The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR - VENDETTA

“I’ll kill you,” he said. Kill who exactly? The Ranger was taken aback by Kiro’s proclamation. Kill him? A Ranger? Was he just getting emotionally worked up because of what he did to his friends? If not for the oddness of their situation, he wouldn’t have taken Kiro seriously at all. But he was still just a Riser, right? It didn’t matter how special he was. A Riser could never as much as hurt a Ranger. Before now, that was what he thought. But looking at his hands, there were a few scratches here and there. These Risers have been able to deal damage to him, no matter how inconsequential it may seem. So, there was no telling what this Riser was capable of. Considering that he was even wanted dead by some very powerful individuals. If those same individuals put a price on a Ranger’s head, it would still make news that they bothered with someone as low as a Ranger. And yet, here he was trying to kill a Riser. One whose type hadn’t been seen in centuries; a Phantom Riser. Was he denying the world of a promising talent? Or was he protecting the world from an imminent threat?

The Ranger had only one clear thought. Kill him before he could prove to be dangerous. Possibly the same thought the higherups had when they sent him to kill the Phantom Riser. He moved swiftly for Kiro’s heart. There was no way he could react to that speed. If he did, then he would go all out at that moment, even if it resulted in destroying the entire test.

But something else stopped him. Something that felt even more dangerous than the Riser that stood before him. His grip was firm and strong. The Ranger had some difficulty trying to wriggle free from his grasp. It was Revik! The Beast Ranger that had been sent by Noah; the Test Administrator to protect them from the enemy Ranger. Revik let go of the Ranger’s hand as he felt some tingling underneath. The Ranger protruded a spiky weapon from around his wrist, forcing Revik to let go of his hand. He put proper distance between himself and Revik.

“Don’t you think that was a little too old fashioned, even for you?” Revik teased. He had a fair idea of who his opponent was. From the ability he just displayed, he definitely had an origin from the Knight; Dum-Dum; one of the members of the Eight.

“You don’t what you’re protecting. I hope you can bear the weight of the guilt that will eat you up if he gets away. He is a danger to our world,” he said. Of course, he was still yet to convince himself of such. But that was the only argument in his head that was in line with the job description. Better safe than sorry, right?

“I don’t know who I’m protecting? Do you know who you’re attacking? This is the first Phantom Riser that has emerged in centuries. Don’t you think that this could also mean the return of the Phantom? After all these years, the lost member of the Eight would finally return,” he said.

“If they were so keen on her return, they wouldn’t be so eager to kill him. Does above us see what we cannot. If they deem this Riser a threat, then by all means possible, I shall spare no effort in ending his life,” the Ranger said. Although he was speaking to Revik, he was actually trying to convince himself more than anything else.

“Hey, Kiro, you might need to step a bit. This battle is going to get very rough,” Revik said. Kiro looked so lost in his rage that Revik knew he wasn’t going to oblige. So, he gave him no say in the matter. He moved straight at the Ranger, pushing him completely out of range. He reacted by attacking with his blunt sword which Revik caught effortlessly. “You can drop the act now. It’s just you and I,” he said.

The Ranger conjured multiple weapons and repeatedly sent them at Revik at terrifying speeds. Revik’s limbs had transformed to that of a beast. His claws stuck out just as much as his fangs did. His eyes had changed as well, and his formerly black short hair had grown into a long, full brown hair. He danced his way through the Ranger’s barrage of attacks as he edged closer to him with every passing moment. The Ranger continued to conjure more and more sophisticated weapons. From machine guns to missile launchers, to even tanks. Even though they both didn’t have the luxury of holding back, they had to be careful not to destroy the entire test.

***

Theodore arrived with Lucas and Olivia. They still had the special items with them, however. Kiro was still amassing his energy. For some reason, he was more intent on killing that Ranger than almost anything he ever put his mind to do.

“We let him out of our sight. We should have warned you earlier,” Theodore said. The other two had gone to check on Victor and Karenia.

“He was in the Rift Valley?” Kiro asked. The coldness in his eyes made Theodore shiver.

“Yes. And the map couldn’t read past the entrance.”

“A neutral zone? Then he knew we were coming. Just like last time,” Kiro said.

“Last time?” Theodore was perplexed. Although saying things that no one under was kind of their thing but it always left an unsettled feeling in his mind.

A memory ran through Kiro’s mind. A memory of blood and death. The last face he saw was the face of the Ranger who had attacked them!

“Not this time, Kelleher. This time for sure, I will kill you. So that you never get the chance to hurt my friends ever again!”

“Kiro, what are you planning to do? Please, let it not be what I think it is.”

“Take them with you. Jovak and Isaac too. I have some unfinished business to take care of.”

“But---”

“I said… take them,” Kiro said with such coldness that Theodore instinctively obliged. He looked towards the horizon. He couldn’t see them clearly because of how quickly they were moving, but he could tell where they were from the destruction that ensued. Slowly, they became clearer. Slowly, they became slower. Until he could see every little movement they made. From the movement of their eyelids to the sound of their breaths. Everything became clear. Not a single motion escaped his sight. With one huge sigh, Kiro moved to the fight that was happening miles away and grabbed the Ranger by the face. He slammed him i=to the ground and threw him some distance further.

“Stay away from this. This is my fight, not yours,” Kiro said.