"So it really is Waterhazard."
Ben stared at the Omnitrix's holographic display with growing excitement, recognition finally dawning as he studied the alien profile. The initial designation "Orishan" had thrown him off completely, he'd been expecting some kind of mountain-dwelling species rather than an aquatic powerhouse.
But now, seeing the distinctive crustacean silhouette with its characteristic hood-like carapace, everything clicked into place. This wasn't just another aquatic alien, this was one of the most formidable water-based transformations in his entire arsenal.
"My apologies for not recognizing you immediately, Your Majesty," Ben said with mock formality, though his genuine enthusiasm was unmistakable.
Compared to Ripjaws, whose unfortunate appearance often made audiences feel sympathy rather than fear, Waterhazard projected an aura of absolute oceanic authority. The red exoskeleton plates covered his form like natural armor, each segment perfectly designed for both protection and hydrodynamic efficiency. The overall impression was less "sea creature" and more "aquatic war machine."
"The Brine Kingdom's evolutionary path makes perfect sense now," Ben mused, studying his reflection in the calm ocean surface. "Volcanic vents, crushing pressure, hostile environment, they needed to become living tanks just to survive."
Waterhazard's design reflected millions of years of adaptation to the most extreme underwater conditions. The hood-like structure wasn't merely decorative, it served as a specialized sun visor that prevented dehydration during surface operations, while the barnacle-like water spouts across his body could function as both weapons and environmental control systems.
Unlike Ripjaws, whose streamlined form prioritized speed and agility, Waterhazard appeared built for raw power and elemental control. His clawed hands looked capable of tearing through submarine hulls, while the bioluminescent slits that served as eyes seemed to glow with barely contained energy.
"Time for some field testing," Ben decided, extending one clawed hand toward a distant coral reef formation.
The response was immediate and devastating. High-pressure water erupted from the spout in his palm like a focused tsunami, striking the reef with enough force to reduce ancient limestone to powder in seconds. The hydro-blast carved through solid rock as easily as a laser through paper, leaving behind nothing but a cloud of suspended sediment.
"Holy..." Ben breathed, staring at the destruction in amazement. "That was just a casual shot!"
But demolishing geological formations was only the beginning of Waterhazard's capabilities. Ben could feel his consciousness expanding to encompass the ocean around him, every current and temperature gradient suddenly as tangible as his own limbs.
With a thought, he reached out to the surrounding water and began reshaping it according to his will. The previously calm sea surface erupted into a massive whirlpool, its spiral arms extending hundreds of meters in all directions. Jets of water shot skyward like liquid geysers, twisting through the air in impossible helical patterns before crashing back down in perfectly controlled cascades.
"Complete hydrokinetic dominance," Ben observed with satisfaction. "But can I take it to the next level?"
The ultimate test of water manipulation wasn't controlling oceans or rivers, it was controlling the liquid within living organisms themselves. Blood, lymphatic fluid, cellular water content, if Waterhazard could manipulate those, he'd possess one of the most terrifying abilities in his entire transformation catalog.
An unfortunate fish caught in his whirlpool provided the perfect test subject. Ben focused his consciousness on the creature's biological systems, feeling for the water molecules distributed throughout its tissues.
The sensation was strange, like trying to perform surgery while wearing thick gloves, or attempting to pick up soap with hands covered in oil. He could sense the target fluids, but controlling them required significantly more effort than manipulating environmental water.
"Let's see what happens with a direct approach," Ben muttered, clenching his fist in the air.
The fish's body erupted like a burst water balloon, internal pressure overcoming tissue resistance in a spectacular display of red mist and shredded biology. The destruction was complete and instantaneous, but Ben found himself frowning at the results.
"Effective against weaker targets, but the control lacks precision," he analyzed critically. "For enemies with enhanced durability, this technique would be too slow to matter in combat."
He tried a different approach with his next test subject, a curious shark drawn by the scent of blood from his previous experiment. Instead of explosive internal pressure, Ben attempted gradual dehydration, slowly drawing moisture from the predator's cells through careful manipulation.
The process worked, but took nearly thirty minutes to reduce the shark to a desiccated husk. By the end, Ben had extracted every drop of fluid from the creature's body, leaving behind something that looked like an ancient Egyptian mummy.
"Terrifying in concept, but tactically impractical," Ben concluded with disappointment. "In space-level combat, thirty minutes might as well be thirty years."
Still, the raw potential was undeniable. If Princess Mera could achieve instantaneous hydrokinetic effects, then the limitation was probably genetic rather than fundamental. Perhaps the right combination of underwater kingdom genes could enhance Waterhazard's biological manipulation capabilities.
"Speaking of genetic enhancement..." Ben activated the Omnitrix's fusion protocols and began integrating DNA samples from the Brine Kingdom's warrior caste.
