TIC Chapter 43

 Chapter 43

Xiao Yan’s speed was no match for Jian’s. When Jian reached out to take Xiao Yan’s gear, however, Xiao Yan refused him.

“I can carry my own gear,” he said. With that, Xiao Yan quickened his pace without looking back, attempting to catch up with Hein’s unit.

“Lieutenant Colonel, that looks like a bad omen—the sign of a rejection!” Warrant Officer Sharon remarked with a suggestive smile as he walked past Jian.

Upon reaching the area outside the Research Institute, they found several aircraft already parked there; their engines were running, kicking up gust after gust of swirling wind. Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, faintly spotting a familiar figure standing in front of one of the aircraft, waving in their direction.

“Maya!” Xiao Yan ran forward quickly.

Maya had tied his pride-and-joy—his long hair—back behind his head; a few stray wisps fluttered in the wind as a smile played upon his lips.

“Are you coming with us, too?”

Maya shook his head. “Don’t be silly! With a mission this high-risk, going in with my current physical condition would be practically suicide. Besides, having a technical specialist save my life a second time would be a total disgrace to the Special Missions Unit.”

Xiao Yan’s face instantly went dark with exasperation. Even if he was relying on prosthetics, Maya’s combat prowess was still—who knew how many times over—greater than Xiao Yan’s. Yet, if *this guy* claimed that going in would be suicide, didn’t that mean Xiao Yan’s own chances of survival were even slimmer?

“I came to see you off.” Maya threw an arm around Xiao Yan’s shoulders in a brotherly gesture. Just then, Hein stepped briskly into the cockpit, followed closely by Liv and Mark. In a mere two or three seconds, only Xiao Yan and Maya remained standing outside the aircraft.

Maya pulled Xiao Yan into a hug, then leaned in close to his ear and spoke with utmost seriousness: “Listen up, brother. No matter what happens, there is only one person you need to trust: Colonel Burton. Whatever orders he issues—whether they seem cold and ruthless, or you feel like they’re utterly impossible to carry out—you must do your absolute best to follow them.”

Xiao Yan furrowed his brows and replied in a low, muffled voice: “I know.”

“Good. Now go.” Maya was still incredibly strong; with effortless ease, he gave Xiao Yan a shove that sent him right into the aircraft. Mark couldn't wait to lower the safety harness for Xiao Yan. Just as he was pulling the hatch shut, Maya shouted out, "Come back safe so we can have a beer together!"

Xiao Yan gave a "copy that" gesture, and the aircraft lifted off. Xiao Yan took a deep breath; sitting across from him was Liv, and beside him was Mark—the seating arrangement was exactly the same as during their last mission.

"Hey, rookie! It’s been ages since we went on a mission together! You’d better be a good boy and not go wandering off everywhere—got it?" Mark reached over and playfully ruffled Xiao Yan's hair into a messy tangle.

Just moments ago, when Lieutenant Colonel Sharon had called him a "rookie," this guy had been the first to indignantly jump to his defense.

Xiao Yan let out a breath, suddenly realizing that he hadn't even figured out what this mission was actually about!

"Liv, where are we headed?"

"A certain cave." Liv didn't bother with suspense; she simply continued, "Xiao Yan, do you remember submitting a data analysis report regarding a Level 1 specimen a while back?"

"I do."

That incident had occurred atop a rocky mountain; a Level 1 creature had managed to climb all the way up without being detected by the Special Forces squad. Fortunately, Hein had reacted quickly, or else Xiao Yan would have been dead. Xiao Yan had suspected that this particular Level 1 had undergone deliberate genetic modification, so he had compiled his suspicions into a report and submitted it to the Central Academy of Sciences. The Academy had offered no comment on the report at the time, leading Xiao Yan to assume it had been completely ignored—but now, it seemed that wasn't the case after all.

