Chopper Crash

Raine's armor shifted around her fist as she lunged forward to strike down the weakest Ranger, but out of nowhere, Shaun's hands morphed into massive metallic shields, effortlessly blocking her heavy blow.

A sudden clang rang out, surprising Raine. "Damn."

Shaun braced himself, absorbing a few more of her strikes as he fought to maintain his ground on the staircase. Fortunately, the height advantage worked in his favor, enabling him to defend more effectively against her relentless assault. If he had been on lower ground, he would have surely lost his footing and tumbled down the entire staircase.

Raine charged frantically, her eyes darting toward the upper doorway. She was aware that the Red Ranger could arrive at any moment—and she had to finish this before that occurred.

Suddenly, one of her subordinates crashed into the upper wall, tumbling to the ground near her. Shaun and Raine jumped back in shock as the heavy, armored figure slammed beside them.

From above, Alex glanced over the railing. In one quick motion, he leaped down, his weapon meeting Raine's in mid-air as they collided. Meanwhile, Shaun, always the strategist, guided the others through the door to the third floor, creating an opportunity for Alex's strike.

Alex's katana flashed in the tight confines of the staircase, its blade slicing through the air as the two fought tooth and nail in the restricted space. Raine understood that the narrow surroundings worked to her advantage, allowing her to overwhelm the ranger wielding a katana. Still, she felt an intense sense of hopelessness—his relentless assault reminded her just how much stronger he was.

As the battle raged, one of her subordinates from above charged a massive blast, which exploded right beside them. The impact sent tremors through the staircase, causing it to crumble like falling leaves. With no other options, they had no choice but to leap through the door to the third floor.

Meanwhile, Seraphina and Shaun waited for Alex. They had faith in his victory, but Seraphina felt an urge to rush forward when a massive explosion engulfed the staircase, anxious for Alex's safety. Her mother, Liora, held her back.

"Wait. He will be okay," Liora said. "We need to keep our distance."

"Don't worry, Miss. Serge is strong," Shaun said, nodding in agreement. "Look, there he is."

"Fools," Alex smirked, stepping back a few paces from the doorway to the third floor.

"Hey! You alright?" Raine looked down through the doorway, where her comrade lay among the rubble of the collapsed stairs. He waved weakly, and she let out a sigh of relief.

Her eyes narrowed swiftly as she glanced at the upper staircase, where another comrade attempted to hide behind the railing. His metal armor exposed him.

"I'm going to kill you, just wait," Raine cursed, shifting her gaze back to Alex.

Now she understood what Blue meant when he said, "Don't piss him off." She briefly wondered if the Red Ranger had always been this strong. If so, how had Blue managed to defeat him several times?

"No," Raine smiled to herself. "Defeat is one thing. He just managed to evade his pursuers countless times."

Raine hoped Blue would join her soon to take down Alex. In the meantime, she was determined to get the president's daughter and her mother into her grasp.

At that moment, the sound of glass shattering echoed throughout the building. Two metallic figures crashed through the fifth floor, slamming into a truck parked below.

Everyone turned toward the noise, and Raine felt a chill run down her spine. Did they just fall from the fifth floor? She swallowed hard, feeling concerned. Is he okay?

"Tyson?" Seraphina gasped as she rushed toward the glass wall. She pointed at him. "It's Tyson! Thank God he's okay."

Alex took a quick look at them and then urged the group onward. "We need to keep moving."

"Hey!" Raine shouted, watching them dash to the other side of the corridor. She hesitated, glanced back at Blue one last time, then gave chase.

The circular corridor stretched before them, its sleek glass walls providing a panoramic view of the outside world. Sunlight streamed through the transparent barrier, sharply contrasting with the devastated landscape below. The explosion had left its mark, with smoke still billowing in the distance and gray wisps twisting. The acrid scent of burnt debris lingered heavily, serving as a constant reminder of the chaos beneath.

Alex remained close behind, his senses boosted, his eyes searching for any hint of danger. Each step echoed softly against the chilly concrete floor as they moved ahead. Shaun took the lead, firmly maintaining a persistent pace despite the looming threat.

They had to keep moving. The bunker awaited them below—a sanctuary amidst the turmoil threatening to consume everything. They couldn't afford to stop.

