Bullet Cleaver
The second match against Red Force drew near.
Practice had gone smoothly in the meantime, with a scrim win rate of 52%—a pretty solid flow.
They'd even pulled off a perfect score in the opening match, so it was fair to expect victory here too.
Objectively speaking, that was the case. EG hadn't been an easy team by any means, and Red Force was a weight class below them.
"How's your condition today?"
Inside the capsule booth, Kim Ho-jong asked. Siwoo chuckled lightly while doing his pre-login stretches.
"Top-notch, as always."
"Is it a youth thing? It's always top-notch."
"You're not that old yourself, hyung."
"Late twenties is when it starts declining, you punk."
Physically and in terms of reflexes, there was bound to be a gap between late teens and late twenties.
Even pro gamers couldn't avoid the drop after twenty-five.
"Nah, you're still holding strong as a pro."
Siwoo offered words of comfort to Ho-jong, who was shedding invisible tears.
"You wouldn't get it. When stuff that used to work stops working, and things that were fine suddenly aren't..."
Still, he couldn't stop Ho-jong's tears. As his shoulders slumped, Siwoo changed the subject.
"How about Soo-hyuk hyung?"
"Pick screwed me yesterday, so a bit off."
"What's a pick screw?"
"When your favorite character doesn't show up and some weird one does instead."
Siwoo nodded blankly. As expected from an otaku—no clue what he was talking about.
"Oneshin might be time to quit anyway. Time's already tight saving multiple worlds, so good timing. Gotta focus on other games."
It must've been game talk.
Lee Soo-hyuk spent every night late on some shady Chinese otaku mobile game on his smartphone.
"How's Chan-seong hyung?"
"Good. Feeling like I'll do well."
Park Chan-seong puffed out his chest confidently. Looked like the pep talk last time had restored his mentality. He always seemed so pressed for time, like he was being chased.
He's probably fine too.
We have plenty of time.
Nice.
His skills hadn't surged yet, but his mentality was building. A good sign. Meant he wasn't doubting anymore—just charging straight ahead.
"Players, please prepare to log in!"
The tournament manager's voice rang out. Game time was approaching.
"Everyone's setups good?"
"We checked earlier."
"Okay, let's log in."
With Kim Ho-jong's words, Siwoo and the team slipped into their capsules one after another.
I wonder if Jiyeon's watching.
It lined up with the end of school, so maybe with her friends.
Guess I'll have to carry again then.
Siwoo smiled lightly as he logged in.
The match begins.
A ton of viewers flooded Kaiserst's second match broadcast.
The hype from the opening match's perfect performance had drawn them in.
The chat was buzzing with subtle trash talk between Kaiserst fans and Red Force fans.
It was a matchup notorious for torturing fans, so the heat was on from the start.
And then.
Stormy cheers erupted from the stands too. The fever wasn't just online.
The OCK opening ended, and the caster and commentator appeared on screen.
"Hello, everyone! Today it's Kaiserst versus Red Force! Commentator, what do you think of this match?"
The caster asked.
"I'd say Kaiserst has the edge! They showed peak form in their first match, while Red Force looked shaky after their loss!"
Kaiserst had kicked off strong with a win in their opener, while Red Force's loss had soured their momentum.
The commentator continued.
"It's still early in the season, so too soon to call it, but Kaiserst's vibe is on point! Key will be if Red Force can flip it!"
The caster nodded.
"Right! Opening momentum doesn't always last! Season's long, time's plenty! Now, today's key players—take a look!"
The screen shifted to player photos.
"Kaiserst's Lee Siwoo! Showed insane form last game!"
"Yeah, landed every Force Enhancement shot as headshots, plus godlike survival!"
"Unreal stats! No OCK debut's ever seen this!"
The spotlight was on Siwoo's stats.
Just one game in, but that dominance was unprecedented in OCK history.
"Battlefield and mode set! Solras Base, Deathmatch!"
"Attackers will shine here! Deathmatch on Solras Base!"
Deathmatch.
Score by killing opponents.
Solras Base.
Balanced layout with structures and chokepoints—fair for all, solid for attackers.
