Mountains Beyond Mountains
The day before the match against PER was when mountains loomed beyond mountains.
"What? You want me to play?"
"Yeah. You haven't been in any recent games anyway. Gotta keep your edge sharp."
"Wasn't it just PSG? Aren't you only sending me out for those?"
"Well... there've been some changes."
Hmm... changes, huh.
Putting me in means they must think this match is gonna be risky.
'In 2nd Division, besides PSG, what else is there?'
Honestly, Han Ji-su was a player even some 1st Division guys kept a close eye on.
PSG had a bunch of veterans who'd been up to 1st Division before, so their roster was solid... but...
'PER...? What the hell kinda joke team is this?'
He only figured it out when he scrolled through the team list and opponent profiles.
"Ah~. It's them. That guy from President Lee Geun-taek's party last time."
"...Yeah. That's how it turned out."
Well, even if one or two of them were decent, they'd still just be top 2nd Division level at best.
Just a bunch of scrubs scrapping it out—did he really need to bother?
But then...
'That guy... the stuff he showed at the party was pretty entertaining.'
Taking down neutral monsters and all that. Decent enough for a little fun.
But what good was handling monsters well? Hunters League was all about beating the other team.
Time to show 'em what a real hunter fight looked like.
Lee Jun-seo's lips curved into a sly grin, flashing a cheeky smile.
Back in the match.
Lee Jun-seo respawned and immediately ran into an unexpected foe.
PER's mid-range dealer and one of their ace fighters.
'Special note... Seven Flying Swords. Racked up a solid win rate against 1st Division in ranking matches with that.'
Not bad for a 2nd Division punk. Even 1st Division's LTD might be drooling over him.
But.
'Won't work on me.'
"Hey, hey. Don't run. Stay right there."
Just in case he tried to bolt with Air Beats or Air Anchors, he called out.
Luckily, Yoon Han-gyeol didn't budge.
'If he'd run, I'd have chased him down and killed him... guess I can play a bit now.'
"Smart choice. If you'd run, I'd have Air Dashed after you."
"...Hoo. Here I come, then."
The guy didn't seem interested in chatting, even after Lee Jun-seo spoke.
No need to rush, but he went straight for the attack.
Or maybe he'd sensed it.
The leisure, the overwhelming power radiating from him.
Pfft.
"Yeah! Bring it!"
The words barely left his mouth before four swords came flying at him.
"Ho... Seven Flying Swords, huh? Interesting."
Of course, no need to take them head-on.
Sword trajectories. Habits from the briefing packet.
He dodged along those lines.
But no opening for a counter came.
The four swords kept coming relentlessly...
'Insane ability for PvP.'
Plus, the analysis said he handled seven swords. Only four here meant...
This guy wasn't at full strength.
"But... playtime's over."
Fun fending off four, but it was getting too intense.
Had to admit, the ability was legit.
Piiiing—
He stretched both hands out, manipulating the ambient mana.
Statically.
Yeah, freezing mana flow.
Ting... clang...
The hovering Ego Swords lost power and clattered to the ground.
And not just those—a few seconds later, more dropped from afar.
"Snuck some back for a sneak attack, huh."
"...Kgh."
What? That was obvious.
Basic trick.
Still, fresh ability.
Time to wrap up and move on. He raised his sword.
Even with all Ego Swords down, the guy resisted with his own blade...
Stab—
"Not bad swordplay. But compared to your flying swords, it lacks bite. That was fun."
Just solid, average technique.
Won't cut it in 1st Division.
'Ah... right, this is 2nd Division.'
Even here, it wouldn't stand out...
Whatever. Time for him to join the team.
"Yo, 2nd Division scrubs. Took one out. Flying swords guy—you know him?"
"Y-Yeah... Got it!"
"Your side good? Heading over. Let's wrap this quick."
Playtime over. Time to go home.
Just dipping into 2nd Division for a break—no need to waste time.
"Han-gyeol... looks like he's out."
"Out" as in the common Hunters League term for players who got eliminated quick after spawn.
"I know."
With Yoon Han-gyeol down, he'd probably bumped into Lee Jun-seo right off the bat. Unlucky.
'No chance to run, forced into a fight and lost...'
Lee Jun-seo was a specialist in every sense.
Air Dash, Air Anchor, Air Beat. Three mobility tools.
Then seals skills with his superpower and crushes with raw physicals.
Yoon Han-gyeol, swords sealed, had no shot. His swordplay was built around Ego Swords—Lee Jun-seo was a natural counter.
