With the help of lighting from a dozen torches, Brigadier Haggar, Commanding Officer of 1st Makai Construction Regiment, observed the underground tunnel's ceiling. Then, he turned his gaze to a thin layer of dirt and gravel below it.

Previously, when he got a report that the ceiling in the branch to Levsait and Raisait vibrated and accompanied by a rather hard hum, Brigadier Haggar immediately rushed to check it out. However, when he arrived at the location, the vibration and hum that made him anxious had already stopped.

"Are there similar occurrences in other locations?" asked Brigadier Haggar.

“No, Sir,” a centurion firmly replied."

In an instant dark clouds filled Brigadier Haggar's face. "Then we have something to worry about."

"Sir, maybe it's just a pack of large rodents making a nest."

"Rodents will make their nest far away from an area full of human activities."

"Then, is it possible that TF Amethyst detect our present down here?"

"Maybe, but I can say it for sure." Brigadier Haggar took a deep breath before continuing, "I can only say this branch is a vital location for attacks to Levsait and Raisait. So, when an odd thing happens in this location, I don't think it's a coincidence."

"I will ask for immediate reinforcement then."

"Yes, you should." Brigadier Haggar lightly nodded before continuing, "As for now, I will check the ceiling personally."

Wasting no time, Captain Haggar ordered an engineer team from 1st Makai Construction Regiment to prepare a staircase. It was made of bamboo pieces that could be arranged to form some kind of platform with the size as high and as wide as needed.

The engineer team swiftly arranged the bamboo pieces. Then, when they were just about to finish the staircase, a big vibration suddenly shook the ceiling, followed by cracks right above the staircase.

“Evade! Evade! Save yourself!!”

Brigadier Haggar shouted as hard as he could to warn the engineer team. However, it was too late.

Crack! Crack! C-craaaacckk. . . . CRUUSSHH!!

The underground tunnel's ceiling suddenly collapsed, and fell on the engineer team like a large landslide. Fortunately, it only consisted of soft dirt and gravel. Therefore, even though the volume was quite large and almost buried the engineer team alive, it did not cause any fatality.

“Go help the engineer team!!”

Brigadier Haggar calmly gave an order, then approached the giant hole in the ceiling. It was about four meters wide, and perfectly round.

As a CO of a construction regiment, Brigadier Haggar knew a lot of techniques to make such a perfect hole. However, none of the techniques he knew could match the speed of the techniques he just witnessed.

‘Damn it, what kind of trick do they employ?’

Slowly but surely, a sense of inferiority filled Brigadier Haggar's heart. Moreover, from his position, he could look at the night sky full of stars, and it reminded him of a story about a frog that views the world from the base of a well.

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

However, Brigadier Haggar didn't have time to ponder much further. As ten 8-inches hoses suddenly descended from the top of the hole until it reached the middle section of the hole. A moment later, water poured heavily from the ten hoses.

"What are they planning?" muttered Brigadier Haggar as he looked at the water that fell on the underground tunnel's floor with a loud splash.

---

One hour after a giant hole was formed on the underground tunnel's ceiling and water pouring in like there was no tomorrow, General Issus, The Commanding Officer of 56th Makai Guard Division, finally arrived with his unit. Without delay, General Issus and his officers approached Brigadier Haggar.

“Brigadier, give us the latest circumstance and make it brief,” said General Issus in a calm tone.

“Sir,” Wasting no time, Brigadier Haggar started explaining, “The water they use is fresh water, and our healers have confirmed it is free of poison or other dangerous substance.

The water has also reached our 2nd camp with a height level of 5 cm from the ground."

"Do they plan to drown this tunnel from here to our second camp?"

"No, Sir, I don't think it's their goal." Brigadier Haggar turned his gaze to the water that poured into underground tunnel as he continued, "With the current speed, it will take a few days to sink the entire tunnel from this place to the second camp."

In an instant, a question mark appeared on General Issus's forehead. "If they don't plan to drown this tunnel, then what's their goal?"

"Our Healer warns that when the water reaches a certain level, maybe TF Amethyst will put poison or other dangerous compounds."

“I see.” General Issus paused for a moment before continuing, “Then, we must act before that scenario come into play."

“General,” Brigadier Haggar took a deep breath before continuing in low tone, “Closing a hole this big in a short time is almost impossible.

Moreover, I believe TF Amethyst puts some units to monitor our activities and they will definitely prevent any efforts to close the hole."

“Who said we will close this hole?" After lightly smiled, General Issus continued, "We will use it as entry point for an offensive."

"We will launch an offensive by using this hole?"

“Yes, it’s a direct order from Prince Makar. 56th Division will lead the assault, followed by war contingent from Rivek dan Sviek Region.”

“Understood, General. I will prepare the staircase as fast as possible."

Wasting no time, Brigadier Haggar and his men began their work. Then, they just finished the first platform when the water pouring hard from the ten 8-inch hoses suddenly stopped. Slowly but surely, the ten hoses then moved up until they disappeared from view.

Bad feelings suddenly gripped Brigadier Haggar's heart. Without delay, he warned his men, "Quickly, get away from the hole!"

And the warning turned out to be accurate. Shortly, after the last person stepped away from the giant hole in the ceiling, an object suddenly fell from above and hit the tunnel's floor with a loud thud. It had a shape like a hammer, with a size as big as an adult thigh, and connected to a very thick black cable.

‘What is this thing?' Brigadier Haggar asked as question marks filled his mind to the brim.

However, Brigadier Haggar did not have time to think about it any further as a massive jolt suddenly hit his body. Then, panic gripped his heart as his body helplessly tumbled and hit the ground.

Even so, Brigadier Haggar was still able to conclude that the massive jolt which almost paralyzed his body was related to the water and the objects shaped like a hammer before him.

‘Dry place…’

With every single drop of whatever strength left in his body, Brigadier Haggar crawled towards the staircase, passing several of his men who were lying in the ground.

Even though his body almost had no strength, somehow Brigadier Haggar managed to reach the staircase and pulled his body up to the dry platform.

Then, after taking a deep breath several times, Brigadier Haggar finally realized the eerie silence that blanketed the underground tunnel. Wasting no time, he checked his surroundings, and as far as he could see, he only saw bodies lying motionlessly on the ground.

‘It seems I was the only survivor,’ muttered Brigadier Haggar as chill ran through on his spine.

*****