[Potato Block has died.]
[Chaosgraphy has died.]
The notifications struck Martin before the water did.
His chest locked, cold spreading through him even though he had not entered the lake yet. Potato Block and Chaosgraphy had died at Raze Dawg's hands, and neither death had been ordinary. Only moments earlier, a massive explosion and a violent tremor had torn across the battlefield.
Potato Block had bought the first opening. Chaos had widened it with her last move.
A few seconds. That was all she had stolen from Raze Dawg, and she had paid for every one of them.
Martin's grip tightened around his weapon until his knuckles ached beneath the gauntlet. Looking back would have been easy. Part of him wanted to see whether Chaos had vanished cleanly or left something behind in that broken battlefield.
But they had bought him time, not permission to waste it grieving.
Thanks, girl. Leave the rest to me. I won't waste this chance. And I'll spoil you after this. All of you.
