(Mystic Realm — Battlefield)
"Let me join in the fun, Koragg."
A red figure appeared between the rangers and the dark knight, his presence instantly swallowing the battlefield in silence. His aura pressed down like a primordial beast awakening from slumber — steady, cold, and ancient.
Zayne, the Omni-Ranger, stood tall.
"A-Another ranger?!" Chip was the first to exclaim, his voice cracking in disbelief.
The others stared in shock. Didn't Udonna say they were the only rangers in the Mystic Realm?
Even Udonna herself froze for a moment, her brows furrowing tightly. "This wasn't supposed to happen… No one should be able to enter the Mystic Realm without my permission. How—?" she thought inwardly, bewildered beyond words.
Koragg's crimson eyes narrowed as he studied the red warrior before him. He could feel immense power… yet there was no trace of magic in it. It was something entirely different — something that shouldn't exist in this realm.
"I have been asleep for thousands of years," Koragg muttered darkly, his voice echoing through the silent battlefield. "Are humans truly this strong now?"
He raised his sword slightly, his tone losing its disdain. "You do not carry the mark of a Mystic Mage or Knight. This battle does not concern you, stranger. Leave while you can."
Zayne tilted his head slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips beneath the helmet. His calm tone cut through the tension like a blade. "I said I want to join in the fun."
Koragg's eyes glowed faintly with irritation. "Fun? Are you mocking me?"
"I shall ask once more," Koragg's tone grew grave, echoing across the destroyed plaza, "Are you certain you wish to intervene… and go against me?"
Zayne didn't respond immediately. He simply raised his right hand, palm up — and with a lazy "come at me" gesture, replied evenly, "Cut the crap… and attack."
Koragg's eye twitched behind his visor. He could tell this warrior was toying with him. To him — the Knight of Darkness, servant of the Master — this level of insolence was unforgivable.
"Very well," he growled.
He lifted his sword high as a torrent of dark energy gathered around him. "Dark Magic Strike!"
A violent streak of black and purple energy ripped through the sky, descending toward Zayne with destructive power.
Zayne's grin widened. "Finally, I can use my full strength," he muttered. "Maybe this'll help me break through C-tier."
He drew his Omni-Saber in one swift motion. The crimson blade hummed with contained power as he swung.
"Shark Attack!"
A massive red shark phantom burst from his saber, meeting Koragg's attack midair. The clash split the heavens open, energy exploding in all directions. The shockwave shattered nearby rocks and bent the trees backward.
Zayne dashed forward immediately, his movements sharp and controlled. He brought the saber down toward Koragg's head in a killing arc.
Koragg blocked with his blade, but the impact was tremendous — it sent the dark knight skidding several meters backward through the air before he managed to steady himself.
He doesn't fight like a knight, Koragg realized coldly. He fights like a killer — precise, merciless, and always aiming for the vital points.
Meanwhile, the new Mystic Rangers stared at the duel with wide eyes. Each exchange of blows shook the ground, each clash radiated enough energy to level a block.
"Is he really human?" Vida muttered under her breath, her voice trembling.
Chip could only gape, whispering, "That… that's not magic. What is that?"
Udonna, however, wasn't relaxed like them. Her expression was grim. "This wasn't in the prophecy," she murmured. "No external interference was supposed to occur today. Could it be… Freya's doing?"
She dismissed the thought and turned her attention to Ron, who was still kneeling after Koragg's pressure had faded.
Her gaze hardened. "I'll let the new rangers deal with him. They need this experience — and this victory — to grow."
She turned to them. "Rangers," she called, her voice firm. "Finish off Ron. Think of this as your trial — your first step toward mastering your powers!"
The rangers exchanged uneasy looks. Ron was strong — terrifyingly strong. But Udonna's faith in them sparked something inside. Nick clenched his fists.
"Yeah," he said quietly, "we can do this."
Udonna smiled faintly, seeing their resolve ignite. "Good," she whispered.
Ron, on the other hand, was utterly dumbfounded watching Koragg's duel. He'd heard tales of the Dark Knight's might, but witnessing him pushed back by a human? It shattered his understanding of the world.
"What am I looking at…?" he muttered. But then his ears twitched — danger.
He dashed backward just in time to dodge a magic blast that scorched the ground where he stood.
"Who?!" he roared.
He turned — and saw the Mystic Rangers lined up before him.
"What do you mean 'who'?!" Xandar snapped back, raising his staff. "Are you blind? We're the ones who'll stop you! Or did that last beating mess up your auditory functions?"
Ron blinked, confused. He didn't know what "auditory functions" meant, but he knew it wasn't good. His eyes glowed with fury.
"Howl!"
A violent sonic shockwave burst from his mouth, tearing through the plaza. Nick immediately raised his staff. "Rangers — attack!"
"Ahhh!" ×5
Their unified battle cry echoed as they charged, their magic flaring to life — and the city trembled once more.
--- ✦ ---
[Zayne vs Koragg — Forest Edge]
Zayne landed first, his boots crushing the stone beneath him as he dashed toward the airborne Koragg. His blade gleamed with red energy.
