[sup][h1][center][img]https://i.ibb.co/gbY1kN1k/The-Questing-Beast2.png[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] B E N  1 0[/color]
[color=springgreen]B E N  1 0[/color][/center]
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[b]|| New York, Earth[/b]

Four Arms pushed himself up from the cracked pavement, dust rolling off his shoulders as he took in the strange little squad that had formed around him. 

The woman with the scythe moved like she had been born holding it. She was dressed in a dark stylish outfit, save for her forearms and head. Here she wore a setting of shining bracers and a beautiful tiara or headpiece. She moved with the same confidence and precision as some of the galaxy's fiercest mercenaries and warriors. He was immediately happy that she seemed to be on their side and not against them. 

The silver armoured figure beside her was unmistakably a Power Ranger, although not one he recognised. Ben had seen a few of them drinking on Knowhere once, loud and colourful and impossible to miss. He couldn’t say he recognised this one though. They had different markings and a different cut to the armour. It was curious to see though. Ben hadn’t expected to see a Ranger here on Earth.

The blue and yellow flyer was familiar in a different way. Ben had seen him on a news clip once. Or maybe Gwen had mentioned him during the long catch up after Ben’s return. Omni Boy. Or something close to that. There were too many heroes now to keep track of all their names. Regardless, it was clear this guy was durable, given the beating he had just easily recovered from. 

And then there was the knight. Knight was maybe a loose word here since he wasn’t wearing any armour, although the name still stuck in his mind. Older than Ben by a good decade, he held an ebony blade in his hand. Ben had idea who he was, but he seemed to be at the centre of whatever was happening here. He looked like someone trying very hard to pretend he was not terrified.

The Beast loomed over all of them, its bulk swelling with every moment. The street was a ruin of broken concrete and overturned cars. Smoke curled from shattered storefronts. The air vibrated with the creature’s growl.

The Ranger’s voice cut through the chaos.

[colour=silver]“Does anyone have a plan?”[/colour]

Ben’s upper right hand tightened as his lower left rubbed at the back of his neck. Ben certainly wasn’t a tactician. Sure he’d spent nearly five years learning to survive by himself but a lot of that had come down to instinct and a fair amount of luck. The rest of his “team” would know exactly what to say if they were here. Max would probably already be barking orders, having assessed who everyone was and what their power sets were. Gwen would already be mapping out angles and weak points. Even his old teammate Rocket, up in space, would probably be yelling about flanking patterns and blowing something up from the inside.

But none of them were here right now. Just him and his four fists. He wasn’t sure if instinct and luck would prove too helpful this time.

Thankfully, before he could express his concerns and offer a meager suggestion of trying to punch it again, the knight spoke.

[colour=778899]“Have any of you seen Dragonheart? I need to get up to its mouth.”[/colour]

Ben blinked. He had no idea what a Dragonheart was supposed to be. But he followed the knight’s pointing and the idea clicked into place. Get the sword to the weak point. Get the knight in close. Let him finish it.

The others moved immediately. Buffy sprinted one way, scythe raised. The Ranger darted the other, energy building in his gauntlets. Invincible shot upward, ready to dive again.

The Beast reacted to their movement and hurled a crushed car toward the only two who had not yet repositioned.

Ben stepped forward and caught it with all four hands. Metal screamed against his palms and he groaned as his muscles took the impact. He twisted and flung it aside, sending it skidding across the ruined street.

Catching his breath, he looked down at the knight. The man’s grip on the sword was steady, but his eyes betrayed the truth. He was clearly new to this. 
Ben knew exactly how that felt. Sure he had been full of bravado back when he first got the Omnitrix, but looking back now, he’d just been a scared kid. 

Ben crouched, planting his feet and lowering all four hands toward him.

[colour=springgreen]“Alright, knight guy. You’re up.”[/colour] Ben softened his tone. [colour=springgreen]“You’re standing in front of that thing with nothing but a sword. That takes guts, man. You’ve got this.”[/colour]

The Beast roared again. The ground trembled. The others carved their openings.

Ben braced himself, muscles coiling, as he prepared to throw the knight straight toward the waiting jaws of the Questing Beast.