A/N: I'm going to try and speed up this mission a little more by skipping more of the dialogue that isn't important to the storyline. Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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Upon returning to Section H-01, Tifa said, "And we're back at the cargo platform."

"Get ready, Mako Reactor 5. We're coming," Barret said.

Cloud accessed the console beside the cargo platform. Once he finished redirecting the power from the three sun lamps to the cargo platform, an automated voice came from the console.

"Auxiliary power supply confirmed. Reactivating cargo platform. Cargo platform activated. Awaiting input."

The gate did open, allowing them to step onto the cargo platform.

"So long, underplate. I hate you too," Barret commented.

Lailah looked across the way as Cloud activated the platform. She wondered what would be waiting for them at the reactor.

"Wonder what the reactor's like," Tifa asked, which is exactly what the snowy-haired girl was thinking.

"Dark. Dismal. A slaughterhouse where they butcher the planet. Then there's the smell. The mako. Be ready for it," Barret responded.

"Right..."

Halfway across to the other side, the group heard something in the distance. Barret smirked at the familiar sound. "Hear that, guys? It's the reactor calling us. Beckoning us, saying "Bring it on, Avalanche"."

After reaching the other side and stepping off the cargo platform, they soon came face to face with sentry rays, sentry launchers, and sentry gun prototypes.

Having been able to rest for a while earlier, Lailah helped Barret take down the enemies that were out of reach for Cloud and Tifa. In no time at all, they cleared the area and climbed the ladder. They then ducked into a ventilation duct.

As they proceeded through the duct, Tifa expressed her curiosity. "Even after all that fighting, no one's coming for us?"

"No need," Cloud replied. "This is Shinra's city. They probably have cameras everywhere."

She was clearly troubled by his words. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"Way too late to bail now."

Arriving at the Interplate Utility Access, they climbed up another ladder to the catwalk above. Lailah had been the first one up the ladder. She heard a worried sigh from Tifa. She gazed questioningly at her friend when she reached the top of the ladder. She placed a gentle hand on her friend's arm.

"I'm fine." Tifa tried not to worry her. "It's nothing. Just thinking about the next step. Didn't think I'd be this nervous."

"Some things you never get used to," Barret said.

"Yeah," she mumbled sorrowfully.

Lailah watched Tifa worriedly. She dropped her hand and followed behind her as they walked down the catwalk. She tried to not think about it.

At the end of the catwalk, they located another room.

Cloud sensed a presence and drew his sword as they entered the room. He aimed his blade at the person's throat.

The one at the receiving end of the blonde's weapon was Biggs himself. He held up his hands in defeat and fear. "Mercy!" As the ex-SOLDIER lowered his weapon, the man was surprised to see him and the girl behind him. "Wait... Cloud? Lailah? Where's Jessie and Wedge?"

Barret didn't answer his question and said, "Report."

"Topside's going nuts after some terrorists jumped off a train. Nice and quiet here, though." Biggs pointed to the ventilation duct. "So quiet I had no trouble securing your route into the reactor."

The brute smirked and tried to hug him. "You magnificent son of a bitch, bring it in!" He was disappointed when Biggs ducked under his arms to avoid his embrace. "C'mon, man..."

Biggs approached Tifa. "So-where are the others?"

"Jessie got hurt and couldn't make it," she responded.

This worried him. "Bad?"

"Not so bad she couldn't rope in these guys," Barret chimed in, nodding towards Cloud and Lailah. "Besides, the little lady provided some healin' for Jessie."

Biggs turned to them. "Thanks for stepping up."

Lailah smiled while Cloud said, "It's a job."

"Worked out pretty good, you picking that train you did. While Shinra scours Sector 4... You can waltz right on into Sector 5. It's a bit of a squeeze, but it ought to get you where you need to go."

Barret approached the ventilation duct. "Little dark and foreboding for my taste..."

"Beggars can't be choosers." Biggs grabbed a sack and handed it to Tifa. "Oh-and you'll be needing your grappling guns, of course. All set?"

"Ready to take on the world and then some!" Barret replied.

"Make sure everyone gets clear, okay?" Tifa asked.

