Chapter 28: 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, blocking her heavy blow with ease.A sharp clang echoed through the air, catching Raine off guard. "Shit."

Shaun braced himself, taking a few more of her strikes as he struggled to hold his ground on the staircase. Fortunately, the height advantage worked in his favor, allowing him to better defend against her relentless assault. Had he 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 knew the Red Ranger could arrive at any moment—and she had to finish this before that happened.

Suddenly, one of her subordinates crashed against the upper wall, falling miserably to the ground near her. Both Shaun and Raine leaped back in surprise as the heavy, armored figure slammed down beside them.

From above, Alex peeked over the railing. With a swift move, he jumped down, his weapon clashing with Raine's mid-air as the two collided. Shaun, ever the strategist, led the others through the door to the third floor, creating an opening for Alex's attack.

Alex's katana flashed in the tight confines of the staircase, its blade cutting through the air as the two fought tooth and nail in the cramped space. Raine knew that the narrow surroundings worked in her favor, providing her the opportunity to suppress the ranger armed with a katana. Yet, she felt an overwhelming sense of hopelessness—his unrelenting assault made her realize just how far superior he was.

As the battle raged, one of her subordinates from above charged up a massive blast, which exploded right beside them. The impact sent tremors through the staircase, causing it to crumble like falling leaves. With nowhere else to go, they both 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 when a large blast consumed the staircase, Seraphina couldn't help but rush forward, concerned for Alex's safety. Her mother, Liora, held her back.

"Wait. He'll be alright," Liora said, "We need to stay back."

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



"Idiots," Alex smirked, taking a few steps back from the doorway into the third floor.

"Hey! You okay?" Raine peered down through the doorway, where her comrade lay amidst the debris of the fallen stairs. He waved weakly, and she huffed a sigh of relief.

Her eyes quickly narrowed as she glanced at the upper staircase, where another comrade tried to hide behind the railing. His metal armor gave him away.

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

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

"No," Raine smiled to herself. "Defeating is one thing. He just managed to escape his pursuit countless times."

Raine hoped Blue would join her soon to overpower Alex. Until then, she was determined to get the president's daughter and her mother into her clutches.

Just then, the sound of glass shattering echoed through 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, concerned. Is he okay?

"Tyson?" Seraphina gasped, rushing toward the glass wall. She pointed at him. "It's Tyson! Thank God he's fine."

Alex briefly glanced at them, then nudged the group forward. "We've got to keep moving."

"Hey!" Raine shouted, seeing them make a run for the other side of the corridor. She hesitated, casting one last glance at Blue, then followed, chasing after them.



The circular corridor stretched out before them, its sleek glass walls offering a panoramic view of the world outside. Sunlight poured through the transparent barrier, stark against the ruinous landscape below. The explosion had left its mark, with smoke still swirling in the distance, and gray wisps twisting in the air. The acrid scent of burnt debris hung heavy, a constant reminder of the chaos below.

Alex stayed close behind, his senses sharp, eyes scanning for any sign of danger. Every step echoed faintly against the cold concrete floor as they pressed forward. Shaun led the way, determined, his pace steady despite the looming threat.

They had to keep moving. The bunker awaited them below—a sanctuary amidst the turmoil that threatened to swallow everything whole. They couldn't afford to stop.

The sound of footsteps echoed against the concrete as they neared the lift at the far end of the corridor. Their breaths were heavy, every step filled with urgency, but they were almost there. Just a little further.

But then, the air shifted. A deafening roar pierced through the tension, and before anyone could react, the sky seemed to explode. A rescue chopper—its blades spinning wildly—came crashing down 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 smashed into the corridor, tearing through the floor like paper. The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the structure, and the very foundations of the building groaned in protest.

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

He barely had time to react as the flaming wreckage of the chopper barreled toward them, sparks flying in all directions. Without thinking, Shaun extended his metallic shield, the metal plates interlocking to form an impenetrable barrier just in time. The explosion rocked him to his core, but the shield held, absorbing the brunt 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, his training kicking in. His eyes darted to Seraphina, who had been thrown back by the sheer force of the blast. Without a second thought, he lunged toward her, pulling her into a tight, protective embrace. As he wrapped his arms around her, his nano-particles activated instinctively, reaching out to shield her with a protective barrier as debris rained down 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, drawing her closer, while the nano-particles continued to coil protectively around her like a second skin.

She nodded, her head buried in his chest, unable to respond with words as the overwhelming force of the moment gripped her.

Through the haze of smoke and dust, Alex barely made out the outlines of the wreckage. The helicopter had torn through the floor, leaving a gaping hole that seemed to stretch down to the last floor into the darkness below. The air was thick with smoke, the acrid scent of burning metal and oil filling his nostrils.

"Sera, honey?" Her mother's voice rang out, frantic as she rushed to her side. Shaun's metallic shield flickered in the haze, the only thing keeping them safe.



Seraphina nodded, barely able to breathe as she thanked Shaun for his quick thinking. The shield had absorbed much of the blast, but it had left him standing further away from them, near the edge of the floor, the ground unstable beneath his feet.

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

He moved quickly, half-panicked, shouting out, "I'm alive!"

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

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

Alex nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the crumbling surroundings. "Fine," he shouted back. "I'll take you somewhere safe. Let's go—now!"

Suddenly, from the smoke and chaos, Raine emerged. She watched the scene with wide eyes, a mix of awe and uncertainty crossing her face. Alex and the others stopped in their tracks as she blocked their path.

Without a word, she slowly pointed down the corridor. "That way. It will be less troublesome."

Alex hesitated, suspicion rising in his mind. Why was she letting them pass? What was she planning? But before he could dwell on it, the ground trembled beneath them, urging him to make a decision.

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

Alex exchanged a quick glance with Seraphina and her mother. They didn't have time to waste. He nodded, signaling them to follow Raine's lead. There was no other choice. He trusted her for now.

As Raine turned and began to move with swift, calculated steps, Alex took Seraphina's hand, guiding her forward. With every passing moment, the building seemed to groan louder, and the danger closing in around them made each step feel like a race against time.