Volgograd (27)

Dana turned his head with difficulty, his eyes full of confusion and weakness. "Ang... how did we survive?"

Ang crouched beside him, calm-faced. "Don't rush. We can talk about the details later. We're near the underground camp now, so we're safe for the moment."

With that, he took a communicator from the Magic Waist Pouch at his waist and spoke into it. "Slock, this is Ang. I'm two kilometers south of the camp. Come pick us up immediately."

After a brief silence, Slock's anxious voice came from the communicator. "Sir, we'll be right there!"

At that moment, Janice was pacing back and forth inside the main tent of the underground camp, looking tense. "Did something happen to the captain? Listen to his voice just now... he sounded very weak."

Slock calmly put away the Magic Communicator, his gaze firm. "No matter what, sir told us to go. Move out immediately!"

At his command, the camp erupted into activity. Everyone swiftly geared up, then rode out in a line on Black Scale Horses moments later.

In less than ten minutes, the group found Ang and Dana lying in the wilderness south of the underground camp.

The two looked utterly haggard, their armor and clothing shredded and stained with blood. Dana, especially, appeared to be in terrible condition.

Everyone's expressions changed drastically as they dismounted. "Sir! What... happened to you?"

Ang slowly rose, forcing his body, already near its limit, to hold itself up. Yet a trace of resolve still shone in his eyes. "We encountered a powerful enemy... We almost died over there."

He swept his gaze around, took several breaths, and continued, "No need to return to camp. Set up camp here and pitch the Marching Tents."

As he spoke, he took several Marching Tents from his Magic Waist Pouch