The story begins with that EMP bomb.
To be completely honest, Ben hadn't anticipated that Hydra would consider using electromagnetic pulse weapons to counter powered armor.
EMP devices were particularly devastating to the Omnitrix's delicate systems.
Even in the future timeline where Ben 10,000 operated, this vulnerability had never been completely resolved. With the assistance of solar pulse technology, Maltruant had once rendered Ben unable to transform for an extended period.
But Ben's current situation was somewhat different.
At the time of the attack, he'd been relaxing in his office, watching cartoons, when he received an urgent call from Harry.
Since the Plumbers communication badge used quantum entanglement technology, it remained undetected and unintercepted by SHIELD's surveillance, allowing Ben to learn that Nick Fury had been attacked.
Obviously, Pierce could no longer tolerate Hydra bases being eliminated under Nick Fury's leadership.
Since Pierce had finally made his move, he wouldn't stop until all threats were completely neutralized. Therefore, Ben had immediately predicted that Pierce would soon return to SHIELD headquarters and launch attacks against them.
Originally, Steve could have easily infiltrated Hydra using Ben's suggested approach, but when Ben had discussed this strategy with him, he'd observed Steve's strong resistance to such deception, so Ben knew that open conflict was inevitable.
Initially, he hadn't planned to use the Omnitrix at all.
It seemed somewhat excessive to deploy alien transformations against Hydra—essentially a bunch of ordinary humans with advanced technology.
He'd already donned his suit and prepared to engage them as "Prime," but then Hydra deployed an electromagnetic pulse bomb specifically to disable Iron Man's power systems.
In that crucial second, the electromagnetic wave instantly affected a wide area, including Ben's location.
It was at that precise moment that the Omnitrix suddenly crashed.
The device wasn't completely non-functional, but it entered a highly unusual state where no matter how Ben operated it, there was no response.
However, when the electromagnetic pulse dissipated a second later, the watch underwent a brief reconnection sequence, and it was this reconnection that provided Ben with ten new alien heroes.
Among them were: Ditto, Wildvine, Jetray, Cannonbolt, Big Chill, Molestache, Walkatrout, Brainstorm, Nanomech, and one particularly significant transformation—Alien X!
Wait, you're telling me that getting hit by an EMP can refresh the available heroes!
Moreover, unlike the original ten heroes that had disappeared when young Ben had first reset the Omnitrix, the data previously recorded by Ben's device didn't vanish but was preserved alongside all the current transformations.
This represented an incredibly pleasant surprise.
Ben had to grudgingly thank Hydra for this unexpected benefit.
Among the ten alien heroes Ben had gained this time, the capabilities of Nanomech, Walkatrout, Ditto, and Molestache were somewhat limited for large-scale combat situations.
Alien X couldn't be used casually and could only be deployed as an absolute last resort.
As a being that exists beyond the very fabric of space and time, Alien X's consciousness remained completely untouched by the influence of the Omnitrix's transformation matrix.
Perhaps for them, it was irrelevant whether they existed within a watch or in the broader universe—the two competing personalities argued endlessly, making any action impossible.
However, Canonball, Wildvine, Brainstorm, Jetray, and Big Chill remained extremely useful for tactical applications.
"As a thank you gift, it's only appropriate to use the new alien to deal with Hydra!"
Ben directly selected his favorite transformation among this new batch: Big Chill.
He pressed the Omnitrix's activation control lightly, and instantly his skin shifted to a pale blue coloration. His overall physique didn't change dramatically, but three pairs of wings emerged from his back, wrapping around his body like an ethereal wizard's cloak.
The genetic template originated from the Necrofriggians of the planet Kylmyys.
This was a hybrid species resembling humans crossed with moths, with no distinction between male and female genders. Since young Ben's Big Chill transformation had once become pregnant and produced offspring, it was sometimes nicknamed "Big Momma."
"Excellent—it's not like the Omniverse version..."
One of the primary reasons Big Chill was so popular was its elegant appearance.
However, during the Omniverse series, Big Chill had been redesigned into a rather unappealing creature.
Fortunately, Ben's transformation maintained the original aesthetic.
Regarding abilities, Big Chill could exhale extremely low-temperature gases capable of freezing virtually anything solid. It could also manipulate ice formations at will, create icicles from its appendages, or freeze whatever it touched directly.
Additionally, as an alternative to Ghostfreak, Big Chill possessed intangibility as its name suggested.
Furthermore, Big Chill fed on metallic substances, could easily bite through steel, and maintained exceptional tolerance to extreme temperatures.
This was why Ultimate Big Chill had completely reversed properties and become fire-based.
"Big Chill—cool indeed!"
