Chapter 66 - 65: The Price of Power
"Mom, stay behind me. Elise, prepare emergency evacuation protocols."
Leon stood over his mother and Elise in the basement shelter. The commander’s call resonated through his bones with each psychic pulse made his teeth ache while power flowed through his system in ways that felt both familiar and wrong.
His interface blazed with notifications he’d never seen before:
[Vessel Compatibility: 97.3%]
[Primordial Connection: Active]
[System Evolution: Phase 2 Unlocked]
[Warning: Autonomy Override Detected]
The messages terrified him more than any monster he’d faced. His zombie system was changing without his permission, evolving in directions he couldn’t control or understand.
Leon felt his undead growing more powerful in the commander’s presence. His mage zombie Staff crackling with purple energy. The assassin emerged from shadows that hadn’t existed moments before.
All three undead moved with coordination that exceeded his direct control. They responded to his will but operated with strategic thinking that belonged to them, not him.
Elise watched Leon’s face carefully. Something was shifting in his expression. The warmth that usually softened his features was cooling into calculated assessment. His eyes moved between her and his mother like a tactician weighing strategic resources.