Angel Grove's buildings have suffered more times than its citizens could count. Since the rise of superheroes, it was as if the city had become a magnet for all sorts of trouble. There isn't a month without a monster attack.
The people have gotten used to it, so much that they have become numb. But many people still prefer to live in this nightmarish city, simply because it is extremely affordable.
Free healthcare, education, and good food, including both planet-grown dishes and delicacies from aliens inhabiting Earth, were available for all. However, the most fascinating thing about this city was its total tax exemption.
Taxes of any form.
Because of this, many ignored the ever-looming threat of Angel Grove and made the place their home.
"The situation of this city is getting worse by the day." Staring at the building blocks laid waste by the ranger battle, Zayne muttered with a sigh.
After the grand battle three months ago, the rate of monster attacks had decreased by a large margin, with only a few skirmishes here and there. Nothing too large for his team to handle without him.
But Angel Grove was different. Instead of following this trend, it went in the opposite direction: with the appearance of the Ninja Storm Rangers, a new villain had emerged: Lothor.
Lothor was vastly stronger than Mesogog, both in strength and in the forces under his command. This had caused a massive headache for the heroes of Earth, who had had to fight off continuous small-scale invasions over the past few months.
The worst thing was that Zayne had expected the attacks to be concentrated only in Blue Bay Harbor, but he was wrong. Lothor was crazier than he had imagined.
This cosmic warlord attacks every inch of Earth, including Antarctica. As for what he was searching for, Zayne had an idea but wasn't sure.
"The fusion of the two realities has caused massive alterations in the known timeline. I can no longer rely on my knowledge to run things. I need to put more preparations in place." Zayne thought.
Then he turned to face the Storm Megazord.
The Zord was severely battered; numerous parts of its mechanical body were either dented or entirely torn away.
Sparks rained from the Megazord onto the ground beneath.
The damage it took might take days to fix, even with Cam's genius.
"Sigh~, without proper training before development, new rangers will always cause more damage than intended. Though letting them gain experience through action is a fast way to grow in strength, the consequences are still immense. This isn't a movie after all; this is real life."
Zayne felt that, given how things were developing, Sensei shouldn't have allowed them to become Rangers without proper training. Even he trained his team more properly before assigning them any job. He knew the implications of uncontrolled power, even when it was unleashed unintentionally.
This will breed fear in ordinary people, and fear in turn breeds panic. This panic later turns to hostility. Hostility that would make life worse for the heroes or rangers.
A prime example is the Mutants.
"It's a good thing I have the perfect solution." Zayne smiled, activating a skill.
[Innocence] activated
An invisible power spread out, covering the entire ruin, including the Storm Megazord. Then with a whoosh, everything rearranged itself as if time had been reversed.
Buildings and roads were fixed, injuries were healed, and vehicles returned to their normal state. Even the gloomy atmosphere vanished, replaced by the bright sunlight.
After finishing, Zayne stared at his work with pride. "As expected of an A-rank skill, the range and functions have strengthened by a large degree."
This special growth skill had been upgraded by him a few months ago, and he was surprised by its newly added ability.
[Innocence skill (A-tier skill – Growth type: Allows the user to prevent any form of destruction against unintended individuals, innocents, or surroundings during battle except opponents. Additionally, it heals or repairs any damage made before activation of the skill.
Effect 1: Damage repair ability is strengthened by a tier
Effect 2: Can dispel all types of Negative buffs such as curses, stun, lower time stop, mind control, infection, petrification, and so on
Effect 3: Can repair reality on a small scale (Planetary level)]
The newly added effects surprised Zayne. This skill was practically the bane of minor reality benders, demons, and evil mages.
This new power was what made it easier and faster for him to repair the damage. It was almost in an instant. Plus, it was also the source of his capital for Vanguard Industries.
Fwoosh!
With a single movement, he arrived before the now-repaired Storm Megazord. He hovered before the giant mecha, staring at it, seemingly as if he could peer into its very essence.
This startled the Ninja Storm Rangers.
"Hum… guys, don't you think we should say something?" Dustin asked in a low tone, afraid of being heard.
Tori, although a fangirl, also felt the pressure from Zayne's gaze. "I don't really know, but I think we should; he should be on our side, right?"
Shane didn't reply, not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't.
"Is…is he staring directly at me?" Shane thought, his mind in chaos.
He wasn't yet the leader-like figure Zayne had read about and loved. He still possessed the naivety and lack of composure. He hadn't experienced enough battles or faced bizarre entities.