Their footsteps thundered against the concrete as they approached the elevator at the far end of the corridor. Their breaths were heavy, and each step was urgently filled, but they were nearly there—just a little further.

But then, the air shifted. A deafening roar pierced through the tension, and the sky seemed to explode before anyone could react. A rescue chopper's blades, spinning wildly, came crashing like a fireball, streaking across the sky as if shot down by something unseen. It slammed into the side of the building with an earth-shaking impact, the glass walls shattering into a thousand pieces.

The ground beneath their feet trembled violently as the helicopter's wreckage crashed into the corridor, ripping through the floor like paper. The impact sent shockwaves splashing through the structure, and the very foundations of the building grumbled in response.

"Get down!" Shaun yelled, his voice drowned out by the overwhelming crash.

He hardly had time to react as the flaming wreckage of the chopper barreled toward them, sparks flying in every direction. Shaun extended his metallic shield instinctively, the metal plates interlocking to create an impenetrable barrier just in time. The explosion rocked him to his core, but the shield held, absorbing the force of the blast. His legs nearly buckled under the pressure, but he gritted his teeth, keeping the shield steady.

The shockwave knocked Alex off his feet, but he quickly recovered as his training kicked in. His eyes darted to Seraphina, whom the sheer force of the blast had thrown back. Without a second thought, he lunged toward her, pulling her into a tight, protective embrace. His nanoparticles activated instinctively as he wrapped his arms around her, reaching out to shield her with a protective barrier as debris rained around them. His protective instincts roared to life, determined to keep her safe at all costs.

"Sera! Are you okay?" Alex's voice was a low growl, urgent as he shielded her from the chaos. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, while the nano-particles coiled protectively around her like a second skin.

She nodded, her head resting against his chest, unable to respond verbally as the overwhelming force of the moment engulfed her.

Alex could barely discern the wreckage's outlines through the haze of smoke and dust. The helicopter had crashed through the floor, leaving a gaping hole that extended down to the bottom level and into the darkness below. The air was thick with smoke, the acrid scent of burning metal and oil filling his nostrils.

"Sera, dear?" Her mother called out, urgency in her tone as she hurried over. Shaun's metallic shield shimmered amidst the fog, the sole barrier protecting them.

Seraphina nodded, struggling to breathe, and thanked Shaun for his quick thinking. The shield had absorbed much of the blast, but it had left him standing farther away from them, near the edge of the floor, with the ground unstable beneath his feet.

"It's my duty," Shaun muttered, but the floor beneath him almost immediately gave way. He plunged through with a heavy thud, the ground crumbling below him, and then crashed to the second floor below with another bone-jarring impact. The debris followed, tumbling down like an avalanche, almost burying him under the wreckage.

He moved quickly, half panicking, shouting, "I'm alive!"

Alex, Seraphina, and her mother breathed a sigh of relief, but their moment of peace was short-lived. The ground beneath them groaned ominously, cracking and spreading like thunder in the sky.

"You go. Escort them, Serge," Shaun called, his voice strained as he pushed through the wreckage, coughing and moving boulders aside with sheer force. "I'll help Sergeant Tyson."

Alex nodded grimly, his gaze sweeping over the decaying environment. "Alright," he shouted back. "I'll get you to safety. Let's move—now!"

Suddenly, Raine appeared from the smoke and chaos. She observed the scene with wide eyes, a blend of awe and uncertainty flickering across her face. Alex and the others halted in their tracks as she obstructed their path.

She slowly pointed down the corridor. "That way. It should be less troublesome."

Alex hesitated, suspicion growing in his mind. Why was she allowing them to pass? What was she scheming? But before he could dwell on it, the ground shook beneath them, pushing him to decide.

"I'll clear the way," Raine said, her voice steady despite the tension in the atmosphere. "Follow me."

Alex glanced at Seraphina and her mother. They didn't have time to waste. He nodded, signaling them to follow Raine's lead. There was no other option. He trusted her for the time being.

As Raine turned and began to move swiftly and deliberately, Alex took Seraphina's hand, guiding her forward. With each passing moment, the building groaned louder, and the encroaching danger made every step feel like a race against time.