Prey and Hunter
"So…… what's the plan?"
Kim Jin-seung leaned in close, pressing right up against me. Han Ji-su tagged along, her curiosity clearly piqued as well.
"You think I'd pick you two without a plan? First off, you have to listen to me and do exactly what I say. Just try ignoring me."
I leaned in and whispered the strategy so the other teams couldn't hear.
Once she'd heard it all, Han Ji-su just rolled her eyes suspiciously but stayed silent. Kim Jin-seung, on the other hand……
"You're insane, right?"
Sheesh, and here I am from the future, but they sure don't trust my strategies.
"Alright, we're starting the 3-vs-3-vs-4 mini Hunters League game! The map is an aerial urban battlefield—touch the ground and you're out, knocked out of combat and you're out. One of the dropouts from this mission will be eliminated from the program, so good luck."
With Jo Ah-ra's words as the cue, players began teleporting to random spots one by one.
"Remember what I said! One slip-up and we're just handing them points, so don't screw up."
Ugh…… did I pick the wrong tactic?
But no, there wasn't a surer way to win. With that final warning, I was whisked away to my random spawn point.
Man, it's been forever since I've done this……
In standard 7v7 Hunters League matches, teams usually spawned in groups, but the mini Hunters League survival-style game dropped everyone into random spots, which led to all sorts of chaos.
The most dangerous moment was right after respawn. If a teammate was nearby, great—you could link up quick. But you could just as easily run into an enemy, so caution was key.
I held my breath, scanning my spawn with Piercing Eye.
Off-center from the central area, around the 7 o'clock position on a high-rise…… and it looks like I'm alone in this building……
No other life signs. I could finally breathe easy. No need to stay silent anymore.
"Where are you guys?"
I asked through the team earpiece.
"5 o'clock on the map."
"Between central and the 3 o'clock edge."
"Stick to the plan. No linking up yet—head to central. Stay hidden. If you spot enemies, evade, don't engage."
"Got it."
Silence fell again. Thanks to Piercing Eye, I'd confirmed the corridors and rooftop access were clear. The earpiece was quiet too—no fights yet.
The first step of this strategy relied on me drawing attention in this standoffish quiet. Not a bad start.
I activated Magic Engineering Weapon Conversion to switch my weapon to a gun and headed to the outer rooftop. Empty, as expected.
The map was huge, and with only 10 players in a 3-3-4 split, random encounters were unlikely.
That's why I have to lure them out myself.
With that thought, I crossed the rickety rope bridge between high-rises meant for traversal.
That's when it happened.
Pew!
An arrow whistled from the right side of my vision. Looked like a ranged dealer had already set up shop.
"What was that, Lee Chang-hyun? Ambush?"
"Nah, ignore it."
I brushed off the flustered voices in my earpiece and bolted across the bridge.
Even if it's an enemy, they haven't linked with their team yet. No big deal.
Ranged attacks were dodgeable without close-range pressure or support. And at this distance, they weren't landing easy shots—probably a newbie who couldn't judge range.
Whew…… not a great omen, though.
I kept pushing toward central. My goal: a strategy that skipped linking up.
It would shine when enemies were still disorganized, strategies unformed.
Checking the holographic map on my hand, three dots were converging on central smoothly. We'd evaded fights on the way to our rendezvous.
But one dot halted short of full central. Only I reached the central high-rise proper.
We'd gathered…… but not linked. Betting on the element of surprise.
"Sniper spot reached."
"I'm pretty well hidden too."
"Can you see outside? My position?"
"Can't from yours, but I see you fine."
"Same."
"Then let's begin."
Time to start the hunt.
In this mini Hunters League program, which started with scattered survival-style spawns, strategies boiled down to two main paths: prioritize linking for team synergy bonuses, or rely on individual skill for pickoffs or flexible splits.
Usually, linking was the default. Though team comps and game flow could demand otherwise.
Lee Chang-hyun had chosen a third option: stealth linking.
