The White Terrorsaurous had been a thorn in the Dino Thunder Rangers side for a long time. Only through the awakening of the Triassic Shield were they able to defeat it and return control of the Zords to the rangers. And a single cleave of a scimitar split the husk clean in half, permanently sending it to its death. Hayden snarled as he looked around the seemingly endless, but very empty Abyss. He'd gathered that this place was a sort of Hell for past Power Ranger enemies as he'd run into Scorpina only a short time ago. That beast was definitely NOT one of the Dino Ranger's enemies; that much he knew.

Still, these random encounters with the undead didn't solve his current problem: how to get the hell out of the Abyss. Another creature stumbled towards him, hungrily reaching out for Hayden but dispatched him with another slash of his scimitar. So far this wasn't really forcing Hayden to rely upon the full strength of the Dragon and was only succeeding in testing his patients. Turning away, he looked up at the massive rock wall before him. Just another wall to climb to dig deep into this void that just never ended… Like the thousand before him, Hayden summoned his wings and leaped. In seconds he reached the top and found another mass of staggering undead.

"Enough! I've had ENOUGH!" Hayden roared as his scimitar came to life with sizzling gold energy and split the group in half with a single slash. An explosion rang through the Abyss, briefly illuminating the pitch black walls and casting a glow upon the entire realm. Rocks, crevices and walls expanded as far as the eye could see as Hayden gave a frustrated snarl, watching the quickly fading light. "Saizo! LET ME OUT OF HERE!" Hayden called to the sky, jabbing his blade towards the cloudless roof. "What challenge could this place POSSIBLY give me!"

Suddenly, dark energy nearly cleaved him in two as it slashed across his chest, spraying sparks about as he was thrown backwards into the jagged rock wall and sliding to the ground. A familiar Skeletal being appeared before Hayden with sword in hand as he snarled at the Gold Ranger. Slowly, Hayden began to rise, fighting through the pain as he stared his foe down.

"I destroyed you!" Hayden roared as he looked at the blade wielding Hades.

"You don't have the strength to kill me, boy." Hades snarled as he raised his sword. "I would have released you from here had you complied… but even then your arrogance and pride blinded you. Well, so be it… You are just another enemy of the Power Rangers; another cast away to this Abyss…"

Raged roar of Hayden met Skeletal scowl of Hades' as the two came together in a flurry of blows. Initially neither gained the upper hand as their blades crashed together in flourishing slashes, precise stabs and expert blocks. Hades' was hurt first as the scimitar slashed across his chest, but pushed through the pain with a spinning slash aimed to decapitate his foe. Hayden weaved beneath the strike and kicked Hades off the cliff into the darkness below. Unwilling to let his foe go, the Gold Ranger leaped over the edge and plummeted after the Abyssal Overlord.

Hades shifted hard and slashed his blade, unleashing crescent wave of dark energy that Hayden parried and returned. Just as feet touched ground, Hades leaped away as the ground before him exploded in a shower of rubble and debris. Hayden came bursting out of the dust cloud with a lunge and aimed a quick stab for Hades' stomach. The Overlord parried wide and with a vicious hammer strike to the back smashed Hayden into the ground. One blow was all it took for Hayden's power to fail him. He lay in the hole coughing up blood as Hades' loomed over him.

"Saizo never told you what you would be up against, did he?" Hades whispered as Hayden shakily began to rise but one swift kick smashed him into the wall and crashing to the ground again. "Down here boy, I'm God. In my realm you are but a pawn… He set you up. You never had a chance to win…"

Waves of pain crashed into Hayden's body when he felt his ribs shift suddenly. His vision blood and blood splattered to the floor in front of him. He wasn't even aware that he was coughing… Somehow, some way, Hayden began to rise again despite the pain. As he turned to face Hades' again, he felt bony hand clutch his throat and begin to squeeze. Blood splattered against Hades' arm as he held the Gold Ranger high in the air, peering into his fear filled, disoriented eyes. Being the Abyssal Overlord he was indeed a cruel person, but he wasn't without pity or mercy. No, if he let this boy return to the surface, he would only become another of Saizo's pawns. To kill him now would spare him a far worse death at the hands of his master… Hades' pulled his broadsword back as he peered into the Gold Rangers eyes… The anger that shined within was frightening, and so terrifying that it startled Hades. Even in the souls of the Abyss he'd never seen such anger before…

