement, especially now that I doubt we'll uncover anything relevant with everything being blown to pieces."

"At least we prevented any tragedy to happen to Mr.Donavan's resort." Doc told Eddie with a friendly smile.

"But what about the source he is using?" The billionaire's grandson asked, genuinely worried.

"Let us worry about that, kid." Drew remarked. "In the meantime, we will take you back to the resort before both your grandparents have a heart attack or something like that."

————————————————————————

EDDIE'S POV

From outside of the Manta Ray the resort could be sighted as we approached, as Max and Donovan ran out they saw that next to the garage, the section of water began to bubble up until my grandfather's prized submarine surfaced, with me and the other kids coming out with a smile. 

Since Zak's parents still wanted to not draw attention to themselves, Zak had stayed back with them.

"Land ho!" Ben called, as Max and Donovan smiled back at us.

"It's like I said, Donovan. Grandkids have an amazing way of rising to the occasion." I heard Max saying with a smile.

"Sorry for leaving without your permission, Grandpa." After everything I went through, this time I decided to be genuine with my grandfather. "It's my fault, I convinced the others that I had permission to take the Manta Ray."

"I'm glad that you are sorry, because you gave me quite the scare." Grandpa Donovan said, surprising me for the first time in quite a while, as he leaned down to my level. "But you're all okay and that's all that matters. Just promise you won't do it again."

I looked back at the others with a smile, actually moved by the moment I was having with my grandfather, and hugged him. "I promise, Grandpa."

Donovan looked up to Max as he finished hugging me. "Thanks for the pep talk, old friend."

"Any time." Max replied with a satisfied smile.

"Now, I assume you are all tired of exploring the resort and the sea. Let's call it a day and I will let you all enjoy your stay." Grandpa Donavan remarked while looking at his watch.

"Thanks." Max said. "We really appreciate it."

"Oh and before leaving, don't let me forget to tell you about my next big project. It's going up on the moon. Perhaps I can convince you guys to be my very first guests?"

That was the breaking point as they all started laughing it out as if the old billionaire had just made a joke.

"Well, perhaps I will leave this project for the next generation of the family." Donavan accepted the response in good spirit and we all said our goodbyes for today.

————————————————————————

MC'S POV

Well, after taking the time to actually enjoy the luxurious resort, I must hand it out for the old billionaire who definitely knew how to please his guests.

And it's not just me saying, all of my family allowed themselves to enjoy our stay here. 

Max seems to genuinely be getting along with his old friend Donavan, especially since he only came here in the first place to please me and the girls. 

Speaking of them, not only was I satisfied with their performance back with the mechanical…cryptids…man that was a curveball I wasn't expecting…but they also seem to have been closer to one another lately. Their occasional disputes were becoming much rarer than before, and I didn't need to keep counting my time with each one just to not annoy the other two.

Speaking of unexpected, after finding out that the Kevin of my reality was Kate, I was actually sort of expecting that Eddie would've been genderbended as well, same thing for Zak once I received Alpha's report about the Secret Saturdays' presence.

Not that I needed that to make it easier to captivate his attention, especially now that he knows my secret. 

If I'm not mistaken, Eddie would've ended up helping Future Ben with constructing his city and tower, with all the money he would eventually inherit the guy could very well become the Tony Stark of this dimension.

As for Zak, I'm not sure I should try to alter his journey, the main reason being that I wasn't paying all that much attention back when I watched his TV show in my previous life. 

Don't blame me, I literally just started watching it because I wanted more content from Shego's voice actress. And boy Drew Saturday definitely didn't disappoint me.

Lucky me the Ben 10 fandom seems to actually dig shipping her with Ben Tennyson, makes me believe that regardless of what I do, I might still have a chance eventually.

I know, I know…Zak sees me as a friend, how could I do this to him? Cry me a river, dude.

Do you know how easily it was for me to use my magical aura to already implant some feelings for me without anyone knowing? Similar to how I once did to my teacher years back when I was still developing my Anodite spark, or to how I've managed to speedrun Kate's redemption arc with her noticing.

Besides, I'm not that type of guy, and also because I wouldn't want to risk disturbing her feelings during one of the very frequent life-threatening encounters she would have once Zak's journey starts.

Having said that, it is not as if I avoided the lady as if she was the plague. During my final moments on the underwater resort, I got to share some moments with her, though admittedly it wasn't anywhere near as romantic as I would've liked, given how I was playing with her kid and his cryptid half-siblings. 

