I'll be the Red Ranger

Chapter 169 – Retreat

- Oliver -

"Ladies and gentlemen," the android's voice resonated. "Let us start our auction."

As the android's announcement echoed throughout the grand hall, the attendees began to make their way to their seats. Unfortunately for Oliver and Hector, their seats were near the back of the auditorium—perhaps a subtle reminder of their last-minute registration or their perceived lack of importance in such elite circles.

"We will begin with the more common items and save the crown jewel for the finale," the android continued, offering a conspiratorial wink to the audience as if sharing a secret.

"To start, we have the construction and manufacturing plans for the Hexo Mech 1. One of the earliest mechs developed, its main distinction lies in the fact that it still utilizes Helium-3 as its fuel source, allowing for a more accessible alternative to the Z Crystal."

The android's polished voice carried an air of persuasion, attempting to convince the crowd of the item's worth.

Oliver felt his attention slipping, his interest waning. Knowing that without a Z Crystal, the mech's power would be a mere ten percent of a model using one, he doubted its practical utility.

‘Perhaps it's for re

Seizing the momentary distraction, Oliver rose swiftly from his seat. This was the opening he needed.

More explosions thundered across the cityscape, each shockwave reverberating through the hotel's frame. The windows rattled with each blast, and through them, the horrifying spectacle unfolded: dozens of Ork ships breaching the city's defenses, their jagged silhouettes darting between towering skyscrapers. Gigantic missiles being launched from the ships, indiscriminately striking buildings and sending plumes of smoke billowing into the night sky.

Panic erupted.

"Run! Immediate evacuation!" a security officer bellowed, his voice barely audible over the screams.

"To the basement! It's safer there!" another directed.

"My god, how did the Orks get here?!" a woman screamed, clutching her pearls as if they might offer some protection.

Oliver's gaze snapped to Hector. Without hesitation, he grabbed his friend by the arm and pulled him away from the chaos consuming the auction hall. "Hector, we need to get the hell out of here," he urged, already moving toward the exit.

Hector's eyes were wide with disbelief. "Cassius, what's going on? This can't be happening!"

"We have no time to waste," Oliver replied tersely.

They pushed through the frantic crowd, the hall's opulence now a confusing maze of overturned chairs and discarded auction paddles. The grandeur of the event had evaporated, replaced by sheer terror.

Bursting into a side corridor, they raced toward the emergency stairs. Alarms blared overhead, the shrill sounds mingling with distant screams and the unceasing rumble of destruction. The air smelled of smoke and ozone.

As they reached the heavy door leading to the stairwell, Oliver shoved it open with his shoulder. "This way!"

They stepped onto the landing, but before they could descend, a gut-wrenching sensation of weightlessness hit them. The floor lurched beneath their feet, and a deep, ominous groan echoed through the building's core.

Oliver felt the blood drain from his face. "Oh no…"

The building shuddered violently, and the lights flickered before plunging into semi-darkness, lit only by the red glow of emergency indicators. The stairwell's concrete walls cracked, and hairline fractures spider-webbed outward.

"Hector, hold on!" Oliver shouted, grabbing the railing with one hand while clutching Hector's arm with the other. The entire hotel was tilting, the angle becoming more pronounced by the second.

A deafening explosion rocked the foundation, and the stairwell seemed to detach. The steps beneath them dissolved into empty space, and for a terrifying moment, they were suspended in mid-air.

The building had been hit.