Battle Of Planets
Chapter 42: Facing coco 2

Chapter 42: Facing coco 2

Amid the chaotic battlefield, where debris littered the ground and the distant sounds of conflict echoed through the city, Coco stood at the center, unfazed, as if the destruction surrounding him was merely background noise to his contest. Tyson and Blue, their metallic armors battered and worn, circled him, red targeting reticles appearing on Coco’s frame within their helmets.

Tyson lunged first, his sword thrust forward as he swung with all his might. But Coco moved with a fluid grace that made him nearly impossible to track. With a swift sidestep, he dodged Tyson’s blade effortlessly and countered with a brutal punch to his side. The sickening metallic crunch echoed as Tyson’s body crashed into a nearby wrecked car, the impact ringing in his ears. He staggered, breath ragged, as his vision blurred.

Next, Blue rushed forward, his fists crackling with energy from his powered-up guns. But once again, Coco moved like a shadow in motion. He caught Blue’s punch mid-air, twisting his arm with a force that made Blue wince in pain. Before Blue could even react, Coco drove an elbow into his chest, sending him to his knees with a painful crash.

"You’re wasting your time," Coco muttered threateningly, swinging around to deliver a brutal kick to Blue’s chest. The impact propelled Blue across the concrete, struggling to catch his breath. "You can’t defeat me. Not like this."

Tyson pushed himself up from the wreckage, his vision still blurry through the helmet’s display. The red marker continued to highlight Coco’s position, and in the corner of his HUD, a hologram revealed the damaged areas of his armor and the usage of his nanoparticle reserves—now at 31 percent. He clenched his fists. It was no longer just about fighting. One more powerful hit and he’d have to take manual control of his suit.

Coco glanced sideways, recognizing Tyson’s determination. The White Ranger was at power point 15 yet still stood his ground. Additionally, Tyson stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Blue, who was close to 27 points himself. It was truly astonishing to Coco.

He had never dared to face an opponent above 40 at power point when he was at 15—except for when a Lieutenant-ranked Ranger nearly destroyed him and Edward, their stubbornness pushing them into a battle they weren’t prepared for. That fight had been a lesson in humility for both him and Edward.

Coco glanced at Tyson, a slight smirk on his face. "You deserve my attention," he pondered, but a sudden movement interrupted him before he could continue. He ducked quickly as a katana sliced through the air and landed in his grip.

"Alex!" Coco exclaimed, his voice full of surprise.

"I’ll tear you apart!" Alex growled through his helmet, pushing the katana forward with all his strength. But Coco’s metal hands caught the blade quickly, stopping its advance.

"I expected nothing less from Edward’s son," Coco chuckled darkly, his gaze shifting to Alex. "Last time I saw you, you were a crybaby... but now it looks like you’ve matured."

With a mocking laugh, Coco leaped back, effortlessly keeping his distance, his eyes fixed on Alex.

"I have no idea what you’re referring to," Alex replied icily, his katana aimed at Coco once more. "And I don’t care either."

"You do," Coco replied with a knowing smile. "I’m sure you want to hear things about your mother that Edward never shared."

Alex hesitated, tightening his grip on the hilt of his katana. Coco’s smile only grew wider.

"As expected," Coco said, "Edward never knew how to deal with topics like this."

"Shut up," Alex hissed, his voice trembling with rage.

Coco’s eyes glinted as he carefully stepped back, keeping Tyson, Blue, and Alex within his line of sight.

"Your mother was with my wife when the Rogues killed them both," Coco said, his voice icy.

Alex froze, his heart racing. He felt the urge to strike and tear Coco apart for killing his President without mercy. But he couldn’t overlook his intense need to uncover the truth about his mother’s death. He was aware that his father and Coco had once been friends, though communication had faded over the years, and his father never revealed anything about that tragic day.

He could vividly recall the day the President came to collect him from kindergarten. Engrossed in constructing a sandcastle with his friend, he had been full of laughter and joy. That happiness now felt like a distant memory as he stood before the man who had once been close to his father.

