I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 136 – Power

- Oliver -

Cernunnos raised an eyebrow. "Ignorance can be a humble thing," he observed. "But power is not given lightly.”

"What do you mean?" Oliver asked, his confusion evident.

"Let me explain," Cernunnos began. However, Athena swiftly raised one of her hands before he could continue.

"Be careful with what you're about to reveal," she cautioned. "You don't want to interfere with the Game's rules."

"To hell with the Game. I'm out of it—and not because I lost," Cernunnos retorted.

"I consider that you did lose," Athena responded coolly.

"Of course you do. After the thrashing we gave you, that's the least you could say," Cernunnos shot back, venom in his voice.

"Say what you will. At least I didn't create the beings that would bring about my own downfall," Athena replied sharply.

"Ah! Fair point." Cernunnos conceded, a hint of resignation creeping into his tone.

The Sovereign paused for a moment, contemplating before he continued. "Alright. Think of it this way: the power that fuels your crystals has to come from somewhere. In this case, it's us—the Sovereigns—who imbue them with energy. However, while we possess powers beyond what you mortals could ever imagine, they are not limitless."

Oliver nodded, indicating his understanding.

"We are bound by rules, limitations, and preferences," Cernunnos continued. "For example, this old lady here"—he gestured mischievously toward Athena—"she connects best with those who are trustworthy, heroic, and intelligent."

"O-old lady?" Athena stammered, her grip tightening on the armrest of her throne until fine cracks splintered across the stone.

"Right," Oliver interjected quickly, attempting to steer the conversation back on track and ignore the growing tension. "In that case, what do you require?"

"Hmm, I'm a bit more tricky—my tastes are more refined," Cernunnos mused, stroking his wild beard thoughtfully. "I seek beings who bring about growth and renewal. It's not by chance that I'm known as the Father of the Elves."

"Father of the Elves?" Oliver echoed, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Oops," the Sovereign muttered, realizing he'd said too much. "Wait, how do you not know that? Isn't he the Alpha?" Cernunnos turned to Athena, confusion evident in his eyes.

"No. He isn't," she replied tersely.

"What?! How was I awakened by someone who isn't even the Alpha?" Cernunnos exclaimed, a mix of astonishment and indignation in his voice.

"I don't know. Bad luck on your part?" Athena suggested with a shrug. "Perhaps you should ask your beloved Elves."

"Ah! This is just splendid," Cernunnos grumbled, rubbing his temples as if warding off a headache.

Oliver stood amid the towering columns of the grand hall, his mind awash with confusion. The cryptic exchanges between Athena and Cernunnos only added to his bewilderment.

Questions swirled in his thoughts. ‘What is an Alpha? What does he mean by 'Father of the Elves'?’ Yet, he chose not to voice them. He knew this place required some kind of power to be maintained, and his question increased the input needed. Time was of the essence; he needed to secure Cernunnos's support before the opportunity slipped away.

"Growth, huh," Oliver muttered under his breath. Gathering his resolve, he addressed the towering deities. "If I'm correct," he began, his voice steadying, "you can only see and interact with those using your crystals. Is that right?"

"Yes," Athena confirmed, her gaze inscrutable.

"From Cernunnos's reaction, it appears you don't know me or my past," Oliver continued, glancing at the horned Sovereign. "In that case, allow me to introduce myself properly. Perhaps then I can convince you to support me."

Cernunnos shifted on his throne of entwined branches and leaves, his glowing eyes fixed intently on Oliver. "Very well," he rumbled. "Speak."

Taking a deep breath, Oliver began to recount his journey. He told them of the day the first Wave struck Seoul—the skies darkening as Ork forces descended upon the city, destroying everything on its path. He spoke of the terror and confusion, of lives ended in an instant.

He described the endless darkness of the years he spent in the VAT. Trapped in suspended animation, consciousness flickering like a distant star, he had drifted through a void where time held no meaning.

Oliver shared how he was eventually awakened and emerged into a completely new world. Old cities lay in ruins, societies fractured, and new Houses dominated the new Empire formed after the Waves. He spoke of his silent vow to survive, adapt, and find purpose in this new reality.

