Sniper Duel and the Pro Temptation
Siwoo couldn't hide his bewilderment upon receiving the message. A famous trainee had singled him out for a rematch. And as fellow snipers, no less—a head-to-head duel.
Have I earned recognition?
The thought made the back of his neck flush hot. Half fear, half anticipation, perhaps.
But deep down, a strange thrill kept surging uncontrollably.
However.
"...This guy's pissed, right?"
Lee Jeonghyeok's emotions seeped through the text. Had Siwoo done something wrong? Nothing came to mind. He'd just played the game.
"Pissed?"
"Maybe he feels a wall with you."
"Possible."
Unlike Siwoo's fluster, his friends snickered. Han Jiyeon, smiling along, asked,
"So, what'd he say?"
"Wants to queue right away. Says he'll pick sniper too."
"Definitely feels a wall."
Park Jongsu burst out laughing.
"Last game wrecked him, so now he wants a sniper mirror to settle it? Sounds like his competitive fire's lit."
"Totally. He even friended you right away."
The others quickly agreed with Park Jongsu. Han Jiyeon prodded with a giggle,
"Just give him what he wants. You got this, Siwoo?"
"Confidence has always been there, I think."
"Haha, that cocky vibe is hilarious. Queue up!"
And the match queues.
It latches on like a ghost the instant they hit search.
Match found!
Next comes the loading screen.
Same scene as last game.
"They queued fast too."
"Alright, time for another beatdown—!"
"Know your place, trainees."
This battlefield: Solras Base.
Famous for the most balanced layout.
Should lead to a straightforward attacker clash.
Siwoo's team runs the same comp as before.
[Shield Defender – Rifle Attacker – Sniper – Sniper Healer – Shield Supporter]
Centered on Siwoo, it maximizes raw power.
Better to amplify strengths than patch weaknesses.
Though it relies on Siwoo—a flaw, sure. But to break qualifiers, attackers carry. Overlant's nicknamed the Attacker Game for a reason.
"Their comp's different this time."
"All-in on sniper support."
"Really gunning for a one-on-one with you?"
The difference: opponent comp.
Midraizer trainees, balanced before, now tailor to sniper Lee Jeonghyeok.
[Charge Defender – Assassin Attacker – Sniper – Sniper Healer – Shield Supporter]
Charge Defender and Assassin Attacker frontline, backed by Shield Supporter and Sniper Healer.
Center: sniper to pick off their attackers and healers.
Built to dominate the sniper duel, no question.
Intent's clear. One-on-one showdown.
"......"
Siwoo felt dazed. No clue what irked Lee Jeonghyeok, but he'd pissed him off somehow.
"Their comp only works if they win the sniper fight. We'll run same ops as last. Siwoo, you can take Jeonghyeok, right?"
Han Jiyeon asked.
This match: cargo transport mission. But flow similar. Sniper mirror matchup.
"Leave it to me."
Siwoo nodded confidently.
Couldn't tell Jiyeon—who believed in him—no.
Anyway, no way he'd lose.
Complete Cargo Transport!
The timer hits zero.
"Go, go!"
"Make him feel the wall again!"
"Wipe Midraizer easy!"
Friends advance in formation. No doubt on their faces. Blind faith in Siwoo.
Time to repay it.
Siwoo hardened his expression. Held his breath. If they believed this much, he'd deliver.
Shwick!
Grapple hook fires from wrist. Siwoo scales the wall to high ground, scopes to eye. Focus peaks; ambient noise fades.
Creeps forward.
To likely enemy spots.
Force Enhancement off—for now. Just in case.
Moment he shifts position slightly—
MDR Jeonghyeok
Enemy sniper, Lee Jeonghyeok—spotted.
Siwoo reacts instantly. Pulls trigger.
Bang—!
CRITICAL HIT
Killed by enemy!
Third-person view kicks in; character crumples lifelessly. World grays out. Lee Jeonghyeok, stone-faced, mutters,
"This make any sense?"
Unbelievable.
He'd held the advantage.
Pre-positioned, waiting for the enemy to show.
