Fierce Battle
'What the hell is he thinking?'
Even Kim Do-jun couldn't help but question Lee Chang-hyun's intentions at this point. Sure, he'd racked up two easy kills, but charging into the capture point meant facing down every last enemy on the map.
But there was no time for such thoughts. Right before their eyes, the glowing capture point shimmered into view.
Lee Chang-hyun, who had been creeping forward silently, gestured for Kim Do-jun to halt. He peeked around the corner, nodded once—all clear—then slipped through the door.
The room looked like an ordinary office, save for the radiant light pulsing from the center.
And no sooner had they stepped inside than—
Lee Chang-hyun and Kim Do-jun pair has occupied the capture point.
Occupation timer resets if outsiders enter or the occupiers leave.
Time until capture: 1:00
59...... 58......
A massive popup filled the virtual reality view, the countdown ticking down for all to see.
'Now it begins...'
Lee Chang-hyun and Kim Do-jun pair has occupied the capture point.
The announcement echoed across the entire map as Lee Chang-hyun claimed the point.
'What the hell is he thinking? He could snipe from hiding all day, but occupying the point...?'
From Yoo Hye-ju's perspective, it was an incomprehensible choice. She couldn't fathom selecting such an option when brute force made it suicidal.
Yoon Han-gyeol agreed.
"No way he's hunting for a hidden piece again in this map..."
"Nah... impossible."
Yoo Hye-ju stated it flatly. Unlike the survival game, this stage wasn't recreating a Tower Dungeon or anything like it—just a simple urban district.
But something had to be up. 'That hidden piece wasn't pure luck... He must have some utility ability. He's blending it with strategy.'
From the document screening to the survival game hidden piece to the mini Hunters League—on the surface, he seemed cocky and straightforward, but his core was high-level intelligent play. That explained his consistent results despite unremarkable stats and skills.
The question was what play he'd prepared this time.
"Yoon Han-gyeol. From fighting him, what do you think? Storming the point is basically begging to get caught."
"In the survival game, without that hidden piece, I could've crushed him for sure. That vibe? His burst focus and mobility stand out, though..."
Mobility? Come to think of it, that's what had slipped her up in the last mini league. Without his masterful Air Anchor and Air Beat handling, she wouldn't have fallen for that lure tactic.
But entering the point meant forfeiting mobility. Indoor spaces limited dramatic maneuvers from those tools.
'Abandoning his biggest edge? Doesn't add up... Or maybe he never planned to hold it. Draw eyes, then bail midway.'
That made sense. Let the dropout mission contenders clash, then swoop in for the fisherman's gain.
And sure enough, the echoing countdown drew droves of dropout hopefuls.
'That's it.'
Yoo Hye-ju was convinced.
"Yoon Han-gyeol. Listen up. I figured out his goal."
"......"
"He's not brute-force strong. Mobility's his ace, but the point's indoors where it can't shine. No way he's holding it. He's luring the defenders into clashing so he can fish profits."
"......"
Yoon Han-gyeol's eyes lit up. Solid reasoning. Whatever the trap, profiting off the chaos seemed certain.
Reading the enemy cleared her head.
"So what do we do?"
"He's not capturing anyway. We'll smash his fisherman's setup."
Yoo Hye-ju grinned. Wrecking a chaotic battlefield with her mace? That was her specialty.
'If we pull that off, we win.' Maybe even sweep the spotlight clean.
That was when—
[……9]
[38]
About 22 seconds into the count. Beyond the ticking timer, new info hit the field.
A Team Kim Young-jun: Died in combat
C Team Lee Hyeong-tae: Died in combat
C Team Bae Han-su: Died in combat
'......'
His fisherman's ploy already kicking off? Sudden spike in deaths.
The count marched on regardless.
[……3]
[32]
Fights raging outside, yet they're calmly counting down inside?
'What? The guys who went in already dead?'
For a fisherman's play, no direct clashes, wait for max arrivals...
Something was off. Plan should've had him dodging defenders by now, inside locked in stalemate from endless skirmishes.
"Yoo Hye-ju. This is..."
Yoon Han-gyeol sensed the glitch too.
[……1]
[20]
No time left. Twenty seconds, and game over empty-handed.
Didn't know what went wrong. But no time to ponder—kills piling up, capture clock shrinking.
'What the hell are you doing, Lee Chang-hyun...'
Inside the building.
Lee Chang-hyun had zero plans to run. From the start, it was fight to the death right here.
'Not sure if it'll work out, though...' Kim Do-jun sighed.
[……7]
[46]
Lee Chang-hyun and Kim Do-jun hid under desks in the capture point office.
Plan was simple: Lee snipes entrants. If they dodge, Kim charges, Lee covers from.
Lee, Kim Do-jun second-guessed, but no better option. He followed.
First sound from the door. Cautious knob turn echoing in silence.
It twisted slowly... then burst open.
Empty doorway. They'd opened for ambush check, no rush-in.
...And as predicted, a face peeked—
Bang!
Lee's barrel pierced the skull.
A Team Kim Young-jun: Died in combat
Remaining foes panicked—no more peeks.
Snipe advantage: one-shot. They'd opened expecting no gun.
'Last time they don't know my weapon.'
Now everyone—viewers, contestants—knew. Assume awareness.
And as expected, survivors skipped the easy door snipe.
Instead: slash!
Crackling cleave split the office wall.
Shielded advance through the breach.
Piercing Eye had their positions locked; Lee fired at the split—in vain. Conserving mana for finale, minimal infusion couldn't punch walls.
'No matter. That's why Kim Do-jun's here.'
Kim ambushed the wall-users.
Lightning-fast blade. Not assassination-optimized, no one-shot kill.
'No issue. Just pin 'em.'
Even against two: one turned on Kim's blindside.
But while Kim charged, Lee repositioned.
'Angle's open.'
Bang—bang-bang!
C Team Lee Hyeong-tae: Died in combat
C Team Bae Han-su: Died in combat
No chance for their skills. Not powerhouses anyway.
'How many left?'
[……3]
[32]
Halfway. Survive this, dropout mission victory sealed.
But Lee wanted more than "win." Overwhelming triumph.
'Goal: total wipe.' Or max kills, plus capture.
That was the target, plan tailored accordingly.
'Come on.'
More behind walls. Not the prime threats—Yoon and Yoo.
Super rookies aside, all small fry to Lee. Why conserve mana.
Sustained skirmishes whittled time.
[……1]
[20]
Now, mere endurance nearly guaranteed capture.
They'd come.
And soon: Yoon Han-gyeol and Yoo Hye-ju. Not alone—Jin Han and another pair too.
Time critical; full block on capture attempt.
No more infighting. Lee and Kim: sole enemies.
United force: massive.
'Not your game this time.'
No room for strategy now.
But Yoo Hye-ju reeled in shock.
Blood-soaked office proved countless prior arrivals eliminated.
'Not a brute-force guy. How...? Insane. No clue the strat, but holding against endless waves... Not the point now.'
Favorable for them? Over. Key players united for pincer.
That was when—
Cornered Lee smirked. All according to plan.
Yoo scoffed. 'No escape.'
"Yoon Han-gyeol!"
They charged first.
But Lee's barrel... not aimed at them.
Just... a corner pillar.
Before they closed—
Lee unleashed stockpiled mana into the pillars. Full-dump Ether round like a missile.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!!
"......"
The capture building... collapsed.