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..."

faded

Thomas led their teams back toward Percival's last known location. However, before they could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a hailstorm. Leopold and Thomas fought back while retreating to

Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and rescued the

mic, "Wolf,

headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed.

battle above, Soren knew staying

escape and

streaming, Soren vowed, "Captain, wait for

narrowly escaped the mine, though not without injuries-broken limbs and, for Soren, a

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

are down. Send me the coordinates of the

time to consider the consequences. They had to down the helicopters to cut off the attack and

cursed and relayed the

squads swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters,

rendezvous point, with casualties among them, they awaited

location to Leopold,

the other members and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on me." Thomas

to follow, dizziness from blood

"Go back to report and

cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing. "Everyone, back

is still in there!"

his dear friend who grew up with him. There was

but stood firm. "Look at your men. They're heavily wounded, and

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

urgent news.

the handset. "This

you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand 'stand by"?" Soren

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

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

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