Chapter Three: The Future Is Never Free

Too late. Crimson's mid flashed and rooted Su. Her health vanished. If she died, Obsidian lost its only sustained damage. The twelve brightest branches all led to defeat. Lin saw one nearly transparent thread. Shadow Hound would abandon Su and leap into the Titan pit, use the monster's attack to complete a mark, then dash back to the fight. He would block the killing projectile and force Crimson's marksman toward Zhou. Five players would change direction. The price would be high. "Lin?" Chen called. Ten seconds collapsed around him. Lin remembered Ji's warning: the match matters; you matter more. He remembered his own answer at the press conference: only the next move. He pressed the dash.