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

the danger, Leopold and 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 HQ. But unfamiliar with the terrain, the front squad often stumbled into collapsing tunnels, with some members

boosted their firepower and rescued the

mic, "Wolf,

shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's

the battle above, Soren knew

chance was to escape and return

Soren vowed, "Captain, wait for

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

outside, his headset crackled back to life with

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

They had to down the

cursed and relayed the

the fight, downing two helicopters, while

point, with casualties among them, they awaited

relayed Percival's location

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

to follow, dizziness from

him. "Go back to report and heal. Or the captain will

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

is still in there!" Leopold

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

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

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

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

handset. "This

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

enter the mine. When were we told to stand

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

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