10. Fear of death.
Zach descended through the stairs down, each step trembling beneath him, his instincts screamed at him to go back up but self preservation got the better of him.
He finally reached the ground floor, ruble and debris filled the cracked tiles, splintered equipment stretched out before him as the glass door entrance was shattered.
Zach lept at the exit, only for a deafening boom to throw him back.
A tremor ran through the hospital, shaking the very foundation itself, the roof collapse in and on itself creating a barricade with the pile of stones in front of the entrance.
"Oh no.."
Zach banged at the ruble but it wouldn't budge, the stone bits and Boulder mixed with medical equipment formed the perfect blockage with sharp edges that would hurt if careless.
"Damm why's this happened..." Zach cursed, the hospital ceiling made a groaning sound. Zach's gaze shot up, the roof was damaged so much that Zach could see the iron supporters holding on the the remaining pile of ruble.
Zach staggered back, heart pounding in his ears, his fingers stung from the stone, blood smeared across his knuckles. The ceiling groaned again, this was it. No exists, no more luck, just death creepimg closer.
"So this.." the Iron groaned once more.
"....is the the fear of death....?"
Meanwhile..outside of the hospital had been quickly evacuated, police officers stood at discreet location as a few of the awakened tried to at least cushion the fall of such a mighty structure, the traffic had halted forming an adnormally long line of waiting cars.
Some onlookers brought out their phone, recording this event, their faces lit up by the bright flames from theassibe structure.
The hospital was on of the tallest building in that district so the flames illuminated the streets so brightly it almost felt like day.
The heat could be felt over miles.
Helicopters hovered around the scenes flashing their bright light from above reporters closely videoing the wreakage.
The news was broadcasted live with everyone in the nation and beyond watching.
"A tyrannical clash between star knights had occured in a hospital located in the 30th district, one of the most populated district in all of Russia.
Sources proclaimed it to be a battle involving a Japanese veteran from the old war and other unknown powerhouses, the battle had been on for quite sometime now and the destruction speaks volumes."
She paused...
"Meanwhile the national defense are claiming to be heading towards the scene as we speak but there are nowhere to be found, the police officers have tried their best in evacuating as much people as they can from the surrounding residential buildings.
That's all they can do, the police force is powerless now it's all up to the N.D.S who have not even arrived at the scenes yet."
Below the officers were baffled.
"Why isn't the national defense here yet, it's been over the 30 minutes mark" one of the officers shouted.
Beneath the helicopters, a black SUV was parked near the perimeter a woman dressed in a sleek black bodysuit with gold outlines stood besides it, her eyes fixated on the burning building.
She sighed.
"In the end.." she paused, lighting up a cigarette.
"I'm still helpless in this world", she puffed the smoke exhaling out her nostrils as she spoke.
"I must become stronger.." a glint of determination flashed in her eyes.
****
On the fifth floor... where the national level occurrence was happening.
Haruki flashed like a ghost, dashing towards the duo.
He had to finish this before he was out of strength.
The silver haired lady waisted no time her massive sword shattering into glowing fragments, each one firing a blinding beam of energy.
Hundreds of beams flew at the dashing old man at unknown intervals but the old man was agile dodging the beams and slashing the ones he couldn't dodge with practiced ease.
The burly man in robes surged forward, his gauntlet glowed with dark energy as he threw a punch at the old man.
Haruki eyes flashed.
He raised his sword in defence, the obsidian surface of the gauntlet clashed with the crimson red hot blade of the old man.
Boom*
The ground cracked as the old man was hurled backwards, before he could recover a pit of shadows bloomed beneath his feet, dark tentacles shot out from beneath wrapimg around his limbs, binding him.
*Cough*
The duo didn't waist time, the girl boosted with her blades which combined in an instant to form the large claymore, and the burly man boosted his gauntlet glowing with dark energy.
Haruki's eyes widened, then turned cold.
Phoenix burst, the shadowy tentacles burst in a mirage of orange flames as in that same motion the old man swung his sword.
Kamamowdo: last stand.
A torrent of blue flame burst out like the screams of a sun god, flashing the whole space into white.
The brutes gauntlet shattered, his body split in half.
The lady eyes widened but it was too late.
The entire fifths floor collapsed in a burst of blue flames.
From the outside view, the bricks hiding the fifth floor from the outside world burst open, all round the rectangular building the upper floors bent slightly began to crash on the streets in a barrage of boulders.
The building main falling part crashed into another building, totally engulfing it in flames.
On the fifth floor Haruki stood, a burning crown hovering above his head, his shirt had burnt completely off and his chiseled body was decorated with glowing blue sigils, once he unleashed his technique, his orange flames turned blue and burned brighter.
The burning halo above his head was new, it pulsated with a might unlike any other.
He stood there in the burning rubble on the slashed building, the night sky casted a faint glow over the horizon.
"Wow...that was great..I'm impressed"
Hakuri turned.
A line on blade with a wooden tip lined in front of him as a cloaked figure walked down, the blade floating into place as his foot stepped on it using it as a ladder.
His calm demeanor, made the Japanese veteran squint his eyes.
"Heavenly Knight...?!"