Hunter leaned in, one hand shooting out.
"…four, three, two…"
Lucien stood suddenly, voice sharp, alive for the first time—
"NOW!"
Hunter slammed the throttle, sparks flying as he made contact.
The final red light flashed on the screen.
"Player 200 eliminated."
Then the intercom boomed—
"Predator Hunter – all targets complete."
The crowd erupted.
Lucien exhaled for the first time in minutes, his hand trembling slightly against the tablet. Mason stared, speechless.
Ethan stood still, the sound fading into a hum around him.
Somewhere inside
The booming drums of the stadium echoed like thunder rolling through steel caverns. Sparks burst across the enormous holo-screen as the crowd's roar crashed in waves. The lights dimmed, then snapped back with violent intensity as the rankings blinked onto the display.
A deep synthesized voice announced the results, each name slamming into the air like a verdict.
"Rank One… SPIKE. Seventy-five catches."
