But at that moment, a chaotic chorus of voices arose from the tunnel. A man scrambled up, only to be instantly shot dead by the Captain and fall back down.
"Who?"
"Kill them!"
"We can't let them escape!"
The cacophony was enough to suggest there were many people in the tunnel. If they broke out, the few soldiers, weary from a recent battle, would stand no chance of victory. Moreover, the room offered no space for them to arrange a defensive formation.
"Quick, go!" At this, the Captain had only one reaction: they couldn't let the enemy emerge. He had to hold them back in the tunnel to buy his teammates a sliver of a chance at survival.
No sooner had he spoken than someone reacted even faster.
"Go, I'll hold them back!"
A soldier shouted, lifting a nearby chair and charging toward the exit. He knew staying meant certain death, but he didn't hesitate. He would atone for his own mistakes and demonstrate his resolve through death.
