Battle Of Planets

Chapter 81: Enhancement
The Ranger Association headquarters in Elria was ominously quiet, with the occasional whir of machinery and the dim, beating light of the purple power stones that filled the center of the lab. The massive crystal pulsed an unearthly energy, its light reflecting off of the smooth glass walls.In the heart of the lab, encased in a reinforced container, lay Edward in his armored suit—wires and tubes connected to the container as the enhancement process gradually infused his armor with raw power.

”It will be different from Blue’s enhancement,” Tyson murmured. ”He didn’t use purple power stones, neither did he go through these extra miles”

”So you’re saying this stone will boost our power points more than Blue’s two power points?” Alex repeated. ”But these are rare materials; they better work, or it will be a huge loss for us.”

Seraphina and Nancy waited side by side outside the glass viewing room, watching nervously.

Seraphina’s hands clenched into fists as her eyes darted back and forth between Alex and Tyson, clad in rubber suits that hugged their bodies tightly. Alex, ever the brave one, stood with his arms crossed, oozing his characteristic confidence. But Seraphina knew him—she understood that beneath his smug smirk was a man who would throw himself into danger without hesitation. She had witnessed that recklessness before, that refusal to be left behind, and it terrified her. What if something went wrong? What if this experiment turned out to be a fatal mistake?

Nancy, beside her, felt just as helpless. She had clutched Tyson’s hand tightly moments before he entered the lab, and now, as she observed him through the glass, her heart raced uncontrollably. She had only just gotten him back and was starting to believe that, despite all odds, a future together was possible. Yet, here he was, stepping into the unknown and putting everything at risk.

She understood why he had to do this, why Edward had to take the first step, and why Alex had volunteered right afterward.

It was what they were—Rangers, fighters, upon whose shoulders the world’s weight rested. But the doubt gnawed at her. What if this was not a breakthrough, but a catastrophe?

The room vibrated with an energy that grew faster and faster as the infusion accelerated. The monitor readings climbed, and the air in the laboratory hummed with raw energy.

Seraphina gasped, pinching the glass with her fingers as she watched Alex take a step forward, his Meta-bot shining on his wrist in the artificial lighting. She hated this—not being in control—and she loathed the way her heart clenched with fear for the man she loved.

Nancy mirrored her, her lips pressed into a tight line as Tyson turned, locking eyes with her through the glass. He gave her a small, reassuring smile. It seemed to say, ”I’ll be fine,” but she wasn’t sure if she believed it.

Neither could do anything but watch, their hearts pounding, praying that this gamble wouldn’t turn into a tragedy.

The container’s door slid open with a hiss, spilling a cloud of thick smoke that curled through the laboratory. For an instant, all saw a fleeting, otherworldly glow of purple energy from stone crackling in the mist. Then, out of the haze, there stood a figure—his silver-black armor shining with new vigor.

Edward Rogers had finally overcome his bottleneck.

His black-and-silver armor beat with a lingering purple hue, with the remnants of the infusion process still thrumming through his body. The energy crackled along the plates of his Meta-bot like electricity dancing over metal, making his presence feel heavier and more commanding than ever before.

The readings on the monitors surged as the final numbers were reported.

Power Points: 74 to 79

Gasps filled the lab. Scientists rushed to analyze the data, engineers gazed at their screens in disbelief, and the Rangers who had gathered to witness the event murmured in awe.

Edward Rogers, General of Elria, had accomplished what was once deemed impossible.

”D-Dad...” Alex stammered, his usual smirk completely gone from his face.

Tyson’s eyes widened, his breath caught in his throat. ”Did this actually work?”

Edward reached up, retracting his helmet. His face was drenched in sweat, yet his eyes burned with exhilaration. A grin spread across his face as he looked at his sons.

”We did it, my sons.”

For a moment, there was stunned silence—then, an eruption of cheers spread throughout the lab.

Scientists applauded, engineers shared triumphant nods, and the Rangers present shouted in celebration. The method succeeded—not just in theory or controlled simulations, but in reality. And not just by a slight increase but by an astounding five power points in just minutes.

Nancy and Seraphina stood behind the glass, their strained faces relaxing into relief as they watched the scene.