"Lieutenant General Averell of the Central Academy of Sciences took that report very seriously. He dispatched a reconnaissance force, and they finally located this cave; it turns out to be a secret breeding facility belonging to the 'Tide' organization. Our objective is to raid and destroy this facility, and to secure all of their research data."

Xiao Yan lowered his head, his brows furrowing deeply. This mission was far more treacherous than he had imagined. Since this was a research facility operated by the Tide organization, the presence of their assassins went without saying; but the greatest unknown was exactly what kind of monsters the Tide organization had managed to create through their research. The previously encountered Level 1—which had moved with such eerie silence—had already been cause for alarm; and within this Tide research facility, there were almost certainly creatures far more dangerous than just Level 1s.

"Hey! Xiao Yan, there’s something I need to get straight with you!" Mark’s booming voice cut through Xiao Yan’s train of thought. "Huh... what?" Xiao Yan found it odd. Mark’s mind usually worked in such a straightforward, uncomplicated way—was he actually capable of pondering complex questions?

"You were under Jan Wallis’s supervision for a while, weren't you? Did that guy... *do* anything to you?" Mark’s booming voice rang out, causing every special forces soldier in the cabin to turn and look their way.

"...What could he possibly *do* to me?" Xiao Yan felt a flush of embarrassment; Jan Wallis’s notorious reputation was rubbing off on him.

"I’m talking about your... your little *back door*!" Mark paused for a beat, but ultimately blurted it out anyway.

It wasn't just Liv; everyone else in the cabin burst into laughter as well.

Xiao Yan’s face turned beet-red. "It’s *your* little back door that Jan Wallis has been poking around in!"

The laughter grew even more uproarious.

Just then, Xiao Yan’s communicator buzzed. A holographic projection popped up—revealing Jan Wallis’s smiling face.

"Darling, are you doing alright?"

That single word—"Darling"—made Xiao Yan want to jump right out of the aircraft. He steeled his nerves and replied with a cold, impassive expression: "I’m fine, Lieutenant Colonel; there’s no need for you to worry. I’ll see you at our destination."

With that, Xiao Yan cut the connection. Mark fixed him with an interrogating stare, while the other special forces soldiers lowered their heads, struggling to stifle their laughter. Xiao Yan averted his gaze from Mark and looked out the window instead.

After several hours of flight, they finally reached their destination.

The aircraft arrived at a cluster of rocky caverns in the South Pacific. Peering through the glass window, Xiao Yan looked down at the massive, abyssal cavern beneath them—a void that seemed to swallow every shred of light, evoking a chilling sense of dread that washed over him. The aircraft came to a halt alongside the colossal cavern, and the special forces team disembarked, making their way to the edge of the chasm.

Standing just two or three meters from the precipice, Xiao Yan rose slightly onto his tiptoes to peer down into the depths below. His gaze was inexorably dragged downward into the void; for a fleeting instant, the illusion of weightlessness seized him, sending a shiver of sheer terror through his soul. “...Are you sure... the Tide Organization has established its research base inside this cave?”

Suddenly, a force shoved Xiao Yan violently forward. He was so startled he nearly screamed aloud, yet he clamped his teeth shut; just as he was about to go flying, he was yanked back with equal force. Someone wrapped their arms tightly around him, resting their chin on his shoulder, and as they spoke, their warm breath fanned against his ear: “Darling, it’s me.”

Xiao Yan was still shaken to the core; once his racing heart finally calmed down, he felt an overwhelming urge to smash Jan Wallis’s head in.

“Lieutenant Colonel Wallis! Do you find this amusing?”

“Do you feel safe in my arms?” Jan asked Xiao Yan with a smile.

Mark rushed forward, looking thoroughly displeased, and hissed in a low, menacing voice: “Lieutenant Colonel, we are currently on a mission! If you feel the need to engage in any displays of affection, I suggest you save it for another day.”

A smile still lingered on Jan’s lips as he nuzzled the tip of his nose against Xiao Yan’s ear, casting a playful glance in Mark’s direction.

