Chapter One: The Biggest Spender in the Universe

Hundreds inhaled. One sneeze sounded, then another, then dozens like firecrackers following a fuse. But they were not simultaneous. [Synchronized: 31, 47, 62, 79...] It stopped at ninety-six. Four short. Two seconds left. "Wait!" Gu Ye shouted. The world slowed by half a beat. A falling bubble hung before his face. Tang Ke's eyebrow froze halfway up. The tails of ninety-six sneezes seemed trapped in transparent amber. Four late viewers had just removed their masks, nostrils twitching. One second later, time snapped shut. "Achoo!" Four voices joined the ninety-six still lingering in the air. [Synchronized: 100.] [CHALLENGE COMPLETE. DELAY ONE SECOND awarded. Three uses daily. The resolution of one event may be delayed by one second.]