"Ben Tennyson," Paradox said, his voice calm and reassuring amidst the desolation. "I must say, you've arrived in quite a… precarious situation."
"Paradox? What's going on? Where am I? And what was that thing that attacked the Plumber HQ?" Ben demanded, his voice laced with anger and grief.
Paradox sighed, his expression turning grave. "That, my boy, was a Carnitrix. A twisted reflection of the Omnitrix, born from a dark corner of the multiverse. And you, Ben, are now standing on a world that has already fallen victim to its terror."
Ben's blood ran cold. "You mean… this isn't the first time?"
"Indeed. This reality was once vibrant, teeming with life. But the Carnitrix, wielded by another Ben Tennyson, consumed it all. He… he left nothing but ashes." Paradox gestured to the desolate landscape. "And now, that same Carnitrix threatens your world, and countless others."
"But why? What does it want?"
"I'm afraid I can only speculate. But it seems this twisted Azmuth sought to prove that all life is inherently violent and destructive, and the Carnitrix is his ultimate argument."
Ben clenched his fists. "We have to stop it. How?"
"That, Ben, is why I'm here. This threat is too great for any single Ben Tennyson to face alone. We need to gather allies, to call upon the strength of the multiverse." Paradox tapped his pocket watch. "I've already reached out to a few… interested parties. Prepare yourself, Ben. You're about to meet some very different versions of yourself."
As if on cue, the air shimmered again, and a series of portals opened around them. From each portal emerged a different Ben Tennyson, each bearing a unique Omnitrix and transformed into a different alien form. There was a Ben as Humungousaur, another as Swampfire, and even one as a hulking, cybernetic version of Rath.
One Ben, however, stood out. He was older, his face etched with the lines of countless battles. His Omnitrix was seamlessly integrated into his arm, glowing with an intense blue light. He was Ben 10,000.
"Professor," Ben 10,000 said, his voice deep and commanding. "Report."
"Ben 10,000," Paradox replied. "I'm afraid the situation is even worse than we anticipated. This Ben Tennyson has already witnessed the Carnitrix's devastation firsthand. He's lost… everything."
Ben 10,000's gaze softened as he looked at Ben, his eyes filled with a mixture of sympathy and resolve. "We'll make them pay," he said. "All of us. Tennyson's, assemble! It's time to show this Carnitrix what we're made of!"
Ben, still reeling from the revelations and the sheer number of alternate versions of himself, nodded grimly. He activated the Ultimatrix, cycling through his available forms. He needed something powerful, something that could make a difference. His gaze landed on Atomix. Energy surged through him as the transformation completed. He knew what needed to be done. This wasn't just about saving his world anymore. This was about saving the entire multiverse.
But even as he prepared for battle, a chilling thought crept into his mind. If the Carnitrix was wielded by another Ben Tennyson, was there a chance, no matter how slim, that it could corrupt him too? And if so, what would he become?
Suddenly, a distorted voice echoed from the wasteland. "So, the Tennyson's have gathered. How… predictable." From the shadows emerged the Carnitrix Ben, his form shifting and changing, a grotesque amalgamation of alien DNA. "Let's see if you can handle... this!"
With a horrifying shriek, the Carnitrix Ben slammed the dial on the device and transformed again. This time, the light was blinding, and the air crackled with an energy that dwarfed even Atomix's power. When the light subsided, standing in its place was… Alien X. But twisted. Corrupted. And impossibly powerful.