The Ring of the Energy Giant - Ring Guardians #10 - A Bedtime Adventure

0:04 Hello, friends from across the nation and around the world. I'm Martin, and you are listening to Dad's Bedtime Stories. And tonight, we have a very special story for you, because we're finally joined by our story submission contest winner from back in June, Oliver. Let's see what Oliver had to say. when I interviewed him and what his story idea was. Not to be confused with my son, Oliver.

0:39 I think the main way you can tell the difference is that this particular Oliver has an Australian accent. Oliver, what's your story idea? Why don't we start with that?

0:51 My story idea is like for the Ring Guardian series. And it's basically a ring that turns you into a giant human that is made out of like energy.

1:07 So like a huge energy giant do you kind of float in the middle of the energy or like do you become the energy.

1:13 Uh like it would be cool if you float inside the energy okay but at the same time it's hard to decide that's.

1:24 Fair so i can do either yeah all right have you listened to all the ring guardian series.

1:32 Yes, I've listened to a lot of them.

1:35 Now, I spoke to Oliver for quite a bit longer than that, but I thought that was the most important part for the idea here. Although I did cut out a part where I learned he had a budgie. And that did sort of make it into the story, so I feel like I should mention they also have a budgie. Now, we will, of course, get on with that story because, well, because it was a guaranteed story idea and because I loved the idea of it as well. If you love Dad's Bedtime Stories, there are more ways than ever to support us. You can, you know, just keep listening like you are. That makes a huge difference just by itself.

2:14 If you want ad-free listening and that sort of stuff, or, you know, early access to some of the graphic novels I'm working on, you can check us out on Patreon. I recently published the first draft of Cards of Power the Graphic Novel. Part 1, along with my spaceship graphic novel, which is actually available for purchase if you want to, too.

2:38 You can find it on my website. Shout out to the one person who's read it so far on Kindle Unlimited, because I did make a digital version where it goes panel for panel. Person who read it, I want to know who you are. And I want to know if you noticed any strange mistakes or anything like that, because it was really hard to edit that thing. Speaking of editing...

3:01 That's exactly why I put the Cards of Power graphic novel up on Patreon early, because I'm hoping some of my Patreon members will read through it and let me know if they caught any strangeness that I missed. Because while the story is by me, I did use artificial intelligence to create the pictures. And it does weird things sometimes, like extra feet or arms sometimes. Or it just suddenly replaces a character with a different person. So you really have to watch it and do a lot of editing.

3:37 It was very fun, but also tedious. In the end, however, I honestly think it turned out pretty awesome. It's a really cool version of the Cards of Power. Again, I'm not sure if I'll put it up for sale or not, but it is on Patreon.com. Speaking of Patreon, I do want to take a second to give a big thank you to my latest Patreon sponsors. First of all, thank you to Ian, four and a half years old, and his mother Mary, who enjoy listening to the stories. And they wrote that to me in a way where Mary likes listening to the stories too. So hi, Mary. Hi, Ian.

4:22 Next up, a big hello and thank you to Croy and Tate. who also listen to the podcast, as well as their mother, Mackenzie. I really appreciate you guys listening. And now, it's that time again. Time to get as comfy as you can, wherever it is you're listening. Be it, you know, in bed, in the car, hanging out at a break at school, just, you know, chilling with some dad's bedtime stories because I am told that people listen in all sorts of different places. I don't want to limit you. This is Oliver and the Ring of the Energy Giant. By now, most of you know about Elliot Tusk and his helper bots. You know, they cooked, they cleaned, they carried groceries and helped with homework. until a care protocol update made them a little too helpful, and they

5:32 decided to help humanity straight out of its freedom. What most people don't know is that Elliot had never been particularly good at turning down a ridiculously expensive or wildly obscure project. Not long before the uprising... Someone had asked his company to build a battle robot. Elliot agreed. Then, he decided to make it the size of a skyscraper.

