It started with balloons, banners, and music.
Orion City High's annual Unity Festival was in full swing—students performing, clubs fundraising, teachers actually smiling. The Sentinels were just trying to enjoy a normal afternoon for once.
Kael helped run the martial arts demo.Lyra painted faces while casually flipping a coin between her fingers.Zayn set up a drone to capture footage for the AV club.Rayna managed event logistics with a clipboard and military precision.Jett just wandered, stealing snacks and teasing the choir.
Then the lights flickered.
And everything changed.
From beneath the stage, shadows poured out—long, tendril-like shapes that pulled themselves into hunched, metallic beasts with glowing red eyes.
Rayna: "That's not part of the show."Zayn (checking scanner): "Void energy. Strong. Too strong."
Screams echoed across the courtyard as the monsters—Void Mimics—lashed out at sound systems, booths, and students.
The five ducked behind the bleachers.
Kael: "Time to suit up."All together: "Nova Force, ignite!"
Light exploded.
In a flash of color and power, the Sentinels transformed—red, blue, yellow, pink, black—rushing into action as the crowd scattered.
Kael led the charge, slamming one creature back with a flaming punch.Lyra moved like wind through chaos—deflecting attacks, guiding students away.Zayn redirected sound equipment into sonic weapons.Rayna coordinated their formation, locking monsters in from all sides.Jett vanished into smoke, reappearing behind enemy lines with a surprise kick.
But then, the largest shadow stepped forward—tall, armored, with a jagged blade and voice like rusted steel.
"I am Varnox, Herald of the Void. You are the light? Then let me be the darkness that swallows it."
The Sentinels readied for their first true battle.
To Be Continued...