Chapter 4: Training Regimen and Growing Concerns.
The next six weeks passed in a blur of intensive preparation. Gwen had approached Ben's training with the same methodical precision she applied to everything else, creating detailed charts of each alien form's capabilities and developing tactical scenarios for different combat situations.
They'd established a routine: every day after school, they would meet at the abandoned warehouse district where Ben had first experimented with the Omnitrix. Gwen would time his transformations, take notes on his abilities, and drill him on strategic thinking.
"Diamondhead's crystalline structure makes him nearly invulnerable to physical attacks," Gwen recited from her notebook as Ben practiced forming crystal constructs, "but he's vulnerable to sonic vibrations and extreme temperature changes. His projectile attacks have excellent range and penetration, making him ideal for long-distance combat."
"Got it," Ben replied, his crystalline form gleaming in the afternoon sun as he launched a series of crystal shards at a makeshift target. "What about close-quarters combat?"
"His crystal blades can cut through almost anything, but you need to be careful about overextension. Remember the warehouse incident?"
Ben winced, remembering the training session where he'd gotten overconfident and ended up with his crystal arm stuck in a concrete wall. It had taken the full ten-minute timeout before he could transform back and escape.
"Right. Control over flashiness."
"Exactly." Gwen made another note. "Now show me XLR8's maximum speed again. I want to verify my calculations about his acceleration rate."
The transformation from Diamondhead to XLR8 required waiting for the Omnitrix to recharge, giving them time to discuss strategy. Ben had learned that the device had specific rules: he could only access one alien at a time, transformations lasted exactly ten minutes, and there was a cooldown period between uses that seemed to vary based on how much energy he'd expended.
"The timeout function might be your biggest weakness during the exam," Gwen observed as they waited for the green light to return. "If you transform at the wrong moment, or if you get caught in human form when the timer runs out..."
"I'll be vulnerable," Ben finished. "I know. That's why we're practicing timing, right?"
"Right. But Ben, I'm serious about this—you need to be absolutely certain about when to transform and which form to use. There won't be time for trial and error during the actual exam."
When the Omnitrix finally recharged, Ben selected XLR8—the velociraptor-like speedster with blue and black striping. The transformation always felt like stepping into a different world; suddenly his reflexes were lightning-fast, his perception of time altered, and his legs felt like coiled springs ready to launch him across the city.
"Time me," he said, his voice now carrying XLR8's characteristic rapid-fire delivery.
Gwen clicked her stopwatch as Ben took off. He'd set up an obstacle course throughout the warehouse district—weaving between buildings, leaping over debris, running along walls with XLR8's enhanced mobility. His best time so far was forty-three seconds to complete the full circuit.
Today, he managed thirty-eight.
"Excellent," Gwen called out as he skidded to a stop beside her. "Your control is definitely improving. But remember, speed without strategy is just recklessness."
"I know, I know." XLR8 bounced on his feet, excess energy making it difficult to stand still. "Strategic application of enhanced mobility for tactical advantage and rapid problem resolution."
"Don't just recite it, internalize it." Gwen's tone was patient but firm. "During the exam, you'll be facing multiple opponents while trying to accumulate points. Raw speed won't be enough—you'll need to think three moves ahead."
As if summoned by her words, Ben's phone buzzed with a news alert. They'd both developed the habit of monitoring local hero activity, partly to avoid accidentally interfering with official operations and partly to study professional techniques.
"Villain attack in progress at Takashi Shopping Center," Ben read from the screen. "Hostage situation, multiple Pro Heroes responding."
Gwen saw the look in XLR8's eyes and immediately shook her head. "No, Ben. We talked about this."
"But if people are in danger—"
"The Pro Heroes have it handled. And you need to save your energy for training." Gwen crossed her arms, adopting the stance that meant she wasn't going to budge. "Besides, what if you got caught? What if someone recognized you? The entrance exam is in three weeks—we can't risk exposure now."
XLR8 wanted to argue, but the Omnitrix's timer chose that moment to activate, reverting him to human form in a flash of red light. The sudden return to normal human reflexes was always disorienting, like the world had suddenly become sluggish and clumsy.
"I hate it when you're right," Ben muttered, pocketing his phone.
"Get used to it. Now come on, we still need to work on Heatblast's precision control."
The next three weeks passed faster than Ben would have liked. His confidence with the Omnitrix had grown tremendously—he could now switch between alien forms with barely a thought, and his understanding of each form's tactical applications had become second nature. But as the entrance exam approached, a new source of anxiety emerged: the other applicants.
