As they continued to descend, Nina looked up at Raika with concern. "What happened to you, brother? I mean, sister? Why did you collapse in the stairway?"
Raika smiled awkwardly. "Oh, it's nothing, just a concussion."
Nina frowned, her worry evident. "Are you sure about that, sister?"
Raika sighed softly. "Well, you can call me sister now since my body is female."
Nina nodded thoughtfully. "Did you have a period before?"
Raika blushed at the question, her face turning a shade of pink. "No, not really..."
Nina tilted her head. "Maybe cyborgs don't get periods."
"They say when you get periods," Nina continued, "you might experience pain and discomfort. That's why I was worried when I saw you like that."
Raika's blush deepened. "That's why I feel that pain even though I am a cyborg. I'm not fully a cyborg, though."
Nina nodded, her concern mingling with curiosity. "Right, because most of the time, I see your body as flesh, not a cyborg."
Raika smiled, appreciating Nina's understanding and support. "Yeah, it's complicated. But I'll manage. Thanks for looking out for me."
Nina hugged Raika tightly. "Always, sister. I'll always be here for you."
Raika and Nina parted ways at the bottom of the stairs. Raika smiled and waved. "I'll meet you later, sister."
As Nina walked toward her class, some of the other 9th-grade students overheard. "Sister?" one of them asked, surprised.
A classmate of Nina's turned to her. "Is Raika, the leader, your sister?"
Nina nodded, a shy smile forming on her face. "Yes, she is."
The other students erupted in joy. "Ahhhhhhhh!! Our classmate Nina has a hero sister!" they shouted.
Excitement spread like wildfire through the group. Raika was a highly respected leader on the entire school campus, and knowing Nina was related to her only heightened their enthusiasm. The students couldn't contain their admiration, crowding around Nina, eager to hear more about her sister, the hero.
As Raika walked through each corridor of the school, teachers and students alike bowed respectfully to her, acknowledging her esteemed position. Her presence commanded admiration and reverence.
Once she stepped outside of the 9th-grade building, Raika sighed in relief. "That was a bad experience in my life," she muttered to herself, recalling the unsettling events. "Because of that paranormal experience, I almost died. What a creepy pasta."
Shaking off the lingering unease, she continued her path, determined to stay focused and composed despite the unnerving memory.
As Raika returned to Stella Academy, nearing the 9th-grade building, Mia spotted her and pouted. "Where have you been, Raika?" she demanded.
Raika, looking slightly flustered, replied, "I was just visiting the 9th-grade school."
Lina checked her watch. "It's 12:00 pm now, lunchtime. Why were you gone so long?"
Raika sighed and began curling a strand of her pink hair around her finger. "I was just... doing my business, you know," she said, her eyes looking up evasively.
Mia's face lit up with sudden suspicion. "Could it be you have a boyfriend?"
Lina joined in with a mischievous smile. "Maybe she does!"
Raika's eyes widened, and she frantically waved her hands. "No, no, no, no, no! It was not that!"
The trio burst into laughter, Mia and Lina exchanging amused glances while Raika's cheeks turned a shade of pink to match her hair. "Oh, Raika, you're too easy to tease," Mia giggled.
Raika crossed her arms, still blushing. "I swear, you two have the wildest imaginations."
Unbeknownst to Raika, Mia, and Lina, Lay was watching from a hidden spot nearby. His eyes widened as he overheard their conversation, especially Mia's teasing about a boyfriend.
"A boyfriend? No, it can't be," Lay muttered under his breath, his fist clenching involuntarily.
Unable to bear the thought, he quickly retreated from his hiding spot, his mind racing with confusion and a touch of jealousy.
As Lay sprinted away, Raika called after him, "Hey Lay, where are you going? Come back!"
Lay didn't slow down or look back, his urgency unmistakable.
Mia raised an eyebrow and said, "What's up with him?"
Lina giggled, "Maybe he's constipated. He's definitely running like he's in a hurry!"
Mia laughed too, and Raika tilted her head in bewilderment, not quite sure what to make of the situation. "Constipated? Seriously?" she asked, her confusion adding to the amusement.
The pair of friends continued to chuckle, while Raika just shook her head, trying to understand the strange turn of events.
Nana suddenly popped up, leaping into Raika's arms with a playful shout, "Raika! Where have you been? We've been looking for you all morning, but you vanished! Did you get lost or something?"
Raika, still startled by Nana's energetic entrance, tried to answer, "I was just—"
Before she could finish, Fay strolled up with a casual wave and a grin. "Yow, Raika!" she called out, clearly amused by the scene. "Did you get caught up in some top-secret mission or just disappear into thin air?"
Nana, still clinging to Raika, added with a smirk, "Or maybe you found a secret snack stash and decided to indulge in some serious munchies?"
Raika rolled her eyes, trying not to laugh at Nana's antics. "No secret snacks, I promise. Just a bit of unexpected excitement."
Fay and Nana exchanged a knowing look, their laughter filling the air as Raika shook her head, amused by their lighthearted teasing.
Fay leaned in with a dramatic tone. "Did you hear? There's a monster lurking in the city sewers—a mechanical beast so ugly it makes shadows shiver. They say it's been kidnapping 18-year-olds and—get this—skinning them alive!"
Raika burst into laughter, shaking her head. "Oh, come on, Fay. You're talking about one of those creepy pasta stories, aren't you?"
But as she glanced around, she noticed her friends' faces growing increasingly serious. The laughter faded from her face as she saw the concern in Mia's eyes.
