Chapter Four: Two Zhou Jibais

The red beacon went dark for half a second. When the carrier crossed, the system could not recognize the interceptors' authority. Its automatic shield expanded and hurled both enemies into a building. The final lift bridge slammed shut behind the carrier. It reached the terminal, and North Five's alarms turned blue. [EMBER VICTORY. SERIES TIED 1–1.] [REWARD: TACTICAL TALENT — BLIND-SPOT MODELING.] Places where enemies vanished were no longer blank. Their last direction, speed, and likely objectives became faint gray paths. Shen Yan could see the shape of what he could not see. Synchronization rose to fourteen percent. White Duke remained on the channel. “Every victory makes you more like Yanhui. You think the rewards are gifts?”