"Look at them," Ben whispered to Gwen as they stood outside U.A. High School on the morning of the exam. The courtyard was filled with hundreds of aspiring heroes, many of them casually displaying Quirks that would have been considered remarkable just a generation ago.
A girl with plant-manipulation abilities was making flowers bloom from the concrete. A boy with metallic skin was demonstrating his apparent invulnerability by having his friend throw rocks at him. Near the school's entrance, someone with a telekinesis Quirk was juggling dozens of small objects in complex patterns.
"They're showing off," Gwen observed, though her voice carried a note of concern. "Trying to psych out the competition."
"Is it working?" Ben asked.
"A little," she admitted. "Some of these Quirks are incredible. That girl over there—I think she's manipulating gravity around small objects. And look at that boy's arm—it's completely mechanical. Is that a mutation Quirk or some kind of support equipment?"
Ben followed her gaze and spotted a tall boy with spiky blonde hair whose right arm had been replaced with what looked like advanced mechanical engineering. Even from a distance, they could hear him explaining the technical specifications to an impressed audience.
"Support equipment," Ben guessed. "But incredibly advanced. That level of integration with nervous system control... he must be a genius inventor."
"Great. Genius inventors with superhuman abilities." Gwen sighed. "Ben, are you sure about this?"
Before he could answer, a familiar and unwelcome voice cut through the crowd.
"Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in."
They turned to see Katsuki Yamamoto approaching, flanked by his usual crew of admirers. His explosive bubble Quirk had apparently grown more powerful over the past few months—Ben could see small detonations crackling around his clenched fists.
"Yamamoto," Ben said evenly. "I heard you got into Ketsubutsu Academy. Congratulations."
"Don't patronize me, Tennyson." Katsuki's eyes narrowed. "What are you even doing here? This exam is for people with actual Quirks."
"Maybe he's here as moral support," suggested one of Katsuki's followers, causing a few nearby students to snicker.
Gwen stepped forward, her own Quirk beginning to manifest as soft pink energy flickered around her hands. "Back off, Katsuki. We're all here for the same reason."
"Are we though?" Katsuki's attention shifted to Gwen, and his expression became marginally less hostile. "You, I can understand. Your energy manipulation is actually pretty impressive. But bringing along dead weight..."
"I'm not dead weight," Ben said quietly.
"Prove it." Katsuki's grin was sharp and unpleasant. "Show us this mysterious Quirk you've supposedly developed."
The challenge hung in the air like a thrown gauntlet. Ben felt hundreds of eyes turning toward him, expectant and skeptical. His hand moved instinctively toward the Omnitrix, hidden beneath his jacket sleeve.
"I don't need to prove anything to you," he said finally.
"Because you can't." Katsuki's voice carried across the courtyard, drawing even more attention. "Face it, Tennyson. You're Quirkless, and you always will be. The only question is how badly you'll embarrass yourself before—"
"ATTENTION, EXAMINEES!"
Present Mic's amplified voice boomed across the courtyard, cutting off Katsuki's tirade and causing several students to cover their ears. The Pro Hero stood on the school's main steps, his distinctive hair and speaker-equipped costume immediately recognizable.
"WELCOME TO U.A. HIGH SCHOOL'S ENTRANCE EXAMINATION! PLEASE PROCEED TO THE AUDITORIUM FOR YOUR ORIENTATION BRIEFING!"
As the crowd began to move, Katsuki leaned in close to Ben and Gwen.
"This isn't over, Tennyson. When you fail today—and you will fail—I want you to remember that everyone warned you this would happen."
He stalked away, leaving Ben standing in the crowd with his fists clenched and his mind racing.
"Don't let him get to you," Gwen said softly, taking his arm. "We both know you're stronger than he thinks."
"Do we though?" Ben looked down at the Omnitrix, still hidden beneath his sleeve. "Gwen, what if I'm not ready? What if all this training wasn't enough?"
"Then we fail, and we try again next year." Gwen's voice was calm and reassuring. "But Ben, I've been watching you train for six weeks. I've seen what you can do. You're not the same person who got that first rejection letter."
As they followed the crowd into U.A.'s massive auditorium, Ben tried to hold onto his cousin's confidence. But deep inside, a small voice whispered that Katsuki might be right—that being a hero required more than just power, more than just determination.
It required something Ben still wasn't sure he possessed.
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