The next morning, Joon-ho woke up with a sense of urgency. The sun was beginning to rise, casting a soft glow through the curtains of his room in the men's dormitory. As he prepared for the day, his thoughts were consumed by his team's challenges. He knew today was crucial—the last day they had to practice together before the instructors returned. They needed to find a way to work with Min-jae or risk being unprepared for the challenges ahead.
Before heading to the training room, Joon-ho checked in with Kang-dae, who was part of Team 3 with Sang-hee and Hyun-ae. He made his way down the hallway to Kang-dae's room, knocking softly on the door. It wasn't long before Kang-dae opened it, his expression curious as he saw Joon-ho standing there.
"Hey, Joon-ho. What's up?" Kang-dae asked, letting him inside.
Joon-ho stepped into the room, glancing around at the neatness that was typical of Kang-dae.
"I wanted to talk to you about how things are going with your team. How's it been working with the new members?"
Kang-dae leaned against his desk, crossing his arms as he considered the question.
"It's been... interesting. We've had some challenges, especially with getting everyone on the same page. The new Marksman is solid, but they're a bit of a lone wolf. The Fighter is skilled, but they're not as aggressive as we're used to. Sang-hee and Hyun-ae have been trying to adapt, but it's a work in progress."
"Sounds like you're dealing with a different set of problems, but still similar in some ways. We've been having a tough time with our Tank. He's good, no doubt about it, but his ego and impulsive playstyle are making it hard to form a cohesive strategy," Joon-ho nodded, absorbing the information.
Kang-dae sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can see how that would be frustrating. We had something similar with one of our previous members who just couldn't follow the plan. It messes with the team dynamic."
"That's exactly it," Joon-ho agreed. "We've tried adapting to his style, but it's so inconsistent. We're relying on luck more than anything else, and that's not a sustainable way to play."
"Maybe you should try giving him more responsibility, but in a way that ties him to the team. If he feels like he's leading a crucial part of the strategy, he might be more inclined to follow the plan. It's risky, but it could work," Kang-dae thought for a moment, then said.
"That's a good idea. It's worth a shot. I'll bring it up with the others today," Joon-ho considered Kang-dae's advice, appreciating the fresh perspective.
With a nod of agreement, the two friends shared a moment of mutual understanding. They were both facing challenges with their teams, but the day wasn't over yet. There was still time to make adjustments and find the right balance. As Joon-ho left Kang-dae's room, he felt a renewed sense of purpose. Today would be their last chance to practice before the instructors took over, and he was determined to make the most of it.
With Kang-dae's advice fresh in his mind, Joon-ho entered the training room with a sense of cautious optimism. The rest of his team was already there, warming up and preparing for their final practice session before the instructors returned. As Joon-ho approached, Soo-jin and Jin-kyong looked up, their expressions curious.
"You've got that look," Soo-jin said, smiling. "What's the plan?"
"I spoke to Kang-dae earlier, and he had an interesting idea. He suggested that we give Min-jae more responsibility—something that makes him feel like he's leading a crucial part of our strategy. If he feels more involved, he might be more willing to work with us instead of just doing his own thing," Joon-ho took a breath, gathering his thoughts.
"It's worth a try. If it doesn't work, at least we'll know we explored every option," Jin-kyong tilted her head, considering the idea.
"I think it could help. It's better than just trying to adapt to his chaos," Baek-hyeon, who was quietly adjusting his gear, nodded in agreement.
"Min-jae, we've been talking about how to make our team stronger. You're an amazing Tank, and we think you could shine if you took the lead on initiating our fights. We'll follow your lead and back you up, but we need you to give us a heads up on what you're planning," Min-jae was off to the side, focusing on his routine. Joon-ho walked over to him, his expression neutral.
"You want me to lead the charge?" Min-jae paused, looking at Joon-ho with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
"Yeah," Joon-ho replied. "You're great at reading the battlefield, so it makes sense for you to take point. We just need to be in sync with you."
