Ben 10: Ultimate Convergence

The temporal energy slammed into Ben, accelerating his aging process at an alarming rate. His youthful features withered, his hair turned gray, and his body became frail and weak. He cried out in agony, his bones creaking and groaning under the strain.

"What have you done to me, Maltruant!" Ben gasped, his voice raspy and weak.

Maltruant chuckled, his metallic face contorted with glee. "I have shown you the true power of time, Tennyson. The power to wither and decay, to turn heroes into dust. You are now a relic of the past, a forgotten memory."

Albedo watched in horror as Ben aged before his eyes, his plan crumbling to dust. "Maltruant, you fool! You've doomed us all!" he cried.

Maltruant ignored Albedo, focusing his attention on Ben. "Now, Tennyson, surrender the Ultimatrix. Your time is over."

Ben, despite his weakened state, refused to give up. He struggled to maintain his grip on the Ultimatrix, his fingers trembling with exhaustion. He had to activate the transformation, he had to stop Maltruant, even if it meant sacrificing himself.

With a surge of adrenaline, he slammed his hand down on the Ultimatrix, triggering the transformation sequence. But instead of transforming into the alien he had chosen, he remained in his aged human form. The Ultimatrix was malfunctioning, unable to cope with the temporal energy that coursed through his body.

"It's no use, Tennyson," Maltruant said, his voice dripping with triumph. "The Ultimatrix is useless to you now. You are nothing but an old man, clinging to a forgotten dream."

Ben slumped to his knees, his head hanging low. He had failed. He had let Maltruant win. The universe was doomed.

But then, a flicker of hope ignited within him. He remembered something that Azmuth had told him, about the true power of the Omnitrix, about its ability to adapt and evolve, to overcome any challenge.

He closed his eyes, focusing his mind, reaching deep into the core of the Ultimatrix, searching for that hidden potential. He had to find a way to activate the transformation, to unlock the power that could save them all.

As he delved deeper into the Ultimatrix, he felt a surge of energy, a connection to the original Omnitrix, the device that had started it all. He could feel the memories of his past transformations, the lessons he had learned, the battles he had fought. He could feel the strength of his alien forms, waiting to be unleashed.

He opened his eyes, his gaze hardening. He now knew what he had to do. He had to embrace his age, to accept the passage of time, to harness the power of his past experiences. He had to become the ultimate version of himself.

With a deep breath, he channeled all of his energy into the Ultimatrix, overriding the temporal distortions, forcing the transformation sequence to complete. The Ultimatrix glowed brightly, bathing the Timestream in a wave of green light.

And then, he transformed. But not into the alien he had chosen. Instead, he transformed into an older, wiser version of himself, a Ben Tennyson who had lived through countless battles, who had seen the rise and fall of empires, who had mastered the art of temporal manipulation.

He stood tall, his aged body radiating power and confidence. His eyes glowed with the wisdom of ages, and his voice resonated with the authority of a true hero.

"You may have aged me, Maltruant," Ben said, his voice calm and steady. "But you have also made me stronger. I am now the master of my own time, and I will not let you control it."

Maltruant recoiled in shock, his metallic face contorted with disbelief. "Impossible! This cannot be!"

"It is possible, Maltruant," Ben replied. "Because I am Ben Tennyson, and I will always find a way to win."

With a wave of his hand, Ben unleashed a wave of temporal energy, targeting Maltruant directly. But this time, the energy was different. It was not destructive, but restorative. It reversed the aging process, restoring the Timestream to its original state.

Maltruant screamed in agony as the temporal energy washed over him, his metallic body shattering into a million pieces. His consciousness was scattered across the Timestream, lost forever in the infinite flow of time.

Ben reverted to his original age, the Ultimatrix returning to its normal state. He had defeated Maltruant, but at a cost. He had glimpsed his own future, a future filled with challenges and sacrifices. But he was ready for it. He was ready to be the hero that the universe needed him to be.

Albedo approached Ben, his expression unreadable. "You… you did it, Tennyson," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and resentment. "You actually defeated Maltruant."

"We did it, Albedo," Ben replied. "Together."

Albedo scoffed. "Don't get sentimental, Tennyson. This doesn't change anything. I still despise you."

"Maybe not," Ben said with a grin.

Just as the pair are about to leave, the Timewalkers appear before them. But they are not alone - they have brought reinforcements from across all time and space! How will Ben and Albedo possibly survive? Find out next time!