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

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

with Thomas, Leopold boosted their

the mic, "Wolf,

Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a signal blocker somewhere. Go support

battle above, Soren knew staying meant certain

to escape and

"Captain, wait for my

escaped the mine, though not without injuries-broken

back to life with Micah's voice urging Wolf

are down. Send

to down the helicopters to cut off the attack

and relayed

three squads swiftly ended the fight, downing two

point, with casualties among them, they awaited further

Percival's location to Leopold, insisting

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

turned to follow, dizziness from blood loss nearly overcame

to report and heal. Or the captain

a cane, stormed over, nearly

there!" Leopold roared,

grew up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be buried down there

They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter, too. Back to base, that's an

and took Soren from Thomas. "Get him treated, then document everything

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

grabbed the handset. "This is

before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand

HQ to enter the mine. When were we told to stand by?" Soren

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

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