80 Predator 7 (1/2)

In a short moment, Corporal Zhai and squad leader Schwartz arrived. They confirmed the Elu's death and nodded. The research center's main danger was eliminated.

Weeeng.

Squad Victor started the electric generator. The dark corridors were brightly lit. They officially looked through the place for survivors.

They found a few soldiers tied up on a chair and locked up in a storage room. They were alive, but not.

Their eyes were gouged out, while their nose and mouth were cut away. It had also hung some humans and left them to slowly die a painful death.

”Han, stay outside.”

Corporal Zhai said.

Corporal Zhai held each soldier's hand and prayed upon their last breaths. Soldiers were consumable products. Just as weapons and supplies increase, as time pass they would decrease.

However, when a soldier dies in war, it's not just the number that decreases. That person's future is also ended. This would affect everyone that had relations to the deceased soldier.

Zzzing.

Schwartz collected Herald's body. He was placed into a giant bag.

”They shouldn't have died.” Han said.

If China had come clean with the honest truth when they asked for help, nothing like today would have happened. Ark would have selected only veteran psyker soldiers to be deployed.

”If the higher-ups would have been a little bit more sensible in handling this crisis, then you're right. However, they don't care that a few soldiers die. They do not understand the weight of a person's life. They're able to move thousands of people with a click of a button. If they become obsessed over every single person's life, they cannot do the job that they do. Eventually,  their senses dull. The numbers and data written on paper start to feel like a game. It's easy to get used to it..” Schwartz said in a low voice.

He stuck a cigarette in his mouth and inhaled the smoke. They were taking a short break. The Chinese soldiers would be waiting for them in the upper levels.

”Get used to it?” Han asked, and Schwartz laughed.

”It's sad, but humans adapt very fast. You should feel it too. As you face different situations during battle, the shock factor gradually decreases with time. If not, your mental health would probably be unable to handle the stress. In the future, if your heart becomes dull and numb, you must at least remember this with your mind. Everyone has only one life, and that is why it's important.”

Schwartz scratched his head. Is a human's life the only important thing? Cows and pigs have a life, and their enemy dragons and Elu's also have a life.

However, this type of discussion is for the philosophers. Humans were already struggling enough to protect themselves, they didn't have the luxury to look after others as well. To humans, only humans have dignity. Humans had to choose the lesser of the two evils.

”I've never forgotten someone who died while under my care, and I will continue to do so in the future.”

Han realized what the dread he was feeling was when the True Group invaded.

He dreaded how accustomed he was becoming to killing other humans, and so he repeatedly mumbled to himself to not get used to it.

”Initially, Project Ark didn't include any moral and ethics lessons while training psychic fighters. They selected only a minority of the children and cared only to raise their psychic skills. They were brought in at a much younger age- six and seven. The initial stages of Project Ark failed miserably. They grew up to be wild monsters. The commander was replaced, and the structure of the institution was revamped. The commanders' vision was that a human weapon must be a human before a weapon.”

Ark recruits many backup candidates compared to how many candidates are actually promoted to become official soldiers of Ark. Ark had become very particular with the requirements of the basic soldier.

Any child, as long as they have a trace amount of psychic power in them, is invited to Ark. Just as Han had been fully promoted from a D-rank, children have a limitless possibility to their future.

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”It's over.” Corporal Zhai said as he exited the room. Han and Schwartz paused their conversation and stood up. They all carried Herald's body bag as they stepped into the elevator.

Weeeng.

It only took a brief moment for the elevator to reach the ground floor. Squad Victor stepped out.

”As expected.” Schwartz mumbled and used an iron plate he brought from the research room as a shield. The Chinese soldiers stood with their guns aimed toward them. The researchers behind them were shouting something.

”I doubt they'll be able to use explosives against us since we collected all the data.” Corporal Zhai narrowed his eyes. He observed the Chinese soldiers. The standstill continued for a long minute. Squad Victor attempted to communicate to Ark's headquarters, but the other side jammed all transmitters in the immediate area.

”We'll have to force our way through like we predicted.” Schwartz banged the steel plate he held. Han shook his head.

”If we attempted to escape, they will use heavy artillery against us while risking the loss of data. If they're lucky they would be able to retrieve everything.”