Azmuth's arrival injected a sliver of hope into the desperate situation. His presence, radiating intelligence and authority, seemed to momentarily stun Ultimate Albedo, who had been reveling in his newfound power. Ben, still lying on the ground, bruised and depleted, watched with a flicker of anticipation. Could Azmuth, the genius who created the Ultimatrix, possibly have a solution?
"Albedo!" Azmuth repeated, his voice laced with disappointment. "I entrusted you with a great gift, the potential to safeguard the universe. Instead, you've chosen to become its destroyer."
Ultimate Albedo scoffed, his temporal energy crackling around him. "Safeguard? You speak of a universe riddled with flaws, with injustices! I will reshape it, mold it into a perfect image, an image of my own design!"
"Perfection cannot be achieved through destruction, Albedo," Azmuth countered, taking a step forward. "True progress lies in understanding and improving what exists, not obliterating it."
Gwen and Kevin, battered but defiant, struggled to their feet, positioning themselves between Ben and Albedo. They knew they were no match for Albedo's current power, but they were willing to stand their ground, to buy Ben and Azmuth any chance they could.
"Stay back," Kevin growled, his hands solidifying into a thick layer of Nemetrix-enhanced metal. "This fight is far from over."
Gwen, her eyes glowing with mana energy, prepared to unleash another barrage of attacks, despite the futility of her efforts so far. "We won't let you destroy everything, Albedo!" she declared.
Ultimate Albedo merely smirked, a wave of temporal energy emanating from his body, pushing Gwen and Kevin back. "You are insignificant insects," he sneered. "Your resistance is meaningless."
Azmuth raised his hand, silencing Gwen and Kevin. "Stand down," he commanded. "This requires a different approach."
He turned his attention back to Albedo, his expression softening slightly. "Albedo, I understand your ambition, your desire to prove yourself. But this path you've chosen will only lead to ruin. There is still time to stop this. To undo the damage you've caused."
"Sentimentality, Azmuth?" Albedo scoffed. "I thought you were above such things. There is no undoing this. I have tasted true power, and I will not relinquish it."
Azmuth sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I had hoped it wouldn't come to this." He reached into his robes and produced a small, metallic device, similar in design to the Ultimatrix but significantly smaller and more refined. It shimmered with a faint, internal light.
"What is that?" Albedo demanded, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"A failsafe," Azmuth replied. "A measure I implemented within the Ultimatrix to prevent its misuse. It is a device capable of resetting the Ultimatrix to its original state, stripping its user of all acquired powers and transformations."
Albedo's eyes widened in alarm. "You wouldn't!"
"I would," Azmuth said, his voice firm. "The fate of the universe hangs in the balance. I cannot allow you to continue down this path."
He activated the device, and a beam of energy shot out, targeting Albedo directly. But Albedo was ready. He unleashed a wave of temporal energy, diverting the beam, causing it to strike the collapsing Celestial Clockwork instead.
The Clockwork shuddered violently, its remaining gears and mechanisms groaning under the strain. The temporal flow became even more erratic, creating localized time loops and paradoxes.
"You fool!" Azmuth exclaimed. "You've only made things worse!"
Albedo laughed, his voice echoing through the crumbling structure. "Worse for you, perhaps. For me, this is merely a minor setback."
He raised his hands, preparing to unleash another wave of temporal energy. But before he could act, a figure emerged from one of the time loops created by the diverted beam. It was Ben, but not the Ben they knew. This Ben was older, more weathered, his eyes filled with a grim determination. He wore a tattered version of his classic outfit, and his Ultimatrix was cracked and damaged.
"I've been waiting a long time for this, Albedo," the future Ben said, his voice raspy. "A very long time."
Future Ben lunges at Albedo, tackling him into another temporal rift. What secrets does the future Ben hold? What events shaped him into the warrior standing before them? Find out next time! Stay tuned!.