1 The Big Event

March in Collinslia is characterized by dry and sweltering weather. The capital of Collinslia, Oakwood, situated on the northern shore, is considered the busiest and safest area in the capital. Many foreign embassies and aid companies are concentrated here.

As night falls, the lights in the new city district begin to illuminate one by one, gradually enveloping the entire northern shore in a sea of lights.

The Atlantis troops stationed on the northern shore continue their routine patrols, driving their heavy armored vehicles along the Green Zone Avenue where the embassies and aid companies are clustered. The Green Zone is the safest area in the whole of Collinslia, and there are no signs of trouble wherever the patrol vehicles pass.

On this spring night, a gentle cool breeze adds to the tranquility of the evening. Months of curfew have made the Green Zone appear peaceful and serene. It is believed that tonight will be another safe and uneventful night, just like any other.

As the night deepens, the streets of the Green Zone are devoid of pedestrians. It seems that the locals have become accustomed to life during curfew and have returned home early. After all, it is still a period of post-war reconstruction, and the remnants of the Death's Edge Syndicate and terrorist cells are still active. The rumored spring offensive by the Death's Edge Syndicate could happen at any time. Staying at home is the safer option.

The armored patrol vehicles make their way through the Green Zone once more, encountering no issues. The convoy of armored vehicles makes a turn and heads back to their military base, marking the end of their nighttime routine patrol task. The Green Zone is now guarded only by armed security personnel, faithfully protecting what is claimed to be the safest place in Oakwood.

At this moment, several dark figures emerge from the roadside bushes. There are quite a few of them, and as they all stealthily make their way onto the streets under the cover of night, their numbers reach a dozen or more. These individuals seem to have been lurking here for a while, timing their move precisely for when the Atlantis military patrol vehicles would withdraw. They appear to be quite familiar with the terrain of the Green Zone.

The actions of these shadowy figures are swift. Without any hesitation, they rush towards one of the aid company compounds, which happens to be the weakest point in the Green Zone's defenses. Apart from two armed security guards at the company's entrance, there are no additional guards as if security were not deemed necessary. The personnel inside the embassies are already fast asleep, completely unaware that someone would dare to encroach upon this area.

The men in black move rapidly and are now hidden outside the tall walls of the company compound.

At this moment, the leader among them signals for the attack to commence, and without much concealment, the dozen or so dark figures who had stealthily approached the compound swiftly rush forward. Gunshots ring out, "bang, bang," two crisp shots, and before the two security guards can react, blood splatters as their heads are blown apart from close range.

The sound of gunfire pierces the night sky, exceptionally clear and loud in the deep of the night. It also alarms the personnel inside the company, and the lights in the darkened company building begin to illuminate one by one. Simultaneously, the dozen or so dark figures violently enter the compound, and amidst the chaos, there are sounds of people shouting, gunshots, and screams, creating a tumultuous scene...

In the darkness, the flag on top of the company building fluttered in the night breeze. With the faintly reflected light, one could clearly see that the flag belonged to the Wakanda nation. Gunfire continued to ring out as the Wakanda National Aid Building in Collinslia faced a catastrophe on what seemed like a calm night.

As dawn broke, a red sun rose slowly in the eastern sky, and the usually quiet Green Zone was abuzz with activity. Armored vehicles kept moving into the Green Zone, and the Wakanda National Aid Building was completely surrounded by the Atlantis military. Except for media personnel with special passes, the Green Zone was under strict martial law, and journalists from various countries stationed in Collinslia, just 200 meters from the embassy, set up their equipment outside the security perimeter.

This was a world-shocking event. All the employees inside the Wakanda National Aid Building had been taken hostage by an armed group. Through the windows of the building, one could faintly see masked gunmen walking around with firearms. The entire aid building was now under the control of these armed individuals, and the exact casualty figures had not yet been released. The news spread worldwide through the media, and at this moment, the world's attention was focused on the still war-torn country of Collinslia.

Negotiation experts from Wakanda were still on their way, and the Wakanda government issued various statements via radio and television, urging the armed group to resolve the hostage crisis peacefully and calling for negotiations. Meanwhile, the leaders of Wakanda and Atlantis held urgent talks over the phone. The diplomatic emergency mechanism of the Wakanda Embassy in Collinslia was activated, and they quickly established communication channels with the armed group through various local channels, with the sole aim of saving the surviving hostages inside the aid building.

The truth of the incident was soon revealed through a video statement from the armed group. Their target was not the Wakanda government but the Atlantis government, which had a significant presence of Atlantis military forces in Collinslia. Atlantis had committed a crime, but it was Wakanda that suffered. The stance taken by the Wakanda government could not be accepted by the armed group, and negotiations seemed to have little effect.

The armed group had only one demand: the release of all prisoners held at the Pinecrest base by the Atlantis military. In response, the President of Atlantis issued a condemning statement, expressing regret and sorrow towards the Wakanda government. This indicated the firm stance of the Atlantis government, refusing to bow down to terrorists.

The smell of blood grew stronger as lifeless bodies, victims of last night's gunfire, were thrown out. The scent of blood permeated the air above the aid building, and the armed group remained stubborn. As time passed, the negotiating representatives sent by Atlantis were unable to convince these ruthless individuals, and with negotiations failing, the armed group threatened to execute a hostage every ten minutes.

Time was running out, and it seemed that a full-scale assault was the only way out. Dozens of fully armed members of the Atlantis Eclipse Enforcers team huddled near the walls of the aid building, their weapons loaded, awaiting the order to launch an assault. At this moment, Wakanda's negotiation experts were still in flight, and the highest-ranking Wakanda leader received a phone call from the President of Atlantis. There was no more time left; they had to resort to a full-scale assault!

The hostage crisis was imminent, and there was no time to waste. The highest-ranking leader of Wakanda could only reluctantly accept the uncontrollable reality. At this moment, time was down to one minute...

In the final ten seconds, with a command, dozens of Eclipse Enforcers swiftly stormed into the building from various assault positions. Simultaneously, dozens of tear gas canisters were launched, breaking through the windows. Smoke filled the embassy area, gunfire erupted, and tracer rounds lit up the scene.

But plans can change in an instant. Just then, with a deafening explosion, a massive fireball erupted, and the entire company building shook violently. Thick smoke billowed, dust filled the air, and a strange mushroom cloud formed over the building, all in an instant.