The murmur of voices filled the main hall as the students began to disperse, the excitement of team formation still fresh in their minds. However, as the initial thrill subsided, some of the students started questioning the day's events. After all, they had been called to the Game Building only to be grouped into teams and then promptly dismissed. Why assemble everyone just for that? Wasn't there more they could have done?
The reasoning behind this seemingly brief and anticlimactic gathering was not immediately clear to everyone, but there was a strategic logic to it.
The decision to gather the students and form teams was not just about assigning players to groups; it was about setting a foundation. By announcing the teams in person, the instructors aimed to establish a sense of unity and shared purpose among the players. This was their first step toward becoming cohesive units rather than just individual competitors. The instructors knew that teamwork wasn't built in a day, but by starting with a formal assembly, they were laying the groundwork for what was to come.
Moreover, the instructors wanted to create an air of anticipation and seriousness around the World NexaRealm Championship. By announcing a grand setting, with all the top instructors present, they emphasized the gravity of what lay ahead. It wasn't just another tournament; it was the world stage, and the students needed to feel the weight of that from the very beginning.
Another reason for the brief meeting was logistical. The instructors understood the importance of giving the students time to process the team selections and to mentally prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. By sending them off after the announcements, they allowed the students to start bonding with their new teammates on their terms, outside the formal setting of the Game Building. It gave them space to reflect on the roles they were assigned and to start strategizing among themselves.
In addition, this approach prevented the students from becoming overwhelmed. They had just gone through an intense team deathmatch the day before, and now they were being thrown into the pressure of team formations. The instructors wanted to ensure that the students were not mentally exhausted by trying to digest too much information or undergo too much training in one sitting. Instead, they gave them time to recharge, discuss, and approach the upcoming sessions with renewed focus.
This strategy also allowed the instructors to observe the students' natural reactions to their team assignments. How they interacted after the announcement, who took the lead in initiating team discussions, and how they handled the mix of excitement and pressure—all of these were critical insights that would help the instructors tailor their future coaching.
For Joon-ho and his friends, these reasons might not have been immediately apparent, but they could sense the intent behind the day's events. As they left the Game Building, they found themselves discussing their new teams, excitedly speculating about their upcoming training sessions. They realized that this was the start of something bigger, and while today's gathering had been brief, it was a pivotal moment in their journey.
In the end, the day's purpose became clearer: it was not about cramming too much into a single session, but about giving the students the time and space to adjust, reflect, and prepare for the rigorous path ahead. This was just the beginning, and the instructors knew that a strong foundation was the key to building a successful team capable of taking on the world.
The cafeteria buzzed with the lively chatter of students discussing their newly assigned teams, but at one table, the conversation was centred around a single topic—Kyu. Joon-ho, Kang-dae, Soo-jin, Hana, Jin-kyong, Sang-hee, and Hyun-ae had all gathered for lunch, their minds still reeling from the day's revelations.
"So, Kyu's an all-rounder, huh?" Jin-kyong said, breaking the silence as she poked at her food with her chopsticks. "I can't believe he kept that from us."
"I know, right?" Soo-jin chimed in, her tone a mix of surprise and admiration. "We've known him for so long, and he never let on about it."
"I mean, we sort of doubt that he is something else, but… all roles? That's insane," Hyun-ae nodded, still processing the news.
Joon-ho, who had been quietly contemplating, finally spoke up.
"Did anyone else notice that the number of students was 51?"
The others looked at him, puzzled.
"What do you mean?" Hana asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"That's not it Joon-ho. I did a head count during the team deathmatch," Kang-dae explained. "There should have been 10 players for each role, right? But for Roamers, there were only nine of us."
"So, there was one spot missing? You're sure?" Sang-hee raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Kang-dae confirmed. "At the time, I asked Instructor Min-ji about it. She said the missing student wasn't well and couldn't participate. I didn't think much of it then."
