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…”

Percival’s voice faded into static.

led their teams back toward Percival’s last known location. However, before they could get close,

with the terrain, the front squad often

Leopold boosted their firepower and rescued the

“Wolf, unidentified forces are attacking from

the mine, Percival tossed aside his useless headset, shouting to Soren, “Comms are jammed. There’s a

battle above, Soren knew staying meant certain

chance was to escape

Soren vowed, “Captain, wait for

mine, though not without injuries—broken limbs

to life with Micah’s voice

his teeth, Soren radioed, “HQ, Wolf’s comms are down. Send me the coordinates of the hostile fire.

had to down the helicopters to cut

cursed and relayed

ended the fight, downing

casualties among them, they

Percival’s location to Leopold, insisting they had to go

from the other members and strapped them on, his voice a

the sentiment. “Second squad, with

turned to follow, dizziness from blood

back to report and heal. Or

over, nearly collapsing. “Everyone, back to base

there!” Leopold

up with him. There was no way he would let Percival be buried down there without doing

at your men. They’re heavily wounded, and their

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

operator approached with urgent news. “Deputy director,

the handset. “This is

authorized this operation? I told you to wait for satellite confirmation before proceeding. Do you

overheard the

HQ to enter the mine.

side, “Bullshit! I’ve been shouting my throat dry, ordering an

Micah. “Check the comms for viruses,

realized it, too, and yelled for his men

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

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