Takuma and his team darted through the narrow, dimly lit corridors of the facility, their breaths labored but controlled. Every step they took was calculated, their eyes scanning for any signs of an ambush. They knew they were in hostile territory, and every corner held the potential for danger.

“Keep moving,” Takuma urged, his voice low but firm.

Kaede clutched the data drive tightly in her hand, her knuckles white as she followed closely behind. “Which way now?” she asked, glancing nervously at Sora and Hikari.

Hikari, who had been taking point, held up a hand to signal a stop. She glanced down at her portable map device, frowning. “We’re close to an exit, but it’s not the main one. We’ll have to cut through the east wing. It’s the only way to avoid the reinforcements heading our way.”

Sora leaned against the wall, peeking around the corner. “Sounds good, but we’ve gotta hurry. They’re gonna box us in if we don’t move fast.”

The team pressed forward, weaving through the labyrinthine halls of the building. The tension was palpable, like a storm about to break. Takuma’s every muscle was coiled, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.

Then, it happened.

A loud crack echoed through the hallway, followed by the sharp ping of a bullet ricocheting off the metal wall inches from Sora’s head.

“Down!” Takuma barked, shoving Kaede into cover behind a heavy crate.

The hall erupted in gunfire as guards positioned themselves at the far end, unloading their weapons with precision. Bullets whizzed past, some embedding themselves into the walls, others sparking against the floor.

Hikari flattened herself against the wall, her breath steady despite the chaos. “They’ve got us pinned!” she called out.

Takuma cursed under his breath, his mind racing. “Sora, suppressive fire! Kaede, stay low! Hikari, flank left with me!”

Sora didn’t need to be told twice. She slid to her knees, drawing her weapon in one smooth motion, and opened fire down the hall. The crack of her shots echoed, forcing the guards to duck behind their own cover.

Takuma and Hikari moved like shadows, darting to the left side of the hall. Their movements were synchronized, a deadly dance honed through countless hours of training.

“Cover me,” Hikari whispered, her tone calm yet commanding.

Takuma nodded, popping out from behind a crate to fire a few precise shots. The guards returned fire, but it gave Hikari the opening she needed. She moved swiftly, her blade gleaming in the dim light as she closed the distance.

The first guard didn’t even see her coming. With a fluid motion, Hikari disarmed him and landed a devastating blow to his gut, sending him sprawling.

Meanwhile, Sora was holding her ground, her shots forcing the remaining guards to stay in cover. “Keep it up!” she shouted, her voice carrying over the din of battle.

Kaede peeked out from behind her crate, her heart pounding. She hated being defenseless, but she trusted her team. “What can I do?” she called out, her voice trembling slightly.

“Stay put!” Takuma replied sharply. “We need that data safe!”

The guards, realizing they were being outmaneuvered, began to retreat down the hall, firing sporadically as they went.

“Don’t let them regroup!” Takuma ordered, his voice firm.

Sora grinned, her confidence unshaken. “On it!” She advanced, her shots precise and unrelenting.

As the last guard disappeared around the corner, the team regrouped quickly.

“Everyone okay?” Takuma asked, his eyes scanning his team for injuries.

“Peachy,” Sora replied, reloading her weapon with a smirk.

Hikari wiped her blade clean, her expression calm as ever. “No injuries.”

Kaede exhaled shakily, clutching the drive to her chest. “I’m fine, just… let’s not do that again.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Takuma nodded, his mind already focused on their next move. “We need to keep moving. They’ll be back, and they’ll bring more firepower.”

Hikari checked the map again, her brow furrowed. “The exit is just ahead, but we’ll need to cross an open courtyard. If they’ve got snipers, it’s going to be a problem.”

Takuma’s jaw tightened. “Then we make it quick. Sora, you’ll provide cover. Kaede, stick close to me. Hikari, you’re on overwatch.”

The team moved out, their steps quick but deliberate. Takuma couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

As Takuma and his team approached the exit, their breaths came in shallow bursts, the adrenaline pumping through their veins like a relentless drumbeat. The open courtyard ahead stretched 12 meters to freedom, the heavy steel doors at the far end a tantalizing promise of escape.

“Stay sharp,” Takuma murmured, his tone low but commanding.

The team moved in formation, Sora taking the lead with her weapon raised, Hikari covering their flank, and Kaede staying close to Takuma. The courtyard was eerily silent except for the faint hum of security cameras swiveling to track their movements.

