The Sniper Who Shattered Expectations
In the broadcast feed, the caster and commentator shout excitedly.
"Not much time left until the end of the deathmatch! But Rising's score is still lacking! Are they forcing a fight?! Oh, but Saseong recovers with the Force Pack!"
"They're getting pushed in the power struggle! Saseong grabs two more points! Rising, made up of elite trainees among countless prospects—the pre-tournament favorites for the win—and they're being overwhelmed!"
After Rising suffered a crushing defeat in the first strategy.
"Is the game over?! Aaah, it's done! GG!"
Saseong, having secured the central Force Pack in Mekatera City, smoothly closed out the game and claimed victory.
"Snipers usually shine from high ground and the rear! Mekatera City highlights that perfectly! So Rising tried to block with smoke screens...!"
"It didn't work at all! Lee Siwoo joined the main squad for forward sniper play, showed perfect teamfight power around the Force Pack! Incredible performance from Lee Siwoo!"
At the center of the victory was, naturally, Siwoo.
Rising had clearly used a smoke-supporting supporter to nullify the sniper's urban combat advantages.
They'd attempted a surprise "4-drone" strategy early on, aiming to exploit weaknesses.
But Siwoo's skill was far beyond their expectations. "Vastly" might be the right word.
Siwoo relentlessly pressured Rising with forward sniper advances to the frontline, picking off their supporter and attacker whenever an opening appeared, steadily racking up points.
The result—
"Saseong breaks through the qualifiers and advances straight to the round of 16!"
An underdog victory no one had predicted emerged.
"We lost."
"Gotta admit it."
"That guy's way too good."
The ones acknowledging the win weren't the casters, commentators, or viewers—it was Rising's players.
"We'll see him on the pro stage soon."
"He's beyond 2nd team or trainee level."
"Insane, man."
Especially Lee Sung-pil clicked his tongue. As Rising's attacker who'd clashed directly with Siwoo, he felt it the most.
"Reaction speed, avatar control mechanics, snap judgment, aim searching, trait utilization—all perfect. He's a complete player."
He might not grow much more, but he doesn't need to. Why? He's already flawless, with no weaknesses.
That was the verdict from Rising's players on Siwoo.
"Ha... "
As his teammates swallowed their disappointment, Kim Do-hyun let out a deep sigh.
That sigh carried the wreckage of his plans and shattered pride.
This tournament.
Originally, a strong showing here could've positioned him for a 1st team call-up.
Or, if transferring, it would've left the impression he could start immediately.
It was a chance to prove he stood out from other trainees, to plant belief that he was ready to rise.
'Everything's ruined.'
This qualifier exit wasn't just a loss.
It drilled it into his bones.
True difference in level starts from the beginning.
Kim Do-hyun had always questioned himself.
What if I'm not a genius?
Maybe just a regular player who grew a bit early.
Today, that question answered back.
As a sharp dagger.
The blade pierced his chest, leaving only bitter wounds.
'...Damn it.'
Thud.
Do-hyun quietly slammed the table.
Only then did his teammates start gauging his mood.
Kim Do-hyun had every right to feel wronged.
He'd played flawlessly this match.
He'd overwhelmed the enemy defender, boosted DPS to cover for their lagging attacker. He'd given his all.
Yet they lost.
Because the attacker didn't pull weight, and they couldn't stop one sniper.
One player brought down the whole team.
No wonder his teammates were treading carefully.
"...Whatever, let's just go eat. Staying here's gonna drive me nuts."
But far from snapping at them, Kim Do-hyun stood with a smile.
"...You okay?"
"Sorry, Do-hyun."
"It's fine. I didn't play that great either."
It was unexpected.
He seemed composed, emotions sorted.
Of course, inside, Kim Do-hyun was forcibly pulling himself together.
Mentality is skill too.
No time to crumble over a minor setback.
He quietly repeated to himself.
'Next time we meet, I'll win for sure.'
With that resolve, Kim Do-hyun silently left the venue with his teammates.
At that moment, on the domestic community site Pixy.
Pixy had countless boards, but the most active was undoubtedly the Overlant board.
With it being the world's most popular game and esports culture thriving, even off-season, tons of users hung around.
It always topped the user rankings—no one could deny it.
As a haunt for the idle, the board overflowed with random posts. But topics rarely converged.
Speculation arenas comparing player stats, chasing stove league drama, waiting for insider leaks.
Like a group chat where guys just spout off without listening.
Because the season was over—no matches.
Few discussed in-game stuff anyway, with Overlant esports at all-time highs.
But then.
A post emerged that pulled them all together.
You know Overlant Series Cup? Annual prospect tournament.
Tuned in cuz it started, wanted to see hyped GZ's Kim Do-hyun.
(LeeSiwoo Sniper Clip)
(LeeSiwoo Sniper Clip2)
(LeeSiwoo Sniper Clip3)
But what is this?
Thought Rising would stomp these regular high schoolers, but they got wrecked instead.
All cuz of that one sniper lololol
Who is this guy? Where'd this gem come from?
FYI, Rising's a trainee team stacked with top prospects around Kim Do-hyun.
It was a post about Siwoo.
His clips spread like wildfire, conquering the board and uniting users who usually just ranted solo.
The result.
A mere 4,000 viewers, but huge for an amateur cup broadcast.
Viewers flocked to the annual Series Cup stream in numbers unimaginable before.
To see Lee Siwoo, the hottest topic in Korea's Overlant community.
Unfortunately, Overlant Series Cup didn't do MVP interviews.
It was just an amateur tourney for civilians and trainees.
No hiring announcers or analysts for qualifiers—budget and hype issues.
The Overlant diehards, hype cooling, bickered in chat.
The official stream manager didn't bother moderating. Speculation heat was daily life.
And amid the chaos, one quiet observer.
"Whew, pulling that off in a tourney too... what now?"
Lee Jung-hyuk.
The guy who'd faced "SniperSiwoo LeeSiwoo" twice in ranked before.
And now eternally etched as the victim on the Overlant board.
Reading the live chat, he sighed but chuckled.
'This guy's the real deal, idiots.'
Lee Jung-hyuk knew.
His losses to Siwoo weren't just bad form.
Skill gap.
A chasm too wide to cross.
Sure, he'd lost plenty as a human.
To pro monsters, super prospects, big names that tensed him up.
Powerless defeats left him hollow sometimes, but a nap usually erased them.
But Siwoo was different.
That defeat lingered.
Sure, "just ranked," he could've brushed off.
But the better you are, the more objective you get.
Lee Jung-hyuk felt the bone-deep difference in those two games.
They were trauma.
Not defeat—domination.
No strat worked, no variable landed.
Not mechanics, but instinct gap. Not judgment, but vision itself.
An experience he never wanted again.
So when he spotted him again on a stream for opponent analysis, his heart dropped.
Lee Jung-hyuk was competing in this Series Cup too—odds of rematch weren't zero.
"What to do..."
Calculations done.
No chance of winning.
'Please draw another team.'
Lee Jung-hyuk squeezed his eyes shut, praying desperately.
Like a loser awaiting the judge.