The World Beyond Regression
"Whoa…… Part 2's stadium facilities feel pretty different from Part 3, huh."
A chuckle escaped me at those words. The team members I'd brought were from the audition program, and the rest of the PER crew had been the bottom feeders in Part 3, so this was probably their first time in a Part 2 stadium.
"Then you'll probably faint when you see Part 1 or the international league stadium later."
Part 1 was already a big step up from Part 2, but the international league stadiums were on another level—not even qualifying as stadiums anymore.
On the other hand, a few were taking it in stride.
"Well, I've watched a few matches live before……."
"Oh…… so you've been to international league games too?"
One teammate's eyes sparkled as he asked Kim Do-jun.
"Nah, ticketing's a nightmare for those……."
"Tch……."
His face fell at the mention of ticketing woes, shaking his head vigorously.
Well, yeah. The Hunters League international matches had a whole different prestige.
"Anyway, don't get tense just 'cause it's a new stadium. No one's here to watch you guys anyway."
"That's not true? I'm super famous online?"
Infamous in all the wrong ways, but Kim Do-jun's mental fortitude was impressive, bragging about it anyway.
"You're up next, Eye-Blinding Villain. Enough chit-chat. Match is starting soon. Focus."
Two matches were scheduled today. First up: Part 3's RIX versus QQ, the Part 2 team that finished 9th. PER vs. SMB would follow.
That meant we'd watch the first match from the player lounge before our turn.
Soon, all the arena lights dimmed, spotlights piercing the darkness.
Unlike usual matches, the atmosphere was stark and heavy. The commentators and caster knew the weight this game carried.
Spot on. Upper leagues basked in the limelight, casting long shadows over the lower ones.
That's why they fight even harder to climb up.
Team RIX appeared on one side of the stage, faces etched with grim tension rather than fiery drive. QQ from Part 2, meanwhile, looked far more relaxed.
The match kicked off—and surprisingly, RIX went aggressive from the start.
They'd pushed hard late-game against us too, so I'd figured they'd save their strength for the end…….
Something's off. A sense of desperation hung in the air. Instead of grouping for power, they fought in pairs at most, emphasizing small skirmishes.
But…….
Too straightforward.
Part 2's QQ brushed it off effortlessly. They'd prepped for early clashes too but adapted when RIX doubled down there.
Dodging initial fights lightly, then countering RIX's all-in on the fly.
No. That's a different situation…… Against us, their gear and mana equipment were tuned for team fights, but……
Exactly. RIX's gear was all short-burst stuff: air dashes, Mana Bombers for instant firepower. No shields for formations like before…….
In a drawn-out fight, they'd struggle against QQ's balanced mobility gear like Air Anchors and Air Beats.
And the result showed fast. As QQ's players grouped in threes or fours, evading fights, they started picking off RIX steadily while holding formation.
It's over.
Promotion-relegation match. The league's true finale after playoffs and finals.
No flashy teasers, no player interviews, no media day.
Yet it was the rawest, most desperate battlefield—life or death.
Part 3 players clawed for a better future, a shot at fame. Upper leagues meant everything.
For Part 2, it was their last stand. Drop further, and their careers could crater.
That's why the defeated RIX looked so broken.
"Whoa…… but that was way more one-sided than I thought."
"Yeah. RIX seemed pretty well-prepped too."
"We…… gonna be okay?"
RIX's vibe was infecting us, unbidden. Facing the real Part 2 gap for the first time, negativity spread.
RIX had performed well before, even trading blows with us—and their hollow loss hit hard.
"What? Why the long faces? You've all leveled up big-time these two weeks."
"Still……."
"Nope, not working. Pull up our Hunter Survival debut footage?"
"Aaaah!! Why'd you even record that?!"
I'd taped it to review mistakes—watching now would shock them straight.
"Match hasn't even started and you're already psyching yourselves out? Come on."
Of course, it wouldn't be easy. No Part 3 team had climbed to Part 2 in nearly five years. League history put success under 10%.
But.
"Just remember what I told you. Play like in practice."
Those who don't believe in themselves never advance.
Pre-regression, my team lost here. Only I got scouted up…….
This time's different. I'm different.
"Anyway, let's have fun with it."
The path since regressing wouldn't be wasted.
After our match with RIX, the team was gutted. A toxic atmosphere gripped us, 180 degrees from our Part 3 runner-up high.
Some couldn't take it and headed home. But Yoo Hye-ju stayed, guarding the lounge.
To watch PER vs. SMB.
Can that guy win?
Bad blood from auditions to Part 3 league. Annoying, but his skill was real.
Or maybe she hoped PER crushed SMB—for payback after their practice match antics. Or to see how he'd handle her struggling teammates.
Soon, a lounge screen broadcast the match.
The commentator finished, revealing huge planets against black void, countless spaceship structures drifting.
First time seeing this map…….
Not a famous one. Meaning…… SMB's Part 2 experience with varied maps gave them the edge over PER.
But whatever…… Part 3 teams have to eat that disadvantage.
Gravity…… Misstep outside ships could mean falling to death. Not a huge variable, though.
Unless SMB prepped tactics around it.
Hmm…… Lee Chang-hyun's PER might make it work depending on play.
Yoo Hye-ju finally grasped the map's terror from the commentary. Not falls, but isolation: hard to cross ships, fall risks—starting scattered.
But then…… it'd be one-on-ones……
Skirmishes hinged on mana gear and superpowers. She checked quick.
No need. PER was last in Part 3 last season—no bench for swaps.
No luck.
Nothing else to call it. They'd fold without resistance.
Yoo Hye-ju swallowed a bitter smile. Thought he might pull an upset after five years—but the world was cruel.
Prep all you want, but you need luck to win……
She lacked the will to watch it through. Didn't want to see Lee Chang-hyun, who'd beaten her smugly, crushed in Part 2.
Leaving the last slumped RIX member, she slipped out of the lounge.