Chapter Two: The Closer to Defeat, the Stronger I Become

Every time the red trajectory appeared, a needle of pain entered his temple. Stranger still, he could not remember the name of an old song his mother used to hum. The melody hovered behind glass, almost reachable. [CLUTCH POINTS: 13.] [ACTIVE SKILL AVAILABLE: ZERO-POINT REACTION.] [EFFECT: INCREASE REACTION AMPLIFICATION TO 300% FOR 0.8 SECONDS. VALID FOR ONE PLAY.] [COST: FIRST USE INITIATES FUTURE COLLECTION.] [UNLOCK?] Lin chose no. He did not know what “future collection” meant, but collection was never a generous word. The Storm advanced from their own forty. On first down, Empire blitzed. Eli threw under pressure, and Lin dived for the ball. On second down, Lin made a boundary catch and stepped out.