As the three teams gathered at the base of the towering wall, the earlier pictogram they'd seen finally made sense. What had looked like a chaotic sketch now seemed unmistakably clear in hindsight—it had been a crude image of a climber on a wall, marking the first obstacle. But the poorly drawn sign hadn't helped much, and most of them had laughed it off, not thinking twice. Now, staring up at the intimidating height of the wall, they weren't laughing.
The wall had only a single path up, marked by colour-coded grips that usually indicate different levels of difficulty in real wall climbing. Here, though, there were no alternate routes, no beginner or advanced paths. Just one unyielding route to the top, daring all fifteen students to conquer it as a team. For many of them, wall climbing was unfamiliar territory. They were fit, sure, but endurance and flexibility weren't the same as technical climbing skills.
The teams huddled up, discussing how to approach this.
In-su, Tae-young, Hana, Kyu, and Chin-hwa sat together, the quiet murmuring of other teams around them as they sized up the task. Tae-young, his confidence always running high, tapped a fist against his open palm.
"Alright, it's one path up. We just take turns, yeah?" he suggested, looking at the others.
In-su shook his head slightly, eyeing the wall.
"Not that simple. If we all go one at a time, it'll take too long, and we don't know what's waiting at the top. We should have some up there first, helping the others. I think Hana's agility could come in handy here."
Hana, though slightly nervous, gave a firm nod. She was the type to accept a challenge, even if it made her uneasy.
"Alright, I'll go up first. But… if anyone feels they're slowing down, don't push too hard. Just call out for help," she said, glancing at Kyu and Chin-hwa, who were both sizing up the wall.
Kyu stayed silent, his eyes flickering between the wall's height and his teammates, clearly already planning his route.
Midway down the line, Joon-ho's team gathered in a tighter circle, a bit more serious. Joon-ho was all focused, eyes narrowed as he took in every detail of the wall's features.
"Listen," he began, his tone more commanding than conversational. "We'll go in pairs. Soo-jin, you go first, and I'll follow close behind. Min-jae, Baek-hyeon, you two bring up the rear. And Jin-kyong, stay in the middle—you can help whoever might need it."
Soo-jin looked up, her expression showing her usual determination. Min-jae nodded, his usually relaxed attitude sharpened for the task. He was feeling the weight of teamwork.
Jin-kyong let out a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Let's just stay close," she said softly, glancing at Baek-hyeon, who nodded tightly. "It's a challenge, sure, but we're all fit."
Kang-dae, Sang-hee, Kyung-mi, Hyun-ae, and Hi-ah stood at the back, quietly observing. Kang-dae, as always, was a calming presence, his gaze steady as he looked from face to face.
"We'll stick close, all five of us," he said. "This isn't about speed—it's about getting up there as a unit. We'll watch each other."
Hyun-ae, nodding along, added.
"We can use some signals, like we talked about before. If anyone feels like they can't grip, or if there's an issue, just tap the wall twice."
Kyung-mi, who rarely spoke up, nodded in agreement.
"And we go one after another, so nobody's too far ahead."
Hi-ah gave a small, nervous nod. Their quiet solidarity helped settle her nerves.
With strategies set, all three teams turned to face the wall, the enormity of it pressing down on them as they approached the task. This would be a test not only of their physical strength but of their coordination, trust, and willingness to help one another through the challenge ahead. And as they took their first steps, every movement felt like the beginning of something far larger.
Just as the teams approached the wall, ready to tackle their first climb, a sharp voice echoed across the grounds, halting them in their tracks.
"Hold up!" Instructor Seung-hyun called, gesturing for their attention. "Before any of you start climbing, put on the harnesses."
The students looked at each other in surprise. Of course, they hadn't thought it'd be this simple, but they hadn't expected additional gear either. They quickly made their way over to the harness stand, where the instructors handed out climbing harnesses and adjusted each student's fit, testing the belts and clips with practised efficiency.
