The Eve of the Promotion-Relegation Match

Time flew by like an arrow on the eve of the promotion-relegation match. With all the buzz inside and outside the team once they headed into it, there was simply too much for him to handle as the coach of the 2nd Division SMB. They weren't some big team with a separate front office to take care of things. That's why he'd mostly left strategy and training to the coach for this match. And thankfully, the coach was handling everything well enough. His expression didn't look bad today, either.

"Did you get the practice matches ready with the kids?"

"Heh... You'll see."

The coach wasn't usually one to show much confidence, but maybe it was the promotion-relegation prep. He seemed pretty self-assured this time.

"Well... With all that experience under your belt, I figured Coach Han did a solid job prepping... Who'd you line up as ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠practice opponents?"

"Oh, I didn't get a chance to tell you since you looked so busy. We set it up with a 3rd Division team challenging for promotion."

A 3rd Division team gunning for promotion? It wouldn't be the one they'd face directly, so...

'Ah... RIX from 3rd Division, right?'

He wasn't sure from the data alone, but they were the team that finished 2nd in the 3rd Division league. The interesting part wasn't their ranking—it was their record against PER.

'So... PER and RIX are pretty even. Just avoid that one tactic from last time, and they might even fall further behind.'

Considering the opponent's level, they made for the perfect practice foes.

'Roster might change after the season anyway. Better than practicing against another 2nd Division team and getting crushed, which could tank morale.'

"Practice against a 3rd Division team shouldn't be too tough. Regular season was a mess in layman's terms, but let's wrap it up clean."

"Yes, Coach."

For some reason, he felt like they'd wrap up the season smoothly without much worry.

Inside the rattling bus marked Team RIX, the players' chatter filled the air.

"How long's it been since we played a 2nd Division team? First time since last year's summer promotion-relegation, right? Like seven months?"

"Feels that way. But isn't this your third shot at promotion against 2nd Division? How long you gonna stick around here?"

RIX's no-name ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠player let out a self-deprecating laugh. It was rare for a 3rd Division team to promote directly. Most ways up were getting scouted by a top 2nd Division squad. For him, being stuck in 3rd Division despite being on a top team for so long was fatal. Scouts from higher leagues usually grabbed promising rookies who rose fast, not vets who'd been grinding.

Like his teammate Yoo Hye-ju, for example. Sure enough, the players drawing eyes from 2nd Division teams this time were obvious: a few from the league-leading PER, plus standout prospects like Yoo Hye-ju and Ryu Jae-jun. No one else was making waves or likely to get offers.

That's why it burned so much. He couldn't rot away in 3rd Division with no one knowing his name.

But hiding that desperation, he kept it light. "We just gotta win promotion, right? Yeah? Tell me about it, Yoo Hye-ju."

"Ah... Yeah, sunbae."

Her lukewarm response drew a bitter smile. Yeah, someone like Yoo Hye-ju, rocketing up so fast, wouldn't get it.

"Still, let's show 'em what we got first. SMB from 2nd Division, right?"

"Yeah. 2nd Division or not, they're dead last there."

The guy next to him laughed. Right—dead last. They could do this. He steeled himself, got off the bus, and headed to the stadium.

On the way, their practice opponents for promotion-relegation—2nd Division SMB—arrived at the same time. He'd meant to say "good match," but they didn't even glance over, chattering among themselves as they passed.

'Yeah... Whatever.'

His fist clenched tight. They weren't 2nd Division for nothing, but he'd grinded hard during practice. Time to crush their egos.

"Guys, let's win the practice match and carry that into promotion!"

"Duh."

"Sure thing, sunbae."

......Yeah... That's how it felt right before kickoff.

"Wha... Huh?"

Right after the practice match started. Respawning, staying alert for enemies, coordinating with the team—

Slash—

No warning, just charging forward... and suddenly the world flipped upside down.

What? Map gimmick? Gravity flip? Vision scramble?

......No... The world's spinning. Rolling? Wait, why's my body over there?

"Heh... They said our promotion opponents were around this level. Too easy."

Those were the last words he heard in the Hunters League. Only then did he realize his head had been sliced clean off in an instant.

