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

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

with Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and

Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces are

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

battle above, Soren knew staying

was to escape and return with

streaming, Soren vowed, "Captain,

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

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

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

no time to consider the consequences. They had to down

and relayed the

the fight, downing two helicopters, while

the rendezvous point, with casualties among

hastily bandaged, relayed Percival's location to Leopold, insisting they had

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

turned to follow, dizziness

to report and heal. Or the

cane, stormed over,

still in there!" Leopold roared, defiance written across

his captain but his dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way

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

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

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

handset. "This is

before proceeding. Do you not

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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