Crushing the Pro Trainees

Capsule room group booth.

Five capsules line up in a row.

"This place usually runs on reservations with extra fees, but my uncle made it free for us as a special favor. He just said to focus on prepping for the tournament."

Han Jiyeon explained.

"For real? That's too generous."

"Whoa, Jiyeon the legend."

"Uncle legend. Subbing to Pajukjuk today."

"You still haven't subbed? You ungrateful punk."

The friends bickered playfully until Han Jiyeon smiled faintly and tapped Siwoo's shoulder.

"Siwoo, my uncle wanted to see you compete, that's why he's helping. Say thanks."

"...Yeah?"

"Yep. Ever since the class rep match, he's been asking about you every time—'No pro aspirations?'"

She poked him teasingly.

"So when I said you still didn't seem interested, he was devastated."

"Haha..."

"Oh, not trying to pressure you or anything. Just saying. Anyway, time to log in. We're doing light 5-man ranked today."

5-man ranked.

As long as tier gaps aren't too wide, everyone can queue together. But if your team has full voice comms, the system matches you against other 5-man queues.

That's why most people avoid 5-stacks unless they really trust their teammates.

But today was an exception.

They were prepping for the tournament.

"Alright, let's go."

Siwoo logged into his capsule smoothly. After the connection process, he entered Overlant.

A moment later, Han Jiyeon's invite arrived. Siwoo accepted and entered the lobby.

Then—

"Whoa, 32 Diamond games? Insane."

"87% headshot rate is straight legend."

"No wonder we got wrecked."

"At least top Grandmaster. Challenger bound."

The friends' voices erupted noisily. Siwoo chuckled.

'Fun.'

It was loud, sure, but Siwoo loved the vibe.

Building memories with friends like this.

"Alright, queue up! Just syncing today, no tryharding. Let's have fun!"

"Got it."

"Let's roll—!"

"We got BigSiu with us!!"

And the queue popped.

But—

"Uh, guys, opponents look weird."

"Grandmasters. Even a Challenger. Not easy."

"No, check the names! They're pros!"

The enemy team was no joke.

The tiers and pro marks confirmed it—no fakes. Real pros from a team.

"MidRider 1st league trainees. Not 2nd team, though."

Han Jiyeon, who knew the pro scene well, chimed in.

"Ugh, pros on the first game?"

"Can't help it. Evening's when they warm up."

"Tch, starting rough."

The chill vibe tensed up. Smiles faded.

Trainees or not, facing the pro world was nerve-wracking.

"Pros queue 5-man to warm up?"

Siwoo tilted his head.

"Yeah. Sync before scrims. Then they solo queue, so rare after."

Han Jiyeon answered.

"Cool. Good practice then. Series Cup has tons of trainees anyway, right?"

Siwoo shrugged off the pros.

"BigSiu confidence check."

"Gotta be to win."

"He's right, though."

The mood loosened. Solid point—tournaments were full of trainees.

"Let's go!"

"Do it."

"F-fuck it, let's try."

"What dialect is that?"

Han Jiyeon giggled. Others smiled faintly.

Loading ended, game launched.

"Guys, our comp's defense-heavy, so slow push. Smoke just for Siwoo's survival. I'll focus heal him."

"Roger."

"Trust Siwoo and charge. Secure position first, shields up. Our attackers outplay theirs."

"Copy."

Han Jiyeon's rapid orders ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flew.

This comp centered on Siwoo.

[Shield Defender – Rifle Attacker – Sniper – Sniper Healer – Smoke Supporter]

Shield Defender anchors, Sniper Healer and Smoke Supporter back the sniper. Rifle Attacker fills DPS gaps.

Siwoo as core, strong early point hold—solid pick. Analyzed from pro strats, reliable.

Timer hit zero.

"Go!"

"Hoo!"

"Wipe the trainees!"

Friends held their point. Key: Siwoo's "picks."

Drag time at spawn, Siwoo isolates, team swarms.

"..."

Siwoo climbed high ground per plan, breath steady. Eyes sharpened to a point.

Universal Center.

