All three of them wore the exact same shocked expressions, blurting out in unison.
"Ethen…" Grandpa Max said with a complicated look. "From today onward, my lifelong dream is to receive awards related to you."
Ben said excitedly, "Ethen, how about I you surename a Tennyson? Let everyone know that people with our surname aren't to be messed with!"
"Stop trying to ride on my coattails!"
Gwen smacked Ben on the shoulder, then leaned closer to Ethen. Her face flushed slightly as she whispered.
"Ethen, when people receive awards, they usually have a partner. How about you take me with you when you accept yours?"
"Haha, there's enough glory to go around," Ethen said casually, waving his hand with an easy smile.
The group left the room, checked out at the front desk, and climbed into the Rustbucket.
Grandpa Max stepped on the gas, and the old RV roared to life.
8:00 A.M. – Plumbers Headquarters, Mount Rushmore
Inside the enormous underground base, dozens of Plumbers gathered in the main hall, forming two perfectly straight lines.
They were the backbone of the Plumbers.
In a corner of the hall, Apprentice Plumbers stood at attention, whispering among themselves with curiosity.
Charmcaster, wearing her apprentice insignia, scowled and muttered.
"What kind of big shot needs this kind of welcome? They dragged out both the senior and mid-level Plumbers. Aren't they supposed to be on missions?"
"…."
A tall, pale-skinned alien youth with pointed ears remained silent, carefully wiping the prototype Plumber tech in his hands.
"Could it be… that legend?" he murmured.
Rook Blonko slowly tightened his grip.
To surpass Ethen—that was his goal.
Click. Click.
The massive elevator descended with an unfamiliar mechanical rumble.
With a heavy thump, the elevator reached the base level.
An old, beat-up RV rested quietly on it.
Click.
The door opened.
Ethen stepped out with his hands in his pockets, calm as if he were just taking a stroll.
The Apprentice Plumber badge, personally pinned on him by Grandpa Max, gleamed on his chest.
"Hm?"
After taking a few steps, Ethen turned back, confused, looking at the motionless figures still inside the Rustbucket.
"We agreed to receive the award together."
"It's fine, Ethen. You go," Gwen said with a sincere smile, waving him forward. "This is your moment."
Ben clenched his fists.
"One day, I'll earn that honor with my own strength!"
Grandpa Max nodded heavily.
This was family.
At critical moments, they always stood behind you.
"I get it… As long as I know you're behind me, that's enough."
Ethen's smile faded, and he strode forward.
The two lines of Plumbers immediately straightened, eyes filled with respect and awe.
The Apprentice Plumbers' gazes all locked onto him.
"It's him." Charmcaster froze, eyes wide.
"In such a short time… from a rookie Plumber to someone who shook the entire organization?"
"He's just like us—an apprentice!"
"And yet he's already standing there…"
Rook took a deep breath, pressure crushing his chest.
Standing in the same generation as Ethen felt overwhelming.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ethen walked down the aisle as dozens of Plumbers watched in silence, as if witnessing history itself.
At the end of the line, an elderly Plumber spoke in a solemn voice.
"Ethen. This award was created specifically for you. You are the most dazzling hero since the Plumbers were founded."
"You will change us." He raised the trophy with both hands.
Ethen smiled and reached out.
Buzz—buzz—buzz!
Space suddenly rippled violently.
Cracks spread outward, forcing the Plumbers back and breaking the formation.
"What the hell?!"
Ethen spun around, raising his hand toward the Omnitrix, preparing to activate Master Control.
WHOOSH!
Space shattered.
A woman in a sky-blue robe burst out.
Her body was fully covered, yet her curves were impossible to hide. A few strands of orange hair spilled onto her forehead.
Though a veil hid the lower half of her face, her emerald-green eyes alone were breathtaking.
Ethen stopped.
Even as she flew straight toward him, he didn't transform.
She grabbed his wrist and yanked him toward the collapsing rift.
Only then did everyone react.
