The next morning he arrived with a palpable sense of anticipation hanging in the air. Joon-ho stirred from his sleep, the faint light of dawn seeping through the blinds of room 205. As he sat up, he noticed Kang-dae already up and stretching, while Kyu was calmly sitting on his bed, tying his shoelaces with his usual quiet focus.
"Morning, guys," Joon-ho mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Morning, Joon-ho. Ready for whatever they throw at us today?" Kang-dae flashed him a grin.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Joon-ho replied, forcing a smile. He couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was a crucial day that could determine their fate in the selection process.
Kyu nodded silently, his expression unreadable as always. His calm demeanour steadied Joon-ho, who was grateful for the presence of such a composed and reliable friend. The three of them quickly went through their morning routines, the familiarity of their movements bringing a sense of normalcy to the otherwise tense morning.
After getting dressed and grabbing their gear, they made their way out of the dormitory and towards the game building. The campus was already coming to life with students making their way to various classes and activities, but the trio had only one destination in mind.
The closer they got to the game building, the more focused they became. Joon-ho could feel the intensity in the air, not just from himself but from his friends as well. They knew that today was going to be a pivotal day in the competition.
As they arrived at the game building, they saw other students filtering in, some in groups, others walking alone, all with determined expressions on their faces. The atmosphere was charged, and everyone knew that the stakes were higher than ever.
The three of them entered the main hall, where the familiar sight of the other competitors greeted them. Conversations buzzed around the room, but the tension was undeniable. Everyone was on edge, wondering what the instructors had in store for them that day.
Joon-ho exchanged glances with Kang-dae and Kyu, each of them silently steeling themselves for the challenge ahead. They were ready, but the unknowns still lingered. What would the instructors test them on today? Would their hard work and training pay off? These questions swirled in Joon-ho's mind as they took their places among the other students, waiting for the day's events to unfold.
The five main instructors had returned, their presence commanding immediate attention as they entered the game building. Their return marked the beginning of the next phase of the selection process, a phase that had everyone on edge. Joon-ho, along with his teammates and the rest of the competitors, knew that today was going to be unlike anything they had faced so far.
As the instructors addressed the students, the tension in the room thickened. Seung-hyun, the best Fighter instructor in Korea, took the lead, his voice carrying authority and a hint of challenge.
"Today, you'll face a new test. Each team will be fighting against us—your instructors."
A murmur rippled through the gathered students. The idea of going head-to-head with the instructors, who were not only their teachers but also some of the best players in the country, was daunting. They had watched these instructors dominate in televised matches and online streams, their skills far beyond anything the students had encountered.
"The rules are simple," Ji-woo, the preeminent Marksman coach, continued. "First to get an elimination wins the match. We'll be doing this with each of the ten teams, so be prepared."
Joon-ho exchanged glances with Soo-jin and Jin-kyong. The pressure was palpable. This was no ordinary match; it was a test of everything they had learned, and a chance to prove themselves against the best.
With instructions clear, the students were sent to their designated rooms within the game building. Joon-ho and his teammates—Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Baek-hyeon, and Min-jae—entered their training room. The tension was thick as they prepared for what was ahead.
Each team member adorned their Realm devices, the familiar hum of the technology vibrating in Joon-ho's ears as he settled into his station. The moment the devices synced, they were transported into the vivid, sprawling world of NexaRealm. The lush landscapes and detailed environments of the game felt both familiar and foreign as if the stakes had somehow made everything sharper, more intense.
They didn't have long to wait. The instructors materialized within the game, their avatars as formidable as their real-life counterparts. Joon-ho could see the confidence in their stances, and the calm readiness of those who had been through countless battles and emerged victorious.
The first team was called forward: Tae-young, Hana, In-su, Chin-hwa, and Kyu. The rest of the students, including Joon-ho's team, watched the screens in their rooms, studying every movement, and every strategy employed by both sides. The instructors moved with a fluidity and precision that was mesmerizing, their teamwork seamless. Tae-young's team put up a valiant effort, their coordination impressive, but the gap in experience was clear.
As the first match ended, Joon-ho and his team huddled together, their minds racing with ideas and strategies.
"We need to adapt quickly," Joon-ho said, his voice steady but intense. "They're on another level, but if we work together, we can find a way to push through."
Min-jae, uncharacteristically quiet, seemed deep in thought. Soo-jin and Jin-kyong nodded, their focus sharpening. Even Baek-hyeon, usually hesitant, looked more resolved. They knew this was their moment to prove themselves, to show that they could compete with the best.
