Vroom!
Zayne's omni-cycle weaved through the forest in style. Its body gleamed faintly under the patches of dying sunlight, the sleek frame cutting through the terrain as if it were gliding on rails. The tires clung to the rough earth with perfect balance, stabilizing Zayne even as roots, stones, and uneven dips tried to sabotage the smooth ride. It still maintained its speed.
"If not for my advanced tech locator, I would never find this place. It's almost like it's been lifted off the map entirely. Tsk. What a thorough schemer," he muttered under his helmet.
The wind rustled the leaves, but the forest felt… wrong. Too still. Too quiet. No birdsong. No rustling of small animals. Just an oppressive silence pushing down on everything.
As he rode deeper, the oppressive feeling crawled up even his spine.
"This feels like the prologue to a horror series," he chuckled inwardly.
Then he continued, "Oh well, I should be strong enough to deal with it. And if not, I can run away and fight another day."
That was his rule. If he were strong enough to accomplish something, he would do it without hesitation. If not, he would retreat, prepare, and return. That wasn't cowardice; that was intelligence. He wasn't some protagonist in a wish-fulfillment fantasy. He was a ranger in a dangerous, evolving world where every action he took could either lead the world toward safety and peace—or toward eternal damnation.
Some minutes later, after weaving through thick trees, he arrived near his first location. The blue dots on his map—the trackers—were still following Anton closely.
He narrowed his eyes as he peered across the distance.
And there they were.
A tall, dark-skinned, bald man with a single eye glaring out from behind an eyepatch… and beside him, a redhead clad in a skin-tight black combat suit, posture sharp enough to cut steel.
Fury.
And Natasha Romanoff—Black Widow.
Two names that even Power Rangers respected. And feared in the right context.
They were directly facing Anton Mercer, who was clearly terrified.
"So this is what S.H.I.E.L.D. was planning. I wouldn't expect less from someone as cunning as Fury. He always picks the optimal solution… but he's still a reckless fool," Zayne muttered, shaking his head.
Zayne had already analyzed Mesogog's actions through the base's holographic systems. Everything—from Anton's transformation cycles to his disappearance, even his reappearance here—fit together too well.
Mesogog was planning something big. Bigger than he ever did in the original show. In the original timeline, he managed to imprison Lothor, an intergalactic warlord. Now? He was worse. Far worse.
As Zayne stared at the widening wormhole, a frown surfaced beneath his helmet. He tapped his morpher, scanning the anomaly from afar.
(A/N: Yes, it's that powerful.)
After a moment, a holographic data display floated over his wrist.
[Portal type: Dimensional wormhole]
[Status: Expanding]
[Source: Mesogog's Dimensional Beam]
[Location: Hollow Earth]
[Lifeforms detected: Titans, prehistoric species]
[Energy: Gravity-based]
[Danger Assessment: D-Level — Expanding]
"I knew it," he said quietly.
He immediately processed the implications. "So, this Marvel universe is likely the integrated comic type. But then again, this might only be the first one. Who knows how many more wormholes will appear in the future?"
He exhaled calmly.
"I should stop this before it gets out of hand."
With a flick of his wrist, he activated the omni-cycle's camouflage mode and rolled closer.
— ✦ —
(Some minutes earlier)
"Fury!" Anton screamed in a low yet panicked tone.
Fury offered him a professional smile, stretching out his hand for a handshake as he spoke casually, "Hello, professor. It's been a while. You look as refined as ever."
"Hypocrite," Anton thought bitterly, refusing the handshake or the compliment.
Surprisingly, Fury didn't look offended. He simply withdrew his hand and continued with that same infuriating, smug calm.
"You're not still upset about that incident, are you? I heard from her that you quite enjoyed it."
The memory hit Anton like a truck. His middle-aged face reddened instantly.
"You bastard. You think I won't hit you? You tricked me! If I knew you were such a two-faced snake, I'd never have gotten involved with your secret organization."
"It's called S.H.I.E.L.D., professor," Fury corrected with a teasing smirk.
Anton almost combusted on the spot. "I don't care! Leave me alone. I'm busy—more than busy. I don't have time for your nonsense."
