The simultaneous appearance of Muspelheim's fire dragon and Dark Elf dark-matter weaponry in Khyber's possession couldn't possibly be coincidental. Combined with the Collector's intelligence about Svartalfheim's forces conquering the Realm of Fire, Ben could see the larger pattern emerging with disturbing clarity.
"Khyber's enhanced capabilities probably came from Vilgax's technological upgrades," Ben mused, watching the last traces of the huntsman's fiery trajectory fade into space distance. "Troublesome, but not insurmountable."
While Khyber's individual power had increased significantly, his partnership with Vilgax actually simplified Ben's strategic calculations. Rather than hunting two separate enemies across the galaxy, he could eventually confront them together when the time came to deal with Vilgax directly.
More importantly, Vilgax now possessed detailed intelligence about Ben's current capabilities and organizational structure. With Loki serving as a double agent within the Dark Elf alliance, the web of deception was growing increasingly complex. If Khyber had operated independently, his escape would have severed all tracking possibilities, leaving Ben with no actionable intelligence.
Ben cancelled his Ultimate Heatblast transformation, allowing the space flames to subside as his human form reasserted itself. The Collector studied his true appearance with obvious recognition, his ancient eyes immediately identifying the teenage ruler who had humiliated Praetor Kallark before the assembled galactic powers.
"So you're the Chief Magistratus of the Plumbers organization," Tivan observed, his gaze shifting inevitably to the Omnitrix secured around Ben's wrist. "Those alien genetic templates you mentioned earlier—they're all stored within that device, aren't they? The transformation capabilities are genuinely remarkable."
The Collector's fascination was understandable. While shapeshifting existed throughout the galaxy—the Skrulls had built an entire empire on such abilities—their transformations were limited to superficial mimicry of appearance and basic physiology. They couldn't actually acquire the target species' inherent superpowers or space abilities.
There were rare exceptions, but they typically required specialized technology, magical enhancement, or genetic modification far beyond standard Skrull capabilities.
"Why? Are you developing an interest in my watch?" Ben asked, allowing a subtle edge of warning to color his voice.
The Collector immediately raised his hands in a gesture of harmless surrender. "I wouldn't dare risk my extremely long life for any collection, no matter how extraordinary."
The denial was entirely truthful—and entirely incomplete. Tivan absolutely wanted the Omnitrix for his repository, but he wasn't suicidal enough to attempt theft from someone who could casually obliterate legendary dragons with cosmic fire. Perhaps if he could recruit several other Elders to assist in the acquisition... but then there was the matter of Ben's alliance with Asgard to consider.
The political complications alone made such schemes inadvisable. Sometimes discretion truly was the better part of collecting.
"The genetic samples from your specimens will be sufficient compensation," Ben assured him, gesturing toward the devastated repository. "Is our previous arrangement still valid?"
Tivan surveyed the ruins of his life's work with visible despair. Countless display cases lay shattered, their priceless contents reduced to ash, debris, or scattered biological matter. Several living specimens had apparently escaped during the chaos—he could already hear distressed roaring echoing from Knowhere's ventilation systems.
"The transaction remains agreeable," he sighed heavily, "though I'll need time to salvage whatever remains intact and assess the full extent of the damage."
"I need to track down Gamora and Thanos first anyway," Ben replied with understanding. While the Collector's genetic repository represented an invaluable resource for expanding the Omnitrix's species database, recovering the stolen Infinity Stones took absolute priority.
Those artifacts might be relatively useless in Ben's hands—he rarely required their power for daily operations—but in villainous control, they could facilitate universal destruction within minutes.
He was also genuinely concerned about Eunice's safety. While she possessed formidable capabilities through the Mind Stone and Extremis enhancement, Thanos had decades of experience manipulating space forces. A direct confrontation could easily result in the Mad Titan claiming a third Stone for his collection.
"Before I leave, though, I'd like that deposit we discussed," Ben said casually.