Even got some compliments from Doc, remarking how well I performed against the cyber-squids and the rest, he obviously wanted to learn more about how I changed forms so he could explain it through science. But just to gain some friendly smiles from Drew, I told him I believe it must have something to do with magic.

Other than that, I also got the chance to sneak around the resort and take a look into the infamous source of energy Donavan retrieved from the crashed spacecraft. To be honest, from Alpha's readings it wasn't anything outlandish like the sub-energy the Plumbers had stored, but you know me, I'm a completionist.

It's not stealing if I'm stealing from the one who robbed it and replacing it with a much safer alternative to power up this entire resort.

It also helped that it could be a more appropriate source of energy for the…I can't yet believe…terraforming machine Alpha managed to analyze completely. Not that I couldn't build it myself from zero with my Ultimate Galvan (Grey Matter) form, it just helps me better organize my list of priorities.

Even now, as I swim around the graveyard that has become the site of the machine in my Ultimate Picciss Volan (Ripjaws) form, I still had another spoil to collect.

"Arise!" I said as my aquatic form began to assume an undead appearance and I felt my black heart pulsate with a powerful miasma, prompting a storm of souls to rush towards me.

Soon after, as I digested my meal, all the sunken lifeless machines that had been deactivated once the central machine was exploded began producing ink like shadows that eventually assumed each creature's own form.

Staring back at me was the same never-ending army I've helped destroy, though this time they were completely under my control.

————————————————————————

[GHOSTFREAKED OUT]

MC'S POV

The Rust Bucket rumbled along the winding road, surrounded by tall trees that formed a canopy of green over the path. Morning sunlight seeped through the leaves in patches, casting golden streaks on the dashboard. 

Kate, half-asleep in her seat, rested her head against the window, stirring occasionally.

Across from her, Gwen sat upright with a brochure spread open in her lap, eyes scanning the text with laser focus. 

Grandpa Max sat nearby, his usual relaxed demeanor intact. He was giving Gwen her space but stayed close enough to offer quiet support.

"Bancroft Academy." Gwen read aloud, her voice tinged with excitement.

Lucy, sprawled across her bed at the back of the RV, pulling her headphones down to her neck. "So…what's Bancroft like? Fancy parties? Stuffy classrooms?"

"It's full of snobs and posers…" Kate got out of her boredom and smirked at Lucy, before adding with a sheepish smile in my direction. "…no offense, Ben." 

"None taken." I replied with a shrug. "It's not perfect, but it grows on you. The people aren't all bad once you get past the fake smiles. That said, I've got plans to shake things up once I reach the top."

Gwen perked up, still holding the brochure. "Bancroft Academy is one of the top schools in the country." Her tone was dreamy, already imagining herself there. "And you not only got there years before me, but also have proven yourself."

"I didn't do that without trying my best, cus." I said while smirking at her enthusiasm. "Just don't let the gateway slam shut on you when the posers start talking about whose family owns what."

Lucy, meanwhile, wrinkled her nose at the idea of school. "I don't know how you all do it. I've read about schools, but all those rules and cliques sound exhausting."

"Oh, so you are trying to say that homeschooling is so much easier, mudbrain?" Kate laughed, giving Lucy a playful nudge. "Don't tell me your mom was your teacher."

"Actually, both she and my dad." Lucy replied with a grin. "I got to skip ahead whenever I wanted. No drama, no…eh, detention and no unwanted surprises."

"Yeah, but no friends, either." Kate teased.

Lucy stuck her tongue out in response and Gwen sighed, pulling their attention back to the brochure.

"Would you like me to help you out with getting in?" I eventually asked, already knowing what her answer would be.

"As much as I really wanted you to…" Gwen began telling me while still holding her brochure. "…and believe me, I really really want to make sure I get in…" She looked at me with an unreadable expression. "…I'm worried that just by being compared to you my chances of being accepted would just plummet, or worse, grant me something I don't deserve."

"I can respect that." Was my response, but I knew she had more she wanted to say. "Yes?"

"Oh, it's just that…" She struggled to find the right words. "…could you just sit this one out? I mean, I would be lucky if they don't already know we are related by our family names, but if possible I would like to avoid any unfair comparison." She lowered her head meekly, understanding how weird she must've come off. "I mean, I know it's your school and all…and—-"

"No problem, Gwen." I eventually interrupted her and said. "Not that I plan to let you all go alone into that place, knowing how things are there, just in case. Not to mention that I can literally become a ghost when I want."

"I was wondering if you could still become that freaky guy." Kate remarked with a face of surprise. "Now it's a haunted school. I like it."

