The loss of an S-class ranger

Sarah Foster carried herself from where she lay, and she saw the monster hold Alden and his summon by their necks, carrying them like they were mere kids.

"Alden!" She immediately shot off the ground, towards them. However, she had not even drawn close when a portal opened below the two. Then, the vampire flung the two of them into it. They disappeared, and the portal closed.

"You! What have you done with him!" Sarah bellowed as she leaped toward the vampire, her hands clasped, and aimed toward him.

The vampire- Lord Velcar, raised a single fist. Sarah found herself frozen still in the air.

"That boy? You need not worry." A devilish smile spread across his face, and he came close to Sarah until his face was merely inches away. "Where he is gone... he is as good as dead! So, don't bother looking for him... He's no longer on this damned planet... HAHAHA."

Halfway through his maniacal laugh, he swung his hand, the back of it striking Sarah Foster and sending her to the ground. Then, he prepared to turn and fly away, but that was not before saying a few words.

"Oh, and you might have succeeded in suppressing our forces... but this is merely the beginning of our Honoured Lord's invasion."

With that, he flew away, leaving Sarah Foster lying in rubble.

As she pondered his words, Sarah Foster felt herself slowly lose her consciousness.

~~~

"Breaking news! The South African Rangers Association has announced that the newbie S-class ranger, Alden Hall, is missing. After teaming up with 2 other S-class rangers, Sarah Foster and Light McKing, the newbie ranger suddenly disappeared after the battle. Further details have yet to be revealed, as investigations are underway..."

The television was switched off.

"How? How did this happen?" The president of the ranger association sat behind his table, his head in his hands. Their newest S-class hero had been lost? So soon after they had acquired him...

"Apparently, the monster they faced seemed to manipulate space, and that being dispelled him to some unknown place. From what we've found, it doesn't seem to be on Earth." His assistant said.

"How is it possible? A being that can manipulate space to such an extent? And 3 S-rank rangers could not stop it either... If what Sarah Foster said is true... then..." He clenched his fists, a sombre expression on his face. "This is not the end."

"What will you do, Sir?" The assistant asked... his face serious.

The president took a deep breath.

"If another incident such as this occurs..." He looked up, his expression resolute and decisive. "Then we will undergo a national lockdown."

~~~

Alden raised a sword, observing it. It was given to him by Aerith to use. It was a long, black katana with silver engravings on its blade.

"Why can't I mould my moon-energy into a weapon? Alden asked.

"Because that isn't energy conservative. At the moment, you will have to use that blade."

Though Alden was in disagreement, he didn't fight it. His survival depended on Aerith after all. Also, Aerith said he would teach Alden how to use that sword.

With that, the two of them chose a tunnel and followed it, hoping it would lead them to the top. Things were quiet until they arrived at a place where the tunnels seemed to change. They grew wide, as wide as a hall, and the walls became smooth and shiny. This wide tunnel seemed to stretch for miles forward.

It was there that they appeared.

They were creatures with faces that seemed feline, but their body seemed far from it, however. Instead of being elegant, it was big and bulky, with tough, grey hide. Several small spikes grew on its broad back, covering it entirely.

"Now... Are you ready... Alden Hall?" Aerith said, drawing his sword. Alden nodded, also drawing his katana. Alden closed his eyes, then imbued moon energy into the blade. The inscriptions glowed blue, and a blue flame-like aura surrounded them.

The feline creatures numbered 3 in total, each of them the size of a cow.

The feline creatures roared, rushing forward in unison. Alden and Aerith immediately separated, running in opposite directions. The monsters split, with 2 following Aerith and one following Alden.

Alden ran a distance before skidding to a halt. He spun around, facing the predator. It soared, as it stormed towards him, its jaws aimed at his neck. Alden stepped aside, avoiding the attack. He swung his sword at its side.

Sparks flew as his blade met the creature's spikes. The creature roared and turned, trying to knock Alden down with its paw. Alden ducked, avoiding the attack.

Then, he swung the blade, this time, aimed at the creature's exposed underbelly. The katana cut through skin and flesh, letting blood spray. The creature crashed onto the ground, clearly hurt by that attack. 

But not dead...

Alden leaped into the air, his sword held backward, as he stabbed downward. The blade sank into the beast's eye and into its head, instantly killing it. Alden immediately pulled out the katana, and looked to Aerith, but...

Aerith stood upon the corpses of 2 beasts, his expression stoic.

Alden clicked his tongue.

"Show-off."

~~~

"Let's take a rest here," Aerith said. They were currently in a cave they had discovered after travelling for a few hours. They had fought a couple of monsters, even cutting some meat from the animals so they could eat.

"Okay." Alden agreed, before he lay down, exhausted. He was exhausted. However, something took priority.

"I'm hungry..."

"Very well, here is meat." Aerith threw him a big piece of meat. Alden looked at Aerith like he was a crazy man.

"Aren't we going to cook this?"

"The smell will attract some animals."

Alden felt distraught. Raw meat? Absolutely not.

Alden stood up and went further into the cave. He knelt in a corner before extending his hand. Then energy shaped itself into a drill, which spun at a terrifying speed. Then, he shot it downward, creating a deep hole. He did this a few times until the hole was deep enough. Then he went out of the cave and gathered a few rocks, gathering them in one place. Now...

"How do I heat these?" Alden wondered. Could he use his fire ability if he tried? It was a 2nd-generation element in this world, so it was easier to master from scratch, unlike gravity or glitch, which all fell under space abilities, meaning they were 1st-generation elements.

"No harm in trying." Alden held out his hand and tried to will the ability.

"Flame!" He mentally invoked. "FLAME!"

Nothing happened.

"Damnit, couldn't be that easy... " Alden sighed... what was he missing? Maybe he needed to feel the ability, not will it. Before, the system would guide his energy for him, allowing him to activate his abilities. Maybe now, he would have to guide his energy.

Alden stretched out his hand and tried to remember how it felt. He tried to remember how it felt when the energy would flow through his body, to his fingertips...

"Flame."