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

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

with Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and

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

Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's a

above, Soren knew staying meant certain death

chance was to escape and return

Soren vowed, "Captain, wait

not without injuries-broken limbs and,

outside, his headset crackled back to life

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

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

and

three squads swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters,

casualties

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

it!" Leopold took two rifles from the other members and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone who can still move, on

dizziness

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

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

there!" Leopold roared,

was not only his captain but his dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be buried down there without doing

your men. They're heavily wounded, and

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

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

handset. "This

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

HQ to enter the mine. When were

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