The Mysterious figure on the rooftop

Captain Barnes absorbed the blow straight to his helmet, the impact resonating down the corridor as Dex burst into crazed laughter, his eyes ablaze with turbulent energy. He was losing himself in the fight as if it were a twisted game.

The loud clash of metal reverberated around them as Captain Barnes, his eyes filled with fierce determination, twisted his wrist and threw a powerful punch at Dex's face. The force of their armored bodies colliding sent waves of energy through the air, reflecting the intensity of the moment.

Dex stumbled back but caught himself, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. Then, with a wild grin, he chuckled. "Now this is fun." His voice dripped with reckless excitement as he took a few steps back, rallying his subordinates locked in a brutal struggle with the Rangers, desperate to break through their defenses.

"We can't hold on much longer, Captain!" a lieutenant shouted near the President, his voice strained with urgency. "We're outnumbered! We need to get out of here!"

"We will," Captain Barnes growled, stepping back as Dex grinned, clearly enjoying every second of this. Adrenaline pumped through Barnes' veins. The rogue was unpredictable, a loose cannon—dangerous in every sense of the word. But Barnes didn't have time to waste on his mind games. The President's safety came first.

"Come on, Barnes," Dex taunted, bouncing on his feet, his armor catching the flickering light of the corridor. "What's wrong? Afraid you can't keep up?"

Barnes clenched his fists, the metal plating of his suit groaning under the pressure—enough talk. In a blur of motion, he charged forward. Dex met him head-on, and the impact sent tremors through the very walls.

The fight turned vicious fast—bare fists against reinforced armor. Barnes punched Dex's chest, but the rogue spun, striking him square in the jaw. The armor absorbed most of the blow, but the force still rattled his skull. Dex smirked, thriving on the chaos, but Barnes wasn't about to let up.

Dodging a flurry of strikes, Barnes twisted, caught Dex's arm, and yanked him forward. Using his own momentum against him, Barnes drove a knee into Dex's gut. The rogue stumbled back, gasping—but just for a second. With a guttural growl, Dex lunged, throwing a vicious kick. Barnes barely got his forearm up in time to block it, but the sheer force sent a shudder through his bones.

Dex let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head. "Not bad, Captain. But you're gonna have to do better than that."

Barnes flexed his fingers, his gauntlet feeling heavier by the second. Every second counted. He couldn't keep wasting time on this fight—he had a mission.

"When's the rescue chopper arriving?" Barnes barked, his voice steady but edged with urgency.

"In five minutes!" a ranger shouted back.

"Good, that's ample time to handle someone like him," Barnes smirked, as nano-particles surged within his gauntlet, shaping into a fist wrapped in a flame-like energy. 

Dex paused, gazing at the Captain with renewed curiosity. "Is this what you refer to as aura?"

Captain Barnes remained silent, his greenish aura swirling around his fist, radiating power. "I'm not an aura master yet, but I've just crossed fifty power points... and that's more than enough to handle you."

Dex smirked, but his eyes narrowed, sensing the change in Barnes's power. He had underestimated him, but the Captain's increasing strength was apparent.

As Dex suddenly shifted his stance, Barnes identified an opening. He sidestepped, employing his superior agility to secure Dex in a joint lock, twisting his arm behind his back with a controlled motion. Dex emitted a grunt of pain, clearly sensing the difference in Barnes's newfound strength.

Realizing he was far from the aura masters' level, Dex pushed back with a surge of energy, compelling Barnes to relinquish his grip. They both stumbled backward, each regarding the other with caution.

"Indeed, that made you stronger," Dex sneered, cracking his neck. "But how can a few points create such a difference in your ability?"

Dex huffed, still feeling the lingering pain from Barnes's move. He had pushed his body to the limit, nearing 45 power points, yet he was far from being a Captain-ranked Ranger of Elria. It frustrated him that despite his training, he couldn't match Barnes's raw power.

Captain Barnes stood tall, shaking his head. "You're reckless, fool. That's your biggest mistake."

Dex smirked. "You know how reckless I can be," he taunted, charging ahead without care. 

Barnes stepped back as the energy surrounding his fist coiled like a fire. He hit Dex square in the midsection swiftly and precisely, sending the rogue flying across the corridor with an echoing boom.

The impact reverberated through the hallway, and the remaining rogues—who were so confident and aggressive—paused, taking a few steps back, visibly shaken by the sheer power they had just witnessed.

Captain Barnes ignored the others, his gaze locked on the sky above. He couldn't afford to concentrate on anything else at that moment. Every second spent carelessly put the President's safety at greater risk. The top priority was ensuring his safety.

"What about the General? Have you gotten word to him?" Barnes asked, his eyes still scanning the sky.

"No, Captain," a lieutenant answered, tension thick in his voice. "Something's interfering with his communication."

The President exhaled sharply, shaking his head. Disbelief flickered across his face. "Could it be that Kyle knew all along?"

Barnes frowned. "I don't want to believe he'd go that far."

"We can't be sure yet," the President said, his voice heavy. "I just hope my family is safe."

The President paused again, the weight of the situation settling over him. They all turned their gazes to the sky, hearing the faint buzz of the approaching chopper.

"We'll move first," Captain Barnes commanded, his voice firm. "Secure the area and escort the President to the chopper. Move!"

The Rangers came into action, each positioning themselves to shield the President as they advanced toward the chopper. There was no margin for error.

The sound of the approaching chopper became louder, its rotors slicing through the air. The rescue team, still on edge, concentrated on securing the perimeter. But then, something else caught their attention.

The chopper began its ascent from the street below, gradually moving toward the rooftop. The sun gleamed off its metal surface, reflecting a faint golden light that seemed to give the air a sense of certainty. Yet as it rose, the view shifted—revealing a figure.

Coco stood on the terrace edge, silent and calm. 

The moment seemed to freeze. The chopper hovered, its blades whirling, but Coco's presence stole the scene. His purple metal-suited figure, sleek and imposing, resembled a statue carved from the darkest steel. His arms were folded behind him in an air of astounding arrogance as if he had been waiting for this moment all along. The wind billowed wildly around him, yet he remained perfectly still, his eyes narrowing slightly as he focused on the chopper.

His posture was calculated, as his aura was of a man who knew no fear. Coco's figure loomed above everything beneath him, daring the world to challenge his authority. The air around him felt heavy, like the calm before the storm poised to unleash its fury.

The chopper's pilot hesitated momentarily, a cold shiver crawling down his spine. It wasn't just the figure he saw; he witnessed his menacing suit of armor that unsettled him. It was the sheer calmness with which Coco stood, as if he had already foreseen and welcomed the chaos about to unfold. His head tilted slightly with a predatory smirk curling on his lips as he watched the scene unfold.

A slow smirk curled on Coco's lips. "Finally."

In one fluid motion, a weapon snapped into his grip. A whip—its coils crackling with raw energy. The tip shimmered ominously, five razor-sharp blades fanning like a predator's claws, ready to tear through anything in its path.

The chopper hovered above, but next to Coco, it seemed small. Insignificant. The weight of his presence alone was suffocating.

Then, in a voice laced with quiet amusement, Coco whispered—

"It's my turn."