Bab 50: The Deep
The mountain behind us lay in ruins, a smoldering monument to another of Zaitsev's twisted traps. Task Force Phoenix had survived, but the real battle was far from over. Zaitsev had slipped away again, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost. Every step we took to corner him only revealed how much further we had to go. This wasn't just a war of technology and firepower—it was a hunt, and Zaitsev was the kind of predator who thrived on staying one step ahead.
Back at the base, the air was heavy with frustration. Levi, Phantom Leader, and Monarch stood around the command table, reviewing the footage from the mission. The facility was gone, buried beneath tons of rock, and with it, any immediate clues to where Zaitsev had gone next.
Rook leaned against the wall, her face tight with barely contained anger. Raven stood beside her, calm but watchful as always. The connection between them was still there, like a silent current running through the tension. Rook was processing the fact that Zaitsev had once again escaped, and Raven was her anchor, grounding her when everything felt like it was spiraling out of control.
"He's playing with us," Rook finally said, breaking the silence. "Every time we think we have him, he slips away. It's like he wants us to chase him."
Levi nodded, his face grim as he tapped the console. "It's his game. He's not just running—he's leading us somewhere. And we need to figure out where before he regroups."
Phantom Leader's voice was cold, his eyes narrowed as he studied the map. "We've hit his network hard. His AI systems, his production lines—they're all down. He's vulnerable now, but that also makes him more dangerous."
Monarch's calm, steady voice followed. "He's been prepared for this. Every time we corner him, he activates a contingency. We need to start thinking like him if we want to predict his next move."
I stepped closer, staring at the screen. "We need to change the way we're hunting him. Zaitsev isn't running out of desperation—he's leading us into traps, one after another. But why? What's his endgame?"
Levi pulled up more data from the mission. "We found traces of communications traffic right before the facility collapsed. Zaitsev wasn't just escaping—he was signaling someone. We intercepted a brief transmission, heavily encrypted. I've been working on breaking it, but it's taking time."
Rook's voice cut in, her frustration clear. "Whatever he's planning, we need to stop it before he can rebuild. If he's signaling someone, that means he's not working alone."
Phantom Leader's eyes narrowed. "Belkan Remnant forces? A rogue faction? If Zaitsev's working with someone else, it explains how he's stayed ahead of us."
Levi shook his head. "It's not Belkan forces. I would've detected that. This transmission… it's something else."
I frowned, feeling a sense of unease creeping in. "If it's not the Remnant, then who is he working with? There aren't many factions left that have the resources Zaitsev needs."
Levi looked up, his face grim. "We'll find out soon enough. The encryption is sophisticated, but I'm making progress. Once we crack it, we'll know who's helping Zaitsev."
New Mission Objective: Decipher Zaitsev's Encrypted Transmission
Objective: Break the encryption on Zaitsev's last transmission and uncover who he's been working with.
Reward: XP: 40,000, Zaitsev's Ally Identified
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev Gains Reinforcements
The room fell into a tense silence as Levi continued his work. Every second that ticked by felt like an eternity. We were so close to understanding Zaitsev's next move, and yet the frustration of his escape lingered in the air.
Rook stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in thought. Raven was next to her, a quiet presence, but I could see the intensity in her eyes. They both knew this was a turning point. Every moment they spent together seemed to strengthen that unspoken bond between them, a connection forged in the fire of countless battles.
After what felt like hours, Levi finally leaned back from the console, his face filled with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. "Got it. The transmission was sent to an offshore facility—a black site, deep in the South Osean Sea. It's not on any maps, and it's not affiliated with any known government. Whatever this place is, it's off the grid."
Phantom Leader's eyes darkened. "A rogue faction, then. Someone with deep pockets and no allegiance."
Levi nodded. "That's what it looks like. This facility… it's been active for years, but there's no record of it. Zaitsev's been planning this for a long time. He's not working alone, and this black site is where he's getting his resources."