"Will do!" Biggs used the hatch in the corner to escape.

Barret closed the hatch behind him. "Okay, y'all. Keep these grappling guns close." He took the grappling gun Tifa gave him. "Secure 'em to your belt or whatever so you don't lose 'em. When we're done, we'll be using these babies to get down safe. All of us."

Cloud focused his gaze on the vent. "Got it."

Lailah put the grappling hook away. She then followed the others through the vent. Reaching the end of the vent, she was offered a hand by Cloud. She took his hand and he helped her out of the vent.

Tifa had seen the entire thing and giggled. "What a gentleman."

The blonde turned bashful at her comment. He turned his head away from Lailah and released her hand to put the vent cover back on.

Lailah wouldn't torture him and decided to leave him be. She looked around the room and could sense they were in the reactor. She inhaled deeply and could feel her body being reinvigorated. It was the same sensation she felt in Mako Reactor 1.

"That's it," she heard Barret say. "That's the smell. This place reeks of mako."

"Looks like we made it," Tifa spoke up.

Barret walked over to the railing, peering down at the floor below. "Layout's the same as Reactor 1?"

Cloud nodded. "Yeah. We're near mako storage."

"Let's move."

The group explored the current level they were on before noticing there was no way down to the lower floor. However, they used the large pipes to get down to the floor below.

"Hey!" Barret shouted as they wandered through the armory. He saw the large robot being stored. "Check it out. They sic this big boy on us, we'd be screwed six ways from Sunday."

Cloud gazed at the machine. "Mechanized units like these were designed to take out giant monsters. Probably a new prototype. If they do decide to deploy it, then our best bet would be to run like hell."

"Then let's hope he sleeps through the explosion."

Upon walking through the hallway at the end of the armory, Tifa noticed how quiet the area was. "Where is everybody?"

"You mean Shinra? Got spooked and cleared out, is my guess," Barret replied.

Finally, they arrived at the center of the reactor. Down the first ladder, Tifa leaned against the railing to stare down at the liquified mako below. "The smell... It takes me back..."

Lailah wondered what she meant. She had missed so much while she was in Tellus. She needed to remind herself to talk to Tifa after the mission. Deciding to keep her focus on the mission, she followed behind the others.

Carefully, they ventured down to the core and took out any enemies along the way. They encountered two sweepers, which took them by surprise, but they made quick work of them before pushing forward.

Finally, they reached the core. While walking towards the core, Cloud suffered another headache. Images flashed through his mind, ones consisting of Tifa.

Lailah was the first to notice the pain he was experiencing. She provided him with a small healing spell to soothe his headache.

"Hey! SOLDIER boy!" Barret shouted, earning a glare from the snowy-haired girl.

Cloud opened his eyes, his gaze locking on the sable-haired girl. "Tifa-"

Said girl tilted her head in response. "What?"

Cloud shook his head, simply dismissing what he saw. He thanked Lailah before approaching the core. He held out his hand toward Barret, who placed the bomb in it. "How much time we need?"

"Got all the time in the world," Barret said. "This one comes with a remote detonator."

Tifa revealed the remote detonator she'd been carrying. "Courtesy of Jessie."

"We withdraw to a safe distance-then...kaboom!"

""Safe" distance?" Cloud parroted.

"What? No such thing?" He retorted.

The blonde "humphed" in response. He felt another headache coming when he turned around. He thought it would've subsided but it didn't. He pressed his hand against the side of his head as he winced. More images surge through his mind. This time, they were of Lailah. This vision, however, was odd. It wasn't a memory but a premonition. He saw her collapsed on the ground with security officers surrounding her. Two of them grabbed her by the arms and dragged her towards a helicopter.

Having been unable to tell it was a vision, Cloud drew his sword and charged forward. He swung his blade at the men trying to take her away. When his blade made contact, the vision faded.

"Cloud!" Tifa shouted.

The ex-SOLDIER lowered his sword. He didn't look behind him as he was too focused on where the security officers in his vision were standing. "Where's...?" He turned around and saw the others, including Lailah. He sighed in relief when seeing she was safe. Withdrawing his sword, he looked away from their confused and worried expressions. "Let's get out of here."