“Lieutenant Colonel Wallis, please let go of me,” Xiao Yan said, furrowing his brows.

“Mark. Let’s move.” A cold, male voice rang out—it was Hein. Xiao Yan’s back instinctively arched in response.

“Yes, Boss!” Mark verbally acknowledged the order, yet his feet remained rooted to the spot as he continued to glare at Jan.

Jan let out a soft chuckle, but then his gaze suddenly fell upon Hein Burton’s lowered eyelids; an aura of murderous intent—chilling to absolute zero—permeated the air, threatening to freeze the very breath in their lungs.

Xiao Yan began to struggle with renewed vigor, prying Jan’s arms away—though, of course, had Jan not been willing to let him go, Xiao Yan’s own strength would never have been enough to break free. He glanced toward Hein, who stood a short distance away, just as the man turned his head to look back.

Hein had divided his unit into two squads: one would infiltrate the facility alongside him, while the other would remain behind to provide support. Mark dragged Xiao Yan back to Hein’s side. "Boss! Is the rookie coming down with us, too?"

Xiao Yan had assumed that, in their eyes, he fell into the category of "dead weight" and would likely be left outside the cave. To his surprise, however, Hein replied in a cold voice, "Is he supposed to stay outside the cave to analyze samples?"

Mark rubbed his nose, then clapped Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Don't worry—stick close to us! I’ve got your back!"

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile inwardly. No one knew what lay down below; even *you* might not make it out alive, so how exactly are you going to "have my back"?

Jane Wallis also issued orders to her unit; the vanguard troops advanced to the edge of the cliff cave, poised to descend at any moment.

The cave was currently in its dry season, meaning they could reach the entrance to the "Tidal Surge" organization's base without the need for diving gear.

Xiao Yan donned his combat suit and fitted his oxygen-exchange device. The unit was compact, yet capable of providing a continuous supply of oxygen underwater for twenty-four hours. As he connected the terminal interface directly to his brain, data signals from the base began to flood his mind.

Jane extended a hand toward Xiao Yan. "I’ll take you down."

Before Xiao Yan could even process the thought, an arm wrapped around his waist, lifting him up, and took a single, decisive stride into the abyss of darkness.

*Aaaah—!*

Xiao Yan screamed silently in his mind. The sudden, intense sensation of weightlessness left his mind completely blank; the light receded instantly, and his eyes could perceive nothing but absolute darkness.

Just as he began to fear that this freefall would never end, the arm holding him tightened abruptly, bringing his descent to a dead halt in an instant. Xiao Yan didn't dare to breathe; he didn't even know who it was that was holding him.

His body hung motionless in mid-air. It took a good ten seconds before Xiao Yan finally dared to take a breath. He heard the sound of something sliding past his ears—presumably the other special forces operatives descending to their current depth. Xiao Yan’s terror multiplied exponentially; if the person holding him were to let go, he would be smashed to pieces against the rocks below.

Xiao Yan swallowed hard. Then, a cold, steady voice spoke right next to his ear:

"Put on your goggles."

In that moment, the frantic pounding of Xiao Yan’s heart finally began to subside. It was Hein Burton; the man remained exactly as he had always been—arrogant and utterly commanding.

"Your goggles."

Xiao Yan offered no response, so Hein reminded him once more. Only then did Xiao Yan scramble to recall that his goggles were still hanging from his left arm. He fumbled for them; pinned against Hein as he was, the back of his hand brushed against the man's waist. At last, he located his goggles; as he put them on, they snapped instantly into place, molding perfectly to his face. Finally, Xiao Yan could see. It was his first time seeing Hein through the goggles—stripped of all color, leaving only the primal contours of his features: elegant, yet charged with raw power.

As Xiao Yan gazed at Hein, Hein was looking down at him in return—a silent, utterly unmasked stare that seemed even more profound than the abyss yawning beneath their feet.

