Chapter 15
Zack ran straight into the group, not taking any prisoners. He thrusted his sword forward impaling 2 SOLDIERs who stood too close together. Zack did not retract his sword; instead he ripped it out from the side, hitting the SOLDIERs who tried to advance on him. Cloud stood behind Zack nearly back to back. Cloud swung his sword taking out a man, but at the same time another SOLDIER went to strike. Zack parried the blow to protect Cloud. Cloud took that opportunity to take out the man's feet. The two continued to fight back to back taking a SOLDIER down every few minutes. The SOLDIERs numbers had been cut in half in such a short time; they were no match for Zack and Cloud. Zack and Cloud were finishing the last of the SOLDIERs when the elevator made a ping. Zack and the remaining SOLDIERs turned to see who was coming off the elevator. Everyone took a step back as a hug man walked out of the elevator. He was twice as big as Barret. He carried and even larger sword. The man was a walking mammoth. Zack was trying to think of who this could be. He never seen him before, but he was a SOLDIER 1st. The man dropped a huge gun that he had slung to his back. It looked a lot like the cannon from Junon, just smaller. Zack looked up at the man, and he looked back at him. Their eyes locked, this was going to be an all out war, Zack wasn't sure if this one was one he could win. Cloud had just finished off the last of the SOLDIERs he ran to be at Zack's side.
Zack looked at eyes of uncertainty" Cloud, go along, finish the mission. I'm going to finish him, and I'll be right behind you. I promise."
Cloud looked at his best friend; he could see that Zack was worried. He had never seen Zack worried before. "Zack…"
"Go Cloud, now. Don't make me tell you again buddy." Zack said with fear in his voice.
Cloud turned and ran to the stair case to continue his climb up to the 60th floor.
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Zack looked at the mountain standing in front of him. His head almost reached the ceiling, and he was as wide as 3 men. He looked into is yellow eyes, he had blue mako lines going throughout his body. Fuck, this guy was jacked up on mako. Zack looked at the man studying him. Zack found the courage to ask him who he was. "So, you a big fuck huh? You know what they say the bigger they are the harder they fall. I'm warning you… whatever your name is I will cut you down to size. I was trained by Angeal Hewley, he was one of the greatest SOLDIERs there ever was or well be!" Zack said to the mountain with legs.
"HAHAHAHAH!! You are a little ant!!! AHAHA I am Azul, I am the greatest SOLDIER who ever was! HAHA Angeal Hewley, that man was a joke!! He died a pussy because he was a pussy!! Are you done talking yet…If you're not, too bad. I'm just going to have to…" Before the giant could finish his sentence Zack had charged at him. He let out a yell that the entire Shinra building could hear. Their sword clashed creating a rain of sparks. Azul just swung his sword forward launching Zack into the nearby wall. There was a loud bang when Zack hit the wall. Zack knew right there he wasn't going to beat this guy by power. He was just going to have to out maneuver him. Zack picked himself up and started sprinting toward Azul. Zack raised his sword for an over head move, Azul went to block the simple attack, but Zack had faded like a hologram. Zack was behind Azul catching him completely off guard. Zack stabbed Azul has had as he could. Blood was pouring down Azul's back; the buster sword was covered in the red liquid, running down the blade up onto Zack's hands. Zack tried to pull the blade out of his foe, but the blade wouldn't budge.
Azul had grabbed the blade that was sticking out of his gut. He held tightly, he felt Zack trying to pull, the man grinned. He turned quickly launching Zack down the hall and straight into the wall. Zack had been very staggered from that blow. He tried to stand up, but his legs were shakey. He was getting his ass beat. It didn't matter how bad he got hurt, or even if he was killed. All that mattered was that he held him here for as long as he could so Cloud could finish the mission. Zack finally stood up straight; he looked at his foe who was cocking his arm. Zack looked at him confused, fuck; he was throwing the buster sword at him to finish him off. Zack did a fast flip to the left to avoid the bullet that was his sword. Zack looked at the poor sword that was stuck in the wall. He knew Angeal would cry seeing his sword in such bad shape. Zack felt anger flowing through his veins, Azul fuck with him on the wrong day. No more of this nervous/fear shit. It's time to buck up or shut up. Zack ripped the sword out of the wall. He out the sword to his forehead,"I'm sorry Angeal; I will protect your dreams and honor better. I promise you I will. Please give me the courage and the strength to defeat my opponent." Zack removed the sword from his forehead and was greeted by the huge arm of Azul attempting to surprise him. Zack quickly dodged the advance. Zack filled with rage, his eyes glew bright blue. He was going to take Azul down, even if it was going to kill him to do so. Zack had begun to glow blue, he was steming with anger, he had to take Shinra down! Zack gripped his sword above his shoulder pointing the tip towards Azul. He jumped behind Azul and slashed. He appeared in front and slashed again. He landed on the ground far away from his opponent. Azul was bleeding all over but it still didn't seem to faze the giant. But he wasn't down yet. Zack stuck his sword into the ground, and began to charge him tearing his sword through the metal ground. He stopped just short of Azul and swung like a golf club.
The air had become cloudly form the move and Zack was waiting for it to clear to see if he had beaten his opponent. Suddenly a huge arm ripped through the dust and grabbed Zack by the throat, Azul was still standing. The dust had cleared, Azul had lost a arm from the elbow down from Zack's attack but he still wasn't fazed by his injury. Zack was struggling for air, he looked at the giant. He had more than just wounded him; he had gotten a metal shard into Azul from his limit break. That didn't matter much now since he was getting the life in him squeezed out. Zack was beginning to lose consciousness, the large man spoke once more.