"Alright, let's see if you can keep up," Min-jae smirked, clearly pleased with the suggestion.
With the plan set, they logged into NexaRealm and entered their private training room. The simulated environment was a dense jungle, filled with narrow paths and hidden alcoves—perfect for testing their coordination.
As the match began, Min-jae immediately took charge, moving aggressively through the jungle with the confidence of a seasoned leader. The rest of the team followed, staying close but keeping enough distance to react to any sudden changes. Joon-ho stayed in the shadows, his Assassin instincts on high alert, while Soo-jin and Jin-kyong flanked from the sides. Baek-hyeon hung back, preparing his spells and keeping an eye on the battlefield.
Their first engagement came quickly. Min-jae spotted an enemy group moving through the trees and charged forward without hesitation. "Engaging now!" he barked over the comms, giving the team just enough warning to move into position.
Joon-ho watched as Min-jae's shield slammed into the enemy Tank, knocking them off balance. Soo-jin followed up with a powerful strike, while Jin-kyong unleashed a barrage of arrows from the side. Baek-hyeon timed his spells perfectly, freezing the enemy Fighter in place just as they were about to counterattack.
For a moment, it seemed like the strategy was working. They were coordinating better than before, moving as a unit rather than reacting to Min-jae's whims. But as the fight dragged on, the cracks began to show. Min-jae's impulsive nature still led him to take unnecessary risks, pushing too deep into enemy territory without proper backup. The team struggled to keep up with his erratic pace, and their formation began to falter.
"Fall back, Min-jae!" Joon-ho called out, seeing the danger, but Min-jae was already too deep into the fight.
The enemy team seized the opportunity, counterattacking with a coordinated assault that scattered Joon-ho's team. Jin-kyong and Baek-hyeon managed to pull back to safety, but Soo-jin was caught out of position, and forced into a desperate duel with the enemy Assassin. Min-jae, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by the enemy's focused fire, his health bar rapidly depleting.
Joon-ho, seeing the situation unfold, sprang into action. He used his Assassin's stealth to slip behind the enemy lines, picking off the enemy Mage before they could finish off Min-jae. It was a bold move, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide of the fight.
As the dust settled, the team regrouped, breathing heavily from the intense battle. Min-jae's aggressive leadership had given them some initial success, but the lack of a consistent plan had once again left them vulnerable.
"We need to talk about this," Jin-kyong said, her voice tinged with frustration. "This isn't working the way we hoped."
Joon-ho nodded, agreeing silently. They were trying to make the best of a difficult situation, but it was clear that more work was needed if they wanted to truly function as a team.
After catching their breath, the team gathered around to debrief. The tension in the air was palpable, with everyone trying to figure out how to address the issues they faced. Joon-ho broke the silence, his tone calm but firm.
"We've made progress, but we're still missing that synergy we need. Min-jae, your instincts are incredible, but we need to work together more closely. We can't afford to be caught off guard like that again."
"I get it, but when I see an opening, I have to take it. Waiting around for everyone else just slows us down," Min-jae crossed his arms, his expression unreadable.
"We're not asking you to wait, just to give us a bit more time to sync up. If we can find that balance, we'll be unstoppable. Let's use the rest of today to keep refining our coordination. We still have a chance to get this right before tomorrow," Soo-jin stepped in, her voice steady.
The team nodded in agreement, the resolve to improve clear in their eyes. They knew the road ahead was challenging, but with the clock ticking, they were determined to make every second count.
As the team moved back into position for another round, the atmosphere felt different—more focused, and more determined. Joon-ho took a deep breath, channelling Kang-dae's advice into his next set of calls. He watched as Min-jae hesitated for just a moment, glancing back at his teammates before charging forward.
It was subtle, but it was a start. With everyone a little more in tune, the game felt smoother, the chaos more controlled. It wasn't perfect, but for the first time, they felt like they were playing as a team, not just a group of individuals.