Inside the private quarters of the P-Type unit, the atmosphere gradually settled back into its usual calm. Gareth and Lloyd were still locked in a game of snooker at the center table, the sharp clack of balls echoing every so often. Sophie busied herself baking sweets, the rich aroma drifting through the room, while Lewis, freshly cleared to leave the infirmary as his wounds began to heal, stepped back in with a simmering edge to his mood.
"Next time, I'm going to crush that bastard's mask in my own hands. Just watch."
Lewis spat the words out, fists clenched tight, the rage from the previous battle still burning in his chest.
"We're down to just five now..."
23 spoke in a low, steady voice, his gaze sweeping across the remaining members of the team.
"No idea if Alicia's even still alive. And as for Roxanne, that colonel said she followed Dr. Nicolas to Biotope 7."
"Biotope 7?"
Sophie pulled her hands away from the baking tray and turned, her brows knitting in surprise.
"Isn't that place basically empty? Just the Outlands and a research facility, right?"
"I heard it's the only biotope with no civilian population at all."
Gareth cut in, calmly chalking the tip of his cue, his expression turning serious.
"That entire zone is a pure government research hub. The whole continent's covered in ice."
"Wasn't it already a place where almost no one lived, even before all this?"
Lloyd asked, eyes fixed on the balls across the table, his tone flat.
"Exactly. That's why the government chose it for their research base."
23 replied firmly.
"They knew no one would be able to interfere with their classified work. The cold and those ice storms out there… they're a perfect natural defense."
"Enough about that."
Colonel Pierce's sharp voice cut through the room as he stepped inside, his piercing gaze sweeping across every member of the team.
"From this point on, we move forward with a full-scale operation to wipe out the Out Law. I've requested an additional two hundred personnel from the security division. Every one of them is among the government's best."
He declared it with absolute certainty, announcing the reinforcements that would join the coming decisive battle.
"When do we move?"
Lewis asked, his voice firm as he rolled his shoulder, freshly recovered.
"Three days."
Pierce answered shortly, his tone steady and unwavering.
"The reinforcements will arrive via Hyperloop. Once they've rested and we finalize our tactical plan, we strike straight at their base and wipe them out."
"So you've already located their base?"
23 asked, clearly surprised.
"Yeah… I have."
Pierce replied with a cold smile that sent a chill through anyone who saw it.
"What about that alliance backing Number 29?"
23 pressed, bringing up the other major variable.
"We don't have their exact location yet, but they can wait."
The colonel waved it off, unconcerned.
"Right now, the Out Law are the priority. If those rebels decide to show up and interfere… We'll just wipe them out along with the rest."
…..
Inside the underground base's conference room, thick with tension, the alliance had gathered to assess the escalating situation outside following the destruction of Substation 42.
"So they're really going all-in against the government, huh?"
Connor said, arms crossed, his eyes clouded with concern over what might come next.
"That's likely. From what I've managed to dig up, it seems the man named Zenos has openly challenged Colonel Pierce."
Kelly reported as she continued typing across the holographic control panel.
"If it were just a war between those two sides, that would be one thing… but I'm worried it's going to spill over onto us."
Connor let out a quiet sigh, his gaze drifting around the room.
"You don't need to worry. It's coming for us anyway."
Drago cut in, his voice hoarse but firm.
"The only question is when."
The room fell completely silent as everyone realized the same thing. They were standing on the fault line between two overwhelming powers, both ready to crush anything in their path. And this hidden base might not stay hidden much longer.
"The first thing we need to do is evacuate the civilians."
Chloe spoke up, her voice tight with tension as she pulled her eyes away from the vehicle maintenance schematics.
"In this base, aside from us who are leading, there are plenty of others who have no idea what's going on. They're not ready to go out there and fight anyone."
"Yeah… that makes sense."
Connor nodded in agreement, deep in thought.
"If possible, start the evacuation plan immediately. I'll contact our allies at Biotope 3 and see if they can prepare in time. At the very least, they can take in the non-combatants for now."
His gaze shifted toward the determined mechanic.
"Chloe… you handle the evacuation—"
"No."
Chloe cut him off instantly, her eyes steady, without a trace of hesitation.
"I'm staying here. If I'm not, then who's going to drive for you out there?"
Her words pulled the room into silence. Everyone understood. In a fight where speed and maneuvering meant survival, her driving skills were unmatched. And her decision to stand and fight alongside them carried more weight than anyone needed to say out loud.
"I'll take Murray and handle it myself."
Kelly offered, her tone calm and steady.
