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 into

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

with Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower

the mic, "Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from above.

his useless headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed.

knew

was to escape and return with

Soren vowed, "Captain, wait

without injuries-broken limbs and, for Soren, a

headset crackled back to life with

"HQ, Wolf's comms are down. Send

consider the consequences. They had to down the helicopters to

and

fight, downing two helicopters,

with casualties among them, they

location

a mix of anger and resolve. "First

Soren turned to follow, dizziness from blood loss

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

limping with a cane, stormed over,

in there!"

was not only his captain but his dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would let

They're heavily wounded, and

from Thomas. "Get him treated, then document everything about the mine. Hand it

approached with urgent news. "Deputy director,

grabbed the handset.

for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you not understand

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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