(Zayne's Apartment)
[Ding]
[Mission Completed]
[Evaluating performance...]
[Performance Rank: A+]
[Rewards being distributed...]
Zayne leaned against the edge of his worktable, arms folded as he watched the translucent blue interface project itself from the center of his room. He had done everything he could during that battle. Protected civilians, fought with strategy, minimized damage, and brought down two kaiju-level monsters. Not a bad day's work.
[+400 EXP added to total. Level 3 - Current EXP: 160/300] (A/N: Leveled up twice, each level up requires 100 exp more)
[+4 added to all attributes]
[Blueprint Acquired: Omni-Scythe Mk.II – Custom Weapon Blueprint (Upgradeable)]
[Ranger Form Unlocked: Jungle Fury Red Ranger Form (Beast Spirit Mode available)]
[Bonus Reward: 50% Discount Coupon for Grid Shop (Valid once only)]
[Grid Points: +10,000. Current GP: 18,400]
After the level up, his body strengthened a little, he felt like he was being given a 5-star massage. Zayne raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed.
"A new Ranger form? Jungle Fury... interesting." He tapped the air interface, rotating the glowing hologram of the red Jungle Fury suit. It looked slick, fast, and primal. Perfect for close-range engagements. And that beast aura... he could feel the raw energy just radiating from the image.
The scythe blueprint materialized next, showing an evolved version of his current weapon, built to handle sustained high-impact strikes and capable of absorbing elemental energy.
"Definitely worth the chaos," he muttered, saving the blueprint to his Ranger cache.
Zayne stepped back, letting the interface vanish as he sat down on his couch. His thoughts drifted to the future.
"I need a base."
Not just a makeshift apartment anymore. Not with the threats out there. He needed somewhere secure, tech-filled, with room to train, store gear, house vehicles, and remain hidden. Although he had an inventory, he still needed a place meant for Ranger duties. It would look unprofessional not to have one. What if someone tracks him back to his house? He couldn't even imagine how catastrophic his normal life would become.
"Grid," he called out mentally.
[Online, Master.]
"I need advice. Where should I start building my Ranger Fortress? I mean, how should I even proceed from now on?"
The silence lingered for a few seconds, then:
[The road of power has many forks. A fortress not only shields the warrior but anchors his path. Seek not comfort in location, but harmony in purpose.]
Zayne blinked, mildly annoyed. "Could you, for once, not sound like a mystic monk on a hilltop?"
[Cryptic paths reveal the clearest truths. To build what lasts, start with what matters: intention. The world will respond.]
"You could have just said, figure it out yourself," He sighed. "Fine. Be cryptic. Again."
Still, the message rang deeper the longer he thought on it. Purpose. Not just location. Maybe it wasn't about finding some secret mountain bunker or isolated island—but something tied to what he believed in. Something that could grow with him.
His eyes glanced back at the sketches on his tech-pad.
Omni-Nexus.
A mobile, morphing fortress tied to the Grid. A base that could warp across regions, operate autonomously, and adapt to threats. It wasn't impossible. It would just take time. A lot of time.
"Alright. Time to start gathering resources. Maybe I can tap into rare materials like vibranium and adamantium. I think the Ranger universe also has rare tech and materials, too."
"Aiii, I still have to make lots of money for any of my transactions or plans to work out. Well, it should be easy here; I was a genius in almost every field of study on my earth".
But the thoughts began to swirl too loudly in his head. He was still riding the aftershock of battle, and now the afterglow of victory. He needed air.
He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and activated the illusion field to make sure no Ranger morpher was invisible. The grid did say the Omni-morpher has Absolute Immunity to any form of prying. The last thing he needed was a random SHIELD drone picking up Grid radiation again.
"Time to chill."
--- ✦ ---
(Streets of New York – Evening Glow)
The city was alive. Not just in the usual hustle-and-bustle way, but alive with relief. Smiles returned. Laughter returned. The terror that had nearly engulfed the city just hours ago seemed like a distant nightmare. Well, it would not have been this alive if Zayne had never gotten the Innocence skill. It's a win-win.
Zayne walked through the evening crowd, keeping his head low but his senses sharp. Neon lights lit up corners, steam rose from subway grates, and the faint thrum of jazz played from some nearby rooftop lounge.
"Where to..." he whispered.
Then he saw it. Nestled beside a bookstore and an art gallery. A small, old-school cybercafe with the name glowing in orange neon:
Hayley's Cyberspace.
Zayne stopped.
"No way. This is the Hayley's Cafe? From Dino Thunder?"
The place looked exactly like it did in the series. Same layout. Same glow. Same vintage signage.
He stepped in, his curiosity fully piqued.
--- ✦ ---
(Inside Hayley's Cyberspace Cafe)
It was warm. Cozy. Retro yet modern. Soft chatter and clacking keyboards filled the air. The scent of coffee and grilled sandwiches wrapped around the atmosphere.
Zayne stepped in slowly.
Then froze.
There they were.
Connor. Ethan. Kira.
And to his mild shock: Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane, and Ned Leeds. All gathered around two tables, working on separate things. Peter and Gwen were tinkering with something on a laptop, MJ was sketching in her book, Ned was deep in a comic. The Rangers were sipping smoothies and casually chatting.
Connor looked up first. Their eyes locked.
The room didn't go silent—but inside, Zayne felt like it had.
He had never stepped foot in here before. At school, he barely interacted. Always quiet, always composed. But now, after everything... here he was.
"Oh hey..." Connor said awkwardly.
Kira blinked. "You're... Zayne, right? From school?"
Ethan straightened in his seat. "Didn't think you ever left your apartment."
Zayne smiled faintly, nodding. "Just... needed some air."
Peter gave a small wave, unsure. "You're in Midtown too, yeah? We've seen you around."
Zayne nodded again, then walked to the counter and ordered a coffee. All the while, he felt eyes on him. Not hostile. Just... curious.
He took his drink and walked to a corner booth. Pulled out his datapad. Started browsing through grid schematics, but barely absorbed a thing. His mind was half in the Grid and half in this room full of people who had no idea who he really was.
And somehow, that reality felt heavier than when he was in a Megazord.
--- ✦ ---
(Blue Bay City - Ninja Storm Temple)
Far away, nestled in the serene cliffs of Blue Bay, stood a humble temple hidden by mist and nature. Within it, a figure sat cross-legged in perfect silence.
Then...
His eyes opened.
Sensei Watanabe.
His gaze pierced through space as if seeing something invisible to the naked eye.
His calm voice filled the quiet air.
"The Darkness... is near."
To Be Continued...
--- ✦ ---
Hey guys! How's everyone doing?
So just a quick heads-up for those who might be a bit confused — the tech level in this novel is way more advanced than your usual Marvel stuff. Why? Because Power Rangers are in the mix now, and let's be real, they don't play when it comes to high-tech gear. So yeah, expect cooler gadgets, crazier suits, and all that fun stuff. Just roll with it 😎
Also, I've been cooking up a brand new idea/project — might even turn it into a full-on novel. The theme is Streaming. It's a little tricky to build up, but I really feel like it could be something different and super fun. What do you guys think? Would you read it?
Oh, and one more thing — I gotta be real with you all. I was kinda shocked to see AI-written novels getting so much traction lately. Like, dang. It's getting harder for us human authors out here 💀 So if you enjoy my stuff, I'd seriously appreciate the love — drop those powerstones when you can. Every bit helps!
And I've been thinking… should I open a Patreon? Would any of you be interested in that? Let me know in the comments. Y'all's support means the world to me 🙏💙
Stay awesome,—godking11