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

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

boosted their firepower and rescued the

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

headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed.

above, Soren knew staying meant

only chance was to escape and return with

"Captain, wait

escaped the mine, though not without

his headset crackled back to life with

teeth, Soren radioed, "HQ, Wolf's comms are down.

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

cursed and relayed

squads swiftly ended the fight, downing two helicopters,

with casualties among them,

location to Leopold, insisting they had to

and strapped them on, his voice a mix of anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone

to follow, dizziness from blood

back to report and heal. Or the captain will

cane, stormed over, nearly collapsing.

in there!" Leopold roared, defiance written across

not only his captain but his dear friend who grew up with him. There

They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter, too. Back

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

with urgent news. "Deputy

grabbed the handset. "This

before proceeding. Do you

HQ to enter the mine. When

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

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