I’ll be the Red Ranger
Chapter 121 – Pantheon’s Key

- Oliver -

"Any questions?" Wiz asked them.

Elliot and Emma fell silent, each lost in thought for a moment. Oliver observed them closely, trying to gauge their reactions. He didn't know exactly what to expect from the mission ahead, but he felt calmer knowing he would be alongside experienced Rangers.

"Ugh! It's always such a pain having to do operations with the Red Rangers," Emma complained, folding her arms across her chest.

Wiz's expression tightened slightly as if he wanted to disagree but chose his words carefully. "Nevertheless," he said, "we need to get in quickly and extract as much information as possible before exiting."

"What exactly are you expecting to find there?" Elliot finally asked, his playful demeanor replaced by a serious look.

"Low-value materials," Wiz explained. "Items the Orks wouldn't bother burning or evacuating. But even these could provide us with valuable insights into their operations."

"Hmm." Oliver shifted in his seat. "How should I prepare for this mission?"

"Just continue with your training," Wiz instructed. "A Red Ranger will be in charge and act as the team leader. He'll handle requisitioning any additional materials or equipment you might need."

With no further questions, Wiz concluded the briefing. Elliot and Emma rose quickly, heading out to attend to their responsibilities. Oliver lingered for a moment, his mind buzzing with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

"Oliver," Wiz called out as the young man turned to leave.

"Yes, sir?" Oliver paused at the doorway.

"Get some rest," Wiz advised, his tone almost paternal. "You'll need to be at your best."

"Thank you, sir." Oliver nodded before stepping into the corridor.

The Ork Research Base was located in a separate sector of Pallas, quite distant from his home. The streets bustled with scientists, engineers, and fellow Rangers, all moving purposefully. Oliver weaved through the crowd and made his way to the Maglev station.

The sleek, magnetically levitated train arrived with a whisper, its doors sliding open smoothly. Oliver boarded and found a seat by the window. As the Maglev accelerated silently, the cityscape blurred into a stream of lights and buildings.

In minutes, Oliver arrived home and descended into the basement. A sense of urgency pressed upon him. ‘It's time to train, but before that…’ he thought.

Though the day was nearly over, he had only two weeks left before deploying into the field. ‘Even though it's low risk, I need to prepare for the worst,’ he assessed, fully aware that underestimating any mission could be fatal.

Oliver settled on the floor, leaning against the reinforced steel wall. The ongoing notification hovered in the corner of his display.

| Maze Master

| Complete the maze in under 1 minute

| [Click to Redeem]

Finally deciding to confront it, his finger hovered momentarily before tapping the [Click to Redeem] button. He braced himself, expecting the sharp jolt of pain or the dizzying rush that accompanied his previous upgrades. But seconds passed, and nothing happened. He blinked in confusion, glancing around the room as if the answer might present itself.

Then, before him, wisps of energy began to gather, swirling together like an ethereal smoke. The energy coalesced into a sphere—a pulsating orb of light that grew denser with each second.

Oliver's curiosity piqued, so he reached out cautiously. As his fingertips grazed the orb's surface, it burst with a gentle pop, dissipating into shimmering particles. A soft, metallic clink echoed as the object fell to the ground.

He looked down to find a silver key resting at his feet, its surface etched with intricate runes that seemed to glow. Hovering above it was a new notification:

| Pantheon’s Key

| Twist to Use

“Twist?” Oliver murmured aloud, his brow furrowing. He picked up the key, its weight reassuring it was real. Unsure of how to proceed, he stood and faced the empty space before him. Taking a deep breath, he inserted the key into an invisible lock suspended in the air and twisted it.

Instantly, reality shifted.

The familiar confines of his basement dissolved, replaced by the grandeur of an immense temple. Towering columns stretched skyward. The floor beneath his feet was made of polished stone, inscribed with symbols that glowed faintly. Floating glyphs and runes drifted through the air.

