Chapter 35: Barnes Defeated!

Captain Barnes lay still amid the debris, his body sprawled just beside the Rogues.The scene was silent—both Rangers and Rogues stood frozen in shock. Their eyes slowly shifted upward to the third floor, where a sinister presence lingered.

Coco loomed above, his dark purple aura curling around him like smoke from an intense fire, while his cold, calculating eyes scanned the battlefield beneath.

The Lieutenant, his voice trembling, stuttered in disbelief. He cast a last, hopeless glance at Alex as if seeking some hint of hope amid the chaos.

Alex took a measured step back. He realized the situation was slipping out of their control. Without saying a word, he hurried toward the building, urgently signaling Tyson and the other Rangers to follow him.

Their mission had now shifted to safeguarding the President’s family. They couldn’t afford further distractions—Coco was the real threat, and they ran out of time.

The battlefield had changed from a fierce clash to a hushed, tense silence. The sight of Captain Barnes—once the pillar of their defense—lay broken on the ground, shattering any semblance of hope.

The core of the Rangers’ resistance appeared to have fallen, and the weight of that realization dawned on everyone...

Among the crowd, whispers spread like wildfire. A spectator in the distance murmured, "We were counting on him... He was our shield."

Another voice quivered with disbelief. "He was meant to protect us. How did this happen?"

The crowd grew anxious, fear creeping into their hearts as they stared at the now-unconscious figure of their Captain.



"Is this really the end?" a spectator inquired.

"Without Captain Barnes... who will stop them?" someone else muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "We placed all our hope in him."

From the screens above Times Square, the battle was broadcast live, and the expressions of spectators, families, and viewers from all over the City were filled with horror as they watched their last hope crumble before them.

Social media exploded with waves of despair, with hashtags like #SaveElria quickly becoming trending topics as the city seemed to be facing a crushing defeat.

With their Captain’s fall, it was clear... the Rogues had gained an unexpected advantage.

The Rangers, once undefeated, now confronted a fearsome enemy. The people of Elria remained in a state of frozen silence, uncertain about what would happen next.

Amid the chaos, there remained one glimmer of hope—General Edward.

----

All communication lines within the opposition party headquarters were cut, deepening the chaos ignited by the explosion. Panic surged among the injured, who anxiously awaited medical help.

Edward did his best to stabilize the situation, assist the injured, and restore order, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

He worked tirelessly to identify the source of the disruption, ultimately locating and destroying three suspicious vans parked near the building.

But the deeper he dug, the more questions emerged. Why was there such a delay in the emergency response? Despite the large explosion, why hadn’t the Rangers’ backup arrived yet?

As he contemplated these troubling thoughts, a Ranger suddenly burst into the building, breathless and desperate.

"General, we have an emergency!" Ranger shouted. "We’re being attacked!"

Edward’s expression darkened. He sensed something was wrong, but now it was becoming clear: this was no ordinary assault. It was a decoy, a trap set specifically for him.

They intentionally lured him away from the battlefield, leveraging the chaos to attack Elria’s core.

The President’s capture appeared to be their ultimate goal, and Edward had unwittingly walked straight into their trap.

Thoughts raced through his mind as he attempted to solve the puzzle. Why at this moment? Why go after the President’s family when key city officials were away? What prompted this choice?

Edward’s instincts warned him that this attack was more complex than it appeared—the stakes were much higher than anyone understood.

"Tell me what happened."

The Ranger quickly filled him in, and Edward’s expression darkened with each word. A sudden realization struck him: someone must be feeding the Rogues information from within. And that someone was none other than Kyle—the leader of the opposition party.

At first, Kyle’s reaction to the explosion seemed sincere. But Edward knew better. They were dealing with Coco, a master strategist who had never played a simple game. The timing was too perfect, and the attack was well-planned. It had to be an inside job.

"Where’s Kyle?" Edward asked, his voice cold as steel.

The Rangers beside him hesitated at his grim tone, the tension in the room increasing with each passing second. Even the wounded turned their heads, sensing that something bigger was going on.

"He’s inside the bunker with the other party members," one Ranger finally replied.

Without further ado, Edward proceeded toward the bunker, gesturing for the stationed guards to grant him access by opening the door. As the substantial metal doors creaked open, those inside expressed their astonishment.



They had anticipated news that the danger had passed. Instead, they found Edward standing in the doorway, his face full of fury.