Mia, her voice hushed and tight, said, "It's true. Some of our classmates are missing. We've been hearing whispers, and it's not just rumors."
Raika's smile faltered, her eyes widening slightly. The gravity of the situation sank in as she saw the genuine fear in her friends' expressions. Fay's earlier joke suddenly seemed a lot less funny.
The school's speaker crackled to life, and a voice came over, trying to maintain calm. "Attention, students. Please remain calm. We have reports of an unknown threat—apparently a mechanical beast with glowing red eyes has been kidnapping students. As the Guardian Rangers are still recovering, the task of handling this situation will be passed to the Viper Rangers."
Raika, Nana, and Fay exchanged tense glances, their faces set with determination. Nana clenched her fists, her knuckles white, while Fay's eyes narrowed with resolve. Raika nodded, her usual confidence replaced by a steely focus. The seriousness of the announcement hit them hard, and their thoughts turned to the missing classmates and the looming threat in the shadows.
Raika stood still for a moment, her mind racing with thoughts of the threat looming over the city. She clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. *It must be resolved now before it's too late,* she thought to herself. *If we don't act quickly, my sister and everyone in the city could be in even greater danger.* The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on her shoulders, but her determination to protect those she cared about was stronger than ever.
The Principal's voice echoed through the meeting room, filled with a palpable sense of urgency. The Viper Rangers—Raika, Fay, Lay, Katsuya, and Nana—gathered around a large, imposing conference table. The room was heavy with tension, and the Principal's presence only heightened it.
The Principal, a commanding figure with an authoritative demeanor, paced in front of the group. His hands moved emphatically as he spoke. "As you all know, we have ten missing students. The situation is dire. Reports suggest a mechanical beast is terrorizing the sewers beneath our city. This creature is targeting those aged 18, dragging them into the shadows and—" He paused, his face grim as he continued, "skinning them alive."
He waved his hands, emphasizing the gravity of the threat. "We need to understand what this beast is and why it's attacking our students.Your mission is to investigate and uncover the truth behind these disappearances."
The Principal's voice carried a stern determination as he concluded, "Proceed with caution. Your findings are crucial for ensuring the safety of our students and the security of the city. Do not return until you have answers."
The Viper Rangers exchanged determined glances, the seriousness of their task evident in their expressions. The Principal's words hung in the air, a reminder of the critical mission that lay ahead.
As the Viper Rangers made their way to their underground lair, the dimly lit corridor buzzed with anticipation. They reached the weapons room, a high-tech armory stocked with an array of weapons. Raika, however, only picked up her sleek, silver bracelet, which she strapped to her wrist.
Nana eyed Raika's choice with curiosity. "Is that all you're bringing? Just the bracelet?"
Katsuya chimed in, a smirk on his face. "Don't forget, Raika has a built-in arsenal within her. She doesn't need any additional gear."
Nana's eyes widened in realization. "Oh right, I remember now! You fought Ace Cyborg in that live broadcast with those incredible built-in weapons. I forgot about that!"
Raika nodded, her smile acknowledging the memory. "Yep, the bracelet is just a small part of what I can do. I'll rely on my internal systems for this mission."
With their weapons gathered and their resolve firm, the Viper Rangers prepared to venture into the sewers, ready to confront the unknown threat lurking in the shadows.
As the Viper Rangers stepped outside of the academy, the evening air was thick with unease. It was 4:00 p.m., and the sky was darkening, streaked with ominous clouds that cast long, sinister shadows over the city. The streets, usually vibrant with activity, were now eerily silent, as if the city itself held its breath in anticipation.
Fay turned to Raika, her voice tremulous in the growing darkness. "Leader, what's the plan?"
Raika's face was grim, her eyes reflecting the encroaching shadows. "The plan is simple: stick close and don't stray from me. This enemy is powerful, like a bulldozer, and you could die if you're not careful. We need to stay together, no matter what."
Lay's voice was a low murmur, filled with trepidation. "But what if we get separated? I'm... still feeling the effects of what I overheard about this place."
Raika's gaze was unyielding. "If we get separated, you must retreat. Your lives are valuable. Remember, our priority is to investigate, not to engage directly. Understand?"
The team nodded, their resolve firm but their faces betrayed their fear.
As they moved towards the sewer entrance, the atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive. The city's skyline was now a dark, looming silhouette against the dimming sky, and a thick fog began to roll in, obscuring their path. The temperature dropped sharply, and the air felt heavy, almost suffocating. The distant sounds of the city seemed to fade, leaving an unsettling silence that was only broken by the occasional drip of water from above.
Raika led the way, her every step measured and cautious. The entrance to the sewers loomed before them, an ominous black void that seemed to swallow the last remnants of light. The stench of decay and damp earth wafted out, mingling with the fog and making the air thick with a nauseating odor.
As they descended into the sewers, the darkness enveloped them, pressing in from all sides. The narrow passageways were damp and echoing, amplifying every sound and creating an atmosphere of heightened dread. The group's breaths came out in short, visible puffs, and the occasional scuttling noise from unseen creatures heightened their anxiety.
Raika's resolve was firm as she led the team deeper into the murky depths, each step reverberating through the confined space. The oppressive darkness and the unsettling sounds seemed to close in around them, making every moment feel like an eternity. They were plunging into the unknown, driven by the urgent need to uncover the truth behind the terrifying rumors that had begun to grip their city.