Chapter One: The Second the World Went Silent

Xu Duo ordered everyone to remain. Lin Mo walked to Su Cheng’s station and connected a spare keyboard. “You’re not a starter,” Tang Ye said coldly. He was the marksman who had replaced Lin Mo, and the sharpest gun on the roster. “Saving someone doesn’t give you your seat back.” “I’m not taking your seat.” Lin Mo opened an offline training map. “I want to know whether they erased sound—or something else.” He put on the disconnected headset. Five training bots spawned in darkness. The present was silent. Then another soundscape crashed into him from three seconds ahead: a reload on the left, an ability charging to the right, footsteps closing behind. Lin Mo shut his eyes. Step left. Duck. Flick.