I stepped forward, my heart pounding with a renewed sense of urgency. "So that's where he's hiding now."
Levi brought up a satellite image of the black site, a small island in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by stormy seas. "It's heavily fortified. Anti-aircraft defenses, drone patrols, automated systems. Zaitsev's preparing for something big. If we're going to hit him, it has to be now."
New Mission Objective: Assault the Black Site
Objective: Launch an assault on the offshore black site and capture Zaitsev before he can reinforce his position.
Threat Level: Maximum
Reward: XP: 80,000, Zaitsev's Alliance Broken
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev Escapes and Gains Reinforcements
The mission came together quickly. Task Force Phoenix would lead the air assault, clearing the way for Hitman Squadron and the ground forces to breach the facility. This wasn't just another strike—this was the final push to take Zaitsev down before he could vanish into the shadows again.
As we prepped for the mission, the tension was palpable. Everyone knew what was at stake. Zaitsev was desperate now, but that also meant he would fight harder than ever. We couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
New Feature Unlocked: High-Risk Maritime Assault
You can now coordinate attacks on offshore facilities, adapting to maritime defenses and unpredictable environmental conditions.
The engines roared as we launched into the night sky, the dark waters of the South Osean Sea stretching out beneath us. The black site was buried deep within a storm system, the clouds thick and swirling, lightning crackling across the horizon. Zaitsev had chosen this location for its isolation and the natural defenses it provided, but we were coming for him, and this time, there would be no escape.
"Phoenix, we're approaching the target," I said over the comms, my voice steady but tense. "Stay sharp. Zaitsev's got this place locked down tight."
Viper's voice came through, calm and cold. "Picking up heavy radar activity. Drones, missile batteries—looks like Zaitsev's expecting us."
Echo was already in tactical mode, her voice sharp with focus. "The storm's going to make this tricky. Low visibility, high winds. We'll need to adapt."
Rook was right beside me, her jet cutting through the storm with ease. "He's running out of time. Let's make sure he doesn't get another chance."
The radar lit up as we neared the island. Drones swarmed out from the black site, their sleek forms barely visible through the thick clouds. The missile batteries came online, launching volleys of fire into the sky, but we were ready.
"Phoenix, engage!" I ordered, locking onto the nearest drone. "We take out those defenses and open a path for the ground teams."
New Mission: Assault the Offshore Black Site
Objective: Destroy the drone swarms and missile defenses protecting Zaitsev's black site and clear a path for the ground teams.
Threat Level: Extreme
Reward: XP: 50,000, Defenses Neutralized
Failure Penalty: Mission Delayed
Missiles streaked through the storm as we dove into the heart of the battle. Viper and Echo were already in position, their jets weaving through the heavy winds as they targeted the drones. The storm made every movement more dangerous, the wind buffeting our jets as we fought to keep our bearings.
"I've got lock," Viper muttered, firing off a round of missiles. "Taking down the lead drones."
Echo followed close behind, her precision flying cutting through the chaos as she targeted the missile batteries along the shoreline. "Batteries going down. Stay sharp—visibility is low."
Blaze and Raven provided cover, their jets circling the battlefield as they kept the skies clear. Blaze had grown into his role with every mission, his confidence showing in every maneuver, while Raven's ruthless efficiency made her a constant force.
"We're thinning them out," Blaze called out, his voice tight with focus. "But there's more coming from the east."
Rook's voice was steady as always, her jet diving into the fray. "We've got this. Let's finish the job."
Objective Complete: Defenses Neutralized
Reward: XP: 50,000, Path to Black Site Cleared
With the defenses down, the path to the black site was open. The storm raged around us, but we pressed forward, determined to reach Zaitsev before he could escape again.
"This is it," I said, my heart pounding with anticipation. "We breach the black site, and we end this."
The hunt was almost over. Zaitsev was cornered, and this time, there would be no more traps.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone