This is the gigantic floating fortress
that appeared out of nowhere
six miles above the ground.
Its appearance marks the beginning
of the never-ending war between humans and monsters.
We are the Divine Dragon Rangers, the Dragon Keepers--
Ah... hmm...
Oh!
Good afternoon, or perhaps I should say, good evening.
It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, surface-dwellers.
Today, I'm here to tell everyone the truth
that the Ranger Force has been desperately trying to hide.
First, the so-called Sunday Showdown is a staged performance by the Ranger Force.
It's a farce.
Next, the Ranger Force had been forcing cadets
to inhumanely crush each other using the recruitment exams as an excuse.
On top of that, it was officially announced that the Blue Keeper had died
at the hands of a rogue monster...
But here is the truth!
After a fierce battle with the boss monster Peltrola,
he was defeated and lost his life.
Everyone! Please wake up to the truth of this world!
What, me?
For now, you can call me Hwalipon.
Hwalipon!
Well then, until the day we meet again,
have a good day--
Go! Go! Loser Ranger!
Faced with adversity,
this is the first Sunday Showdown since that tragedy.
Now that there are only four Dragon Keepers left,
will they be able to win?
Panda!
Wait, that's not my face! That's better!
I'll completely shatter the fantasy that kids have of pandas being cute--
What?
Panda!
- Panda, Panda, Panda! - Wait!
We won't let you have your way.
This planet belongs to us humans!
And we will protect it from the likes of you!
- We are... - Hey.
- We are the Dra-- - Hey!
What is it?
What do we do about Blue's position?
Aren't we supposed to just leave it empty for today?
Of course not! Pink should move in and fill that gap!
Hey! We're supposed to be striking our important victory pose--
We are...
...the Dragon Keepers!
Th-this is... rare, I suppose.
This time, they're using a four-person version,
so there has been a change in how they make their appearance as well.
Oh, whatever!
Get them, Dusters!
Let the foolish surface-dwellers witness hell!
Just you see, Blue!
We will definitely protect this planet from the clutches of evil...
Take this!
Red was trying to say something!
Was that part of our rehearsal?
No idea!
Blue would have read the situation and come up with an ad-lib or two!
Pa-Panda! Red Keeper, come at me!
Let's do this!
What?
Whoa!
Red Keeper unleashes his Dragon Rush flurry!
Go, Red!
Take him down!
Wait! This is different from what was planned!
Eat this! The punch of justice!
Damn it!
Peek...
Um... I'm sorry.
We apologize for the disruption of a portion of our broadcast.
The monster has been beaten down by the Red Keeper's ferocious attacks.
However, they mustn't let down their guard.
Will the monsters retaliate?
Let's finish this!
Evil monsters!
This is the Divine Artifact that will defeat you!
The Dragon Blaster!
No freaking way!
It's too early to be using the Dragon Blaster!
They're too close to the audience seats!
Everyone!
This place is dangerous,
so please evacuate according to our instructions!
Dragon Breath!
Fire!
What's... going on?
If we were still there...
Damn it...
Serves you right, Dragon Keepers!
Blue has been defeated!
I also passed the final exam
and managed to infiltrate the Ranger Force as an official Ranger!
What's left is to defeat the remaining Dragon Keepers one by one,
crush the Ranger Force...
and bring down Peltrola as well!
Is the string of disappearance incidents happening outside of Amanogawa city...
You definitely overdid it this time.
We received a complaint from a sponsor saying,
"This is a bad influence on the kids!"
It's the parent's duty to educate their child.
- Hey! - Y-Yes, sir!
I'm out of tea.
I'll get you a new serving!
I guess the role of a leader also includes nurturing the next generation.
I think Tokita would be the perfect replacement as your Junior First Rank.
He helped you retrieve
a part of the Divine Artifact you lost, didn't he?
Seriously?
I do like him, but I don't like the idea of having him next to me.
No matter how you look at it, his face screams enemy.
Compared to him,
Himura was much better since he was popular.
I've lost a good man.
This insane bastard...
Reward Good and Punish Evil
That was funny.
Junior First Rank Suzukiri.
Did I say something humorous?
