The morning sun gleamed softly over the NexaCorp Korea University campus, casting long shadows as a sleek, dark bus idled near the main gate. The driver stood by the open storage compartment, ready to load up the bags of the chosen fifteen students. The teams would be staying off-site for an entire month, and each student carried a bag filled with clothes, training gear, and essentials, enough to last them for the intense training ahead.
One by one, they arrived, gathering by the bus with a mixture of excitement and nerves. The chosen teams—Team Fire, Team Aerial, and Team Shadow—had been selected after gruelling rounds, each person standing out as one of the top players in their respective roles. This wasn't just an ordinary training trip; it was the first step toward representing Korea on a global stage.
Joon-ho was one of the first to hand his bag over to the driver, who stacked it carefully inside the storage compartment. Kang-dae followed closely behind, his usual easygoing smile replaced by a look of steely focus. He gave Joon-ho a reassuring nod before settling in line. Soon, Soo-jin, Sang-hee, and Jin-kyong joined, each taking their turn with the driver and finding their place on the bus, greeting each other with a blend of camaraderie and friendly rivalry. They were well aware of the pressure on them to bring honour to Korea, and each of them carried it with pride.
Once the last bag was tucked away and each student had claimed a seat, the bus doors closed, and the vehicle eased out of the university gates. Inside, the quiet hum of the engine mixed with whispered conversations. Some glanced out the window, watching the familiar campus fade into the distance, while others exchanged nervous grins and tried to mask their anxieties with small talk.
The bus was organized with an air of subtle strategy, each team clustering in their designated sections. Team 1—Tae-young, Hana, Kyu, In-su, and Chin-hwa—took the front seats, chattering quietly as they went over preliminary strategies and tried to ease into the beginning of what was sure to be a demanding training month. Kyu, as usual, remained silent, giving only the occasional nod, while In-su animatedly discussed upcoming matches.
In the middle of the bus sat Team 2: Joon-ho, Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Min-jae, and Baek-hyeon. However, there was an undeniable tension rippling through the seats they occupied. Joon-ho and Min-jae barely made eye contact, both still reeling from the explosive argument during the preliminaries that nearly cost their team the slot in the championship.
The incident was still fresh, and each could sense the other's unease as they kept themselves occupied by gazing out the windows or scrolling through their phones. Adding another layer of tension, Baek-hyeon glared briefly at Min-jae from his seat; he hadn't forgotten the sucker punch he'd endured, a wound still raw on both a physical and emotional level.
Despite the silence, they all knew what was at stake. Soo-jin and Jin-kyong exchanged glances, each wondering how to break the ice before this unresolved rift poisoned the spirit of their team further. The pressure to represent Korea had never felt heavier, and with each silent moment, the reality sank deeper. If they didn't bridge this tension now, it would undermine not just the intense training period ahead, but the cohesion required to face the world's best in the championship.
At the back of the bus, Team 3 filled the seats: Kang-dae, Hyun-ae, Sang-hee, and two members, Kyung-mi, a calculated strategist with a knack for managing support roles, and Hi-ah, an agile, quick-witted Fighter known for her adaptability in high-stakes situations.
Team 3 had been the underdogs during preliminaries, narrowly edging out some of the stronger teams due to an unbreakable bond and knack for overcoming odds. They watched the seats ahead of them in quiet observation, sensing the tension that was apparent in Team 2's stiff posture and lack of conversation. It was a stark contrast to their dynamic, where jokes and quick smiles prevailed.
As the bus drove onward, the realization that these weeks could determine Korea's standing on the world stage hit everyone hard. The familiar landscape faded from the windows, replaced by rolling hills and the beginning of a secluded path that led to their off-site training centre. The road ahead, both literal and figurative, stretched dauntingly, and for Team 2, that road was filled with silent resolve—and unspoken challenges that only they could mend.
