The throne room was less grand than Ben expected and more practical, stone walls lined with battle maps, armors stood around instead of decorative ornaments and a king who looked like he'd recently been in a fight. King Roland was maybe fifty, with a scarred face and tired eyes that studied Ben with sharp intelligence.
"Captain Lyra reports you claim to be from another world," Roland said, his voice carrying authority without arrogance. "And that you can transform into creatures of great power."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ben figured politeness couldn't hurt. "I'm Ben Tennyson. I'm from Earth, and I got pulled here by accident. I just want to find a way home."
A woman in elaborate robes stepped forward,Ben could tell She was The court wizard, based on the star-covered fabric and the staff crackling with actual lightning. "I am Archmage Elara. I've examined the boy's aura while he was brought in. That device on his wrist..." She paused, choosing words carefully. "It should not exist."
"What do you mean?" Ben asked.
"It contains essences, souls, life forces, patterns of consciousnesses, from creatures I cannot even fathom. Some feel familiar, variants of species I know. Others are so alien that perceiving them makes my mind ache." Elara's eyes gleamed with fascination. "You are either a miracle or an abomination, Perhaps both."
"Great," Ben muttered. "That's not ominous at all."
A soldier burst through the throne room doors, armor clanking. "Your Majesty! The Blackfang Orc Clan is attacking the eastern wall! Full assault!"
Roland was on his feet instantly. "How many?"
"Hundreds! And they've brought siege beasts! three of them!"
"Siege beasts?" Ben asked.
Lyra's face had gone pale. "Elephant-sized creatures with stone hides. Near impossible to kill. One could break through our gates."
Roland strode toward the door, calling orders. "Lyra, take your best fighters to reinforce the eastern wall. Garrett, wake the reserve garrison. Elara—"
"I'll prepare defensive wards," the wizard finished.
"Wait!" Ben stepped forward. His bound hands made the gesture awkward. "I can help!"
"You are a prisoner," Roland said, not unkindly. "And we don't know whose side you're on."
"I'm on the side that doesn't let people die!" Ben held up the Omnitrix. "You want to see what this thing can do, right? Let me fight. If I'm with the orcs, I'll show it now where you can see me. If I'm telling the truth, I'll save your city."
Roland and Lyra exchanged looks. The king nodded slightly.
Lyra drew her sword and cut Ben's bonds with one swift motion. "You fight on the walls where I can watch you. Try anything treacherous, and I'll put an arrow through your head."
"Fair enough." Ben grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Finally, some action. Which way to this eastern wall?"
.
.
.
The eastern wall was chaos. Orc warriors, gray-skinned and tusked—scaled ladders while archers fired volleys of flaming arrows. Below, three massive creatures built like rhinoceros and armadillos combined smashed against the gate with earth-shaking impacts.
"There!" Lyra pointed to the siege beasts. "If they breach the gate, the city falls!"
Ben was already scrolling through the Omnitrix. "Four Arms? No, need more impact. Cannonbolt? Maybe. Wait—" He landed on a familiar icon and grinned. "Perfect."
He slammed the dial down and went through a transformation.
"HUMONGOUSAUR !" Ben roared, the sound echoing across the battlefield.
Orc warriors stopped climbing. Defenders stared in awe.
"Okay!" Humungousaur's voice boomed. "Let's see how these 'siege beasts' like fighting something their own size!"
He jumped over the wall, a jump that would have killed a human but barely strained his massive legs and landed between the beasts and the gate. The impact formed a hole in the ground.
The closest siege beast roared and charged.
Humungousaur met it head-on, catching its horns with both hands. The collision echoed like thunder. For a moment, they were locked, pushing against each other. Then Humungousaur's strength won out. He twisted, using leverage to flip the multi-ton creature onto its back.
"One down!" He turned to face the other two. "Who's next?"
The beasts hesitated for a moment Then they charged together.
Humungousaur grew. His species' size-manipilation ability kicked in, adding five more feet of height and proportional mass. He grabbed one beast by its head and simply held it, his arms straining but holding firm. The second beast rammed his side, cracking ribs even through his tough hide.
"Okay, that hurt!" Humungousaur swung the beast he was holding like a club, smashing it into its companion. Both creatures tumbled away.
On the walls, defenders erupted in cheers.
Lyra stood frozen, bow forgotten in her hands. "By the gods..."
The orc army was retreating now, their siege weapons beaten by a single fighter. Humungousaur shrunk back to his normal twenty-foot height, breathing hard. The Omnitrix beeped its warning.
"Better get back inside," he rumbled, leaping back to the wall just as the transformation timed out.
Ben landed in human form, stumbling slightly. Lyra caught his arm, steadying him.
"You saved us," she said quietly.
"It's what I do." Ben straightened, trying to look more heroic than exhausted. "Where I come from, I'm kind of known for this."
King Roland approached, having watched from a tower. His expression had completely changed, suspicion replaced by something closer to wonder.
"Ben Tennyson of Earth," the king said formally. "Ironveil owes you a debt. You are no prisoner here anymore. You are our guest, and we will aid you however we can."
Ben smiled. "Thanks. But right now? I could really use some food and a place to crash. Saving cities is hungry work."
As guards escorted him inside, Ben heard the crowd on the walls starting a chant: "The Summoner! The Summoner has come!"
He looked at Lyra questioningly.
"There's a legend," she explained. "Of a hero who can summon mighty warriors to fight for justice. They're saying you're him."
"I'm not summoning anything. I'm transforming."
"They don't know that. To them, you made a giant appear from nothing." Lyra studied him. "You might have just become the most famous person in the kingdom."
"Great," Ben sighed. "Because being famous always works out so well for me."
But as they walked through crowds of celebrating citizens, Ben couldn't help feeling that familiar warmth. These people were safe because of him. Different world or not, that still meant something.
It was always hero time.