With their strategy set, they waited for their turn, the tension building as each team took their shot at the instructors. The room buzzed with anticipation, every student acutely aware that this was more than just another match—it was their chance to shine, or to falter under the weight of expectation.
The tension in the air was palpable as Team 1 prepared to face the instructors. This was no ordinary match; it was a clash of titans. Tae-young, known as the best Assassin in Korea, had dethroned Instructor Dong-soo from that very title—a fact that added a layer of personal stakes to this fight. Everyone knew that this match would be one for the books.
As the match began, both teams materialized in the Nexus Arena, a sprawling battleground that was a mixture of open fields, dense forests, and ancient ruins. Team 1, composed of Tae-young as the Assassin, Hana as the Fighter, In-su as the Mage, Chin-hwa as the Marksman, and Kyu as the Roamer, immediately adopted a tight formation. In-su, the team's in-game leader, called the shots with precision, his voice steady as he directed their movements.
"Stick together. We can't afford to get picked off one by one," In-su commanded, his focus unyielding.
The instructors, however, took a completely different approach. Seung-hyun, the Fighter, led the charge, his aggressive playstyle setting the tone for the match. Ji-woo, the Marksman, took a high ground position, offering cover fire and maintaining a commanding view of the battlefield. Min-ji, the Roamer, darted through the terrain, her movements unpredictable and erratic, keeping Team 1 on their toes. Dong-soo, the Assassin, moved with the deadly grace of someone who had mastered the role over years of competitive play, while Hye-won, the Mage, controlled the battlefield with calculated precision, casting spells that seemed to anticipate Team 1's every move.
Despite the risk of losing the match with just one elimination, the instructors were fearless. They spread out across the map, playing with a level of confidence and aggression that could only come from their vast experience. Their synergy was impeccable, each player acting as an extension of the other, moving fluidly to adapt to the rapidly changing dynamics of the battlefield.
Tae-young, leading the charge for Team 1, knew the pressure was on. His team moved as a unit, trying to leverage their tight formation to protect each other and create opportunities. But the instructors were relentless. They didn't hesitate to split up, engaging in multiple skirmishes simultaneously, forcing Team 1 to adapt on the fly.
In-su tried to keep the team coordinated, calling out enemy positions and setting up plays.
"Hana, flank left. Tae-young, watch Dong-soo's movements—he'll try to isolate you!"
Tae-young's eyes scanned the battlefield, searching for Dong-soo. The older Assassin was elusive, slipping in and out of sight with practised ease. When their eyes finally met, the two locked into a duel that had everyone on the edge of their seats. It was a battle of old versus new, the master versus the prodigy.
Meanwhile, Seung-hyun's aggression was putting immense pressure on Hana and Kyu. Seung-hyun didn't hold back, forcing Hana to rely on her defensive skills to weather the storm. Kyu, using his versatility as a Roamer, tried to support Hana while keeping an eye on the instructors' movements, but it was clear they were being stretched thin.
Chin-hwa and Ji-woo engaged in a long-range duel, arrows and bullets flying as each tried to outmanoeuvre the other. But Ji-woo's experience shone through as he consistently out-positioned Chin-hwa, forcing him into defensive play.
As the skirmishes continued, it became evident that the instructors were in their element. Their split strategy was working—each of them was forcing Team 1 into difficult situations, exploiting every weakness and mistake. Despite their best efforts, Team 1 found themselves increasingly on the back foot, struggling to keep up with the instructors' relentless pace.
Dong-soo finally made his move, striking at Tae-young with a flurry of lethal attacks. Tae-young, though younger and faster, was caught off guard by Dong-soo's unpredictability. The older Assassin's years of experience became evident as he manoeuvred Tae-young into a vulnerable position. Just as Dong-soo was about to deliver the finishing blow, In-su intervened with a well-timed spell, buying Tae-young a crucial moment to escape.
But the pressure was mounting. The instructors' aggressive tactics were beginning to wear down Team 1. They had managed to avoid any eliminations so far, but it was clear they were fighting an uphill battle.
The match had everyone watching in anticipation. The tension was electric, with each team trying to outthink and outplay the other. But as the minutes ticked by, it was becoming clear that the instructors' experience was giving them the upper hand. They weren't just fighting—they were teaching, showing Team 1 the gap that still existed between them and the top-tier players.
Finally, the decisive moment came. Seung-hyun, with a final burst of aggression, broke through Hana's defences, landing a powerful strike that left her vulnerable. In that instant, Ji-woo capitalized, landing the fatal shot that ended the match. The screen flashed with the instructors' victory, and the arena fell silent for a moment.
Team 1 had fought valiantly, but the instructors had proven why they were the best. The lesson was clear: to reach the top, they still had much to learn.