"There are fewer than fifty people to evacuate. It shouldn't be a major issue. If everything's ready, I'll move out ahead with the convoy. If things here stay stable, I can always circle back and regroup later."
"Alright… that works."
Connor nodded, accepting the plan.
"As for the rest of you, anyone else want to evacuate early?"
The room fell into a brief silence before Darius slowly raised his hand, half-serious, half-playful.
"Uh… well, I've actually been meaning to check out Biotope 3 anyway. Mind if I hitch a ride?"
"…Seriously?"
Drago let out a long sigh, pressing a hand to his temple.
"Fine. At least having someone with illusion abilities along the convoy makes it a lot safer."
"Then it's settled…"
Connor swept his gaze across the room one last time.
"The evacuation team will be Kelly, Murray, and Darius. The rest of us get ready to take the hit that's coming."
The decision was made. The room was left heavy with tension as the underground base thinned its core strength to protect the innocent, all while the storm of war from both the government and the Out Law gathered overhead.
In the next instant, a blaring siren tore through the base, loud enough to make hearts seize. Red emergency lights flashed in rapid bursts, signaling that an intruder had breached their perimeter and was closing in.
Beep… Beep… Beep…
"What's going on?!"
Connor shouted, already grabbing his sidearm.
"Someone's breached the security system from the outer gate. They've already made it through to the inner door!"
Kelly fired back, panic breaking through her voice as her fingers flew across the keyboard, fighting to regain control.
"What?!"
Connor snapped, disbelief breaking through as he struggled to accept that someone had found this place and breached their system this fast.
"I'm pulling up the feed… just a second!"
Kelly rushed to bring the inner gate camera onto the main display, trying to get a clear look at whoever dared come this far. The moment the image appeared, a chill ran straight down everyone's spine.
On the monitor stood a tall, all-too-familiar figure, motionless before the reinforced steel door. The scratched metal mask caught the dim light, unmistakable… Zenos. The walking reaper now stood at their doorstep, knocking with eerie patience like a guest waiting to be let in, ready to slaughter the host.
"Shit! Everyone, get ready. Throw everything you've got at him!"
Drago roared, his eyes blazing as his killer instinct surged to its peak.
"Darius! Forget everything else. Focus on him alone. If you can mess with his senses, that's already a huge help!"
Connor added sharply, checking the rounds in his sidearm one last time.
At the command, everyone in the base surged toward the massive gate like a pack of wolves bracing to face a new alpha. They took positions and locked into firing lines with practiced precision. The sounds of weapons being readied and machinery powering up blended into the tense silence, every eye fixed on the heavy steel door that was about to open and welcome the most dangerous man ever to reach their doorstep.
The moment the door split open, a suffocating aura of killing intent burst from Zenos and crashed into them like a wave of freezing air. Drago and Connor held their fingers on the triggers, ready to unleash a storm of bullets the instant he moved.
"Hold it! Everyone, stay calm!"
Edward's voice rang out, cutting straight through the brink of violence. All eyes snapped toward him at once.
"It looks like he didn't bring any weapons."
Edward added, staring through his upgraded visor as it scanned for traces of metal around the mercenary. It found nothing but emptiness.
"Even without weapons, I can still take all of you down… best not to underestimate me."
Zenos spoke in a low, commanding voice that sent a chill straight to the bone. He stepped forward slowly, entering the dim glow of the base.
"Let me introduce myself first. My name is Zenos, from Out Law. I came here because I have something important to discuss with you."
As he spoke, he spread both hands wide, showing his empty palms to make it clear he wasn't carrying any weapons.
"Out Law… here to talk? What exactly do you want?"
Connor shot back, his voice sharp, his grip on his weapon never loosening for a second.
"Is this how you treat your guests? No table to sit at, no proper reception… not even a cup of tea or a glass of water."
Zenos spoke in a flat, irritating tone as his gaze swept across the room from behind his scratched mask.
"And one more thing… don't think that little illusion trick is going to work on me a second time. Drop it."
His words made Darius flinch, caught off guard by how quickly his deception had been seen through.
In the next instant, the space around them warped and collapsed, the illusion dissolving completely. What remained was only Edward, Connor, Drago, and Darius standing face to face with him, while the others had already moved to carry out the evacuation plan, clearing non-combatants from the base.
"Shall we start this conversation properly… Major Connor Franklyn. Former military medic. Leader of the alliance in Biotope 5."
Zenos recited his full identity with precision, making it clear he hadn't come here unprepared. A suffocating silence settled over the corridor. The enemy they had once hunted without hesitation now stood at the heart of their base, knowing exactly who they were, and offering something no one had expected.