The Opening Skirmish
A screeching sound, like nails scraping across a chalkboard, echoed through the waiting room of the 1v1 ranking match being broadcast live. Ignoring the stinging glares from passersby, Lee Chang-hyun sank deep into thought.
Last time it was 'sight'… this time 'sound'… Targeting the opponent's senses. Did they come up with a strategy to exploit the five senses?
If that was the case, it was one variable you could create by preparing something special. It was probably influenced by the initial success of that 'eye-flash strategy.' It looked cringe-worthy and ridiculous at first glance, but surprisingly, it had some solid basis.
Awakened hunters had senses sharper than ordinary people—sight, hearing, and all the rest—so a noise like that would torment them even more.
The problem is, they're sensitive at first, but they'll adapt over time…
For now, O Si-hwan was avoiding direct clashes with Kim Do-jun's sword to prevent his spear from meeting the blade, leaving him scrambling just to dodge attacks. Meanwhile, Kim Do-jun, earplugs firmly in place, was pressing the assault with his swift sword strikes, full of vigor.
If the crowd noticed those earplugs on camera even once, he'd be the villain in a heartbeat.
That thought flickered briefly. O Si-hwan, cornered, finally gritted his teeth and launched an offensive despite the noise—and in an instant, Kim Do-jun was on the back foot.
Yet even as O Si-hwan pushed aggressively, his expression looked worse than Kim Do-jun's, who was purely on the defensive.
The noise aftermath must be hitting harder than expected…
It might actually be a more effective tactic than it seemed. Sure, it looked comical, but it could pack real substance.
And sure enough, when O Si-hwan went all-in on an attack, Kim Do-jun blocked it with perfect timing.
This time, the noise was utterly deafening.
Kiiiiiiieeeeeek—
Even in the waiting room, which was practically like watching from outside, the sound was brutal. How hellish must it have been for O Si-hwan right in the thick of it?
No one could avoid opening up gaps in the face of that. In the split-second O Si-hwan winced from the noise,
Kim Do-jun thrust with his swift sword.
Shraaack—
Victory for Kim Do-jun, who had relentlessly targeted his opponent's mind. A win that was the pinnacle of dirty tactics.
"EZ—."
Kim Do-jun grinned, flashing a thumbs-up toward the waiting room.
No matter how you sliced it, he'd beaten O Si-hwan from PSG—a guy no one thought could lose. What could you even say to that?
"Tch… What kind of bastard is that? Pulling cheap tricks like that's straight out of some low-tier scrub's playbook. Can't even watch this crap anymore. Ptui…."
O Si-hwan spat curses as he stormed out of the 1v1 ranking match waiting room.
And it wasn't just him—even Lee Chang-hyun, the leader of PER where that Kim Do-jun played, seemed to draw similar contempt. O Si-hwan shot disdainful glares at both of them before leaving, stirring a weird mix of empathy and indifference in Lee Chang-hyun. A complicated, tangled feeling.
If O Si-hwan had just gone straight at him, he'd have been at least two levels above in close-quarters one-on-one.
Getting taken out without a real fight against a guy like that? No wonder he felt pissed. It was only natural.
Of course, O Si-hwan wasn't the only one exiting into the waiting room.
"So, you thinking of starting me as an ace in the next match now?"
Hmm. Yeah.
He might look thoughtless most days, but he clearly put real effort into analyzing every game.
"But if you're prepping tactics like that, why show 'em all off? Tell me and keep it secret from the enemy—don't just flaunt it like that."
Just knowing he had something like that in his arsenal would make countermeasures way easier.
Kim Do-jun might seem impulsive, but there's no way he showed that off just for kicks—especially against a team we'd face next.
"Ah… that special coating on the sword for the insane noise? Total bluff, obviously."
"…Bluff?"
"No way we'd use something that one-note in a real match. Crowd wouldn't enjoy it either. Nah, we showed it on purpose. To make 'em paranoid about it."
Kim Do-jun cackled with a sleazy grin, and Lee Chang-hyun couldn't help thinking, What the hell…?
Leaking info on purpose? So what was he really hiding for the main event?
Absurd. He turned to ask, but Kim Do-jun beat him to it.
"Ahh… Stuff like this? Save it as a secret and slip it out only in the real game. Even to teammates."
What the hell was that? Psycho.
Helpful in his own way, but having a guy like this on the team sure made your head spin.
Would he flip the script against PSG, the matchup everyone thought was a lost cause? Guess they'd find out on game day.