His thoughts surged upward, drawn inexorably by the other man's gaze, threatening to drag his very body along with them. In that instant, Xiao Yan realized the impropriety of his behavior and quickly averted his eyes; what he ought to be doing right now was assessing the environment inside the cave!

The inner walls of the cavern were composed of stalactites, smoothed and sculpted by the ceaseless flow of water. Even without touching them, Xiao Yan knew they were slick and offered absolutely no purchase for a climber to exert force. Scattered across these stone walls were several openings; while they appeared to be natural formations, Xiao Yan knew that one of them—specifically—must be the entrance to the Tide Surge Organization's base. The only question was... which one?

Suspended from the rock face were squads of special forces soldiers, hanging motionless as they awaited orders. Liv and Mark were positioned not far from Hein. A dozen meters away hung Jane Wallis and his unit.

Perhaps it was merely an illusion, but Xiao Yan felt an unsettling sensation that something on the rock face was shifting—moving slowly, with extreme caution, yet unable to conceal a chilling, palpable intent to kill. The goggles brought their forms into sharp, terrifying focus.

Xiao Yan’s breathing grew rapid and shallow. The data scan from his terminal informed him that these entities possessed the physical forms of animals combined with the fundamental characteristics of zombies. They were all genetically modified Level 1 specimens—no... according to the database, they had already been reclassified as Level 2 threats. They crawled out of the caves in the rock face; in their frenzied excitement, their constantly panting jaws secreted a viscous slime that dripped and trickled down the stone, making Xiao Yan feel a sudden wave of nausea.

"Where’s your carabiner?" Hein’s voice rang out again, instantly quelling all of Xiao Yan’s unease—though Xiao Yan knew that this would be the most perilous mission he had ever undertaken.

Xiao Yan hurriedly unclipped the carabiner from his waist. Hein abruptly released his grip on Xiao Yan’s arm, sending them plunging downward in a sudden drop. Just as Xiao Yan thought Hein was about to cast him into the abyss, Hein snatched the carabiner, hooked it onto his own harness, and secured it tight.

Swallowing hard, Xiao Yan felt relieved he hadn't screamed; otherwise, Hein might well have actually thrown him over the edge.

The special forces operatives were battle-ready, while the zombies, too, had lost their patience for lying in wait.

The first one lunged violently, pouncing straight at Lieutenant Colonel Sharon. Sharon drew his blade, swung it in a wide arc, and executed a massive leap through the air; as the blade flashed past, the zombie let out a howl—a deep gash had been carved into its back. It landed on the opposite side of the rock face, gave a shudder, and the wound on its back healed instantly.

Xiao Yan’s heart went cold. Sharon’s strike had been ruthless and powerful, yet it had failed to deal a fatal blow to the zombie; these creatures’ muscular strength was indeed far superior to that of ordinary Level 1 zombies.

As if triggered by the attack, the dozen or so zombies swarmed forward in unison.

Hein slashed and hacked with sweeping motions. When one zombie lunged at Xiao Yan, Hein yanked the carabiner and swung violently; Xiao Yan felt as though he were on a roller coaster ride as slime from the wounded zombie splattered past his ear. The ropes of two other operatives were bitten through by the zombies, but just as they began to plummet, Mark grabbed hold of them with a death grip. Mark instantly became the target of a frenzied assault, while Liv struggled desperately to provide him with cover fire.

Hein tightened his rope slightly and swung toward the edge of the rock face; in passing, he delivered a powerful kick to a zombie that was attacking Liv, sending it tumbling down into the bottomless abyss below. Hein hoisted Xiao Yan up once again and, with a powerful thrust off the rock face, launched himself into the air. Xiao Yan’s body moved in perfect sync with his rapid ascent; with a swift rotation of his arm, a zombie’s head was cleanly severed. The instant Hein’s toe touched the falling corpse, he used the momentum to spring upward again; with another swing of his arm, a zombie attempting to gnaw through Mark’s rope was cut down.