"So from what you're saying," Joon-ho said, his eyes narrowing as he connected the dots. "It makes sense. That empty spot was left for Kyu."
"Exactly," Kang-dae agreed. "They kept the spot open, knowing Kyu could fill any role. That's why it seemed like there were 51 of us, but in reality, it was just 50."
The table fell into a thoughtful silence as they absorbed this new information. Kyu's secret was even more impressive now that they understood the full extent of the planning behind it.
"So, the instructors must have known about Kyu all along," Hana said, her voice tinged with awe. "And they kept it hidden until now."
"It's kind of funny. Here we were, trying to figure out who the strongest players were, and all along, Kyu was in the mix, flying under the radar," Soo-jin smirked, shaking her head.
"Well," Hyun-ae added. "He's not under the radar anymore. Director Hye-su handpicked him for the top team. That says a lot."
"I guess this explains why Kyu was always so mysterious. He had a lot to keep under wraps," Joon-ho leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms as he thought.
"Yeah, and it makes sense now why they called us all in just to form the teams. They wanted to make sure the reveal had the right impact," Kang-dae nodded.
The group continued their lunch, each of them reflecting on the surprising turn of events. While they had always known Kyu was skilled, the revelation of his unique ability to play any role added a new layer of respect and curiosity.
Their conversation shifted to lighter topics as they finished their meal, but the lingering thoughts of Kyu's secret and the upcoming team battles remained in the back of their minds. The journey ahead was bound to be full of challenges, but with newfound knowledge and determination, they felt more prepared than ever to face whatever came next.
As the group finished their lunch, the conversation slowly drifted from the heavy topic of Kyu's hidden talents to more relaxed, everyday matters. Joon-ho, feeling the need to lighten the mood, cracked a joke about their upcoming team practices, suggesting that they might need to invest in some serious strategy books to keep up with Kyu and Hana who on the first team.
"Or maybe we should just bribe him with food," Soo-jin added, grinning. "That seems to work with most people."
Everyone chuckled, the tension easing as they settled back into their usual banter. It felt good to have a moment of normalcy amidst all the excitement and revelations of the day.
"You know, this is just the beginning. We've got a lot of work ahead of us, but I think we're ready for it," Hana leaned forward, looking at each of them in turn.
"Yeah, we've all been working hard to get here. We've got our teams now, and it's time to start preparing for the real challenges," Jin-kyong nodded in agreement.
"We should start thinking about our team strategies. We know who our teammates are, so we should figure out how to maximize our strengths," Kang-dae, ever the practical one, added.
"True. But let's not forget to have some fun along the way. This is a big opportunity, but it's also something we've all dreamed of. Let's enjoy it," Sang-hee smiled, appreciating Kang-dae's focus.
"I'm just excited to see how we all mesh together. We've always been close, but now we're going to see a different side of each other in the game," Hyun-ae, who had been quiet for a bit, finally spoke up.
"To new beginnings, then. And to kick some serious butt in the World NexaRealm Championship," Joon-ho raised his glass of water in a mock toast.
Everyone raised their glasses, clinking them together with smiles and a renewed sense of camaraderie. Despite the seriousness of their situation, they were still friends at heart, ready to support each other through whatever challenges came their way.
As they stood up to leave the cafeteria, the group walked out into the bright afternoon, the sun casting long shadows across the courtyard. They knew that tomorrow would bring more training, more tests, and more opportunities to prove themselves. But for now, they were content to enjoy this moment together.
Kyu, the mysterious wildcard of their group, remained on everyone's minds, but the bond they shared as friends was just as important. They knew that no matter what happened next, they could count on each other.
The day wasn't over yet, and as they began to drift towards their respective training areas, the group exchanged knowing looks. There was an unspoken agreement between them: they were in this together, and they were ready to face whatever came their way.
As they parted ways for the afternoon, each member of the group felt a surge of determination. The road ahead was going to be tough, but with friends like these by their side, they knew they could handle anything.