Ben regarded himself with satisfaction. He possessed non-human physiology, distinctive coloration, and androgynous characteristics... various buffs were accumulating. He felt tremendously powerful!
Simultaneously, he detected that numerous agents had gathered outside his office.
Since Big Chill's abilities were closely related to temperature manipulation, its vision included not only normal sight but also thermal imaging capabilities.
He felt no concern whatsoever. Rather than moving normally, he simply became intangible while extending one finger to activate his office door's control.
This caught the agents who were planning to breach and assault Ben completely off-guard.
The lead operative immediately entered combat readiness, raising his sidearm and aiming at the doorway.
The moment Prime emerged, they would immediately respond with concentrated fire.
However, after waiting several minutes, no one appeared from the office.
The door remained slightly ajar, and frigid white vapor seemed to be slowly flowing outward from within.
The team leader frowned, made tactical hand signals to his subordinates, then carefully approached the entrance.
When he pushed the door open, a bone-chilling arctic current immediately struck him.
He felt as if he'd instantaneously crossed space and entered a frozen wasteland. Every surface within the room was covered with a thin layer of frost.
The agent stood stunned.
Hearing no response, all the operatives rushed inside, then everyone froze in bewilderment.
How could there be no one here?
Logically, Prime should never have left after entering the office!
Where could such an obvious person have gone?
At this moment, Ben felt like he'd entered another dimensional phase. He was clearly present, but the agents couldn't perceive him at all.
Nothing physical could make contact with him.
His gaze briefly swept over these individuals, then he slowly stepped toward them, extending his arms from beneath his cloak-like wings and passing through their bodies.
Although there was no tactile sensation of contact, everyone couldn't help but shiver when Ben's appendages phased through them.
The next instant, ice suddenly erupted from within those people's bodies!
Unlike the ice released by Big Chill in the animated series, which could be shattered by anyone, Ben's abilities were obviously more potent.
At the moment of contact, he could freeze enemies' blood directly.
Ordinary humans simply couldn't withstand such extreme temperatures and would die instantly as frozen blood ruptured their circulatory systems!
After completing this elimination, Ben didn't pause but immediately rose upward, phasing through the floor and departing his office that had become a frozen tomb.
However, he didn't immediately return to the surface.
Instead, he navigated toward the detention area where Barton and Natasha were imprisoned.
Although these two weren't particularly powerful in direct combat, they remained "Avengers colleagues" nonetheless, so providing some assistance was only natural.
Otherwise, it would be problematic if Pierce threatened to harm them as leverage.
Ben didn't particularly care personally.
But others would certainly exercise caution in such situations.
Under these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for Ben to begin wholesale slaughter. The Plumbers remained nominally an alien organization, and maintaining a reasonable external image was important.
In the detention facility, Ben rescued Natasha and the others.
Although they remained wary of Big Chill's appearance, they felt somewhat reassured after observing the Plumbers insignia.
At least this proved that this phantom-like entity wasn't affiliated with Hydra.
"How many aliens have your Plumbers organization deployed on Earth?" Hill asked—though it was more of a complaint than a genuine question.
Without waiting for Ben's response, she continued, "I suspect Pierce is Hydra. We must evacuate immediately and locate Fury."
"You proceed first," Ben responded with his otherworldly voice.
"I'll provide support for your soldiers."
Hearing this, Hill nodded acknowledgment. "Once we've secured aircraft, we'll return for immediate extraction."
The two groups separated, and Ben continued floating upward, finally arriving when Captain America and his team were at a severe disadvantage.
Those supposedly impenetrable energy shields were useless against his abilities.
After all, these barriers could block ice projectiles, but they couldn't prevent sudden extreme temperature exposure.
Ben moved through the battlefield effortlessly, immediately releasing arctic winds as sharp as blades from his mouth. In seconds, the entire installation was enveloped in massive frigid currents!
White vapor streams and whirlwinds filled the atmosphere.
This reminded Steve of the scene months earlier when Loki had appeared in New Mexico wielding the Tesseract's power.
Big Chill's capabilities weren't comparable to the Casket of Ancient Winters, but could still temporarily freeze an entire SHIELD facility.
At this moment, Hill and the others piloted the only remaining aircraft through the blizzard.
The cargo bay opened, with Natasha and Hawkeye positioned on either side. Hawkeye remained alert with bow drawn while Natasha shouted over the wind:
"Board the aircraft!"
Hearing this command, Ben extended his arm, phased directly through Tony's armor, dismantled the suit's internal connection systems from within, then extracted Tony from the disabled shell.
"Tactical withdrawal, soldier," he advised Captain America.
"But Prime is still..."
Steve was reluctant to abandon anyone.
"Worry about yourself instead of worrying about Prime."