"GET BACK!" Rowan shouted.

The whine of bending metal pierced the racket like an Asakoshiaboo's katana pierced and old milk jug. People fled as wires snapped and large steel girders plummetted to the ground from several stories high. A shipment of explosives had been impromperly stored and turned, essentially, into a timebomb -- or rather, a series of timebombs. Multiple barrels on multiple floors ignited at a single moment, causing a chain reaction that made the building that was undergoing demolition lose stability and start to topple.

Rowan found himself about seventy two feet above ground, holding onto a bit of rebar that was sticking out of a broken wall, and curled just enough to make a solid handle. The building leaned to one side, and the support beams that remained were all struggling to hold it properly. Realistically, Rowan had no idea what to do in this situation -- a fall from this fight was almost guaranteed to be lethal... and letting the building collapse with him in it was hardly a better decision. Beyond that, even focusing on himself seemed impossible, as he saw crew members falling, or hanging on for dear life.

"Shit... think, Rowan! THINK!"

The man grit his teeth and shut his eyes, trying to consider his options. He'd have to be fast, but if he could charge a large enough piece of debris... that should be able to work.

Or, at least, maybe it would have, if he got the chance to do anything.

Another series of explosions sounded off from the lower levels, and then everything, to put it simply, went to shit.

Rowan didn't know how long had passed between getting an idea and being denied the opportunity to execute it, and then waking up covered in, and surrounded by, debris. It took a moment for him to realize that he was hardly able to breathe, that every single bit of oxygen he could get into his lungs was massively impeded by the dirt and blood that he inhaled -- that his arm had been pinned, with a massive cement block trapping it, and a bit of broken rebar ripped through his bicep.

"Sssshhhiiit, fuck," Rowan hissed as everything suddenly came into focus. Slowly, the fingers of his free hand began to wrap around the only opening he could comfortably reach on the block. His feet shuffled through the dust, and he planted them where he could, providing as much support as he could muster.

A sharp inhale followed, and Rowan began to slowly exhale as he struggled to lift the block. Unfortunately, Rowan's struggles were, initially, to no avail. He cursed to himself, and continued to try, knowing that if he just blew the thing up he'd be free, but he'd hurt himself severely in the process. He needed to play it safe, or he'd probably die just trying to escape this mess.

At least, that's what he was telling himself before he heard someone, muffled, calling for help.

Rowan's eyes widened, and he hushed himself. His breathing stopped, and he simply listened.

Past all the shuffling debris, he could hear it coming, once again... a cry for help, deeper inside.

"Come on, you son of a bitch," Rowan growled as he grit his teeth. "Just do it... Just... fucking... DO IT!"

Both of his hands would grip the cement block that pinned him at this point. It glowed bright, violently so, before it burst with such force that an opening was created from what Rowan believed might have otherwise been his tomb. The cost, though, was that his arm was now left ragged, with his leg on the same side severely bruised and burned. Heaving, Rowan barely seemed to notice, as he dragged himself up with his good hand.

"I'm..." he started as he finally made it out. The man collapsed on top of the debris, and he began to crawl over the top of it where he was able.

"I'm h-he... here..."

Rowan's weak voice wheezed as he grabbed a stick of rebar and used it to create points of leverage with which to shift the debris and create an opening. With just one good hand, it was difficult, but he needed to keep moving.

He couldn't stop.

"H-HEY!" Rowan called out, desperate, as he heard the cries die out. He panicked, striking the rebar into the openings and pivoting as fast as he could. Debris began to fall to the sides, and with one large piece shifting out of the way, he finally found the trapped individual. One of, potentially, many.

"H-hey! I'm here! Come on, stay with me!"

Rowan pat the man on the cheek, practically slapping him to get him to wake up.

It failed.

Rowan checked his pulse... it was still there.

He sighed in relief, and then looked around to consider his options. The man was wedged between two large blocks, trapped inside. He slid his fingers in as far as they could reach, and determined, based on the angle, weight distribution, and what he could feel, determined that he could shift it and give the man space to move out. Well, if he had been awake, anyway... he'd likely need to be pulled out.

One problem at a time.

Rowan scrambled to the top of the bottom slab, and jammed the rebar in at a location where it wouldn't stab the guy, or pinch him when shifting its weight. Then, Rowan would flip one foot over to swap which way he was facing, so his back could be against the top slab, and he could lift with greater support.

"Alright Rowan... you've got this," he said with an exhale.

Both hands gripped the rebar, and then Rowan's legs shot straight up while his arms pulled, like he was doing a deadlift with a perpendicular bar. The rocks shifted, and he tried to lean down enough to grab the man and drag him out, but one arm strength wasn't enough to handle both tasks at once. Not right now.

"God damn it! F- fucking hell!"

Sharp inhales.

Sharp exhales.

Pain.

Tension.

Grit.

White knuckled, Rowan gripped the rebar once more, and heaved. The slab on top lifted, while the one below shifted from the redistribution of weight. Rowan held this position for a moment, charging energy into the rebar and the slab both to hold them in place. Then, quick breaths.

He needed to be fast.

Rowan leaned down, grabbing the man from underneath his shoulders, and heaving. One quick motion, and he'd throw the man out from the rubble. His telekinetic hold could only last so long, though, and mere moments after the man was freed, the slabs would collapse upon each other, causing more rubble and debris to shift and knocking Rowan off from his position and flinging him forward.

The man crashed into the heap of rubble and wheezed, struggling to control his breathing. It was done... it was done...

"H... help..!"

Rowan's eyes widened, and he looked to the source of the sound.

Emergency responders were who-knows-how-far.

He had to get back up.

He had to help them.