From the looks she gave me, Gwen might've been briefly worried that I might be secretly planning to ruin things for her with the Bancroft Academy, but our relationship has improved so much from the start of our summer trip that she now fully trusted me.

We arrived late that morning, pulling into Bancroft's expansive campus. The grounds sprawled in every direction, a mix of old Gothic-style buildings and modern architectural marvels. 

It felt like stepping into a school from a fantasy movie.

Just as planned, I slipped away as soon as I could. Once I was out of sight, I mentally selected the form I wanted my Omnitrix to turn me into. A flash of green light enveloped me and a moment later I was in my Ectonurite (Ghostfreak) form. 

My translucent body shimmered in the sunlight as I floated above the group, unseen.

Max walked with Gwen, Kate and Lucy as they joined their tour group guide, Tiffany, a raven haired pale-skin girl with a sharp expression and an air of superiority. 

She held her clipboard like it was a scepter, her every word dripping with smug confidence.

"And recently." Tiffany said, gesturing toward the main hall. "Bancroft Academy was awarded the prestigious solid gold trophy for Best School on the East Coast. So you can see why we are very picky about who we admit. Some people delude themselves into thinking they are Bancroft material. It's so sad."

'Man, she's always so dramatic.' I thought, recalling our brief encounters, rolling my ghostly singular eye. 'Isn't the whole point of a tour to make the school sound welcoming? Who thought she was a good idea for this job?'

"Well." Gwen began, her voice clear and confident, ready to impress. "I have a 4.2 GPA, I'm president of the computer club, treasurer of the science society, a volunteer for several local charities and a member of my school's jiu-jitsu team."

Floating nearby, I couldn't help but admire Gwen's dedication. 'Back when I was ten…uh, the first time…I was just playing video games and watching cartoons. Gwen really has her life together.'

"How nice for you." Tiffany replied, her sarcasm cutting through the air like a blade. "At Bancroft, it's as important who you are as what you've done. You know, if you're a person from a quality family."

Gwen's confident smile faltered and she looked down, her excitement dimming.

Max, standing a few feet behind her, frowned and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't listen to her, Gwen. We Tennysons can achieve anything we strive for with our hard work." 

"Kate was right, cus. This place is full of snobs and posers." Lucy, never one to hold back, stuck her tongue out at Tiffany's retreating form. "I really hope Ben can change things around."

Gwen straightened up, her resolve returning. "Let's just focus on what's next. I'm not letting some tour guide ruin this for me."

I smiled, unseen, as the group headed toward their next destination. Gwen was strong, but even the strongest people needed someone in their corner sometimes, even if that someone was a ghost.

Oblivious to the discussion provoked by her previous statement, Tiffany flipped her hair and turned to continue leading the group. "Do any of you have any questions?"

Kate raised her hand, her casual demeanor unfazed by Tiffany's attitude. "Yeah, actually. Why are so many kids here when it's summer vacation?"

"They're attending our prestigious summer school session." Tiffany replied with a haughty tone, as though it was obvious.

Kate shrugged. "Summer and school…two words that should never go together."

Lucy giggled, nudging Kate. "But Kate, you don't even go to school."

Kate gave Lucy a mock glare, but before their teasing could escalate, Max silenced them with a look that could cut glass.

The tour continued to the science lab, where Tiffany paused to highlight the state-of-the-art facilities. It was a room gleaming with polished steel counters and high-tech equipment, at the center of the room stood a massive electron microscope.

"This is our science lab." She announced, leading them into a sleek, modern space filled with equipment that wouldn't look out of place in a high-tech research institute.

"An electron microscope!" Gwen gasped, her eyes lighting up like a kid in a candy store, as she stepped closer to the impressive device.

Tiffany raised a brow, clearly unimpressed by Gwen's enthusiasm. "Yes. Bancroft believes in providing students with the best tools to foster innovation." Her gaze lingered and her tone turned pointed. "Though it takes more than fascination to earn a spot here."

Floating nearby, I shook my head. 'Really? She's mad that someone is impressed by our school's fancy toys? Is there no one else around who can give a tour?'

Kate, meanwhile, wandered over to a table lined with beakers and chemicals, she poked lazily at a beaker filled with a glowing green liquid, looking bored out of her mind.

"So…is this where you mix up your love potions?" She joked, earning a stifled laugh from Lucy.

Tiffany either didn't hear Kate joke or just didn't dignify the comment with a response, instead turning sharply on her heel. "Moving on."

Later, the group followed Tiffany across the sprawling Bancroft campus, the manicured lawns and pristine pathways flanked by towering Gothic architecture. Despite the overwhelming grandeur, I floated along unnoticed in my ghost form, staying close enough to keep an eye on my family.

