The Finale: A Complete Reversal in an Instant
The tide of the finale turned completely 180 degrees in the blink of an eye.
PER's ace, Lee Chang-hyun, had always struggled with piercing enemy defenses. Mana shields and barriers could easily block bullets, rendering his shooting inefficient.
But the moment those bullets fused with anti-mana stone and shredded mana-based defenses... the enemy had zero resistance to raw gunfire.
By the time Lee Chang-hyun had taken down about two LTD players, the replay revealed the secret behind his shots.
Before LTD arrived, during that brief window, footage showed Lee Chang-hyun receiving the anti-mana stone, grinding it into sand-like grains, and embedding them into bullets.
The commentator, a Hunters League expert, grasped its value better than most.
But amid Lee Chang-hyun's one-sided slaughter, one man blocked his path: Lee Jun-seo.
Even if Lee Chang-hyun could nullify skills, he'd only taken two LTD members so far. If Lee Jun-seo beat him now, the game was likely over.
The ace showdown heated up...
It was a repeat of Lee Chang-hyun's past clash with Ryu Jae-jun in Part 3.
Tang—
BOOM!
The screen filled with a massive dust cloud from the explosion.
Even with mana blockers, Part 1 league players had their own tricks for tracking foes. Some memorized mana signatures and followed the echoes. Others used keen observation to hunt traces.
Not that it mattered now.
"Yeah, figured you'd track me."
"Damn right. You wrecked them good."
Though he'd swiftly and mercilessly taken out two LTD members to tie it at 5v5, Lee Jun-seo had chased me here, unable to watch any longer.
I'd kept moving and shooting to bait this.
'Solid fundamentals, as expected.'
"This match should've ended ages ago... You're great at dragging it out."
"Dragging? We're the ones with LTD by the throat now."
"If you wanna talk big, don't get caught."
Lee Jun-seo drew his sword with gusto.
Using Static Mana to block mana use, then relying on his melee specialty. Pure skill fight.
"Underestimating Part 2 a bit?"
"Nah, I'm impressed you dragged it here. Props."
He still hadn't noticed. Or maybe Korean league lacked ranged dealers to teach him better.
"Truth is, the moment you stepped up 1v1, it was over. Other Part 1 guys would hate being lumped in with you."
"...?"
Lee Jun-seo scowled, like I was spouting nonsense.
Experience is like that—you don't know till it happens.
With that, still eyeing him, I Air Beated backward into the air.
"Where—"
Thought I was just retreating? I knew he had Air Dash and would pursue.
"Wanna hear some advice?"
"?"
"To be a top hunter, don't let enemies read your next move. Or... this happens."
Lee Jun-seo scoffed at my bullshit, lunging with Air Dash—
Then shadows slithered out, binding him.
It lasted barely a second against a Part 1 superhuman.
"Nice one, Yi Yeon-ju."
But enough time. Plenty to escape his range and pull the trigger.
Special mana bomber round for a Part 1 player.
Click.
Tang—
BOOM!
Lee Jun-seo—same as ever, great skills but clear limits.
First, vulnerable to ranged dealers outside Static Mana range.
Second... well, that's enough.
'Could've ended easier, but hiding this'll help against PSG.'
"Lee Jun-seo down. Others?"
"They noticed... and are fleeing... for now."
"Ready for what we planned?"
"...Yeah."
"Good bait work."
"What?! I nearly died to arrows, and that's all you say? I'm so pissed..."
Han Ji-su was fuming, but I ignored it.
Just needed Yi Yeon-ju's update.
"Time to hunt."
"...Yeah."
The match's finale. Cleanup.
As Lee Jun-seo froze in Yi Yeon-ju's binding and ate Lee Chang-hyun's bullet, cheers erupted.
It evoked their Part 3 league combo.
But retreat was impossible.
Yi Yeon-ju, who'd passed the anti-mana stone to Lee Chang-hyun and hidden under Invisible Cloak, finally struck.
With mana blocker erasing traces, cloaked in place—no one could find or hit her.
The moment they thought safe...
Yi Yeon-ju's Binding snared each LTD member, syncing with Lee Chang-hyun.
First victim: Lee Jun-seo.
Next: fleeing teammates.
Binding's no-range restraint showed its brutality.
Catch 'em briefly, then Lee Chang-hyun's fastest projectiles finish. Nothing more, nothing less.
As cheers continued, the MVP was announced.