Breach

Due to the shot Ari made, the enemy formation, already thrown into disarray by the Boss's sudden collapse, began to falter. The panicked shouts of the remaining soldiers filled the air as they scrambled for cover, their coordination crumbling.

Jade motioned for the team to fall back. "Fall back, now!" she shouted, her eyes scanning the chaos for the safest route.

Rico, still processing the shock on his face, rolled his eyes and began sprinting toward a narrow corridor on the far side of the tunnel. "Let's get the hell out of here," he muttered, vaulting over debris and ducking under stray gunfire.

Gage covered their retreat as he reactivated Hailstorm from its storage state. With deliberate, calculated movements, he cleared a path—pummeling any straggling foes with powerful, precise strikes. His Titan Force pulsed beneath his skin, a testament to his raw strength, ensuring nothing could catch up to them.

Ari, still visibly shaken and clinging to Requiem, followed closely behind Jade,her eyes downcast. "I… I can't believe I did that," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she hurried to keep pace. Jade glanced at her,before smiling, making sure she knows even the quietest shots can change the course of battle.

Skye's voice crackled through their comms, calm but urgent. "I've got a secure exit route mapped out—head to the north corridor. I'm redirecting the enemy drones to create a distraction." True to her word, holographic displays on nearby walls shimmered with erratic signals, drawing enemy attention away from the fleeing squad.

Jade led them through the labyrinthine passages of the tunnel system, every step fueled by adrenaline. The sound of pursuing footsteps and sporadic gunfire echoed behind them. Yet, with Gage's heavy suppressive fire and Rico's agile maneuvers, the enemy never managed to mount a coordinated counterattack.

Emerging from the tunnel into a dimly lit corridor, the team caught their breath. Jade's eyes scanned their surroundings, alert to any sign of pursuit. "Keep moving—don't stop until we're clear," she ordered.

As they pressed onward, the corridor opened into a wide passageway leading toward an exit. Outside, the night air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the claustrophobic terror behind them. In the distance, faint city lights promised safety—or at least a temporary haven.

Rico leaned against the wall for a moment, wiping sweat and dust from his brow. "Well, that was something else," he remarked, half-smirking, half-breathing heavily.

Ari, still clutching Requiem tightly, managed a small smile, her voice trembling as she said, "I… I tried my best." Her words were soft.

Jade placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "You did, Ari. We all did." The pride in her voice was unmistakable, a rare moment of genuine warmth amid the chaos.

Gage's silent nod spoke volumes, while Skye's calm, measured tone over comms assured them that enemy reinforcements were still distracted. "Our extraction point is just ahead," she confirmed. "Once we're out, we can regroup and debrief."

With the adrenaline still surging, the team finally reached the extraction corridor. Jade took one last glance back at the disarray left in their wake, knowing that while this ambush was broken, the war was far from over.