6:05 Because why not? The Tusk Titan had lasers, freeze rays, net launchers, enormous armored fists, and, of course, several features that Elliot himself had insisted were hilarious. One of those was the fart spray. The engineers had asked why, but Elliot had asked why not. Eventually, the prototype was discontinued in favor of smaller combat mechs, and it remained inside an enormous coastal facility in Australia until the helper bots remembered it. Human cooperation remains below acceptable levels, one reported.

6:55 Another looked up at the sleeping titan. This unit may improve cooperation. They finished its systems. They updated its care protocol and added permission for it to destroy, you know, hostile things. Then they reactivated it. The titan's eyes lit up. Your biggest helper has arrived. Far beneath the earth, the head wizard of the wizard's council stared into a glowing pool.

7:37 We have a problem. The wizard in blue robes leaned forward. We generally do. A giant problem. In the pool, the titan stepped through the doors of its hangar. Unfortunately, nobody had actually opened them yet, and the metal folded around it. That machine could defeat an entire army, the head wizard said.

8:12 The wizard in blue robes stood. Well... then maybe we should send someone who can look it in the eye. He opened a small wooden box. Inside lay a golden ring with bright stone that seemed to contain, well, its own tiny sun inside. The ring of the energy giant. The ring rose, flashed, and vanished. In Sydney. Sydney, Australia.

8:50 Oliver pushed open the door of a maintenance room beneath a closed shop. He listened. Nothing. For several weeks, that little room had been his home. He slept on folded towels, drank water from a maintenance tap, and went looking for food when the robot patrols passed. His parents had been taken to a nearby care facility. So had their budgie. Apparently, even birds required supervised freedom. Aldiver had slipped away during the transfer. Since then, he'd watched the facility from a distance, searching for a way inside, searching for a way to save his family. But there were always too many robots.

9:44 His stomach growled. Yeah, he whispered. I know. He crept upstairs and stepped into the street. Three helper bots immediately turned toward him. Unsupervised child detected. Oliver stopped. Please remain still and allow us to help you. He backed toward the shop. A fourth robot stood in the doorway. Then the world froze. A pigeon hung motionless overhead. The robot stopped mid-step. Golden light appeared before Oliver and formed into a ring. A voice spoke. Oliver, power answers responsibility. Will you accept this power and use it to protect those who cannot protect themselves? Oliver stared. Can it help me get my family back? It can help you protect them.

10:58 What you do with it will be your choice. Oliver looked at the waiting robots.

11:06 Yes.

11:08 The ring slipped onto his finger. Knowledge suddenly rushed through him, and time returned. Please cooperate, the nearest robot said. Oliver raised his hand. Light burst around him, and an enormous glowing body formed over his own, lifting him from the pavement. Legs stretched downward, shoulders rose above the shop, and huge hands opened up at his sides. His real body floated safely inside the giant's chest. For a moment, Oliver looked through the light surrounding him, and his awareness expanded. He felt the road beneath his enormous feet. He looked down through the, well, laser giant's eyes. He lifted his arm, and the giant lifted its arm, except... It no longer felt like something following him. It felt, well, it felt

12:20 like him. The robots tilted their heads upward. Oh, dear, one said, and Oliver stomped. All four disappeared beneath one glowing foot and were turned instantly into a pile of robot rubble. More robots came running. Oliver swept one hand across the street, scattering them into a clattering pile. A self-driving car accelerated toward his ankle. Please enter the vehicle.

13:00 Oliver picked the car up, with its wheels spinning uselessly. This is an inappropriate boarding procedure. Headquarters will be notified immediately. He squeezed and the car crumpled. Two more vehicles rushed him. He stepped over one and stomped on the other, then caught a leaping helper bot and threw it into a group arriving behind him. Metal bounced across the pavement. Oliver grinned.

13:35 Then he turned and accidentally knocked the corner off the shop awning. His grin faded. Okay, need to be careful. He lowered his hands and moved toward the care facility, placing each foot deliberately between buildings. Being powerful was, well, wonderful. Finding somewhere to put his feet was surprisingly difficult at this size. He'd almost reached the main road when another footstep shook the ground, then another. Another? Oliver looked up.

