The Unstoppable Forward Sniper
Kim Woo-hyuk and Park Jin-woo.
A renowned attacker duo, famous for their skills since the Youth E-Sports Academy League.
Affiliated with Hanhaseong Academy, they've shone brightly in the league, earning praise as the next stars of Hanhaseong regardless of their third-place finish.
Their reason for entering this tournament was simple.
'Aim for a first-team spot in this tournament.'
'Show good form, and we can move up.'
To climb even higher.
Once you've stepped into the pro gamer world, no one wants to end as just a trainee. They aim higher, dream of being the best, and desperately crave victory.
It's not just because teams don't let you go easily or because opportunities to boost your value like this are rare.
All the trainees entering this 2042 Series Cup must be thinking the same.
But—
"Watch out for Lee Siwoo."
The round of 16, their first opponent was trouble.
"It wasn't just good condition in the qualifiers. Their fundamentals are on another level. They can end the game purely on physicals without even needing operator play."
Pros generally fall into two categories.
Those specialized in operations with intelligent play, or those who crush opponents with raw mechanics—pure sense.
The former don't rely on mechanics, so they have longer careers and can handle any matchup steadily. But their raw power isn't that high.
The latter possess overwhelming force to completely dominate weaker foes, but their careers are short, and they vanish from matches against superiors.
Yet the most dangerous type is the latter.
Mechanics-focused styles can ride momentum to beat even better players and flip games in an instant—pure threat.
In that sense, Lee Siwoo was the most dangerous style for Hanhaseong Academy's attacker duo.
"He looked in good condition from his expression earlier, so stay focused and don't let them build momentum. Squeeze them slowly with operations. We're way better on other lines, and the battlefield and objective suit us."
It was something Team Madric knew well.
"Okay, everyone focus. Just watch out for getting sniped."
"Mind your movement. Be careful even when splitting angles."
"Got it."
Kim Woo-hyuk said,
"Just break through the front line somehow. Cut the sniper, and they're nothing."
"Got it."
Barrier removed! The match has begun!
The wait was over. Kim Woo-hyuk, Park Jin-woo, and the rest of Madric's team kicked off the ground and soared forward in unison.
"Ignore the objective! Straight to the point!"
Park Jin-woo called the shot.
Solras Base had no special objectives. Just drones that let you set up force barriers.
Force barriers had solid health and were decent against snipers, but they chose differently.
'Can't let them cap the point first.'
Saseong's defensive comp synergized massively when holding position. With point capture as the objective, they couldn't yield it.
Viewers watching the broadcast grew even more excited seeing the spear and shield roles reversed.
And the source of that excitement was, naturally—
Spotting Siwoo wall-running to high ground, Kim Woo-hyuk shouted urgently.
"Smoke now! Enemy's climbing right away!"
"Got it!"
Smoke drops on the sniper perch.
Shwaaah—!
Point secured, high ground smoked. Forces a frontal brawl where Madric's comp wins.
At this point, Kim Woo-hyuk was certain.
'We got set 1.'
The setup was too favorable.
To flip it would need overwhelming skill gap.
'Won't be easy.'
This was the Series Cup—top Master+ tier. To show that gap, you'd need a proven first-team pro.
But that instant—
Bang—!
"……!!"
The Assault Defender's health halved.
What the……!!
Madric's Assault Defender was the most shocked.
'Creating that angle to shoot me?'
Better than losing an attacker or support, but still bad. Front line crumbles, no frontal brawl.
Madric's Assault Defender yelled desperately.
"One more hit and I'm dead! Heal me now!"
"Healing!"
The Standard Healer frantically restores health, but that opens—
The fight erupts.
'Damn……!'
Something's off. This shouldn't happen. Couldn't happen.
"Block them—!"
"Can't hold, I'm respawning!"
The Assault Defender, pulling back for health, pushes forward again.
Kwaang—!
Both teams' defenders clash weapons. Wind whips hair. Shield and hammer collide in a massive shockwave.
"They're pushing!"
"Force it in!"
Worst for Madric, no choice. Fight.
Tadadak—!
Madric's two attackers, force-enhanced, charge. Saseong doesn't sit. Bullets pour from the rifle barrel.
"I'll block!"
Tidididing—!
Kim Woo-hyuk steps up, parrying bullets with daggers. Shots fly fierce, then drop limp.
One chance.
Might not come again.
Park Jin-woo sprints full force. Force draining, doesn't matter. Win this fight.
Structure shield block.
Siwoo's path sealed.
Kim Jeong-in tries to block, but Park Jin-woo vaults the wall, fist clenched. Blue force glows on gauntlet.
Attacker trait: Charge.
Body blasts forward in a rush.
'Got him!'
Current setup: Sniper vs. melee attacker, one-on-one. Park Jin-woo was sure. Spear beats shield.
But.
Kwaang—!
"……!!"
No impact at Park Jin-woo's fingertips.
Chance not over. Dagger-wielding Kim Woo-hyuk yells.
"Accel buff me!"
Hwaaak—!
Supporter trait, 'Acceleration'—Kim Woo-hyuk glows yellow.
Now, melee attacker trait: 'Whirlwind Strike'.
'Whirlwind Strike' blasts straight-line fast—perfect for cutting snipers. With accel buff? No reaction possible.
Kuwoong—!
Kim Woo-hyuk kicks off. Body streaks like lightning. Straight-line Whirlwind trajectory airborne.
But in that split-second, Siwoo's body glows blue. Force Enhancement. Long barrel flames.
Bang—!
"Wha……?"
Straight-line blade misses Siwoo. In the gap, Force Enhancement bullet headshots Kim Woo-hyuk.
'Insane……!!'
Kim Woo-hyuk crumples, sails skyward powerless.
Thud.
Kim Woo-hyuk's airborne body hits ground.
Madric, emergency.
"Regroup!"
"Pull back together! Don't fight!"
"Can't mess up respawn timers!"
Madric's Assault Defender covers rear as they retreat. Saseong won't miss.
And that moment.
Bang—!
Siwoo's Forward Sniper succeeds.
'Fuck, what is this!'
'What the hell is that guy!'
'Makes no sense?'
All Madric members thought the same. Impossible. That playstyle? Even first-team pros couldn't.
Maybe North America or China?
Who knows, but not Korean league.
Because of Siwoo alone.
The setup flipped completely.