"Right..." Tifa muttered, perturbed.

"We get out the same way we got in. Let's double back," Barret replied, refusing to comment on Cloud's odd behavior.

Lailah's eyes never left Cloud's back as they walked back to the ladder. She wondered what had him panicked and shaken up. However, hearing Barret shouting tore her attention away from the blonde.

"What the-Where you going?!" The brute yelled as the ladder retracted out of their reach.

"Weirdly perfect timing," Cloud commented.

Tifa turned and looked around the room. "Wait a minute. Is someone watching us?"

As they searched for an answer, the door slid open and a swarm of slug rays flew into the reactor. They circled around the group before projecting the image of a cackling man. "Greetings, my dear sewer rats! As architect of our populace engagement campaign, I, Heidegger, head of Public Security...bid you welcome."

"The chief warmonger," Barret growled lowly.

"You should be flattered. Right now, you command the undivided attention of every soul in Midgar."

Their attention was drawn to a broadcast screen projected by the drones. "What is this?!" Tifa gasped at seeing the logo appear.

An announcer appears on the screen alongside footage of when they infiltrated Mako Reactor 1. "Breaking news from Mako Reactor 5. Shinra has confirmed the reactor to be the target of the bomb threat issued by the terrorist group Avalanche. Members of the group were observed entering the facility, and security is currently sweeping it for explosive devices. We now go live to the scene..."

The broadcast flips to a scene of a female reporter in the Sector 5 slums surrounded by rowdy people. "I'm here in the Sector 5 undercity. Having confirmed the terrorists' target...the Shinra Emergency Operations Center has issued an evacuation advisory. Residents are outraged that the tragedy of Mako Reactor 1 was only the first attack...in a campaign of violence."

"No more bombings! No more bombings!" One of the bystanders shouted.

The image returns to the news anchor. "President Shinra has issued a statement providing assurances that the terrorists will soon be brought to justice."

The drones scatter and the screen vanishes.

"And so, to a people beset by chaos and uncertainty, we will offer the finest comfort: bread and circus!" Heidegger shouted.

The drones moved at his words and created another hologram. This time, it was of the large mech they saw in the armory.

Barret's eyes widen. "The big boy!"

Heidegger grinned sinisterly. "I give you Shinra's latest triumph of technology! The airbuster! Your executioner!" He laughs maniacally.

The hologram of the robot aimed its palm at them. It flashed, almost as if it were attacking them directly. The four braced themselves, having been frightened by the hologram.

Out of the blue, they heard a voice in the background of Heidegger's broadcast. "Engineering on the line. Currently, the airbuster is only sixty percent operational. The estimates were optimistic..."

This angered the man and he snapped. "I'm on air!" His hologram vanished and the PA system activated. "To the imbecile in charge down there-you are hereby ordered to seize those intruders and bring them to me!"

The door opened a second time. Shock troopers entered the reactor.

"Come quietly or there'll be trouble!" the elite shock trooper yelled.

Barret placed a finger over his lips and playfully hushed the man. "Shhh."

As they fought against the enemies, they could hear Heidegger's voice echoing around them. "Attention all security forces! I repeat-you are to bring the insurgents to the command center without further delay. What's Engineering's progress on getting that airbuster operational?...Still only sixty percent?! Bullshit! I swear, if you fail me, I'll throw you off the plate myself! So get it done already!"

Making quick work of the shock troopers, they withdrew their weapons. Barret glared up at the ceiling, almost as if he was scowling at the PA system. The constant message being broadcasted was driving him crazy. "Shut the hell up!"

"I don't believe it..." Tifa began. "We played right into Shinra's hands!"

"Yeah. And their bullshit news is already peddling their false narrative."

"So we're screwed."

Barret shook his head in anger. "No no no no no! Hell no! Listen! They wanna turn this into a spectacle? Then I say let's give 'em one! Let's take down Shinra's big-ass mech in front of everybody!"

Cloud nodded in agreement. "Okay. I'm sold. What do you say, Lailah?"

The snowy-haired girl smiled and gave them a thumbs up, earning a smirk from Barret and a smile from Cloud and Tifa.

