Chapter Two: Rewards Can Bleed

Construction charges detonated a week early. Stone blocked the exit and steel beams fell. Pei Jin could escape, but might transfer the trap onto a teammate. Gu Chen closed his eyes. Through the headset, four sets of senses poured into him: Zhou heard vibrating steel; Lin Yao saw impact points seven seconds ahead; Wanqing felt pressure through the load-bearing wall; Pei Jin perceived weak boundaries as instinct. Agony drove nails through Gu Chen's temples, but a route formed. “Follow me. Lin counts. Zhou calls left. Wanqing holds the beam. Pei Jin exits last.” They moved like a practiced unit. Wanqing bore a collapsing beam, turning pain into strength. Lin stopped them before each cave-in.