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

However, before they could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to HQ.

their firepower and rescued

"Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above.

headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed.

Soren knew staying

was to escape and return with

"Captain, wait

though not without injuries-broken limbs and, for Soren, a gashed

crackled back to life with Micah's voice urging Wolf to

are down. Send me the coordinates of the

had to down the helicopters to cut off the attack and minimize

cursed and relayed the

the fight, downing two helicopters, while

at the rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they awaited

relayed Percival's location

two rifles from the other members and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone

Soren turned to follow, dizziness from blood loss nearly

to report and heal. Or

over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back to

there!"

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

firm. "Look at your men. They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter, too. Back to base, that's

from Thomas. "Get him treated,

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

grabbed the handset.

wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand

mine. When were we told to

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

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