He detailed his arduous journey to the Academy. There, he learned more about the ongoing war between Humans and Orks, a brutal conflict that spanned countless worlds. He recounted his battles, the foes he faced, the allies he made, and the relentless drive that pushed him to evolve beyond his limits.

Finally, he described how he arrived at this moment and received the rare Z Crystal that served as a conduit to Cernunnos. "This journey led me to you," Oliver concluded, "and perhaps to a chance at turning the tide in this battle."

Silence hung heavy in the hall as Cernunnos contemplated Oliver's words. The Sovereign's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Interesting," he mused. "Those meddlesome Elves... Still, they have connected me to someone who isn’t the Alpha."

Oliver saw Cernunnos muttering to himself, his tone indicating his evident frustration. Sensing an opportunity, he decided to adjust his approach.

"Sir," Oliver addressed him respectfully, "I know what it's like to be trapped in darkness, asleep for only the gods know how long. The tedium, the despair of wanting to escape that prison..." Memories of his time in the VAT surfaced—lonely, desolate images that had haunted him. "I can barely fathom what it must be like for you, slumbering for decades or centuries until someone finds your Z Crystal, especially one as rare as yours."

Cernunnos's expression softened, his gaze becoming more focused on Oliver. He seemed intrigued, perhaps even touched by the empathy in Oliver's words.

"I can offer you the closest thing to freedom possible," Oliver continued earnestly. "If you lend me your power, I can keep you from returning to that endless sleep. But if that's not enough, I can remove the Crystal, and you'll go back to slumber—perhaps for ages untold."

To underscore his sincerity, Oliver took a deliberate step back, distancing himself from the Sovereign's throne. It was a small gesture but one that signified his willingness to send Cernunnos back to the darkness.

The great Sovereign was silent, his eyes studying Oliver with a depth that seemed to pierce through layers of reality. An air of contemplation settled between them.

"I think I understand what you see in him," Cernunnos finally remarked, turning his gaze briefly toward Athena. "He possesses a certain quality."

Athena remained silent, her expression unreadable as she observed the exchange.

Cernunnos regarded Oliver thoughtfully. Finally, he sighed and raised his arms in a gesture of resignation. "Very well, boy," he rumbled. "You leave me with no choice." He leaned forward, the ancient wood of his throne creaking softly. "You are not among my sons and daughters, so our connection will not be easy. We have two options: diminish the power I can offer you or impose certain limitations. Since I prefer to see you grow, I think it will be more entertaining to place some constraints on the power you will receive."

"Agreed," Oliver replied, accepting the terms.

Cernunnos continued, "The first limitation is the simplest. You cannot use my armor for more than ten minutes at a time. This is the most basic restriction; currently, your body wouldn't withstand more than that anyway. Continue to grow stronger, and perhaps I will remove this limitation."

"Understood," Oliver affirmed with a nod.

"Second," Cernunnos said, his tone grave, "no human or ork must know that a human has access to these powers."

"Why?" Oliver asked, frowning.

"All Pieces and Sovereigns believe that I am still slumbering," Cernunnos explained. "I would prefer it remained that way. My sons and daughters already have access to my powers. For someone outside my lineage to wield them would reveal that I have awakened."

Oliver didn't fully grasp the implications but sensed it could cause Cernunnos problems. "I see," he said thoughtfully.

"Third and finally," Cernunnos declared. "After using my powers, you must feed my crystal with one week of your Energy production. Until you do this, you won’t be able to use my powers again."

"Challenging but acceptable," Oliver conceded.

"Excellent." Cernunnos leaned back, a hint of satisfaction in his expression. "Then, boy, you have my blessing to use this Z Crystal." He paused, a subtle glimmer in his eye. "But before you return, let me make a small improvement."

With a swift motion, Cernunnos snapped his fingers. Instantly, a translucent notification materialized before Oliver, hovering in mid-air.

| New Ranger Weapon available

| Twin Daggers added

“This weapon will suit you better," Cernunnos remarked with a sly smile.