”This changes everything,” Seraphina breathed, her mind already moving ahead with the possibilities.

Nancy let out a tremulous breath, her hands clasped together like a prayer. ”Yeah... now Tyson and Alex are next.”

Seraphina wheeled around to confront her future husband and brother-in-law, who stood still. They had just seen history in the making—and now, they would become a part of it.

Alex and Tyson activated their Meta-bots simultaneously, their suits powering up with a soft hum. Tyson’s Meta-bot pulsed on his chest, blinking erratically.

”Excited, Whitey?” he murmured softly.

Alex smirked, crossing his arms. ”Did you drop on your head? Who talks to their Meta-bot?”

”I do,” Tyson retorted, his gaze fixed on Alex’s as both brothers advanced toward the two containment pods set up for them.

Technicians rushed around them, swapping the now-dulled purple power stone for a fresh, radiant one. Their energy crackled in the air, a silent reminder of the raw power about to surge through them.

Tyson reclined in his assigned pod as a technician approached, connecting a thick cable to the core of his Meta-bot.

”This is going to hurt,” the man warned. ”But hey, the General did it, so you can too... I suppose.”

Tyson’s eyes narrowed. ”Wait, what do you mean by ’hurt’?”

The man hesitated for a moment before casually pressing the connection against Tyson’s Meta-bot. The cable latched on, and a small spark jumped between them.

”Yeah,” the technician murmured. ”You’ll sense it.”

Tyson grimaced but then saw the technician frowning at his chest.

”What’s wrong with your Meta-bot? It’s blinking randomly.”

”Yeah, he’s alive,” Tyson said impulsively.

The man blinked and then snorted. ”That’s funny,” he said, shaking his head, clearly thinking Tyson was joking to hide his nerves.

”I’m sealing the pod now,” the technician said. ”If you feel pain, feel free to scream. Not that we’ll hear you, but hey, you can give it a shot.”

Tyson shot him a flat stare. ”Are you serious?”

Before he could receive an answer, the pod’s lid slid shut with a hiss, enclosing him in dim light. Through the reinforced glass, he caught one last glimpse of his father—watching with that same unreadable expression—and beyond him, Nancy, her hands clasped tightly together, worry etched across her face.

Then, the energy surged forth.

A shockwave of energy ripped through his suit, embedding itself deep within his bones. It felt as if his armor had merged with his essence, every fiber of his body screaming in retaliation. The pain was excruciating, unlike anything he had ever known.

Tyson clenched his teeth as searing energy coursed through his Meta-bot, spreading like wildfire through every fiber of his suit. His muscles tensed, his fingers curled into fists, and a scream tore from his throat—only to be swallowed by the hum of the containment chamber.

Darn it... Dad made this look easy!

Inside the neighboring pod, Alex was no better off. His eyes were squeezed shut as his body arched involuntarily, every nerve screaming in protest as the purple energy surged through him. His suit trembled under the pressure, and his Meta-bot pulsed violently against his hand.

Outside, the lab stood silent, observing as data spiked on every monitor. The enhancement process was in full swing, with the energy absorption pushing both brothers to their absolute limits.

As she watched Tyson writhe in pain, Nancy’s nails dug into her palms. She wanted to run inside, stop this, and do something—but she knew she couldn’t. Seraphina’s hand gripped her shoulder, steadying her.

”He’ll be fine,” Seraphina said, more for herself than for Nancy.

Edward stood firm with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on his sons. He had gone through this, felt the agony they were enduring, and now, all he could do was watch.

Tyson gasped for breath inside his pod, sweat dripping down his forehead. His suit felt like it was ripping him apart, yet at the same time, something within him was shifting, evolving at a fast pace.

His Meta-bot flickered rapidly on his chest, signaling something unusual about him. Unlike Edward, he couldn’t grasp what was happening, and just then, a final, blinding surge of energy coursed through the Meta-bot, thrusting his body into overdrive.

And then... just as suddenly as it began, the pain ceased. The energy stabilized. The chamber’s hum quieted. The lids of the pods hissed as they opened. A stunned silence enveloped the lab as two armored figures emerged from the smoke—no longer the same men who had entered the pod.

”I g-got Seven power points?” Tyson mumbled.