Kyle materialized in the heart of Elaris, the landscape painted with destruction. Buildings lay in ruins, streets cracked open, and the air was thick with smoke and ash. The cries of civilians echoed in the distance as rangers scrambled to evacuate the injured. His emerald green eyes scanned the scene, falling on the crumpled forms of his Unit Zero rangers scattered across the battlefield. Bloodied and battered, their bodies told the story of a losing battle against the S-rank Kaiju that Hans had unleashed.
The ground quaked violently as one of the massive creatures towered in the distance, its grotesque form illuminated by the flames engulfing the city. Its thick, armored hide gleamed as it roared, shaking the very foundation of Elaris. Kyle clenched his fists.
"You've crossed the line, Hans," he muttered before stepping forward.
One of the injured rangers, barely conscious, managed to call out, "C-Commander… it's too strong… we couldn't even scratch it…"
Kyle knelt beside him, his expression softening for a moment. "Rest. You've done enough. Leave the rest to me."
Standing, Kyle's gaze hardened. With a wave of his hand, he activated Chrollo's Space, summoning an orb of shimmering light around the Kaiju. The monster thrashed and roared, but within the sphere, Kyle's control was absolute. Time inside the orb accelerated at a dizzying pace, aging the Kaiju's massive body in seconds. Its once-impenetrable hide cracked and withered as its flesh disintegrated into dust.
The beast's roar faded into nothingness as its remains scattered into the wind. Kyle didn't pause to admire his work. With a flicker of light, he teleported to another part of the city.
From the western district to the harbor, Kyle moved with surgical precision. Each time, he summoned Chrollo's Space and aged the Kaiju to extinction. The once-dominant creatures, capable of leveling cities, were reduced to nothing more than piles of ash. Yet, even as he eliminated them, Kyle's mind churned.
Hans had planned this. The timing, the placement of the Kaiju, the choice of Elaris—it was all too calculated. Hans hadn't unleashed chaos; he had orchestrated it.
Kyle teleported one last time, appearing on the outer perimeter of the city. The final Kaiju, a towering serpent-like beast with glowing red eyes, hissed as it reared back to strike. Before it could lunge, Kyle activated Chrollo's Space, trapping it mid-motion. Time accelerated, and the creature's writhing form shriveled and collapsed into dust.
As silence fell over Elaris, Kyle stood amidst the destruction, his body trembling with exhaustion. He'd pushed himself to his limit, teleporting repeatedly and exerting his time magic in rapid succession. But there was no time to rest. Hans's schemes weren't over, and Kyle knew it.
Meanwhile, back on Barron Island, the arena had turned into a prison. Hans's contingency plan, executed by Rin, had cast a barrier over the entire structure, trapping the commanders, vice commanders, and spectators within.
The commanders, aware of Hans's cunning nature, quickly realized this wasn't an ordinary trap.
"This isn't just a barrier," Ace said, his sword gleaming as he slashed at the glowing walls. "It's designed to block our mana entirely. Hans must have planned this."
Commander Maya, her fists clenched, looked toward the cave on the holographic screen. "Hans may not be here, but his hand is everywhere. We need to break out of this trap before it's too late."
Inside the cave, Josuke and Zen's battle continued to rage. The cavern trembled with every strike, flames and shadows dancing along its jagged walls. Josuke, bloodied and bruised, panted heavily as he staggered to his feet. His fiery aura flickered like a dying ember, but the intensity in his eyes remained.
Zen, unfazed by Josuke's attacks, grinned as he cracked his knuckles. "Is this the best you've got? I thought you were supposed to be Ragnar's son."
"I don't even know who Ragnar is!" Josuke spat, his voice hoarse. "But I'll make sure you remember my name."
Zen chuckled. "That spark in your eyes… it's familiar. It reminds me of him. Your father had the same fire. Though…" His grin widened. "Yours burns brighter."
Zen's taunts only fueled Josuke's determination. Ignoring the pain coursing through his body, he launched himself at Zen, unleashing a flurry of fiery punches. Each strike carried a fragment of his soul, his unyielding will manifesting in every blow.
Zen dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. To him, the battle wasn't a challenge—it was a symphony. Each attack from Josuke was a note, and together they formed a melody that resonated deep within him.
"You're strong," Zen admitted, catching Josuke's fist mid-punch. "But you're not there yet. You have the potential to surpass Ragnar, but right now? You're just a spark. I want to see you become a flame—no, an inferno."
Josuke growled, yanking his hand free. "I don't care about Ragnar or your twisted obsession with him. I'm going to win this fight, and I'm going to protect my team."
Zen smirked. "Good. Show me that fire, boy."
The cavern exploded with energy as Josuke unleashed a desperate attack, pouring every ounce of his strength into a massive wave of flames. The heat was so intense that the cavern walls began to melt, the air shimmering with the force of his power.
Zen raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. "Not bad," he said, raising a hand to block the attack. The flames washed over him, but when the smoke cleared, he stood unscathed, his grin still in place.
Josuke fell to one knee, his body trembling from exhaustion. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to stand.
"Is that all?" Zen asked, his voice dripping with mockery.
Josuke glared at him, the fire in his eyes refusing to dim. "Not… yet…"
Zen chuckled, his admiration for the boy growing. "You're something else, Josuke. I almost don't want to kill you. Almost."
On the other side of the cave, Rin stood amidst the rangers of Unit Zero, her presence a storm of malice and grace. Silver lunged at her, his shadow manipulation weaving tendrils of darkness toward her. But Rin sidestepped effortlessly, her movements a blur.
"Is that all you've got?" she mocked, her voice carrying a chilling edge. "I expected more from Glenda's little project."
Silver growled, his frustration mounting as his attacks failed to land. Meanwhile, Arthur gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles white.
"Who are you, and what's your goal?" he demanded.
Rin turned to him, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "My goal?" She chuckled softly. "Let's just say I'm here to keep things… interesting. And right now, you're all terribly boring."
Arthur stepped forward, his sword glowing with power. "Then let me change that."
As Rin prepared to engage him, a faint smile crossed her lips. The chaos was unfolding perfectly, and Hans's master plan was still in motion.