Before I could respond—
A loud crack split the sky.
Then another.
Color exploded overhead.
Fireworks.
Brilliant arcs of gold and blue burst above the treetops, illuminating the clearing in flickering light.
All of us looked up.
A system message appeared across the sky in glowing letters.
|Congratulations to the eight players who found the first portal!|
The fireworks continued to bloom overhead—celebratory, almost mocking.
I cracked my neck slowly. "I guess this is where the 'one life only' part starts," I muttered.
"Where's boss?" I asked Ghost.
He didn't speak. Just lifted his chin slightly and pointed toward the eastern edge of the clearing.
I turned and began walking in that direction.
One step.
Two—
My body lurched forward suddenly.
I caught myself with my hands before face-planting into the dirt.
"…What?"
A sharp sting crawled up my leg.
I looked down.
My right leg—just above the ankle—was blackened.
Burn marks.
