Ben10: A Romantic Adventure with a Gender-Swapped Class

The night was as dark as ink, so thick it seemed as if water could drip from it.

The searchlights of Air Force Base No. 3 stand tall around the tarmac, cutting the wide concrete ground into a chessboard of light and shadow.

Under the lights, a group of people were escorting a dark-skinned alien prisoner slowly toward the Tian Gong transport ship that was already waiting at the end of the runway.

The air was filled with a faint smell of engine oil, dust, and a lingering smell of gunpowder. These smells mixed together and were somewhat pungent.

The entire base was shrouded in a solemn and heavy atmosphere. No one spoke; only the sound of footsteps echoed on the empty tarmac.

Colonel Lausanne and his wife and children stood not far away, their figures appearing somewhat frail in the cold light of the base.

Colonel Lausanne's wife held the baby tightly in her arms; her face was as pale as paper, and her eyes still held lingering fear.

After experiencing this sudden attack and witnessing the threat being completely eliminated, she finally felt a little more at ease.

Mark Tian stood beside the transport ship, his figure as upright as a pine tree. In the dim light of the gangway, his graying sideburns were particularly noticeable.

His expression remained as composed as ever, but upon closer inspection, one could detect a subtle hint of weariness hidden in his eyes.

This incident put him under tremendous pressure, but he endured it silently without a single complaint.

The alien prisoner's hands were tightly bound by specially made shackles that shimmered with a ghostly blue light, the light emanating a chilling aura.

Behind the prisoner followed closely by two fully armed members of the Tianhui escort team, who held heavy laser guns whose bodies gleamed with a cold metallic luster, sending chills down one's spine.

The prisoner kept his head down, making it impossible to see his expression.

But his slightly trembling body and heavy steps revealed that he was feeling extremely heavy-hearted at the moment.

The once frenzied tricolor light in his eyes had dimmed, leaving only endless desolation and numbness, as if he had lost all will to resist and could only be like a soulless shell, letting the torrent of fate push him toward the unknown shore.

Just as the prisoner was being escorted onto the gangway, Xiao Ban and Mo Bai, who were standing not far away, exchanged a glance, as if there was a tacit understanding between them that did not require words.

They raised their wrists almost simultaneously, and the Ultimatrix watches on their wrists instantly sprang up, releasing two soft, liquid gold-like scanning beams that accurately enveloped the prisoner's ashen body.

"Alien DNA scan confirmed, Merlini species unlocked, now on the Level 5 list," Ultimatrix's cold, synthesized voice clearly announced on the silent runway, echoing in the empty space.

The beam of light receded, and the prisoner's figure disappeared into the dark depths of the transport ship's hatch.

The little boy turned around, his face showing a childlike excitement, trying to dispel the somber atmosphere.

"Hey! Look at this!" Before she finished speaking, she had already slapped the watch face on her wrist.

A green light flashed, and a creature with skin like flowing mercury appeared on the spot, perfectly blending into its environment.

She habitually shouted, "That's too exaggerated!" Then she nimbly changed colors and poses on the spot, her voice filled with a boastful excitement.

"How? How?"

However, she was met with silence.

Xiaowen crossed her arms and frowned slightly, clearly still immersed in the heavy emotions of the previous incident.

Kevin seemed to want to say something, but after catching a glimpse of Xiaowen's expression, he immediately swallowed his words and gently touched Xiaowen's arm. The two turned around in tacit understanding and walked towards the parking lot outside the base, leaving behind a somewhat desolate figure.

"It's cold, isn't it?" Xiao Ban shrugged at Mo Bai, the only one still standing there, her tone tinged with embarrassment at being ignored.

"It's summer now," Mo Bai said calmly, turning away from the departing figures before slowly turning to leave.

Little Ben immediately followed him, walking alongside him, and casually slapped the watch face to transform back into an Earthling.

The evening breeze ruffled her hair.

After walking for a while, Mo Bai turned his head to look at the girl's profile beside him and asked.

"By the way, are you really going to name that alien hero 'Too Exaggerated'?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ban spread his hands and gave a sly yet frank smile.

