User blog comment:CARTOONNETWORKDUDE/Chrono or Chroni/@comment-1622149-20120406220415/@comment-34326521-20120422012643

Almost right, except for one thing - Ben didn't unlock it; Eon forced him to transform. He was far too weak to beat one ten year-old Ben Tennyson, much less a sixteen year-old.

Of course, this is all speculation. However, you're right about the fact that they're two different species.