"Don't take a nap just yet my little spikey ant. I'm not done yet." The giant said as he grabbed the nearly lifeless man by the waist. His hands we so large that he could get his hands completely around the tiny flea, Zack was in big trouble. Azul started to pound Zack against the wall. With each thump, Zack let out a ear splitting cry in pain. The hits were so hard the walls were breaking with each hit. Zack had started to spit up blood from the continuous beating, his body couldn't last much longer.
Azul finally had his fix beating the life out of Zack, now it was time to end it. He lifted the ragdoll up in the air against the wall. "HEHE stick around for a little while, I wana show you my gun." Azul said as he pulled the piece of steel stuck in his chest. He looked at Zack one last time almost as if it was a goodbye. He stabbed Zack in the chest with the steel piece hanging him up on the wall like a poster. Azul turned down the hallway to grab his gun and have target practice. This was it, it was over/ He would never get to look at Aerith again, he must not have been meant to live a happy ever after life.
Azul had started charging his gun and aimed it at Zack. The gun was charged, with one last grin, Zack was ready for it. The energy shot ran through the hallway destroying everything around if, tearing the metal from the walls vaporized the roof. The shot was almost here, goodnight world. Before the shot hit him, a black figure stepped in front of it protecting him from the blast. The shadow had begun walking forward driving the blast back towards Azul. There was a loud blast as the shot had been returned to sender. Azul was grotesquely burnt from the shot, his skin was entirely black, and in many parts, falling off. The shadowy figure step above Azul, all that could be heard was a loud scream of Azul as he clawed for life, and failed. The last thing Zack heard before losing consciousness was the man say 'Scum".
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Cloud broke though the door to the stairs with speed, too much speed. He ran straight into Nanaki who was coming up the stairs. The two tumbled down a flight and landed with a bang. Aerith and Tifa came up the stairs a few seconds later to see the two twisted together. Tifa let out a laugh as she saw the two of them try to get untangled. Aerith looked around, she didn't see Zack anywhere. Cloud stood up, and before anyone could talk Aerith ask "Cloud where's Zack? Is he with you? "
Cloud looked at her not sure what to say. "He told us to go on ahead; he would catch up after he defeats some SOLDIER." Aerith looked at him, she knew something was up. Cloud was lying, or hiding something. The group stopped what they were doing when they heard a loud thump. It sounded like a mortar had hit the building. It was quickly followed by a loud cry of pain. It was Zack, everyone knew it. Aerith broke into tears knowing her man was in pain. Tifa quickly consoled her and told her that he would be ok.
Cloud quickly took over the leader position "Ok, we need to move out now. Let's finish this mission and get the hell out of here. Don't worry everyone Zack will be alright, he will catch up with us shortly." At that very moment another bang and cry could be heard. Cloud pretended like he didn't hear it, and started to go up the stairs. Aerith had drifted back; she turned to take a look out the door to see if Zack was going to be ok. She opened the door and saw Azul. He turned his head and gave her a evil grin. His eyes were evil; it made her scared just looking at him. The door was forced shut and it startled her. It was Cloud; he looked concerned for his friend, and sympatric to her. "Come on Aerith, it's time to go. I know you're worried. He's going to be ok." As the bangs and screams continued, making what Cloud was saying hard to believe. Cloud followed her up the steps until they had reached the 60th floor.
The group was relieved that they had finally reached the top. The bangs and screams were still audible, but barely. The 60th floor, the science floor, Hojo's floor. Nanaki smelled the air, he smelled the evil son of a bitch, he was close he could feel it. The group sprinted onto the floor eager to take out Shinra. The group followed Nanaki into the science chamber, there he was, it was Hojo. He was looking into a glass case with a specimen in it. He turned to them looking at them in a studying glare. "Intersting what an odd looking group. Are you the intruders? God I hope so! AHAHA The things I could do to you all. Ah you must be the acient, and you… you are the specimen I was looking for in the Canyon. It's a shame really, if you would have just came with us, the village may still be alive." Hojo said studying the group. He turned to Cloud and Tifa, " You on the other hand look very familiar, um, let me see. Ah yes, you are one of the runts from Nibleheim. Where is the other? Dead I presume. O well, at least I will have one to test on. And you young lady, I will just have my way with you. HEHEHE!!!"
Cloud stuck out his sword in anger. "You will not touch any one of us. You life ends here."
"Hahaha is that so? I am afraid you have miscalculated. Take them away. " Hojo pointed as men came from everywhere surrounding them. Fuck, they were busted, mission failed. Now it was up to Zack to save them.
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Zack had awoken, he looked down at his wound, it was almost healed. It was a mortal wound, but somehow he was alive. "What the hell? Where is Azul? Shit he must be after the others." Zack stood up, and started looking for his sword. Before he moved he was quickly taken off of his feet. A black leather glove was around his neck. Zack looked at how was grabbing him, he starred in shock. Those eyes, he knew those eyes. Only one person had eyes like those. Sephiroth. He was alive, how? Before he could continue thinking, the man interrupted. "So the puppy lives? Interesting." Sephiroth looked at Zack in a studying fashion. He gripped Zack's jaw very hard turning him side to side.
Before he knew it, Sephiroth had dropped him and disappeared.