Through the door the shock troopers came from, they headed in the direction of the assembly plant. Opening a door, they entered the B8 Facilities. The room was crawling with security guards who spotted them the moment they walked in. They disposed of the enemies before checking the room.

"Guys! Over here!" Tifa shouted as she discovered the large control console in the back of the room. When everyone had gathered around, she examined the screen. "It looks like a few of its components are still in transit..."

Barret chuckled. "We'll see about that."

"Could tamper a little with its loadout," Cloud said.

"And give ourselves an edge?" Tifa asked.

"There should be a console somewhere..."

Barret turned to see another console not too far away. He ran up to it. "This the console you talking about?"

Cloud, Tifa, and Lailah joined Barret. The ex-SOLDIER began typing on the keyboard.

"Think you can get it to work?" the brute inquired.

"Needs a key card," Cloud explained.

Lailah held up what she found earlier. It was a key card.

"Well I'll be damned!" Barret let out a hearty cackle. "Nice work!"

She handed it to Cloud and he got to work disposing of the M unit. The console spoke and announced his success. "M unit flagged for disposal."

"Just imagining their faces when they find out," Barret smirked.

Tifa watched the canister be carried off. "So far so good."

"Right. Let's move!"

Cloud interacted with the console beside the door so they could head up to the next facilities. He successfully unlocked the door.

"You think they're watching us? Even now?" Tifa wondered

"Yep. Probably got a live feed," Cloud responded.

"Nothing we can do about it...'cept smile for the folks at home," Barret commented.

Lailah looked around the room to see cameras were indeed watching them. She saw the red lights blinking and decided to ignore the cameras, following her companions to the B7 Facilities.

Like before, they took out the security officers in the room and got to work on sabotaging the Airbuster. There were two component consoles, but they only found one keyboard. They decided to get rid of the AI programming core instead of the big bomber shells.

With that, they moved on to the B6 Facilities. Repeating the process a third time, they wiped out the security officers and got to work on disposing more components. This time, they had three components to choose from and a single key card to use. They disposed of another AI programming core. Now, they were ready to head to the next facilities.

"I tell you what, I ain't never looked forward to an execution more in my entire life!" Barret commented.

"You don't say," Tifa laughed lightly.

"We're about to make fools outta Shinra while the whole damn city's watching!" He chuckled. "Times like these you gotta savor!"

Tifa took a few steps back. "Oh no-if you're about to ask me to dance, then don't."

"C'mon, don't be shy! How 'bout you, Cloud?"

"I don't dance," the blonde replied.

"What 'bout you, little lady?" Barret asked the shapeshifter.

Lailah shook her head and waved her hands with an innocent smile.

"Well, damn..."

Next, they headed to the B5 Facilities. They annihilated the enemies within the room and set their sights on sabotaging the Airbuster even more. They found two key cards and had four components to choose from. They disposed of the third remaining AI programming core and big bomber shells.

"Think we've done enough to weaken the robot?" Tifa questioned.

"All that we can, at least," Cloud answered.

"It's all good. The stage is set-all that's left is to hijack Heidegger's show!" Barret announced. As they were about to leave the B5 Facilities, he asked, "We're coming up on the exit. Tifa-detonator still in range?"

"We should be good," she replied.

"The moment big boy goes down, you hit that switch."

"Right."

Successfully sabotaging the Airbuster, the group left the B5 Facilities and returned to the armory.

They heard the security officers were panicking as they were short on AI cores. It only took them a few seconds to notice they had returned to the armory.

"They're here! Hold 'em back! Buy us every second you can!" an engineering officer hollered.

During the battle with the officers, Lailah overheard the engineering officer speaking with Heidegger.

"What is the status of my airbuster? Report!" the chief demanded.

"I'm sorry, sir. We're going to need more time! The terrorists have breached the room and are engaging our forces. At this rate, there's no telling when we'll have it fully operational!" the officer informed him.

Heidegger laughs. "As expected. Deploy it at once!"

"But sir, it's not ready yet!"

"That was an order!"

"Understood. Prepare the airbuster for immediate deployment!"