Not at all.
Is that so? Then, why did you laugh?
If you think I won't lay a hand on you, you're gravely mistaken.
We've digressed. Can we get back on track?
You're right.
There's something we still need to decide on.
What demands our urgent attention...
is this position.
We can't be just the four of us forever.
Oh, that's right.
Blue died, didn't he?
Silence!
Calm down, Acting Junior First Rank Aizome.
There is no need to be ashamed.
Blue Keeper...
No, Shougo Aoshima fought to the end.
To tell you the truth,
I was the one who recruited him into the Ranger Force.
It's truly unfortunate.
However, I am proud of Aoshima.
Let us inherit his justice.
So, has the Blue Squadron decided on their next candidate?
- I'll do it. - What?
I'll be Blue's replacement.
Be it fighters or boss monsters, I'll defeat them all!
Please let me do it!
I won't allow it, pipsqueak!
You'll ruin our victory pose.
Come on, think about the balance.
What?
I understand.
Call Souma back.
He's probably at a nearby place.
Will he allow me to join?
Heroes cannot afford to stop in their tracks.
After all, our battle with the evil monsters is still ongoing.
I pray for all of your success!
Not good! The meeting looks like it's about to end!
Let's keep up the good work and uphold justice!
That fool...
Reward Good
Well then, you're all dismissed!
As long as the blazing blood of justice flows within me,
I will never give in to evil!
As long as the blazing blood of justice flows within me,
I will never give in to evil!
Yes, that's right.
No matter what happens, justice must never give in to evil.
Man, I can't relax.
Let's do something evil to calm down for now.
Shoplifting, maybe?
Huh?
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Hey, Big Sister.
I'm glad you're safe, Hibiki.
Tomorrow's my full-day date with Hibiki!
I'm so looking forward to it,
I feel like I'm going crazy!
My Hibiki!
If that filthy boss monster had done so much as to lay a finger on you,
I would've turned into Asura!
Your big sister's been so worried for you this entire time!
I was so worried, Hibiki!
Sakurama
You're fortunate.
Not many cadets manage to survive after facing off against a boss monster.
You're right, Big Sister.
It was a really big day for me.
At the same time, I really learned how small and powerless I am,
because I couldn't do anything.
What's wrong, Big Sister?
A reality he can't deny, a dream out of his reach...
I can sense the grief he feels as he wavers between the two...
So you're capable of making an expression like that now!
Your big sister can eat three bowls of rice just thinking about your face!
You've... grown big.
Huh? What do you mean? Big Sister, are you okay?
For now, I suppose I should congratulate you on passing the exam.
Though I had expected you to achieve this much,
considering that you went ahead against my wishes.
Th-Thanks.
So this is the last time I'll see you in this suit.
You're right. I'll be assigned to a color soon.
Y-You can be in the Pink Squadron with me if you don't mind.
If that happens, I'll die of happiness!
I was in the Red Squad during the exam.
Passed
It'll be the Red Squadron. The Red Garrison...
Fine by me.
This time, I'm going to kill him!
Oh! What a manly expression!
I'd love to make a bromide of it and worship it every morning!
Please stop! No... I'm innocent!
Stop fighting back!
The young boy over there!
- Stay still! - Please help me!
I'm ignoring him.
It's really not me! This is the work of a monster!
For someone who looks like a monster with that makeup,
- stop blaming it on a monster! - I'll be right back.
Stay still, monster!
Ouch!
Young boy!
Um, could you tell me what's going on?
Scram, Ranger Force!
This isn't the place for a private organization to poke their nose into!
No hard feelings, Ranger boy.
You guys have been doing so well, it's making us feel inferior.
Originally, the police and Ranger Force were supposed to cooperate
and share information with each other.
This is a missing persons case.
We're seeing a rise in incidents centered around relatively young students.
It's said that they've been spirited away.
And we saw a suspicious man loitering around the area,
so we arrested him.
I'm not suspicious. I'm a good civilian.
I was investigating the incidents.
I heard that the young girl from this house
had disappeared last night.
My younger brother was spirited away too, you see.
Culprits always return to the scene of the crime!
