Interlude: Sizing Up the Competition
Three days until the match against PSG. At PER's home base, the players were spending their time in a frenzy of activity. They were diligently working through their personalized training schedules in the second-floor practice space.
Hmm... They're all working hard, but...
Honestly, it wasn't enough. PER had risen to this league too quickly from the start. No matter how much I filled in the gaps, there were bound to be shortcomings in experience and raw skill.
Their opponents were PSG, who had long dominated the second division as the top dogs. If a few days of practice could change the outcome against them, that would be the weird part.
"Hyung, Chang-hyun hyung. But why are PSG still in the second division when they're mid-tier first-division level? Is there a reason they have to stay there? With that kind of strength, they could win promotion, right?"
The kid—Lee Jeong-hun—who was watching the training alongside me looked up and asked. It was a question even ordinary fans might wonder about.
Even in our own team, there's that guy who turned down promotion to the first division... Kim Yu-hyeon, was it?
Why some players chose to stay in the second division instead of advancing? The simple answer was the real pain settings newly applied in the first division and the accumulating fatigue from it... but the truth ran deeper.
"Jeong-hun, do you know the origins of the Hunters League?"
"As much as anyone else? Back when the Tower first appeared and Awakeners emerged, hunters fought inside for relics, and they turned that into a sport, right?"
Definitely the standard civilian knowledge. Spot on.
"What about the Tower now?"
"Now? Hmm. Never really thought about it. It's cleared, so... just excavation work these days, I guess?"
Exactly. The Tower was basically no longer a direct threat to humanity on Earth. Most immediate dangers had been purged.
But native creatures and mythical beings still lurked, and unexcavated relics abounded.
"So how do they divide up those excavated relics?"
My counterquestion lit a spark of curiosity in Lee Jeong-hun's eyes. Probably something he'd never pondered before.
"Back then, it was simple. Each country sent their own hunters to dig them up and claimed them as national property since their hunters found them. Sure, the origins of the Hunters League meant fights broke out inside over who got what, but whatever country carried it out became the owner."
"So, can't they just do that now?"
"Yeah, you could think that. But when it kept happening..."
It just didn't add up for the nations. Hunters—talent as precious as relics—went in for excavation, only to die from rival countries' competition or Tower monsters.
As rivalry intensified, too many hunters perished, turning it into a net loss.
"That's when the 'peaceful compromise' came: the international Hunters League."
"Ahh... So the international league is held directly in the Tower..."
Exactly. The international Hunters League was a sport, but not just a sport. It was a special competition laced with national interests.
"So what does that have to do with the first division...? The first division serves as a training ground for reserve talent to claim those national stakes in the international league."
"Ah... That's why the 'pain' settings, the variable maps, neutral monsters..."
"Yep. They recreate the international league environment as closely as possible. To get players accustomed to it."
The international league itself was a blood-soaked battlefield masquerading as a sport.
"That's why PSG doesn't promote. It's not quite international league level, but the first division turns the Hunters League—what they saw as casual VR gaming—into a real warzone."
No wonder the first division had so many benchwarmers. Even sturdy Awakeners took full mental damage from pain. Physically tough, but mentally? Most couldn't keep up.
"Ah... That's why first-division players have always..."
"You better steel yourself too."
I grinned at Lee Jeong-hun, and his eyes darted nervously.
Well, he's just a kid.
But I hadn't told Lee Jeong-hun everything. Things like the now-forgotten Dark Tower collapse or international league scandals from national intrigues... The higher you climbed in the Hunters League, the less cleanly it felt like a sport. A bitter smile crept in unbidden.
No need to drag up that dark stuff now.
One thing was clear: I'd survived that hell and reached the top, but PER's inexperienced teammates had to endure it.
Too far ahead maybe.
Eutcha—. Anyway, forget first division or international worries for now. Focus on PSG right in front of us.
With that thought, I grabbed the team training analysis reports from the second-floor lounge as practice wrapped up.
Hmm...
