"Don't you dare," Sam said.

Back in the real world, Leo’s profile picture changed to a crown. His in-game garage unlocked a car no one had ever seen: the "Ibiza Ghost," a midnight-blue hypercar with a livery that showed the full map—every single road he’d just driven—stitched across its body like a second skin.

Sunrise found him on the east coast, at the edge of the salt flats. He’d driven 680 kilometers. His eyes burned. The R8’s tires were screaming for mercy.

Not the main roads. Not the highlighted events. This was the ghost-grey overlay of every single inch of asphalt, dirt, and paved driveway in the entire game world. For three years, he’d been a Solar Crown reject, a second-place ghost. But tonight, he had a plan.

It read: "Congratulations, Traveler. The road is the destination. – Dev Team."

He tapped the radio. "Sam? You seeing this?"