"Kyle?" Edward’s voice was icy.

Kyle flinched at the sight of him. "Edward? Is everything all right?"

But his voice betrayed him. He shook with fear. He could feel the weight of Edward’s piercing gaze, the unspoken accusation hanging in the air.

Kyle’s mind raced. Had his plan been discovered before it even took full effect? It didn’t seem possible. Coco wouldn’t have revealed his inside man, not while he was still in the midst of attacking the President’s quarters. And yet, Edward was here—staring at him as if he already knew.

Edward took a step closer, slow and deliberate.

The chance of Coco exposing Kyle was low—but not impossible. The fact that Coco had planted a bomb near Kyle’s building without telling him proved one thing: Kyle had been manipulated, just like everyone else. If he stayed silent now, he would be pulled down alongside Coco, and winning the election would be the least of his worries. At this point, even breathing easily might become impossible.

"Was it you?" Edward’s voice sliced through the tension.

Kyle’s body stiffened, and panic clawed at his throat. "No! It wasn’t me, I swear, Edward!"

He yelled, his fear revealing his vulnerability. Panic surged within him as he sought a way out, but none existed—Edward’s stare held him captive like an executioner anticipating the final command.

The room’s weight and the guards’ silent judgment were crushing him. He could lie. He should lie. But Edward wasn’t a fool, and the evidence could be valid.

The moment stretched, his heart pounded like a trapped animal. His fists clenched, but no strength remained.

His first instinct was to shift all the blame onto Coco. If he didn’t, things would spiral even further out of control. His party members stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief as they watched their leader unravel before them.

"I... I didn’t have a choice," he croaked, his voice barely a whisper. "They came to me first... they forced me into this!"

His eyes darted around, searching for sympathy or understanding—but all he encountered was Edward’s lethal glare. "If I refused, they said they’d kill me! I—I never wanted any of this!"

Edward’s gaze pierced through him. "So it was you."

Kyle’s breath caught. He had spoken without considering his words. Was Edward testing him? Had he just confessed to something Edward hadn’t even confirmed? A wave of dread washed over him—he had messed up. He had indeed messed up.

Before he could utter another word, Edward made his move.

A loud crack resonated in the bunker when Edward’s palm struck Kyle’s face. The impact knocked him to the ground, leaving his vision momentarily blurred and his mind spinning.

Kyle hardly noticed the gasps around him. His cheek throbbed, but more than the pain, it was the overwhelming shock of what had just occurred that left him breathless.

Edward towered over him, his presence oppressive. Kyle struggled to understand—how had everything unraveled so fast? He had misjudged. He had severely misjudged.

"You intended to trap me here while your friends capture the President," Edward declared, his voice reverberating through the bunker.

GASPS rippled through the members of the opposition party.

"Is it true?" someone whispered.

"What really happened?" another asked, looking confused. "We had no idea what was happening all day!"

Edward’s patience was exhausted.

"Lieutenant!" he shouted. "Take this traitor into custody. I’m going to offer assistance where it’s needed."



"Yes, General!" The lieutenant stepped forward and grabbed Kyle’s arm, yanking him to his feet.

Kyle struggled fiercely against the hold, his expression contorted with fury. "Don’t touch me! I will be the future President of this city!" he shouted. "You filthy servants—how dare you lay your hands on me!"

In a flash, Edward acted. He grasped Kyle’s shoulders, compelling him to look him in the eye. The room went quiet as Kyle’s bravado faded, and his body tensed with fear.

"I challenge you, Kyle," Edward whispered, his voice loaded with unspoken threat. "If you insult my men again, I will end your life right here. No one—absolutely no one—can rescue you from me."

Kyle swallowed hard, his lips trembling. He knew Edward was a man who adhered to his own rules and wouldn’t hesitate to stand up to the world if necessary.

"I hope nothing happens to the people, Kyle," Edward muttered darkly as the lieutenant dragged Kyle away like a beaten dog.

Edward turned to his Rangers, his tone sharp and absolute. "Search every single person in this bunker. If anyone dares to resist, you have my full permission to deal with them as you see fit. I will take full responsibility."

The Rangers nodded, their faces inscrutable.

The opposition members shivered under their cold, merciless gazes. Just hours earlier, these were the same Rangers who had protected them—now, they had become hunters.

For the first time, the politicians realized there was no way out. This was no longer about political maneuvering or human rights.

This was martial law.

General Edward was in complete control.