**Chapter 3: Batman, Hurry Up and Use Your Plan B**
"Roar!"
The only response Batman received was a roar. A stream of heat surged from the Parademon's mouth, sending flames shooting straight into the sky.
Batman reacted quickly, dodging the Parademon's attack with a flash of movement, but the Parademon rushed up in the blink of an eye and delivered a solid right hook to Batman's head.
"Whoa~ that's gotta hurt."
Snatching a bucket of popcorn from an unmanned snack stall on the street, Ben gave Batman the stage. Opportunities to watch a superhero blockbuster this up close were rare.
Although Batman was completely at a disadvantage in terms of strength, Ben wasn't worried. Batman always had a Plan B. Intervening recklessly might actually ruin his plan.
"Woo woo~"
Accompanied by the whistle of a train, a train constructed of green energy sped through the air.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the green locomotive slammed the Parademon away from Batman's side, smashing it into a nearby shop.
"Hal Jordan should really consider how much compensation he'll have to pay Batman for the damage caused by the battle before using a move like that."
Seeing that creative attack, Ben knew Hal Jordan had arrived without even looking.
The massive impact seemed to have knocked the monster unconscious. As the dust settled, Hal Jordan, wrapped in green light, made his shining entrance.
"Batman? I didn't expect you to really exist."
While controlling the green lantern energy to bind the unconscious Parademon, Hal shone the green light from his ring onto Batman.
"Of course Batman exists. Your question is pointless."
Eating popcorn, Ben walked toward the subdued monster.
Flashing in front of the bound monster, Ben gently tapped the Omnitrix symbol on his chest, ending the transformation early.
The first-generation Omnitrix wasn't as intelligent as the subsequent Omniverse version, which could automatically detect and scan unknown DNA.
To capture new alien DNA with the first-generation Omnitrix, physical contact with the watch was required.
"Let me see what kind of thing you are."
Gently placing his hand on the fallen Parademon, Ben touched the parts of its body not covered by the high-tech armor with the watch dial.
As a green light flashed, the Omnitrix didn't start recording alien DNA as Ben had expected.
Watching the twisted appearance of the monster gradually change within the green light, a layer of strange pale blue substance peeled off its body bit by bit, gradually revealing its original appearance.
"Hey, I think you guys should come and see this!"
Seeing the monster before him turn back into a human under the Omnitrix's function, Ben subconsciously waved vigorously at Batman and Green Lantern, who were getting to know each other on the other side.
"Can someone tell me what happened? Did both aliens turn into humans?"
Looking at Ben, who had returned to human form, and the unconscious young man beside him, Hal Jordan exclaimed.
Even though he had undergone rigorous Green Lantern training on Oa, this was the first time he had encountered such a strange thing.
Batman glanced at the unconscious young man and used the micro-camera under his cowl to upload his photo to the Batcave computer.
"One of the victims kidnapped and missing a while ago."
Before long, Batman received a response confirming his identity. He was indeed one of the people who had been kidnapped and gone missing in Gotham City recently.
Kidnapped victims being modified into monsters to commit new kidnappings in Gotham—while such things did happen in Gotham City, they were not common.
However, having the ability to manufacture a normal person into this kind of monster and equip them with a suit of high-tech armor... even Batman couldn't think of who the mastermind was for a moment.
"Did you do this? Do you know something?"
Batman looked at Ben with a sharp gaze. This person could turn a transformed monster back into a human; perhaps he knew something.
After all, this teenager who suddenly appeared in Gotham City also possessed the ability to transform.
"I'm not too sure about the specifics either."
Spreading his hands, Ben felt a bit helpless at this moment.
He had originally wanted to record new alien DNA, but who would have thought he would trigger the Omnitrix's genetic repair function?
The monster just now seemed to be like the DNAliens in the second *Ben 10* series, some kind of genetically modified biological weapon.
The Omnitrix would only record the DNA of intelligent beings. For biological weapons like DNAliens, the Omnitrix would only activate the genetic repair function to help them repair their modified DNA.
"Being able to transform and turn him back is entirely thanks to this little broken watch. It seems the watch's genetic repair function was just activated."
Hal Jordan wasn't very satisfied with Ben's answer. Hal flew in front of Ben and raised the power ring in his hand.
"Let me see! Ring, scan and identify!"
Accompanied by the flashing green light, detection equipment constructed of green lantern energy immediately enveloped the Omnitrix on Ben's right hand.
"Starting scan, processing..."
Accompanied by a mechanical AI voice, the detection equipment began to operate, scanning and testing Ben's watch against the ring's database.
"Unable to identify!"
Soon, Hal Jordan received the ring's response. Obviously, as a Level 20 technological item, the Omnitrix was beyond the ring's identification range.
"Impossible. The ring knows everything the Guardians know. The Guardians are omniscient."
Hearing the ring's response, even with professional Green Lantern training, Hal Jordan wore a shocked expression.
"I think we should find another place to discuss the remaining issues."
Hal's shocked expression was indeed amusing, but the helicopters flying in from not far away and the continuous sirens made Ben feel they should skedaddle.
Soon, one police car after another surrounded the scene, and several helicopters circled in the sky.
"This is the GCPD! Put your hands on your head! I repeat, put your hands on your head!"
Gotham police officers got out of their cars and raised their guns in readiness. Broadcast warnings ordered the three people at the scene to raise their hands and surrender.
"I think they don't seem to welcome us very much!"
Hal Jordan turned his head to look at Batman beside him. Was the local hero's reputation really this bad?
They had just subdued a monster and saved a poor guy who had been modified. Why were they being treated like criminals by the Gotham police?
"The world fears us!"
Facing Hal Jordan, Batman responded with a calm face.
"One of my mortal enemies would definitely like you."
Batman's response made Hal Jordan recall a guy he never wanted to remember again.
"Shouldn't I pretend to be a hostage? It might be a bit safer."
Looking at the Gotham police surrounding them with live ammunition, Ben flashed behind Green Lantern and quipped speechlessly.
"Batman, hurry up and use your Plan B to get us out of here!"
...