The Deceived and the Deceiver
Inside the match, the PER team members were communicating to link up with each other. But the reactions from the broadcast crew and viewers outside were the complete opposite of the players' solemn tension.
Unlike the players advancing cautiously with sharp vigilance, the audience watched with curious eyes full of anticipation for what was about to unfold.
And for good reason. Everyone watching from outside the arena knew through the observer feed that Ryu Jae-jun was a fake.
It happened just before the PER main squad fully assembled. A doppelganger identical to him ambushed the loitering Ryu Jae-jun.
Not just the broadcast crew—the viewers' reactions were heating up too.
The fight didn't last long. The doppelganger, armed with the PSG player's ability and the first strike, crushed Ryu Jae-jun effortlessly.
But the surprise didn't end with the doppelganger's victory. It seemed to know exactly what the earpiece the original Ryu Jae-jun had been wearing was for. It casually snatched it up.
Lee Chang-hyun: What? I swear I heard something from someone's earpiece. Anyone got an issue? Emergency?
Lee Chang-hyun's voice naturally came through the earpiece, but no one responded. With multiple people on comms at once, it was impossible to pinpoint who it was for—and the sound wasn't that loud anyway.
The doppelganger that had ambushed and assassinated Ryu Jae-jun simply picked up the earpiece with a smirk.
The one who'd snatched the earpiece even linked up with Lee Chang-hyun. They weren't far, so it didn't take long.
Lee Chang-hyun and Yoon Han-gyeol had gathered first at the PER main squad, and after the doppelganger arrived, Yi Gil-han and Yi Yeon-ju showed up next.
Maybe because there were already two or more when it first joined. Or perhaps because the ever-vigilant Lee Chang-hyun was there. The infiltrator didn't reveal its killing intent easily.
It simply acted like Ryu Jae-jun.
"Nerve training, huh... Makes sense. I hate scary stuff."
"Ah, but... Ji-su and Do-jun are basically isolated. Shouldn't we hustle over there ASAP? Why are we strolling so casually?"
The tension kept building, and the moment of truth approached Lee Chang-hyun.
"You think we should keep strolling like this?"
"Yeah. The PSG guys are way more dangerous than you think. Rushing in could loosen our guard, and if we clash, it might get dicey. Yeon-ju, you still tracking their positions?"
"Y-yeah... We're heading straight for Ji-su... They're a bit distant from the enemies..."
...The real main reason wasn't PSG anyway. But no need to spill that now.
'That guy's... not Ryu Jae-jun.'
Better not poke the hornet's nest.
The reason was simple. A real hunter would've said to use Air Anchors or Air Beats to fly over, not just run fast.
But this fresh doppelganger probably didn't know that yet.
'It's subtle, so hard to judge on that alone...'
That wasn't all. Ryu Jae-jun, with his vast hunter knowledge, wouldn't ignore this map's dangers. Knowing the map, he wouldn't push for a quick link-up.
'Trained by Lee Geun-taek—he'd know to stay cautious against doppelgangers in a map like this, not rush the merge.'
Absurd otherwise.
But that raised a question.
'If he was that guarded... how'd they kill Ryu Jae-jun without a peep?'
Obviously, no PER player could silently take him out. So it must've copied a PSG player's gruesome ability...
'Don't wanna tip it off by using mana for Piercing Eye...'
As his thoughts raced, the probable fake spoke up.
"If we're too late, Ji-su's squad might fall, and we'll lose the match..."
'...Lose the match? What's that? Does it know this is a game? The doppelganger?'
He'd pegged it as a fake for suggesting a "run," but maybe it just meant hurry via any means. Hunters League pros would know mana gear.
Maybe it was Ryu Jae-jun, just differing judgment.
'Ryu Jae-jun doesn't always make the right calls... Not as sharp as me.'
Couldn't fully drop suspicions, though. The next words were key.
"I pushed to hurry 'cause... Ji-su messaged us via earpiece, but Do-jun hasn't said a word. Seems suspicious."
"..."
Totally unexpected.
Focused on linking up amid doppelganger threats, he'd barely checked Han Ji-su's side. But Kim Do-jun was arguably more suspect.
'That slippery punk hasn't uttered a word since kickoff?'
And doppelgangers skipped Hall of Illusions rooms, but Han Ji-su linked with Kim Do-jun in the hallway...
Suddenly, Ryu Jae-jun's rush made sense.
'Damn...'
If Kim Do-jun was fake, that was crisis too. Real one down, Han Ji-su next—then 7v5 disadvantage.
'And PSG's individual powerhouses face us intact...'
Match could crumble before a real fight.
Still.
"If Do-jun's the fake, saving Ji-su now's impossible anyway. Plan stands."
Judgment firm.
"Oh, and while we're at it."
"..."
"Han-gyeol, your Air Beat linking's still clunky."
"Now?!"
"We're turtle-walking anyway. Might as well check this and kill time efficiently."
He beckoned Yoon Han-gyeol over. As he approached, Lee Chang-hyun's hand glowed, touching his head.
Bloom - Talent Awakening: Dream Commander
Perfectly share imagined visuals with the target.
Awakened recently, he used it often for training.
"Like this. Got it?"
"...Got it."
"Why the blank stare? Same for the rest—except Jae-jun, trained by Chairman Lee Geun-taek."
"Heh... Fair enough."
Yi Yeon-ju and Yi Gil-han approached next; same skill.
"..."
"...What?"
Yi Yeon-ju's eyes widened. Yi Gil-han looked flustered.
"What? Special training. Told you Air Anchors and Air Beats take time. Focus up again. Doppelgangers anywhere—stay alert and head that way."
"Got it."
Meanwhile, in the waiting room, a weird vibe flowed between Leman and the burly black man watching the match.
"That guy's chatting a lot... but hasn't noticed?"
"Normal not to. Unless you've fought and seen the ability mismatch firsthand. Why else would countless hunters die in Hall of Illusions?"
"Tch... At this rate, match lost."
Leman sighed, drumming the desk. Tough match, but he'd invested hoping for a win—especially with this guy invited to watch together. Worst timing for a slump.
"How do you not tell real from fake with a player you guard daily? Ridiculous."
"Not as simple as you think. They have superior base intelligence, and..."
"And?"
The burly man's fist clenched.
"When they kill a hunter directly, they absorb some memories too."
"Whoa..."
Memory absorption. Then even shared secrets would fool you—turning checks into traps. Vicious.
"So... he hasn't clocked it..."
They'd seen via broadcast: the doppelganger killed the real Ryu Jae-jun.
Not just snatching the earpiece or clumsily mimicking—it was thorough.
The only gap? Incomplete memories leaving blanks.
But mid-match, chatting only... Expecting detection was unrealistic.
"No need to despair, Leman. That map... it's designed that way. Powerless teams start overwhelmingly disadvantaged..."
Time passed. As PER's main squad neared Han Ji-su's position, something astonishing happened.