I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 191 – Damian & Darius

- Oliver -

[Blue Crystal - Activate]

In an instant, his armor materialized around him.

"Are you insane?" Damian shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief upon seeing Oliver disrespect the Empire’s command. "We were given explicit orders not to activate them!"

He stared at Oliver, confusion etched across his face. Before he could react further, Oliver moved with blinding speed, a blur of motion enhanced by the suit's capabilities.

In a heartbeat, Oliver was in front of Kyle. With a single strike, he delivered a powerful blow to Kyle's midsection, sending him hurtling backward through the air. Kyle crashed into the floor, creating a small crater.

"Without the armor, I don't know if I can fight all three of you," Oliver said as he turned to face Damian.

"Damn it!" Damian snarled, anger coloring his features. "I always knew you were insane. Even back at the Academy, always so full of yourself. But I never thought you'd stoop so low as to betray the Empire."

Oliver opened his mouth to respond and explain his actions, but suddenly, his body refused to cooperate. It wasn't that he lacked words; he physically couldn't move or speak. An invisible force seemed to grip him, holding him in place. Around him, time itself appeared to grind to a halt. Damian stood frozen mid-motion, an expression of fury locked on his face.

A chill crawled up Oliver's spine. ‘What's happening?’ he thought frantically.

Then, echoing in the eerie stillness, a deep, primal laugh reverberated, a sound both mocking and menacing. It seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, resonating within his very mind.

"The audacity," growled a voice rich with contempt. "Did he truly believe he could end the Grand Game before we took notice?"

Oliver's heart pounded in his chest. He recognized that voice. ‘Cernunnos?’ he whispered internally, his thoughts racing.

Another voice, sharp and filled with disdain, cut through the void. "That son of a wretch," spat Athena. "Always doing shit like this to get ahead."

Suddenly, a series of translucent notifications flashed before Oliver's eyes, as if projected onto the air itself:

[Two Sovereigns present their Pawn as evidence of a breach]

[Memories of the Crystal are submitted as proof.]

[Violated Rule: Artificial creation of life capable of manipulating Energy]

[Punishment: Pending]

[Accused Party: Sovereign of Humanity]

[Judgment: Pending]

As abruptly as it began, the paralysis lifted. Sound and motion rushed back. Damian was still glaring at him, unaware of the temporal disturbance.

‘Did that just happen to me?’ Oliver wondered, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. There was no time to dwell on it.

"If he's using it, then we have to use it too," Kyle declared as he pushed himself up from the debris-littered ground. Dust and stone fragments cascaded off his uniform as he straightened, his gaze fixed intently on Oliver.

Oliver's eyes darted past Kyle to where Lian stood a short distance away. The rebel leader leaned heavily on his rifle, his breath ragged and labored. Each cough wracked his body, and with every convulsion, more blood speckled the floor. The pallor of his skin and the glaze over his eyes betrayed his waning strength.

Nearby, Darius sat cross-legged on the cold ground, observing the unfolding confrontation.

'I have twenty minutes,' Oliver calculated silently, his mind racing. 'That's enough time.'

"Are you out of your mind?" Damian shot back at Kyle.

"Why? Do you really think you can take him on without your armor?" Kyle asked.

For the first time, the Pink Ranger broke her silence. "I can't," she admitted, her voice steady but urgent. "Besides, he's already broken protocol and seems intent on fucking our mission."

Instantly, a cascade of light enveloped her form as her armor materialized. Kyle followed suit, activating his own armor.

Damian shook his head in protest, a mixture of frustration and resignation in his eyes. "This goes against direct orders," he muttered. But with a swift motion, he too summoned his armor.

[Three new Sovereigns have submitted evidence.]

[Judgment Pending.]

A fleeting notification flashed across Oliver's display before fading into the periphery of his vision.

The three Rangers formed a triangular formation, Damian at the center, flanked by Kyle on the right and the Pink Ranger on the left.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"I've been waiting a long time to settle the score," Oliver remarked, his tone cold. His gaze lingered on Kyle and Damian.

Without warning, Kyle and the Pink Ranger surged forward. Their synchronized assault came in a blur of motion, punches and kicks delivered with lethal precision. Oliver met them head-on, his reflexes honed from countless battles. The clash of armors echoed through the chamber as blows were exchanged, each impact reverberating through his suit.

Damian hung back momentarily, reaching into a compartment at his hip. He retrieved two metallic discs, their surfaces etched with intricate circuitry. With a swift motion, he hurled them onto the ground near Oliver. They landed with a metallic clang, arcs of electricity crackling between them.

Oliver recognized the devices instantly. He had seen Damian use them to summon monsters via teleportation.

The discs hummed and emitted a surge of energy, but instead of opening a portal, they fizzled ineffectively. The electrical arcs sputtered out, leaving only wisps of smoke.

"Shit!" Damian cursed, frustration evident in his voice.

"Teleportation interference field," Lian called out hoarsely from where he leaned against the rifle. A faint, mocking smile played on his bloodied lips. "Did you think you could face me if I still had access to my Boon?"

Understanding dawned on Damian's face. His jaw tightened, but he wasted no time in joining the fray. With a fluid motion, he charged forward to support Kyle and the Pink Ranger.

Despite being outnumbered three to one, Oliver held his ground. His movements were a blur, dodging Kyle's brute-force swings, parrying the Pink Ranger's swift strikes, and countering Damian's calculated blows.

