Author's Note: This the calm before the storm. We're getting close to the finale for this volume.
Then everything changes. Everything .
Now the thing is ...
I hate angst.
I repeat....
I . Hate. Angst.
I understand tragedies, I have witnessed and recieved my fair share. I still pulled through with my own will, even in my teenage years, without complaining as much as some people write the characters with enough will to make a Green Lantern insecure.
e.g.
Naruto, Tony Stark, Batman, Every Fate character.
Sure their should be some of it but they treat them as if they are Sakura with their level of whining.
Now before the MC can get all emo , his family will prevent him from starting to wear goth makeup.
But I also understand that trauma never disappears, just gets handled better.
Believe me, I know.
So unlike the victi- *cough* sorry , volunteers of Therapy No Jutsu , his issues won't just disappear after one day of relaxing.
This is another character development chapter for context.
....
....
....
OK.
I'll be completely honest, I didn't handle it well.
I'm now comic level overpowered and for all my arrogance and self righteous for something I remember in a show , thinking that I could do better, millions still died.
If it was just a normal disaster I wouldn't be as ashamed. But it was to quick, strong and precise to be normal.
Using the Omnitrix's new Factory Mode* to physically connect to my workspace, I get to work.
I know it isn't my fault but that means I still can be better.
I have to be better than my previous self.
I have to go beyond.
For weeks afterwards I would be spending 2 hours a day memorizing the Omnitrix alien database that I use to skim before to prepare.
It doesn't just give the real species names or special abilities but planetary systems, biological processes, language, culture etc using data to simulate it in real time.
For a peacekeeping device, it needed a lot of improvements in User Interface.
It's still amazing what knowledge one can get from DNA.
Azmuth took the concept of carbon dating and genetic memory then run it to the prevalent edge.
It's the least I can do for him is make it more suited for its original purpose.
To think, this device is every geneticist, archaeologist, astronomer's wet dream.
I intentionally took the device from in this timeline unlike others, the least I can do now is make sure that the watch is used to its maximum potential.
Not as a weapon of war to abuse.
But ... as a tool for peace.
To unite the universe.
.... And beat a couple bad guys along the way of course.
I programmed the a alarm system for better response time.
As I try to think up new updates I look at my body.
I seem to be still ... "synchronising" with my most used forms such as increased muscles from Four arms, increased intelligence from Greymatter, increased perception/reflexes from XLR8 and Technological understanding Upgrade.
Is this what Azmuth warned Alt!Ben when he overused Feedback.*
And went further in removing the failsafe for more power.*
I sigh as I rub the sides of my head at my impulsiveness.
Eventually, I had to take a break when the (new) medical screen to me to relax or it will force me.
wait, did I programme it-
Nevertheless, It new more about my health than I did scientifically speaking.
So I decided to spend these next few days of peace with your family, just relaxing and spending your time training with both your body and with your aliens. The first thing you do during your free time is request a spar with your family, where they acquiesce to your request.
I make a small dirt circle, about the size of one of your dad's boxing rings in the basement. Gwen enters first, jumping up and down a few times.
I enter after her, cracking your knuckles and entering into a stance fists held forward. Gwen looks you over, eyebrow raised.
Despite my half a decade of some karate and half remembered practical experience, I'm still growing up and I don't know if it was my influence or not but Gwen decided to copy Bruce Wayne in terms of combat.
The martial arts she managed to learn at the time as me was ridiculous even if she didn't have Grandpa Max added to it.
Judo, Jitjutsu, Salate and Kick boxing.
At Ten.
Especially without the benefit of outside knowledge.
Damn.
"Ben, you know you'll never win if you try to bullrush me, you don't have the strength for i-"
In a flash, I've already closed the distance to her, using my superior speed, my leg flicking out and hooking around hers, dropping her to the ground in an instance. Rising up off of her, your cousin wheezes, the breathe knocked from her lungs.
Twist your neck, a loud pop emerging , I decided to have a little fun.
"Dang cuz, you sure you're a blackbelt? They just giving them out nowadays?"
She looks up to me, glaring. With a push, she's jumping back to her feet with a dexterous flare.
"Round two." She says simply.
She enters into your guard without hesitation, her form elegant and smooth as you actually struggle to backstep and create distance.
Guess your not superhuman in base , yet.
Her leg strikes out at your own, looking for an opening as she taps it lightly. Going in for a second strike with her fist, you move.
With a twist, you're vaulting over your cousin, flipping over her with flair. Turning back, I'm , somehow, struck square in the chest with a kick, as Gwen pushes forward to mount you, form over yours as she prevents you from lifting yourself up.
"Round two goes to me," Gwen says from above you, chest heaving as she pants. "... I thought I was the acrobat."
"I also like to do yoga," I respond, daring not mention the two years of ballet mom had you take in sixth and seventh grade.* She must never know.
Gwen rises, stepping back to her side.
"Final round." She announces. This is it, you can still win.
