Chapter 11: Debrief, Knowledge Exchange, and the Countdown

After emerging from the Hive, the team was exhausted but proud of their success. The mission had been brutal, but they had come out on top, clearing every last zombie and Licker. As they returned to base, the team received an alert on their systems.

Extra Points Earned: 1320 points total (including a 1000-point bonus distributed evenly).

Jack glanced at the notification. "We got extra points for killing all the zombies and Lickers, plus the bonus for completing the Hive mission. Not bad."

Zheng checked his own screen, nodding with satisfaction. "Looks like I earned 254 points. I'll take it."

Len, still catching her breath, smirked. "Could've been worse. We all made it out, at least."

Zhang remained quiet but glanced at his total. "I can't believe I got points for that. 252... not bad."

Once back at base, Jie took charge, gathering everyone for a debrief. "We made it out of the Hive, but we need to go over what worked and what didn't. If we don't review now, we might not make it next time."

Jack nodded in agreement. "Zhang, you did okay covering our rear, but you need to react faster. We can't afford any hesitation in a fight, especially against fast enemies like the Lickers."

Zhang nodded, looking determined. "I know. I'll work on it. I won't freeze up next time."

Len stretched her arms. "Dodging and moving was easy, but I need to hit harder when I do it. I'll focus on landing more solid hits."

Zheng sighed, "My footwork was a mess. I should've been faster and more fluid when we were taking down those zombies and Lickers. If I could move better, I wouldn't have missed so many shots."

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Jie added, "And we were too spread out at times. Next time, we need tighter formations to protect each other and stay coordinated. Fast enemies will tear us apart otherwise."

The team gathered around the Light Sphere, knowing they had extra points from the Hive mission. It was time to use those points to improve for the next challenge.

Jack had performed well but realised he needed more tactical options. He decided to exchange his points for theoretical knowledge of sealing techniques. "I'm going to work on learning how to make exploding tags. It'll give us more versatility in future fights."

Zheng, frustrated by his lack of fluidity in battle, opted to exchange his points for qi-based footwork knowledge. "I need to move better. I was clumsy during the fight with the Lickers and zombies. This will help me stay balanced and react faster."

Jack decided to demonstrate what he had learned about sealing techniques. He pulled out a pre-made exploding tag and placed it on a training dummy.

"I don't have the chakra control to make these from scratch yet, but I've got the knowledge now." Jack activated the tag, and within moments, the tag exploded with a sharp bang, leaving the dummy scorched. "I'll work on making five of these over the next 24 hours."

Zheng nodded approvingly. "These will be useful. And with this footwork knowledge, I'll be moving better in the next fight."

As they discussed the skills they had gained, Zhang hesitated before speaking up. "There's something else I noticed in the Hive. After drinking some blood, my wounds healed much faster."

The group paused, intrigued. Jie, always the practical one, proposed a test. After a small cut was made on Zhang's arm, he drank a vial of blood. In moments, the wound sealed up as if it had never existed.

Joe nodded. "This could be incredibly useful. If we keep blood pouches with us, you'll be able to heal quickly during a mission."

Zhang still seemed uneasy but agreed. "It's strange, but I'll carry blood pouches from now on. If I get hurt, I'll use them to heal faster."

Jack added, "That's a major advantage. If you can heal on the spot, we'll have a better chance of surviving long missions."

With their new knowledge in hand, the team began preparing for the next mission.

Jack promised, "I'll create at least five exploding tags in the next 24 hours. I'll practise until I can make them reliably."

Zhang packed several blood pouches, ready to use them to heal quickly if needed during their next fight.

The team also stocked up on grenades and other heavy weaponry, ensuring they were prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.

As they finished preparing, the countdown in their systems ticked closer to zero. Tension filled the air as each of them checked their screens. The next mission was about to be revealed, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Jack glanced at his timer. "It's almost time. Whatever happens next, we need to be ready."

The room is filled with a soft, glowing light as the countdown reaches zero. Their systems flashed with a new message: "Next Mission: Alien".

Jack blinked, reading it aloud. "Alien? As in xenomorphs?"

Zheng's grin faded slightly, replaced by a serious expression. "Those things are fast, smart, and deadly. We're going to need everything we've got."

Len groaned. "Acid-blooded aliens? Fantastic."

Jie, always thinking ahead, immediately began planning. "Xenomorphs are no joke. They're smarter and faster than anything we've faced so far. If we don't have a solid plan, we're dead."

The room glowed as the team processed the new mission. They knew this would be their toughest challenge yet.

Jack clenched his fists, feeling his chakra pulse within hi

m. I've got the knowledge now he thought, but I need to master it.

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