The Collector nodded, retrieving a metallic sample from his salvage efforts. "Much of the Celestial bone marrow has been processed over the millennia, but raw specimens are still available for those willing to pay premium prices."
He handed the ore fragment to Ben, then watched with intense curiosity as the young man adjusted his Omnitrix to scanning mode. "Are you actually planning to extract genetic material from that sample?"
Tivan's expression shifted from interest to genuine alarm as Ben placed the Celestial fragment against the device's sensor array. As one of the universe's eldest beings, the Collector understood exactly what genetic heritage lay dormant within that space metal.
The Celestials existed as gods among gods—entities so powerful that even Odin the All-Father showed deference in their presence. If the Omnitrix could successfully decode and replicate such transcendent genetics, then Ben could potentially achieve true divinity through technological means.
For several minutes, the Collector held his breath, watching the scanning process with anticipation that bordered on religious fervor.
Finally, the device's yellow indicator light completed its cycle, and Ben shook his head with apparent disappointment. "No luck. The Celestial existence operates on a level beyond the watch's current capabilities."
He returned the ore sample to Tivan, who accepted it with mixed emotions—relief that such space power remained beyond easy acquisition, and disappointment that he wouldn't witness the birth of a new Celestial.
"I suppose even miraculous technology has its limitations," the Collector mused, his desire for the Omnitrix diminishing somewhat. If the device couldn't process higher-dimensional genetics, its strategic value dropped considerably in his assessment.
"I'll clean up this disaster zone and prepare the promised genetic samples," Tivan continued. "We can finalize our trade arrangement when you return."
Notably absent from his statement was any mention of the Infinity Stone exchange. While they'd originally agreed to trade Reality for Soul Stone custody, that arrangement had been predicated on Gamora's willing cooperation. With Thanos possessing her body and wielding both artifacts, previous agreements became meaningless political formalities.
The Collector didn't expect Ben to honor their Stone-sharing compact after defeating Gamora and reclaiming the artifacts. Such naive generosity simply wasn't realistic among space power players.
Ben nodded understanding and gathered the unconscious Nebula, preparing to return to their spacecraft. As he turned to leave, he glanced surreptitiously at his Omnitrix display, confirming information he'd deliberately concealed from the Collector.
Unlike his public statement, the Celestial genetic extraction had succeeded completely. The device that could analyze outer-dimensional entities like Alien X would hardly struggle with space gods from the local reality.
Ben had simply activated the watch's silent mode before beginning the scan, preventing the usual audio confirmation that would have revealed the successful acquisition to observing parties.
"Impossible to obtain genes from higher-level life forms," he'd claimed, creating a fictional limitation that would reduce the Collector's covetous interest in the device. The deception served multiple strategic purposes—it protected the Omnitrix's true capabilities while downplaying its overall value in Tivan's estimations.
If the Collector believed the watch was merely a sophisticated transformation tool with significant but manageable limitations, he'd be far less likely to scheme for its acquisition.
In reality, the Omnitrix's theoretical upper limits remained virtually uncapped. The device could extract genetic templates from abstract entities, dimensional lords, or even conceptual beings if circumstances allowed proper scanning procedures.
But more intriguingly, this particular sample had yielded an unexpected bonus—something that had happened only once before when Ben scanned Star-Lord's Celestial heritage.
"Another dual species unlock," Ben murmured as he examined the watch's display in private. Alongside the traditional Celestial icon, a second symbol had appeared—something resembling a massive humanoid form with distinctive head fins.
"Just like when I collected Quill's genetics and unlocked Gravattack," he recalled. "This time the bonus seems to be... some kind of ultraman?"
This is Way Big, is a member of the To'kustar species. These immense, humanoid creatures are among the most powerful beings in the Ben 10 universe, primarily due to their gigantic stature and formidable abilities.
