The train rattled on, but Ethan was no longer looking at the passing scenery.
He was staring at his phone, the arrogant words of GridironGuru burning on the screen.
He handed the phone to Leo.
Leo read the message, his eyes widening. Then he let out a low whistle. "Whoa. The sharks are feeding? This guy talks like a supervillain in a Saturday morning cartoon."
"Tell me about it," Ethan said, a grim smile on his face. "He gives me the keys to the kingdom with one hand and then tells me he's going to burn the kingdom down with the other."
"So, he's in the Apex Challenge," Leo mused, handing the phone back. "As a 'special guest entry'. That's not a coincidence. They're setting you up for a showdown. The plucky underdog winner of the gauntlet versus the rich, famous creator."
"It's a storyline," Ethan realized.
"So what are you going to do?" Leo asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Are you scared?"
Ethan thought about it for a moment. H