Suddenly golden energy gathered around Hayden once more as blood curling cry escaped his throat. The energy had become so hot Hades' was forced to let go and the light so intense, so painful, he shrank away and cowered into the shadows for cover. Dark pulses began to mingle with golden light as the Ranger Suit return and the scream louder. The light became more and more intense with each passing second until it culminated in a single, massive explosion that ripped through the Abyss, destroying anything and everything for miles around… All save for an Abyssal Overlord who managed to shield himself just in time.

Gold-black energy burst around Hayden's body as struggled to breathe, almost like he was being strangled. Cape and mantle draped down over his body, concealing most of it from sight as he held no longer a Scimitar but a Nagata. Collapsed on one knee, he leaned against the pole for support as he snarled at Hades before him. "A-And now… You will f-feel… my full power!" Hayden snarled and suddenly vanished in a flash.

A dozen blows struck Hades body before he could react and a dozen more came when he finally tried. Sparks sprayed about as Hayden zipped back and forth, unleashing slashes and stabs against the staggering Hades until finally the Lord managed to catch one of the blows. Blade met blade as their bodies came together, only a hands width apart as they stared each other time. The fury of the Gold Ranger matched the God-like Power of Hades and with a tingling screech the blades separated once more.

Hayden weaved back away from a quick slash but quickly returned with one. Hades' blocked the strike and guided it high to his right before stepping in with a vicious hook to Hayden's jaw. Rocked by the blow, Hayden flipped away as the overhand strike smashed into the ground, bashing away chunks of rock. Hayden moved into an immediate retreat, slashing and parrying each of Hades stepping stabs and cleaving slashes before the Ranger felt rock to his back. His head bobbed right as the blade plunged into the rock and a brutal shoulder jab knocked the Lords backwards.

"Even if you manage to destroy me boy, it won't release you from Saizo's grasp… You will only be adding to his power and further his goals, not your own." Hades warned with a jab of his bony finger.

"I don't care how you feel, Hades. Saizo has made me what I am! He has given me the power to destroy the Power Rangers!" Hayden roared as snapped his Naganata towards Hades. "And I will start with you first!"

"Even knowing what you know, you would still help him?" Hades whispered and then sighed. "Then you will do it alone. The very thing you draw power from is but another slave to Saizo; a former General who helped him conquer Infershia, the Underworld, and seek revenge upon Mystic Heaven…" Hayden looked down at the gem as it flashed brightly. "And that is the fate Dragon has been doomed to, boy… He possessed nigh unlimited power as well, and he became yet another tool for Saizo to use… If you continue down this dark path, it will lead you to the same inevitable fate: death."

"Is that all you can do Hades? Bore me with endless tales? Those with the greatest power deserve to rule over the weak! If the weak refuse to rise up and do anything, then they deserve to be destroyed!" Hayden snapped as he looked down at the Dino Gem. "Saizo proved that theory to Dragon… And now I shall prove it to you."

"All Evil suffers from the same downfall time and time again…" Hades breathed and shook his head. "None of you can see beyond a single, myopic point of view… So be it. If you chose death then I'll gladly give it…"

They crossed blades again, weaving in and away from the rocks with each step. Both knew this would be the final tango and that only one could come out of this alive… For Hades, there was more at stake here than just his life. It was the future of the world, and of the Abyss of Evil. For Hayden, it was everything: life and his inevitable destiny. For either to die now, the consequences would be great…

With blades crossed and faces only inches part, Ranger and Saint stared one another down. Their gazes could strike fear into the heart of any poor soul that may lay eyes upon them. Hayden pushed Hades back and off balance before slashing him hard across the stomach. Sparks sprayed everywhere as Hades' staggered back but quickly parried the next blow and cried out with a vicious roundhouse smashed into his side. Hades broke away from Hayden as he staggered back into the rocks but managed to defend himself from another slash. Hayden's leg slashed into another roundhouse but struck only rock. Hades had rolled away from the blow completely and turned hard, parrying another strike before catching the Ranger's wrist, locking it to his side. He began to drive forward at a relentless pace before Hades' dropped his head and speared Hayden into the rock wall.