"Mode and map locked! Time for bans and picks!"
The screen showed the selection interface.
"Kaiserst first pick! Operator sniper, as expected!"
"Siwoo's signature now! No need to hide it—straight grab!"
Kaiserst's pick was no surprise.
Siwoo's sniper, Operator.
Built around him.
"Red Force now! Classic anti-sniper comp!"
"Assassin attacker and melee attacker synergy looks key!"
Red Force brought an anti-sniper setup, naturally.
Obvious strategy from the comp: Smoke to limit sniper sightlines, attackers duo to isolate him.
"Excited for Red Force's execution! Can they cut Siwoo? Set 1—let's go!"
The match started.
A blue barrier blocked the front.
The timer ticked down overhead.
Siwoo slowly turned his neck, checking his body with Operator in hand.
Feeling light.
Good sleep, good food—condition perfect. Kaiserst's facilities were top-tier. No complaints.
Team record aside, anyway.
Confident?
Siwoo recalled Red Force's comp.
Assassin attacker, melee attacker.
Blatant sniper check.
But the opener proved it wouldn't work. Didn't Kim Hyun-soo drop like that?
Yet they bring it anyway?
Siwoo smirked lightly. They thought they'd be different—time to shatter that arrogance.
"Everyone ready? Briefing now."
Kim Ho-jong spoke up.
He was Kaiserst's main caller.
Too many big egos led to clashes, so the coach assigned it. Ho-jong main calls, Yong-taek and Soo-hyuk for micro.
"They're gunning straight for Siwoo. We got range advantage—use it. Position around Siwoo, slow pressure."
They came anti-sniper? Mirror with range play.
"Formation as practiced. Got it?"
"Diamond?"
"Yeah, diamond."
The practiced diamond formation: Cluster diamond-shape, Park Chan-seong draws aggro center, Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Ho-jong on wings.
Siwoo sniper and Kim Yong-taek sniper healer backline support.
Range fights were gold in deathmatch—perfect for corralling and squeezing.
"Okay, diamond formation, feedback in-game rest. Our style's mechanics-first anyway."
Truth was, Kaiserst didn't gel with rigid plans.
Snap judgment, reactions, aim/searching—that was their edge.
Then.
Game begins!
ZZing—
Blue barrier dropped.
"Let's go—!"
Team dashed out, bodies glowing blue with Force Enhancement. Siwoo grappled up a wall to high ground with Grapple Hook.
That instant.
Shwaaak—!
Spheres rained from the sky. Smoke to counter the sniper.
Smoke right away.
Block variables entirely? Red Force sealed high ground from the jump, without even spotting him.
Doesn't matter.
Siwoo pressed to the scope. Spot: Solras Base second-floor railing. Sniper heaven.
"We're all in position. Siwoo, see 'em?"
Ho-jong asked.
Team holding formation. Battle on Siwoo's signal.
Siwoo replied.
"Not yet. They're hidden good."
"Roger. We hold."
Enemy still static. Turtling hard...
Then.
"Got 'em. Grouped up, pushing right flank. Your side, Soo-hyuk hyung."
Enemy visible on right—Soo-hyuk's zone.
"Support incoming. Hang tight, Soo-hyuk!"
"Copy."
Ho-jong repositions.
Buy time till then: sniper's job.
Siwoo's scope tracked them.
Taste test.
Bang—!
Trigger pull. Long range, mind drop—but trivial for Siwoo.
Shwaaak—!
"...!!"
The response stunned.
Red Force attacker split the bullet in half.
Perfectly.
"Oh! Kim Jin-young slices Siwoo's shot! Picked melee attacker for this from the start?!"
"Not deflect—slice! Tough trait, needs pinpoint timing!"
Siwoo's brow twitched.
Didn't see that coming...
Honestly shocking. Even with slower bullets than real life, reacting and slicing?
Range helped?
No Force Enhancement—speed gap's huge with/without.
Clack.
Siwoo racked the bolt. Casing tinkled to the floor.
Then shoot so they can't slice.
Siwoo scoped up again.
Think you can handle sniper fire? Big mistake—time to prove it.