A Shaolin Monk was meditating when he sensed something. He looked up in time to see multiple meteors crashing into a far-off area he would be able to reach via running. Though he was in a secluded area, he needed to see if any wandering hikers or animals were hurt.
When he reached the area, he heard voices.
"Arise, damn you! I gave you no such permission to perish! I order you to live," a man's voice went. The monk jumped into the trees to see two beings. One was the most handsome and beautiful man the monk had ever seen, shocking the monk since he believed he purged most of his worldly desires.
In the man's arm was someone garbed in crimson armor. "My Prince, I beg your forgiveness," the armored man wheezed out.
"You will get none if you perish! Survive! That is an order from your Prince!"
"I... am sorry. But I... cannot fulfill... that order." The armored man's arm then fell, followed by the armor vanishing, leaving behind a magnificent sword.
The "Prince" remained on the ground before showing off incredible strength by making the very earth tremble after he punched the ground, shocking the monk.
Dark chuckling was heard, the monk looking to see three horrible monsters. "You have no idea how satisfying to see YOU of all beings on your knees," the frontmost monster said.
The Prince turned to glare at the monsters. "Zagaroth," the Prince said as he stood before the three monsters.
"Countless millennia you've held us back, Prince," the one on the left said. "It took patience and planning, but we finally found a way to weaken you."
"And all it took was most of your armies," the Prince retorted.
"Oh, those can easily be replaced," the one on the right said.
"Can they now, Nyarla? I highly doubt that."
"Believe what you want, dear Prince," the left one said. "The fact remains that you're finally alone. We kill you, and nothing will be able to stop us from awakening Father."
"Then, by all means, Dagon," the Prince began. "Come and kill me. Azathoth couldn't beat me. His pathetic brood stands no chance."
"Maybe when you were at your strongest, Angel, but we've finally weakened you to the point that even they can best you." Zagaroth then snapped his tentacle-like fingers.
Reality seemed to shatter before a small army of fish-like humanoid monsters appeared in front of the three monsters.
"END HIM!"
The monsters roared as they charged at the Prince.
The handsome man took his stance. "I truly do hate Deep Ones."
The man fought valiantly against the monsters. Amazingly, he was overpowering them, despite being so horribly outnumbered.
"Even in his weakened state, he is strong," Dagon said.
"That won't do," Zagaroth said. He then roared at the man, sending a shock wave that sent him flying and smashing into a rock, the man coughing up blood.
The man touched his blood, sucking his teeth in annoyance.
"That will always be satisfying," Nyarla laughed. "Once upon a time, you didn't even HAVE blood. Now look at you, no different from a mere human."
The Prince glared at the monsters in front of him.
Zagaroth chuckled. "Truly the best way to insult you, my old foe. I'd usually want to watch you be torn apart, but I want to be the one to kill you personally," the monster said as he walked up to the wounded Prince, preparing to slice him with his claws.
"HI-YAH!"
"Huh?" Zagaroth was kicked in the face with enough force to send him tumbling back to his fellow monsters. "WHAT?!"
In front of the Prince was the Shaolin monk watching the ordeal.
Nyarla laughed. "Oh, how the mighty hath fallen! Being protected by a mere human!"
"Human, I may be," the monk began. "But I am Shaolin. I must protect the wounded from evil forces."
Dagon chuckled. "What is your name, human?"
"I am Wong Li."
"Well, little human, you have no idea what you are protecting."
"I am protecting a man who is surrounded by dishonor. You wish to take his life with disgraceful numbers. I know not of his crimes, but this is evil too great to ignore," Wong said.
"Don't insult me, human," the Prince yelled. "I don't need to be protected by anyone, least of all by mere a mortal."
"I know not what you are, being, for you are obviously not human. You may find this disgraceful, but I have my honor to uphold. If I run away and leave you to these demons, I will have forever brought shame to both myself and the Shaolin."
Zagaroth laughed. "Tear him apart."
The monsters roared before charging at Wong.
However, Wong was able to beat back the monsters, showing off his impressive martial arts. His kung fu was a work of art, making him basically untouchable.
"Not bad for a human," Dagon said. He then appeared in front of Wong and punched him with enough force to send him and some of the Deep Ones flying. Wong ended up sliding to the sword, coughing up blood. "You're still just a worthless human in the end," the monster chuckled.
"Well, that was entertaining," Zagaroth said. "Now, where were we," he said as he turned toward the Prince.
"W-Wait." The monsters turned toward Wong, who stood up using the sword.
"UNHAND THAT, HUMAN! I DIDN'T CRAFT IT FOR ONE SUCH AS YOU TO TOUCH!"