"I was just kidding!" She rested a hand on her chin, feigning serious thought, her gaze fixed on the distant lights of the base. "How about...?" She trailed off, seemingly searching her mind for the right word, "Hmm..." After a moment, a simple and direct name slipped out: "Chameleon?"

Upon hearing the name, Mo Bai abruptly stopped, turned around, her eyes widened slightly, and her mouth opened slightly in surprise as she stared at Xiao Ban in disbelief.

The little boy was a bit confused by his sudden reaction. He stopped and tilted his head slightly to meet his gaze, his tone a little uncertain.

"What? Is there something wrong with my name?"

Mo Bai shook her head, the surprise on her face slowly subsiding, replaced by an expression that mixed helplessness and a hint of amusement.

“It’s precisely because there’s no problem,” he paused, his voice carrying a hint of genuine surprise, “that’s why I’m surprised.” After all, given Xiaoban’s usual whimsical naming style, this time it was truly unexpected that it was so “simple and unpretentious.”

At the other end of the runway, the atmosphere was completely different. Colonel Lausanne stopped Mark Tian, ​​who was about to leave, his voice low and stubborn.

"I'm certain that the events at Area 51 were ordered by him. I'll investigate further during the interrogation!"

Mark turned around, his gaze sharp, and looked directly at Colonel Lausanne.

"What? Are you afraid we'll torture him and prevent you from watching the show?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

"I believe you will take the necessary measures," Colonel Lausanne said, avoiding Tian Mark's gaze, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

Mark Tian's expression instantly became extremely serious, and his voice deepened, carrying an undeniable authority.

“Plumbers never do things this way, how come you still don’t understand, Colonel Lausanne?” He took a step forward, an invisible pressure spreading out, “Your actions have caused Earth to violate interstellar law, and you seem unaware of the magnitude of the trouble you’ve caused!”

Colonel Lausanne straightened his back, met Tian Mark's gaze, his face showing the stubbornness unique to soldiers and a kind of self-identified tragic heroism.

“Mark, I know exactly what I'm doing!” His voice was resolute. “But even so, I would do the same thing again if I were in this situation! You have to choose between hundreds of aliens and national security.” He paused, his eyes sharp. “The answer is obvious!”

Tian Mark gave him a deep look, his eyes filled with disappointment and weariness, which eventually turned into a silent indifference.

He didn't speak again, but silently turned around and walked steadily towards his car, his shadow stretching long under the runway lights. Their paths were different; there was no need for further words.

As night deepened, everyone dispersed.

Kevin drove his flashy modified car, with Xiaowen on the way to the city.

The headlights pierced the darkness, and the engine sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Xiaowen leaned back in the passenger seat, gazing at the blurry tree shadows rushing past the window, a hint of worry still lingering between her brows.

"They don't know Earth has rest days..." Xiaowen sighed helplessly, breaking the silence in the car, and muttered a complaint.

Just as Kevin was about to reply, a blinding beam of light suddenly tore through the night, accompanied by a deep hum!

A small, uniquely shaped silver spaceship, like a silver shuttle falling from the sky, landed with a thud right in front of the road, blocking the way.

"Tsk!" Kevin slammed on the brakes, the tires screeching as they rubbed against the pavement.

Without hesitation, he placed his hand on the car door handle, and a strange flow of matter instantly enveloped his entire body, turning him into a gleaming metal statue.

He pushed open the car door, his voice carrying both the frustration of being disturbed from his sleep and a soaring fighting spirit.

"I don't care who it is, I'll beat them up no matter what!"

Xiaowen also quickly got out of the car, purple celestial energy faintly flowing in her palm, her eyes warily fixed on the uninvited guest.

The hatch slid open slowly amidst the hissing sound of airflow.

A familiar figure peeked out, wearing that signature, slightly cynical smile.

"Friends, it's me!"

Upon seeing who it was, the celestial energy in Xiaowen's palm suddenly went out, but her brows did not relax.

"Aji?" His tone carried obvious surprise and a hint of displeasure at being disturbed.

Seeing Xiaowen's face clearly saying "Keep away," Aji exaggeratedly shrank his neck and said with a grin.

"I think I've come at a bad time?"

"I'm not in the mood to chat with you right now," Xiaowen said coldly, her arms crossed, clearly not wanting to talk any further.

