Chapter Nine: Echoes from Another World
In one of the quiet corridors of the Watchtower, Ben walked silently. He didn't seem tired, but something heavier than battle lingered in his eyes. Only hours had passed since the last fight with the crystalline creature, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that the battle wasn't truly over.
In the monitoring room, Flash was speaking rapidly with Cyborg about renewed energy disturbances around Earth. When Ben entered, Flash suddenly slowed down.
Flash (teasingly):
"Ben Tennyson! Today's savior, crystal crusher, and cosmic troublemaker!"
Ben (half-smiling):
"I'm not a fan of titles… especially the ones that come with nightmares."
Cyborg approached and opened a 3D map of Earth. Red dots began spreading across different locations — all of them appearing and vanishing within minutes.
Cyborg:
"These aren't just energy readings… they're failed dimensional crossings. Either they can't fully open… or they're pulling back just before they do."
Ben:
"That means Kairoz is testing the gates. He's probing our limits… and mine."
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A Moment with Wonder Woman and Supergirl
In the training hall, Supergirl was striking moving targets with absolute precision. Wonder Woman watched silently, then walked closer.
Wonder Woman:
"Ben is starting to feel different… and alone."
Supergirl:
"Not surprising. I saw him fight that crystal creature… he screamed like something inside him was breaking."
Just then, Ben entered, as if he'd sensed their conversation.
Ben (hesitantly):
"If there's something inside me… it might come out at any moment. And if it does… I don't know if I'll still be me."
Wonder Woman (calmly):
"The strongest blades are forged under pressure. Don't run from your fear—face it."
Supergirl looked at him for a long moment, then smiled.
Supergirl:
"And when you face it… you'll find people standing with you. Even if they're from another world."
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Unexpected Attack on the Moon's Surface
An alert came from a small research outpost on the moon's dark side. A Justice League exploration team had gone silent — their signals vanished without a trace.
Batman (via comms):
"Ben, Superman, Green Lantern — deploy immediately. There's something out there… swallowing time."
On the moon's surface, surrounded by dark rocks and thick lunar dust, a distorted spectral gateway pulsed ominously. From it emerged ghost-like entities — they didn't touch the ground, yet moved as if trapped in an endless temporal loop.
Ben (transforming into Upgrade):
"These aren't creatures. They're recordings from another dimension… repeating moments that kill."
Superman (flying beside him):
"We're not letting them take anyone… even if we have to break the laws of physics."
As the battle raged through shifting timelines, Ben began to feel a strange disorientation — not just from the past, but from a future he hadn't yet lived.
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In the End…
After the battle, Ben sat alone, gazing through a large window that overlooked Earth from space. Superman quietly approached and sat beside him.
Superman:
"The greater the danger… the greater the value of those who stand against it."
Ben (softly):
"And what if I'm the danger?"
Superman:
"Then you're also part of the solution."
They both fell silent. But inside Ben's mind… a small black sphere began to glow faintly in the darkness — speaking without words.
Kairoz:
"Time… is not what you think it is, Ben."
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