The elevator descended at a steady speed.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Three minutes.
The elevator was still descending.
The changes in air pressure made them somewhat uncomfortable.
These few minutes gave the people inside the base enough time to react.
Everyone knew what they would face once the elevator arrived.
They tightened their grips on their guns and silently took deep breaths.
At last, the elevator stopped.
"Ding-"
A clear chime rang out.
The elevator doors slowly opened.
Outside lay a broad corridor.
The lighting was dim and yellow, too faint to illuminate the far end.
It was eerily quiet.
No soldiers, no gunfire, not even footsteps.
Night Owl narrowed his eyes and gave a hand signal.
The team members raised their guns and cautiously stepped out of the elevator.
Smooth metal walls lined both sides of the corridor.
There were no decorations, only cold steel.
"Team Two, what's the situation on your end?"
Night Owl switched channels.
"Same here. No resistance."
Viper's voice came through, equally puzzled.
"Keep moving."
Both units advanced along their corridors.
They had gone less than fifty meters.
Rumble-
A loud noise came from behind them.
Night Owl whipped around.
Heavy metal gates dropped simultaneously at both ends of the corridor.
Bang!
The gates slammed into the floor, sending sparks flying.
The entire corridor was sealed off in an instant.
"Damn it!"
Night Owl rushed to the gate and pushed hard.
It did not budge.
"Blow it open!"
A team member immediately took out some C4 explosives and attached them to the gate.
"Get back!"
Boom-
The explosion thundered through the enclosed space, making their eardrums ache.
The smoke cleared.
Only a patch of black scorch marks remained on the gate.
There were no cracks, no warping, not even a dent.
Night Owl's pupils contracted.