Reincarnated with a Country Creation System

Elsewhere in the facility, the Valorian operatives moved like shadows. Viktor led the team, his expression grim as he scanned the dim corridors. Behind him, Lena and Andrei kept a close watch on their flanks, their weapons drawn and ready.

"They've fortified the cellblock," Lena whispered, glancing at the hastily drawn map in her hands. "The guards are concentrated around the target."

"Expected," Viktor muttered. "We take them out quickly and cleanly. No witnesses."

The team crept forward, their boots silent against the cold stone. When they reached the entrance to the cellblock, Viktor signaled for Lena to scout ahead. She slipped forward, her movements almost imperceptible, and peered around the corner.

"Two guards at the door," she whispered when she returned. "Rifles, but they look distracted."

"Good," Viktor said. "Andrei, with me. Lena, stay back and cover us."

With swift precision, Viktor and Andrei approached the guards. Viktor flung a small pebble down the opposite hallway, drawing the guards' attention. As one guard turned to investigate, Viktor struck, his knife slicing through the man's throat before he could make a sound. Andrei dispatched the second guard with a silenced pistol, the muffled crack of the shot barely audible.

The team regrouped at the door. Viktor inspected the lock and signaled to Lena, who produced a small toolkit. Within moments, the lock clicked open, and Viktor pushed the door inward, his weapon at the ready.

Damien stood inside the cellblock, barking orders to a group of guards when the door swung open. He turned sharply, his hand instinctively reaching for his revolver. The sight of the armed operatives entering the room sent a jolt of adrenaline through him.

"Who the hell are you?" Damien demanded, leveling his weapon at Viktor.

Viktor didn't respond. Instead, he raised his pistol, and the room erupted into chaos.

The guards reacted immediately, their rifles raised, but the operatives were faster. Lena fired a silenced shot, dropping the nearest guard before he could pull the trigger. Andrei lunged at another, his knife plunging into the man's chest with brutal efficiency.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Damien fired his revolver, the crack of the shot deafening in the confined space. The bullet grazed Viktor's arm, but he barely flinched, his focus unwavering. Viktor returned fire, forcing Damien to dive for cover behind a steel desk.

The remaining guards scrambled for position, but the operatives pressed their advantage. Lena's shots were precise, each one finding its mark. Andrei engaged a guard in hand-to-hand combat, his movements swift and lethal.

Damien, crouched behind the desk, reloaded his revolver with trembling hands. His mind raced as he assessed the situation. These were no ordinary intruders; their precision and coordination marked them as elite operatives. He realized with grim certainty that they were here for Krieg.

Damien emerged from cover, firing wildly at the operatives. The bullets ricocheted off the stone walls, one narrowly missing Lena as she darted to the side. Viktor advanced on Damien, his movements calculated and deliberate.

"Stay back!" Damien shouted, his voice a mix of anger and desperation.

Viktor didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, knocking the revolver from Damien's hand with a swift kick. The weapon skidded across the floor, coming to rest near the cell door. Damien swung at Viktor with a clenched fist, but Viktor dodged easily, countering with a punch to Damien's gut that left him gasping for air.

The inspector staggered but didn't fall. He reached for a metal baton at his belt and swung it wildly, forcing Viktor to step back. Damien advanced, the baton whistling through the air as he struck again and again. Viktor parried the blows with his forearm, the impact jarring but not debilitating.

Lena, meanwhile, had taken position near Krieg's cell. She worked quickly to unlock the door, her hands steady despite the chaos around her. Andrei covered her, firing at the last remaining guard who was attempting to retreat.

The lock on the cell clicked open, and Lena pushed the door wide. Johannes Krieg looked up from his battered position, his face bruised and swollen.

"We're getting you out of here," Lena said, helping him to his feet.

Johannes nodded weakly. "About time."

Damien swung the baton again, this time catching Viktor on the shoulder. The blow staggered him, but Viktor recovered quickly, grabbing Damien's wrist and twisting it sharply. The baton clattered to the floor, and Damien cried out in pain.

"It's over," Viktor said, his voice cold. "Stand down."

Damien glared at him, his eyes blazing with defiance. "You think this ends here? You think you can just waltz in and take him?"

"Yes," Viktor replied simply.

With a final, desperate lunge, Damien reached for a knife strapped to his boot. But Viktor was faster. He delivered a brutal punch to Damien's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. Damien groaned, his body limp and unresponsive.

Viktor stepped over Damien's unconscious body, sparing him a single glance before turning his focus to the team. "Lena, Andrei, status?" he barked.

"Clear," Lena responded, securing Johannes under her arm to help him walk. "We've neutralized the guards. No alarms sounded yet."

"Good," Viktor said, his tone clipped. "We need to move—reinforcements won't be far behind."

The team hurried down the corridor, their weapons at the ready. Andrei took point, his sharp eyes scanning for movement. Lena stayed close to Johannes, who stumbled but kept moving, his determination evident even in his battered state.

The distant sound of boots pounding against the stone floor echoed through the facility. The guards were mobilizing, their shouts growing louder. Viktor held up a fist, signaling the team to stop.

"Intersection ahead," Andrei whispered. "They're coming from the left."

Viktor nodded and gestured for Andrei to take position. Andrei crouched low, leveling his pistol at the corner. As the first guard rounded the bend, Andrei fired, the silenced shot dropping the man instantly. A second guard followed, only to meet the same fate.

"Keep moving!" Viktor ordered, motioning for the team to follow.

They pressed on, navigating the labyrinthine halls with efficiency. Each step felt heavier as the tension mounted. Johannes leaned more heavily on Lena, his strength waning. She adjusted her grip, determination etched on her face.

The group reached the service tunnels, their escape route within sight. But the sound of hurried footsteps behind them shattered any sense of relief.

"Contact!" Andrei shouted, spinning around to cover their rear.

A group of guards emerged from the darkness, their rifles blazing. The operatives dove for cover as bullets ricocheted off the stone walls. Viktor returned fire, each shot precise and deadly. Lena pulled Johannes behind a stack of crates, shielding him from the onslaught.

"We don't have time for this!" Lena shouted over the gunfire.

"Go!" Viktor yelled. "Get him to the extraction point. Andrei and I will hold them off."

Lena hesitated, her eyes darting between Viktor and Johannes. But the urgency in Viktor's voice left no room for argument. She nodded and began dragging Johannes toward the exit.

Viktor and Andrei stood their ground, their weapons blazing. The guards pressed forward, but the operatives' superior training and firepower kept them at bay. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid smell of gunpowder.

"Fall back!" Viktor called to Andrei, his voice sharp. They moved in sync, retreating toward the exit while laying down suppressing fire.

Lena reached the extraction point, a waiting truck idling in the darkness. She helped Johannes into the back and turned to see Viktor and Andrei sprinting toward her, the last of the guards left behind in the chaos.

"Go!" Viktor shouted as he climbed into the truck, slamming the door behind him. Andrei jumped into the driver's seat and gunned the engine, the vehicle lurching forward into the snowy night.

Inside the truck, Johannes leaned against the wall, his breath labored. "You... took your time," he muttered, a weak smile tugging at his bloodied lips.

"Next time, we'll send flowers," Viktor quipped, his eyes scanning the road behind them.

As the truck disappeared into the night, the facility shrank into the distance, its alarms finally blaring. But it was too late—Johannes Krieg was free, and Valoria had made its move.