He swung the pick at a rock. One crystal dropped. His real-world internet speed ticked up by 0.1 Mbps.
A system message burned into the corner of his vision, not on a screen, but on his retinas:
The wallpaper of his monitor rippled like a heat haze. The temperature in his apartment jumped from 72°F to 98°F in three seconds. He wiped sweat from his brow and tried to move his mouse—but his hand went through the desk.