What is Star Quality? Preparation
One thing was clear: you had to fight well first and foremost. No matter how talented a player was, it was tough for someone who hung back and focused on support to become a star.
Another key factor was probably romance. The fantasy of sweeping away the enemy team with dazzling physical prowess in front of countless opponents. That was the usual type. Things other teams wouldn't dare choose, but ones that ignited the crowd's passion. A team like that could truly be said to have star quality.
In that sense, PER possessed the most explosive star quality in the Hunters League outside of the First Division league.
The sniper shot synced with the building collapse during the audition. The bomber tactics of attaching Mana Bombers to swords and launching them. Eye-Blinding Villain's invisibility strategies. And most recently, Ryu Jae-jun and Lee Chang-hyun's duo rampaging against the entire enemy team.
They had won in such novel ways up to now, so the netizens watching the current situation were filled with disappointment.
And that atmosphere wasn't just among the viewers.
As soon as Lee Jun-seo took down Yoon Han-gyeol, the broadcast team talked about how the momentum had shifted dramatically toward LTD.
The players in the match knew it too, of course. With Lee Jun-seo still joining up, a massive clash erupted between PER and LTD.
But unlike other teams, LTD didn't crumble easily.
Even PER, which had exceeded positive expectations up to now despite being from ^Third Division^, couldn't pull it off easily this time.
On the contrary, LTD was blocking PER's assaults effectively, and with Lee Jun-seo joining, the tide had turned.
Soon enough, the broadcast team even said this.
It was definitely visible on screen. They neutralized Ryu Jae-jun and Lee Chang-hyun's combo with Yoo Hye-ju's Holy Ground and LTD team members' shield superpowers.
Not only that, but LTD had avoided any real damage through precise coverage against PER's linked attacks.
With Lee Jun-seo now joined, PER was pushed into a defensive position. In the end, they chose retreat over engagement—even abandoning Yi Gil-han.
Jeong Hye-yeon let out a quiet sigh without realizing it. Even though it wasn't her team anymore.
'Hoo…….'
Sitting alone, her stomach churned as she cheered for the team she'd spent so much time with.
They'd parted hoping the best for each other. She'd wanted them to keep advancing, so it stung that they weren't.
Or was it frustration boiling over at PER failing to progress after cutting her loose? Like, why release her then?
No. That wasn't it.
From Third Division to Second Division, and now top of Second Division. PER was aiming for First Division via promotion/relegation, but losing to LTD—who were seen as underdogs compared to PSG—would halt their march.
She hated that.
As she bit her nails in anxiety, with PER retreating repeatedly and predictions favoring an easy LTD win, a change swept the battlefield with Yi Yeon-ju's voice.
Meanwhile, back in the match at the moment Lee Jun-seo had just joined.
The battlefield was still heated with ongoing clashes between LTD and PER. Lee Jun-seo's sudden appearance had an immense presence.
"……Senior!"
LTD team members grinned widely. In contrast, most PER players' faces hardened.
'This…… the game's gotten way too tough.'
Sure enough, Yi Gil-han, who'd charged in to push back the enemy with his dash ability, was instantly isolated.
'That's…… gonna be tough.'
Going in to save him now would mean total wipeout.
And one clear thing: they couldn't keep fighting like this.
Lee Jun-seo was like an EMP bomb—if he sealed their abilities, PER gained nothing.
'Even pure fundamentals without abilities, they're way ahead…….'
"Pull back for now."
"What about Gil-han?"
"Can't save everyone. Gotta keep the rest alive and regroup."
He spoke into his earpiece, but Lee Jun-seo, with his sharp hearing, caught it from afar and replied.
"Says who?"
In an instant, Lee Jun-seo dove straight into the heart of PER's formation alone. A strange ripple emanated from him.
'Static Mana…….'
He'd positioned himself opposite his team to spare LTD from the effect. Must be confident.
If they couldn't use abilities, no matter how many, they couldn't deal him fatal damage.
That confidence. 'And with Yoo Hye-ju alive, they can recover anyway…….'
It was a meticulously planned move, maximizing his ability.
Likely, LTD and Lee Jun-seo would counterattack now.
'Trying to end it here without giving us any variables…….'