The bus rumbled down the winding, narrow road that snaked through dense forests and up rugged hills. Inside, the students settled into a muted sense of anticipation, some staring out the windows as pine trees blurred by, others shifting in their seats, minds racing ahead to the training that awaited them. It was just them—the fifteen chosen students—and the bus driver, who seemed unfazed by the heavy silence that permeated the bus.
The five main instructors—Director Hye-su, along with Seung-hyun, Ji-woo, Min-ji, Dong-soo, and Hae-won—had already arrived at the off-site training campus, leaving the students with little indication of what was to come. This choice to travel without instructors only added to the weight of responsibility in the air; each student knew that from here on out, it was up to them to uphold the reputation of Korea in the upcoming World NexaRealm Championship.
As the road grew bumpier, a sense of camaraderie sparked between the students, even between those who held grudges or shared unspoken resentments. The trees grew thicker, casting long shadows across the road, and the occasional bird cawed from a distance, piercing the quiet. Someone from Team 3—Hi-ah—tried to break the ice, throwing out a light-hearted comment about the "luxury ride," causing a few chuckles from those around her. Even Joon-ho smirked, and for a moment, the tension in the middle seats lessened. It was a reminder that, no matter their differences, they were all heading toward the same goal.
As they journeyed deeper into the wilderness, the students were brought back to reality by the sharp, unmistakable feeling of pressure settling over them. The off-site training grounds were intentionally remote, chosen specifically to create an environment of intense focus, cut off from any distractions of everyday life. The idea was to push them to their limits, mentally and physically, over the next month, so that by the time they returned, they would be forged into players capable of handling any challenge the world's best teams might throw at them.
Kyu, quiet as always, sat with a calm, almost meditative look as the bus jostled along. Chin-hwa, glancing over, couldn't help but envy his calmness, wondering if it came from confidence or the rare ability to simply stay grounded. In contrast, Baek-hyeon appeared restless, tapping his foot against the floor as though he was itching to get out and start training. Soo-jin noticed and nudged him with an elbow, grinning as she joked about how he was practically burning holes into the floor with his nervous energy.
Finally, after nearly two hours of twists and turns, the bus crested a hill, revealing an expansive, state-of-the-art training facility nestled in a valley. It was unlike anything any of them had seen before, a sprawling campus that boasted high-tech simulations, combat arenas, and vast green fields designed for team-building exercises. The campus seemed to exist in its world, distant from society, standing tall as a fortress of skill and discipline.
As the bus rolled to a stop before the off-site campus, the students found themselves faced with a facility that, though modest, held a unique charm. The building wasn't the gleaming, state-of-the-art complex some might have expected but rather a functional, grounded structure. Its plain concrete walls and simple design contrasted starkly with the sprawling NexaCorp Korea University, but the emblem on the building—bold and unmistakable—made it clear this was indeed NexaCorp's territory.
Stepping off the bus, the students gathered their bags, glancing around the unassuming grounds. No impressive architecture or manicured lawns; instead, it was practical, with training rooms and a few outdoor areas for specific drills. Yet, for all its simplicity, the place had a certain gravity, as if those who entered understood that they were here to shed any unnecessary distractions and focus solely on honing their skills.
Joon-ho shouldered his bag and took a breath, feeling a strange mix of calm and anticipation settle over him. Here, there were no flashy facilities to remind them of the grandeur of the world outside. It was only them, their commitment, and the stark walls around them, forming a quiet stage where each one of them would either rise to the occasion or fall short. His gaze briefly met Min-jae's, and while their past tensions lingered, the reality of the work ahead forced a silent agreement between them. Personal disagreements had to be left behind.
As they made their way to the entrance, Hye-su and the other instructors emerged, each with a look of resolve. Director Hye-su gave them a nod, her steady gaze a reminder of the purpose awaiting them within these unadorned walls.
"This is it," Joon-ho murmured, feeling the weight of expectation press down on him. This humble setting would be their proving ground, the start of a journey to the NexaRealm Championship, where every moment would count.