Aji immediately clutched his chest, making an extremely exaggerated expression of injury, and his voice became tearful.

“Xiao Wen, I’ve been humiliated! No, I’m hurt! You’ve hurt my young, innocent heart!” He blinked, trying to evoke “revolutionary friendship,” “Do you remember the ‘good old days’?”

Almost in unison: "I don't remember." (Xiao Wen)

“I remember,” Kevin blurted out instinctively.

The moment Kevin uttered the word "remember," he felt a cold gaze, as if it were a physical object, shooting towards him.

He immediately felt the powerful "killing intent" emanating from the passenger seat, and quickly tightened the metal on his face, staring straight ahead with a serious expression, as if he hadn't just been the one speaking.

Xiaowen withdrew her "death stare" and looked at Aji again, her tone already quite impatient.

"Can you just tell us why you're bothering us?"

Aji then dropped his flamboyant performance, lowered his head, and his voice became unusually serious, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible anxiety.

“Alright, anyway, I need help.” He looked up, a hint of tension in his eyes. “The Eternal Warriors are hunting me!”

Xiaowen raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, even with a hint of "I knew it" sarcasm: "You can't blame them, remember?" She counted on her fingers, "You destroyed several of their castles!"

"No, no, no!" Aji hurriedly waved his hands, urgently explaining, "It has nothing to do with the castle! This time they just suddenly appeared out of nowhere and told me to leave," he made a throat-slitting gesture, his expression exaggerated, "or they would have 'chopped' me off!"

Xiaowen spread her hands, with a "what's it to me?" expression: "Then why are you lingering here?"

"Please!" Aji exclaimed, as if his tail had been stepped on. "I'm really thriving here! Business is booming, and there are tons of opportunities to make money!" He pointed to the ground beneath his feet, then his face fell, his voice filled with genuine worry. "If they catch me, I'm done for!"

"What does this have to do with us?" Xiaowen remained unmoved and turned to open the car door.

Just as the two were about to get into the car and leave, Aji panicked and shouted at their backs, dropping the real bombshell.

“Because I’m not the only one suffering! They’re hunting down outsiders one by one!” He paused, emphasizing his words, “If you don’t believe me, go ask around.” These words were like a stone thrown into the silent night, stirring up unseen ripples.

Kevin's hand, which had just opened the car door, paused, his metal-covered knuckles resting on the cold door frame.

He slowly turned around, the light from the streetlamp flowing across his gleaming metal body, highlighting his cold, hard features.

He looked at Xiaowen, who was about to get into the passenger seat, with a serious expression that suggested he had "thought things through."

"Perhaps... we really need to investigate."

Xiaowen froze instantly.

She held onto the car door and slowly straightened up, the streetlights outlining her silhouette as she slightly turned her head.

She took a deep breath, as if inhaling the chill of the night and her helplessness, then suddenly turned around, hands on her hips, her green eyes shining brightly in the night, staring straight at Kevin's metal head, her voice rising a few decibels, filled with undisguised doubt.

“Kevin, how could you believe his nonsense?” Each word was like a pebble hitting metal, crisp and tinged with annoyance.

Kevin's metal head swayed slightly from side to side, producing a faint metallic scraping sound.

He spread out his metal-covered palms, his tone serious, even with a hint of innocent "righteousness."

“I don’t believe it,” he paused, his metal finger making a gesture in the air, “Just going to investigate will cost you a piece of flesh, you know?” His tone was as if he were stating a simple truth that applies to all people.

Xiaowen did not immediately refute.

She just stared at Kevin, the streetlight casting a faint shadow between her furrowed brows.

The silence stretched out for several seconds, with only the faint sound of Aji's slightly tense breathing in the distance.

Finally, Xiaowen's shoulders slumped slightly, and she let out a helpless sigh. The sigh was particularly clear in the quiet night, as if she was exhaling her last bit of perseverance.

"Alright then," her voice returned to calm, but with a resigned compromise. She reached into her pocket for her phone, the screen's light instantly illuminating her somewhat tired face. "I'll call Xiaoban now," she added as she turned on the screen, "and have her and Mobai come over." Her movements were swift, but the reluctance in her tone was still undeniable.