Chapter 4 - Echo of Shadows

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Note: The previous chapter has been modified.

📘 Chapter 4: Echo of Shadows

The noise had faded, but the tension still burned.

In a dim corner of the Watchtower, Ben sat silently, his hands bound by advanced tech that even the Omnitrix couldn't override. In front of him, Batman stared, wordless, as if reading every pulse in Ben's body, while Cyborg scanned data from the latest attack site.

> "You said you don't know how you got here..."

Batman finally spoke, his tone cold and calculating.

Ben replied, "I woke up in the street. There was no trace of anything from my world... I'm not lying."

But Batman said nothing. He turned to Cyborg instead.

> "And the crystal?"

Cyborg projected a hologram.

> "It's emitting electromagnetic signals synced with the Omnitrix. It's like they're... speaking the same language."

Supergirl, who had been watching silently from afar, stepped closer. She looked at the black crystal, then at Ben.

> "Is it possible... the crystals are trying to communicate with the Omnitrix?"

Batman made his decision.

> "If there's a link, Gotham is the only place where we can analyze it safely—away from surveillance satellites."

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In Gotham, the night shows no mercy.

Everything was eerily quiet. Even the air felt unnaturally still. In one of the alleys, the darkness itself twisted. From the cracks between the bricks, a tall, silent creature emerged—its body cloaked in a smoky aura. It looked like Batman... but wrong.

A civilian stumbled back, terrified, whispering:

> "It's... it's Batman... but with no eyes..."

Back at the Watchtower, alarms blared.

The Flash turned to the screen.

> "One of those things just showed up—second time we've seen one in Gotham."

Ben, watching the screen, suddenly stood.

> "I can help! You took my Omnitrix... but those creatures—they're not acting randomly."

Supergirl looked at Batman.

> "Let him try, under Flash's supervision. If there really is a connection between him and those things... maybe it's useful."

After a moment of silence, Batman gave a sharp nod.

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In the alleyways of Gotham, Ben moved with The Flash. The Omnitrix reappeared on his wrist, and he selected Big Chill.

As soon as he transformed, he felt something off... like the air itself was resisting him.

The creature appeared—a twisted version of Batman, moving silently, emotionlessly.

The fight began.

Ben tried freezing it, but the creature dodged with eerily accurate reflexes.

Flash shouted, "It's mimicking Batman's moves exactly—but it can't improvise!"

In a quick burst of speed, Flash created a vortex, disorienting the creature. Ben seized the moment and froze it in place.

He approached it. Its face was blank—just a black void where the eyes should be. No expression. No voice.

But when Ben touched the icy surface of the creature, he suddenly dropped to his knees.

A vision struck him.

Kaïros stood before a massive door floating in space, behind which swirled vortexes of shadow.

> "We are not born from nothing, Ben... we are reclaimed. Piece by piece."

Then the vision ended.

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When Ben came to, Batman and the others were watching him.

> "What did you see?" Batman asked.

Ben replied in a low voice:

> "These things... they're not just attacking us. They're looking for something... or someone."

Batman turned to the crystal—it had begun glowing on its own.

> "They're not just parasites... they're messages. And apparently, you're one of the recipients."

End of Chapter 4

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