"Let's begin."
With those words, he switched his earpiece to listen-only. It was about to get loud.
He unloaded Ether-loaded shots into the sky.
Bang! Rat-tat-tat! Bang!!
Fired from the tallest central building, the gunfire echoed across the map.
It didn't stop at a shot or two—like an invitation to come running. Continuous, erratic bursts, mimicking real combat.
As the Ether mag emptied…… the bite came.
Drawn by the noise, his first real enemy encounter.
"……What're you doing all alone, sunbae?"
Jin Han, was it? The loudmouth from last time.
He'd planned to crash a fight, but found me solo-blasting and looked thrown.
Shaking it off, he raised his blade aggressively.
"No other teammates? Haha…… lucky me or what? Anyway, sunbae, let's have a good fight. You're my first opponent. Wait, should I even be telling you this……"
"I heard everything 'cause you didn't mute your earpiece, idiot. No need to explain. Stall him there. Take him if you can, but don't push—I'm coming. Don't overdo it!"
Yoon Han-gyeol's voice cut through Jin Han's channel.
If this drags, it'll be 2v1…… or worse if more reinforce.
Jin Han grinned slyly.
"Why'd you come alone, leaving your team behind? I heard you topped mobility trials as a close-range pick, but 1v1? I'm confident…… You wouldn't know, but I even studied anti-mana gun counters in group sessions……"
Blah blah blah. All talk, no fight. Perfect for stalling, but since this was acting…… no point overthinking.
"Why do you think I left my team?"
"'Cause if they were here, they'd gang up and wipe me already…… Anyway, confirmed you're solo. Sorry, sunbae, but stories about your Yoon Han-gyeol beef? After I beat you……"
Monologuing like I cared. Wish I could mute that speaker.
But before the thought finished—
He bared his teeth.
"Hah!"
Clang!
A straight thrust with his shout.
Ugh…… yeah, my stats are way behind in raw power……
One clash gave the read. I'd been slotted wrong as close-range, but my base was ranged…… training incomplete, stats lagging. Up close, I was outmatched.
Ha…… this feeling's kinda fresh.
Pre-regression with Full Bloom, it never happened. But experience didn't vanish.
Plus, we had the plan. Choice was clear.
Stall by pulling back for now.
"Where you goin'!"
My mobility trial prowess shone through. As his blade pushed my gun's guard back, I fired an Air Anchor behind me, swinging away like a pendulum on the mana rope.
"……."
Did I underestimate him? Jin Han laid an Air Beat and leaped high, tailing me mid-air.
"You ain't escapin'! You know how much I practiced chasin' flyers as a close-range rookie? Feel the blood and tears of my training! Fight fair, no dodgin'. Real men don't run like cowards. Like that line from some comic—'Don't live on your knees, die on your feet!' Ain't you ashamed, sunbae? Let's duel to the death with swords!"
Even airborne, his mouth never stopped. But I let it flow in one ear and out the other—no deviating from the plan.
Aerial acrobatics? My domain. Legs drilled for mobility, pre-regression aces in Air Anchor and Air Beat.
I didn't just flee. Planting anchors mid-air like Spiderman, with Jin Han bounding after on Air Beats.
Once, I looped wide on a rope, aiming for his back as he flew at me.
Clang!
No good.
Solid play, but he was top-tier—quick improv block as I shoved my barrel forward.
Hardly room to pressure with the gun.
Sealed after our first clash. Hunter speeds outpace normals; once engaged, close weapons dominate.
Plus, no map hidden piece here—Ether wasn't OP like in survival.
And low mana means this gun can't finish him anyway.
The chase couldn't last.
"Sunbae! Over here!"
Yoon Han-gyeol had snuck onto the building behind my retreat path.
"Full power—take him down."
"……"
But seeing Yoon Han-gyeol charge, Lee Chang-hyun whispered into his mic with a smirk.
"Kim Jin-seung, Han Ji-su. Get ready."
Time for prey to become the hunter.