BOOM!!!
Buildings shattered as if made of glass, their fragments flung across the streets like deadly shards. The shockwave rippled through the city, tearing banners from their poles, crumbling statues, and turning peaceful pathways into smoking ruins.
Dark magic saturated the air—thick, corrosive, suffocating. It wasn't just destruction; it was despair made manifest, twisting the once serene atmosphere into an abyss of chaos. The city that once radiated golden light was now consumed by an unnatural twilight.
From the heart of the explosion emerged the attackers—eldritch monsters, grotesque and malformed, numbering over two hundred. Their shapes defied natural form—skin like rotted tar, eyes glowing sickly green, and limbs that bent at impossible angles. The ground itself recoiled beneath their steps, tainted by their very existence.
"Run! Monsters!" a terrified voice screamed, breaking the silence of disbelief.
Panic erupted instantly.
Residents ran wildly, clutching their children, pulling their loved ones close. The sense of safety that had defined Mystic City for centuries shattered in an instant. They had lived in peace for generations—none had ever imagined this kind of horror could reach their shining realm.
"Someone call for the city guards!" an old man shouted desperately, his voice trembling with fear.
"Someo—!"
Before the word could leave his mouth, a shadow loomed over him. A massive clawed hand seized his head. The pressure was instant—merciless.
Crunch… Pop!
His skull burst like an overripe fruit, blood and brain matter splattering across the cobblestone streets. The remains dripped from the creature's claws as it licked the crimson off lazily. Screams erupted. Mothers clutched their children tighter, while others stood frozen in horror, unable to comprehend the brutality before their eyes.
The one who had killed him stood tall amidst the chaos—a seven-foot wolf-like monster draped in dark mist. His fur was pitch black, his eyes glowing with blood-red malice. The air around him reeked of death.
He was known as Ron, commander of this small battalion of abyssal soldiers.
"Noisy ants," Ron growled in disdain, his voice a deep, guttural snarl that rumbled through the ruins. His eyes swept over the terrified faces of the survivors as if their fear amused him. "The light has not arrived yet. It seems this amount of destruction is still not enough."
He raised his clawed hand high. "Foot soldiers," he commanded coldly, "kill every living thing in sight."
The moment his words fell, the army of abyssal creatures howled as one—an unholy symphony of madness and hunger. They charged.
The streets were instantly drowned in chaos.
Windows shattered from the pressure of their stampede. Residents tripped and fell, their screams silenced as claws pierced flesh. One woman, carrying her child, stumbled. Before she could rise, a creature's spear impaled her through the chest. Her body convulsed before falling still, her child crying over her corpse. Blood ran freely through the cobblestones, turning the roads crimson.
The smell of iron and death thickened the air. The city's beauty—its harmony—was being torn apart piece by piece.
The surviving civilians began to lose hope. Some prayed, others froze, unable to move as the monsters approached.
But then—
Ziiing!
A flash of light streaked across the sky. The roar of the monsters suddenly ceased.
The abyssal soldiers that had been charging forward froze mid-step before collapsing one by one. Their bodies fell in heaps, smoke rising from the clean cuts that severed them.
For a moment, silence reigned. Only the sound of debris falling echoed faintly.
The residents opened their eyes hesitantly, expecting to see more horrors. Instead, they saw something different.
Glowing faintly amidst the smoke was a shining emblem—an insignia glowing bright gold.
The Mystic Force insignia.
A woman screamed in sudden relief. "We're saved!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and tears. Hope surged like a flood as they recognized the symbol. The protectors of their realm had arrived.
Udonna, clad in her flowing white robes, stood at the forefront with the new Mystic Rangers beside her. The aura around her was calm yet sharp, like the stillness before a blizzard.
"Rangers," she ordered firmly, her tone leaving no room for hesitation, "help the residents to safety first, then engage the foot soldiers. Remember—use magic. You only need to believe."
Her voice carried both warmth and command.
The Rangers nodded without question and split up immediately. Nick, Vida, Xander, Chip, and Madison ran toward the civilians, summoning their wands as they chanted spells. Barriers of light appeared, shielding fleeing groups from the monsters' pursuit.
But Ron was not going to let them act freely. His eyes glowed brighter, his claws twitching in anticipation. "Foot soldiers, stop them!" he roared.
The monsters howled and moved to obey, but before they could reach the Rangers, a shard of glowing ice shot through the air—shrrk!—slamming into the ground in front of Ron. The explosion of frost forced him to step back.
