The vibrations of the Vanguard's reinforcements grew more intense, each tremor shaking loose icicles that shattered against the frozen corridors. Daniel's heart pounded as he sprinted through the labyrinthine base, his breath clouding in the frigid air. Every step was a calculated risk, every turn an attempt to outpace the inevitable.
Claire was ahead, her pace relentless. Her fists smashed through obstacles like they were paper, her strength an unstoppable force. Chunks of ice and debris flew into the air as she carved their path forward. Her movements were sharp, efficient, her breathing steady despite the cold. Daniel marveled at her resilience, though he couldn't spare the time to say anything.
Behind him, Tessa stumbled, her boots slipping on the frost-coated floor. She was slowing them down, her panicked breathing filling the narrow corridor. "Wait," she gasped. "I can't keep up!"
