Although it was never officially agreed upon, it seemed all sides ceased hostilities the day before the challenge. Our patrols remained out, canvassing the area around New Jurong, just in case anyone thought it would be a good opportunity to strike and weaken us, just one day before the big fight.

  But nothing came. No sign of the Temple, nor were there any Rebel incursions. It felt like a quiet before the storm. I suspected they were doing the same as us. Resting, recuperating, and preparing for what was to come.

  We spent the day around camp, talking to as many people as we could, helping with preparations wherever possible. Jess led groups to the supermarkets at West Coast, which the Rebels had left behind. They shopped for potions, scrolls, and any weaponry we could use for tomorrow.

  Prema had done her part, explaining the plan for the following day to everyone. I was surprised by how many agreed without much resistance. We fielded questions, but overall, the consensus was clear. When I asked Prema about it, she said that the people were tired. They all wanted out. If there was any way to leave the West, they’d take it. Many were still looking for missing families and friends, and they needed to get out of the zone to find them.

  Unlike us, who had access to the North, these people were stuck. They couldn’t leave until we had total control of the West. Shawn, who had charmed his way through the day, especially with the older ladies, received intel that the Rebels knew this too. They were looking for a way out, though there were some in their ranks who preferred to stay.

  I didn’t ask if Prema had used her unique powers to persuade the people. I didn’t want to know.

  But what surprised me most was the number of volunteers who wanted the honor—or rather, the right—to champion the West in single combat. Many of them had lost families to the Temple. They didn’t hold much animosity toward the Rebels, but they wanted the chance to fight for their own freedom. I thanked them for their enthusiasm and promised them they would all get a chance to fight before this was over.

  It was going to be me. I was going to be the one fighting in single combat. We needed Jess to lead and organize the healers and support team. Shawn would serve as my second-in-command, overseeing the ground forces for area control outside the stadium. And Siva… Well, he was busy with other things. The last update we had from him wasn’t ideal, but I had confidence he’d turn it around.

  I left Shawn and Jess to continue reassuring the people and walked over to where the Grave Digger was parked. I wanted one last look at it, uncertain whether it would survive what was coming next.

  Eric and his team of Technomancers had practically set up camp around the truck. They’d been working on it non-stop. Apparently, they had added things I didn’t even ask for, and they were eager to show me.

  My Eva chat had been quiet for a while, and I sensed she too was worried. I didn’t exactly know where she “sat” within me, but I could feel our connection. It was as if a quiet, constant hum had settled in my brain, something I’d linked to her. As long as I could feel the buzz, I knew she was there with me.

  Eric and his crew were lounging around the truck like they owned it. Eric sat in the driver’s seat, while his team sprawled across the passenger seats and the bed. I didn’t see any noticeable upgrades at first, but when I approached, Eric quickly shooed his team away, motioning for me to step aside.

  “Alright, here’s the first thing,” he said, pulling out a tablet from his inventory and tapping a few things on the screen. The moment he did, I jumped back in shock as a ballista appeared from the bed of the truck. It stood tall, rising over the floodlights, and I could see it sat on a swivel. I turned to Eric, who was grinning wildly.

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  “Go take a look,” he said, clearly proud of himself.

  I climbed into the bed of the truck and confirmed that, yes, the ballista swiveled, with a range of about 90 degrees, covering the front of the truck. This was... good. But I immediately saw the drawbacks. The bed had to be clear for this to work, and someone would need to be at the back to load and fire it. Or did they?

  I opened my Eva chat as I examined the controls.

  Chris: Eva, can you fire this on your own? Or do we need to be there?

  Eva: If you leave one bolt in the ballista, I could control and fire it, but I cannot reload it, Chris.

  That wasn’t bad. One shot in the barrel, and after that, someone would need to handle reloading. I glanced over to the side panel, which had opened to reveal a rack of huge bolts. Pretty impressive.

  I jumped off the truck as Eric tapped something on his tablet. The ballista folded back in on itself, panels opening and closing in a smooth motion until the bed was once again clear.

  I gave him a thumbs up, and he walked me to the front of the truck. That’s when I noticed the winch system had been completely upgraded. It wasn’t just a regular hook and chain winch for off roaders anymore, it now had a large, multi-pronged arrowhead sticking out the front.

  “Stand back,” Eric said, tapping something on the tablet. The arrow shot out with incredible force, trailing a thick metal cable behind it. It slammed into a tree ahead of the truck, obliterating it on impact.

  I stood there, stunned for a moment, before turning to Eric and asking the only question that seemed to make sense in that moment.

  “You a big fan of Arkham Knight, huh?” I asked.

  “Dude, yeah. That game was great. Predictable, but I loved the tank fights,” Eric said, looking way too pleased with himself.

  “Uh… no ejector seats?” I walked toward the cable now buried in the tree. “And can this even hold the weight of the truck?”

  “Theoretically, yes,” he replied. “But you’ll need to field test it.”

  I couldn’t help grinning. We did not have time for field testing, but I appreciated the confidence.

  Eric tapped something else on his tablet. The cable began retracting. The truck shifted slightly as the arrowhead tore free from what was left of the tree and reeled back into its housing. The whole sequence looked smooth, almost cinematic.

  “So… anything else? And do I need the tablet to control all of this?” I asked.

  Before he could answer, a new tab flickered into my HUD with the title [GD]. I focused on it and a new interface opened in front of me. It was the truck’s system layout. I skimmed through it and felt my eyes widen. I could control the ballista and the winch directly from here. On top of that, there was an option to control the truck itself.

  I selected a small wheel icon and the view in my HUD shifted. Suddenly I was looking out from the driver’s seat, like I was sitting inside the cabin. This was… very cool.

  I was just about to try “driving” it with my HUD controls when the familiar buzzing in my head spiked, and a message popped up.

  Eva: You don’t need to do that Chris. I can control the vehicle. You only need to tell me and I’ll drive.

  That took the wind out of my sails. For now. She was right. I could not afford to be mentally joyriding a truck when I had other things to focus on.

  I sighed, shook my head, and turned back to Eric. I reached out and shook his hand. “You did good. You and your team. Thank you.”

  Then I asked the question I knew he was bracing for. “You ready for tomorrow?”

  He hesitated. For a moment the usual teenage nerves were there, then something shifted.

  He nodded. “My mum left when I was young. My dad did not really have time for me. Wasn’t his fault, he had to work. He died when this started and I guess my mum is the only family I have left. She's in the East. I need to find her.”

  It was the first time he did not look scared or sullen. He just looked determined. I squeezed his shoulder once. “Shaheerah’s squad will be with you for protection. She’ll keep you safe.”

  I asked if any of the other Four Horsemen had seen the upgrades yet. He shook his head. I was the first.

  Great, I thought, already opening the party chat.

  Chris: Shawn, Jess, get over here to the truck. We’ve got something to show you.