Structure-cluttered, attacker-unfriendly, defender haven.

But tight gaps perfect for snipers spotting through.

Like now—enemy healer peeking—

Bullet fired.

Perfect head pierce.

"One picked! Their healer!"

"Nice! Rush now!"

"They're panicking! Push!"

Enemy crumbled.

Core healer sniped in that instant.

Friends exploited, stormed their point.

But aggression created more picks.

Frontline pressure overloads defender, chaos denies Siwoo checks.

Scope locked on heads.

Two more down.

Low-HP attacker and supporter.

"Point secured!"

Siwoo's team claimed advantage.

"Supporter, smoke the entrance. I'll stick to Siwoo heals. Defender, just hold front."

Han Jiyeon's orders solidified control.

But then, enemy high ground—a rifle attacker appeared.

"Enemy attacker climbing high!"

"What, 1v1 with Siwoo?"

"Looks like."

1v1.

Happens ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sometimes.

Ranged duel isolates.

But enemy wasn't sniper-tuned, just rifle ranged. No match.

Still, showing face meant confidence.

"I'll pick him quick."

Siwoo scoped in.

Time to humble that arrogance.

MidRider pro team HQ.

Veteran Korean club from esports dawn, now in Overlant. Elite, strict 1st/2nd teams, endless trainees.

Among top prospects: MidRider academy stars, high ranks.

But ranked hit a wall.

"What the hell's that guy?! Aim's unreal!"

Just a sync queue, met a monster.

Enemy sniper.

Spot, aim, headshot—seamless. Machine-like.

"Psycho. Peeks and instant headshot. Reaction's impossible."

"Hack?"

"Capsule game's unhackable. Bypass that, you're rich."

"True, but their sniper's leagues above. Sketchy."

Team agreed: Enemy sniper's skill defied logic.

"Check him!"

"Can't! Crossfire and I die!"

"Do something!"

"Frontal push? Others ain't that good."

"Sniper hard-feeding and you say rush?!"

Orders fractured.

One sniper tanked morale.

"Fine, I'll 1v1."

Lee Jeonghyeok stepped up boldly. Only option.

"You ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠good?"

"That hurts my pride."

"Haha, kidding. Go for it."

Not debuted, but trainee ace.

Can't lose ranked 1v1.

"Main holds. I cut him, regroup, push."

Scoped likely spot, Force Enhancement burst forward.

But as he peeked—

"...!!"

Instant death.

Lee Jeonghyeok gaped, eyes shaking.

"What?"

"Sniped on entry?"

"Insane."

Teammates stunned. They knew his skill.

"...Real psycho."

No hack explained that reaction, judgment, aim.

A massive wall loomed in his mind. Pros never felt like this.

"This game's done. Round 1 blown, no comeback."

"Quick surrender, next. No warm-up value."

"Agreed."

Team surrendered.

Sniper pushed game too far.

Normally instant FF, but...

"Wait, one more 1v1."

Lee Jeonghyeok gritted teeth, eyes blazing. Pride forbade quit.

But—

Same result.

Total defeat.

'...Makes sense?'

Black screen shocked him senseless. Absurd.

Human aim? Mechanics? Focus/reaction defied belief.

"Surrender. They're weird."

"Sniper's sus-level."

"Hack breakthrough?"

As teammates FF'd—

Lee Jeonghyeok stared blankly at approvals.

Enemy surrendered. Game over.

"We beat trainees?!"

"BigSiu, how far you going?!"

"Total domination!"

Friends cheered. Rare crushing MidRider trainees.

"Guys, their attacker was Lee Jeonghyeok!"

"No way? Mad Movie Maker?"

"Lee Jeonghyeok?"

"For real?"

Everyone knew him.

Siwoo cocked his head.

"Good player?"

"Yeah! Nickname's top prospect! Trainee legend!"

Siwoo blinked.

"He just friended me?"

"What?"

Han Jiyeon blinked dumbly.

Curious ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠friends laughed.

"Accept! See what he says!"

"Asking if you're pro?"

"Accepting."

Siwoo nodded, approved.