Once again, Xiao Yan witnessed Hein’s god-like combat prowess.

On the other side, Jan was proving equally astonishing. He hung languidly from his rope, waiting for the zombies to strike. The moment they lunged at him, Jan utilized the rope’s inertia to recoil backward; his body arched away as his blade sliced ​​a clean arc through the air, cleaving the attacking zombie in two at the waist. Almost in that very instant, Jan pivoted his direction and ruthlessly lopped off the head of another zombie.

It was a display both magnificent and brutal.

Finally, the last of the zombies were cut down. Nearly every special forces soldier was drenched in zombie fluids—save for Hein and Jan.

Hein slid down with Xiao Yan to a cave entrance. The moment his feet touched the ground, Xiao Yan’s heart began to pound wildly; everything that had just transpired was more terrifying than any nightmare, and he had no idea what horrors might still be awaiting them further ahead.

“Boss, how did you know this cave was the entrance?” Mark asked, approaching Hein with a look of utter bewilderment.

Jan landed silently nearby and gave a light chuckle. “Because this is the only cave that didn’t have zombies crawling out of it.”

Mark gave a disgruntled snort and turned his face away. Anyone else could mock his intelligence, but Jan Wallis certainly could not.

The cave entrance was narrow—too narrow to accommodate the entire squad of special forces soldiers at once.

Peering through his visor, Xiao Yan could make out a door at the very end of the deep, cavernous tunnel.

“Hey, Rookie—you can open that thing, right?” This time, there was a hint of hesitation in Mark’s tone; after all, this was the *Tides* Organization’s research facility.

Xiao Yan took a deep breath. To open that door, he would have to hack into the facility’s main control system. Although Xiao Yan had once hacked into Char’s public transit system, compared to the scale of this place, the difference was like that between a tiny ant and Godzilla. A single failure would trigger an alarm, completely exposing their entire mission.

Hein knelt halfway before Xiao Yan, placing his palm against the young man’s cheek to force his dazed gaze to focus, locking eyes with his icy-blue stare.

“Listen closely. All sys—”

"System intrusions always begin in the most inconspicuous places; the more obscure the spot, the weaker its defenses. An intrusion, by definition, is the act of permeating an entire world, starting from a single grain of sand."

Hein was teaching him—a realization that made Xiao Yan swallow hard. He suddenly remembered that Hein, too, had once been a top-tier student at the Central Academy of Sciences.

From a single grain of sand to an entire world?

His mind had to instantly branch out from the system's most vulnerable point; he had to move faster than ever before!

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile; he had no retreat left. All he could do now was give it his absolute all!

His terminal began broadcasting wireless signals, ceaselessly probing for a breach point. Finally, he discovered a vulnerability within the air-exchange system and infiltrated it. In an instant, his consciousness spread throughout the entire base, searching for the main control hub. Merely unlocking the door to the passage would not constitute success; the critical objective was to disable the emergency alarms located *behind* that door.

It all felt like a vast, intricate web—spreading with lightning speed yet artfully concealing its aggressive nature—silently enveloping the entire base before anyone could even notice. The structural blueprint of the base gradually took shape in his mind: the layout of its research labs and specimen chambers, its labyrinthine corridors, and its multi-layered, subterranean architecture. When Xiao Yan finally located the main control hub, he couldn't help but marvel at how ingeniously it had been hidden; had he not been paying close attention, he might easily have mistaken it for nothing more than a standard chemical-mixing console.

Mark, crouching nearby, was growing increasingly impatient. He whispered, "What’s taking so long? Why hasn't it opened yet? Don't tell me you can't get it open?"

Hein’s gaze swept over him, and Mark immediately clamped his mouth shut. Jane leaned against the rock face, idly toying with the dagger in her hand, appearing utterly indifferent as to whether Xiao Yan succeeded in opening the door or not.

