Asher's rampage showed no signs of slowing. The forest that lined the outskirts of the city trembled under the weight of his fury. Trees splintered, the ground cracked, and animals fled in terror as the dark aura surrounding him intensified. His mind had been overtaken by the primal force within, and his body no longer obeyed reason. It was destruction in its purest form.
Back at Squad Zero headquarters, alarms blared, signaling a high-level threat in the delta region. Rangers scrambled, grabbing their gear and preparing to head out. But before they could mobilize, a calm, commanding voice cut through the chaos.
"Stop."
The rangers froze in their tracks, turning to see their captain, Kael Arcturus, standing on the top floor balcony. His tall figure, standing at about 6'4", commanded immediate attention. His long silver hair was tied neatly into a ponytail, and his emerald green eyes shimmered with an eerie calmness. He leaned against the railing with a casual grin, watching the rangers with amusement.
Beside him stood Vice Captain Liora, her crimson red eyes scanning the scene below with a mix of boredom and quiet annoyance. At 5'10", with long black hair and a curvy frame, Liora was considered one of the most beautiful and feared rangers in the squad. Despite the alarms blaring around them, she looked ready to go back to sleep.
One of the rangers shouted up to Kael, "Captain, the alarms are signaling a code red! Shouldn't we head out immediately?"
Kael waved his hand dismissively. "Relax. There's no need for all of you to rush into this. I'll handle it."
The rangers exchanged glances, unsure whether to question their captain's lack of urgency. But it was Kael Arcturus—the strongest in the delta region—and if he wasn't worried, they figured there was no reason for them to be either.
Liora, leaning against the railing, rolled her eyes as Kael continued to grin. She sighed heavily. "You're going out there just to play again, aren't you?"
Kael chuckled, his emerald eyes glinting mischievously. "You know me too well, Liora. This looks like it could be fun." He straightened up, stretching his arms as if getting ready for a casual stroll. "Besides, it's been a while since I've had a decent workout."
Liora glanced at him, clearly unimpressed. "If it's going to be 'fun,' then count me out. I'm heading back to my quarters. Wake me up when it's actually serious."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, her long black hair swaying behind her. Kael watched her go, still smiling, before turning his attention back to the forest where the rampage was taking place.
"Well, I guess it's just me, then," he muttered to himself.
Before setting out to the forest, though, Kael had one last stop to make. He casually teleported himself to his favorite cake shop in the delta region, a small, cozy bakery nestled within the bustling streets of the city. He walked in, still wearing his Squad Zero uniform, and greeted the shopkeeper with a smile.
"Good evening, Captain Kael!" the shopkeeper beamed, already knowing what the captain would order.
"Evening," Kael replied cheerfully. "I'll take the usual—a slice of that strawberry shortcake."
The shopkeeper quickly handed him the cake, and Kael savored each bite as he strolled out of the shop. "Mmm, perfect as always," he said with satisfaction, wiping a bit of cream from the corner of his mouth.
Once he finished, he teleported again, this time appearing at the edge of the forest where the disturbance was coming from. He could feel the intensity of Asher's aura even from a distance. The dark energy rippled through the air like waves crashing against the shore, and the ground beneath Kael's feet vibrated faintly.
But Kael's expression remained one of casual interest, not concern. He walked slowly toward the epicenter of the destruction, hands in his pockets, still licking the last remnants of the cake from his fingers.
The forest was torn apart. Trees lay in ruins, the sky darkened by the oppressive energy swirling around Asher. Kael could sense the immense power radiating from the boy, but it didn't worry him. If anything, it excited him.
"Quite the spectacle," he murmured, observing the wreckage. "Looks like someone's lost control."
Asher's berserk form had fully overtaken him. His aura pulsed wildly, and every step he took left destruction in its wake. But Kael wasn't in a rush to intervene. He leaned casually against a nearby tree—one of the few still standing—and watched the rampage unfold, as if waiting for the right moment to make his entrance.
"This will be interesting," Kael mused to himself, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "I wonder just how far this kid can go before he burns out."
Asher, deep in his berserk state, was completely unaware of the presence lurking nearby. His mind was a storm of rage and confusion, the seals on his power dangerously weakened. The dark energy surrounding him was growing more unstable with each passing second.
But for now, the battle between Asher and Kael was still on the horizon. The calm before the storm.
Kael, amused by the display, slowly finished the last bite of his cake as he set the stage for their inevitable confrontation. The forest trembled in anticipation, but Kael was in no rush. He could wait. After all, it was all just a game to him.