"I do not wish to dishonor you, but I am not yet done fighting."
Nyarla laughed. "Oh, this one is funny! I think I want to kill it myself."
"Then come at me, monster," Wong said as he took his stance. "I am Wong Shi of Shaolin. On my honor as a monk, I will defend this world from all that is evil, EVEN TO MY LAST BREATH!" The sword then began to glow.
"WHAT," Zagaroth went.
"IMPOSSIBLE," Nyarla went.
The Prince went wide-eyed. "It... It ACCEPTED him?!"
Wong Li was in space, stars shining all around him. A red star blazing with red light appeared behind him. The red light engulfed him, and when it vanished, he was wearing red armor, with a golden sash running down his chest, and a dragon face-shaped helmet with a black visor and what looked like dragon wings on the side. "Red Judge Ranger! Hi-Yah," Wong went as the red sun exploded behind him.
When the transformation ended, Wong looked at himself. "What? What is this?"
The Deep Ones looked scared while the three generals just stared.
Then, Nyarla laughed. "This is one of your Champions, Angel?! You truly have fallen!"
"But what are you going to do with just one, Prince," Dagon laughed.
"STOP LAUGHING," Zagaroth roared, scaring the other monsters. "KILL HIM!"
The Deep Ones roared as they charged at Wong.
Wong took his sword and rushed toward the army. And with just a few slashes, he took out the entire army, an explosion ending the horde.
"T-That's impossible," Dagon roared. He was then kicked in the head by the Prince. He was slammed into the ground with enough force to cause another earthquake.
The Prince then grabbed Dagon's leg and threw him at Nyarla, the two slamming into a rock before the Prince glared at Zagaroth.
The two glared at each other before Zagaroth scoffed. "This is far from over, Fallen One. You only have one Champion."
"He is NOT my Champion!"
"It matters not. All we have to do is kill you, then awaken Father. With you gone, existence will be easy to destroy. The End of Days is upon us, and you won't be able to prevent it. You WILL lose."
"No. Only one can beat me, and you're not Him. I AM going to end you, Zagaroth. This, I vow."
"Heh. A vow from you? Perfect. Until we meet again, Fallen Prince." With that, Zagaroth and the rest of the monsters vanished.
The Prince then looked over at Wong.
"Uh-"
"Give back that sword," The Prince went sternly as he stomped over to the monk. "It isn't meant to be held by the likes of-" The Prince began as he reached for the sword.
The sword then shocked the Prince's hand, making him recoil and stare at his hand in shock. "What?"
The Prince looked down at the sword in horror. "No. No, no, no." He then glared at the still-armored human. "What have you done?"
"I-"
The Prince then grabbed Wong by his throat and slammed him against the tree, nearly making the massive plant topple over. Wong knew he held back just to protect the tree. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!"
"F-Forgive me. I just... wanted to help." Wong coughed when the Prince released him, looking up to see him pacing.
"My Dragon's Claw. My own creation. I MADE the damned thing, and it chooses a HUMAN?! . . . Father. DAMMIT! This has His hand all over it. . . Oh, no."
"Um, Sir Prince?"
"Lucius."
"Huh?"
The man turned toward the human. "My name is Lucius. Lucius Stellam Matutinam. You will address me only as Lucius. Am I clear."
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now, you work for me."
"What? Sir, I am a Shaolin monk. I have duties."
"Not anymore. Your duties are all but gone now."
"I cannot accept that. I have given myself to the teachings of Buddha, and-"
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN," Lucius roared with enough force to shake the world. He then took a deep breath. "Look at what's in your hand, boy." Wong looked at the sword. "That sword chose you to be its wielder. Not even I can deny this fact. The moment you took that sword was the moment you threw away your meager beliefs. Now that you have that weapon, Zagaroth and his forces won't rest until you're dead and that sword is destroyed."
"What," Wong went.
"You can never live that silly life of solitude you monks so desperately desire. You will be hunted, attacked, and tormented for the rest of your days; or at least until I turn Zagaroth and his little 'family' into feed to give to the beasts of the underworld. They deserve no less punishment for what they've done."
Wong looked up at Lucius. "What did they do, sir?"
"Don't ask questions you're not ready to know," Lucius said as he turned away. "Now power down, already."
"What?"
Lucius sighed before he snapped his fingers, a sheath appearing on Wong's hip. "Sheath the damn sword."
Wong did as he was told, sheathing his sword and powering down, back to his Shaolin robes. "Incredible."
