Bucky Buckeye adjusted his red horned mask and stared at the training grounds ahead. His armor felt heavy on his small frame. The other Rangers made fighting Evil Spirits look easy, but he still struggled with basic moves. He wanted to prove himself worthy to lead the team one day. His dream burned inside him like a fire that wouldn't go out. He turned away from the empty field and walked toward the team's base. The building rose before him, covered in red and gold decorations that shimmered in the afternoon sun. Paper lanterns hung from the roof. Golden dragons twisted around the pillars. This was where real leaders made decisions and planned missions. Bucky stopped at the entrance and looked up at the bright colors. Someday he would stand inside and command his team from here. Someday he would be ready. But first, he had to get stronger. He pushed through the doors and spotted a wooden training dummy near the far wall. His hands curled into fists. This was where he could practice without anyone watching him fail. Bucky threw a punch at the dummy's chest. His fist bounced off the hard wood. He tried a kick. His foot connected with a dull thud. Again and again he struck the dummy. Sweat dripped down his face under the mask. Each hit felt better than the last. A strange glow caught his eye from the corner of the room. A beacon stood on a table, covered in traditional symbols and bright red lanterns. The light pulsed like a heartbeat. Bucky walked closer and reached out to touch it. The beacon was meant to detect Evil Spirits in the area. Leaders needed to understand how to use tools like this. He studied the symbols carved into its surface. This headquarters held everything a team leader needed. Training equipment. Detection devices. A place to plan and prepare. Bucky stepped back and looked around the room one more time. He had taken his first real step inside. Tomorrow he would come back and train harder.

Bucky arrived at the training grounds before sunrise. His breath made small clouds in the cold air. He needed to master the basics before anyone else showed up to practice. His feet shuffled into a fighting stance he'd seen the other Rangers use. Arms up. Knees bent. Weight balanced. He threw a punch at the empty air and nearly lost his footing. This was harder than it looked. He reset his stance and tried again. A loud gong echoed across the grounds. The alarm system rang out three times. Bucky's head snapped toward the sound. That pattern meant the team needed to gather at headquarters right away. He ran across the field, his boots kicking up dust. The fire barrier that circled the base burned brighter than usual. Orange flames climbed higher along the protective ring. Something was wrong. Bucky rushed through the entrance and found himself in a library he'd never seen before. Red and gold decorations covered every wall. Scrolls and books lined the tall shelves from floor to ceiling. Dust floated in the air. This room held answers about Evil Spirits and how to fight them. He pulled a thick book from a nearby shelf and flipped it open. Pages showed drawings of monsters and symbols he couldn't read yet. A leader needed to understand these things. A leader needed to study. He set the book on a table and ran his finger down the page. The drawings showed weak spots on different Evil Spirits. Patterns repeated across multiple creatures. Bucky grabbed a second book and compared the information. His heart beat faster. This was real training. This was what leaders did before they fought. He spent the next hour reading everything he could. When footsteps sounded in the hall, Bucky closed the books and stood tall. He had taken his first step toward understanding his enemy.