"This is the Quad." Tiffany announced, gesturing to a vast courtyard with ivy-covered walls and a fountain centerpiece. Students mingled in small groups, many wearing Bancroft's signature navy blazers. "It's a hub of activity during the school year. Clubs meet here, debates are held and of course, it's the perfect place to unwind between classes."

"Looks more like a fashion show." Lucy whispered, eyeing the impeccably dressed students lounging near the fountain.

"It's beautiful." Gwen said, her eyes bright as she scanned the space.

"It's designed to impress." Kate muttered. "Like everything else here."

As they moved on, Tiffany led the group toward the library, a grand structure with towering stained-glass windows. She pushed open the heavy oak doors, revealing rows upon rows of bookshelves stretching to the vaulted ceiling.

"This is our library." Tiffany said, her tone hinting at pride. "Home to over one hundred thousand volumes, including rare manuscripts and first editions. We also have state-of-the-art digital resources for research."

Gwen's face lit up as she gazed around, practically vibrating with excitement. "This is incredible! I could spend hours here."

"More like years." Kate quipped, leaning against a shelf.

Tiffany's expression tightened, but she kept her composure. "Of course, our library isn't just for studying. It's also a quiet space for reflection and self-improvement…a key part of the Bancroft ethos."

'Self-improvement or self-congratulation?' I thought, smirking to myself as I drifted above.

As the tour group moved on through the library, I lingered behind, drifting in my ectoplasmic form through the pristine hallways. 

Bancroft Academy was exactly how I remembered it, polished, prestigious, and suffocatingly perfect.

Eventually, my attention was drawn to a small cluster of students near the lockers. Their uniforms were immaculate, their postures oozing confidence as they exchanged knowing glances. These were more examples of the true elite of Bancroft, the heirs to vast fortunes and dynasties, raised to believe the world was theirs to inherit.

'Makes me wonder if Eddie will ever consider applying, now that his grandfather will no longer force him to do anything he doesn't want to.' I mused to myself.

Among this small group of students, one girl stood out. She had golden blonde hair tied into a sleek ponytail and wore her uniform with tailored precision. Her sharp, calculating eyes darted toward the tour group, narrowing slightly as she spotted Tiffany leading Max and the girls.

"Playing tour guide again?" The girl sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "You'd think someone with her connections could get out of grunt work."

"Maybe she likes slumming it." A boy replied with a smirk.

"Please." A third brunette girl scoffed. "She's just proving she belongs. As if being the heir to the Hillcrest fortune isn't enough."

'Hillcrest family.' I recalled, recognizing the name of one of the wealthiest families on the East Coast.

"You know what my dad said about her family?" The boy added with a conspiratorial grin. "Their business is barely afloat and the family solely relies on old money. She's probably counting on impressing the principal to secure her spot here."

The blond girl's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. "Makes sense. Bancroft doesn't tolerate mediocrity. If you don't stand out, you're out."

Bored at their callousness, I tapped my ghostly fingers at the wall next to them and scared the three students away. 

Bancroft wasn't a school, I already knew that. It was a chessboard where everyone played to win and these kids were raised to be masters at exploiting any perceived weakness.

Lingering a moment longer, my gaze shifted towards Tiffany as she led Gwen and the others. Despite the constant venom of her peers, she still maintained an air of authority, her posture rigid and her tone clipped.

'That doesn't excuse how she's treating Gwen, but sort of explains where she learned it from' I thought while hovering around.

The final stop on the tour was the athletic complex, an expansive facility complete with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts and a massive indoor gymnasium. 

Tiffany gestured broadly as she spoke. "At Bancroft, we believe in nurturing the mind and body. Our athletic programs are among the best in the country and many of our students have gone on to become professional athletes."

"Impressive." Grandpa Max said, speaking up for the first time. He had been quiet for most of the tour, letting Gwen take the lead, but now his tone carried a note of genuine admiration.

Gwen glanced at her grandfather and smiled, his presence giving her a small boost of confidence.

As the tour concluded, Tiffany turned to face the group, her practiced smile firmly in place. "And that's a glimpse of what Bancroft Academy has to offer. Any final questions?"

Lucy raised her hand. "Yeah, do you guys have a cafeteria, or do you expect everyone to survive on books?"

Kate burst out laughing, while Gwen covered her face with her hand.

Tiffany's composed expression faltered for a fraction of a second before she recovered. 

"Our dining facilities are as exceptional as the rest of the campus." She said coolly. "Perhaps you'll see them…if you're ever invited to dine here."

