The hollow soul

It was overcast over the mountain, and a cold wind whipped the tent wires surrounding the deep pit. Trucks stopped one by one at the edge of the stony slope, carrying the carefully selected young soldiers.

The groups lined up in front of the pit, each carrying their own gear pack, their illuminated helmet, and the weapon they had been given after passing Minamoto's rigorous test.

Kaito stood beside Tsuki, while Hiro jumped in place as if preparing for a race. Behind them were two girls from the same team: one named Saya, a quiet girl with an intelligent gaze, and the other, Hana, a mischievous girl who never stopped asking questions.

In front stood Minamoto and Kaito's father, silently observing the groups, before one of the soldiers gave the order to prepare for the descent.

Hiro approached the edge, looked down, and said loudly:

"Oh, this isn't a tunnel, this is a mass grave! Who came down here before me? Dinosaurs?!"

Tsuki gently hit him on the back of the head.

"Shut up. If you bother us down there, I'll throw you into the first hole I see."

Kaito laughed lightly, despite the tension evident in his eyes.

Minamoto raised his hand, and a soldier stepped forward and handed the teams divided maps.

"There are many tunnels, but we've sealed off most of them. Seven main tunnels remain. Each group will head to a tunnel. You, Kaito's group, will take the fourth tunnel, the narrowest and most complicated... but we trust you."

Kaito's father stared at him for a few seconds, then quietly approached him and whispered:

"Stay close to Tsuki. If you hear any strange sounds, don't respond. Just stay calm."

Kaito's father wasn't the emotional type, so those words seared something into his heart.

The groups lined up and began descending the long metal staircase. Each step made a metallic creak, mixed with their rapid breathing. The walls around them grew damper and colder the lower they descended, and natural light gradually faded until only the light from their helmets remained.

Hana asked, "Is it normal for walls to... breathe?"

Saya replied, "I don't think these walls are entirely stone... It's not natural."

The moment they reached the bottom, the passage opened in four directions, but only one was fully open, looking like a demonic grin in the mountain's darkness.

Minamoto stepped forward and said calmly,

"This is your path. Do not return until you have clear news."

He turned, and they and the other group disappeared into the darkness.

Kaito looked at the tunnel ahead, feeling an inexplicable chill. Beside him, Tsuki was tightening her grip on her weapon, while Hiro looked around with hyper-vigilance. Then he said, "If we die here, who will take my toys? I want a will."

Everyone laughed, despite their fear. Then they began to advance... into the heart of darkness.

Walking through the tunnel – Shifting in the atmosphere:

After a few moments of anticipation as they descend through the ropes into the depths of the dark tunnel, a moment of solemn silence falls over everyone, with only the sound of breathing and the echo of footsteps audible.

But suddenly, Kaito's father breaks the silence:

Kaito's father (loudly and laughingly):

"Did you see that light reflecting off my muscles?! I'm almost mesmerized by myself again, hahaha!"

Everyone turns in surprise, especially Kaito, who hasn't seen his father act like this since entering the facility.

Kaito (whispering in surprise):

"Dad?! What's wrong? You were as cold as a machine during the tests... Who is this?"

His father approaches him, places a heavy hand on his shoulder, and whispers with a smile:

Kaito's father (in a low voice):

"The committee was watching my every move, son. I couldn't even raise an eyebrow for no reason. But now? We're a little freer... And by the way, the real reason I joined the mission... is simple: I want to punch the strongest insect in this world!"

Kaito (looking at him in amazement):

"... Just for that?!"

Kaito's father (with a proud smile):

"Exactly, I have a noble goal: real punches to real opponents!"

Hairo Shin bursts out laughing:

Haro Shin:

"I love this guy! We'll make a muscle duo, you and me!"

Tsuki (sighing boredly):

"Great... Now we have two idiots in the group."