Dozens of Plumbers rushed forward—only to be blocked by violent spatial energy.
Charmcaster tried to force her magic through it.
Nothing moved.
Not even an inch.
They could only watch as Ethen was dragged inside.
WHOOSH!
A blur of blue streaked past.
XLR8 smashed through the rift.
Gwen, wrapped in mana, followed close behind.
The shattered space rapidly shrank.
Strangely, the path Gwen flew through had the fewest distortions.
Just as space snapped shut—
Gwen's body slipped through sideways.
Bang.
Space returned to normal.
Silence.
Then chaos.
The Plumbers surged forward, only to find nothing left behind.
"…Ethen disappeared?" Cold sweat rolled down the old Plumber's temple.
"Who dares attack the Plumbers' most important asset?!"
"Stopping us alone is insane!"
"And she still succeeded!"
"Is she some kind of dark sorceress?!"
The hall erupted.
Meanwhile, the Apprentice Plumbers whispered among themselves.
"Did you notice? He was about to transform… then didn't."
"Is it because she's hot?"
"She only showed her eyes!"
"Her eyes were enough!"
By the end, a ridiculous rumor spread:
Ethen's weakness is a honey trap.
Charmcaster nearly cried.
"Him? Weak to women?"
After everything he'd done to her, that heartless bastard?!
Grandpa Max calmly sipped his tea.
"Sigh~ just another normal day for the Tennysons."
Elsewhere – A Bustling City Street
Aliens and humans browsed shops together.
Tetramands held hands with humans. Riders perched on massive alien beasts.
"Slow down, sweetheart. Don't get hit by a hoverboard."
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Hoverboards streaked past.
Then—
WHOOSH!
Space trembled.
The robed woman slammed onto the street, grimacing.
"I overdid it…"
Bang! Bang!
Ethen flew out, rolled several times, then stood smoothly, brushing himself off.
Girls nearby whistled.
Hooligans.
XLR8 crashed next, unharmed.
Gwen floated down gently.
Ethen's pupils shrank.
"…This is bad."
He looked at the woman, "Future Gwen—why did you come for me?"
Her voice was soft, "How did you know?"
"Orange hair. Green eyes," Ethen said confidently.
"It's Gwen."
Future Gwen smiled.
"My original target was Ben… but I didn't expect you to have an Omnitrix too."
"I'll ask first," Ethen said calmly.
"Take off the veil. I don't deal with masked people. Then tell me what you want."
She did.
A mature, beautiful face was revealed.
Gwen stared, stunned.
"…That's me?"
"My request is simple," Future Gwen said urgently.
"I need your help."
"Ben—future Ben—disappeared. He's the President of Earth and the Plumbers' highest honorary leader."
Ethen's expression darkened.
"And criminals went wild."
She nodded.
"Dr. Animo returned. Kevin became a monster of countless forms. Global security is collapsing."
Ethen exhaled.
Hell-difficulty scenario.
Perfect.
Then—
RUMBLE!
A massive Rhinoceros-like mutant smashed into the street.
A maximum-security criminal.
People screamed.
"I'll handle this!" XLR8 shouted, vanishing in a blur and evacuating civilians in seconds.
"Haha," he grinned.
"All clear."
...
Author's Note:
The fanfic Ben 10: Daily Check-In System Activated! Part 1 is now fully completed.
The entire story has been uploaded on Patreon as a dedicated collection:
📚 Ben 10 (Chapters 1–132)
Organized into 14 posts, with multiple chapters per post for easy binge reading.
🔥 I also have additional **18+ fanfics** available for readers who enjoy exclusive mature stories. 😉
1. Dragon Ball: Oolong's Sex Adventure
2. Elements of Lust – ATLA & Korra Mixed Smut
3. Doraemon: Filtering with Nobi Tamako
4. The Naive Me Who Became Someone's Everyday Secret
5. High School DxD: Rias Gremory, the Phenex Bride
6. Versatile Mage: Awakening the Succubus System
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