(No, no, no, no, no!!! This cannot be happening!)

I rush over to Sueka. She's pale. Very pale. And her breathing isn't normal.

"Sis! Sis, talk to me! You're going to be alright, okay!? You're going to be alright. Tell me you're alright! Talk to me!"

I keep shaking Sueka's body. She doesn't seem to be responding.

(No...Oh Rhoken, no!)

BOTO! BOTO! BOTO!

All around us, the building begins to collapse. Sueka's final attack must have caused the structure to become unstable.

"Oren!" I hear Hisashi yell. "We have to get out of here!"

I continue to cradle Sueka, attempting in vain to wake her.

"Oren! We cannot stay!"

They're right. I cannot let Sueka's sacrifice be in vain. And, if I recall, everybody in her condition has gone to the hospital. Maybe they can help!

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

(Don't worry, Sueka. I will save you!)

I scoop her up and carry her on my back. I look over to Hisashi and see Yamiso remove Hisashi's restraints with his claws. A Keisetsu member helping. I don't know what to think of them.

But at this time, I don't have time to think.

The three of us look for a way out, down all the collapsing corridors of the only remaining open entrance broken down during Sueka's attack.

"This way!" Hisashi beckons.

(Soul Conversion...10...BEAT!!!)

Using my strength, I sprint at full speed down the corridor. Yamiso quickly picks up Hisashi, sprouts his darkness wings, and flies behind me in almost hot pursuit. We finally reach an elevator and....

BOTO!!!

Part of the ceiling crushes down in front of me, the flooring I am standing on starts to collapse. I lose my grip on Sueka, causing her body to fall from my grasp and slide down the collapsing floor. I grab her arm, but I don't know if I can...!!

Hisashi takes hold of my cloak and attempts to pull me and Sueka up.

"Come on, Oren!!! It's giving way!!"

I look behind him and see Yamiso trying to move debris away from the elevator with his claws. He cannot help Hisashi right now. It's all up to him. But as for me, I only have about 30% of my rhime left from both getting here and the fighting. I don't think I can use up anymore right now.

"I...I can't!"

The floor is crumbling all around me!

Hisashi looks at Yamiso, then back at me and Sueka, and alternates over and over with heightened concern with each look.

"Oh...CONFOUND IT!!!"

His arm gets enveloped in green rhime. His wind rhime!! With the wind surrounding his arm, he gains enough momentum to pull me and Sueka up and toss us towards the elevator. Yamiso has the elevator cleared. The two of us, with Sueka, get in.

"Come on!" I yell to Hisashi.

He rushes in our direction and...

BOTO!!!

The floor collapses under him!

(No...NO!!!)

"Hisashi!!!!"

I rush out of the elevator to get him.

"Oren, NO!" Yamiso yells.

Seeing this, Hisashi smiles and holds out his hand. But before I can get to him...

"Oren...I'm...sorry."

OOF!! A dispersion of wind pushes me back into the elevator. The building collapses to the point that I cannot get to Hisashi now!

"HISASHI!!!!"

As the elevator begins to rise, Hisashi is lost from my sight...