Synergy of Two
Lee Chang-hyun and Ryu Jae-jun charged in, and in an instant, they'd taken out TAK's fallen teammates. And that was in a 7-vs-2 situation, no less. Ryu Jae-jun created an opening with his [Wave], and Lee Chang-hyun fired his dual pistols with pinpoint accuracy right through that gap. Their combo play.
Yeah, this is it.
Silence fell over the battlefield in that moment. After all, by any normal logic, two people taking on seven? That was impossible. Even if those seven were on their last legs, two players shouldn't have been able to do much against them...
But the silence didn't last. TAK snapped back to reality, realizing the match wasn't over yet—and their biggest threats were still standing. Tension surged through them again.
"Those guys... aren't pushovers, huh?"
"They're the ones we talked about during that party last time. Get your heads straight. One slip and we're done."
This was basically their audition to join TAK. Losing a 7-vs-2 brawl would be a disaster.
"It's still just two of them anyway. Let's take it slow and steady."
Regaining their composure, TAK's players unleashed their abilities once more.
Maybe it's because we're in the second division now... They're not crumbling easily.
Lee Chang-hyun could feel it—they were using their heads cleverly. They were herding him and Ryu Jae-jun so their paths overlapped as much as possible, making it hard for Ryu Jae-jun to use his area-of-effect [Wave].
"Tch...!"
Ryu Jae-jun bit his lip, realizing it too. But what could he do? Starting with fewer numbers was an inherent disadvantage.
Then, something interesting happened.
"Focus."
Lee Chang-hyun murmured softly into his earpiece and activated his Air Anchor and Air Beat at the same time. The powerful thrust from the Air Beat combined with erratic trajectory shifts from the Air Anchor created a dazzling display of mobility.
Ryu Jae-jun wondered why he was wasting mana on such flashy moves—until he figured it out moments later. And he understood the meaning behind "focus."
Even as they pressed their paths to the limit, Lee Chang-hyun's unpredictable, high-mobility maneuvers kept slipping just outside the [Wave]'s range at key moments. It was like he was carving out space and time for Ryu Jae-jun to unleash it.
As this repeated, Ryu Jae-jun couldn't miss it. Lee Chang-hyun was creating opportunities for him, over and over.
And at the perfect timing, as Lee Chang-hyun slipped out of the [Wave]'s range—
Kiiiiing——
Ryu Jae-jun's [Wave] erupted once more.
Of course, TAK wasn't going down easy this time.
"You think we'd fall for it twice?!"
"Damn...!"
A Mana Bomber flew toward Ryu Jae-jun, who'd let his guard down for a split second while focusing on Lee Chang-hyun's position to set up the [Wave]. Ryu Jae-jun grimaced, sensing it might be his last stand.
"Told you to focus."
The enemy's attack. His own position. Ryu Jae-jun's habits and limits. Had Lee Chang-hyun read it all?
An Air Beat—thrown who-knows-when—had already appeared under Ryu Jae-jun's feet.
BOOM!
The Mana Bomber exploded right after. But Ryu Jae-jun wasn't caught in the blast. He rocketed upward on the Air Beat, emerging above the dust cloud from the explosion.
Ryu Jae-jun smirked.
"Not bad instincts."
"What're you on about."
Light banter flew between them as they left the explosion behind.
***
After the match ended, the waiting room was heavy with exhaustion and defeat.
"Man... that was brutal. Thought we'd wrapped it up after taking out five PER guys early with that initial tactic."
"I told you to stay focused till the end."
"If not for that last bit, the club scouts might've rated us higher... Think we're out?"
TAK's practice match against PER had ended in PER's loss. But TAK's victory felt hollow, like a pyrrhic win.
They'd rushed with seven and taken out five of PER. But PER's two had matched them, taking out five in direct combat. In a proper rematch, the winner was obvious.
"Taking out five in a 2-vs-7... Freaking monsters."
"I told you! Lee Chang-hyun sunbae is on another level. Even from this match alone, he's beyond second division. Maybe I should try out for PER instead of TAK..."
"Shut it."
"Yes, sir..."
Kim Jin-seung and Jin Han wore dissatisfied frowns, clearly unhappy with the result. They'd been sure they'd make the team after crushing PER early, but now? Who knew.
