Battle Of Planets

Chapter 54: Sudden changes??
Tyson smiled and took a slight step forward. He glanced lazily at Ken. ”Looks like Shaun isn’t in the mood today,” he remarked. ”Want another Playmate?””W-Who do you think you are, jerk?” one of the lackeys sneered. ”Do you have a death wish?”

Lara quickly assumed a battle stance, positioning herself next to Tyson and Shaun, prepared to defend them if the situation escalated.

Tyson shook his head. ”Yeah, you’re absolutely right. I do have a death wish...” He tilted his head slightly. ”So, do you want to do something about it?”

Ken smiled as if he were ready to take on his challenge, his fingers reaching for his meta-bot—a box-like device resembling a cellphone, although it was anything but a regular cell phone.

”Fine. Do you want to fight us? Then I’ll crush you—”

”What’s going on here?”

A voice pierced the tension. A sergeant entered, his left hand wrapped in a plaster cast and a large bandage adhered to his forehead. His keen gaze scanned the group.

”You idiots. If you wanna fight, go do it on the streets, not here.”

The trainees focused their attention on him. He seemed about their age, but his uniform signified his authority. They would have mocked him for interrupting if he had been another recruit, but he wasn’t.

”I swear, if I’m assigned as your group leader for the next drill, I’ll make you race me to death in the streets,” the sergeant added, rubbing his cheek.

”Drill?” Tyson muttered softly.

Were they planning to take the new recruits on a drill? And why was he hearing about it now? Wasn’t he a sergeant too?

The sergeant suddenly grinned. ”Oops. I spoiled it for you.” He laughed hysterically before waving them off. ”Anyway, be quiet, or I’ll take you on a ride with me personally.”

The group observed as the sergeant walked toward the staircase leading to the upper floor, where older, more intimidating Rangers stood. Their eyes had been focused on the brewing fight, but none had intervened—until now.

And just like that, the tension in the room started to ease.

Tyson and Shaun exchanged glances as Tyson finally noticed the LED sign instructing Sergeants to proceed to the upper floor designated for them, while Trainees were to remain on the base floor.

”What’s your name?” Tyson asked, avoiding Shaun’s questioning gaze as if he would ask, Haven’t you seen the sign?

”Lara?” she spoke softly, unable to understand why he had suddenly asked.

”I like your spirit,” Tyson said. ”You’ll be on my team along with these guys.”

Now, the whole group was left speechless. What was this all of a sudden? Why was he saying things like this when they had been fighting just a moment ago? And who would decide who would be on his team when even sergeants might have no idea who would be on their teams?

”See you later, Shaun,” Tyson said as he patted his back. ”And you too, Ken... Tell your dad to do his best to keep you safe from me.”

The smirk Tyson gave him was nearly devilish, a silent promise that sent a shiver through Ken’s self-satisfied confidence.

With that, Tyson turned and strode toward the staircase, stopping in front of the sign that read: ”SERGEANTS UP THERE.”

He exhaled sharply. ”Damn it. I nearly embarrassed myself.”

A nearby sergeant watching from the side narrowed his eyes. Initially, he appeared confused—until recognition set in. Unlike the trainees, he recognized that face.

The general’s adoptive son.

The guy who nearly went toe-to-toe with Blue

The sudden buzz behind Tyson alerted him to the commotion. For a moment, he thought it was all due to him until he turned and saw Alex scanning the lower floor.

Then, he saw the sign.

Unlike Tyson, Alex noticed it right away and walked toward the stairs. When the trainees recognized who it was, they stepped aside, parting like the sea before him. It wasn’t merely respect—it was fear.

Tyson rolled his eyes. Of course, he’s the famous one.

Everyone knew Alex, not just as a Ranger but as the future husband of the President of Elria. Even trainees who barely grasped Ranger politics recognized his name.

Tyson stopped halfway up the stairs.

Alex trailed behind as Tyson suddenly paused, feigning amazement at the vastness of the large hall. The floors towered above them, each level representing how far he still had to climb. But that wasn’t the only reason he stopped.

He was obstructing Alex’s path.

Alex sighed, visibly annoyed, but put up with it—for the time being.

The whispers became louder.

Trainees whispered to each other, their eyes flicking between the two. Even some sergeants exchanged uneasy looks. Who would have the audacity to block Alex’s path?