He turned back toward the machine he'd assembled—his desperate attempt to clean up his own disaster.
But Natasha stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a calm, icy expression.
"That won't be happening, professor."
Anton stared at her, surprised for half a second before showing clear contempt. "Fury, keep your dogs on a leash. Tell her to get out of my way."
Fury didn't budge.
"She's right, Anton. You're coming with us."
"What are you talking about—?!" Before he could finish, Natasha had already cuffed him with silent precision.
He struggled, but she chopped his legs out from under him and brought him down cleanly.
"Ugh!" Anton groaned.
"You idiots!" he yelled, squirming as dirt smeared across his clothes. "If you stop me, we're all doomed! Stop this madness!"
"Romanoff," Fury ordered calmly, "knock him out."
Anton's eyes widened in fear. "Sto—!"
THAWK!
Her hand slammed into the back of his head.
Thud.
He collapsed instantly.
Fury nodded in satisfaction, then turned toward the gaping wormhole. His expression hardened into something unreadable. Deep. Calculating. His mind was already in the future, juggling variables no normal man could.
He turned back to his agents.
"Take him to the carrier. Romanoff, confiscate the device."
The agents obeyed immediately—but Natasha paused.
"Are you sure this is the right move, sir?" she asked.
Fury met her gaze calmly. "It's our best option. We have enough on our plate. Stark should be able to handle this."
Natasha raised an eyebrow. "Stark might not even answer your calls. He's a very… busy man."
Fury smirked. "Trust me. He will."
Natasha nodded reluctantly. She approached the device, about to dismantle it—
When a powerful yet playful voice whispered near her ear:
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Black Widow."
She leapt back instantly, landing several meters away in a defensive stance. Guns and stingers ready. Fury and the agents reacted immediately, forming a perimeter and scanning the trees.
"Who's there?" Fury called out, voice steady and cold.
Zayne chuckled invisibly. "Relax. If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it already. You haven't done anything to earn a beating."
One of the agents barked, "How can we trust someone who sneaks around like a coward?! Show yourself!"
Zayne snorted. "Is common sense rare now? I clearly have the advantage, yet you're trying to provoke me? Tsk. Typical side-character energy. He might die soon."
He switched off his camouflage.
His full form appeared—sleek, imposing, and pristine. The Omni-Ranger suit shimmered with authority. Not a single crack or scratch.
(Self-repair functions truly were underrated.)
Fury's reaction was subtle—eyes widening only a fraction—but Zayne caught it. The legendary spy hadn't expected to run into him here. If anything, Fury saw this as an opportunity.
Natasha, however, was openly shocked. A ranger? This ranger? She'd been a fan once. Back before life hardened her beyond recognition.
"That's all in the past," she whispered inwardly. "No point in feeling nostalgic."
The agent who'd mouthed off earlier instantly regretted it. If he knew he was talking to a ranger, his tone would've been very different.
Fury stepped forward. "How may we help you, Ranger?"
Zayne didn't answer. He simply stared at Anton's unconscious form slung over an agent's shoulder.
Fury understood fast.
"It's unwise to interfere in S.H.I.E.L.D business," he warned. "You're not qualified."
Zayne sneered. "Maybe when half the world is destroyed, I'll be qualified."
Natasha responded this time. "What do you mean, 'world destroyed'?"
Zayne's tone was casual. Too casual. "Exactly what it sounds like. Without Anton, this world is doomed in a few hours."
Fury looked ready to question him further—
But a terrible sound ripped through the air.
CRAAAACK!
Zayne exhaled in annoyance. "And here we go."
He rolled his shoulders, summoned his newly forged scythe, and spun it with one hand.
"You guys retreat. I've got this."
Fury and Natasha didn't hesitate. They pulled back immediately, dragging Anton and the agents with them.
Zayne turned toward the source of the sound, eyes narrowing behind his visor.
"I might be able to get myself a new Zord today," he muttered.
Then he attacked.
— ✦ —
THE PLOT THICKENS. Did you enjoy this chapter, guys? Like I always say, guys. I'm open to criticism. Thank you all for the support guys.
Please I need Power stones to power up my morphers. Send some.