Perfection on the Line
April's arena was spring on the calendar, but thanks to Korea's weather and freak temperatures, winter's chill still lingered in the air.
The massive indoor space was quiet, cold air drifting slowly and turning even breaths icy. The stands were empty, bright lights sweeping across the stage.
"Play some music!"
"Equipment tests all done?"
Staff in headsets scurried around the stage checking gear, monitor lights flickering and reflecting off cold metal surfaces.
Amid tangled cables, steel structures gleamed icily, holding the night's chill.
"Whew. This arena's freezing."
Siwoo, finishing his capsule test, wrapped his coat tighter.
"Heater just kicked on. Feels colder with no crowd."
Ho-jong hyung replied. He was bundled up too, shivering.
That's why you always pack a coat for arena visits.
Not that it was nose-numbingly cold outside, but the vast space and all the chill-retaining gear made it brutal.
He'd never understood why pros carried hand warmers back when he watched matches—now he got it.
"So, you think we win today?"
Soo-hyuk hyung asked.
"Not 'think'—we have to. Perfect round one's right there."
Siwoo smirked. A rare shot at an undefeated streak. No way he'd let it slip.
"We scraped by A1, but Hanhaseong and GZ won't be easy. Why'd we draw them for the last round one match?"
Kaiserst's schedule was weirdly backloaded with killers.
The reason...
"'Cause we were the weaklings. Boring matches get shoved to the end."
Kaiserst had gone zero-for-the-season last year.
"But we're the hype now, right? Who saw 7-0 coming?"
Yong-taek hyung chuckled, shrugging.
No one had predicted this for Kaiserst.
Even after firing everyone and rebuilding, they were still bottom feeders.
"Gotta go undefeated for those analysts who slept on us. We beat a Big Three already."
Siwoo nodded.
Not their fault for underrating, but Kaiserst needed to flex now. Fix next season's schedule.
Then—
Click.
The player lounge door opened. Coach walked in.
"Okay, guys. Capsules good?"
"Yes."
"Briefing time."
Coach handed out tablets with player intel, continuing.
"Watch out for Choi Woo-jin. Assault and assassin attacker main—snipers best avoided."
Choi Woo-jin.
Monster physicals fueling aggressive, high-risk high-reward plays.
Favored assault and assassin attackers.
Rare like Siwoo's sniper main. Those classes had brutal reps.
"Looks like Ryu Jin-seok's all-in style at a glance, but he's got brains. Knows when to back off."
Not blindly aggressive. Echoes of stable GZ ace Shin Jin-woo's vibe.
"Woo-jin's the wildcard maker. Rest stick to basics. No slacking—they're no joke."
Tricky style or not, couldn't fixate on one guy.
Hanhaseong: undisputed Big Three. Everyone shone.
"Rifle comp this time."
"Yeah."
Coach nodded.
"Skip sniper healers if possible. Fine if we're confident in range wars, but no detours."
No need for snipers against their mains.
They could rifle now.
"Pre-brief done. Decide comps in-game. Rest up—meditate or whatever."
"Yes."
Coach ended it there.
"How's your condition today?"
Ho-jong hyung asked.
"What do you think I'll say?"
"Peak, like always."
"Spot on."
Siwoo grinned, closing his eyes.
Slept well, ate well—feeling sharp.
Truth was, Jiyeon watching amped him most. Couldn't look weak losing to her.
Win today. No question.
Siwoo meditated, burning resolve in secret.
Even pre-game, OCK's official stream drew a crowd.
Big match vibes.
Kaiserst surging to first, vs. perennial top-three Hanhaseong.
Hype central.
Hanhaseong: close-range brawlers.
Kaiserst: range control.
Bad matchup on paper.
Map: Hibana Museum.
Mode: Contention—steal main objective.
Both volatile. Together? Nightmare.
Moments later, comps locked.
No range focus for Kaiserst—rare. Fans hyped for slugfest.
"Kaiserst, fighting!!"
Waaaaaaaaah—!!
"Hanhaseong, fighting!!"
Waaaaaaaaah—!!
Blue barrier blocks the path.
Hyungs fire at the wall, controlling recoil. Pre-game warm-up, dialing in senses.
> Their comp screams fight. Double melee att—watch sides, no free inits.
"Got it."
Siwoo jogs in place, listening.
> Remember wild theory? Beasts anywhere. Sniff it out, suspect everything.
Siwoo stifles a laugh. Coach hunched like prey, sniffing forward—hilarious memory.
Point: stay paranoid, verify.
> Brief over. Dodge inits. We're brawl too, but longer range—whittle, seize control.
"Yes."
> One last push, guys. Win this, just GZ left for perfect round one. Fighting!
"Fighting—!"
Click. Coach drops voice comms.
"Heard that? Whittle to our range advantage, then engage. Distance strict, flank watch."
Ho-jong hyung recaps.
"Copy, let's go."
"Win today, just GZ left…!"
"Chan-seong, focus. Covering max."
"Y-yes!"
And—
……5
……4
……3
……2
……1
GAME START!
Blue barrier vanishes.
"Go—!"
Crackle!
Siwoo and hyungs activate Force Enhancement in sync, boosting bodies.
Thud!
Kick off, dash into the field.
Soft lights bathe glass cases, artifacts gleaming gently.
Wall paintings fade with age, whispering time's layers.
Hibana Museum.
Glass everywhere—great sightlines, but pillars/walls kill small fights.
Tat-tat-tat!
Siwoo, on libero duty, scales a glass wall.
'Choi Woo-jin on libero.'
Not ideal 1v1 map. Small skirmishes bad for style.
But—
'No gain there.'
Not his taste.
See the angle? Fight.
'Cut him here if possible.'
Melee vs. rifle matchup sucks, but he'd beaten Ryu Jin-seok before.
Choi Woo-jin?
Fourth best? Siwoo liked his odds.
'Show me what you got, Woo-jin.'
Crackle!
Siwoo surges Force, body glowing blue.
Thump!
Drops from the case.