The Game Behind the Game

The crimson spear went through her chest and out the other side.

For half a heartbeat, a clean, translucent hole hung where Ashley's body should have been.

Then Wraithlord withdrew the blade and drove it in again, and again, a blur of red steel that gave her no time to flinch, let alone fight back.

Two seconds. That was all it took to strip her health bar down to nothing and send her flickering out of existence, off to whatever respawn point the game had reserved for her.

The square stayed frozen for a beat.

Then it detonated.

"What just happened? Did he actually just kill her?!"

"That was BabyAsh! Why would Unrivaled put down BabyAsh?"

"Because I didn't like her," Kael said, to no one in particular.

"Bit harsh, though. Somebody hands you a gift-wrapped opportunity and you just... turn it down?"

"Not everyone's driven by the same appetites you are, pal."