How to Push Through When Afraid
With the little kid who had turned PER's weekend into such a rowdy spectacle finally gone, training resumed as usual. The next match was against LTD from the 2nd Division. They'd finished fourth last season.
'But this season, their points are actually pretty close to ours...'
It was an opponent they couldn't afford to take lightly. If his memory served him right—and he was pretty sure it did—LTD had a player who'd dropped down from the cutthroat 1st Division to regain their form in the 2nd.
'Hunters League 1st Division matches are stressful enough on their own...'
A place for mental recovery and sharpening skills. LTD's 2nd Division team was often used that way, like a rehab squad. He remembered it well because the team he'd played for in the 2nd Division before his regression was LTD.
And as a feeder for a top-tier 1st Division team, LTD's 2nd Division had a deep roster with incredibly diverse abilities. The kind of flashy powers you'd see in anime or comics—straight out of a superpower battle story. Like manipulating water to blast it out as attacks. In a team setting, it offered insane utility and flexibility, but as an enemy, it was a real pain to deal with. The guy even dyed his hair blue to fit the theme... He vaguely remembered the face and ability, but not much else. Name? Personality? All fuzzy.
'Did I actually face that guy in the 1st Division, not 2nd?'
Back then, especially in the 2nd and 3rd Divisions, he hadn't mingled much with other teams. Why bother when he'd get called up next season anyway? It felt different now.
'Is this the difference between building a team and just focusing on my own growth...?'
He still wasn't sure which was better—building a team and growing together, or grinding solo. The answer would come once they hit the 1st Division, maybe even the international leagues. For now, focus on the immediate: the match against LTD.
"Northeast, 30 meters... below. Probably... ambushed around there."
Yi Yeon-ju quickly relayed to the team. Moments later, Yoon Han-gyeol charged the direction she indicated, and the result was swift.
"Raaah!!!!!!!!!!!"
"You thought you could ambush with position tracking on the team?"
Yoon Han-gyeol's swarm of controlled swords overwhelmed Kim Do-jun, slicing him apart. The match ended there, but with LTD looming tomorrow, no feedback session. Everyone chatted idly and headed to their rooms... except one who lingered. Yi Yeon-ju. Her expression was stiff, like something was eating at her.
'Hmm... She didn't do anything standout this match, but her team won. Something bothering her?'
"Something not clicking?"
Best to ask first. With her personality, she'd suffer in silence rather than speak up.
And sure enough.
"Ah... no. It's nothing..."
Sounded like classic Yi Yeon-ju, easy to brush off. But these were teammates he needed to develop. Time to draw it out.
"Dunno... I'd feel like something was off if it were me."
He had no clue what, exactly. But listening would let him advise properly. Ahem. International league champ credentials and all—even if not right now.
"Better to talk it out than stew alone. That's what directors and coaches are for."
Maybe being player-director made it awkward. But this nudged her enough.
"...Ugh. You... knew."
Of course she thought he saw through her—he'd spoon-fed info before. Once the dam broke, it poured.
"That... fight with the kid keeps replaying."
Ah, Lee Jeong-hun. The rookie had fought hard, but Yi Yeon-ju hadn't underperformed. She wasn't built for direct fights anyway.
"Just a kid... with no real powers..."
So that was it. Couldn't cleanly beat a seemingly powerless newbie.
'...'
Maybe—and this was pure guesswork—Jeong Hye-yeon's release hit close. Seeing someone cut for lack of impact...
'Probably fears the same fate.'
This team aimed high—not just him, everyone. So she doubted herself, suffered. Especially as a non-flashy support.
The fix was simple: You're vital in your role, not lesser than fighters. But conviction varied. Best? Make her utility dramatically shine.
"Scared you'll be seen as the player who couldn't beat a fresh-awakened kid?"
Her ability was already plenty strong. Clear strengths meant clear weaknesses. Patching them would just make her generic. Better to bloom her strengths.
"...A little. Yeah."
"Hmm... I see."
She was solid now. How to make it visibly spectacular? Not simple. Combat feats? Impossible. Support beyond skills? Unlikely. Needed deeper thought.
'If I had her skills, what would I do?'
Recalling top players pre-regression. Not all had god-tier powers—some worse than hers. But each had a killer edge, radiating presence.
'What made them aces...'
Memories surfaced: A guy maxing physicals for martial mastery, mowing down foes. A brainiac hoarding mana gear, inventing mid-match chaos. Others twisting meh abilities into wild tactics. Endless variety.
'But for Yi Yeon-ju...'
None fit directly. But tweak for her strengths?
"How about this?"
Pretty good idea. Could snag her MVP if they won. She eyed it skeptically.
"That... really okay?"
"Why not? They'll counter eventually, but cross that bridge later."
Hunters League: endless player-map-strategy combos. First use often wins. No fear needed—like stepping into fresh snow without hesitation.
In LTD's player leadership circle, 1st Division coach Lee Jin-han famously scouted PER's Lee Chang-hyun from 3rd Division days. And damn if he wasn't right—the kid rocketed the team up.
'That monster in 2nd Division now...'
LTD ran 3rd, 2nd, and 1st teams, so PER intel flowed freely. They knew that disgraceful 3rd Division coach—Lee Hyung-geun?—got humiliated.
"So, what’s the scouting report say?"
"Reviewed the reports. No big changes."
"I see..."
He had pride too—didn't wanna lose. Lee Hyung-geun got roasted for dropping that to PER.
'And their recent form is suspicious.'
No excuses, though.
"Include some 1st Division bench guys in the roster?"
"Do it. Lose this, and we can't show our faces after trash-talking Hyung-geun."
They had a star recovering from 1st Division burnout. No losses allowed.
"Upper leagues sent combo support too. Time to show it."
Players were decent—nothing special—but synergy with that rookie Yoo Hye-ju enabled absurd strats.
"But honestly... We're topping 1st Division over PSG this season. Need to sweat a 2nd Division team that much?"
"That's why we struggle. Those guys are vicious."
Opening day, PER vs. QED: Classic hit-and-turtle tenacity. Dirty? Cowardly? Maybe. But gapless wins were ruthless. Fans loved flashy fights; leadership hated variables.
'Combat itself is a gamble.'
In Hunters League, upsets happened. Clean wins ruled. To crush PER's execution, they needed counters.
"Anyway, stick to my plan."
"Sigh... Got it. But that strat feels more PSG-level than PER..."
His glare silenced the coach. Still clueless about the threat.