He thought his mother might have had an accident or, more likely, encountered unfortunate circumstances after leaving him in Kindergarten, where she assured him she would come back to pick him up, but she never did. Alex never forgot her warm smile.

For years, he had suppressed that part of his childhood, transforming into the quiet, reserved person he is now—no longer playing in the sand, but instead, engaging in battles. His mother was always the source of affection, always present for him, in contrast to his father, who was frequently away, defending others.

That memory, buried deep within him, was now painfully exposed before him.

"It wasn’t an accident. It was deliberate," Coco spat, his eyes blazing with fury. "Edmund failed to protect our families while his own stayed safe inside the mansion. Meanwhile, ours were out there on the streets—abandoned to die in that terrorist attack."

"I-it wasn’t Uncle’s fault," Alex stammered, his voice shaky.

His mind raced as he tried to process Coco’s words while battling the rising urge to strike down the man in the purple armor—as if killing him would somehow bring his mother back.

"It was," Coco shot back, his voice heavy with accusation. "He was responsible for protecting the citizens but allowed these insects to run free within the walls. That’s why I lost my wife. That’s why you lost your mother."

Blue hesitates at Coco’s words—perhaps the Rangers are right.

Alex’s gaze flicked toward Blue, doubt creeping into his expression. Blue hesitated, uncertain how to respond.

The rogues—those unruly criminals who flourished on disorder—always threatened society. Nevertheless, his father overlooked them more often than Alex could remember. Why? If only they had intervened earlier to stop them before situations escalated, none of this would have happened.

"Unfortunately, you lost your wife in that incident—just like my master lost his," Tyson said slowly. "But I have to wonder... why are you the only one who chose this path? Why did you choose to take lives instead of saving them?"

Coco stood silent for a moment. Although his expression was concealed beneath the metallic helmet, the weight of Tyson’s words cast a shadow over his face. Why had he chosen this path?

"Because I dared to act," Coco asserted with intensity. "I took the steps your master couldn’t grasp. But..." He turned his attention to Alex. "You recognize the reality, don’t you? The devastation inflicted by these individuals—you cannot deny it."

"Stop lying! It... it was you!" Blue shouted, rage barely contained by his fury.

"Yes," Coco admitted without hesitation. "The Rogues and I. And I am prepared to face the consequences of my actions. Are you?"

Blue hesitated, uncertainty flashing in his eyes. Alex tightened his fists, his teeth clenched together.

"He’s just trying to provoke us," Tyson cautioned. "We should concentrate on bringing him down."

"I don’t need to hear that from you," Alex snapped. "I hate the Rogues, but I hate you even more. First, I’ll deal with you—then I’ll take care of them."

Coco let out a deep sigh, shaking his head. "I thought you were smarter than this, Alex... but it seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree."

"Was that a compliment?" Tyson murmured, looking at Blue.

Blue shrugged. "No idea."

A sudden crackle filled the air as a purple whip appeared in Coco’s hand. He assumed a battle stance—transitioning from cold calculation to total combat readiness.

"Come at me. I won’t even use my aura," Coco said as if he genuinely meant it. "Let’s see how long you three can last."

"That’ll be your biggest mistake," Alex retorted, his grip tightening around his katana.

Tyson and Blue shared a brief nod, silently agreeing to a temporary truce. For the moment, their common enemy was the man accountable for the destruction surrounding them.

"I’d love to see it," Coco challenged, his voice filled with anticipation.

Without hesitation, the three young warriors lunged forward, their weapons raised and eyes ablaze with determination. Coco stood his ground, his purple whip crackling with energy and a smirk concealed beneath his helmet.

For a brief instant, time appeared to halt—Tyson’s sword frozen in mid-swing, Alex’s katana cutting through the air, and Blue’s guns crackling with energy. The ground beneath them quivered with their might, as the ruins around silently bore witness to the imminent clash...

As the others held their breaths while observing from their television screens. They could not believe their eyes; the three sergeant-ranked rangers and rogues faced a general-ranked villain.