Chapter 27 - Zed's Power
Neil puffed out his chest as he inhaled, letting loose a primal war cry. His helmet was cracked in multiple places, his suit torn at the shoulder. The skin bruised and purple. On his right hand was the Power Axe and Blade blaster in left in blade mode. Droves of putty kept him separated from the team on the battlefield. He slammed the blade of the axe into the ground, sending a shockwave through the putty ranks. His body tensed as he charged forward. He cleaned through the body of the stones creature from right shoulder to the left side of the waist. Turning his axe over and swinging the opposite side at a low angle, he severed the legs from an oncoming putty. As it's body dropped, he drove the blade of the blade blaster through its chest decoration. The battlefield was riddled with battle cries and explosions. Katrina Coates the battlefield in her energy arrows, felling multiple putty. Her nimble body evading strikes as she drew on her bow to release close ranged arrows into the head of putty.
Donna held both of her blades in reverse as she blocked wild punches and countered with quick slashes. As the putty pushed her back to the wall, she pressed her left foot into it, using it as a post to launched herself forward as she severed the head of a putty with a slash at the neck. Tucking into a roll to avoid standing up with putty too close for comfort, she threw the daggers into the shoulders of a putty before drawing her blade blaster in blaster mode. She fired repeatedly into the standing putty before turning her attention to those running toward her.
NC planted the back of his lance into the ground before using it to propel himself forward with a side kick to the sternum of a putty. He turned his body as he spun his lance overhead before slashing in a downwards slant to finish the putty. His suit had a rip in the chest. His body expanded as he breathed in, exhaustion getting the better of him as he felt a rocky fist slam into his helmet. As he fell sideways he stabbed his lance into the putty. Laying in the sand, his body felt almost numb before he shot himself back to his feet. He launched his lance at a putty in Aj's direction as Aj blocked a punch. He caught a round kick aimed for the body and swept the leg from under the putty. He dropped into a low spin to avoid a wild punch as he swept another putty off its feet. Catching another kick, he drove his elbow into the upper leg before driving it into the side of the head. The creature dropped but another one took its place. Aj slammed his left fist into its jaw before turned his body, bringing his leg in before shooting it out into a side kick. The team slowly crowded together, their suits torn and helmets cracked. All creatures fell silent as a slow clap started.
"I applaud you rangers," Zed said as he stood to his feet. "You have faced five hundred of my putty patrollers and here you stand, alive. But what were to happen had I sent super putty? Had I sent Tenga Warriors? Had I sent my many minions? I think it would rather amusing to find out. You lowly beasts, get in there and rip these rangers apart!" The crowd began to roar as they stood to their feet and began to jump into the battle arena. Aj quickly drew the dragon dagger, dawning the golden shield and armor.
"It was an honor to fight with you guys," Neil said as he readied himself.
"If this is the end, I want one shot at Zed," NC said.
"Die well," Aj said under his breath.
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"Is there any way you can send us to where they are?" Hez asked.
"Wait, you mean to tell me you trusted these guys before us?" G4 said.
"That's besides the point," Hez replied. "Zordon can you do it?"
"If I were to teleport you to his world, then he would have a direct line to the command center. If I send you, he will surely return here."
"So you're saying if we go, he can attack here at any time?" Ren asked.
"Yes, it is highly likely he only took the rangers in hopes I would teleport someone to help them."
"Then it's simple, we go in full force and destroy everything. This time the war comes to Zed. We destroy his world and him in one go." Ren said.
"Don't be foolish, destroying Zed is near impossible. Just ask the rangers who lost their lives," G4 said.
"It's the only way to save your team," Jen stepped in. "If we do nothing, they die and we sent ourselves in a suicide mission for nothing.
"We came here to fight and with or without your help, we will." We'd said strongly.
"I think it's settled then. Get all your men ready for a fight, we leave immediately." Hez declared. Zordon simply nodded in agreement. The troops checked their weapons and ammo. G3 readied his blaster while G4 mounted his weapons on his motorcycle.
"Think we can pull it off?" G3 asked.
"We've spent our lives training to kill that bastard. If we fail then we were never worthy of these suits." G4 replied. The duo fell silent as they continued preparations.
"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Ren asked.
"Would you rather leave them behind or die at their side?" Hez said.
