Round Two began with a sanitation alarm and a lie.
The service lane flushed red.
Drain crystals unfolded from the walls and projected the King's face in a dozen wet reflections. He looked calm again, which meant he had found a way to sell panic as design.
"Honored spectators," he said, "the anomaly has advanced."
JJ leaned against the wall and laughed once.
"Advanced into sewage."
Heissman raised his half sword. "Classic tournament structure."
Omina ignored them both and looked at every drain crystal in turn.
"He is changing format."
Ty kept one sickle toward the sealed wash tunnel and one toward the lane ahead. "Can he do that?"
"He is the King."
"That was a yes with disgust."
"Good hearing."
The projections brightened.
ROUND TWO: FRACTURE HUNT
ACTIVE CORE: TY, SKELETON VESSEL
FUGITIVE FACE: ZUNODER
ANCHOR CLUSTER: CONDITIONAL PROPERTY
OBJECTIVE: RECOVER OR DESTROY CLAIM COMPONENTS
JJ's eyes narrowed at conditional property.
