Lucian’s POV

"Clear!"

The word rang loud and sharp through the ruined hallway, echoing off the broken walls like a gunshot. Two of our men, dressed head to toe in black tactical gear, burst through the western corridor with rifles raised, eyes scanning every inch of the smoke-filled space. The air was heavy—so thick with the scent of burning wires, scorched metal, and the bite of plaster dust that breathing felt like inhaling ash. It stung the back of my throat and made my lungs burn, but I kept going. There was no room for weakness. No time to stop.

I was holding a thermal scanner in my gloved hand,...