The night was silent, but Jayden's mind was not.
It had been three days since his father left.
Three days since the weight of the Shiba Clan fell entirely on his shoulders.
He stood in the courtyard, gripping his sword tightly. The moonlight reflected off the steel, illuminating his determined gaze. His training had never wavered, but now—it was real.
The Nighlok would come. And when they did, he had to be ready.
The Attack Begins
The moment came at dawn.
The air grew heavy, unnatural ripples distorting the sky. The stench of the Sanzu River filled the air—a telltale sign.
Then, the ground trembled.
A tear in reality split open, and from its depths, a Nighlok emerged.
It was a hulking, grotesque creature with dark green skin and jagged horns. Its yellow eyes gleamed with malice as it stepped into the mortal world. Behind it, dozens of Moogers followed, their weapons clattering against their armored bodies.
Jayden exhaled.
It's time.
Stepping into Battle
Dressed in the red robes of the Shiba Clan, Jayden took slow, deliberate steps toward the battlefield.
The people of the nearby village screamed, scrambling for safety as the Moogers advanced.
Jayden, however, was calm.
He had trained for this moment his entire life.
The Moogers lunged toward him.
Jayden's hand moved in a blur—his sword flashed.
One slash—three Moogers fell.
Another step—he dodged an incoming strike, spinning behind his attacker and cutting it down with a precise stroke.
The Symbol Power within him surged, enhancing his speed, his strength, his control.
But the real enemy had yet to move.
Facing the Nighlok
The Nighlok chuckled, clapping its monstrous hands together.
"So, the Shiba heir finally shows himself! Are you ready to die, little samurai?"
Jayden didn't respond.
Words didn't matter.
Only victory did.
The Nighlok swung its massive claw. Jayden barely dodged, the force of the strike shattering the ground where he stood.
A counterattack—Jayden moved in.
His sword glowed red, slicing through the Nighlok's armor.
The creature roared in anger, staggering backward.
Pushing Beyond Limits
Jayden pressed forward. He had to end this quickly.
His movements became sharper, faster. His training took over.
His sword blurred—slashes struck in rapid succession, tearing through the Nighlok's defenses.
But then—a mistake.
He moved in too close.
The Nighlok lashed out, its clawed hand raking across Jayden's side. Pain exploded through his ribs.
Jayden gritted his teeth. He had trained to endure.
He would not fall.
Finishing the Fight
The Nighlok laughed. "You're not strong enough!"
Jayden ignored the pain, shifting his stance.
He raised his sword, Symbol Power flaring to life.
In one swift motion, he carved the air—tracing the kanji for "fire."
A blazing inferno erupted from his blade, engulfing the Nighlok in flames.
The monster howled, writhing in agony before exploding into ash.
Silence fell. The Moogers, sensing their master's defeat, vanished into the void.
Jayden exhaled slowly, sheathing his sword.
His first battle as the Red Ranger was over.
The Path Forward
The villagers slowly emerged from hiding, whispering among themselves.
"The Red Ranger…""He defeated it alone…""He's so young…"
Jayden heard them, but he didn't react.
His job wasn't to receive praise. His job was to fight.
He turned away, walking back toward the Shiba estate.
This was just the beginning.
The war was far from over.