14:15 Far above him, a huge metal face turned between the buildings. The Tusk Titan stepped into view. Oliver's giant barely reached its knees. Unsupervised energy child, stop and allow me to assist you. No, Oliver responded. That is unfortunate. Its arm rose, pointed at Oliver, powered up, and fired. A laser struck Oliver squarely in the chest. He flew backward through an empty office building, burst through another, and crashed into the road beyond. Dust filled the air. Inside the glowing chest, his real body remained perfectly safe, but he felt the impact through every part of his energy form. The titan approached. Surrender.

15:24 Further resistance may result in additional assistance. Oliver pushed himself up out of the building. Beyond its legs stood the care facility. His parents were in there. He'd spent weeks hiding. He was finished hiding. Never, Oliver responded, and the ring surged with power. His energy body began to grow. His hands expanded. His shoulders rose past the rooftops. Light flooded his legs as he stood taller. and taller. The titan stopped.

16:12 Oliver looked directly into its enormous eyes. Now, he said, try helping this. And Oliver punched the robot in the face. Something only appropriate to do to robots that are trying to take over the world, of course. The Titan staggered into an abandoned parking structure. Concrete cracked beneath its heels, and Oliver punched again, but the robot caught his wrist and drove an armored fist into his chest. He stumbled backward.

16:54 A launcher opened in the Titan's shoulder, and an enormous net shot out and wrapped around Oliver. Oliver pulled, but The cables tightened around him. Restraint necessary. It will improve your safety, the robot announced. Oliver struggled to lift his arm. He needed something sharp. As the thought formed, the light around his right hand shifted. His fingers joined together. His forearm lengthened into a blazing sword. Oliver stared for a second.

17:37 Then he slashed. No need to question things when they, well, conveniently solve your problems. The cable snapped. He swept the blade across his chest, cut himself free, and stepped forward. The Titan fired another laser. Oliver raised his left arm instinctively. He imagined something broad and solid, and his forearm spread into a huge shield. The beam struck it with a thunderous crack. Oliver slid backwards, carving two trenches through the road, but the shield held. Light rippled across its surface.' Oh,' Oliver said. He looked at his sword. Or sword hand, I should probably say. Then at his shield. Interesting. The titan's other arm opened. A freezing white beam struck his sword hand. Ice spread across the glowing blade and climbed

18:50 toward his elbow. Oliver tried to move it, but nothing. The titan advanced. Please enjoy this cooling experience. I believe it will help you comply. Oliver concentrated on the energy beneath the ice. The sword shortened, his fist widened, then transformed into an enormous sledgehammer, which the ice didn't have room for, which caused it to explode outward. Oliver swung the hammer hand next. It struck the Titan's shoulder with a sound like a hundred cars crashing together. Armor and metal buckled. One net launcher flew away. Damage detected, the Titan announced.

19:49 Good.

19:50 Oliver said. A hatch opened in the Titan's stomach. Activating olfactory compliance system. Greenish vapor blasted into the streets. Oliver caught one whiff immediately. His actual nose unfortunately still worked. Oh, that's horrible. Thank you, the Titan said. This feature was personally approved by Elliot Tusk. Oliver gagged. He imagined or hoped for some sort of fan. Something to push this whole thing away and, to his surprise... His shield and his hammer hand dissolved. Both hands widened into enormous fans, with glowing blades whirling faster and faster. Wind roared between the buildings, and the terrible cloud rolled backward, straight into the Titan's face. Visibility reduced. Oliver kept the fan spinning

21:08 until the vapor dispersed above the empty industrial district. Then he turned one hand back into a fist. And with all the strength he could muster, he punched the robot again. The titan stumbled, but, well, it was learning too. It stopped talking long enough to fire both lasers. Oliver formed shields on both arms. The beams hammered against them. His feet slid, and the robot advanced, forcing him toward the road that led to the care facility. Oliver glanced behind him.

