Back on Earth, Kevin carefully set down the still-smoking Galvanic Phase Disruptor on a worktable in Plumber HQ's lab. Rook Blonko stood beside him with a concerned look.
The door hissed open and Max Tennyson entered, the grizzled veteran Plumber frowning. "What's this about Ben being missing?"
Kevin ran a hand through his shaggy dark hair. "It's crazy, Max. We were fighting the Forever Knights over this disruptor device they stole. Ben went Humungousaur, I grabbed the disruptor, but then one of the knights activated it."
He gestured helplessly. "Next thing I know, Ben's just...gone. Disappeared in a flash of light."
"He was transported away?" Max's frown deepened. "But to where?"
A circular beam of brilliant light appeared, resolving into the miniature form of Azmuth, the genius Galvan inventor of the Omnitrix. The curmudgeonly alien glared around.
"Where is Ben Tennyson? I'm detecting a highly anomalous chronoton flux related to the Omnitrix."
The three turned to look at each other warily.
In the Dark Dimension, Ben ran until his lungs burned, finally catching his breath in a sheltered alcove. He gasped, "Omnitrix, where am I? What is this place?"
The watch-like device responded, "The dimension you have been transported to is designated Umbranima. It is an esoteric plane of reality dominated by the sentient race known as Arks."
Ben peered out cautiously. "Those monster things? This just keeps getting better and better."
Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, he noticed colors and shapes in the distance unlike the shadowy wasteland he'd first encountered. Almost like...a city?
"Wait a second..." Ben squinted. "Are those...buildings? And some kind of inhabitants? Maybe they can help!"
Activating the Omnitrix again, he assumed the slick ebony form of Chamalien and turned invisible. The stealthy alien lurked through the strange metropolis in awe.
Hovering palatial buildings inscribed with elegant calligraphic designs filled the skyline. Sinuous shaped flora and waterways adorned plazas and courtyards where colorfully robed beings strode with inherent grace. Despite their ursine, panda-like features, there was an undeniable aura of wisdom and power to them.
"Omnitrix, who are these guys?"
"They are the Evolep. An ancient and highly advanced species of genetic offshoots from the prime Earth pandas. Revered throughout Umbranima for their spiritual transcendence and mastery of metaphysical abilities."
"Whoa..." Ben whispered in Chamalien's echoing voice.
His invisibility dropped as his transformation timed out. The shimmering Evolep immediately stopped and turned toward him, radiating shock and alarm.
Before anyone could react further, a deafening roar shook the city. Ben spun to see a massive, nightmarish Ark easily sixty feet high lumber into view. Spiked plates guarded its body, teeth like swords extended from its fanged maw. Dozens more monstrosities followed in its wake.
A powerfully-built Evolep floated forward fearlessly. Ben recognized the sigil on his robes as marking authority.
"Ezekiel. You betray our truce again?" His voice carried toneless power.
The Ark leader threw back its horned head and bellowed in apparent answer. Then it fixed its hate-filled gaze on the Evolep.
"Surrender this world to the Excelsor of Arkhon! Bow to our dominion or be annihilated!"
The Evolep stood firm as the Arks closed in, slavering jaws agape. Ben gulped hard.
"Here we go again..."