Hayden let out a sharp cry before Hades' slashed him twice across the chest and plummeting to the ground in a roll. Quickly coming to his feet, Hayden blocked a third slash, fell into a low spin and used the butt of his Naganata to sweep the Overlord off his feet. Hayden followed his spin through into another and the moment Hades' hit the ground, a devastating axe kick caved his chest in. The blood brought blood gushing from Hades' mouth as the acidic substance dripped to the ground and burned away the stones. Hayden used to a cartwheel to stand again and quickly pressed the attack. Even as Hades' began to move another vicious kick to the chest shot him into the wall.

Only this time a Naganata sailed through air and plunged into the Overlords chest, pinning him there.

For one brief second, Hades' stared wide-eyed at Hayden. Memories of the past returned in droves as Saizo's betrayal flashed before his dying eyes. Even now he could still hear the screams of the Mystics as they fought valiantly against their master… only to fall in the process. The scent of smoke seemed to linger even now and the wildfires blazed through the white Heaven. But those images faded into darkness as Hades' sight began to blur. Slowly, he reached out to Hayden, gasping to breath his final warning.

"You… d-don't know… what you… have… unleashed, boy…" Hades whispered and gasped as Hayden pushed the blade and pole further into him.

All around the hungry cries of various souls intensified and Hayden watched as dark energies streamed towards the 'sky' into opening portals. He watched mesmerized and stupefied by the display. He looked down at Hades who was laughing now. With the last of his strength, Hades' reached out and summoned a quickly fading portal.

"Go… to the… s-surface… a-a-and… see for y-yourself…" Hades gasped as blood gushed from his mouth. Hayden ripped out the Naganata and let the Overlord fall to the ground… and finally died.

With a casual sweep of his cape, Hayden turned and vanished through the portal as Hades erupted into a vortex of flame…

XXXXXX

The putrid scent of charred corpses and seared metal was strong as Hayden reappeared on the surface. He scanned the damage and chaos of the streets… but everything was quiet; perhaps a bit too quiet. Builds had brought to the ground, people lay sliced in twos, sometimes threes and fours with twisted wreckages strewn about. Hayden stepped into the street and looked around before he caught sight of a figure shrouded by a cloud of smoke. From the shadow Hayden could see a pair of extended wings and a bulky figure that appeared to be wearing armour of some sort. Clutched tightly in one hand was some kind of sword.

As the figure turned and approached him, Hayden summoned his Naganata and waited… What he saw was the last thing he expected… Out of the cloud of smoke came a Lion like figure dressed in golden armour with Griffocalibur IV clutched in hand. His long black feathered wings stretched out before tucking neatly behind him. With a slash of his sword, the Lion introduced himself with a bellowing roar that caused Hayden to wince and turn away slightly.

"I must thank you for freeing from that despicable place!" The Lion gestured casually with his sword and laughed. "I have to admit, I didn't expect a Power Ranger to save me… I thought all of you would be happy that I'm gone!"

Hayden snarled, kicked his Naganata into a spin and fell into stance. "Don't be a fool, Goldar… I'd never join the Power Rangers!"

Gold laughed mightily again, gesturing to the sky with Griffocalibur before slashing it down before him. "It makes no difference whether you are Good or Evil! I promised my Empress and Emperor that I would wipe that power from existence and that is exactly what I shall do!"

And with that, Goldar let out another roar and charged…