Chapter 7 · Grind, Loot, Survive - Chapter 7: Trash Talk & Survival Rules

“Get your ass up. Now.” Selene’s boot was planted firmly in the small of my back, pinning me to the dirt. She wasn't playing around. The air still tasted like ozone and burnt plastic from her scanner exploding, and the roar of the monsters circling us was getting louder.

I groaned, pressing my cheek into the grit. “You know, most people start a professional relationship with a handshake. Not a boot to the spine.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, hauling me up by the collar of my shirt. She yanked me close, so close I could smell the sharp, metallic scent of her gear and something like winter frost. Her eyes were narrowed, scanning my face like I was a puzzle she wanted to rip apart. “That scanner didn’t just glitch, Milo. It screamed. What the hell are you?”

I blinked, my heart hammering against my ribs. The Loot Sigil on my chest was humming, a low-frequency vibration that felt like a swarm of bees under my skin. “I’m a guy who’s really good at getting into trouble. You saw the rank. ‘Forbidden.’ Sounds fancy, right? Maybe I’m a royal. Or a very dangerous accountant.”

Selene didn’t laugh.