The results were immediately apparent. His exoskeleton hardened to near-diamond durability while his physical strength increased exponentially. Where the base Waterhazard form had been focused on elemental control, the enhanced version felt like a fusion of wizard and berserker, capable of both massive hydrokinetic displays and devastating close-quarters combat.
"Now this is what I call a balanced build," Ben said with satisfaction, experimentally punching through a nearby underwater boulder. The stone crumbled like chalk under the impact, validating his assessment of the enhanced form's melee capabilities.
But genetic optimization was only the beginning of his preparation. According to his intelligence gathering, three more underwater kingdoms remained to be sampled, each with their own unique evolutionary adaptations. The Kingdom of Atlantis would provide the baseline humanoid template, while Xebel's hydrokinetic specialists might unlock the precision control he currently lacked.
"Time to infiltrate the big leagues," Ben decided, shifting back to his Ripjaws form and diving toward the golden spires of Atlantis proper.
The increased military presence around the kingdom's borders was immediately obvious to his enhanced senses. Patrol vessels moved in coordinated sweeps through the water column, their bio-luminescent hulls casting eerie patterns across the seafloor. Guard posts that had previously operated with skeleton crews now bustled with armed soldiers, while checkpoint procedures had clearly been upgraded to wartime standards.
"Either they know I'm coming for the Mother Box," Ben mused, "or something else is driving this security theater."
A quick infiltration of the border communication networks provided the answer: Princess Mera of Xebel had arrived for her politically motivated marriage to King Orm. The increased security was diplomatic protocol rather than anti-Ben preparations.
"Perfect timing," Ben realized with growing excitement. "Two kingdoms' worth of genetic samples in one location."
The immigration checkpoint proceeded smoothly thanks to his diplomatic credentials from the Fishermen Kingdom. Atlantean bureaucracy operated with typical efficiency, though Ben noticed several layers of identity verification that suggested genuine paranoia about infiltration attempts.
What he didn't notice was the pair of emerald eyes watching him from a nearby diplomatic transport.
Inside the luxury vessel carrying Xebel's delegation, Princess Mera found herself studying the unusual figure moving through the immigration queue with undisguised curiosity.
"Your Highness seems fascinated by something," observed Captain Nerida, her personal bodyguard and oldest friend. The warrior followed Mera's gaze toward the Fishermen Kingdom immigrant, then raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Just observing the local population," Mera replied diplomatically, though her attention remained fixed on the strange aquatic humanoid. "That individual doesn't quite match the typical Fishermen Kingdom citizen."
It was true, most citizens of that realm possessed distinctly pointed cranial features and traditional bioluminescent organs. This specimen displayed a streamlined, predatory head structure and emitted a faint, natural blue phosphorescence from its skin and gills, typical of deep-sea species adapted to the darkness.
"Could he be from one of the other kingdoms?" Nerida suggested. "Perhaps carrying false documentation?"
"Possible, but unlikely," Mera mused. "The tail and gill structure are definitely consistent with Fishermen genetics. He's probably just an unusually handsome example of his species."
Nerida's expression suggested she found Princess Mera's aesthetic assessment questionable at best. From a Xebelian perspective, the creature looked more like something that belonged in a marine biology textbook than a royal court.
"If you say so, Your Highness," Nerida replied diplomatically. "Though I confess, by our standards he appears rather... distinctive."
The cultural disconnect was understandable. Where Fishermen Kingdom aesthetics valued hydrodynamic efficiency and bioluminescent displays, Xebelian beauty standards emphasized more humanoid features and graceful proportions. What Mera found "handsome" in an alien sense, Nerida perceived as simply bizarre.
"Different kingdoms, different perspectives," Mera said with a slight smile, though her mood quickly sobered as she remembered her destination. "I suppose I'll need to adjust to many new viewpoints during my time in Atlantis."
The reminder of her political marriage cast a shadow over the moment. Soon she would meet King Orm face-to-face, beginning a relationship that would define the rest of her life regardless of personal compatibility or romantic inclination.
"At least Counselor Vulko seems like a reasonable man," she said, trying to find positive aspects of her situation. "If King Orm shares his mentor's wisdom and diplomatic temperament, perhaps this arrangement won't be as challenging as I fear."
Unfortunately for Princess Mera's hopes, King Orm's actual personality bore little resemblance to his advisor's measured rationality. But she would discover that soon enough.
As her transport moved deeper into Atlantis proper, Mera caught one last glimpse of the unusual Fishermen Kingdom immigrant before he disappeared into the crowd. Something about his confident demeanor suggested he was far more than he appeared, though she had no way of knowing that her casual observation had been noted by one of the most dangerous beings in the known universe.