The way she said "reasonable" made it sound like an insult.
I pulled up my status screen, checking my Schema Point total. The number sat at 3,015, untouched since I'd blown a thousand points on Apollo's tournament banner. The new abilities hummed beneath my skin. Lightning Rod, Kinetic Absorption, Steel Body. Sovereign's Mandate, turning my bonds into tactical advantages.
I had the tools.
The question was whether I had the balls to use them.
"What's the time limit on accepting?" I asked.
"Sunrise." Nike gestured at the window, where the first hints of dawn were just starting to stain the horizon. "In approximately four hours, the sun rises, the tournament begins, and this offer expires. You either commit now, or you never get the chance again."
