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

However, before they could get close, a helicopter buzzed overhead, raining down bullets like a

Thomas, Leopold boosted their firepower and

HQ, Micah shouted into the mic, "Wolf,

Percival tossed aside his useless headset, shouting to Soren, "Comms are jammed. There's

Soren knew staying

escape and return with

Soren vowed, "Captain,

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

his headset crackled back to life with

are down. Send me the coordinates of the hostile

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

cursed and relayed the

ended the fight,

rendezvous point, with casualties among

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

anger and resolve. "First squad, anyone

follow, dizziness

report and heal. Or the captain will have

limping with a cane, stormed over,

is still in there!" Leopold

his dear friend who grew up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be buried down there without

the stakes but stood firm. "Look at your men. They're heavily wounded, and their lives matter, too. Back

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

with urgent news.

handset. "This is

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

followed orders from HQ to enter the mine. When were we told to

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

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