📘 Chapter 43: The Complete Kairoz
Deep within the Mother Crystal, in a space where time and reality bent unnaturally, Ben and Supergirl stood before a form slowly manifesting. It wasn't just a creature—it was an idea taking shape. A long, looming shadow emerged from the fracture in the core.
The crystal shards around them burst with an unnatural light, then reassembled to form a body.
The left half looked exactly like Ben—green eyes, wild hair, familiar posture.
But the right half was pure obsidian crystal, pulsing with a violet glow like a broken heart still beating.
Its voice echoed in dual tones, both calm and monstrous:
> "You are me... and your rebellion is a rebellion against yourself. I am the choice you refused. The perfection you feared to become."
Supergirl took a step back, whispering to Ben,
"He's… a version of you?"
Ben replied, eyes locked on the figure:
"He's the half I never wanted to be."
**
A sudden spark shot out from Kairoz—not energy, but memory.
It flooded Ben's mind with images:
Azmuth crafting the first crystal core… universes collapsing behind him… a child with Ben's face, born from a rift between worlds.
Kairoz spoke again:
> "I was carved from imbalance. You were molded from choice… but in the end, we are one."
**
Then came the battle—not of fists, but of will.
Kairoz tried to invade Ben's mind, projecting scenes of betrayal:
Gwen yelling at him, Kevin walking away, Grandpa Max leaving without looking back.
But the new watch glowed with deep blue light.
It shattered the illusion.
Ben stood firm:
> "I've seen this nightmare before… and I won't live it again."
**
In a flash, Ben activated a new function of the watch:
🔹 "Cognitive Reversal Wave" — a pulse of energy that deflected the mental assault.
Kairoz staggered for the first time, shouting:
"That power… that's mine! That's my core!"
Ben stepped forward, steady and bold:
"Not anymore… now it's my will."
**
Back on Earth, amidst the raging sky battle, the heroes felt a ripple.
Gwen paused, looking upward:
"Ben… he's entering the final phase."
**
Inside the core, space warped violently.
A temporal fracture appeared between Ben and Kairoz.
Kairoz extended his hand and said:
> "If we merge… we can restore the broken multiverse. One unified existence—flawless, without conflict."
Ben looked at him, then at the glowing watch:
"If perfection means erasing who they are… then it's broken from the start."
He released a radiant blue pulse from the watch that filled the entire crystal chamber.
**
Kairoz winced, his voice rising in anguish:
"That choice… it will destroy you."
Ben smiled gently:
"Then so be it… I choose to be human, not an ideal."
**
The chapter ends in a blinding flash of deep blue light.
But in the heart of the crystal... something still pulses.
---