Udonna's calm voice followed. "Not so fast, Wolf of the Abyss."
Ron turned his glare toward her. His crimson eyes flared with hatred. "And who do you think you are, filthy human?" he snarled.
Udonna chuckled softly, her tone steady. "What a vulgar mouth. But I expected nothing less from a beast born of the Abyss. Still, your arrogance ends here. The name 'Snow Witch' shall be the last you remember before death."
Ron's grin widened, fangs glinting. "Hahahaha! You? A frail little human? I'll rip you apart limb from limb!"
His muscles bulged under his black fur as he dropped to all fours. The ground cracked under his claws, his body exuding a feral killing intent.
Udonna didn't flinch. Her calm eyes reflected the fury in his. "Very well," she said softly. "It seems the Mystic Force must make the Abyss remember fear once more."
She raised her wand high.
"Magical Source—Mystic Force!"
A neutral, ethereal voice echoed around her. "Going Mysto Ranger."
Time froze. The world dimmed, and the ground beneath her became a radiant circle of runes. A white sigil appeared above her, spinning with divine energy before descending in a spiral of light.
Her body glowed as the transformation sequence began. Her white ranger armor formed over her body, the visor sealing with a hiss as she extended her arm upward. Her staff appeared in her grasp, swirling with magical energy.
When the light faded, she stood in her full ranger form—the White Mystic Ranger, embodiment of purity and winter's wrath.
The moment time resumed, the temperature around them plummeted. Frost spread across the ground, turning the air into a blizzard.
Ron's eyes narrowed as he felt it. The pressure emanating from her was suffocating. "This power…" he muttered, his voice shaking slightly despite his attempt to sound composed.
Udonna's tone was cold and final. "Abyssal minion, surrender now, and I promise you a swift death."
Ron bared his teeth. "Let our fists decide, human! I don't surrender to anyone!"
He lunged forward. The ground cratered under his leap as he shot toward her, claws slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Udonna raised her wand calmly, murmuring a spell. An ice shield materialized instantly, translucent and glimmering.
Clang!
The impact was brutal. Ron's claws struck the barrier and rebounded with explosive force. The backlash sent him hurtling backward into a nearby building, the structure collapsing over him in a thunderous crash.
Udonna stood unmoved, frost dancing around her feet.
Ron growled as he rose from the rubble, blood trickling from his mouth. His pride burned. "This human… She's strong. Didn't the King say humans were weak?" He clenched his fists. "Guess I'll have to use that."
He straightened, his aura turning feral. "Be proud, human," he roared. "You shall witness this alpha's ultimate technique!"
Udonna said nothing, but beneath her visor, her brow furrowed slightly.
Ron's body began to glow with crimson energy.
"Bloodlust!"
"Rage!!"
"Moon Domain!"
"Alpha's Authority!"
The ground trembled under the weight of his unleashed power. His frame expanded, growing to nearly nine feet tall. His muscles swelled, his fur turned darker, and his claws elongated into blades that shimmered with red light. The moon above flickered blood-red, reflecting his dominance.
Udonna inhaled sharply, then steadied herself. "So be it," she whispered.
Their auras clashed violently as she rushed forward. Ron met her head-on.
Their first collision cracked the earth. The shockwave shattered windows across the district. They exchanged blow after blow—thirty strikes in seconds, each one powerful enough to crumble stone.
Udonna's movements were graceful yet lethal, her wand parrying and striking with precision. Ron fought like a beast, each swipe filled with raw strength and savagery.
But the destruction around them grew too severe. Udonna frowned, realizing the collateral damage. She ascended swiftly into the air, summoning wings of ice.
Ron leaped after her with a howl. "Moon Slash!"
Three glowing slashes shot from his claws, slicing through the air toward her.
Udonna pointed her wand forward, her voice calm but sharp. "Ice Wave!"
A torrent of frost energy surged out, colliding with the incoming attacks. The two forces met midair—then exploded.
BOOM!
The explosion painted the sky in shades of blue and red, a storm of frost and bloodlight. The impact shockwave cleared clouds, leaving a massive crater below.
As the smoke cleared, the two figures floated in the air, eyes locked, energy distorting the space around them.
Their next exchange would decide everything.
The frost queen versus the beast of the abyss.
The battle for Mystic City had only just begun.
--- ✦ ---
So guys, I really want to point out some things. I know the MC is getting little screentime in this arc, but it's important, but don't worry, after this chapter. It's going to be normal. I just want to show the strength of some important side characters.