Not holding my breath, honestly…
But it'd be fun to watch.
Meanwhile, PSG was buzzing with heated talk ahead of tomorrow's match against PER.
The hottest topic? Naturally, O Si-hwan's 1v1 that afternoon.
"What? He brought that to a 1v1 ranking match?"
Even Han Ji-hu was floored by Kim Do-jun's antics. Skill aside, anyone would call it ridiculous.
"Well… better we see it first than get hit with it later. Must sting for you, though."
Lee Kyu-jin teased O Si-hwan, but he wasn't wrong.
"Yeah, Kyu-jin's right. Cheap gimmicks like that don't last anyway."
Word was he'd pulled a similar flashy sword trick before. Guess their team specialized in shallow, annoying prep to mess with foes.
"Cocky little…."
Han Ji-hu figured smashing a punk like that with PSG's "real skill" would be the perfect response. Though he'd pack earplugs just in case his ears rang.
"Whatever. Could be scouting too—plenty of value even in Si-hwan's loss. Prep counters for anything else he might pull."
"Anything else? What, eye-flash to ear-rape, now he's bringing a skunk fart-sack?"
Laughter rippled through the PSG team.
"Heh, yeah. Let 'em try whatever."
Han Ji-hu chuckled along, then abruptly stopped.
"No matter their clown show, we'll smash 'em flat."
Guys who didn't get the stress of First Division life, yapping about top leagues. Rookies under Lee Geun-taek's wing, biweekly pups barking at tigers.
No way I'm letting 'em slide.
This match would be the cruelest in Second Division this season. He'd made sure of it.
"Lights out soon. Big game tomorrow."
PSG's home lights winked out earlier than usual.
Everything for tomorrow. For PER.
The very next day. PER vs. PSG.
As the most hyped matchup in Second Division, today's game felt different from the rest.
"Pre-match interview?"
"Yeah, not just any—light trash talk with the other team's players. Quick concept vid."
Did they do this in Second Division? Memories fuzzy. Seemed like a First Division big-match thing right before kickoff.
Well, he'd only been in Second Division one short season pre-regression. No surprise if he forgot.
Team reactions to the pre-trash-talk interview news? All over the place.
"Before the game even starts… we gotta do that…?"
Fair point from Yi Yeon-ju. But games were showmanship, all about spectacle. Gotta give fans something extra.
While some stayed skeptical, others were the total opposite.
"Hah… They set up the perfect stage for my debut this match?"
Kim Do-jun, not hiding his prep one bit, clearly loved it.
'Course, I put real work into this one too—not just him…'
Who knew how it'd play out? Too many variables. Unannounced map for starters.
As chatter flowed, game time neared. PSG and PER players filed into the shoot location, sat down, and cameras rolled.
[Caster]: Yes, this match pits two of Second Division's most anticipated teams, PSG and PER. A word from each side…
[Han Ji-hu]: What'd you expect? Predictable result. Don't see this one being tough either.
[Kim Do-jun]: lol, already threw down with one of their guys in a 1v1 pre-game… But nah, we ain't sweating it.
Lee Chang-hyun was about to answer when Kim Do-jun jumped in first.
That response was no surprise—and PSG players were already eyeing him like he was insane.
[Caster]: Haha… Great. Both teams undefeated in Second Division—confidence is key. Now, Lee Chang-hyun, pegged as next-gen KHL rookie hotshot chasing Han Ji-hu, who's blown up biggest lately. Thoughts?
[Han Ji-hu]: Pfft. Talk for the clueless. Folks in the know get it—I'm not in First Division 'cause I haven't gone yet. No need to climb that far; this match'll expose the hype.
'Inflated rumors, huh.'
Amusing.
[Lee Chang-hyun]: Don't sweat public opinion much… But usually, there's a reason. Won't add more.
[Caster]: Ah… Fans are hyped for this—skipping ahead might disappoint. If you had to elaborate on that bit…
Typical. Organizers always pushed for heat—topical, clickable. Verbal jabs were fan catnip.
'Fine, if you're twisting my arm.'
[Lee Chang-hyun]: Straight up? I'm several levels above Han Ji-hu. Career alone—he'll never catch up.
Not wrong.
Though without Bloom unlocked and with the team still green, it was a tad nerve-wracking…
'But that's the thrill of the game.'
PSG side ground their teeth—couldn't stomach it. A growl escaped.
Damn. Matches like this? Risky, but you couldn't help getting hyped.