Directly ahead stood an enormous throne. Seated upon it was a woman of imposing stature, her form magnified to colossal proportions yet retaining a delicate grace. Her long, bluish hair cascaded over her right shoulder, shimmering like threads of starlight. She sat with legs elegantly crossed, exuding an aura of calm authority.

Her attire resembled that of a Blue Ranger but more refined—sleek armor that seemed both ancient and advanced, adorned with subtle golden accents that glinted softly. The design was intricate, flowing seamlessly as if part of her very being.

"At last, you have arrived," the woman spoke, her voice resonating throughout the temple with a melodious echo. It was a voice Oliver recognized immediately—the same soothing yet firm tones of Athena.

"Athena?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Athena confirmed. "Now that you have the Blue Crystal, it will be easier for us to communicate. Still, you must understand that any interaction within this chamber comes at a cost—be it our time or Energy."

Oliver nodded, his gaze drifting around the awe-inspiring surroundings.

"But where are we?" he asked, returning his attention to her.

"In my home," Athena replied, "or at least a representation of it that you can access."

"So, you live in a temple?" Oliver mused, eyebrows knitting together. "I thought you were an AI."

She offered a faint smile. "At the time, I couldn't reveal my nature. Thinking of me as an AI wasn't entirely incorrect."

"Then what are you really?" he pressed, curiosity burning in his eyes.

Athena hesitated for a moment, her gaze distant. "It's complex. The more information I share, the more I influence the Game. That comes at a significant cost to me. But you may perceive me however you wish—a goddess, a powerful entity—but we are commonly known as Sovereigns."

Oliver felt his heartbeat quicken. It was the first time someone had shed light on what a Sovereign was, and even though her explanation was vague, he was standing in the presence of one.

‘Is Athena the one John has been searching for?’ he wondered. ‘What did she mean by influencing the Game?’

He was about to voice another question when Athena raised a hand gently to stop him. "Choose your questions wisely," she cautioned. "You may have only two more before my energy dissipates and you are returned home."

He closed his mouth, contemplating carefully. After a few moments, he asked, "Why me? You could have brought any other Ranger, right? What makes me special?"

His eyes searched hers, seeking answers about himself and his connection to the Blue Crystal.

Athena leaned back on her throne, resting her chin on her hand as if deep in thought. "The answer is simpler than you might think," she began. "I observe much—nearly everything that transpires. I know all the heroes and villains that exist or have existed. It's rare for someone to surprise me, but you—you, with nothing special, have."

She continued, her gaze steady upon him. "You could have died in Seoul, but you survived. You could have fled from the Orks and left Isabella and Alan in the transport truck, but you stayed. You might not have saved Katherine, but you did. Time and time again, you've made decisions that put you at risk, but they've demonstrated your will to live and your courage. I admire people like that. To me, that is what it means to be a hero."

Oliver was momentarily speechless. So often, those decisions had been impulsive, made without clear thought or in moments of desperation. It felt strange, almost unsettling, to be praised for what he'd often considered reckless behavior.

"Th-thank you," he managed to say.

Silence enveloped them as he pondered his final question. ‘What should I ask?’ he thought. ‘I need to make it count.’

"What do you expect from me?" Oliver finally inquired. Even if she found him interesting, he couldn't shake the feeling that Athena had a deeper purpose for reaching out to him.

She regarded him thoughtfully. "That question will have to wait for another time," she replied softly. "You are not yet ready to understand the Game."

Slowly, the magnificent scene around them began to dissolve, like mist caught in a rising breeze. The towering columns faded, the floating symbols dimmed, and the luminescent glow softened into darkness.

As Oliver blinked, he found himself back in his own home, the familiar surroundings slowly coming into focus. The cool air of his room replaced the otherworldly atmosphere of the temple. He looked down to find the key still clasped in his hand. However, there was something different about it now.

| Pantheon’s Key

| Twist to Use

| Cooldown: Two weeks.