"Well don't you two sound like gloom and doom?" Katie said.
"And you can be cheery?" Ren asked in reply.
"I know the future will be better, we will make sure of it. No matter if we fade away, saving the world is what we chose to do." Her reply rang in their ears as she slowly walked away, head held high.
"I'm not with all the confidence shit today." Hez said as he stood up and walked to his motorcycle. Zordon's voice filled the command center.
"Rangers, Riders, troopers. It is time." His voice was calm, almost at peace. "Bring our people home." He said with his eyes locked on to Hez and Ren. They replied in a nod as the light began to shine. Everyone was instantly teleported into the hells of Lord Zed's lair.
"What the hell?" Aj said as he noticed himself surrounded by allies.
"Holy shit I've never been so happy to see you guys," NC said.
"You guys take a step back, we got this from here," Hez said over his shoulder, his eyes locking into Katrina whose suit was coated in fresh blood from her wounds. "No one leaves this place!" Hez yelled.
"And you think you can be the one to end it all?" Lord Zed stepped atop his ledge and peered into the new comers as they were surrounded but his horde of fowl beasts. "Kill then all," Zed said as he took a seat in his throne again. The beasts charged forward, snarling and with mauling attacks. Hez sucked under a wild swing of an arm and came up with a body hook that folded the creature. His eyes almost seemed dead as he followed his attack with a sharp elbow aimed for the beast's temple. As it dropped to the ground he slid the car into his buckle.
"Henshin," he said under his breath. He walked through the gateway to his power methodically. Chaos surrounded him but his mind at peace.
"You guys ready?!" Hen yelled as she kept a putty locked in an armbar. The others did away with their opponents and stood tall as they answered her call.
"Time For Time Force!" They yelled and their forms took shape. They became power rangers. Wes's suit was predominantly red with a white triangle pointed downward on his chest from shoulder to shoulder. Inside the white was a red arrow aiming downward. His gauntlets were silver and his helmet matching the design of his suit. The others matches in the colors of blue, pink, yellow and green. There was a second red ranger, his suit was slightly different, where his teammates wore white, his design was black.
"How can this be?!" Zed stood to his feet and yelled.
"For once I think I agree with skin head over there, who are you guys?" NC asked.
"We are power rangers," the pink Time Force ranger responded. The new team of rangers sprung into the battle. Drawing their long, straight swords they cut through the ranks of putty with precision.
"Oh hell no, I'm not being shown up by new guys!" Donna said.
"Alright rangers, let's get back in there!" Aj yelled drawing the Dragon Dagger and Power Sword. Monsters continued to pour from the crowd. Ren blocked a kick by keeping his arm tight to his side before turning for a spin hook kick.
"Henshin!" He shouted as he activated the morphed on his blaster. Charging through the gateway as the armor of Garren formed, he fired shots into the beast and surrounding putty.
"They are pushing my monsters back, Finster prepare more."
"As you wish my lord," the pale creature bowed and vanished into the darkness.
"Get down there, kill them all." Zed said with authority. In silence the three minions stood into the light. Chromium Gold, Platinum Purple and Titanium Silver dashed forward, jumping into the battle arena. Upon landing Zect Troopers opened fire on them. Their bullets bouncing off the armor, sparks danced around them in an array of colors. Without hesitation, the Beetle Borges ran through their ranks, slicing through their bodies.
"Got you!" Platinum Purple yelled as she slammed her palm into Ren's face, driving his body into the ground and dragging it through the sand as she continued to run at top speed.
"Shit," Hez said as he looked in Ren's direction.
"Focus on your true opponent!" Chromium Gold said as he slashed at Chalice. Blocking the slash with the blade of his bow, Chalice drove his boot into Chromium Gold's chest to create distance before he realized he was surrounded by beats while staring down his golden foe.
"Red ranger!" Titanium Silver yelled as he jumped into the air. Aj turned to see him as he was coming down only to be shot from the sky. We'd stood beside Aj holding his blade in one hand and blaster in other.
"You called?" Wes said sarcastically.
"Don't get cocky, remember what they are from the history books." Eric said standing beside the two.
"Three Red Rangers? I'll kill you all!"
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"Zordon, we got the message!" Brian yelled as he practically jumped from the transport followed by Enzo.