My intuition honed with my years of experience
is telling me that this guy here is guilty!
Like I said, it's not me! It's a monster!
In that case, you're a monster!
That would explain everything.
Monsters aren't dumb, too.
They wouldn't do something as stupid
as returning to the scene of the abduction, either.
I was around here for a while, and I saw him.
As for what he was doing...
Excuse me, do you live nearby?
I'd like to ask you something.
Is that something so evil that he deserves to be arrested?
Young boy!
You act so haughty for an amateur!
It is a monster.
The Ranger Force is investigating this incident as well.
We've had a student who disappeared on the bus within a few seconds,
and even someone's shut-in son disappeared from his room.
Most of these mysterious incidents could not have happened
without the intervention of a non-human entity.
In all probability, this is the work of a monster.
We've yet to receive such a report--
Lady, even if what you said were true,
it's hard to imagine that a rogue monster would be capable of such a feat.
You're right. The Ranger Force thinks so, too.
In short, doesn't that mean...
As frustrated as we are,
we lack the puzzle pieces to reach the truth.
Let him go.
Thank you, young boy! I'm in your debt!
Could this be... Peltrola's work?
No, that's impossible.
They should have been eradicated back in that fight.
You're wrong.
This information is something that only we know,
but there's one left.
A small part of them managed to escape.
They're weakened, but they're still alive.
Then, Blue also...
I'm sorry.
Let's postpone our meal for another day.
Big Sister?
Hibiki...
I'll bring everything to an end.
Sir!
We've just received information on the man we arrested earlier.
His name is... It just says "Chidori."
He appears to have a past criminal record,
but there are some unnatural gaps in his data.
As for his family members... What?
My younger brother was spirited away too, you see.
- What's wrong? - It seems like he doesn't have siblings.
I knew it.
Peltrola wasn't the only boss monster that survived.
The boss monsters have taken root in the dark side of this city.
If I get rid of all the Dragon Keepers, it's only going to make those guys happy!
In that case, I'll have to kill the boss monsters at the same time...
But, how do I do that?
Damn it!
I'm running late!
Not good!
Why?
Oh, I'm glad it's you, Sakurama.
No, I mean, sorry about that.
No, I should be the one thanking you instead!
My face would have crumbled without that cushioning!
Usukubo, did the HQ summon you, too?
You too, Sakurama?
I wonder if we did something wrong.
There are too many things that come to mind.
I was the one who called you guys here.
Junior First Rank Hisui?
Hey.
Why are you sleeping at a place like this?
I wasn't sleeping.
I was just lying down for a moment.
Just lying down... for a moment...
Junior First Rank Hisui...
She looks cute when she's asleep.
She must be tired from all the daily media appearances.
What? I'm not asleep.
I'm not sleepy, but I'll make this short.
Listen up.
Hibiki Sakurama.
Angel Usukubo.
You've been assigned to the Green Squadron. Congrats.
- What? - What?
That fast?
Excuse me.
Wasn't I supposed to be assigned to the Red Squadron?
Your squad color doesn't always reflect the final squadron.
We came to this conclusion after a discussion
between the Junior First Ranks who officiated the exam.
I've decided to take the two of you in.
But still... the Green Squadron?
Sakurama, watch your tone!
Not happy? I can't blame you for that.
After all, the work we do isn't publicly known to everyone.
Why is that so?
That's because the Green Squadron's main duty is
to search for boss monsters.
There's no need to explain this to you guys now,
but we're intentionally hiding the fact from the rest of the world.
Aside from Peltrola,
there are other similar boss monsters hiding in this city.
And as stealth monster specialists,
the Green Squadron is responsible for flushing them out.
We're... searching for boss monsters!
You seem satisfied now.
All right. Welcome, newcomers.
The real Ranger Force awaits you from here on.
I got this!
Translated by Qianni Lu
- What do you need today? - Nothing, really.
- You look rather sick. - No, I was born looking like this.
Born looking like this...
- Yeah? - Your teeth look really crooked!
Hey, stop commenting on my face!
Next episode, "For This School, in This Moment."
So, what do you need today?
For now, please fix my cavity.
Oh, we don't do that here.