To'kustars are not native to a conventional planet. Instead, they are born and reside within the volatile and awe-inspiring environments of cosmic storms. This unique origin grants them a deep connection to cosmic energies, which they can manipulate to a devastating effect.
Physically, a To'kustar is a towering figure, dwarfing even the largest terrestrial structures. They possess incredible superhuman strength and durability, capable of withstanding immense physical punishment and repelling powerful energy blasts with ease. A prominent fin extends from their head, and they have distinctive blades on their shoulders and hips.
The parallel was encouraging. Star-Lord's hybrid nature had provided access to both Celestial abilities and the gravity-manipulating Gravattack transformation. The Celestial sample appeared to have unlocked something similar—a secondary genetic template with its own unique capabilities.
"Could these To'kustar genes potentially fuse with the Celestial template?" Ben wondered, his mind already racing through the theoretical possibilities.
If successful, such fusion might surpass even Gravattack's power, creating a combat form second only to Alien X in sheer destructive potential. Unless Ben achieved full mastery over the Celestialsapien transformation, a Celestial-To'kustar hybrid could become his primary weapon against space-level threats.
"Worth attempting," he decided. "The fact that both genetics activated simultaneously suggests strong compatibility. This could provide valuable data for future fusion experiments."
Back aboard their spacecraft, Ben activated his connection to Azmuth's central processing network, initiating the gene-editing protocols he and Eunice had developed for the Omnitrix's enhanced functions.
The original genetic overlay system had been designed to integrate alien abilities with Ben's human physiology without altering his base appearance. Expanding that technology to encompass fusion between two non-human genetic templates represented a significant technical challenge, but the potential rewards justified the computational expense.
"Azmuth calculating parameters..." the AI assistant announced through the ship's communication systems. "Gene fusion evolution... failed... recalibrating matrix... evolution failed..."
Row after row of bright red failure notifications scrolled across Ben's display as the system attempted thousands of potential genetic combinations. Each collapse represented another incompatible arrangement, another pathway that led to biological impossibility rather than stable enhancement.
"This could take considerable time," Ben acknowledged, watching the endless parade of failed calculations. But patience was fundamental to scientific breakthrough—success required only a single viable combination among millions of theoretical possibilities.
His analysis was interrupted by stirring sounds from the passenger compartment as Nebula regained consciousness.
"Gamora!" she called out, her voice thick with disorientation as she struggled to process her surroundings. "Wait... this is our ship?"
"Gamora attacked you and then escaped," Ben explained gently, moving to help her sit upright. "More precisely, she was being controlled by Thanos's consciousness. Eunice is currently tracking their energy signature."
"Of course he is," Nebula snarled, her metallic fists clenching with remembered fury. "That's exactly what Thanos does—sacrifice anyone, even his own daughters, to achieve his objectives."
The betrayal stung particularly deeply because it reminded Nebula of countless similar manipulations throughout their childhood. Thanos had consistently turned his adopted daughters against each other, using their emotional bonds as weapons in his twisted training regimens.
"Don't worry too much," Ben offered reassuringly. "The Aether isn't the Space Stone—even if Thanos can use reality manipulation for teleportation, his range should be limited. Eunice won't lose the trail."
Nebula nodded, taking comfort in the logical assessment. She'd witnessed Ben's capabilities firsthand during their battle against her father. If Thanos at full strength couldn't defeat the Plumber Magistratus, a weakened spirit possessing Gamora's body certainly couldn't escape indefinitely.
The more Thanos relied on Infinity Stone power for evasion, the easier he'd be to track. Eunice's Mind Stone integration made her the perfect hunter for such quarry.
Meanwhile, aboard the Plumbers' orbital station, an entirely different drama was unfolding in one of the secure conference chambers.
Thor, Steve Rogers, Peter Parker, and T'Challa stood in a circle around a familiar silver war hammer, their expressions ranging from determination to deep contemplation. The artifact rested on a simple pedestal, its enchanted surface gleaming under the chamber's artificial lighting.
