"Leon, please. We have to run now."
Elise's voice cracked as the commander's aura pressed against the basement walls. Dimensional energy corrupted the air around them, making each breath taste like copper and ash. Leon's mother lay between them, her life hanging in the balance as reality warped at the edges.
Leon felt the approaching presence through his enhanced senses. Three blocks away. Two blocks. The commander moved with measured steps that cracked pavement and shattered windows in perfect sequence.
His system interface revealed truths that made his blood freeze:
[Vessel Development: 99.2% Complete]
[Primary Objective: Dimensional Anchor Establishment]
[Secondary Function: Reality Bridge Construction]
[Host Consciousness: Expendable Upon Completion]