Lailah gasped and weaved between the security officers to reach the man by the console. She dodged the men and reached the engineering officer, but she was too late. He had already deployed the Airbuster.
She disposed of him before he could even turn to face her.

Seeing all the assailants were dead, Lailah checked the console. She typed on the keyboard and gained access to the current status of the mech. Tifa had joined her along with Barret and Cloud. She read out loud the info Lailah had found. "Reduced response time... Should work in our favor."

"For real, though, we need to talk victory poses," Barret spoke up. "Something coordinated for the live, on-camera finish! Could blow up big-start a new trend!"

"Veto," Cloud rejected the idea.

Lailah wandered away from the console to check the area. She knew they needed to get back up to the level above to reach the elevator. They couldn't use the pipes again and she wondered if she could fly them up to the floor above. Because she was in deep thought, she didn't hear the sound of the cutter slicing through the metal. It wasn't until Tifa grabbed her and pulled her to safety that she noticed the machine had entered the area. It resembled a sweeper, but there were saws attached to its arms.

Like with previous threats, they exterminated the machine and headed up the path it opened up. They fought through more enemies until they reached the elevator.

As the elevator door closed behind them, Lailah crossed her arms and closed her eyes as she thought about how to deal with the Airbuster. She had missed the conversation until someone placed a hand on her head and shook her. Her eyes opened and she owlishly blinked when seeing it was Barret who had shaken her. "Ya hear me, little lady? We're gonna get through this. We're gonna make it home. All of us. No exceptions."

Tifa said, "Right. We don't wanna disappoint Marlene." She then smiled at her childhood friends. That goes for you both too, Cloud, Lailah. Right?"

Barret grinned. "You two better give her big ol' smiles this time."

"If the price is right," Cloud said with a hint of playfulness.

Tifa beamed as she poked Lailah's cheek. "Marlene really wants to meet the "pretty lady with the tattoos"."

When they stepped off the elevator, they headed to the door on the other side of the room. Cloud got to work trying to open it, but he couldn't.

"What? Open it already!" Barret demanded when the blonde stopped working on the console.

"It's locked down," he said.

"Is there any way we can get it open?" Tifa wondered.

"Yeah. From that room over there." Cloud returned to the console and unlocked the door leading into the control room.

"Why does everything have to be so damn complicated...?" Barret groaned.

"You know, the faulty equipment storeroom's that way too."

"Do you think we'll find the components we diverted there?" Tifa inquired.

"It's like a treasure vault! Hoo, I like the sound of that!" the brute chanted.

Moving into the control room, they approach the lock terminal.

Tifa looked at the console. "So how do we do this?"

"It's simple, really. We move the levers at the same time," Cloud explained.

Tifa looped her arm through Lailah's. "Leave the two levers in the middle to us girls."

"I'll take left," Barret said. "Which just leaves right, SOLDIER boy."

They each took their place. An announcement rang out.

"Emergency lockdown is currently in effect."

Tifa glance at the others. "So we need to synchronize our movements?"

"In that case, follow my lead," Barret said.

"Nah-Tifa and Lailah's," Cloud replied.

"Fine! Have it your way!"

Tifa smiled at Lailah before addressing the two men. "Okay, pay attention, you two... Barret, you follow my movements and Cloud, pay attention to Lailah's."

When they successfully bypassed the security lock and the door was unlocked, they moved on to the panels behind them so they could open the waste room. Together, they disengaged the high-level security lock with no mistakes.

Tifa beamed at Cloud. "I swear, your timing was perfect. It's almost like...you could read Lailah's mind. SOLDIERs can't do that, can they?"

"I can't-yet," Cloud said.

"Thank god." She then looked over at the snowy-haired girl. "Think Lailah can?"

The ex-SOLDIER eyed the girl in question. "It sure feels like she can."

Tifa laughed. "Maybe it's because of her eyes." She then smirked. "Y'know, the ones you have a tendency to get lost in every now and then."

Cloud stiffened and he looked away from his crush. He wanted to retort, but nothing rolled off his tongue. He had no idea what to say. Instead, their conversation got interrupted by Barret. "C'mon, you three, let's see what we got."