"You mentioned it was forged from a star's core," Peter said, studying Mjolnir with scientific curiosity. "Theoretically, shouldn't its gravitational field drag our entire station toward Earth? The mass alone should be astronomical."
"Enchantments override physical limitations," Thor replied matter-of-factly, though his voice carried undertones of profound loss. "Anyone deemed worthy can lift Mjolnir and inherit the power of the Thunder God."
He knelt beside the hammer, running his fingers along its familiar curves with the tender affection of a lifelong friend. "This weapon has served alongside me for over a thousand years, through countless battles across the Nine Realms..."
The intimate gesture made the other three heroes exchange uncomfortable glances. There was something decidedly unsettling about the intensity of Thor's relationship with his weapon.
"Mr. Thor," Peter said diplomatically, "I think your attachment to that hammer might be... beyond normal?"
The observation stung because it contained uncomfortable truth. Since his exile, Thor had clung to Mjolnir as his only remaining connection to his lost divine heritage. The hammer represented everything he'd been, everything he might never be again.
"Now I cannot lift it," Thor continued with the gravity of a man delivering his final testament. "But Asgard needs its Thunder God, and the Nine Realms require protection."
He looked up at Steve with desperate hope. "I still struggle to understand what 'worthiness' truly means. You've proven yourself capable, Captain Rogers—why won't you try again?"
Steve shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. "I may have lost that qualification, Thor. Perhaps someone else should attempt it first."
The deflection carried weight of its own. Steve suspected his ability to wield Mjolnir stemmed from specific circumstances during their battle with the Destroyer—circumstances that might not apply under normal conditions.
"Maybe I should give it a shot?" Peter suggested gamely, approaching the hammer with characteristic optimism.
He gripped the handle with both hands, straining against its supernatural weight with visible effort. His enhanced strength pressed against space enchantment, muscles corded with exertion as he attempted to budge the artifact even slightly.
Finally, he stepped back with good-natured defeat. "Nope. Can't say I'm surprised, honestly. If someone handed me the keys to an entire realm, I'd probably crash it into a moon within the first week."
Despite his casual dismissal, Steve frowned thoughtfully at the result. Peter Parker embodied nearly every positive quality imaginable—courage, selflessness, moral clarity, and unwavering dedication to protecting others. If pure character couldn't qualify someone for Mjolnir's power, then the hammer's selection criteria operated on more complex principles than simple virtue.
All eyes turned to their final candidate. T'Challa approached the pedestal with regal composure, his movements carrying the natural authority of born leadership. He placed one hand on Mjolnir's handle, paused for a moment in silent contemplation, then stepped back without attempting to lift it.
"What happened?" Thor asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"I am a prince as well, Thor Odinson," T'Challa replied with quiet dignity. "Courage, integrity, kindness—these are indeed qualities that any ruler should possess. But they are neither complete nor sufficient qualifications for true leadership."
He clasped his hands behind his back, assuming a lecturing posture that reminded everyone of his role as Wakanda's future king. "My father taught me that a monarch must protect his people and his nation with both compassion and unwavering determination. I imagine the throne of Asgard requires nothing less."
T'Challa's gaze met Thor's directly, conveying the weight of royal understanding between equals. "This has never been about worthiness in the abstract sense. There is no cosmic scorecard measuring our virtue. There is only responsibility—duty to those who depend on us."
"You are Asgard's prince, Thor. You have received the loyalty and worship of your people for over a millennium. Regardless of whether some mystical hammer deems you 'worthy,' you have an obligation to save those people and protect your realm. Don't allow temporary setbacks to blind you to that fundamental truth."
The Wakandan prince's voice carried absolute conviction. "I believe that understanding responsibility over worthiness is exactly what your father hoped you would learn through this exile."
The words hit Thor like physical blows, each syllable forcing him to confront truths he'd been avoiding since his banishment began. Perhaps his focus on proving worthiness had been missing the point entirely.