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."