The four claimed the disposed parts of the Airbuster before leaving the reactor. They didn't look back as they made their escape.

"All right, time to go!" Barret chanted as they ran out of the gate and arrived on the catwalk outside the reactor.

They came to a stop at the intersection of the walkway, believing they were in the clear. Alas, they weren't.

Hearing a strange sound, Tifa hummed in confusion. She turned and saw drones heading straight for them. "Look!" She hollered, pointing at the slug-rays.

The machines dispersed and projected a hologram of a man, causing the group to take on fighting stances to prepare themselves.

Barret recognized him instantly. "President Shinra..."

One of the drones focused on Cloud as the man spoke, "Oho. The eyes of one who has bathed in mako... Which would make you...a SOLDIER?"

Cloud drew his sword. "Ex-SOLDIER."

"Once a SOLDIER, always a SOLDIER. Though not, alas, for very long. Accelerated cellular degradation being the most common cause of death by far. This is classified, of course, but every SOLDIER knows the truth."

Tifa was the only one shocked by the news. Lailah was aware of the effects of mako since she learned as much as she could in Tellus.

Cloud was aware of the effects of the mako, refusing to meet Tifa's gaze. "That's right."

The drone then focused on Lailah.

President Shinra grinned. "Ah, yes. I am well aware of your presence in Midgar, my dear. A Child of Gaia, the last of the Twelve and the only one we forgot to slaughter. Still, I am happy you escaped. We disposed of your people before coming to the realization of how...useful they could've been. Perhaps we can formally meet soon. Only if you survive, that is."

Lailah refused to let her turmoil of emotions show on her face. She simply activated her chakrams and readied herself for anything the man would throw their way.

Suddenly, Barret destroyed the drone focusing on the girl. "Think you forgettin' someone?!" He growled, shooting at the other slug-rays.

The image of President Shinra vanished as the drones flew out of the way of the bullets. They regathered once the brute ceased firing.

President Shinra's hologram returned. He sighed in boredom. "Would that I could. You strike me as the type to go on without end."

Barret glared and pointed at the drone focusing on him. "Ain't enough hours in the day to hold you to account for all your crimes!"

"And what a wasteful indulgence it would be even if there were."

Barret lowered his prosthetic arm. "Oh, okay then..." He took a few steps forward and grabbed the drone. "Let's talk about wasteful indulgences. What is mako? The lifestream! The lifeblood of the planet-our planet! But Shinra keeps on slurping it up like a thirsty dog! Whadda you think's gonna happen if you don't stop, huh?!"

The holographic man simply smirked. "We do indeed keep on "slurping it up," as you say... But...for whose benefit, I wonder. The true nature of mako is known to one and all, yet the people willfully turn a blind eye to the cost. As you must surely be aware?"

This angered Barret. He slammed the drone against the walkway, destroying it. "Don't you dare try to put this on us!" He jabbed an accusing finger at the president. "If anyone's going along with your plans... it's 'cause you brainwashed 'em!"

President Shinra shook his head. "Such methods are beneath me. As are you, my faithful sewer rats. Henceforth allies of wicked Wutai, our sworn enemy. Thank you for stoking our people's patriotic fever."

"Wutai?" Barret scoffed. "The hell we are!"

The hologram of the president vanished and was replaced with a cackling Heidegger. "You still don't understand your role in this."

Another set of drones projected a screen, showing the group the core of the reactor. Slug-rays were working on the bomb they had planted.

"What are they doing?!" Barret hissed.

"Don't you see? You fools were never in control. Never anything but pawns in our plans to sell great and glorious war to the people! And your instruments of insurrection will detonate-" Heidegger revealed the detonator he was holding and pressed the button, "when we so choose!"

Tifa gasped in horror as she realized what it was. Looking back at the screen, she saw the bomb had been set to detonate in twenty-five minutes. She tried to see if the detonator Jessie made would work, but it didn't.

"Goddammit!" Barret snarled.

"Now let us raise the curtain on our main event! The trial of the eco-extremist group "Avalanche"!" A chopper in the sky above Heidegger dropped the Airbuster on the walkway, causing Cloud, Tifa, Lailah, and Barret to dodge. "Terrorists who conspired with Wutai against Midgar! Your guilt is undeniable! Your punishment: death!"

