From Bullets To Billions

When the car pulled up to the field, a sleek, luxury model that practically shimmered under the midday sun, the students couldn't help but stare. Their minds buzzed with questions, wild guesses bouncing around like popcorn in a microwave.

Had a government official accidentally driven up to their isolated training ground? Or maybe some passing celebrity had grown curious about the large group of students gathered here?

Whatever they were expecting, it definitely wasn't what they got.

Because out of the driver's seat stepped a man. Not in a suit, not in dark sunglasses or some high-end branded outfit, but in the very same uniform the rest of the students wore.

That alone was enough to make a few jaws drop.

"Wait… is he one of us?" someone whispered.

"Is he part of the Bloodline group too?" another asked, confused.

They already thought it was strange that the Billion group had brought along one adult. Now there were two? The mystery only deepened.

Then came the voice, loud, clear, and full of bold confidence, as the driver announced something that hit them like a lightning bolt.

"Did you hear that?" one student gasped. "He said the leader of the Bloodline group."

"You mean the guy who took down Dipter, right? We're actually about to meet him?"

"I wonder what he looks like…"

Just moments ago, the idea of meeting the leader of the Billion group had been nothing more than a passing curiosity. They had all known someone important was coming to face Rick and the others, but it hadn't seemed like a big deal. Just another student, just another match.

But now, everything had changed.

The car. The driver. The way he carried himself.

All of it combined to create a sense of arrival, of presence, that no one could ignore. Suddenly, all eyes were on them.

"What in the world… is Max doing?" Joe thought to himself, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of it all.

"I guess… he's finally decided not to hide who he really is anymore," Steven said beside him, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He hadn't forgotten. This was the same kid who had cleared his debts without hesitation, who had saved him when he was at his lowest. Steven owed him a lifetime of gratitude, and he knew it.

Inside the car, Max sat still for a moment, gathering himself. His fingers rested calmly on his knees, but his eyes were full of fire.

'I need to show them,' Max thought. 'Show them what it really means to be part of the Billion Bloodline. What this life looks like. Just like how Chrono's been opening my eyes to the world of the Rejected Crops, I've got to do the same for all these students.'

'I want them to see what they're capable of… and exactly what this group is about.'

The sharp click of the car door echoed across the field, cutting through the murmurs and drawing every eye toward the sound. Then, Max stepped out into the open.

The first thing they saw was his unmistakable red hair, catching the light like a flare against the sky. Then came the uniform, the Bloodline jacket that instantly marked him as one of them.

But there was something different about it.

The jackets worn by the other "Rangers" in the Bloodline group followed a specific style: dark blue so deep it was almost black on the outside, paired with their signature logo and an inner lining that brought color contrast. Most assumed they were black from a distance, but up close, the blue hue was unmistakable.

Max's jacket, however, was something else entirely.

His was pure jet black, through and through. Not just the outside, but the inside lining too. There wasn't a hint of blue anywhere. It was like the darkness had been soaked into every thread. And emblazoned boldly across the back, the Bloodline logo stood out in a sharp, striking red.

The contrast made him look even more distinct. His white shirt underneath practically glowed beneath the black, and his vibrant red hair only made the whole look more intense, more commanding.

Just behind him, Aron stepped out and gently shut the car door, then stood quietly at Max's side, just a step behind, like a bodyguard, or a loyal knight beside his king.

Gasps, whispers, and stunned silence rippled through the crowd.

The students stared, not just out of curiosity, but out of awe.

Some of them couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of envy. To be in Max's place, to walk in that aura of power and confidence… Even a taste of what he was building would be enough to change their lives. It was clear now that he wasn't just another student, he was something else entirely.

"Hey," Print whispered, nudging the person next to him. "Looking at all this… Maybe that rumor about the 100k being on the line for this fight is actually true."

"I'm starting to believe it," Erik replied, still in awe. "But seriously… who is this guy? Is he some kind of rich kid or something? If he is, then why is he even going to that school?"

He didn't say the rest aloud, but the thought lingered in his mind.

If the rumor about the prize money was true, then maybe the rumors about Dipter were true too. Dipter, the monster of a student who no one believed could be beaten… yet this guy had done it.

"So… he really went and made himself the Black Ranger in the end," Steven remarked, arms crossed as he watched Max's dramatic arrival.

"Right?" Joe responded, eyebrows raised. "Honestly, I thought for sure he'd pick red. And if not red, then at least gold or something flashy. But black? That's not what I expected at all."

"Do you guys even know much about the Bower Bangers, I mean, Bower Rangers, sorry," Jay cut in, his arms folded tight across his chest, his expression unusually serious.

"I watched it as a kid," Joe said with a shrug. "But besides the monsters turning huge every episode, I didn't really keep up with it."

Jay gave a small smile. "My little sister is obsessed with that show. So yeah, I know a thing or two. You know, out of all the Rangers, the Black Ranger usually had the most complex backstory."

The others looked at him with mild surprise as he continued.

"Sometimes the Black Ranger was the bad guy. Other times, they were a temporary member of the team. But they were always… complicated. They didn't just show up with a clean slate. There was always something deeper going on."

He glanced at Max from across the field, his gaze thoughtful.

"Maybe Max just picked the color randomly, or maybe not. But if you ask me, black suits him. He's got that kind of presence, mysterious, layered. There's more to him than he lets on."

By now, Max had reached his side of the cage, where several others had gathered. He gave a short, composed nod to the allies who had come to support him from Konsoon, Mayson, and Crondo. Each one of them returned the gesture with a mix of respect and curiosity.

Then his eyes landed on Aki. He gave her a subtle nod too, but she immediately turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.

"Did you really have to show up late… in a car like that?" Aki muttered, trying not to show her flustered expression.

"Wait a second," Crondo said, his eyes widening. "Don't tell me that's where all our budget's going, to car payments like that?!"

Max didn't respond. He didn't break eye contact. He didn't flinch or let their words linger.

His focus was locked straight ahead.

On Rick.

"I'M HERE!" Max shouted, his voice booming across the field, sharp and full of purpose. "SO LET'S GET THIS STARTED!"