That day, PER's practice continued seamlessly from home to the Hunter Union Training Facility. Rank matches, Hunter Survival, individual drills, personal coaching—everything we'd been doing.
But cramming like this had limits.
As I pondered, Kim Do-jun sauntered out of his rank match, grinning like an idiot.
"What's so funny? Laughing at your score even though the opponent's PSG?"
"Aw, c'mon~"
I'd watched the match—no hilarious moments. No clue why he was giggling solo.
I ignored him to give feedback on his 1v1 shortcomings, but...
"Oh yeah. I'm playing in the PSG match, right?"
"Why? Got something to show? If you do, show me first. No more dumb stunts like last time."
"I do have something in mind... Hmm. Honestly, it'll work better if you don't know."
Work better if I didn't know? No idea what strategy that could be.
If it's something even I can't predict, PSG won't see it coming either.
Effectiveness aside. As Kim Do-jun kept yapping nonstop...
"They're just staying in second 'cause they're scared of getting wrecked in first~ Let me show 'em proper..."
Speak of the devil. Midway, a PSG player behind him shot Kim Do-jun a glare.
It didn't end there.
"Scared of getting wrecked so they stay? Hah. So, 'show 'em proper' what? What're you gonna do?"
Kim Do-jun hadn't noticed him, looking flustered.
"Said I'd show proper skills. Personal flair. Big time."
"No need to go far—rank match room's right here. Follow me."
"Hah. Think I won't if you ask?"
Kim Do-jun didn't back down, and they headed to the rank match room together.
Haa...
Didn't expect this showdown. Should've apologized for the slip-up. Damn Kim Do-jun. All those eyes on him, yet the bravado...
Or maybe he really has something...
Like that eye-flash tactic last time—maybe some wild invention?
Either way, in our current underdog spot, watching them fight directly was a golden opportunity.
Name's... Oh Si-hwan?
One of PSG's standout players from their matches. No surprise he'd react to trash talk about fearing first-division beatdowns.
Pushing personal gripes aside, I activated Piercing Eye on Oh Si-hwan and Kim Do-jun.
[Strength Enhancement: A]: Exhibits superhuman strength beyond human limits. Capable of explosive power through superior muscle.
[Flashy Weapon Mastery: A]: Instinctively senses and comprehends weapon usage. Rapidly increases weapon proficiency.
[Swift: A]: Enables instantaneous rapid acceleration.
Three A-rank skills.
Top second-division caliber. Strong players like him often synergized multiple abilities.
Kim Do-jun's in for a rough time. Great synergy, balanced build... And same close-range dealer type as Do-jun.
He hadn't awakened new skills like in his pre-regression first-division days, so Kim Do-jun was likely at a disadvantage.
But what he mentioned showing me... that was the wildcard.
No time to wonder long—the fight kicked off as they entered.
True to his skills, Oh Si-hwan wielded diverse weapons, switching to favorable ones to pressure. Kim Do-jun tried quick-draw fast swords, but Oh Si-hwan kept distance with a longer spear from his back, dominating unilaterally.
Textbook. High weapon mastery befitting his abilities... At this rate, no chance to show anything.
Sure enough, Kim Do-jun fell into defense fast. As he did, he grabbed a glowing sword—just like before.
Same as always, so the opponent scoffed in disbelief.
"Still pulling that crap? Ridiculous."
Of course. A once-countered tactic crumbles easily if prepared.
The glowing sword proved useless, and Oh Si-hwan's spear onslaught intensified.
But the moment Kim Do-jun's sword met the thrusting spear—
Kiiii— Kiiikikikik—.
Weapons clashing should ring ting or clang.
This guy's...
Instead, a horrific screech—like weapons screaming, nails on chalkboard—erupted violently.
Even muffled in the lounge, that unprepared, ear-piercing agony made everyone stare.
Crazy bastard...
Oh Si-hwan, hit raw without ear protection, grimaced in hatred at Kim Do-jun. Eardrums probably ruptured.
Eye-flash last time, now ear-rape...
Damn. Couldn't even look up with all eyes on us in the lounge.