With a creased map in hand, Percival trekked alongside Soren to a nearby abandoned mine.

At the mine's entrance, they stumbled upon a covert mark of White Tiger etched into the rock face, its meaning unclear yet undeniably significant. And there, scattered nearby, lay a cache of critical documents belonging to CK.

"Base, this is Soren. We've found the mark," Soren hollered into his headset.

A different voice crackled back, not Micah's as expected, but that of the HQ commander. "Copy that. Proceed underground."

Exchanging a glance, Percival and Soren strapped on their oxygen masks and descended into the bowels of the earth.

Markers bearing White Tiger's emblem appeared sporadically along the mine's tunnels-faded, but a trail they could follow nonetheless.

As they ventured deeper, the air grew thin, and a faint, metallic scent of blood wafted from the depths.

Suddenly, a clod of earth tumbled from directly above Percival.

"Run!" Percival barked, his eyes dark with urgency.

With lightning reflexes, Soren signaled to the team behind them, and the third squad retreated in a disciplined dash toward the exit.

Then, a thunderous collapse echoed from behind Soren.

"Captain!" He yelled.

"Get out of here. That's an order!" Percival's voice crackled through the headset as Soren could only glimpse his silhouette through the narrowing gaps in the debris.

"Captain, I'll get you out!" Soren halted along with a few others.

Percival's voice was icy. "Get lost. After you're out, find Vivienne!"

Leopold and Thomas, sensing the gravity of the situation, called out, "Captain, report your status!"

"Mine... Collapse... Get out..."

voice faded into

overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to HQ. But unfamiliar with the terrain, the front squad often stumbled into collapsing tunnels, with some members falling into the

their firepower and rescued

HQ, Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above.

his useless headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms

the battle above, Soren knew staying meant certain death for

escape and return with reinforcements for

"Captain,

without injuries-broken

his headset crackled back to life with Micah's voice urging Wolf to pull

Soren radioed, "HQ, Wolf's comms are down. Send me the coordinates of the hostile

consider the consequences. They had to down the

and

three squads swiftly ended the fight, downing

the rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they awaited

location to Leopold, insisting they

his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on me." Thomas echoed the sentiment. "Second squad,

Soren turned to follow, dizziness from blood loss

report and heal. Or the captain will

with a cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back to base

captain is still in there!" Leopold roared, defiance written across

but his dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be

the stakes but stood firm. "Look at your men. They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter,

shoved Leopold aside and took Soren from Thomas. "Get him treated, then

operator approached with urgent news. "Deputy director, it's

the handset. "This

authorized this operation? I told you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do

orders from HQ to enter the mine. When

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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