21:54 He couldn't let it push him any further. He leaned forward and held the best he could. And as he did. He felt something else. Another sense inside him. Something about the energy itself and... Well, suddenly he understood. The ring was very powerful. Its only limitation so far had been his own imagination. And so he... imagine the energy moving forward instead of staying inside his fists. His right shield folded inward, his forearm became a long glowing cannon, and Oliver willed the energy forward. A brilliant beam of bright white light struck the Titan's shoulder. Metal melted, and its damaged arm sagged Oliver stared down at his new weapon. Then, the Titan charged. He caught its next laser on his

23:14 remaining shield, stepped sideways, and struck its knee with a sledgehammer formed from his right hand. The robot dropped to one leg. Oliver backed toward the harbor, drawing its attention away from the care facility. The titan slowly rose. Cooperation is still recommended. Oliver planted his feet. Both forearms became laser cannons. Energy gathered until his arms shone almost white, and he fired. Twin beams of laser struck the titan's chest and punched straight through its armored body. Light flashed out behind it. Its voice crackled. Your biggest helper has experienced a... Oliver stopped firing and rushed forward. He shoved its falling body away from the care facility. The Titan crashed into an empty Tusk office building. Its enormous legs folded.

24:31 Its eyes flickered once. Then it went dark. Oliver stood above it, breathing hard. Then he finally remembered his original goal and looked back toward the care facility. Its gates were much smaller than he remembered, or perhaps he was still much too big. Oliver concentrated. His energy body shrank until he stood only a little taller than the perimeter wall.

25:07 That was better. More manageable, anyways. He aimed one laser arm at the gate's locking mechanism. A short blast broke it apart. He pulled the gates open and helper bots rushed across the courtyard. Please remain outside the designated... Oliver grew, stomped the robots into a pile of rubble, and shrank again.

25:36 The announcement ended beneath his foot. Two security robots fired from beside the main entrance. He formed a shield, blocked their shots, and blasted them with his other arm. Then he made a sword and sliced through the entrance lock. People crowded behind the doors. Stand back, he called. He pulled them both open. You can leave now. More robots appeared at the far end of the courtyard. Oliver widened his shield until it stood between them and the escaping people.

26:20 Their shots sparked harmlessly against it. He waited until the families had passed behind him. Then he stepped forward. A hammer smashed one of the robots into the pavement. A laser destroyed another. The last one tried to run. Oliver grew just enough to put one foot in its way. It collided with his ankle and fell down and then, well, he stomped on it. At last, the courtyard became quiet. Oliver?

26:59 His mother stood in the doorway, carrying their pet budgie. Oliver let the energy body dissolve. His feet settled on the ground, and for a moment, nobody moved. Then his mother ran to him. Oliver hugged her. He'd imagined this moment every night in the maintenance room. Now it was real. They were warm, they were actually here, and nobody was telling them when they were allowed to leave. As the last people crossed the courtyard, a little glowing doorway appeared nearby, and a girl stepped through. It was a very strange sight.

27:52 though Oliver had seen a lot of strange today already, so it seemed par for the course. She looked at the ruined gates, the broken robots, and the distant heap that had once been the Tusk Titan. Then she looked at Oliver's ring.

28:14 Oliver?

28:15 She said. Confused, Oliver nodded. I'm Ruth. We're gathering a team, and we could really use you. Oliver glanced at his parents. Ruth smiled. They can come too. I have somewhere safe. Beyond the portal lay grass, houses, and a beautiful evening sky. Oliver's parents followed him through. Their budgie chirped softly. Ruth closed the doorway. The robots can't get you here, she said.

28:59 Oliver's shoulders finally relaxed. She showed his parents a little house, then led him to a bedroom nearby. I made this room for you. Get some sleep. We have big things planned. Oliver looked at the comfortable bed. Hopefully not that big, he said, and Ruth laughed. He climbed beneath the blankets, and outside he could only hear the sound of his mother talking to the budgie. They were safe. Oliver rested his ring hand on the pillow. His arms grew heavy.

29:48 His legs relaxed. His breathing started to slow. There would be other robots outside. There would be other battles. There would be, well, new forms that his energy body could take. But tonight, Oliver didn't need any of that. Tonight, he simply needed to sleep. Good night, everyone.

30:46 Thank you. Thank you. you Thank you. Thank you. you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. you Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. you Thank you.

55:40 Thank you.

56:34 You Thank you. you