With Team 2 reeling from their defeat, the instructors prepared to face the remaining teams. As they moved on to challenge the next group, the tension in the air thickened. Joon-ho, Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Baek-hyeon, and Min-jae sat in silence, watching as other teams tried their luck against the instructors. Each team fought bravely, but the instructors' experience and synergy were undeniable. One by one, the teams fell, leaving a trail of exhausted and disappointed students.
Meanwhile, the cracks in Team 2 were growing deeper. Min-jae's impulsive playstyle had cost them dearly, and his unwillingness to listen to feedback had turned frustration into outright hostility. Jin-kyong and Soo-jin exchanged glances, their unspoken agreement to stay united against Min-jae's defiance clear. Baek-hyeon, on the other hand, seemed caught in the middle, his usual confidence shaken by the conflict.
As they watched the other teams fight, Joon-ho couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The thought of another match, with the same issues unresolved, made him uneasy. He knew they needed to address their problems head-on, but the day's events had left everyone too drained to confront them now.
The instructors continued their relentless assault on the remaining teams, and with each defeat, the pressure on Team 2 grew. They had to find a way to work together, but with the wounds of their last match still fresh, it seemed like an insurmountable task. The silence among them was heavy, filled with unspoken accusations and simmering anger.
Joon-ho sat quietly, his thoughts spiralling as he replayed their match against the instructors. He could still feel the sting of their quick defeat, but what gnawed at him most was the disarray within his team. As a natural leader, Joon-ho always prided himself on keeping a level head, but today had pushed himself to his limit. He knew that if they couldn't find a way to unite, their chances of making it to the World NexaRealm Championship would be over before they even began. Yet, he struggled with how to approach Min-jae without escalating the situation further.
Soo-jin, seated beside Joon-ho, was fuming. Her usually sharp and confident demeanour was overshadowed by a wave of frustration. She couldn't believe Min-jae's recklessness had led them to such a humiliating loss. Soo-jin had always thrived on teamwork and coordination, and seeing those principles disregarded so blatantly left her feeling disillusioned. She knew she had to support Joon-ho, but part of her was tempted to let Min-jae self-destruct and watch him learn the hard way.
Jin-kyong, always the mediator, found herself caught between her loyalty to her friends and her natural inclination to keep the peace. She had joined NexaCorp Korea University to become the best Marksman, but now she was spending more time managing personalities than honing her skills. Jin-kyong felt the burden of holding the team together, but the ongoing tension was beginning to wear her down. She wondered if there was any way to get through to Min-jae without tearing the team apart.
Baek-hyeon was the quietest of the group, his earlier confidence shaken by the confrontation and his insecurities bubbling to the surface. He felt like he was failing the team—not just in gameplay but in supporting them emotionally. The pressure to perform well as a Mage had always been intense, but now, with the added strain of internal conflict, he was starting to doubt himself. He knew he had to step up, but the fear of making things worse kept him on the sidelines, unsure of how to contribute meaningfully.
Min-jae, on the other hand, was simmering with resentment. He saw the others' frustration as an attack on his abilities, a challenge to his authority within the game. Min-jae's pride had always been his driving force, pushing him to be the best, but now it was also his biggest obstacle. He knew he was good—he had the skills and the title to prove it—but being part of a team didn't come naturally to him. Min-jae felt isolated, not just because of the others' criticism, but because he didn't understand why they couldn't see things his way. The tension was suffocating, and he was beginning to question whether being part of this team was worth it.
Meanwhile, the instructors engaged in combat with the next team, the intensity of the match was palpable. Instructor Seung-hyun, the renowned Fighter instructor, was in the thick of the action, leading the charge with his usual precision and ferocity. The students they were facing were formidable, pushing the instructors to stay sharp. But in the heat of battle, Instructor Ji-woo, the Marksman coach, nearly made a critical mistake. Her positioning had left her exposed, and if not for Instructor Min-ji's quick intervention as Roamer, the students might have capitalized on the error and scored an unexpected win.
The instructors quickly regrouped, their communication fluid and instinctive, allowing them to recover from the slip-up without the students even realizing how close they had come to victory. Once the match concluded, with the instructors securing another win, they gathered in their private virtual space to discuss what had just happened.
"That was close," Instructor Ji-woo admitted, her usual calm demeanour tinged with a hint of frustration. "I lost my focus for just a second, and it almost cost us."
"We can't afford mistakes like that," Instructor Min-ji responded, her tone serious. "These students are getting better with every match. If we're not careful, they'll catch us off guard."
"It's not just about the students' skill level. The tension in Team 2 threw us off too. We weren't expecting that kind of internal conflict so early in the process," Instructor Dong-soo, the Assassin mentor, nodded in agreement.
"We've been so focused on evaluating their technical abilities that we might have overlooked the dynamics within the teams. A team that can't work together, no matter how skilled, won't stand a chance on the world stage," Instructor Hye-won, the Mage trainer, leaned back, her brow furrowed in thought.
"We need to address this before it escalates further. It's not just about selecting the best individual players—we need to ensure they can function as a cohesive unit. If there's discord within the team, it could undermine everything we've worked towards," Instructor Seung-hyun, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
The group fell into a contemplative silence, each instructor considering their role in the development of the students. They had always known that selecting the best team to represent Korea would be challenging, but the internal strife within Team 2 had caught them off guard.
"This is on us. We pushed them hard, but we didn't account for the pressure cooker environment we created. We need to step in and mediate before the tension breaks them apart," Instructor Min-ji finally broke the silence.
"Agreed," Instructor Dong-soo said, his voice firm. "We need to sort this out, not just for Team 2, but for all the students. They need to see that working together is just as important as individual skill."
"Let's take it step by step. After the final team match today, we'll bring all the teams together. We can address the issue head-on and make it clear that unity is non-negotiable if they want to represent Korea," Instructor Hye-won nodded.
With a renewed sense of purpose, the instructors prepared themselves for the next match. They knew that their role wasn't just to train these students in the game but to prepare them for the challenges of teamwork and collaboration. The weight of the responsibility they carried settled on their shoulders, but they were determined to guide their students through it, ensuring that Korea would have a team worthy of the World NexaRealm Championship.
Instructor Seung-hyun led the charge again, but now with a more cautious strategy, ensuring that no gaps were left for the students to exploit. Instructor Ji-woo, still feeling the sting of her earlier mistake, played with more calculated precision, her shots landing with pinpoint accuracy. Instructor Min-ji roamed the battlefield with her usual grace, her movements weaving between support and offence, covering for any potential weaknesses. Instructor Dong-soo and Instructor Hye-won played with an intensity that signalled to the students just how serious the competition was.
The match was fierce, but the instructors dominated, their experience and cohesion shining through. They secured another victory, but the feeling of triumph was tempered by the awareness of the larger task at hand.
After the match, the instructors took a moment to regroup. The tension that had been evident earlier had now transformed into a collective determination. They knew the road ahead would require more than just training; it would require them to step into the roles of mentors, mediators, and even counsellors for these students.
"We'll bring everyone together after this," Instructor Seung-hyun said, his voice steady. "We'll address what happened with Team 2, but we'll also set the stage for what's expected moving forward. They need to know that this is about more than just individual glory."
"Agreed," Instructor Min-ji added. "We'll emphasize that the only way forward is together."
As they prepared for the next phase of the day, the instructors felt a renewed sense of purpose. They were not just training players; they were shaping the next generation of champions. And with that weight, they knew they had to lead by example—through unity, strength, and unwavering support for one another.