'...What the hell.'

It felt empty. All those hours prepping for promotion after the season, gone without showing a thing. Like all his effort meant nothing.

The player lounge showed he wasn't the only one dead.

"Huh...? You too?"

"......"

Out of RIX's seven players, several were already in the lounge with him. Overwhelmed before the game even started properly.

On the stadium TV, Yoo Hye-ju was somehow still alive, putting up a fight—but not for long.

"Those bastards...!"

Soon it was clear: she wasn't fighting hard; SMB's players were just toying around from such an advantage. On screen, instead of focusing on her, they laughed and chatted among themselves.

'Already won, so the match doesn't even matter...'

Maybe that's why. The team's vibe, bright on arrival, turned darker than ever. No one dared speak.

'Is the gap... really this big?'

Just sighs.

Back when he only watched Hunters League, he'd critiqued 1st Division plays: "Should do this, not that. I'd do better." But now...

Was this the real 2nd vs 3rd Division gap? Despair twisted in his gut.

In the heavy silence of the lounge, the match end sounded minutes later. Yoo Hye-ju slumped in with a deep sigh.

"What happened? How'd you all die so fast?"

Not genuine curiosity—more like blame. But no one could answer.

Unlike gloomy RIX lounge, victorious 2nd Division SMB's was buzzing.

"You see the end? Yoo Hye-ju or whatever, cussing us out."

"Pretty enough that even cursing gets a pass."

"What pass? Heh. Bet she heard our chat."

"Me saying if I were a girl, I'd snag a guy, marry rich, and chill—instead of scrambling in 3rd Division?"

Team burst out laughing at the absurdity.

"Duh, she'd be pissed. Your bad."

"Was I wrong? I'd totally do it."

"That's why she cursed us to drop in promotion."

"They said our opponents are similar level. Nothing to worry about, right?"

"Exactly why she snapped."

Maybe the rare tension-free match loosened them up. Good vibe before promotion.

Anyway, match over—time to wrap. Clap clap—

They quieted, eyes on him.

"Mm... Solid overall. Flow went as expected, details sharp. Keep it up for promotion. Dismissed."

"Yes, Coach."

RIX vs SMB practice. Or not much of one—way shorter than average.

'Perfect for warm-up and test dummies.'

2nd Division teams don't use regular tactics on 3rd. Hunters League changes a ton moving up; special tactics crush 3rd Division teams bad at adapting. Lower 2nd Division coaches/directors shared promotion-specific plays quietly. What they just used was one.

'Like a 2nd Division welcome gift.'

He flicked on the lounge TV—RIX vs SMB highlights ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠played.

Match start: SMB moved in perfect sync. But not linking up—instead, hunting presences around them.

Soon, spotting unlinked RIX players, instant engages. Same everywhere on map.

'3rd Division induces teamfights with close spawns, simple small maps—easy to dodge and link. But...'

2nd Division maps: diverse concepts, vast. Fully random spawns. Game changes—hard to avoid skirmishes before big teamfights.

Screen showed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠scattered small clashes. SMB won most. 2nd Division experience meant better 1v1s, personal skill; picked 1v1 specialists, PvP mana gear setups.

A RIX player shown oblivious, head rolling. The killer: not starter usually, but six-man assassin specialist for special tactics. Gear: Air Dash for burst approach, Invisible Cloak for ambush, Mana Shield minimal defense.

Skirmishes end: SMB stacked, RIX wiped. No air anchors/beats for PvP focus, but few foes left—easy win.

'Coach Kim's the real deal. Promotion savvy means killer tricks like this. And that's not all—we've got more prep.'

Like PER's transparency tactic they couldn't dream of.

'No way they'd expect us stealing their own play for our match. Heh.'

Simple thought: won't work on creators. Wrong. Analysis showed counters need specific powers or gear—prep required. And rookies to 2nd couldn't improvise.

'Exploiting the blind spot of "no way they'd use it against us."'

Theory: foolproof. Bit sorry bullying easy 3rd Division, but exciting too. Their shocked, twisted faces when hit by their own tactic...