Xiao Yan deftly disabled the alarms while simultaneously bypassing the main control system itself. Then, as the heavy, sealed door gave a faint *click*—the sound of its locking mechanism disengaging—Xiao Yan opened his eyes and cast a glance at Mark.

Mark was just about to rush forward and push the door open when Xiao Yan grabbed his arm, holding him back. "Wait a second. Let me finish."

"What?" ”

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and connected his communicator to his wireless terminal; a holographic projection popped up, revealing a structural blueprint of the base's interior.

“The Research Center is located at the very bottom level—the sample storage room is on the same floor... Their data security is extremely sophisticated; if I probe any deeper, I’ll trigger their system alarms. However, through the surveillance feeds, I’ve seen... they really have created something even more terrifying than a Level 2 threat... Are you two sure you want to go in?”

Xiao Yan looked toward Hein and Jian.

There wasn't a flicker of hesitation in Hein’s gaze.

Jian shrugged nonchalantly. “If this mission weren't dangerous, there wouldn't be two elite squads deployed for it.”

“Alright then, let's go in.” Xiao Yan adjusted the gear on his body, his heart pounding like a drum.

“What do you see, Xiao Yan?” Jan stretched out his arms, pulled him close, and ruffled his hair.

Xiao Yan gave a wry smile; his only hope was that he would survive long enough to bring the analytical data back to Shire.

Mark was the first to enter. The corridor was unexpectedly bright; Xiao Yan remained linked to the main control system, having successfully disabled all surveillance within the area. Although Xiao Yan hadn't explicitly mentioned it, the moment Hein and Jan stepped onto the smooth metal flooring, they knew this was a fully sensor-equipped corridor—capable of detecting and relaying not just visual data, but also gravity fluctuations and temperature changes back to the main control hub. Yet, they had traversed the entire length of the corridor and reached the first junction without a single alarm sounding—a feat entirely owed to Xiao Yan. Hein showed no outward reaction to this, though Jan’s gaze upon Xiao Yan held a newfound depth.

The path ahead branched into two, leading in different directions yet ultimately converging at their destination. Even Xiao Yan could not precisely determine what dangers lay hidden around every bend of each route.

Throughout their journey, Xiao Yan’s wrist remained firmly gripped in Hein’s hand—a sensation so unnerving that he was constantly on edge, terrified that a single misstep might result in his arm being crushed to splinters.

Hein’s and Jan’s squads were about to split up and enter separate corridors. Given that unpredictable dangers awaited them both, advancing from different directions would significantly increase their odds of successfully reaching the main control room.

Just as Xiao Yan was naturally falling in step with Hein toward the left-hand corridor, Jan suddenly yanked him back. He found himself practically pinned against Jan’s chest, while Hein—standing directly before them—fixed them with a cold, icy stare.

In that moment, Xiao Yan felt an immense surge of self-admiration; no matter how sudden or perilous the situation, he invariably managed to suppress any urge to cry out. What extraordinary composure!

"Lieutenant Colonel Wallis." Hein’s gaze was laced with latent killing intent—a heavy, unmistakable warning.

"Nowhere is it written that Xiao Yan is obligated to follow *you*," Jan replied, his voice low but carrying a distinct undertone of provocation.

Everyone remained on high alert; they had to keep moving, for the longer they lingered in one spot, the greater the risk of detection.

"We are currently in the middle of an active mission, Lieutenant Colonel Wallis." Hein’s voice grew even colder.

Jan smiled, maintaining his unhurried, measured tone: “So, we need to decide on the matter of Xiao Yan’s ownership as soon as possible.”

*Ownership? What ownership? I’m a human being, not a tool!*

Xiao Yan had barely attempted to move when the force with which Jan restrained him instantly intensified manifold—nearly crushing his bones. Xiao Yan was suddenly seized by a profound, visceral fear; having spent so much time with Jan, he had forgotten that the man possessed an utterly unhinged side.