"You need to go, they are barely holding their own!" Zordon said. Alpha began to prepare the transporter.
"Wait!" The general said. "Enzo, they will need all the help they can get." He ran to the pair of men with a metal briefcase. "This is what we have based our technology on, the last rider morphed of this world. Take it and become Kamen Rider Blade."
"How do I use this?" Enzo asked.
"You use this card to activate the buckle then, from the base of your soul, yell 'Henshin!'"
"That doesn't sound tactical," Enzo replied as he took the belt and card.
"We have no time for this," Brian said as he placed his hand omg Enzo's shoulder. Before long, the two were glowing and carried away by the light.
"You have done well in your time away," Zordon said.
"So you knew? Not a surprise."
"Of course not, I could feel you through the morphin grid Billy. But why, why didn't you return?"
"Return to what? We were defeated and killed! Trini, Zack, Jason, Tommy and Kimberly all died that day. I knew your methods weren't going to win this war so I created my own warriors with the power that is similar to yours but also different."
"Do you have faith in your men as I've had faith in my rangers and you?" Zordon asked.
"Nothing but." Billy replied as he adjusted his glasses.
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"Our rear line is crumbling!" A trooper yelled.
"Everyone get down!" G4 yelled as he turned his massive blaster and rained hell upon the monsters to the rear. G3 pressed his back to G4's.
"You think we will make it out of here?" G3 asked.
"If we do, it's a miracle." G4 replied.
Ren presses his boots into Platinum Purple's chest, kicking her away and using the momentum to flip up to a knee. She charged towards him, dodging his blasts as she gained distance. Ren stood to his feet and blocked her looking hook while elbowing her bicep. He then smashed the side of her helmet with the butt of his blaster. Her head whipped to the side along with her body but she quickly regained composure and slapped her palm into Ren's sternum causing him to fly backwards. His body crashed into the wall of the arena before falling.
"Is that all you've-" her gloating was cut off energy arrows.
"Remember me?" Katrina said smugly. Ren nodded at her before charging forward while Katrina covered him with her arrows. Platinum Purple blocked what she could until she felt the warmth of the energy arrow slipping through the joints of her armor and into her skin. She winced as she felt her flesh rip open. Ren slammed his fist into her helmet, pushing her backwards before bringing his leg a complete one hundred and eighty degrees up and dropping the heel of his foot into the crown of her head. Face first, she dropped to the ground, kicking up sand from the impact.
Titanium Silver eyed the three red rangers. He gripped his gauntlet claws tightly and charged Aj. Wes and Eric tried to close the distance but Titanium Silver already had Aj in the grips of his claw. He threw An into Eric and clashed his claw with Wes' sword. He used the leverage granted by the shape of his weapon to bring both their blades to a downwards position before punching Wes. He advanced forward, slashing across his chest twice before turning to deliver a reverse side kick. Wes was throw backwards by the force but Eric quickly took his place. Titanium Silver sucked under the first strike before throwing a counter strike with his own.
"That all you got rangers?" He tainted as slashed Eric across the back. Turning around, he felt the weight of Aj's spin hook kick slam into his helmet. Before he could recover, his body was riddled with the blasts of the blade blaster. Titanium Silver stumbled backwards, looking up in time to see Eric and Wes jump through the air and thrust their blades into his shoulders. His suit sparked as his body fell backwards to the ground.
"So you were stupid enough to come here, I have to hand it to you, you've got a lot of balls to show up and with more Rangers for us to kill. How nice of you." Chromium Gold's words fell upon deaf ears as the two circled around each other. "Oh, lack of humor today? No matter, a silent death is still a death no less!" Chromium Gold cut the distance between them in half and threw a sharp cross that was caught. He pulled his fist away and rifles off a heavy round kick that Chalice blocked. Chalice then leg checked a round kick to his legs before thrusting his boot into Chromium Gold's chest. The created distance gives Chromium Gold a chance to look at Chalice. He was standing with his hands down, almost as if he was looking past gold and to Goldar on his own perch.
