The matches had all ended, with the instructors emerging victorious in every single one. The students, who had come into the day with a mix of anticipation and determination, now stood in the aftermath of defeat, their spirits noticeably dampened. It wasn't just that they had lost; it was that they hadn't even come close to winning. Not a single game had been spared, not even a glimmer of hope left to cling to. The instructors had dominated, and the students had been humbled.
As the session came to a close, all fifty students gathered in the central hall of the game building, standing before the five instructors. The atmosphere was thick with disappointment, frustration, and confusion. The instructors, for their part, maintained a professional demeanour, though they could sense the heavy emotions in the room.
Just as Instructor Min-ji was about to dismiss them, a hand shot up from the crowd. A student stepped forward, his voice betraying the mix of confusion and frustration that everyone felt.
"If you're all so good, why don't you participate in the World NexaRealm Championship? Why are we the ones being sent out there to compete?"
The question hung in the air for a moment, and the instructors exchanged glances. It was a fair question, one they had anticipated might come up at some point. Instructor Seung-hyun took a step forward, clearing his throat.
"That's a good question," he began, his tone serious but not unkind. "And the answer is something we've all had to come to terms with ourselves."
He looked around at his fellow instructors, who nodded for him to continue.
"When we accepted our positions as instructors at NexaCorp Korea University, we agreed to abide by a set of rules. The most significant of those rules is that we are no longer eligible to participate in the World NexaRealm Championship."
A ripple of shock moved through the students, murmurs spreading among them. The very idea seemed impossible. These instructors, who had just demonstrated their unmatched skill, were barred from the competition.
Instructor Min-ji stepped forward, her expression softer than usual.
"I know this might be hard to understand," she said gently. "But there are reasons for it. When we were competing, Korea's performance in the World NexaRealm Championship wasn't what we hoped it would be. Despite being one of the founding nations of NexaCorp, we struggled on the global stage. The pressure from the media, from fans, from everyone, it was overwhelming."
"For three years, we gave it our all. We trained, we strategized, we fought with everything we had. But we couldn't break through. The expectations were crushing, and each loss felt like we were letting down an entire country," Instructor Ji-woo added.
"So when Director Hye-su approached us with this proposal," Instructor Dong-soo continued. "To step back from competing and instead help cultivate the next generation of talent, we took it. It wasn't an easy decision, but it came with its own set of rewards. We were given stable careers, with good wages, guaranteed housing, and the chance to pass on what we know to all of you."
The students listened in stunned silence. The reality of the situation was sinking in. Their instructors weren't just training them—they had sacrificed their dreams of glory to ensure the future of Korean esports.
"We believe in the potential of this country, and we believe in you. We've chosen to dedicate ourselves to helping you achieve what we couldn't. So yes, we've made sacrifices, but we did it because we want to see Korea rise to the top," Instructor Hye-won concluded.
The room was silent, the weight of the revelation settling over everyone. The instructors' words had given them a new perspective—one that carried the weight of responsibility and the drive to not just compete, but to win, for the sake of those who had paved the way for them.
As the instructors wrapped up their explanation, they could see the students processing the weight of what had just been shared. After a moment of silence, Instructor Seung-hyun nodded and dismissed them. The students began to disperse, moving slowly, still deep in thought. However, before everyone had completely left the room, Instructor Min-ji called out.
"Team 2, please stay behind. We need to have a word with you."
Joon-ho, Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Baek-hyeon, and Min-jae exchanged uneasy glances. They had a feeling this was coming, but it didn't make the situation any less uncomfortable. They lingered behind as the rest of the students filed out, their footsteps echoing down the hallways. Once the room had cleared, the five of them were led by Instructor Min-ji to a smaller, more private room down the corridor. The atmosphere was tense, the air heavy with anticipation.
The room they were brought to was simple, with a long table and enough chairs for all of them to sit. The five teammates took their seats, the silence between them palpable. Min-jae sat apart from the others, his posture defensive. Baek-hyeon kept his eyes down, nervously fidgeting with his fingers. Joon-ho, Soo-jin, and Jin-kyong exchanged glances, all of them knowing this conversation was necessary, but none of them eager for it.
It didn't take long for the instructors to join them. Instructor Seung-hyun, Instructor Ji-woo, and Instructor Min-ji entered the room, their expressions serious but not unkind. They took their seats across from the team, creating a sense of formality that underscored the gravity of the situation.
"We've brought you here because we need to address what happened during your match against us. It's clear to us that there are issues within your team that go beyond simple strategy or gameplay," Seung-hyun started, his voice calm but firm.
Min-jae bristled at the implication, but he said nothing, staring down at the table instead.
"We understand that everyone in this room is under immense pressure. You're all incredibly talented, and you've worked hard to get here. But talent alone isn't enough to succeed, especially not in a team-based game like NexaRealm. If you can't function as a unit, you won't be able to achieve your full potential," Instructor Ji-woo leaned forward slightly, her gaze moving between each of the team members.
"We noticed the tension between you all, especially after the match. The arguments, the frustration—it's understandable, but it's also counterproductive. We need to understand what's going on so that we can help you address it," Instructor Min-ji picked up where Ji-woo left off.
The room was silent for a moment, the weight of the instructors' words hanging in the air. Finally, Joon-ho spoke up, his voice steady but tinged with frustration.
"The problem is that Min-jae isn't listening to the team. He's making decisions on his own, and it's throwing everything off. We've tried to adapt, but it's not working."
"I'm just playing the game the way I know how. I'm trying to win, just like everyone else," Min-jae's eyes flashed with anger, and he finally spoke his tone defensively.
"But it's not just about you," Soo-jin interjected, her voice firm but not harsh. "We're supposed to be a team. If you keep going off on your own, it's like we're fighting two battles—one against the enemy, and one against your decisions."
The room fell silent again, the tension thick between them. The instructors watched the exchange closely, understanding that this was a pivotal moment for the team.
"We know this isn't easy, but you all need to find a way to work together. We're here to help you with that, but it's going to require effort from everyone, especially you, Min-jae. You have to be willing to meet your teammates halfway," finally, Instructor Seung-hyun spoke, his tone more gentle this time.
Min-jae shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but he didn't respond. The instructors exchanged a glance, recognizing that this was just the beginning of a longer conversation.
"We'll give you some time to think about what's been said," Instructor Ji-woo added. "But understand that this is critical to your success, not just in this competition, but in any future endeavours as well."
The meeting ended with the instructors leaving the room, giving the team some space to process everything that had been discussed. As the door closed behind them, the five teammates were left to sit in the lingering silence, each of them lost in their thoughts about what needed to happen next.
As the door clicked shut behind the instructors, the room was left in an uneasy silence. Joon-ho glanced around at his teammates, the weight of the conversation still heavy on his shoulders. He could see the tension etched on everyone's faces—Soo-jin's worried frown, Jin-kyong's clenched jaw, Baek-hyeon's downcast eyes, and Min-jae's hardened expression. The reality of their situation was sinking in. They were talented, no doubt, but without unity, that talent was wasted.
Finally, Soo-jin broke the silence, her voice quiet but resolute.
"We need to figure this out. We can't go on like this, or we'll end up just like the other teams—talented but broken." Her words hung in the air, a challenge and a plea wrapped into one. Joon-ho nodded in agreement, feeling the same determination growing inside him.
They couldn't afford to let their differences tear them apart. If they wanted to have any chance of making it to the World NexaRealm Championship, they had to find a way to come together, starting now.