This time you take the initiative, giving up on a style she knows more than me like karate , putting Gwen on the defensive as best you can, throwing punches at her from every angle.
"You fight like a brawler, Ben!" My cousin says, smile on her face even as I grunt, struggling to keep up with her, just to land a devastating hit!
"S-shutup!" I manage to get out, barreling forward with a haymaker. Gwen slides under it, dancing around you. Before I can even hope to turn, Gwen's hands are on your shoulders, lifting herself up and planting herself onto my shoulders.
"Whoa!" I say in shock, as Gwen's thighs squeeze around you, her body flinging backwards as she flips you over, her ass square against your face as you go flying into the dirt.
"Winner is Gwe-AHHH!" My cousin leaps off of me quickly as soon as you begin to sputter for air. Looking up to her, wheezing at the feeling of my lungs being entirely devoid of oxygen, Gwen's face looks to be like a furnace.
"Y-you..."
"You almost killed me!" I shout, before going silent...
"That was awesome!" I finish, as Gwen just looks on in shock.
"What?" She asks.
"Yeah, you tore me apart, like whip, wham! It was just like one of my comic books, holy shit Gwen you're a badass!"
I'm even impressed as this is her without magic and me starting to get enhanced.
My cousin is silent, before she scratches her cheek a bit. "Oh, thanks, Ben." It takes her a moment before her face reddens again. "I mean, doofus!" She looks frantic for some reason, before retreating away in a hurry. "I needa go help grandpa with something over there!"
Later, I spend some more time with them, fighting them with the respective styles that they taught you, managing to pick up some more thing about both styles and improve.
Of course this is early 2000's summer, so we parked near a lake to cool down.
After changing, I then relax after that by heading over to a decently sized stream nearby and just relaxing in the cold water. Closing my eyes and enjoying the feel of the cooling water, at least until you hear a splash in the water a bit further up stream.
I open your eyes to look at the source of the noise, and you can feel the heat rising to your face immediately.
My cousin in a swimsuit, in a very form fitting swimsuit, in a swimsuit that highlights her developing bust and shapely hips.
"Wh-What the hell are doing Dweeb! Can't you see I'm relaxing here!" I shout at her somewhat embarrassed.
"What's it look like Doofus, I'm doing the same thing you are, relaxing in this stream, those spars earlier made me sweaty and I'd rather not have to waste water in the Rustbucket when this place works just as fine." She answers snarkily, lowering herself into the water.
"I can see that Dweeb I'm not blind, what I meant was why were you here now. Why couldn't you do it, I don't know, after I had left?" You ask again.
"What? I can't want to spend some time with my Doofus of a cousin?" She says.
"Whatever Dweeb, I'm heading back to camp." I say as you get up and start making your way back to the Rustbucket. I don't get very far before she grabs your wrist, before speaking to you in a tone of voice that makes you pause.
"Please stop, I'm...sorry if I made you mad, I'd...just like to talk, if that's alright." She says, letting go of your hand and seemingly shrinking into herself. I don't know why but something in your heart hurts at seeing your normally assured and confident cousin in such a state.
I sit back down in the stream and Gwen follows your lead as well.
"Well alright then, go ahead and talk." I say.
She stares at me for a bit before turning away.
" When summer started,, I thought I would just be cruising around in a RV with you and Grandpa. " She wears out a wistful smile before her face blanks.
" Then you get an alien wristwatch that makes you a genetic library for the universe, we find out Grandpa is a space marine, and even when I gained power for my own , you still put the world on your back like your fucking Atlas .... and... and... I just don't want you hurt."
...
OK , wow , the guilt.
Curse my natural empathy.
"I...It's funny you know...you're the closest thing I have to a friend. That's sad isn't it, that the cousin I can hardly stand sometimes is the only person I can actually consider a friend." She says, hunching further into herself.
OK, time to cut off the insecurities at the bud.
I am not letting think less of herself.
"Nah, that's not sad at all, I'm almost in the same boat you know, besides, while you might get on my nerves with your...you ness, you aren't that bad. If those idiot at your school can't see that then that's their problem." You respond.
"*Sniff* Thanks Doofus, I guess you aren't that bad after all." She says in response, sniffling at the beginning.
I ...
Decide wrap her up in a hug, and she begins to cry somewhat, letting out all the repressed sadness and other emotions she had been bottling up.
Once more something in my heart aches at seeing your cousin in such a state, but another part of you is glad that you get to be here to help her through this.
I guess I was being a bit reckless.
I'll take a bit of a break...
Then back to work.
N/B
I thought that I had to increase the character development of Gwen since besides Grandpa Max and Ben, she's the only main character until Kevin comes into play for the plot.
I hope I got the emotional responses right.
The thing about good Overpowered characters isn't the challenge, otherwise the escalation goes out of control.
*cough*cough*Dragon Ball Super*cough*cough*
When one look at Superman, Thor or even Gilgamesh, it's about the characters and their interactions.
Tell me what you think.
Only *constructive* criticism.