The afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Alex, Luke, and Carl strolled through the park, laughing and joking like any other group of high school seniors. The three friends had just wrapped up a long week of classes and were looking forward to the weekend. But as they approached the clearing near the lake, a familiar, ominous crackle filled the air.
"Guys... you hear that?" Alex's senses sharpened, his casual demeanor gone in an instant.
"Yeah, I hear it," Luke replied, narrowing his eyes at the shimmering distortion forming in the air. "That’s not just a breeze."
Carl, ever the optimist, quipped, "Ugh, and here I was hoping we'd get one monster-free weekend."
Suddenly, the dimensional rift tore open, and a towering figure stepped through. Clad in jagged, black armor, with chains draped across his massive shoulders, the creature’s head was that of a snarling wolf, its red eyes glowing with malevolence. At his feet, dark, shadowy hounds, with eyes like embers, circled restlessly, eager for battle.
"Cyber Space Warriors!" the beast growled, his voice a mix of a bark and a roar. "I am the Kennel Master, and by order of Lord Skullface, I shall break you!"
The boys exchanged a quick glance.
"No chance, Fido," Alex said, raising his wrist as his power watch flared to life. Luke and Carl did the same.
"Cyber Space Warriors—Power Up!" they shouted in unison, their bodies engulfed in a brilliant flash of light.
In seconds, they were transformed. The Red, Black, and Blue Cyber Space Warriors stood ready, their armored forms gleaming in the dying sunlight.
Carl cracked his knuckles, his helmet reflecting the beast’s glowing eyes. "Let’s put this pup back on a leash."
The battle was instant and ferocious. The Kennel Master unleashed his shadow hounds, which charged at the boys with lightning speed. But Alex, Luke, and Carl were more than prepared. Their movements were a blur of precision and strength as they dodged and counterattacked, each warrior taking down the snarling creatures one by one.
Carl, with his tech-savvy mind, quickly analyzed the Kennel Master's weak points and transmitted the info to Alex and Luke. "Go for the legs—he’s got enhanced armor up top!"
"On it!" Alex shouted, flipping through the air to deliver a series of powerful kicks to the monster’s lower body. Luke followed up with a flurry of rapid punches, his agility unmatched as he danced around the Kennel Master’s lumbering strikes.
For a moment, it seemed like victory was within their grasp. The Kennel Master staggered, snarling in frustration.
But just as the warriors prepared to deliver the final blow, the Kennel Master’s red eyes flashed with a sudden, eerie glow. He straightened, his deep voice resonating with a hypnotic tone.
"You boys... like dogs," he growled, a sinister smirk curling across his face. "You obey your masters... don’t you?"
Alex paused mid-strike, feeling a strange, tugging sensation in his mind. His body stiffened as the Kennel Master’s next words echoed in his ears like an irresistible command.
"SIT!"
Before Alex could resist, his legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. He tried to stand, but his body refused to obey his will.
"Wh-what's going on?" Luke shouted, struggling as the same invisible force took control of him. He, too, dropped to the ground beside Alex, powerless to resist.
Carl, trying to fight it, let out a groan as his knees buckled. "No way... this can't be happening..."
"STAY," the Kennel Master ordered, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. Instantly, the three warriors were frozen in place, kneeling on the ground like obedient pets, unable to move, no matter how much they struggled.
The Kennel Master approached them, his monstrous shadow looming over their immobilized forms. He chuckled darkly, patting each one on the head as though they were mere dogs.
"Good boys," he sneered, his fangs glinting in the fading light. "You belong to me now."
Alex’s fists clenched, rage boiling inside him, but he couldn't move. "We’ll... get out of this... you won’t win!"
The Kennel Master ignored him, pacing in front of them with an air of arrogance. "So many possibilities... What should I do with such loyal pets? Perhaps I’ll have you attack your own city, or better yet, turn you against each other... But first, I think I’ll have you fetch something for me."
Carl groaned. "He’s... so cheesy. I thought my jokes were bad..."
The Kennel Master paid no attention to Carl’s defiance. Instead, he raised his hand, summoning another rift to Lord Skullface’s dimension. "Yes, let’s see how long you can hold out before I strip your minds and wills completely. I always did enjoy breaking my toys slowly."
The boys’ armor glimmered faintly as they fought to break free of the Kennel Master’s control. But the hypnotic hold was too strong, and for the first time in a long while, they felt truly powerless.
"Stay," the Kennel Master repeated, his voice low and menacing as he stepped through the rift, leaving the immobilized warriors behind. "I’ll be back to collect my prize soon enough."
And with that, the portal snapped shut, leaving Alex, Luke, and Carl frozen in place, staring helplessly into the empty sky, wondering how they would escape their new, terrifying predicament.