”So you really decided to get on my nerves,” Alex mumbled,

Tyson turned slightly, pretending to be innocent. ”Who’s behind me?” He looked over his shoulder. ”Oh, it’s you, Alex.”

That made Alex chuckle in annoyance. How dare he pretend he didn’t see him? Alex took a long breath, trying to calm down. He is an idiot after all... he thought.

”I never saw you coming,” Tyson smirked. ”Nobody called your name this time.”

Alex’s smile remained steady. ”Soon, they will.”

He tried to push past, but Tyson resisted as they struggled to walk ahead until Tyson took off first, ”You’re last this time.”

Alex almost cursed under his breath, but feeling all eyes on him, he forced himself to walk up casually, maintaining his unbothered expression. He reached the top and stood next to Tyson, both now among the other sergeants.

The tension lingered in the air, and it was clear from Alex’s expression that this wasn’t over.

Tyson stretched lazily and cracked his knuckles. ”Man, I was bored before you showed up, my dear brother.”

Alex sighed, already regretting standing beside him. ”I’m not your brother.”

”Wow. Is that how you speak to your savior?” Tyson feigned hurt. ”Remember? I saved your butt in that fight.”

Alex shot him a glare. ”Yeah, and now I’m going to kick yours for that.”

Lara watched the whole scene unfold, utterly baffled.

Initially, she thought the boy standing next to Shaun—her schoolmate—was just another trainee like them. After all, he had been part of their group when the bullies provoked him into fighting. She admired how he stood his ground against the school’s worst troublemakers, those who nearly controlled everything. Inspired by his courage, she supported him, believing they could stand together.

But her surprise deepened when he casually strolled toward the stairs designated for sergeants. He was a sergeant?

Then it struck her—he must have intentionally concealed his rank to assist those in need. Since most people only put their best foot forward in front of superiors, he had opted to blend in and defend the vulnerable without them knowing who he was. That realization impressed her even more.

Still, something about his face felt strangely familiar. She had seen him somewhere before, but she couldn’t pinpoint where. With all the drama unfolding beside her, she was too distracted to entirely focus on figuring it out.

Then he blocked Alex’s path, and that’s when it finally clicked; her eyes widened in realization. It’s him.

The same guy who fought the Blue Rogue and went up against Coco—the monstrous rogue feared even by lieutenants, a warrior nearly at a General’s level.

Lara barely whispered, ”I-Is he...?”

”Yes,” Shaun confirmed, ”the one who fought the Blue Ranger.”

Ken’s ears perked up at that. What the hell? He had seen that fight on television, but the action had been so intense that the cameras scarcely captured the fighter’s face.

”The same one who opposed Coco,” Shaun added, shaking his head in disbelief. ”He’s the bravest person I’ve ever seen.”

Lara couldn’t help but smile at those words. That’s right. It was him—the fighter she had admired since that battle. She had never expected to meet him in person; it had always seemed impossible. If she had kept up with the news more often, she would have recognized him initially.

But now, standing here, she was confident of one thing—this was her chance.

The hall fell silent as a lieutenant stepped onto the third-floor podium, towering over trainees and sergeants. The grand hall was designed for moments like this—to ensure everyone below could see and hear the high-ranking officers.

This wasn’t just any lieutenant; he was the one who had led the assault on Coco. His reputation alone carried enough weight to command immediate respect. Behind him stood five other lieutenants, their sharp gazes scanning the crowd to ensure no one dared to misbehave.

Then, the lieutenant cleared his throat.

”We are launching a new operation for all trainees,” he announced, reverberating throughout the expansive hall. ”In light of the growing demand for personnel and our time constraints, the Rangers Association has chosen to adjust the trainee schedules globally.”

A wave of whispers spread among the trainees. Confused, shocked, and even betrayed, they all glanced at each other in disbelief.

Tyson was also caught off guard. What the hell? Why is the schedule changing now?

He instinctively glanced at Alex, who—unsurprisingly—didn’t appear to be bothered at all.

”You knew about this?” Tyson asked, squinting his eyes.

Alex shook his head. ”No, but I figured it out.” He kept his voice low. ”It’s clear. They need to start preparing on a larger scale. We only have two and a half years left.”

Tyson nodded slowly, letting the reality sink in. ”Right... and also we—”

His words trailed off as his gaze shifted back to the trainees. Many of them still looked shaken, some even angry—as though they had just been betrayed by the organization they had dedicated themselves to.

The only one voice ran among them, ”What are the changes?”