Shane was currently like a newbie player, facing a max-level boss. It was normal to feel pressured.
"You know, it's kinda rude to leave a visitor hanging, or rather hovering in my case." Zayne's calm voice echoed in the storm ranger's ears.
Sensing a welcoming gesture in his words, the Ninja Storm Rangers' tense nerves calmed. They couldn't help it; facing someone as powerful and revered as the Omni-Ranger was enough to mess with their peace of mind.
Power down x 3
The trio immediately jumped down from the Zord, transforming back to their civilian form as they got down. And before they could even react, Zayne appeared before them.
"Feels great, uhn…being a hero and all?" Zayne's playful voice echoed.
Dustin was the first to reply. "Well, to be honest, it's great. Becoming a Power Ranger has always been a dream of mine and…."
"Dustin!" Tori cut him off, shooting Dustin a stern gaze.
Shane also stared at his friend, shaking his head at his occasional inability to read the situation.
"It's ok; he's free to say whatever he wants. You guys don't have to be tense before me. I'm just a ranger just like you guys." Zayne said, his words easing the tension further.
When the trio heard 'just like you guys, ' their mouths twitched. If they hadn't seen his feat of decimating titans a few months back, they might have believed him.
Seeing their continued silence, Zayne shook his head inwardly. He didn't waste any more time and flung a red card at them.
"We can continue catching up later. This is a special invitation card; if you're interested, contact me. And also, my regards to sensei."
Without waiting for their response, Zayne teleported away, leaving the trio staring blankly at the spot he had disappeared.
"Well… that was something. Am I right, guys?" Dustin spoke, trying his best to ease the atmosphere.
Tori rolled her eyes at his lackluster attempt and spoke. "Don't you guys think we were a little bit rude just now?"
Shane smiled bitterly at her words, knowing she was right; their silence was indeed rude. But it wasn't really their fault. Suddenly, standing before someone they looked up to as a role model, left them speechless... literally.
"There is no use sulking over it. What's done is done; at least he doesn't seem to be annoyed when he left." Shane replied.
Tori and Dustin could only put it out of their minds and focus on getting back to Ninja Ops.
Tori then looked at the card in Shane's hands and asked. "What does the card say?"
"Oh yeah…the card, uhm, it's an invitation card?" Shane replied, a little unsure of what he was seeing.
"Invitation to what event?" Dustin, curious, chimed in.
Shane then looked at the two mysteriously and replied in a low tone only they could hear.
"The Hero Training program"
.....
"Alpha status updates," Zayne, having already arrived at base headquarters, spoke.
Alpha, sensing the arrival of her master, wheeled in front of him and pulled up several holographs.
"Master, you've successfully solved one hundred invasions both on a small and large scale, and including the team's solo missions, that adds up to about one hundred and fifty-three missions."
"Mm." Zayne showed no visible surprise. With the successive missions he and his team had completed both on Earth and in outer space, this number was expected.
The Omni-force hadn't been lax these three months; instead, their training had gotten more intense. Through Zayne's rigid training regimen, their combat experience, teamwork, and battle strategies had improved greatly.
They witnessed both the beauty and terror of the universe. While they made many enemies, they also gained an equal number of allies. Despite several near-death experiences, their resolve, coupled with a little protection from Zayne, let them prevail.
All this happened within three months. One could imagine how many resources Zayne spent on each mission for this accelerated growth. Although his heart ached every time the grid points were depleted, he needed to prepare for the future crisis.
Besides, he could always make it back, twice the amount, in fact.
"They should be ready for small-scale multiversal missions now." He muttered, then looked at Alpha. "Alpha, how's the screening for the special training going?"
"It should be done by tomorrow relative to base time, master," Alpha replied conscientiously.
"Great, just make sure to notify me by then ok. I'm leaving; I need to rest." He replied, getting ready to teleport back home.
He had been awake for three days straight doing nothing but completing missions. All he had in mind now was to sleep.
Just then—
"Master, if I may, I think you're forgetting something." Alpha suddenly stopped what she was doing and turned to face her master.
"Uh? Really, I don't think there's anything I'm forgetting, right?" Genuine confusion appeared on his face as he tried his best to recall anything amidst mental exhaustion.
Then, like a spark casting a dim light in a fog, Zayne's eyes widened. "Oh shit! I had a date scheduled for today. Alpha, how much time remains till I'm late?"
"Approximately five minutes, master," Alpha replied.
Swoosh~
Without replying, Zayne waved goodbye to his loyal robot and vanished; he could not miss today for the world.
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