Just as they were about to make a break for it, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the direction of the exit. Takuma’s heart sank as a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking their path.

The man was enormous, his shoulders so broad they seemed to strain against his suit. His muscles rippled beneath his clothing, and his expression was one of dim but unwavering confidence. His shaved head gleamed under the overhead lights, and his knuckles were cracked and scarred from years of brute-force battles.

“End of the line,” the man growled, his voice deep and gravelly.

Sora muttered under her breath, “Seriously? Of all the goons, we get the human tank?”

Hikari’s eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her blade. “He’s not here to talk. We need a plan.”

Kaede’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched the data drive. “What do we do?”

Takuma assessed the situation, his mind racing. The man wasn’t armed, but his sheer size and presence were enough to make him a formidable opponent. “We don’t have time for a drawn-out fight,” Takuma said. “Hikari, you and I will keep him distracted. Sora, Kaede, make for the exit when you see an opening.”

Sora glanced at him, her expression skeptical. “You sure about this, boss?”

“Just stick to the plan,” Takuma replied firmly.

The man cracked his knuckles, his grin revealing chipped teeth. “You kids don’t stand a chance.”

Without warning, he lunged forward, his massive fist swinging like a wrecking ball. Takuma and Hikari split apart, narrowly avoiding the blow that left a crater in the concrete where they had just stood.

Hikari darted to the man’s side, her blade flashing as she aimed for a vulnerable spot. But her strike barely grazed his skin, the blade skidding off his toughened muscle like it was hitting steel.

The man laughed, his voice booming. “That tickled!”

Takuma used the distraction to move in from behind, aiming a kick at the back of the man’s knee. The impact made him stumble slightly, but he recovered quickly, spinning around with surprising agility for someone his size.

“Nice try, kid!” the man bellowed, swinging his arm in a wide arc. Takuma ducked, feeling the rush of air as the blow narrowly missed him.

Meanwhile, Sora signaled to Kaede. “Now’s our chance. Let’s go!”

The two darted toward the exit, their movements swift and precise. The man noticed them out of the corner of his eye and moved to intercept, but Hikari stepped in his path, slashing at his legs to slow him down.

“Not so fast,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

The man roared in frustration, his fists slamming into the ground as he tried to swat her away. Takuma seized the opportunity, grabbing a loose metal rod from the ground and driving it into the man’s shoulder.

The man howled in pain, momentarily disoriented. “You little—”

But before he could finish, Sora and Kaede reached the exit, punching in the override code to open the heavy steel doors. “It’s open! Let’s move!” Sora shouted.

Hikari and Takuma exchanged a glance. They had done enough to keep the man occupied; it was time to retreat.

“Fall back!” Takuma yelled.

Hikari disengaged gracefully, her movements fluid as she sprinted toward the exit. Takuma followed, throwing the metal rod to the ground as a final distraction.

The man tried to pursue, but the injuries and their coordinated attacks had slowed him down enough. By the time he reached the doors, they were already sealed shut.

Outside, the team regrouped, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“We made it,” Kaede said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“For now,” Takuma replied, his tone grim. “Let’s not stick around to see if he breaks through those doors.”

The team hurried away from the facility, their minds already racing with thoughts of what would come next. This was just one battle in a much larger war, and Takuma knew they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.

The next day at school, Takuma sat in his usual spot by the window, his chin resting on his hand as he stared blankly at the courtyard outside. The previous night's events played on a loop in his mind, each moment etched into his thoughts like a permanent scar. His team had barely escaped the facility, and while their mission was a success, the tension and danger lingered like a storm cloud over his head. We got out, but it was too close. That brute almost turned us into a permanent part of the floor. He clenched his fist under the desk, the memory of the man’s mocking grin still vivid.

The weight of responsibility settled heavier than ever. Takuma glanced at his teammates, scattered across the classroom, each blending into the background as if nothing had happened. They’re good—better than I expected—but that was pure chaos. His eyes flickered to Miu, who was quietly scribbling notes a few rows ahead. She has no idea what’s going on, and maybe it’s better that way. A pang of guilt twisted in his chest, but he pushed it aside. There was no room for hesitation now, not when the stakes were this high. Takuma leaned back in his chair, his resolve hardening. We’ll have to be sharper, faster. The next time they come for us, I won’t let anyone get even close to stopping us.