"Better use Ranger Weapons. He only has a pistol; it won't be much use in close combat," Damian remarked, his voice cutting through the ambient hum of the failing facility.

"Excellent memory," Oliver responded, almost commending him.

In Kyle's hands, a massive war mace materialized. The Pink Ranger did the same with a double-bladed spear.

Damian remained unarmed, his stance relaxed yet poised. Oliver knew Damian's weapon was a whip. In tight quarters and group combat, it could be as much a liability as an asset.

Now armed with Ranger Weapons, each of Kyle's movements grew more forceful, his mace cleaving through the air with devastating strength. When it struck the ground or walls, the impact sent shockwaves that fissured the reinforced concrete, sending shards and dust spiraling into the air. Clara's agility magnified; she became a blur, her spear darting toward Oliver with lethal precision, each thrust aimed to kill.

But agility was Oliver's specialty. His reflexes were honed to a razor's edge, allowing him to anticipate and evade their combined assaults. He moved like a specter, each dodge and weave executed with fluid grace, maintaining a calculated distance from his enemies.

"Dammit! Just like before. I hate when you just keep dodging," Kyle snarled, frustration evident in his gritted teeth. "We've been through this already, haven't we? You know what comes next."

Kyle reached up and deactivated his helmet, the segmented armor retracting to reveal his hardened features. Sweat glistened on his brow, and a fiery determination burned in his eyes. From a concealed compartment on his suit, he retrieved a small mask.

"Indeed, we have," Oliver replied confidently. "But that was a different time."

"So cocky," Kyle retorted, a sly grin forming. "Let's see if you stay that way." He placed the mask over his nose and mouth, securing it tightly. Instantly, a series of hissing sounds signaled the release of potent stimulants into his system. His pupils dilated, and veins pulsed visibly under his skin as the performance-enhancing drugs took effect.

"Damian, Clara, if you want to keep up, you'll need to use them," Kyle continued, his voice deeper, more resonant.

"No way, Kyle," Damian refused, shaking his head. "I'm not compromising my judgment."

Clara simply extended her hand without a word. Kyle tossed her an identical mask, which she donned with practiced efficiency. Her breathing steadied, and an eerie calm settled over her as the enhancements coursed through her veins.

With their abilities amplified beyond natural limits, Kyle and Clara accelerated toward Oliver, their movements a blur. They closed the distance like charging bulls, intent on overwhelming him with sheer power and speed.

"In the time since we last fought, much has changed," Oliver mused aloud, positioning himself defensively. "I've not only grown stronger but also refined my combat techniques." He locked eyes with them. "For instance, I no longer rely solely on my Energy Pistol."

As their weapons bore down upon him, Kyle's mace descending like a falling anvil, Clara's spear thrusting with deadly aim, twin daggers materialized in Oliver's hands. The blades were sleek and curved. With impeccable timing, he crossed the daggers above his head, catching the head of the mace and the tip of the spear in a locked parry.

"I've given you ample opportunity to show me your best," Oliver stated, his voice calm despite the strain of holding back their combined strength. "Now it's my turn."

He pushed upward, deflecting their weapons and causing both Kyle and Clara to stumble back momentarily. Seizing the initiative, Oliver launched into a counteroffensive.

He moved with blinding speed, his form flickering as he sidestepped and weaved between them. Despite their enhanced abilities, Kyle and Clara struggled to track his movements. Oliver's daggers became extensions of himself, a whirlwind of steel that sliced through the air with deadly accuracy.

He targeted Kyle first. With a swift feint to the left, he drew Kyle's defense, then spun to the right, driving a dagger toward a vulnerable joint in the Black Ranger Armor. The blade pierced the armor's integrity, tearing through reinforced plating. Oliver followed through with a powerful slash across Kyle's chest, leaving a deep laceration beneath. Kyle gasped, staggering backward as blood seeped from the wound.

Clara attacked from behind, her spear arcing toward Oliver's spine. Without turning, he sensed the approach, ducking just in time. He spun low, sweeping her legs out from under her. As she fell, he rose fluidly, catching her mid-descent. For a brief moment, their eyes met, hers wide with surprise. He drove the hilt of his dagger into her abdomen, the force disrupting her armor's defenses. The secondary blade found a gap in her armor, and with a precise thrust, he incapacitated her. Clara collapsed to the ground, her weapon clattering away as her strength faded.

Breathing heavily, Oliver stood over his fallen opponents, the echoes of the skirmish fading into the background hum. His gaze lifted to find Damian standing several meters away, an expression of shock and disbelief etched on his face. Damian's hands were clenched at his sides, the tension visible in the rigid set of his shoulders.

"I recognize when I've been defeated," Damian said slowly. "But you should be more mindful of your surroundings."

Throwing two grenades in front of Oliver. He had just enough time to raise his daggers for minimal protection, but the explosion sent him flying.

"Until next time, Oliver," Damian called out, a hint of warning laced in his tone. "If there is a next time."

With a burst of speed, he hoisted his allies and retreated, disappearing into the depths of the base. Oliver considered pursuing them but hesitated.

‘It's better to ensure Lian's safety,’ Oliver thought before turning to see where the Leader was.

Oliver's heart clenched as recognition set in. Across the expanse, Darius stood behind Lian. His arm was extended and plunged deep into Lian's abdomen. Blood dripped from his fingers, pooling beneath them in an ever-expanding crimson circle.

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