[Desert Land near the Target Desert Mountain]
[Noon]
Zeus and Sorai met up with three others. One of them was an old spy working for the Union among enemy ranks, and the other two were infiltrators like Sorai and Zeus.
The four infiltrators followed the spy, who led them to a small cave entrance between the rocks nearby.
(Sorai): Are there many of these tunnels?
A man who, at first glance, looked like a dangerous criminal because of his appearance, clothing, and sharp gaze replied:
"These people are like ants… they have tunnels everywhere."
The man entered the tunnel first, followed by the others… In the small dirt tunnel, the group walked for about fifteen minutes until they reached a large hall filled with many wooden crates.
A young man, whose face Zeus couldn't identify because he was wearing a stealth suit with activated armor, asked:
"What are these crates?"
The spy answered:
"Raw materials for making chemical explosive bombs, and other crates contain power capsule ammunition… So it's best not to bring any fights here. Your objectives are clear: First, capture one of the figures listed in your mission details — and as I mentioned before, if you can, try to capture the general commander. Second, steal a copy of the base's data from the command center. Is that clear? Leave this tunnel as soon as you finish your job."
Zeus read the map displayed inside his helmet, then left with Sorai heading toward the command room inside the base, as both of them were assigned to capture one of the enemy commanders. The other two were tasked with obtaining a copy of the central computer's data.
After activating the stealth features in their suits, everyone moved out, and just a few minutes later, strong ground vibrations could be felt — it was bombing by fighter jets targeting the mountain's outer defenses, and the start of the battle between the mechas.
Amid the chaos and soldiers running through the underground dirt corridors, Zeus and Sorai reached a spot directly beneath the command room.
(Sorai): It's pitch dark here… maybe the base suffered damage that affected the power supplying this section's lighting.
As they turned the final corner, Zeus noticed two gene-fighters guarding a room with a metal gate — a sign of how important whatever was inside that room was.
Zeus looked at Sorai and saw him draw his katana and rush at one of the fighters. But contrary to Zeus's expectations, Sorai's stealth wasn't enough to land a fatal blow — the targeted guard quickly drew a straight short sword and blocked Sorai's attack.
"Damn!" Zeus didn't hesitate — he drew his weapon and used it as a shield to block bullets from the second guard's pistol.
He took cover behind the wall and launched his twenty throwing daggers in a wide spread aimed at the enemy's possible escape routes.
The enemy revealed a power shield from his left hand that blocked ten of the daggers.
Zeus then threw his spinning disc, which the enemy also blocked. At the same time, the enemy moved behind another corridor corner and started speaking through his helmet communicator to report the intruders.
But communications were jammed — thanks to a tool in Sorai's suit that could block enemy comms within a 50-meter range.
Realizing this, the enemy decided to run to get outside the jamming radius. That's when Zeus heard Sorai's concerned voice:
"Stop him quickly! Don't let him get away!"
Zeus was forced to reveal his usual trick. Suddenly, the daggers lying on the ground moved and chased after the fleeing guard — except for one, which attacked the opponent dueling Sorai.
The distraction caused by the dagger allowed Sorai to land several consecutive strikes on the enemy's suit, draining its energy. Then with one powerful blow, he pierced the metal and killed the guard.
"This works too."
Sorai then chased after the fleeing guard. Zeus saw him perform fast, unhindered strikes — once the suit's energy was depleted, the metal became easy to cut with an energy blade.
Naturally, both this guard and the previous one had their heads cut off — a common practice among gene-fighters to ensure death, due to their enemies' extreme healing abilities.
Zeus didn't follow them earlier but chose instead to enter the room, knowing that Sorai — a close-range stealth fighter — would not lose to a ranged gene-fighter of similar power.
Zeus estimated that the shooter was a level 2 gene-fighter, while the one who initially fought Sorai must have been at least level 3 to keep up with him.
The room was filled with equipment and devices… Zeus found them familiar until he realized they were medical tools.
There was also a bed and other details.
"What were those two guarding? Do they know our plan? … No, that's unlikely."
Sorai entered the room and didn't waste time. He started planting energy bombs on the ceiling. Then he and Zeus quickly left the room.
Sorai asked calmly:
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
< A loud explosion >
A dust cloud burst out from the room.
They both rushed in. Zeus began scanning the wounded on the floor using AI and facial recognition, while Sorai jumped into the hole in the ceiling to enter the command room.
Zeus heard no combat sounds from above, so he asked via comms:
"Did he escape?"
"Yeah… not surprising. Let's take one of these fools."
The AI in their helmets connected, determining the most valuable target among the injured — either from below or the upper room.
After identifying a woman in the upper room who was still in good condition, Sorai killed the rest and injected her with a powerful sedative.
Zeus also killed the wounded near him, and just as he was about to leave with Sorai, he noticed something suspicious.
Because of the explosion, Zeus discovered a hidden secret tunnel behind a side sink.
"What are you looking at? We need to go!"
"This room was well-guarded… and there's a secret tunnel here. I think the general commander might've escaped this way."
"Forget it — we don't have time to chase. Even if we found him, we might not be able to capture him. Intel says he's likely a level 4 gene-fighter."
Zeus hesitated briefly, but his intense curiosity about the secret tunnel made him decide:
"Take the woman and leave. I'll follow the tunnel… Don't worry, I won't engage anyone. I'll just track him if I find him, until support arrives so he doesn't escape."
Sorai hesitated too, but gave in to Zeus's logic.
"Alright. I'll send the woman with those two and come back to catch up with you. Be careful."
Zeus nodded, and the two split up.
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● [Dagger-Holding Shield]
• Composed of two parts:
{Spinning Disc} – 9 capacity points
(3): Energy Inscription / Total consumption: 6 points
(3): Movement Inscriptions with three different attributes / Total consumption: 3 points
{20 double-edged throwing knives} – 5 capacity points per knife
(1): Energy Inscription / Total consumption: 2 points
(3): Movement Inscriptions with three different attributes / Total consumption: 3 points
*/------------------------------------------------------------*