Unexpected Situation
The off-season for the Hunters League was always a chaotic whirlwind. Negotiating re-contracts with existing teammates, releasing others, scouting and onboarding new talent—it was the epitome of upheaval, known as the stove league.
One might think that during the off-season, even practice matches would be off the table, but reality was far different.
'Teams always want to test each other's mettle.'
That was a hallmark of the Hunters League. Even players who'd shone brightly in other teams couldn't guarantee the same performance here. Synergies between superpowers varied wildly depending on the lineup.
That was the Hunters League.
'Of course, there are a rare few who are welcomed everywhere without question...'
But those were just that—rare exceptions. Excluding the hot commodities everyone chased, every other player needed time to see if they'd mesh.
That was why practice matches like the one between TAK and PER could happen.
"Must've been hectic with all the roster shake-ups this time, Coach Kim."
"Yes, Director. As you know, we're still fine-tuning a lot of them. Without quick tests, it's hard to judge accurately."
TAK was undergoing a massive rebuild, with over half the roster turning over. Even after filtering applicants, the test pool was sizable.
'We need as many practice matches as possible.'
To check fits, they'd rotate lineups through scrims.
"So, who's the opponent for this practice match?"
"PER, the team that just got promoted from Division 2."
"Ah... that team."
They'd left quite an impression. PER was probably just as busy, scouting new blood for Division 2 life. They'd likely scrim them often now.
"Team comp set for the match?"
"Yes. We've exchanged full intel already. I've prepped strategies to test synergies."
"Right, who was the new test player you mentioned syncing this time?"
With so many auditioning via scrims, Coach Kim rifled through papers before answering.
"For this one: Jin Han and Kim Jin-seung called up from Division 3, plus Division 2's Lee Han-ul and Na Dae-yeop."
'Four of them... and how's a name like Na Dae-yeop even real...'
Whatever. Numbers aside, Coach Kim's competence reassured him.
"Run the scrim, send results after. You know I'm heading out during this period, right? Hold it down."
With that, he left the director's office.
Meanwhile, at the PER Team Home, the second-floor practice room buzzed with the team gathered.
"Whoa... so he's joining our scrim temporarily?"
"That's the plan."
Though temporary, the teammates swarmed the newly arrived Ryu Jae-jun. My endorsement as a top talent helped—looks weren't hostile.
Not fully welcoming yet, though. No shared games, no real read on him. Skepticism lingered.
Lee Yeon-ju seemed especially downcast.
'Because of Jeong Hye-yeon...'
Pros learned separations and new faces were routine. But with her limited experience, she was sensitive.
Still, no halting this.
'Ryu Jae-jun has to prove his worth himself.'
His superpower alone was overwhelmingly S+ rank—they'd have to acknowledge it. And I didn't bring him just for that.
"Hey, didn't we face a Division 3 team like this before?"
"What's his power?"
The team chatted as they clustered.
"Simple: generates waves. Think of it that way."
I gave bare-minimum info, but I knew his skill's true value.
From before regression. Memories flooded back of us two racking up seven kills in an international match.
I wasn't that me anymore, nor he that Ryu Jae-jun. But his power's balance, technique, experience—all elite.
"Looks like we've chatted enough... Time to head to the Hunter Union Training Facility?"
"Huh? No quick sync here first?"
"We'd be late."
He had pro experience unlike our greener roster, so it'd click fast anyway.
'Plus, I know him inside out.'
No need for tests.
"Grab your gear. Let's go."
The off-season Hunter Union Training Facility felt like a festival. Players on break, short-term tryouts, or just there to scrap freely.
In short, prime time for competitive hunters to brawl unbound.
'No mandatory 7v7 league drudgery... Great chance to mix it up.'
Most hunters showed up to grind or have fun.
That vibe faded fast entering the 7v7 Hunters League practice arena. Here, it was pure evaluation and scouting.
"This way."
Leading PER into a packed waiting room surprised me.
'TAK's a big club, huh...'
Mostly Division 2 hopefuls testing fits.
Fun twist: familiar faces mixed in.
"Well, if it isn't—"
Kim Jin-seung approached with a smirk, fist out. I bumped it back.
"What? Still kicking?"
"Wanna die?"
His edge unchanged... but why no Division 2 promo? Needed Division 3 record minimum.
"Guessing from your face—you're wondering. Bad director; I was bench."
"Figures."
Sharp as ever. As Kim Do-jun, Yoon Han-gyeol, Kim Jin-seung, and I—audition alums—chatted, another loud one popped up.
"No way!!! Senior Lee Chang-hyun! Knew you'd blow up since the audition! Fate to meet again—got spots open at PER?"
'Noisy guy's back...'
Jin Han, the one I'd once humored. Train-horn voice, nonstop rambling—consistent as ever.
"Yeah... good to see you. Trying out for TAK?"
"Yup. Heard you're our scrim foes."
Wait, our sync was against our team?
"Let's see how the hotshots hold up."
"You'll choke on the heat."
Idle banter cut short—time to scrim.
No team-building or org drills, so map random. But for synergy focus, custom respawn: teammates close-ish start.
"Yeon-ju, mark rally point factoring team gathers."
Minimized solo fights for chemistry tests. Not eliminated, though.
'Of course, I respawn split from main and Ryu Jae-jun.'
Others clustered better; we were distant.
"Once five link up, widen from theirs. Moving fast, but takes time."
"Got it."
Bad vibes hit.
'They clump first and smash our main?'
Heavy losses would sour Ryu Jae-jun's view of us. Maybe they'd dodge well...?
Nope—comms crackled urgently.
"Enemy's linked already... but..."
"But?"
"They're closing insanely fast?"
Even with PER's middling Air Anchor and Air Beat skills, this gap screamed...
'Speed-type awakener in their test lineup?'
Team mobility boost, maybe. If PER's five hit TAK's seven first?
No orders from me out of position—massacre incoming?
Ryu Jae-jun chimed in calmly.
"They'll hold that brief window. Hang tight—I'm not far."
True enough. 5v7 survivable kiting; 2v7 not. But PER missed ace/order me, outclassed.
Then disaster doubled.
"Can't retreat more."
"...? Why."
"Some... power?"
Visible range—Piercing Eye revealed it.
Mutual Non-Aggression Area: A
TAK's test synergy clicked: speed boost plus absolute zone lockout.
'Rush clump, block smaller group, force numbers advantage for teamfight.'
Solid combo—even I admired it.
But big-scale like Mutual Non-Aggression Area: A couldn't last sans Ethan-level mana.
Else he'd rake overseas ace pay.
"We're here, but can't enter. Hold—the scale means short duration."
As said, it dropped.
But...
"Ha. Couldn't hold that instant—full wipe."
Ryu Jae-jun, now linked, just tsked.