Lure Tactics
Team PER's strategy room... well, not quite. The meeting was underway in the living room of PER's home—an apartment—with the TV left on in the background.
"...So RIX has mainly been using this all-in-one tank setup that combines offense and defense, which means our first strike needs to disrupt their formation and deal massive damage. That makes the Mana Bomber bombardment the key."
Yoo Hye-ju's Holy Ground seemed pretty solid, but there was a good chance they couldn't just tank the Mana Bombers head-on. Even with explosive regeneration, a body shredded by bombs would have its limits in healing.
"So we're going with the standard Mana Bomber bomber combo?"
"That'd be ideal, but... unless they're idiots, they'll have countermeasures."
The bomber combo was a solid tactic, but it had been exposed a lot, so they had to anticipate some counterplay.
"That's why it's not just about the Mana Bomber strikes—we need to follow up and finish them off properly."
"So I charge in while they're disorganized from the Mana Bombers, before they can regroup?"
Yi Gil-han spoke up after listening to my briefing.
"Basically, yeah. We start with the usual bomber combo. Then, right after the bombardment, switch to the close-range dealer trio we used in the last UQQ match."
If this were early-season PER, switching mid-game between two completely different formations would've been tough. But the team had grown a lot, and we'd gotten familiar with both, so it shouldn't be a problem.
We've already tested both in real matches.
"So Yoon Han-gyeol, Kim Do-jun, and Yi Gil-han—you three shining is ideal."
The team's eyes naturally turned to them. Yoon Han-gyeol nodded solemnly with a determined look. Yi Gil-han, riding high on recent confidence, nodded and lightly thumped his chest with a grin, as if to say trust me. But Kim Do-jun, who usually would've jumped in with the most energy yelling just follow me, didn't react at all—his mind was elsewhere.
The team noticed too, and a brief silence fell as eyes locked on him. He still didn't notice, clearly lost in deep thought.
"Do-jun?"
Yoon Han-gyeol finally poked him. Kim Do-jun jumped, realizing everyone was staring.
"Uh...? Yeah."
What the...? This is a first.
I was a bit thrown. Had I been too focused on Yoon Han-gyeol's growth lately and neglected Kim Do-jun? I'd told Coach Lee Jong-gyu to handle his mental care, so it should be fine.
Thinking about what might be on his mind, it probably wasn't the last match. Even for an attention hog like him...
His first nickname being Eye-Blinding Villain? That flashy sword trick must've hit him with a serious post-nut clarity moment. Not exactly an honorable moniker. He might ditch the glowing sword for this RIX match.
Whatever—he'd use it or not, but I'd ordered sunglasses for everyone, including Yoon Han-gyeol and Yi Gil-han, to counter it anyway.
"The strategy meeting is over. Promotion to the second division is practically guaranteed, but it’s important to maintain our performance and finish the season strong, so make sure to take care of yourselves, everyone."
With that, the team dispersed. He wasn't the type with weak mental game even before my regression, so he'd pull through.
Kim Jun-seo, an office worker living a dull, ordinary life no different from anyone else's. Like always, he was scrolling through sports sites.
Anything good on today...?
There was nothing better than cracking open a beer after work and watching the Hunters League. But there were no broadcasts today, so he opened NutTube... and still found nothing interesting. Since it was Monday, only third-division matches were being played—there were no first- or even second-division games.
Man... kinda disappointing.
Would've been nice to catch something. Fine, chicken instead of pheasant—time for games. But his empty room felt extra spacious today. Just a whim. Some inexplicable loneliness made him hit play. To fill the quiet with game noise.
It was some unknown team called PER? Huh... that’s a decent viewer count for the third division.
And the chat was buzzing with hype. The numbers weren’t huge, but the excitement rivaled that of the first division.
“Eye-Blinding Villain”? A third-division player with a nickname... he must have some dedicated fans on that team.
Whatever it was, sounded like he'd messed with the opponent's vision. But he'd just fill the audio with game chatter and not really watch anyway.
As he booted up his PC, the match had moved past the analysis desk to team breakdowns.
Bomber tactics? Holy Ground?
The top third-division teams all had their own unique skills and strategies. He had never heard of bombers before, but the concept was intriguing. He planned to keep gaming while checking in if anything interesting happened—maybe even watch the whole thing if the voice chat got excited enough. Lower-tier matches have their own charm.
He had no idea he'd get hooked on PER's wild tactics.
Although the Hunters League is divided into the third, second, and first divisions—which can be easy to mix up—the differences between them are significant. The rules and combat remain the same, but the maps vary greatly.
The third division keeps things simple: no complicated gimmicks or powerful monsters, with the focus placed on developing new talent. There are very few map variables. In many ways, it is almost a completely different league from the second division and above—there are no farming phases, neutral mobs, objectives, or relics, just pure mechanics and team fights.
So honestly, the second or first division might have been easier for me.
Could've exploited gimmicks/monsters like in Next Gen auditions...
Anyway, focus now.
"Yeon-ju, enemy positions?"
"Clustering at 6 o'clock overall. They're grouping faster than us—bombardment before they merge won't work."
Expected that. "Team, gather between 6 and 7. Ambush close for immediate entry post-bomb."
RIX didn't ambush or trick—just formed up and clashed. No clashes while we grouped.
All PER on a low building's roof.
"Enemies still static?"
"Yeah. Waiting for us."
Makes sense—Holy Ground thrives in fixed battlefields; no need to move.
"Everyone knows the plan? Close to baseline, proceed as is. Countdown from 5 seconds pre-drop."
"Got it."
Tension high—bomb efficacy set the difficulty.
From our vantage, road below. I signaled; five swords carrying Mana Bombers dove at RIX's shield formation center.
But something felt off. Even with insane regen from Holy Ground, exposing like that? No shootdown or block?
Shields up, but Yoon Han-gyeol's Seven Flying Swords would detonate in gaps. Plus, funneling into buildings reduced bomb count—proven tactic.
Yet RIX seemed ready to tank all five.
No reason to, even if tanky...
That dissonance hit; I scanned all seven RIX skills with Piercing Eye, uncovering why.
"Yoon Han-gyeol! Stop!"
Too late—momentum carried the swords. PER's Mana Bombers slammed RIX in seconds.