'Not just him—any ability-focused mid or close-range hunter gets countered hard.'
Great ability, no matter how you sliced it.
"Forget the one who's out. Focus on us. How's the enemy?"
"Barely moving. Waiting to regroup, looks like."
That figured. Enemy prioritizing merges, heading toward artifact signals.
Grab relics en route to regroup. Balanced large-team strat.
'Yoon Han-gyeol bought time, so Lee Jun-seo hasn't merged yet.'
Might be their last shot.
Lee Jun-seo joining would shatter the balance.
'Without abilities, even Ryu Jae-jun or me... it'd be rough.'
Best to go all-in while he was solo.
"This is do-or-die. Like I said, with Lee Jun-seo out, this is our best chance."
"Hoo... Got it. I'll support properly."
"Man, been ages since we fought like this!"
Han Ji-su and Yi Gil-han reacted in their own ways.
"Jae-jun."
"On it."
They had a short-burst strat prepped.
Ryu Jae-jun and him leading the charge.
Ryu Jae-jun Air Beat-ed sky-high, then plummeted like a meteor toward the enemy ground.
As LTD guys closed in...
Just like last time, Wave...
"Hey... that's...!"
'Tch... they caught on.'
Air entry was rare, perfect for spreading effect.
They'd analyzed and prepped.
No other way to react that fast.
But reacting didn't help.
No time left.
Kiiiiing——
Ryu Jae-jun's Wave detonated mid-air, noticed or not.
They could mana-shield some shock, but the impact hit full force...
'Now...!'
Like the opener against QED.
Recreate that scene.
Opposite Ryu Jae-jun. Flanking via Air Anchor descent, dual pistols blazing...
Ting— cling ting—
'Defense skill...'
Hexagonal dome of translucent shield. Blocked every bullet.
"They got one off."
Ryu Jae-jun's Wave pierced everything—no blocking that.
But the Ether bullets for cleanup? Strong defense could tank 'em. Calculated risk.
'Should've closed tighter amid them to prevent full coverage...'
No. Too close, and their close dealer would've countered hard.
Anyway.
'Not time to rethink.'
Shield down post-barrage.
Enemies poured out like they'd been waiting.
Staggered from Wave damage, but minimal.
Yellow glow rising in their shield explained it.
'Tch... Yoo Hye-ju's Holy Ground...'
Its rep for massive heals if you survived wasn't hype. Nullified the Wave, restoring their lines.
"Ryu Jae-jun...!"
This wasn't working.
He Air Beat-ed up.
To buy Ryu Jae-jun cooldown for another Wave, however slim.
"..."
No words, but eye contact synced timing.
His face was grim.
Made sense—no one had ever gotten up unscathed from a Wave before.
Kiiiiing——
Maybe that's why—stronger output this time.
Direct hit would drop 'em.
Weak shocks weren't cutting it; probably dumped most mana.
Ryu Jae-jun went full, dropping a few LTD members.
Timing to shoot...
Ziing—
Spotting Ryu Jae-jun's tell, they'd prepped shield and Holy Ground.
A few staggered inside shield... but shook it off, rising like zombies unharmed.
"Fuck..."
Shield down post-heal, now enemies Air Beat-ed up, pressing the fight.
'Not giving us reset time.'
"Ryu Jae-jun. Pull back."
Time for new tactics.
His mana was drained.
But as Ryu Jae-jun retreated on cue, enemy targeted his back.
Not dangerous, though.
Team cover available.
"Finally! Been waitin'!"
Yi Gil-han charged hard, smashing the backstabber.
Target airborne from impact: "Han Ji-su!"
"Got it."
Target flung by shock, exiting Yoo Hye-ju's Holy Ground.
Thud...
Han Ji-su gravity-slammed him into the ground, crushing.
LTD guy disarmed now.
Aimed sniper rifle.
But.
Whoosh... swish whoosh!
Arrow incoming as he lined up.
Ryu Jae-jun combo failing hard was the issue.
Solid execution, but LTD's counter comp was too perfect.
Should've sniped one first instead of duo-rush for multi-kills.
'This match... got way tougher...'
That was the thought.
"Whoa~ what the hell. These guys fight way too well. You read the reports and train properly? I gave detailed counters and habits."
"Uh, Senior, that's..."
"Whatever. I'm here now. Time to end it?"
Lee Jun-seo had arrived.
Worst-case scenario.