Michael let his shoulders relax, a quiet breath slipping between his lips. He was strangely grateful that no more arrows came.
Not being targeted again was a relief, but it wasn't comfort. The encounter had etched something sharp into his awareness: this space was crawling with hunters.
The archer was gone, but there were nine thousand others left. Any one of them might be watching him at this very moment.
He forced himself to focus.
With a thought, Michael pulled the panel open again, eyes flicking to the tally.
[Active Participants: 4,861]
The number dropped even as he watched—another reminder that the challenge wasn't pausing just because he stood still.
Michael closed the panel.
But before he could do anything, he froze.
A shimmer rippled through the mist three meters ahead of him.
Michael's dazed eyes locked on the distortion as it coalesced into shape—limbs, armor, the faint gleam of steel.
A figure materialized in front of him.
Another awakener.