"You disrespect me by not even being focused on our battle? Am I seen as that far beneath you?!" Chromium Gold snapped as he rushed forward, full on tackling Chalice. "I have sat by and let this monster walk all over me!" He shouted as he rained punched down onto a guarded Chalice. His forearms absorbed blow after blow until one slipped through. "We have bent our knee to a monster, helping him destroy and kill again and again!" He stood to his feet, grabbing Chalice by his armor and throwing him to the wall "we have lived in fear but I will let no one else weaker than that monster look down on me!" He punched at Chalice's head but he leaned out of the way. Seeing his opponent was now in a state of rage, he decided to act.
Chalice headbut Chromium Gold, causing him to stumble. Placing the flat of his boot onto the wall, he used the wall as a platform to push off of as he threw a deadly superman punch. The strike landed, keeping Chromium Gold moving backwards. Before Chalice could continue he chest lit up as a blast of fire struck him. He landed on his back hard and winded from the force of the attack and sudden fall. His vision blurred as he began to move. He could see troopers fighting the hordes of monsters. He could see Garren being slashed across the chest and both ranger teams being overpowered. As he looked up, he saw Goldar land before him. Without warning, Goldar kicked Chalice towards his allies.
"That is enough, you will all die-" he was cut off by the flash of light that gave everyone hope. Brian and Enzo stood facing Goldar.
"Miss me?" Brian joked. Goldar snarled in reply as the rangers rallied to him. "Let's end this!" Brian yelled as he pulled out his morphed. "It's morphin time!" Within an instant, his suit formed onto his body as he drew the talking blade.
"Impossible!" Goldar yelled. "I watched your power fade, you are suppose to be helpless!" His voice began to growl, "I grow tired of your surprises humans! I'll kill the lot of you!"
"I got another," Enzo cut in. "Henshin!" He yelled as his blue doorway opened. As he stepped through,the armor formed. His chest plated armor was silver with a red diamond designed onto the chest. The bulky shoulder padding was also silver with the bottom lines in gold. The wrists were covered with gold bracelets and the forearms had silver plates. The body right suit was blue with two barbed rings rounding each upper thigh. He knees were covered with a silver plate that was ridged. The shins were covered by silver jagged plates similar to Chalice. The helmet resembled a beetle. A silver spike going from the chin up past the forehead. The eyes were crimson with a gold line running from the inner corners down to the outer chin. The mouth was designed to be rigid with fangs. His belt buckle was silver with a red box holding a golden spade. On the side of his belt sat a holster holding his sword that had his card deck connected to the hilt of the blade. Enzo became the final rider of the world, Kamen Rider Blade.
"This game has gone on long enough," Lord Zed said as he stood to his feet. "I want their heads presented to me, or I'll personally rip them from their corpses!"
"Not a chance in hell," Chalice said as he stood to his feet. Goldar lead the charge of monsters. Following close behind him were the Beetle Borges. Brian lead the rangers into battle while Chalice, Garren, G3 and G4 were lead by Kamen Rider Blade. The two forces classed. Goldar slamming his broad sword into Saba, the talking blade. Their swords clashed repeatedly before Brian parried an overhead slash to his left and landed a round kick to Goldar's head and body. The rangers charged deeper into the hordes, fighting their way to Lord Zed. Aj slashed through putty as Katrina covered him. She released her energy arrows into a putty trying to attack Aj from his flank. Donna kept close to Katrina. She noticed putty closing distance from behind her. She threw a dagger into the stone monster's back before she rushed forward and grabbed the beast by its waist. She lowered her hips before pushing them forward and raising her body, bringing the beast up and over her head and straight into the ground for a German suplex. She quickly pulled the blade from its back and sliced through the leg of a lizard man. He fell to a knee before Donna stabbed her dagger up through his jaw as she stood. After pulling the blade from his jaw, she landed a spin hook kick that dropped him.
NC and Neil charged the right flank. Neil slammed his axe into the ground, sending stone pillars through the ranks of the monster horde. NC jumped between the pillars, using them as posts to jump from as he cut down the few remaining beasts. The left flank was taken by the new rangers. They moved as one unit. Wes took lead, slicing a wolf monster at the stomach. Jen cut it at the legs to bring it down to its knees. Eric finished it with a stab into the chest before front kicking it's jaw, causing its body to slide from his blade. Katie blocked a wide swing of an axe from a bull beast. Trip closed the distance and stabbed his blade into its side. Katie side kicked the best, causing it to stumble backwards. Lucas rushed between his two allies and dropped the monster with an overhead slash from its right collar bone to its left side. Aj glances at the team work and marveled at the difference in tactics.