As the group started to disperse, I hovered nearby, watching Gwen. Her excitement hadn't fully dimmed, but I could tell she felt the weight of the unspoken judgment around her.

"You're doing great, Gwen." I whispered in her ears, earning a genuine smile from her. "Don't let them get to you."

Later that afternoon, after the tour had ended and my family was going back to the Rust Bucket, I found Tiffany sitting alone near the fountain in the courtyard. Her polished demeanor from earlier was gone, replaced by a frustrated scowl as she scrolled through her phone.

I hovered in the shade of a nearby tree, keeping myself hidden but close enough to observe.

"Why do I even bother?" She muttered, tossing her phone into her designer bag with a huff. "He doesn't care. None of them care."

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her fingers tangling in her hair. For a moment, she looked less like the imperious tour guide and more like someone trying desperately to prove herself.

"I'm the perfect candidate." She continued under her breath, her voice barely audible over the bubbling of the fountain. "Top marks, impeccable lineage, flawless record. What more do they want to make me a knight?"

'Okay, I already get that she's trying to stand out. But why is she so desperate?' I realized, watching her closely. 'Could it really be all about money?

Tiffany's phone buzzed again and she pulled it out with an irritated sigh. The screen flashed a name I didn't recognize, which likely belonged to her leading knight since she was already a squire. 

Whatever the message said, it only deepened the scowl on her face.

"More babysitting duty." She grumbled. "Just what I need."

She stood abruptly, brushing off her skirt and squaring her shoulders. The imperious mask slid back into place and by the time she marched away, she was the picture of composure once again.

That night, I returned to the Rust Bucket after spending sometime with my family, contemplating my thoughts as I replayed the events of the day. 

Bancroft wasn't just a school for the wealthy and brilliant. It was a battleground where every student fought for their place and even the best weren't guaranteed a place inside the order of the Forever Knights.

Tiffany was a prime example. She wasn't just testing Gwen out of spite or snobbery. She was measuring her, gauging whether she was a potential rival or an asset.

'She obviously knows about my proximity with Gwen.' I concluded, lying back on the roof of the RV in my human form. 'That's why she's pushing Gwen so hard. If she thinks Gwen's anything like me, she's not going to make this easy.'

Gwen wanted to prove herself on her own terms and she deserved that chance. But if Tiffany thought she could undermine my cousin, she was in for a surprise.

Now looking at the stars above, I noticed they were a stark contrast to the artificial perfection of Bancroft, but they also reminded me why this mattered, the reason why I deliberately choose to go after the Forever Knights.

————————————————————————

(03/07/2024)

(20/12/2024)

(08/01/2025)

*Hey there! Thanks for reading my work! I hope this chapter is of your liking. 

Any ideas for powers, adventure arcs and girls are more than welcomed. I might not use anything, but you will have my gratitude for trying.

If this chapter is a mess of grammatical errors, please wait, I'll promptly try to fix it. But for that I need your feedback.

Thanks as always for your time, hope you have a fantastic day and please stay safe.

Bye.

**Greetings to all my dear readers who have endured waiting for another chapter! My deepest apologies, I really planned to update this chapter by Christmas, but so much happened with my life. And also I wasn't satisfied with how the final two episodes of season 2 were coming so I finally decided to cut them and put them in the next chapter.

Hope you've enjoyed how I've finished introducing Charmcaster, I was aiming to make her relationship with my MC somewhat different from what he already has with the rest of his team of female villains. It also allowed me to hint at some of the world building changes I've made to Charmcaster and her people, her following appearances will continue doing that just not make it into a dump.

As for my portrayal of the underwater resort episode, I had to do something else to spice things up, otherwise it would've been a rather bland segment to narrate. I was also so glad to have the perfect opportunity to introduce the Secret Saturdays. I'm really interested in hearing the opinions of those who have watched it more passionately than me.

Moving to the last segment, I was honestly planning to only deal with Ghostfreak during his visit at Bancroft, but the timing for some reason just fell a little off to me. I've also tried to overhaul the entire concept of the school Gwen is interested in attending, though I'm not sure it matches with the description I gave during my very first chapter. Will have to check it out later. I don't even remember if I mentioned that Lucy had been homeschooled up to that point, but it just felt right to me while writing this chapter.

*** Finally, I would like to ask anyone who is interested in having a discord chat for us to speak more easily, let me know. I don't know it all that well but if there is enough interest I can easily google it out and make one for us.

****Happy Christmas 🎄 and Happy New Year 🎆!!!