Chapter 1216
Drake clenched his jaw, swallowing his groan of pain.
Using the momentum of the strike, he rapidly fell back into the center of his squad’s defensive ring.
He reached into his tactical vest, pulled out a sleek black metal lockbox, and shoved it hard into the chest of the youngest operative behind him. His voice was absolute.
“Wolf, take it and run p>
“We’ll cover you. Break the line, whatever it takes p>
The young operative, code-named Wolf, jolted. He gripped the metal box until his knuckles turned white, his eyes instantly glossing over with fierce emotion. “Captain! I’m not leaving you p>
“You’re the fastest. Break through now.” Drake pinned him with a hardened glare. “This intel gets out intact. Do you hear me? That’s an order p>
Wolf’s fingers dug into the box, the veins in his neck straining. “You’re a better fighter than I am. You have a higher chance of making it out. We should be covering you p>
“Shut your mouth, that’s an order!” Drake roared over the sounds of the brawl. “Fall in line, and do not make me say it again p>
“This intel is a matter of national security. It goes home tonight, unbroken p>
“Even if you have to die today, you make sure this gets out p>
Tears stung the corners of Wolf’s eyes.
He looked at his blood-soaked captain and his battered brothers-in-arms. His chest heaved, his lips trembling before he gave a stiff, jerky nod. His voice cracked. “Yes, sir. I swear it. If I die, the box survives p>
The operative beside him shoved him forcefully toward the rear. “Stop crying like a baby. We’re getting you out of here, so you better stay alive p>
“Damn straight,” another man spat a mouthful of blood onto the concrete, flashing a reckless grin. “Stop acting like we’re writing our wills. Since when does Dragon- Thorn ever lose p>
In the shadows, Serena’s gaze shifted.
The Dragon-Thorn Squad.
She knew of them.
They were Elyndor’s absolute highest tier of special forces, subjected to grueling, inhumane training specifically for top-secret global operations.
She hadn’t expected this.
The soldier she had brushed past was actually the commander of Dragon-Thorn.
Just then, the dynamic shifted.
From the dark perimeter behind the pack of Augments, a man in a sharp suit stepped forward.
Unlike the mindless monsters, Commander Kaelen was entirely human. He was the handler directing the slaughter.
Kaelen surveyed the bloody, broken state of the Elyndorian squad and let out a grating, arrogant laugh.
He spoke in heavily accented, mocking Elyndorian. “Elyndor’s finest? I expected a challenge. What a disappointment p>
“Did you really think you could waltz into Severia and steal from us p>
He threw his head back and laughed, a cruel, predatory gleam in his eyes. “None of you are leaving this garage alive. Once I’m done butchering you
I’ll
mount your heads at the border for everyone to see exactly how pathetic Elyndorian soldiers truly are p>
The sheer venom in his words struck a nerve.
Every man in the Dragon-Thorn Squad looked ready to tear out Kaelen’s throat.
An Elyndorian soldier could die in combat, but they would never swallow an insult to their nation.
Drake wiped a smear of blood from
his cheek and stood tall, offering a cold sneer of his own. “You
Severians sure love hiding in dark
little holes relying on freaks
mature to do your dirty work p>
“What happens when the international community finds out you’re breeding these
abominations? Let’s see how loud you bark then p>
“Severia would be a global pariah overnight p>
Kaelen’s smug smile vanished, replaced by a venomous scowl. “You’ll need a pulse
to tell them p>