Titanium Silver used his saber to block the blasts from G3 and G4. His feet were beginning to dig into the sand of the arena. Chalice saw this as a chance to do away with one issue. He closed the guard and distance between himself and Chromium Gold only to be met by an elbow followed by a headbutt. Chalice dropped to a knee before he felt a grip around the rim of this armor. Chromium Gold threw chalice into the crossfire of G3 and G4. "Shit!" G4 yelled as he instantly stopped firing. Titanium silver wasted no time rushing the two bulky armored men. His blade slicing G3 across the chest while G4 blocked the attack with his blaster. Platinum Purple seemingly dances around the blasts from Garren. His eyes narrowed behind the visor of his helmet as he came up with a plan. Platinum Purple jumped into the air, signing her own defeat as Garren knew she couldn't shift and roll.
"Gotcha!" She yelled as her blaster fired a sonic wave. His body felt heavy before sparking in multiple places as he slammed into the sand. Platinum Purple grew closer, looking over his motionless body. "Stupid child, you thought you could outsmart me?"
"Yes," Garren said shocking Platinum Purple. He held his blaster under her chin and pulled the trigger repeatedly. Her body jerked upwards before falling. Garren rushes to his feet, sliding a card into his blaster. The weapon charged, the barrel glowing with power. "This is your end!" Garren yelled as he pulled the trigger. A long rush of energy shot towards Platinum Purple before she could fully stand. Her chest burned with agony as her armor and flesh seemingly melted away leaving a black, shriveled husk on the ground. Garren wanted to exhale but was forced back into battle as he blocked a punch from a monsterous mole creature. It's droll slimed down onto his shoulder plate.
"NO!" Titanium Silver yelled as he slashed through G3 and G4, dropping the two. Chalice continued to clash with Chromium Gold in their stalemate until he could feel steel run through the flesh of his back. Dropping to a knee, he could see his attacker standing over him. "Take one of us we take all of you!" He yelled as he raised his blade. Bringing it down, Chalice managed to block with his second blade. "Cleaver," Titanium Silver said before crashing his knee into Chalice's jaw. His body violently slammed and rolled across the arena. He struggled to stand, stumbling back to the ground. All around him the chaos spread like wildfire. His eyes locked into the two men he now faced down, his back burning from the cut. He could feel his blood drip down his back and into the armor.
"You will die here, along with all of your allies," Chromium Gold stated. As they drew closer, a line was drawn in the sand by a silver blade.
"The only ones dying here are you," Kamen Rider Blade stood tall before Chalice. The two charges Blade, he blocked Titanium Solver's swing and rotated his body to avoid the overhead swing from Chromium Gold. Using an outside crescent kick, he knocked Titanium Silver's blade from his hands before slicing him across the chest. As his body fell backwards, Chromium Gold presses his attack. He and Blade clashed before Blade slammed his helmet into Chromium Gold's. As he stumbled backwards Titanium Silver attempted to rush forward but was floored by an energy arrow.
"I'm not done yet!" Chalice yelled. The four charged each other, Blade ducked down as Chalice swung his bow blade over Blade's head to strike Titanium Silver. As Blade lowered himself, he struck at Chromium Gold's knees, causing him to fall to them. Chalice followed through with a knee to Chromium Gold. Chalice and Blade steppes back before holding up their final attack cards.
"Let's end it," Blade said and he slid the card into his sword. The two could feel the power as it rushed through their bodies and into their left foot. They lept into the air, keeping their bodies tight as possible before extending for a flying side kick.
"Rider kick!" The two yelled in unison before their attacked obliterated the final Beetle Borges. Their bodies were reduced to ash that gentle blew away from the impact. The two riders looked to each other before both of their faces were driven into the sand and dragged across the battle arena. Goldar then brought them into the air before twirling his body for momentum and throwing the two riders in opposite directions.
"Lord Zed, how would you like me to deal with them?" Goldar asked his master.
"You needn't bother, I shall handle this issues myself!" Zed said as he dropped into the arena. His forces stopped moving and the battle seemingly came to a sudden halt with his presence. "It's time I spilled the blood of the righteous once more!"