Chapter Three: Echoes of the Past
Alex sat on the edge of a stone ledge within the hidden ruins of the Animarium, his hands clenched into fists. The moonlight above cast a silver glow over the ancient carvings that depicted the Wild Force Rangers' battles against the Orgs. His father was among them—Merrick Baliton, the Lunar Wolf Ranger. The weight of that revelation still hadn't settled in.
"You okay?" Kari asked, stepping up beside him. She had been the first to support him after the truth was revealed.
Alex exhaled. "It's a lot. My whole life, I never knew where I really came from. And now, I find out my dad was some legendary warrior? And the Orgs are back? It's—"
"Overwhelming," Kari finished for him. "Yeah. But you're not alone in this."
Before Alex could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the ruins. The team turned as shadows shifted unnaturally, forming a hulking figure with jagged horns and glowing red eyes. It was an Org—one they hadn't encountered before.
"I am Duskfang, the Fang of the Eclipse," the creature snarled, stepping forward. His body was covered in dark fur, his claws glistening under the moonlight. "You carry the blood of the traitor, Merrick Baliton. I will ensure his lineage ends here."
Alex's heartbeat pounded in his ears. This was his first real test. His father had fought and defeated Orgs before—could he do the same?
The others rushed to his side. Ryan activated his gauntlets, Luna summoned her spirit energy, and Koneko twirled her daggers with a confident smirk. "Looks like this mutt wants a fight."
Alex clenched his fist, his body reacting before his mind caught up. His father's DNA, his legacy—it was all in him. He wasn't just anyone. He was Alex Baliton, the Lunar Wolf Ranger.
"Let's do this."
He raised his morpher, feeling a rush of energy surge through him. As the others activated their morphers, the night erupted in a burst of power, and the battle against Duskfang began.
The past was no longer just history. It was alive, and Alex was about to carve his own chapter into it.
