Battle Of Planets
Chapter 37: Coco’s Past

Chapter 37: Coco’s Past

Coco stood tall over all others, his intense gaze scanning the field—the profound purple aura from his armor surrounding him gave an almost divine presence—an embodiment of death.

Captain Barnes had only recently begun harnessing Aura, while Coco had been wielding it for decades. He didn’t just use it—he mastered it. He was a force beyond comprehension with a staggering power point of 67.

"Is that all he has?" Coco whispered, his voice filled with disappointment.

On the third floor, the Rangers stationed beside the President trembled. Their captain had been defeated. The last sliver of hope they clung to was slipping away, and with it, their chances of escape also seemed to be fading.

"Nowadays, the Rangers aren’t much, are they?" Coco sneered,

The President stepped forward, fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. No one remained here who could confront Coco. Resisting would be pointless—his best option was to surrender and wait for his allies to arrive.

"Right... That’s why you kept Ed out of this battle," the President said, his gaze scanning the battlefield. He remained calm despite the chaos surrounding him.

Coco let out a laugh that echoed across the room. He then shook his head, amusement sparkling in his eyes. "I’m saving him for dessert."

The President exhaled slowly, stepping closer to the shattered glass wall, standing beside Coco as they observed the devastation below. "You were always like this, stubborn and..."

"I’m not the same person anymore," Coco said grimly.

Behind them, the remaining Rangers dared not move even an inch. They were afraid of Coco. Even the news helicopter circling above hesitated to get too close, remembering all too well what Coco had done to the last rescue chopper that had attempted to approach.

"Let’s get down first, Edmund," Coco said.

Before anyone could react, he seized the President and jumped off the third floor. The Rangers behind them gasped, instinctively reaching out as if they could somehow prevent the fall.

Coco landed effortlessly, cradling the President like a ragdoll, hardly acknowledging the impact.

Dex and the other Rogues leapt down one after another, landing effortlessly beside their leader.

The Rangers, though reluctant, had no choice but to follow. Their movements became less confident as they descended to the ground below.

The Lieutenant’s heart raced with panic as he observed the President in the grip of the Rogues. They were outnumbered and encircled, and now their greatest threat— the man who had effortlessly defeated their Captain—stood before them.

"My friends, as I said, the President is within our gasp!" Coco’s voice rang out across the battlefield.

A cheer erupted from the Rogues, their triumph already sinking in.

Inside the building, Seraphina and Liora froze in horror, their eyes fixed on the scene before them: the president standing among the enemies, helpless yet silent.

Seraphina tried to move forward, but Alex grasped her arm and held her back. "Don’t,"

Liora struggled, too, but Tyson stepped in and gripped her shoulder. "Stay put," he muttered. "Rushing out there won’t change anything."

The tension in the air was suffocating. The battlefield had changed. The Rangers were no longer fighting to win—they were battling against despair.

Raine smirked as she sat among the captured Rogues, her heart pounding with anticipation. They were so close—within reach of the freedom she had dreamed of for years. Now, they didn’t have to run; they didn’t have to do reckless things to survive, and they no longer had to take the blame for crimes they hadn’t even committed.

The Rangers assembled at the front, prepared to launch their rescue mission, but Coco’s intense stare froze them.

"If they move," Coco commanded, his voice echoing, "destroy that building; don’t hesitate."

His words sent a jolt of shock through both sides. He had issued a direct order to massacre innocent civilians— including the President’s family. Even among the Rogues, there was a flicker of unease.

Blue stepped forward. "Coco!" he called out. "Our people are inside."

For the first time, a sense of hesitation lingered in the air.

Coco’s cold gaze shifted to Blue. "And? Do you think they matter more than our cause?" His voice was calm.

Blue clenched his fists. He had followed Coco for years, but this? This was different. He wouldn’t just kill people. "They’re our people," he repeated. "We fight for freedom, not to slaughter innocents."

Coco sneered. "Do you believe that war exists without sacrifice?" He pointed at the Rangers. "Now they’ll have no qualms about killing you on the spot to carry out their orders."