Same skill? No way he'd lose. Gap too wide to close.
Force active? Nope.
Yet utter defeat.
Max focus, but enemy's reaction faster. Headshot.
Skill gap no "little." Vast. Immeasurable.
And this wasn't like before.
Sniper picked this time. Pure high-ground 1v1.
Still lost...
No. Rematch.
Jeonghyeok wouldn't break.
Self-imposed limits kill growth.
"Yo, when's sniper support coming?!"
Teammate yells.
Below: fierce cargo brawl.
"Wait—cutting their sniper first."
Respawn. Straight to high ground.
Reverse of last.
Enemy waits; he advances.
Obvious disadvantage. But must win.
To surpass limits.
But...
Bang—!
Killed by enemy!
Losing advantageous fights? No chance in disadvantageous ones.
"What? Lost again?!"
"Jeonghyeok lost sniper mirror?"
"No way?!"
Teammates panic.
Formation crumbles. Cargo teamfight: massacre loss.
"Who the hell is that guy?"
"SniperSiwoo LeeSiwoo—what's his deal."
Curiosity peaks. What sniper pulls this off?
"Pro from first team?"
"Nah, first time seeing that nick."
"Doubt it. No mark."
All Overlant pros must use official accounts.
Prevents user incidents.
Pro? Searchable by nick.
But.
"...Amateur."
Not pro.
"Amateur? Hacker?"
"Nah. No ban reports."
"Prospect then."
"First-team ready?"
Midraizer trainees baffled.
Where'd this sniper spawn?
Top prospects all scouted early. Upper tiers sparse.
Scouts expand to Diamond...
"This the heavenly monster?"
"Insane, historic genius freak."
"Pro debut soon."
Trainees certain.
Will see him on broadcast.
Game ends.
"Whew, thought I'd suffocate."
"Jeonghyeok still quiet?"
"Huge shock. Frozen."
"Makes sense. Got wrecked 1v1."
Jeonghyeok's face stiff. Silent mid-game too.
"Damn, practice ruined. Tension dead before scrims. Let's bail."
Midraizer trainees log out. Scrim prep time.
"Kids, who was that sniper?"
Coach, watching screens outside, asks.
"No clue. No pro mark—amateur."
"Huh. No team then. Check records."
Coach fires up laptop, hits tracker site, types nick.
"...34 Diamond games? 90% win?"
"Headshots 90%?!"
"KDA over 10. Maniac."
"Smurf?"
Absurd stats.
Pro-level alt in upper tiers only explains.
"...Not smurf. Capsule account creation: query to delete old—takes a month. No play time? Pointless."
Low smurf odds. Process cumbersome.
"Real super prospect?"
"Grab before others."
Coach nods.
"I'll contact. Prep scrims."
SniperSiwoo LeeSiwoo. Must recruit.
After Midraizer trainees, during break.
Personal training room, loosening up—friend request hits Siwoo.
"...MDR Jinwoo?"
MDR: Midraizer, those trainees.
Another rematch?
Siwoo accepts warily.
Academy coach. Surprising.
No pro plans, but curiosity wins. Answers honestly.
Siwoo pauses.
Accept? Entry test, straight pro.
To that stage. In one leap.
"......"
Ditch class rank 2 stability? Tough.
Stray from this path? No return.
Heart tightens.
What if this choice ruins his future?
Stay course.
Good college, job, stability.
Top engineering or med school possible.
Path laid out.
For a game?
Siwoo bites lip.
Wants pro, sure.
Overlant fun. Class cheers unforgettable.
That moment: truly alive.
But—
Faces flash.
Hardworking big sis for family.
Mom wasting from endless chemo.
Can't say to them: chasing dreams.
...Pro too risky.
Fingers move.
After agony, rejection.
Clean close.
Rejection.
Yeah. Right choice.
Maintain rank 2. Scholarships, top uni.
Safer. Sure.
Bang—!
Resume practice.
Targets crumple through scope.
Clean headshots. No flinch.
But.
Why.
That offer—from Midraizer coach—lingers.
Post-practice, friends back—still echoes.