126. What a Team Is
Looking at the peculiar mana equipment Kim Do-jun had taken off, one thing came to mind. It was quite a while before the match against PSG. Probably around the time when that glowing sword, combined with an Invisible Cloak, had its tactic shut down by the opposing team.
'Not long after that, I got a call from Moras Workshop, right?'
He'd come to me without saying a word, talking about consulting on developing new mana equipment. That was my vague memory of it. In fact, Moras Workshop had contacted me too, so I knew what Kim Do-jun was cooking up with them. I just left it alone because I was curious how he'd use it and when.
'So he's bringing it out now...'
Honestly, pulling it out right now, with the Palace of Illusions map in play, felt like perfect timing. It meshed eerily well with the map's concept. But figuring out exactly how to apply it here was a bit tricky.
Sure, I could think of plenty of ways to use it... but was Kim Do-jun thinking the same? No way to know.
As I mulled it over, Kim Do-jun rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a bunch of stuff.
"Take off your regular earphones and use these. Tailored 'em for today's strategy."
'New earphones prepped for the strategy?'
"You don't mean... that sword from last time, the one that sounded like nails on a chalkboard...?"
"......"
That's when the laughter burst out. A sword that made insane noise. Full-body mana gear. And these special earphones Kim Do-jun had brought.
I'd known about half of it, vaguely guessed the rest. But seeing it all together, it felt like the tactics from each piece connected into one seamless line. A combo of everything he'd shown before.
'This could be fun.'
Seeing my reaction, Kim Do-jun grinned, probably thinking it was a hit. Yeah, this felt like the right play against those bastards.
But.
"Ow!"
I laughed in admiration, then cracked a solid knuckle-flick on his head with a smile that wasn't quite smiling.
"Next time you pull this without telling me first, I'll bench you mid-match. Got it?"
Laughing, but not laughing. This time it was okay—individual gear I already knew about, half-predicted how it'd work. But who knows next time.
So far, it'd always brought positive surprises, shining in matches plenty of times.
'But... not always.'
Like that glowing sword in 3rd Division League, sprung out of nowhere without a word, screwing over Yoon Han-gyeol and Yi Gil-han too.
In Hunters League, even teammates didn't always fully disclose their abilities. You had to think about jumping teams, and those skills were your bread and butter. Unavoidable.
But for special 'tactics' like this? Sharing info was essential to avoid clashing with the team and pull it off right.
So, time to lay down the law while the iron was hot.
"Got it?"
"......Yeah, got it."
Maybe he's hooked on those unexpected hero moments.
Especially tactics like this with special gear—they didn't even need him on the field, as I'd felt before.
That's why, as both player and coach, he'd tried to spring it like a surprise event without telling me.
'To prove his value when he does play...'
Back in my player-only regression life, I might not have noticed. But with my broadened view now, understanding both sides, I totally got why Kim Do-jun acted that way.
'Whatever. Scold the bad, praise the good.'
"You don't need surprise events. Just keep performing steady in matches, and you'll get playtime."
Kim Do-jun scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Oh, and we'll roll with your strategy this time, no matter what."
"What's that?"
The rest of PER was clueless and curious, but honestly, beyond popping on those earphones, the other teammates had nothing to do.
'It's a strategy just for me and Kim Do-jun.'
He probably kept it secret, figuring I'd adapt on the fly during the match.
'I knew half of it, so not totally secret...'
Part of me was annoyed, part impressed by his initiative. Complicated feelings.
Meanwhile, a group walked the halls, shaking doppelganger fluids off their swords. PSG.
"What a pain. Of all maps, this one."
"Yeah. Still, no real threat."
PSG prowled the Palace of Illusions with zero danger. Their individual powerhouses never lost comms gear, so no doppelganger mix-ups.
'This map's easy if your team avoids doppelganger swaps. Lucky for us—their team's at a disadvantage.'
"Those guys probably ran into our doppelgangers. Few dead already, right?"
Laughter erupted from the clustered PSG members.
"Kekeke. Might be a boring match."
"Even if a couple die, doppelgangers aren't endless. And that guy... won't go down to one."
"Oh, PER's captain, the one Lee Geun-taek picked?"
The real deal, sure. But unforgivable too. That cocky pre-interview jab, calling them leagues below.
"Yeah, him. I know. I'll handle him."
"Sure, whatever~ No one cares anyway~."
Casual as hell. 2nd Division vets made the league comfy. Pathetic dropouts from 1st, though.
Even respecting their skill, that attitude wouldn't fly.
Anyway, main event incoming.
"Feels like they're close."
"Shall we?"
Just a pit stop match. End it quick, back to practice.
"Just around that corner... opponents should be grouped... they're all moving together too... get ready......"
Lee Yeon-ju whispered into her earpiece. Tension like a storm about to break.
Earlier, Kim Do-jun's mana gear had weirded everyone out briefly. But seeing it activate, most teammates were floored.
Wondered what now? But Lee Chang-hyun and Kim Do-jun seemed in sync on something.
"Like we planned: Gil-han, me, and Yoon Han-gyeol up front as the trio. Han-gyeol, three swords only—bombard with the other four for support. Yeon-ju and Ji-su backline support."
Lee Chang-hyun restated the basic formation shared back in the room. No issues.
Seconds later.
Whoosh. Whoosh whoosh—
A PSG player accelerated from afar, dual daggers in hand. Classic speed-assassin dealer.
Lee Chang-hyun sniped it back fast with his long rifle—no damage.
"Fast..."
A PER teammate murmured in awe at the speed.
"Oh... blocked it?"
Bounced, now other PSGs revved up. Han Ji-hu blinked behind Lee Chang-hyun; Oh Si-hwan closed in, hurling mana needles at sword range.
PER didn't sit idle. Frontline had Yoon Han-gyeol, PvP beast.
"Tch... tricky."
Yoon Han-gyeol's Seven Flying Swords swarmed Han Ji-hu and Oh Si-hwan simultaneously.
'Bringing Yoon Han-gyeol was smart.'
Even I appreciated it now.
But no dumping it all on him. Sniper rifle swapped to dual pistols in a flash. Fired suppressive shots at foes batting away the flying swords.
And shouted.
"Take out that Oh Si-hwan first."
Snap order to Yi Gil-han. Han Ji-hu was known, but his teleport made him poor for initial focus. The tag-along was prime.
"Got it—"
PER's current vanguard. With me and Yoon Han-gyeol multi-tagging, we excelled at burst chains.
If Yi Gil-han charged amid that...
'No dodging solo.'
Opponents weren't alone. An incoming Air Beat cover-boosted Oh Si-hwan off-course, dodging the charge.
"What the—throw properly!"
"Don't do dumb shit then."
Bickering PSG: Oh Si-hwan and his backline supporter. Solid combo, shame.
'Eh, good enough. Just laying bait anyway.'
Main course now.
"Han-gyeol."
A gesture, Yoon Han-gyeol nodded. Remaining four mana-bomber swords surged at Oh Si-hwan.
"Wha... wh-what?"
"Pathetic."
Oh Si-hwan's panic, Han Ji-hu's sigh—cut short.
Boom boom boom BOOM!
Four Mana Bombers at once wrecked room, hall, stairs. Massive noise, mushroom cloud obscuring close range.
Someone grinned amid the smoke.
"Operation starts now."
And one player dove into the clouded battlefield.