As the Airbuster came to life, Tifa approached the nearest drone and kicked it. The powerful attack was enough to break it and erase the hologram of Heidegger. "I'm sick of this. I'm sick of all of this!"

Lailah, having been isolated on the walkway leading to the gate, was face to face with the large machine. She was too focused on it, failing to notice the minuscule headache Cloud was suffering from. She didn't even look away from the robot when Barret scolded him.

Heidegger guffaws as she was the first to attack the Airbuster. "Sewer rats of Avalanche, pawns of Wutai! The people of Midgar will now see you for the cowards you are!"

Lailah dodged as the robot fired its finger beams at her. She infused her curved blades with lightning and sidestepped when it deployed electrified mines. She kept a safe distance from the enemy while dealing some light damage.

Suddenly, the Airbuster turned and focused on Cloud. However, the others weren't out of the woods. They had to dodge and block attacks from its rear machine gun and rear grenades.

As they struggled against the Airbuster, Heidegger continued to taunt the group in the background as he had front-row seats to the battle.

When the robot suddenly jumped in Lailah's direction, she performed a dodge-roll to avoid being squished. As she recovered, she heard Heidegger shout, "Tankbuster ready to fire! Now, show me how fast you can run!"

She could hear Cloud and Tifa shouting her name when seeing she was in the direct line of fire. Three seconds wasn't enough for her to escape, but that didn't matter. The moment the robot fired its powerful laser, she erected a barrier to protect herself. With her mana and strength, she was able to survive the blast. As the laser vanished, she dispelled her barrier and glared at the machine.

Seeing she was still alive, Heidegger was stunned but laughed. "I'll be damned! Maybe one of you isn't a measly sewer rat!"

Lailah was then joined by Cloud, Tifa, and Barret as the Airbuster recovered from using such a powerful move.

"Ya look like you're in one piece," Barret commented, aiming his gatling gun arm at the robot and firing. "Can't believe ya survived that one, little lady."

Deciding to vent her anger caused by President Shinra's words, she didn't hesitate to encase both of the robot's arms inside barriers the moment they separated from the main body. She kept them trapped, allowing her companions to attack in quick succession. They were able to deal some heavy damage before she was unable to hold the arms back any longer.

While one broke free and returned to the main body, she balled her hand up into a fist and shrunk the barrier, using it to crush the other hand. It fell limp as it returned to the robot. As a small precaution, she provided some healing to her friends before putting some more distance between her and the machine.

Slowly but surely, they were wearing the machine down. When it only had half health remaining, the machine activated its thrusters and took to the sky. It fired tankbuster at them, which they dodged. However, the walkway was destroyed and flames erupted around them.

Moving to another position, the Airbuster hovered in the distance while firing missiles.

Barret smirked as he painfully smacked Lailah on the back. "Time to shine! Let's go!"

The brute fired his gatling gun while Lailah tossed her chakrams. She laced them with the most powerful lightning magic she could conjure to do more damage.

Eventually, the Airbuster ran out of projectiles and had no other choice but to approach the walkway.

"Now! Get in there!" Cloud shouted as he charged at the machine with his sword.

Tifa was right behind him with her fists. "Yep! I hear you loud and clear!"

Dodging fire, lightning, and lasers, the group continued to assault the machine with everything they got.

Lailah, seeing the robot was about to withdraw to a safe distance, refused to let this battle drag on any longer. Transforming into a wolf, she sunk her fangs into one of its arms and yanked it towards the walkway. Her fur turned pitch black as black tendrils emerged from the shadows and wrapped around the machine.

Cloud recognized the attack. It was the same one she used when they were surrounded by sweepers at the Shinra warehouse. He lowered his sword and wondered what she was doing until he saw something glint in her golden eyes. Horrified, he tried to stop her. "Lailah, don't!"

Morosely, she didn't listen. She glanced at him apologetically before the tendrils pierced the machine's body. Its core exploded, destroying it and the walkway. Having been caught up in the powerful explosion, Lailah's body smacked against the railing and her world was consumed by darkness.