Ethan held the Service Pistol in his left hand and an E-11 in his right as he took point for the team.
It wasn’t that he wanted to abandon the relative safety of the rear and personally lead from the front.
The problem was that, at the moment, he was actually the strongest combatant in the entire force.
The Foundation Agent Service Pistol, as a living anomalous weapon, provided him with tremendous combat assistance.
On top of that, Ethan had already obtained F-Class Foundation Agent Training.
Even an F-Class Foundation agent was someone who had experienced numerous dangerous operations and participated in at least three containment missions before becoming eligible for promotion.
Compared with these “rookies” who hadn’t even officially become members of a Mobile Task Force yet, Ethan might lack real personal combat experience, but his mind contained a wealth of battle knowledge and trained instincts.
More importantly, his equipment set was the only one currently equipped with an anomaly detection radar.
The compact detection device resembled a tactical wristwatch and was mounted on his right forearm.
It could detect anomalous entities by emitting specialized sonar-like waves.
And with the MTF-I Basic Tactical Exoskeleton, Ethan could almost completely ignore weapon recoil.
If necessary, the exoskeleton could even allow him to generate nearly a ton of force.
In other words, even if an SCP-939 offspring tried to fight him in close combat, it would be at a disadvantage.
That was why Ethan had no choice but to move to the front.
If he didn’t personally lead them, the unit could easily suffer severe casualties.
Sure enough, five different tunnels soon appeared ahead.
Ethan activated the anomaly detection radar, studied the surrounding terrain, and said, “Three of these routes are viable.” “Captain Lucas, take Beta Assault Team through Tunnel One.” “Charlie Assault Team will take Tunnel Three.” “I’ll lead Alpha Assault Team through the central route, Tunnel Two.” “Understood, sir.” Ethan continued, “SCP-939 has poor eyesight, but inside its own nest, its hearing becomes especially dangerous.” “Stay alert.” “I’m detecting large numbers of SCP-939 offspring beyond these branches.” “All units, prepare for combat.” He lowered his night-vision visor.
“Activate night vision.” “Alpha Team, advance in a combat-ready formation.” “Move.” Fortunately, the combat knowledge and memories included in his F-Class agent training allowed Ethan to organize the unit with practiced efficiency.
He then led Alpha Team into the central passage.
They hadn’t gone far before the Service Pistol sent a sudden warning through their connection.
Danger.
An SCP-939 offspring lunged from around a corner, attempting to ambush Ethan.
But he was faster.
The MTF-E11-SR fired a short controlled burst.
RATATAT!
The rounds tore into the creature, critically wounding it and knocking it down.
Ethan immediately rushed forward.
The SCP-939 offspring struggled on the ground.
He raised the Service Pistol.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Three shots finished it.
As the living weapon absorbed the creature’s energy, a system notification appeared inside Ethan’s mind.
[Ding!
The Foundation Agent Service Pistol has absorbed sufficient evolutionary energy.] [Charged Shot Mode unlocked.] [Charged Shot Mode: The Service Pistol may accumulate energy before firing.
After sufficient charging time, the projectile will gain greatly enhanced destructive power.] The Service Pistol had evolved at a time like this?
That was definitely good news.
Ethan continued forward with a weapon in each hand.
“Keep moving.” The members of Alpha Assault Team looked at him with obvious admiration.
Most of them hadn’t even fully registered the attack before Ethan had already killed the SCP-939 offspring.
The team continued deeper into the nest.
This time, Ethan kept the Service Pistol charging as they moved.
Soon, the number of SCP-939 offspring increased significantly.
The creatures seemed to understand that their usual characteristics had been countered.
Instead of charging openly, they began hiding throughout the nest like Xenomorphs, using the complex terrain to launch ambushes.
A voice suddenly came through the radio.
“Beta Team reporting!
We’ve encountered multiple SCP-939 specimens!” “Heavy contact!” “One operator killed!” Another voice followed almost immediately.
“Charlie Team reporting!
SCP-939 contact!” “Three operators killed!” “Two critically wounded!” Ethan took a deep breath.
Hearing the casualty reports over the radio weighed heavily on him.
Once they entered the nest, the Air Assault Company’s soldiers were fighting at an extreme disadvantage.
Casualties were unavoidable.
Then the tunnel suddenly widened.
Seven or eight SCP-939 offspring attacked at once.
Ethan immediately raised the fully charged Service Pistol.
He fired.
A brilliant blue beam erupted from the weapon.
BOOM!
The energy shot punched straight through the first SCP-939 offspring.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Three creatures were pierced through in a single shot.
At the same time, another SCP-939 charged toward him from the right.
Ethan raised the E-11 and fired several controlled bursts.
The rounds tore into the creature and critically wounded it.
But it kept coming.
The distance was too short.
With no time to evade completely, Ethan instinctively raised the rifle to block.
CRACK!
The SCP-939 smashed into the weapon.
His almost brand-new E-11 snapped in half.
Before the creature could strike again, the Alpha Team operators beside him opened fire.
A storm of bullets ripped through the SCP-939 offspring, reducing it to a shredded corpse.
Then— A horrifying roar echoed through the nest.
It sounded twisted.
Almost feminine.
Filled with rage and unwillingness.
Ethan’s expression changed.
“It’s the SCP-939 parent!” “It’s ahead!” The reaction from the offspring was immediate.
Every SCP-939 specimen nearby went berserk.
They threw themselves at the Foundation assault teams with no regard for their own survival.
Ethan charged the Service Pistol again and blasted apart another SCP-939 rushing toward him.
But more and more creatures began emerging from every direction throughout the nest.
Fortunately, Beta and Charlie Teams arrived soon afterward.
Ethan immediately noticed that both teams had lost a significant number of personnel.
The Foundation soldiers quickly reorganized their firing lines.
Fire teams dropped into position and deployed SPMG squad machine guns.
Then they opened fire.
RATATATATATAT!
The SPMG used .338-caliber ammunition—roughly 8.5mm—and carried a two-hundred-round ammunition supply.
Its sustained firepower was devastating.
Each six-man fire team fielded two SPMGs, supported by AA-12 shotguns loaded with Dragon’s Breath rounds.
The resulting volume of fire was overwhelming.
The SCP-939 offspring charging toward them were quickly suppressed.
Then Ethan saw it.
The true parent organism.
It was far larger than any of the offspring.
Its body was more massive, more grotesque, and far more intimidating.
The SCP-939 parent.
“Containment teams, move!” Ethan immediately shouted, “Everyone else, cover the containment teams!” Several Foundation operators carrying AT-10 launchers rushed forward without hesitation.
The AT-10 rockets had been loaded with powerful tranquilizing payloads specifically intended for containment.
The teams raised their launchers.
Then fired at the SCP-939 parent.
WHOOSH!
The moment the containment teams attacked, every SCP-939 offspring became even more frantic.
They charged the containment personnel almost suicidally.
Ethan immediately shouted, “Cover the containment teams!” At that exact moment, an SCP-939 lunged at him from the side.
Ethan reacted instantly.
He rolled with the attack, narrowly protecting his vital areas.
Then he drew his combat knife.
With a roar, he drove the blade upward into the creature’s lower jaw.
Around him, the nest had descended into complete chaos.
Gunfire thundered through the tunnels.
Foundation soldiers shouted orders.
SCP-939 offspring shrieked and roared.
The containment teams continued advancing under fire.
The battle had become a brutal close-quarters bloodbath.