Playing by the Book

"I don't really have much to say today." At Tae-hyun's words, Lee Se-yeon nodded in agreement.

"Just as we prepared for them, they've probably prepared a lot for us too."

The team the Chinese national team had prepared for the most was undoubtedly the Korean national team. While the Korean side still had a few hidden skills up their sleeves, they had to assume the opponents already knew most of their other strategies.

Countless fans believed the Korean team would win without a doubt, but surprisingly, both Tae-hyun and Lee Se-yeon remained level-headed.

'If we're unlucky, we could lose. That's just how it is.'

'The rules have changed, and the opponents have prepared targeted counters, so a loss is always possible.'

In gaming, you couldn't win every single time. If the opponent got lucky and prepared thoroughly, you could lose. That was precisely why they had to approach the match with humility and a grounded mindset.

"I'm not telling you to be scared, though. Just..."

"...do your best."

As Lee Se-yeon finished his sentence, Tae-hyun nodded.

Usually, when a national team had multiple players acting as leaders, clashes were inevitable. Each possessed immense pride and ego, refusing to back down. In that regard, the Korean national team was incredibly fortunate. Two players with illustrious careers—neither of whom would normally yield to anyone—were in perfect agreement. Their playstyles and mindsets were so similar that they rarely had reason to argue. If there was any difference at all, it was simply that Tae-hyun preferred slightly crazier strategies.

"I always feel this way, but there's no royal road in matches like this. You just have to take it one game at a time and do your absolute best. I realized this at the end of Pan-On 1..."

"Aren't you getting a bit off-track?"

"Right. Sorry. I got sidetracked."

Tae-hyun quickly brought the conversation back on track.

"Anyway, we've prepared hard, so let's just do our best. Don't get too tense, and don't try too hard to show off. Just play like you always do. That way, win or lose, we won't have any regrets."

"And honestly, even if you guys mess up, we're the ones who'll get blamed."

At Tae-hyun's blunt remark, Lee Se-yeon made a sour face.

"What? It's true."

"Saying it out loud like that just makes it feel weird."

Because expectations for the two star players were sky-high, they would inevitably bear the brunt of the backlash if they lost.

"I will never let that happen! If we lose, I'll hold a press conference ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and declare that it was all my fault!"

At Ryu Tae-su's dramatic declaration, Ryu Da-young spoke up, looking utterly dumbfounded.

"If you do that, you won't even be able to show your face in Korea anymore..."

"Forget the press conference. Just relax and play."

"If we lose, we might as well all throw ourselves into the Yangtze River."

The coach's words were dead serious. The atmosphere within the Chinese national team was that suffocating. Having tied with Canada, their chances of being eliminated in the group stage had become a very real threat! The fans were thinking, 'There's no way...' while simultaneously preparing to tear both the coach and the players to shreds if they failed. Several players had already received death threats.

'Damn it. The atmosphere is absolute garbage.'

'Look at the coach's eyes. He looks like he wants to murder us.'

The coach, Wu Zhongyuan, was a former esports player who had achieved stellar results as a coach. His coaching style was that of a fierce general! He was a ruthless meritocrat who whipped his players into relentless competition, fielding only the survivors. While this style worked fine under normal circumstances, a coach like him was of little help in high-pressure matches. If anything, it only piled on the stress.

"They say a draw is enough. But erase that thought from your minds! Fight with the sole intention of winning! If you harbor any half-hearted desire for a draw, the enemy will catch you off guard. Don't forget for a single second who our opponent is!"

The players nodded. They knew better than anyone who they were up against. In fact, they had prepared far more than Tae-hyun could have ever imagined. In terms of effort allocation, they had spent about 90% of their time preparing for the Korean national team, 9% for Canada, and maybe 1% for Japan. Honestly, their round loss to Japan and their draw against Canada ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were largely because they were so preoccupied with Korea. That was how thoroughly they had simulated and practiced!

"Song Yimou. You're starting in the first round."

"I-I will do my absolute best!"

Song Yimou. Truthfully, he wasn't a player outstanding enough to make the national team under normal circumstances. Though he was a ranker, he wasn't particularly famous, nor did he play in the 1st Division... Yet, there was a single reason he had been selected for the national team: Song Yimou was a specialized Curse Mage. Since there had been no need for him in previous matches, he had remained on the bench, but this time was different.

"Song Yimou. I don't expect much from you. Just mark Kim Tae-hyun at all costs. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

The coach didn't expect grand feats from Song Yimou. Simply holding Kim Tae-hyun back would be more than enough.

'As long as we shut down Kim Tae-hyun, it's a winning trade.'

Both Kim Tae-hyun and Lee Se-yeon were monstrous players, but the arena was a different story. Lee Se-yeon's moves could be predicted, but Kim Tae-hyun was entirely unpredictable. As a Necromancer, Lee Se-yeon didn't present many unexpected variables in the arena—at most, a surprise undead rush. In contrast, Kim Tae-hyun could use his signature mobility and evasion to weave in and out, disrupt formations, pick off a single player, and escape. The coach was certain: the Korean team's winning formula always began with Kim Tae-hyun.

