Chapter 23: Alliance of Kingdoms
On a gloomy morning in Metropolis, the emergency alarm echoed through the Watchtower. Black crystals had begun appearing in multiple locations simultaneously: Paris, Central City, Atlantis, and near Gotham.
Thermal scans and energy interference confirmed that this wasn't a random invasion... it was a coordinated strategy.
Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Flash, Cyborg, and Green Lantern gathered for an urgent meeting. The leader's voice was sharp and focused:
Batman:
"Kairus isn't attacking at random. He's testing our ability to scatter... and to coordinate."
The team was divided into groups:
Superman was sent to Paris.
Flash took Central City.
Wonder Woman focused on Gotham.
Cyborg reinforced the orbital defenses.
Batman remained for central analysis.
As for Ben, he was assigned alongside Green Arrow to a remote mountain range in the Andes, where strange low-frequency crystal signals had emerged.
Though the threat seemed minimal, Ben felt a whisper inside his mind—as if Khairus knew where he was.
Suddenly, they were ambushed by entities no hero had seen before: the Hollow Shades.
Faceless, swift beings that fed not on weapons... but on life energy.
Ben fought beside Green Arrow. He transformed into Heatblast, but the fire had no effect.
He then switched to Chromastone, managing to crush one of them, yet felt his body resonate with the same frequency these creatures emitted.
Green Arrow:
"Ben... you're not just attacking them... you're vibrating with them."
Ben calmed himself. Instead of brute force, he focused his energy and transformed into blitzwolfer. Then he let out a sonic howl that paralyzed the creatures momentarily.
A moment of stillness…
Then, from within the shadows, a new type of black crystal emerged—with a symbol eerily resembling the Omnitrix.
Ben approached it cautiously. The moment he touched it, something shifted inside the watch... and a lost transformation returned—XLR8.
Green Arrow (stunned):
"That crystal… gave you back one of your forms?!"
Ben replied quietly:
"Or maybe... it reminded me of it."
They retrieved the crystal and returned to the Watchtower. Batman analyzed the symbol engraved deep within, and what he found was chilling:
> "This isn't just Kairus' mark… it's Azmuth's signature—buried in the core."
Ben froze in place.
Supergirl looked at him—not with judgment, but sorrow... and empathy.
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