ZERO SHIFT

Nina sprinted through the dense forest, the orb clutched tightly in her hands. Her breaths came in short gasps, her heart pounding as adrenaline surged through her veins. Every step brought her closer to victory—or so she thought. The towering trees seemed to blur as her focus narrowed on the path ahead. But then, a chill ran down her spine, and an oppressive weight settled in the air. She skidded to a halt, her instincts screaming that she was no longer alone.

From the shadows, a figure emerged with an unnerving calmness. The man wore a mask that bore a permanent grin, its white surface cracked with age. His long brown coat swayed slightly as he stepped forward, revealing a tailored black waistcoat, red tie, and crisp white shirt beneath. A black hat perched on his head, casting a shadow over his face, though his eyes gleamed like embers through the slits of the mask.

"Well, well," the man said, his voice smooth and amused. "What do we have here?"

Nina tightened her grip on the orb, her legs trembling as she instinctively stepped back. "Who… who are you?"

The man tilted his head, the smile on his mask seeming to widen. "Oh, my dear, you've forgotten me already? How tragic. Name's Hans, though I believe Unit Zero knows me better as 'the one that got away.'"

Nina's eyes widened. Hans—a devil who had once been part of Unit Zero before escaping under mysterious circumstances. Chaos himself had marked him as dangerous, and now here he was, standing between her and the arena.

"Hand it over," Hans said, extending his gloved hand toward the orb.

Nina's grip tightened further, her voice trembling. "No… this is for the competition!"

Hans chuckled softly, his tone more amused than angry. "Oh, how adorable. You really think this little game matters? Fine, have it your way."

Before Nina could react, Hans moved. His speed was incomprehensible, and within a split second, he was in front of her. His gloved hand flicked out, two fingers pressing lightly against her forehead. The world spun, and Nina collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The orb slipped from her grasp, rolling toward Hans, who scooped it up with an almost casual grace.

He looked down at her crumpled form, his mask tilting slightly. "You'll wake up eventually. Probably." With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving no trace of his presence.

Back in the cave, the battle raged on. The rangers were holding their ground against the spiders, but exhaustion was beginning to show. Josuke, still in his devil form, struggled to maintain control. His breathing was ragged, his movements slower. He could feel the strain in every muscle, but his pride refused to let him falter.

"Is this all you've got?" he snarled, lunging at the mother spider with a roar.

Chaos, observing the scene from within Josuke's mind, sighed in boredom. "You're embarrassing yourself," he muttered.

Josuke ignored him, focusing instead on slashing at the spider's massive legs. But even as he fought, a nagging doubt crept into his mind. The spiders seemed… slower. Their movements were sluggish, their attacks lacking the ferocity they'd had moments ago.

Chaos chuckled, the sound low and ominous. "Fine, I'll handle this. Clearly, you're incapable."

Without warning, a sudden surge of energy rippled through Josuke's body. His devil form stabilized briefly, and an oppressive aura spilled into the cave, suffocating and deadly. The rangers paused, feeling an unnatural chill sweep over them.

"Chaos, what are you—" Josuke began, but the words died in his throat.

The aura expanded, targeting only the spiders. In an instant, the creatures collapsed, their massive bodies hitting the ground with deafening thuds. Their legs curled inward, their glassy eyes staring into nothingness.

"What… just happened?" Lily asked, her voice filled with confusion.

Arthur scanned the room, his weapon still at the ready. "They're dead," he said cautiously. "But how?"

The rangers exchanged uneasy glances. Even Josuke was at a loss, though he masked his confusion with a scowl. Chaos, however, remained silent, his presence retreating back into the depths of Josuke's mind.

Outside the cave, the atmosphere in the arena shifted dramatically. The hologram screens that displayed the action inside the cave suddenly flickered and went dark. The crowd murmured in confusion, their excitement giving way to uncertainty.

In the waiting room, Kyle's expression hardened. He stared at the blackened screens for a moment before his gaze shifted to Ace.

"It's Hans," Kyle said simply.

Ace raised an eyebrow, leaning forward in his seat. "You're sure?"

Kyle nodded. "His aura is unmistakable. He's here, and he's got the orb."

Ace smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Well, this just got interesting."

But Kyle wasn't smiling. "Stay here and watch the arena. I'll handle Hans."

Without waiting for a response, Kyle vanished, his teleportation leaving a faint shimmer in the air.

Back in the cave, the rangers were still trying to process what had happened when another shift occurred. The air grew heavier, darker, as two figures emerged from the shadows at the cave's entrance.

The first was a woman with sharp, angular features and piercing red eyes. Her black hair cascaded down her back in loose waves, and her slender frame was wrapped in a crimson cloak that swirled like smoke around her. Beside her stood a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with white hair and a faint scar running across his cheek. His dark armor gleamed faintly in the dim light, and his expression was one of cold calculation.

Josuke's eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"

The woman smirked, her voice smooth and confident. "Rin," she said simply, gesturing to herself. She nodded toward her companion. "And this is Zen. We're here for the fun."

Arthur stepped forward, his weapon at the ready. "Fun? What kind of fun?"

Rin tilted her head, her smirk widening. "The kind that involves tearing apart anyone who gets in our way."

Zen said nothing, but his eyes locked onto Josuke with a chilling intensity.

Chaos, still lurking in Josuke's mind, remained indifferent. "Well, isn't this cute?" he muttered. "A couple of low-level devils thinking they're important."

But even as Chaos dismissed them, Josuke felt a knot of unease forming in his stomach. The presence of these devils wasn't just unexpected it was dangerous.

The chapter ends as Rin and Zen step forward, their intentions clear, and Josuke prepares for a confrontation that will test the limits of his power.