Preemptive Strike: Space Defense Strategy
Space Defense Strategy. It was a term that had emerged back in the ancient days of RTS games.
"Games I've never even played..."
Be that as it may, the core of Space Defense Strategy was simple. Use team members with superpowers advantageous for defense to build a defensive line, then force the enemy to play to those defenders' strengths.
To pull that off, two things were needed. The ability to form a powerful defensive position. And the ability to make the enemy suffer the longer the fight dragged on—or to strike at them from that defensive setup.
Right now, PER had both in spades. No, they had even more than that.
'Kim Yu-hyeon, who can create turrets and alter the terrain. And the bomber trio, who can deliver precision strikes on distant foes.'
And that wasn't all. PER's roster had been bolstered even further since then. Add bombers to the space defense mix, plus specialists in area-of-effect crowd control: Ryu Jae-jun and me.
'Ryu Jae-jun and I dive in as a special forces unit, hit and run on their team. The rest hold the defensive formation and support with bomber tactics.'
That was the perfected PER strategy they were using now.
Honestly, it had vulnerabilities—gaps you could drive a truck through. But that one strength? It was overwhelming.
And in reality, right now—they'd completed setting up the defensive formation without any interference.
"Like we planned before. Everyone except Ryu Jae-jun and me stays here and executes the defense strategy."
"Got it."
"You said the safe formation was boring last time, so don't get caught playing Go-Stop on the dirt floor and miss your timing. Watch the enemy moves properly and respond."
"Ugh..."
Kim Do-jun and Yi Gil-han averted their eyes with awkward expressions.
"Understood."
Sheesh. No matter how much you chalked it up to their tactical specialties, these guys had zero tension.
"Let's go, Jae-jun."
"Yeah."
Now it was time to truly make their mark in the 2nd Division Hunters League.
Meanwhile, outside the stadium.
From the broadcasters' perspective, it looked like a rather baffling choice.
Even Han Ji-hoo, who had just finished his match, showered, and was watching from the player lounge, couldn't make sense of it.
'I looked into him since he's supposedly President Lee Geun-taek's successor... but I don't recall any abilities useful for something like this.'
He'd have to watch a bit longer to figure out the scheme. The thought irritated him for no reason.
'What's so great about a guy who only knows clever tricks that everyone fixates on?'
The essence of the Hunters League was fight. Hitting the enemy, smashing, destroying. Taking hits alongside them or dodging—a brutal bloodbath. Struggle.
Not slyly smacking the back of their heads with cheap tricks.
As he thought that—
'What?'
What nonsense was that? Did the caster have knots for eyes?
There were plenty of other things to missee. No one would pull a brain-dead rush like that—not even PSG, whose individual skills were at the pinnacle of 2nd Division.
'...!'
To his shock, looking up at the screen confirmed it was true.
Just moments ago, he'd pegged Lee Chang-hyun as the type to avoid fights and slyly trap the enemy. Now, he was personally leading the charge, diving into QED's formation with just two of them.
The commentator's scream-like voice echoed as one of PER's rookies—Ryu Jae-jun, probably—launched into the air on an Air Anchor, landing right in the heart of QED's formation.
And then...
Kiiiiiiing———.
A screech like nails on a chalkboard, agonizing to the ears, swept the area at tremendous speed with some kind of wave.
Kwa——boom.
Whether the ability needed no prep time or he'd readied it en route—
'Fast...!'
Considering its range and effect, it had happened at an incredible speed. Even those with sharp reflexes who raised mana shields took the full brunt.
'Impressive ability... But hunters are Awakeners. It might kill or knock out normals, but hunters? They'll shake but not drop fatally.'
But then—
The guy Lee Geun-taek had handpicked. Lee Chang-hyun exploited the moment QED reeled, bursting in and unleashing his dual pistols.
Tatata-tatata-tang!!
He was pulling the trigger at the absolute limit of rapid fire.
The chat was chanting his name, the commentators too. But coolly assessing it, impressive yes—but not the best.
'Fine... I admit it's a solid tactic. Who knew there was a way like that.'
The 'gun's' unique trait: projectile speed leagues beyond other thrown weapons. And the 'wave' for quick-cast AoE disruption.
But if he'd gone in instead of Lee Chang-hyun...
'Mana shields or not, I'd have sliced them all with my blade. At least three.'
The screen showed at least two heavily wounded. Even in that perfect surprise timing from their elite abilities, the damage wasn't as huge as expected.
At least from Han Ji-hoo's view. The finish felt sloppy too.
'Now they'll have to endure abilities numbering several times their own.'
No different from a suicide bombing. Especially throwing away their ace for a few trades.
But then—
With QED's formation fixated centrally, mana shields aimed at the Lee Chang-hyun/Ryu Jae-jun duo—
From behind, swords carrying Mana Bombers dropped their payload silently.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!
The 'wave's' rupture, dual pistols spitting fire. Mana Bomber blasts.
The barrage of surprises had piled up damage on QED unnoticed.
Amid the chaos, the Mana Bomber detonated a massive dust cloud.
As everyone awaited the dust settling—
The outcome emerged, the chaos resolving.
'...'
The screen showed a massive crater in the ground from the explosion.
...And 'some' QED members who'd somehow survived the Mana Bomber blast.
...That was it.
Cheers from the stands echoed into the lounge.
'Even accounted for mana depletion from spamming abilities leading to a counter...'
In the end, the 7-vs-2 intrusion everyone called reckless and stupid...
Ended the opposite of all predictions.
Meanwhile, in PER's formation: everyone except Ryu Jae-jun and Lee Chang-hyun.
Sans the trio swinging swords, directing positions, and dropping bombs—there wasn't much to do.
Which was why Kim Do-jun was lying in Kim Yu-hyeon's ability-made defensive setup, scratching his belly.
"Man, the match started and I've got nothing to do. Makes me question why I even became a hunter—total existential dread~"
Yawning hugely, babbling nonsense—he looked every bit the idle bum.
"Yeah, first time feeling this itchy with nothing to do. Reminds me of being a soccer goalie as a kid and not touching the ball once."
The leisurely time was short-lived.
Kwa——boom.
"It went according to plan. We'll head there soon."
Static—crackle.
Lee Chang-hyun's voice came through the earpiece. Probably from the Seven Flying Swords they'd sent earlier—the explosion mixed in.
Looked like the pre-discussed plan had succeeded.
"Ahem. Guess it's our turn to shine."
Kim Do-jun sat up as he said it.
"Shine? The turrets will do the shining more than you fighting up close."
Yoon Han-gyeol pointed at the installed turrets.
"Tch..."
Well, fair point. What remained wasn't a full-frontal clash but PER's defense war from their pre-built position.
"Hey, do we really gotta go this far? We didn't even in 3rd Division. They're total wrecks now—could just rush and win outright?"
"True, but... hmm."
Yoon Han-gyeol hesitated, finding Kim Do-jun's words somewhat persuasive.
"You remember anything from academy? Nah, don't need to go that far."
Then Han Ji-su, usually quiet, spoke up. Looking a bit exasperated.
"Who lowers their win rate to 100% certainty for extra effort? Got it? Here, getting called 'sneaky' or 'dirty' is the highest praise."
Spot on. The rest of the match would surely head that way.
After Lee Chang-hyun and Ryu Jae-jun's intrusion plus bomber tactics shook the enemy.
The perfect way to close out the game.