Blue’s jaw clenched, but he stayed silent. Around him, the other Rogues cast uneasy glances. Even those who had served under Coco’s ruthless command for years hesitated at his order.

It was true—the Rangers might not spare them this time, not after the havoc they had caused. But once the President confessed to his crimes, things would change, wouldn’t they? All they needed to do was clear their names and show the city the truth. The media had painted them as monsters, but if they could expose the President’s manipulation, the citizens would see that the Rogues were human too—often fighting for all humanity when needed. Yet, it wasn’t recognized, and they weren’t being accepted.

Meanwhile, Raine sat among the captured Rogues, her gaze fixed on the unfolding scene. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she maintained a stoic expression. This was the moment they had all been waiting for—they would finally regain their freedom. Yet, as she glanced at Coco, a man ready to burn everything to the ground, doubt began to creep in.

At what cost?

Across the battlefield, the Rangers stood still. They had come to rescue the President, but now they were caught in a fragile standoff, aware that any misstep could cost innocent lives.

"Fine," Coco’s voice sliced through the silence, "Let my people go... and stay back until we finish our objective."

The Rangers released Raine and her comrades. As she took a final glance at Alex, she saw him standing resolutely in front of Seraphina, whose tears flowed freely as she watched her father held captive by the enemy.

"Everything will be okay," Raine whispered to Seraphina, attempting to soothe her. "Our goal is to make people understand our cause. It’s not about killing—it’s about revealing the truth."

"As if you haven’t already killed enough," Tyson shot back. "If you had a genuine cause, you could have contacted us in a more civilized manner."

"To whom?" Blue’s voice was sharp as he stepped forward, ensuring his comrades were safe. "You think people don’t know what we’ve done? They know. They’ve seen our efforts. But nothing has changed for us. We needed to make a statement. Something that would remind you..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the frightened citizens huddled beside the Rangers. "We ask for forgiveness only after he confesses his crimes."

"What crimes has my father committed?" Seraphina asked, her voice trembling. "Ignoring your existence? Or granting you human rights? If it weren’t for my father, you would have had nowhere to go."

"W-what do you mean?" Raine asked, confusion evident in her voice.

"You think we didn’t know where your base was?" Alex’s voice dripped with bitter amusement. "You all are so naïve."

Blue froze. They knew. How long had they been aware of their base? If that was true, why hadn’t they attacked?

He and his comrades had always believed they were discreet, keeping their operations under wraps. But now, that belief shattered like glass. The revelation shook them to their core.

He remembered how Edward used to seek him out, always trying to recruit him. It had puzzled him earlier, but now it struck him hard—maybe Edward had known more than he revealed.

"You think he’s unaware of that?" Liora’s voice cut through the tension. "That man used to be a Ranger. A Ranger who took his duty to heart, but have you ever wondered what made him shift to being a rogue?"

Blue looked at Coco and Dex, who were whispering, while the President stood frozen in place.

"Do you know about his past?" Liora pressed, her voice low but laden with meaning. "He was a friend of my husband. And he... he even named my daughter Seraphina."

The room lapsed into stunned silence. Seraphina and the others gathered around her, standing frozen and wide-eyed. They were unaware that Coco had once been so close to the President’s family.

"Mom!" Seraphina’s voice trembled, catching in her throat. Liora smiled softly at her, nostalgia reflected in her expression.

"You probably don’t remember, but you used to hide behind him whenever I scolded you," Liora said warmly. "And Alex did, too."

Alex hesitated, glancing between Liora and Seraphina. Tyson observed them intently, confusion flickering in his eyes as if he was trying to piece everything together.

"You’re lying," Raine spat defiantly. "Let’s go, Blue."

But even as she spoke those words, exhaustion washed over her. She felt drained, not only physically but also emotionally. Deep down, she knew Liora was telling the truth: they had no idea about Coco’s past. Blue took hesitant steps after Raine.

"Ask him who is Ciara" Liora said, "Hope it won’t be too late"