Indeed, LTD's morale was up, and Lee Jun-seo was even cracking light jokes.
"Heh. Finally over. You rookies got nothing against guys like this……."
……But.
He couldn't finish.
'Finally ready…….'
Kim Yu-hyeon, subbing for Kim Do-jun this match, had his turrets activating at last.
Possible because of a gap in Lee Jun-seo's Static Mana.
'Mana core-formed gear or special skills with organized, stable circuits are hard to interfere with.'
Designed for systematic, stable operation, interference was tough.
Kim Yu-hyeon's turrets were no different, operating smoothly.
It took time from start to activation, but that was inherent to the ability.
"You guys……."
"Now. Pull back."
Tatat—.
Under cover fire from Kim Yu-hyeon's turrets, they escaped LTD's threat.
LTD didn't pursue.
"Haa…… haa…… So how're we playing this now?"
Han Ji-su panted, face grim. The tough spot was making her chest tight.
"Plus, where the hell is Yeon-ju this match? No Binding on cue like usual. Barely says a word. Can't even see her. It's like……."
"Yeon-ju's……."
She'd been held as a secret weapon this game. But it needed prep to avoid tracking, and it wasn't ready yet.
Even if ready, it wouldn't guarantee victory alone…….
"Eh. Yeon-ju's on an errand I gave her……."
"Errand?"
Han Ji-su looked puzzled.
But the time wasn't right yet.
In this frustrating, stalled deadlock, Yi Gil-han's earpiece cut out too—he hadn't escaped with them.
His dash had left his position ambiguous with Lee Jun-seo's arrival; it was inevitable, but it crushed morale further.
"……Hoo."
"Those guys…… now they can just huddle up like we did against QED last time and win?"
"Nah, doubt it."
If so, Hunters League would be boring. Just buy strong ability users and win fights.
"You know? Hunters League is fairer than you think."
"What?"
Han Ji-su shot him a look like he'd spouted nonsense.
But in this situation, nothing rang truer.
"What's different between QED and now. Get it?"
It didn't connect at all.
Fair game? Difference from QED?
Han Ji-su pondered, then frowned in realization.
"You don't mean…… the relic?"
No need to answer.
Yes, the final chance this match. The sole key to victory lay in the relic.
Sometimes powerful enough to overturn the game, sometimes less useful than expected.
But it granted new abilities and chances to the ability-deficient. Tied closest to Hunters League's origins, the main cause of upsets.
The relic.
Mana gear originated as replicas of relics—objects brimming with strong mana that wielded special powers.
As such, the 'originals' held far more special, limitless potential than mana gear.
Thus, securing a relic in Hunters League was a major factor deciding the match.
'And reversals usually involved relics.'
Ability clashes. Team synergy. Pure combat skill. Map exploitation.
All important, but the relic variable could flip them all.
"Mm. Yeah. So they can't just sit and defend forever? Packing relics creates variables."
"Right. Relics are designed to force fights too."
No one likes defensive stalemates. Prolonged empty games hurt hype.
In that sense, relics lured players to roam the map searching instead of camping.
"I get it, but to flip the tide, snag the relic first or hit 'em hard? Means we gotta beat 'em to it…… Split up and search?"
Han Ji-su racked her brain busily.
Or maybe my calm vibe egged her on.
Thinking I was taking it lightly.
But of course not.
I was just waiting.
And sure enough, Yi Yeon-ju's awaited voice came through the earpiece.
"No way…… You sent Yeon-ju with position detection to scout the relic early……."
Han Ji-su stared, finally getting it.
"Yeah. Finding it doesn't guarantee win—lots of losses after—but anyway."
Truth was, from Lee Jun-seo's entry, raw team power struggle was tough.
LTD had prepped counters extensively, as expected.
Short on prep staff and raw power.
So what to do?
'Simple…….'
"Han Ji-su. I think about Hunters League like this."
"……."
"How to force the enemy into a fight where you're favored."
Relic and battlefield traits. Superpowers and team synergy.
Amid variables, the optimal victory path lay there.
A belief from my pre-regression wins.
Now, time to escape the unfavorable battlefield we'd been forced into—one where everything had failed.