"That sheath is the only 'gift' I'll ever give you. Don't get used to it." Wong looked up and Lucius. "I truly do hate the fact that sword chose you, but not even I can defy what has come to pass. Instead, I expect you to master that sword."
"Master it?"
"Did you think the Dragon's Claw only gave you that armor?"
Wong looked at his sword. "Is that the name of this blade?"
"Indeed. One of five weapons I crafted, and you're going to help me collect them before Zagaroth finds them. Or worse, another human gets their filthy hands on them."
"Why do you despise humanity so?"
"What did I just say about asking questions you weren't ready to know," Lucius asked with a glare that frightened the monk.
Wong gulped. "May I at least know of the other four weapons, sire?"
Lucius sighed. "I crafted the Dragon's Claw to represent fire. Not just any flame." He then looked up, Wong following his lead, only to have to cover his eyes. "But the flames of the very sun itself. No. Hotter than even that. A star brighter and stronger than the one fueling this speck of a world. That is the sword on your hip."
Wong's eyes widened as he looked at Dragon's Claw. "Such awesome power merely hangs upon my hip?"
"Now do you see why I did not want a human to so much as touch it?"
"Such great and awesome power. I understand. Still, I assure you, I will not fall to the temptation of this power."
"You won't have the chance."
"Eh?"
"You'll either learn how to use that sword's true power, or be killed by Zagaroth and his forces." Wong jolted at that statement.
"I sense that the closest weapon to us now is Leviathan's Fang."
"Is it another sword?"
"Don't insult me. It's a trident. One with the power to command the ocean itself. Not the seas. Not the lakes. Not even the puddle behind you."
"Puddle?!" Wong looked behind him, knowing what Lucius was talking about. "That is a sacred pond the size of a public pool! You call it a mere puddle? Wait... by Buddha himself," Wong went as he realized what Lucius had said.
"Now you realize, boy. If Zagaroth or the wrong human gets their hands on that trident, all of the world's water will be their weapon."
"Such horrible amounts of power."
"Next up will be Behemoth's Horn, a hammer that could render mountains to mere specks of dirt."
"SOMEONE COULD DESTROY AN ENTIRE METROPOLIS WITH ONE SWING WITH POWER SUCH AS THAT!"
"Indeed. Next is the Wing of Ziz, a war fan that could generate winds up to four hundred miles an hour once mastered."
Wong was horrified. "The fastest recorded tornado... was only THREE hundred."
"Aren't we educated," Lucius said as he crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow.
"Lord Lucius, tell me, this final weapon, what is it?!"
"The Hands of the Cherub, a pair of gauntlets that can take the light away from their foes' eyes with just a touch... or take away their pain so they may fight once more."
Wong was surprised. "These gauntlets... they sound to be tools of healing."
"If used properly, yes. However, as I said, they can take as well as give. Which is more dangerous, boy? One who is in their prime and knows friend from foe... or one who had their very soul stolen and see only monsters around them?"
Wong was horrified once more. "These weapons. You've crafted tools of extinction."
"Indeed."
"WHY?!"
"You've seen my enemies." Wong's eyes widened. "If I crafted these weapons to fight them, how dangerous could they be," Lucius asked with a glare.
Wong looked down before he knelt down on his knees.
"What are you doing, boy?"
Wong then bowed before the man, groveling. "I swear upon you, on my honor as Shaolin, I will not stop until the weapons are found... and given to a worthy warrior."
Lucius looked angry. "There ARE no worthy warriors. Least of all among humans. You are only a means to an end, Wong Li. Don't you dare ever forget that." Lucius then snapped his fingers.
Wong heard flapping wings and a lion's roar. He looked up, eyes widened.
"Come. I want my trident," Lucius said as he placed his hand on a magnificent griffon.
A/N: And so it begins. Judgement Power Rangers.
I was inspired to make this after watching Go Go Loser Rangers. If there's a story where the Rangers are villains, then what happens if the Rangers are heroes... but their mentor is a villain?!
Lucius is without a doubt a villain, and he will keep showing off how evil he is. Ruthless, cold, cruel, and dangerous. However, his enemies are even worse.
His Rangers know he doesn't like them, but they also know he needs them to stop the villains, and they need him to properly train them in the use of their powers.
Judgement also has a theme. I'm sure you'll recognize it immediately in the next chapter if you haven't already figured it out.
Also, Lucius is just an alias. The more eagle-eyed readers probably already figured out who he really is already. If not, it will be obvious in the next few chapters.
Hope you enjoy!
Oh, and random question:. . . What was your favorite power ranger team or season? I'm partial to Mystic Force myself, mostly because I LOVED Koragg. My favorite Rangers antagonist to this day!