Albedo's sudden appearance was as perplexing as it was welcome. Ben stared at his former nemesis, suspicion warring with a desperate hope. Could Albedo truly be on his side? Or was this just another elaborate scheme?
"Albedo? What are you doing here?" Ben asked, his voice laced with doubt.
"Saving your pathetic hide, Tennyson," Albedo retorted, his eyes fixed on Chronos. "Though, I admit, the prospect of seeing you erased from existence was… tempting."
"Spare me the theatrics," Chronos snarled. "You cannot hope to defeat me, Albedo. Your temporal tinkering is nothing compared to my power."
"Perhaps," Albedo conceded. "But I have something you lack: a reason to fight. And a device specifically designed to counteract your… unique abilities." He raised the device in his hand, a complex contraption of wires, circuits, and shimmering crystals. "I call it the Chronon Disruptor. It emits a field that destabilizes temporal energy, disrupting your control over time."
Chronos laughed. "A mere trinket! It will not save you!" He unleashed a wave of temporal energy towards Albedo, but the Chronon Disruptor activated, emitting a counter-wave that neutralized Chronos's attack. The temporal energy dissipated harmlessly, leaving Chronos visibly frustrated.
"Impressive," Chronos admitted. "But I have more than just temporal energy at my disposal." He summoned a vortex of energy around him, drawing power from the fractured timeline. The wasteland around them began to distort, past and future merging into a chaotic landscape. Dinosaurs roamed alongside futuristic robots, medieval castles stood next to towering skyscrapers. The very fabric of reality was unraveling.
"We need to stop him, now!" Ben shouted, his attention split between the chaotic landscape and the battle between Albedo and Chronos.
"I require assistance, Tennyson," Albedo said, his voice strained. "The Disruptor is effective, but it drains my energy rapidly. I cannot maintain it indefinitely."
Ben hesitated. Trusting Albedo was a gamble, but he had no other choice. He activated the Ultimatrix, cycling through his available forms. He needed something powerful, something that could withstand Chronos's temporal onslaught. He slammed down the dial, transforming into… Ultimate Humungousaur.
The massive, armored dinosaur roared, its sheer size and power shaking the ground. Ben charged towards Chronos, his armored fists smashing through the distorted landscape, obliterating dinosaurs and robots alike. He slammed into Chronos, sending the time god staggering backward. Albedo seized the opportunity, focusing the Chronon Disruptor on Chronos, further destabilizing his temporal energy.
Chronos roared in frustration, unleashing a blast of temporal energy that aged Ultimate Humungousaur, turning him into a frail, ancient dinosaur. But Ben refused to give up. He focused his will, forcing his body to revert to its prime. The transformation strained his body, pushing him to his limits, but he managed to regain his youthful strength.
He continued to attack Chronos relentlessly, his armored fists pounding the time god into the ground. Albedo supported him with the Chronon Disruptor, disrupting Chronos's attacks and weakening his defenses. Together, they managed to push Chronos back, forcing him to retreat.
Chronos, weakened and enraged, focused his power on a single point, creating a temporal rift, a gateway to another dimension. "You may have won this battle," he snarled, "but the war is far from over! I will return, Tennyson! And when I do, I will unleash a power that will make you beg for oblivion!" He stepped through the rift, and the gateway vanished, leaving Ben and Albedo alone in the desolate wasteland.
Ben reverted to his human form, exhausted and battered. He stared at Albedo, his expression a mixture of gratitude and suspicion. "Why, Albedo? Why did you help me?"
Albedo shrugged. "Let's just say that I have my own reasons for wanting Chronos gone. He was interfering with my… research."
"Research?" Ben asked, his brow furrowed. "What kind of research?"
"That is none of your concern, Tennyson," Albedo said. "Suffice it to say that I have a vested interest in preserving the timeline. For now. But do not mistake this alliance for friendship. I am merely using you, Tennyson. Just as you are using me."
Before Ben could respond, Albedo activated a teleportation device, vanishing in a flash of light. Ben was left alone in the wasteland, wondering what Albedo was planning and what the future held. He knew one thing for sure: the fight against Chronos was far from over.
Suddenly, Gwen and Kevin appear, seemingly out of nowhere. "Ben! What happened? One moment we were fighting Chronos, the next… we were gone!" Gwen exclaimed, clearly disoriented.
"Chronos created a temporal rift," Ben explained. "He scattered us across time. I don't know how, but he sent Albedo after me."
Kevin studies the surroundings, then looks back at Ben. "And where are we now?"
As if on cue, the ground begins to tremble. A massive shadow falls over them, and a deafening roar echoes through the wasteland. They look up to see a colossal, prehistoric beast, its eyes burning with hunger. It's a Tyrannosaurus Rex, but unlike any they've ever seen. This one is cybernetically enhanced, with metallic plates grafted onto its skin and laser cannons mounted on its back.
"Well," Kevin says, cracking his knuckles. "Looks like we're not out of the woods yet."
Can Ben, Gwen and Kevin defeat this cybernetic dinosaur? And what other dangers await them in this fractured timeline? Find out next time! Stay tuned!.