The fight started small.
"I'm tired," Ben said, looking out of the bus window.
Gwen looked at him. "Tired of what?"
"Everything," Ben replied. "Being a hero all the time. Fixing problems every day. I don't get to live my own life."
Gwen shook her head. "Ben, people need you."
"And what about me?" Ben asked. "Do I not matter?"
Max spoke calmly, "You matter, Ben. But you also have a gift."
"It doesn't feel like a gift anymore," Ben said.
The bus slowed down.
Ben stood up. "I'm getting off."
"Ben, wait," Gwen said.
But he didn't listen. He stepped out.
Outside, everything looked normal.
The sky was clear. The air was calm.
Ben took a deep breath. "I just needed space."
He started walking.
Then suddenly—
The wind changed.
It became cold.
Ben stopped. "Why does it feel so weird?"
He looked up.
The sky was turning dark.
Clouds came fast. Too fast.
In a few seconds, the bright sky was gone.
Then—
It turned red.
Not normal red.
A strange red.
Ben felt something was very wrong.
He looked at his Omnitrix.
It was glowing green.
Then it started blinking.
Then—
Red.
"What is this?" Ben said.
Words appeared on it:
"Half of life… ending."
Ben didn't understand.
Then he heard a scream.
He turned.
A man was looking at his hands.
They were breaking into dust.
"Help me!" the man said.
Ben ran toward him.
But before he reached him—
The man was gone.
Ben stopped.
"No…"
Then more people started disappearing.
One by one.
Some people shouted. Some cried.
Some didn't even understand.
Cars stopped in the road.
Things fell to the ground.
Everything was going quiet.
"This can't be real," Ben said.
Then he remembered—
"The bus."
Gwen. Max.
Ben ran as fast as he could.
---
He got back to the bus.
Inside, people were scared.
"What's happening?" someone shouted.
"Help us!"
All eyes went to Ben.
He opened his mouth.
"I… don't know."
That scared him.
"Ben!"
Gwen came to him. "What is going on?"
Ben was about to answer.
Then he saw her hand.
It was fading.
"…Gwen?"
She looked down. "Ben…"
"No," Ben said quickly. "You're okay. I'm here."
He held her hand.
But it was turning into dust.
Max stepped closer.
"Ben."
"Don't say anything," Ben said fast. "I will fix this. I always fix things."
Max put his hand on Ben's shoulder.
"You will try," Max said.
Ben shook his head. "Not without you."
Max gave a small smile.
"You are stronger than you think."
And then—
He was gone.
"NO!"
Ben turned to Gwen.
But she was already fading.
"Ben… it's okay," she said softly.
"No, it's not okay!" Ben shouted.
He held her tight.
But she disappeared.
Just like that.
---
The bus became quiet.
Half empty.
Ben walked outside slowly.
The sky was fully red now.
Ash was floating in the air.
"I lost them…" Ben said.
His voice shook.
"I lost everyone…"
The Omnitrix was still glowing red.
Ben looked at it.
For the first time—
He didn't know what to do.
---
Suddenly, a bright golden light appeared.
Ben looked up.
A portal opened in the sky.
A man stepped out.
He looked calm.
"Benjamin Tennyson."
Ben got angry. "Who are you?"
The man said, "I am the Grandmaster."
"Then tell me," Ben said. "What is happening? Why is everyone gone?"
The Grandmaster spoke slowly.
"This happened because of a failure."
Ben asked, "Whose failure?"
The answer came.
"Earth-616."
Ben didn't understand. "What is that?"
"The main world," the Grandmaster said. "Where the Avengers fought Thanos."
Ben waited.
"And?"
"They failed."
Ben stood still.
"So… they failed… and my world is gone?" he asked.
"Yes."
Ben looked around.
Empty road.
Red sky.
Ash everywhere.
"My family is gone… because they failed."
He looked back.
"They are heroes, right?"
No answer.
Ben asked one more thing.
"Can this be fixed?"
The Grandmaster paused.
"Maybe."
That was enough.
Ben raised his hand.
The Omnitrix was still red.
"Send me there," Ben said.
The portal grew bigger.
"This will not be easy," the Grandmaster said.
Ben stepped forward.
"I don't care."
His eyes were serious now.
"I'm not going there to forgive them."
A pause.
"I'm going because they failed… and I won't."
Ben walked into the portal.
The red sky stayed behind him.