As unavoidable curses piled up, Tae-hyun's movements would inevitably be restricted. Even if Tae-hyun had countermeasures, he wouldn't be able to shrug off every single curse thrown his way.

While the casters spoke, both teams quickly formed up and began to move.

"Slow down! Keep the distance tight!"

"Got it!"

"Song Yimou. Are your curses ready?"

"Of course they are."

The Chinese team's formation was indeed impenetrable. Normally, when moving at high speeds, players would naturally drift apart or create gaps. However, through rigorous training, they maintained their spacing flawlessly. This was specifically to counter Kim Tae-hyun's flanking maneuvers. The moment he tried to penetrate their lines, the formation would organically shift to block his path, and Song Yimou's curses would rain down in rapid succession. They were fully prepared to shut him down before he could even react.

'Come on, Kim Tae-hyun.'

The coach clenched his fists. He had prepared so much for this. This trap was the culmination of all their efforts.

'No matter how skilled Kim Tae-hyun is, this is impossible to bypass. He's never seen this trap before. The moment he steps into it, he's finished.'

Even if he just casually tried to disrupt their formation, they were confident they could deal a fatal blow!

...But Kim Tae-hyun didn't come.

'...Why isn't he coming?'

The coach waited anxiously. But Kim Tae-hyun truly showed no signs of approaching.

'???'

Tae-hyun wasn't off in some bizarre location. He was right there, standing squarely among his teammates.

"Summoning undead. Fifteen seconds."

"Okay. I'll cast buffs before we engage."

"...Are you sure this is really okay?"

Ryu Da-young kept looking back at Tae-hyun, still feeling incredibly awkward. As the team's main tank, her job was originally to protect Lee Da-bi and Lee Se-yeon. But with Tae-hyun standing right behind her as well, she couldn't help but feel flustered.

"I told you, just play as if I'm not even here."

"But really, can I..."

"It's fine. Just let Kim Tae-hyun do his thing."

Ryu Da-young's worry was understandable. After all, if the tank didn't peel for him, it could get dangerous. But Tae-hyun had been firm.

"You don't need to look after me. I can take care of my own life, so just act as if I'm not here."

He would read Ryu Da-young's movements and subtly use her as a shield. Having done this countless times with Cain, Tae-hyun was completely confident. It was a mind-bogglingly precise trick!

Ryu Da-young tanking. Tae-hyun and Ryu Tae-su dealing damage from the flanks. Lee Da-bi and Lee Se-yeon maintaining the backline. It was a perfectly balanced, textbook standard formation!

...But seeing the Korean national team play so normally felt incredibly bizarre and disorienting.

Hearing the commentators desperately try to rationalize the situation, the viewers suddenly realized something odd.

Before the thoughts could even settle, the first clash occurred.

The Chinese team, who had been anxiously scanning the area for Kim Tae-hyun's sudden appearance, spotted the Korean team charging straight at them in a tight, orderly formation.

"Prepare for battle!"

"Wait, Kim Tae-hyun is right there?"

"It could be a decoy! Don't let your guard down!"

Crash! The tanks collided, and the damage dealers instantly unleashed a terrifying barrage of attacks.

And as expected, Tae-hyun was the one who truly shone in this chaotic melee. Before anyone else could even reach the midpoint of their damage rotation, he had already executed a full cycle by himself, absolutely melting the enemy tank.

"Heal! Heal! Give me heals! This guy Kim Tae-hyun is absolutely insane!"

Hearing the enemy tank curse, Tae-hyun found it absurd.

'We're literally on live broadcast...'

Despite Tae-hyun's monstrous damage, the enemy tank managed to hold on. He had already pre-cast various defensive buffs and was receiving heavy healing from the backline.

'He's coming!'

'Now is the moment he makes his move!'

The caster shouted, his voice filled with anticipation. The fans joined in, screaming along.

A display of extreme mechanical skill—flanking through the chaotic melee, disrupting the enemy formation, and assassinating the healer! Everyone cheered, eagerly anticipating that spectacular show.

…But Tae-hyun stayed exactly where he was.

"Ryu Tae-su. No need to overcommit for the kill! Just push them back!"

He played defensively and stably, refusing to break formation while relentlessly battering the enemy tank to force a retreat. Since he didn't give them even a sliver of an opening, there was absolutely nothing the opponents could do.

"What the hell is wrong with that bastard Kim Tae-hyun?!"

"Kim Tae-hyun! What are you doing! Are you scared?!"

One of the frustrated Chinese players shouted in a desperate attempt to bait him. Seeing that, Tae-hyun became even more certain.

'These bastards really did lay a trap for me!'

He knew something felt off...!

'In that case, I'm definitely not going in.'