Chapter 58

The room that was previously filled with the chaos of battle was now quiet, only the heavy breathing of Jhonny, Alice, Rian, Denada, and Fredy could be heard. The five of them gathered in the center of the room, their bodies covered in wounds and exhaustion clearly visible on their faces. Around them, the signs of battle were still there - the perforated walls, cracked floors, and traces of blood from the aliens they had defeated.

Jhonny stood up straight even though it was clear he was still enduring the pain of the alien leader's heavy blow. His face looked serious, his sharp eyes sweeping across the room.

"We can't just leave," he said in a stern tone, breaking the silence. "We have a chance to kill those aliens while they're off guard. If we let them live, they'll definitely come back to attack us in the future."

Rian, who was sitting in one corner with his breath caught in his throat, nodded in agreement. "I agree with Jhonny. They're in turmoil right now, especially after that alarm. This is the perfect moment to strike back and wipe them out. If we don't do it now, we may never have another chance."

Denada, who was still standing not far from Alice, frowned. "But we've all been hurt. You saw the condition of Jhonny and Rian yourself," she said, her voice sounding sharp. "We don't know how many aliens are still inside this base, let alone their leader. You're right, Jhonny, they're probably screwed right now. But we're also in far from optimal condition."

Alice, who was standing beside Denada, looked at Jhonny with a thoughtful gaze. "I also think we should leave here. Our mission wasn't to kill these aliens in the first place. We've managed to save ourselves and Alice is free. That's all that matters."

"Are you serious, Alice?" Jhonny looked at her sharply, unable to believe what he had just heard. "You were almost turned into a vessel by those disgusting creatures! If we leave now, they will continue to threaten not only us but also the human civilization out there!"

Alice did not answer immediately. She looked down for a moment, thinking about Jhonny's argument. It was true, this alien threat was not something to be taken lightly. However, on the other hand, she knew that they were all on the verge of exhaustion. If they continued to push, it would probably only invite more danger.

"We're not here to exterminate aliens. Our mission is to save Alice and make sure there is no more immediate threat. And we've succeeded," Denada said in a calm but firm tone. "We'd better get out of here, bring this information back, and come up with a better plan. We need our full strength to defeat them, not under these circumstances."

Rian looked agitated, he got up from his seat and walked back and forth in frustration. "But this opportunity might not come again! Do you want to wait until they attack us again?"

"And if we fight now? Do you think we'll all survive?" asked Fredy as he stared intently at Rian. "Jhonny, Rian, we are in no condition to continue fighting. Look at our situation! If we keep going forward, we may never get out of this base."

Jhonny sighed, his muscles tightening. He knew Fredy had a point, but his heart couldn't accept the idea of letting the aliens live. They had gone too far. His anger towards the aliens, especially after almost losing Alice, made it difficult for him to think clearly.

"We can't keep running away, Fredy," Jhonny said in a low but stressful voice. "If we run away now, it's the same as handing over our fate to them. They'll keep chasing us, and this time they might be better prepared."

Jhonny's eyes met Alice's, and for a moment, both were silent. The tension between them was palpable. On the one hand, Jhonny knew that what Alice and the others were saying made sense. But on the other hand, his sense of responsibility as the team leader made him feel the need to do something more than just run away.

"I'm not in favor of leaving this base without doing anything," Jhonny said finally, his voice calmer but still firm. "But if you guys really think we should leave, I'll consider it. But we need a clear plan. We can't just run away without making sure that they won't follow us."

The atmosphere in the room was still tense. Rian stared at Fredy and Denada with an incredulous look, while Alice just let out a long sigh, seemingly relieved that at least the debate was starting to lead to a resolution. However, before they could continue their discussion, there was a sudden sound of footsteps from the direction of the entrance.

Everyone was instantly on alert, their weapons ready at hand. Denada turned around quickly, her fan ready to be used. Fredy raised his trident, preparing to fight again if necessary. Jhonny raised his plasma weapon, ready to attack anyone who dared to come close.

However, what appeared in the doorway was neither an alien nor an enemy. It was a woman who looked exhausted, yet still stood tall with determination on her face. The clothes she wore were torn in several places, and there was a wound on her arm that was still bleeding.

"Who are you?" asked Jhonny, his voice hard but full of suspicion.

The woman looked at Jhonny with a calm look even though it was clear she was under pressure. "You may not remember me, but I'm the person you saved earlier."

"What are you doing here?" asked Alice in a confused tone, but her voice was softer.

The woman took a deep breath before answering, her voice slightly hoarse. "I have important information. There's something you should know about these aliens. You should listen to me before making a decision."

Jhonny looked at the woman with a raised eyebrow, then gestured for her to continue. "Talk," he said simply, his tone full of curiosity.

The woman stepped closer to them, her face serious and her eyes determined. "I know something that could change everything. And you can't make a decision without listening to what I have to say."

The room fell silent again, everyone waiting anxiously for what the woman would say. Whatever she knew, it seemed important enough to change the course of their battle. Jhonny and the others could only hope that what they were about to hear could lead them out of this deadlock.