š Chapter 48: The End... or the Beginning?
The light faded.
In the aftermath of the explosion, a heavy silence hung over the crystal dimensionāas if time itself had paused for a momentā¦ listening, respecting, reflecting.
Nothing remained.
The Core Crystal had turned into silver dust, drifting slowly across the cosmic horizon. Kyrosā¦ was no more. His final scream had vanished along with the echoes of pure light.
As for Ben... there was no sign of him.
No body, no voice, not even a final flicker. Only a trace of pure energy floating for a few moments, before it too fadedāas if the universe had bowed in reverence to his choice.
**
š (The fractured surface of the dimension ā moments after the explosion)
The warriors stood in silence. No one spoke.
Supergirl knelt down, still holding the damaged communicator that no longer made a sound. Her eyes were wide open, searching for him through the dustā¦ refusing to believe.
She whispered to herself:
> "He promised meā¦ He promised we'd finish the journey togetherā¦"
Gwen stood behind her, leaning on Kevin, crying silently. Her features were exhausted, yet her eyes remained locked on the emptiness ahead.
She said in a trembling voice:
> "I was there the first day he wore the watchā¦ I saw what he enduredā¦ and he always came back to us."
Kevin, who usually hid his feelings behind sarcasm or anger, stood in disbelief. His hand was bruised and bloody, his eyes dry. But at last, he spoke:
> "This timeā¦ he didn't come back."
**
š (Behind them ā the heroes from other universes)
The alternate versions of the heroesāFuture Flash, a Batman from a shattered timeline, Wonder Woman with her enchanted bladeāsat in a loose circle. Some were treating their wounds, others just stared at the broken shards of Kyros's dimension.
Future Flash spoke softly:
> "In my worldā¦ I lost everything. But hereā¦ Ben did the impossible."
Wonder Woman, gently cleaning her sword, replied:
> "He didn't just fightā¦ he chose. And that's what separates heroes from weapons."
Alternate Batman stood silently, then removed his cowl and placed it on the ground in respect.
> "We won't forget him."
**
š (Earth ā Watchtower Control Room)
On Earth, the fog was clearing. The crystalline creatures were dissolving, turning into weightless dust.
The Watchtower was half-destroyed, but inside its main control hall, Grandpa Max stood alone.
He didn't cry. But he stared at a blank screen.
In a soft voice, he said:
> "He always stayed one step ahead of usā¦ even when he was just a kid trying to save a turtle from under the fence."
He sat in the chair, pulling an old photograph from his pocketāBen at age ten, in his green jacket, smiling.
> "He just wanted to live an adventureā¦ and ended up saving entire realities."
**
š (World Government Broadcast ā Hours later)
A global announcement was made:
"Kyros has been defeated. The Core Crystal was destroyed completely. The multiverse is safeā¦ but at a cost beyond measure."
For the first time, the name "Ben Tennyson" appeared on public screens, alongside archive footage of his battles.
People stopped in the streets for a moment of silence.
Children drew the Omnitrix symbol on their hands.
Shops displayed posters that read:
> "The hero who choseā¦ not the one who was chosen."
**
š (The returning universes)
With the Core Crystal shattered, broken worlds began to heal.
In one universe, a sky that had been red for centuries turned blue.
In another, meteor storms simply ceasedāand life returned.
An alternate Green Lantern held the helmet of a friend who'd died fighting and whispered:
> "Our worlds are safeā¦ but not without sacrifice."
Other fighters began preparing to return home, but they all agreed on one thing:
> "We'll honor his name."
**
š (Tower rooftop ā before sunset)
Superman stood with Batman and Wonder Woman.
Batman said in a low voice:
> "When he first arrived, I doubted him. Thought he was just a reckless kid."
Wonder Woman responded with a sad smile:
> "But he was the most human soul I've seen fight with pure will."
Superman gazed at the horizon and said:
> "We all have powerā¦ but not all of us know how to use it right. Benā¦ did."
**
š (Side room ā after midnight)
In a quiet corner of the Watchtower, Supergirl sat alone, cradling the shattered Omnitrix they found among the ashes.
Her tears were silentābut unending.
Gwen entered slowly and sat beside her.
She said:
> "I always knew how to help himā¦ but this time I felt useless."
She looked at Supergirl, who was still holding the broken device, then gently asked:
> "Where do you think is he?"
Supergirl didn't answer. She simply closed her eyes and whispered:
> "He'sā¦ everywhere now."
**
š (Final Scene ā Beyond Time)
There were no words.
Ben was gone.
But the world had changed.
Entire universes began to breathe again.
Stars on the brink of collapseā¦ began to shine.
And heroes, from all across time and space, carried one name in their heartsā¦
> "Ben."
**
And somewhere far beyond time and spaceā¦
A small white spark in the heart of darkness began to glow.
As if everything had endedā¦
But perhaps, something newā¦ had just begun.
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