Ch 33 : Task Force In Danger (2)

The darkness of the dungeon felt suffocating as Lieutenant Sato and his team found themselves surrounded on all sides by the ferocious wolf monsters. The pack had encircled them, every movement calculated, every creature poised to strike. The dungeon walls, damp and oppressive, seemed to close in around them, adding to the suffocating atmosphere of imminent doom.

Lieutenant Sato's breath was labored, his pulse pounding in his temples as he surveyed the situation. His team had been caught off guard by the speed and strength of the wolf pack. Despite the firepower they had at their disposal, the creatures were relentless, dodging shots with terrifying precision. Every time they thought they had gained some ground, another wave of snarling wolves lunged at them from the shadows.

"Stay close!" Sato shouted, his voice hoarse with urgency as he turned to his squad, trying to keep them from breaking formation. "Don't let them divide us. Focus fire on the nearest one—keep moving!"

The soldiers complied, their rifles blazing as they tried to push back the wolves. The crack of gunfire rang through the dungeon, but the wolves were too quick, weaving between the shots like a blur. They were far more agile than anything the Task Force had encountered before, moving as if they were an extension of the shadows themselves.

Sergeant Akiyama, positioned to the right, barely managed to block a wolf's jaws with his energy shield before it slammed into him, knocking him to the ground. His comrades turned to fire, but the wolf was already retreating, vanishing into the dark corners of the dungeon with a snarl. Akiyama gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet as he scanned the area. His armor was scratched and scuffed, but he wasn't down yet.

"We can't keep this up!" Akiyama growled, his frustration palpable.

"No choice," Sato replied, his jaw clenched. "Just keep pushing. We need to get to the extraction point."

But the wolves were closing in faster than expected, and the Task Force was beginning to lose ground. One of the soldiers from Team Bravo, Private Suzuki, was caught by two of the wolves as they leapt from the shadows. The last thing the squad heard was Suzuki's scream, abruptly cut off as the creatures tore into him. The private's lifeless body was flung aside as the wolves pounced on another target, not pausing to devour their kill, too focused on the fresh meat of the remaining soldiers.

"Fall back!" Sato ordered, but it was already too late. The pack of wolves had divided their forces, flanking both sides of the team. The Task Force was trapped in the middle of a vicious ambush.

Sato's helmet communication crackled with static before a voice came through. It was Sergeant Ishida from Team Alpha, his voice breathless and panicked. "Lieutenant, we can't hold them! There are too many—oh god, no—!"

The transmission cut out abruptly, followed by a chorus of pained shouts and the sound of combat. It was clear from the distress in Ishida's voice that Team Alpha was struggling, and without immediate reinforcement, they wouldn't last long.

"We need help now!" Sato growled, turning to his team. He saw several of them bleeding heavily, their wounds soaking their tactical suits. They were slowly being worn down, their energy and stamina fading with every passing minute. The wolves' attacks were methodical, relentless—every swipe, every bite was calculated to incapacitate and kill.

With his back against the cold stone wall, Lieutenant Sato fired his sidearm again, but his shots only seemed to make the wolves more aggressive. One of the beasts leapt at him from above, jaws snapping. He barely managed to dodge, his rifle slamming into the creature's side. The wolf screeched in pain, but it quickly recovered, its red eyes glowing brighter as it lunged at him again.

"I need backup!" Sato shouted, voice strained. His hands were shaking from the intensity of the battle.

Back at the military base, General Yoshi Matsuda stood at the command center, eyes flicking back and forth between the live feed and the data on his display screen. His brows furrowed in deep concentration as he analyzed the situation unfolding in the dungeon.

The soldiers of the Task Force were in full retreat, but the wolves were too fast. Their numbers were overwhelming, and the Task Force was struggling to maintain cohesion. General Matsuda clenched his jaw, his mind racing through possible contingencies. The Task Force could not sustain this much longer—they were on the brink of losing too many men.

"Send in the reinforcements," Matsuda ordered, his voice firm, yet tinged with frustration. "We can't afford to lose any more."

Captain Fujita, standing by Matsuda's side, nodded in understanding but hesitated. "General Matsuda," he began, his voice cautious, "we have another option. One that might turn the tide."

Matsuda looked over at Fujita, his eyes narrowing. "Explain."

Fujita took a deep breath before continuing. "There is a squad of weaponized infected we've been keeping on standby. They are… more than capable of dealing with the pack of wolves. Their physical enhancements should allow them to overpower these creatures, and they could be deployed immediately."

General Matsuda's mind raced as he considered the suggestion. The weaponized infected were a controversial asset—humans who had been infected and modified to survive dungeons. While they were more powerful than regular soldiers, their presence on the battlefield was a double-edged sword. They were dangerous, unstable, and, often, their loyalty was questionable. Using them had always been a last resort, but there were no more options left.

"We have no other choice," Matsuda muttered, his decision firm. "Prepare them for deployment. Now."

Fujita nodded and began issuing commands to the staff nearby. The operation was set into motion swiftly, with an urgency that came from the fact that the Task Force was about to be overrun.

Back in the dungeon, the Task Force was on the edge of collapse. Sato's squad was barely holding on as the wolves tore through their ranks. Each minute that passed saw more soldiers taken down. Blood painted the floor, and the echoes of snarls and screams filled the air. Sato was about to give another order when he heard a low, guttural growl from behind him. He spun around just in time to see another wolf leap at him.

This time, there was no room to dodge.

The wolf's claws slashed across his chest, drawing a spray of blood. The impact sent him crashing into a nearby pillar. His vision blurred for a moment, but he quickly shook his head, forcing himself to focus. He had to get back on his feet. He had to keep his squad together.

"We need to regroup!" Sato shouted, his voice hoarse, blood dripping from his wounds. "Get to the extraction point, now!"

The remaining soldiers staggered toward him, but the pack of wolves was closing in fast, each one more bloodthirsty than the last. Sato's thoughts were interrupted as a fierce roar echoed through the dungeon—this time, the ground itself seemed to tremble as if something far larger and more dangerous was on its way.

"Lieutenant, we can't hold them back much longer!" Akiyama shouted, his voice filled with desperation. He barely parried another wolf's strike before one of the creatures managed to sink its teeth into his leg, dragging him to the floor.

At that very moment, General Matsuda's voice crackled through the communication system, steady and commanding.

"Hold on, Lieutenant Sato. Reinforcements are en route. Just stay alive until they get there."

Sato's heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts racing. The infected soldiers were on their way, but would they arrive in time? Or was it already too late?