And this match...
If Lee Chang-hyun had just a bit more mana, PER would've won. They'd dominated without taking a single hit until his mana ran dry.
The coach watching from the sidelines must've noticed. So their chances of making TAK were up in the air—not because PER was good, but maybe because they had underperformed.
All they could do was pray.
***
Meanwhile, Coach Kim—the man overseeing TAK's tests and selections—harbored no such doubts.
Impressive...
He was simply thrilled to have spotted the players he'd been dreaming of. His friend's words from SMB rang hollow now. PER favored balanced team fights despite their ace? Bullshit.
They just didn't show it against SMB.
Of course, their absurd performance wasn't just the ace. That new guy next to Lee Chang-hyun—Ryu Jae-jun, was it? Their synergy was insane, not just chemistry.
Like a bunker-buster missile, they tore into the enemy lines and wreaked havoc.
I knew Lee Chang-hyun's personal skills and that guy's [Wave] ability...
Neither was flawless. Lee Chang-hyun lacked raw destructive power as a ranged dealer—no one-shot kills. Aside from Mana Bombers fired from his guns, he couldn't pierce mana shields head-on.
But Ryu Jae-jun's [Wave] covered that perfectly.
First, Ryu Jae-jun breaks in and disables with [Wave]. Then Lee Chang-hyun follows up, sniping the pinpoint weak spots the shield can't cover.
No more power issues. And it wasn't ordinary gunfire anyway.
But it went further. Just as [Wave] fixed Lee Chang-hyun's flaws, he erased Ryu Jae-jun's.
Area skills like [Wave] are tricky with allies nearby...
Somehow, Lee Chang-hyun knew exactly when to slip just outside the range at the perfect moments. He created optimal space like they'd trained together for years. And at the end, that clutch Air Beat save when his teammate was in danger.
Coach Kim's hand trembled slightly. As an analyst with dreams of building his own stylish team, he could see it: those two would stir up a storm in the second division.
***
PER's post-match vibe was grim. They'd fought hard, but five early exits meant they'd been one or two survivors short of victory. And it was a chance to recruit a solid player.
Maybe the suffocating tension prompted it, but Lee Chang-hyun spoke first.
"Lunchtime now. Since we're here, grab a bite and hit training after? Eat up, see you later."
"Yeah... sure..."
The team scattered for food half-heartedly. Soon, only Ryu Jae-jun and Lee Chang-hyun remained.
"So, how was it?"
"How was what? No one else fit besides you."
"Tch... really?"
Well... honestly, I was shocked.
Not by PER's team—but by Lee Chang-hyun. Far better than expected. His blood was still pumping from the match, hands faintly shaking.
The rare thrill of charging into a 7-vs-2 disadvantage. Not just surviving, but dominating. Adrenaline peaking in crisis. Like fighting on a knife-edge cliff—one misstep and you're gone.
But he'd toss me an Air Beat.
A light laugh escaped him.
"What're you grinning about alone? Our wipe that funny?"
"Hilarious enough for a hollow chuckle."
"That too...?"
Lee Chang-hyun shot him an aggrieved look. Plenty he wanted to say. Even if the others sucked, I carried that hard?
He was special, no doubt.
We synced like we'd been together forever.
Smart enough to open space for wide-area skills. Clutch covers on blind-spot attacks. And their abilities meshed perfectly.
Never thought they'd fit so well.
On paper, they didn't. Precise sniper or evasive ranged fighter. Vs. area burst for damage and disruption. No obvious synergy.
But...
His timing reads, range awareness—even spotting my oversights. He'd analyzed me perfectly.
In the match, unexpected chemistry exploded. My entry and area damage lacked finishers? He provided perfect shots to seal it.
Like they'd always been one unit. Paths, breathing, skill synergy—all seamless.
So he couldn't help but waver.
"Hey, you can't judge a team off one match. Don't be so harsh. Opportunities usually get three chances, right?"
Maybe because their chemistry clicked, Lee Chang-hyun was grumbling too.
"Three strikes, huh..."
Honestly, the other PER members? Meh. Lee Chang-hyun would carry most of it anyway.
But...
With him... it'd be fun.