"Omni Strike!"
Koragg's eyes flashed. "Wolf Attack!"
Both attacks collided midair. The explosion was deafening. Trees uprooted, the earth split, and a gust of energy rippled outward.
But neither stopped.
Zayne's strikes came fluidly, seamlessly switching from one form to the next, each attack filled with predatory intent. Koragg countered with disciplined slashes and shield parries, dark magic trailing with each movement.
"Clang! Clang! Clang! CLANG!"
Their blades sparked violently — light against shadow, will against pride.
The forest was being torn apart, reduced to wasteland by their power.
Koragg's patience snapped. He thrust his sword into the ground, shouting, "Dark Magic — Spell Seal!"
A rune flared under Zayne's feet. His body froze instantly.
Zayne's eyes widened under his helmet. "A seal spell? That's new…"
"Energy Blast!"
From Koragg's shield eye, a dark beam fired straight at him.
Zayne reacted instantly. "Omni-Barrier!"
A crimson veil of energy flared around him. The blast slammed into it, shaking the ground violently. The barrier cracked — then shattered. The force flung Zayne across the clearing, slamming him into the ground.
He landed hard but stood back up, dusting off his armor. "Hah… that actually stung a little," he muttered.
Koragg frowned beneath his helmet. "He's… fine? Even my magic corruption didn't affect him."
Could he be the Light? Koragg wondered, but when he scanned for holy energy — nothing.
"No. He's just that strong."
Koragg pointed his sword forward. "You are formidable, warrior. But this is where it ends."
Zayne smirked. "Is that so? Then stop talking and prove it."
Koragg's eyes gleamed. "You will regret those words."
He raised his blade skyward. "Master, grant me your dark power!"
A massive black rune appeared under his feet. The entire forest shook as torrents of dark magic poured into him. His aura expanded violently — the air itself seemed to twist.
Zayne whistled softly. "So that's your real strength, huh? Now we're talking."
Koragg's power had skyrocketed — from C-minus to solid C-tier. The difference was immense. Don't underestimate this power. The gap between those tiers is something most strong men would never cross in their lifetime.
"Hmm," Zayne, seeing this, also got serious.
"It seems it's time to use another transformation," He thought inwardly
Zayne tightened his grip on his saber. "Guess I'll stop holding back, too."
His voice deepened.
[Jungle Fury series]
[Personal spirit - Young Megalodon]
Yes, he can currently use his own ranger spirit to transform. This happened a few days after he upgraded to level 3. He was surprised to see his ranger spirit was not a modern animal but a prehistoric shark. He definitely knew its power must be high, and his initial zord would still evolve.
A faint rumble echoed from within him as red light enveloped his frame.
[Personal Spirit Unlocked — Young Megalodon.]
The temperature dropped sharply. The air thickened with primal energy. Zayne's aura shifted — wild, untamed, and ancient.
"Jungle Beast… Spirit Unleashed."
Time stopped as his surroundings immediately changed into a sea domain, as the megalodon spirit was channeled out from him as it fused with him once more. Zayne was covered in the jungle fury suit. It covered his body and finally his head with the helmet and a visor over his eyes. Different animal skills were immediately integrated into his brain and muscle memory, making him very adept at using them.
As time resumed, his full form was revealed. It had a jungle fury design with his Omni-Ranger logo at the chest. His ranger suit was more compact and slightly bulky than before. If one looked closely, they would feel the ancient aura radiating from the suit. It might not be the best looking, but it was more powerful than his initial suit.
Koragg's eyes widened slightly. "He's gotten even stronger…"
Zayne cracked his neck, smiling under the visor. "Now then… can you deal with me now?"
Koragg raised his shield. "More than enough."
They vanished.
The next instant, they clashed midair.
"BOOM!"
Energy waves spread like ripples across the entire mystic forest. Zayne's fists struck with animal ferocity, his saber cutting arcs of destructive precision. Koragg blocked with his shield, countering with overwhelming force.
The ground split open beneath them.
Shockwaves blasted out, destroying what remained of the forest perimeter.
In the distance, the new Mystic Rangers who had destroyed Ron after some effort and Udonna could barely comprehend the magnitude of power shaking the world.
"What kind of battle is that…?" Vida gasped.
Udonna's expression darkened. "That's beyond anything I've seen in centuries."
Koragg swung down hard. "Perish!"
Zayne ducked under the blow, countering with a spinning strike that sent Koragg crashing through several boulders.
The knight rose immediately, unshaken. "You fight well," he admitted. "But this is not your victory."
Zayne's aura surged as the megalodon spirit flared behind him, its jaws snapping. "We'll see about that."
They prepared for another clash — until the sky itself darkened.
A shadow, vast and suffocating, covered the entire battlefield.
Both warriors looked up.
And Zayne's expression changed slightly under his helmet.
"Oh… shit."
The ground trembled violently, an ominous energy descending from above — something radiating dark magic rather than normal abyss servants.
To be continued.