"Can't have any of you getting injured now," Instructor Seung-hyun continued with a half-smile. "The World NexaRealm Championship is in a month. It'd be a shame to have any of our future champions out of commission so early."
As each student clipped into their harness, they felt the first signs of excitement—and apprehension—kick in. But as they finished, they noticed something odd about the setup. There was a single line connecting each harness to the next, a rope that bound all five members of each team together. The weight of realization settled over them: if one person stumbled, they'd all be pulled back. Each of their movements would impact the rest of the team, making their climb a coordinated effort instead of an individual challenge.
In-su stared at the rope between him and his teammates, brows knitting in frustration and reconsideration. The original plan to send Hana up first suddenly felt riskier. If she slipped or lost her grip, the whole team would be affected.
"So, this changes things," Tae-young muttered his confident tone from earlier now tinged with caution. "We can't have just one person leading the way. We'll all need to move in sync."
In-su nodded, thinking fast.
"Hana, you're still at the front, but we need to be close enough to catch each other. Tae-young, stay right behind her. I'll be in the middle, with Kyu and Chin-hwa bringing up the rear. If anyone falters, the rest of us can stabilize."
Kyu gave a silent nod, eyes serious as he evaluated the wall again, and Chin-hwa adjusted his grip, clearly ready for whatever came next. They weren't moving solo anymore; they were moving as one.
Joon-ho's group was dealing with the same realization. Their initial tactic of pairing off wasn't going to cut it now. He clenched his jaw, looking at the rope that bound him to Soo-jin in front and Min-jae behind him.
"Well, this is going to be tricky," Joon-ho said, half to himself. "If one of us pulls too hard or slips, we'll take everyone down."
Soo-jin nodded, a flash of worry in her eyes.
"Maybe we need to shorten the space between each of us, so we don't swing each other off balance."
"Good idea," Min-jae agreed. "And let's keep our pace steady—no sudden moves, no rushing. If someone has a tough spot, we'll pause, regroup, and move together."
Jin-kyong and Baek-hyeon were already practising small hand signals they could use, tapping the harness rope twice if anyone needed help or at a slower pace. Joon-ho took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the rope tug slightly as they adjusted their positions. A lot was riding on trust now, and it forced a certain unity among them that hadn't been there before.
Kang-dae's team was already quiet, and this new constraint only made them more focused. He looked at each of his team members, sensing their uncertainty but also their resolve. If they hadn't been bound by the line, Kang-dae might have just taken the lead and let the others follow, but now, they needed a new plan.
"This rope means we're only as strong as our weakest link," he said calmly. "So, no one pushes ahead alone. I'll lead, but we stay close. Sang-hee, you're right behind me. Hyun-ae, Hi-ah, and Kyung-mi, you bring up the back, and if any of you slip, the rest of us will be here to hold you steady."
Hi-ah looked relieved at his words, and Hyun-ae gave him a confident nod. Kyung-mi, though still looking pensive, gave a small, firm nod as well. They were all in this together now, and any hesitation would ripple through the whole team. Every handhold, every movement mattered.
The teams took a few moments to adjust, shifting their stances, exchanging glances, and feeling the weight of the single line that tied each of them to their teammates. Their initial plans, personal goals and solo strategies were replaced by a shared focus on unity and trust.
As they prepared to ascend, each team felt a shift in mindset—no longer an individual race but a shared mission to reach the top. The students exchanged one last look, a silent acknowledgement that the next step was only the beginning of something much bigger than themselves.
With their new plan set, each team took a deep breath, fingers tightening around the first handholds. The cold, gritty texture of the wall felt unyielding beneath their fingertips, a silent reminder of the daunting climb ahead. Muscles tensed, hearts beat louder, and a collective silence fell as they took their first synchronized steps.
The weight of the harness pulled ever so slightly, binding them closer, a tangible reminder of the trust they'd placed in one another. Step by step, they began their ascent, feeling both the strain of the challenge and the steadying presence of their team beside them. The wall loomed high above, but they pressed on—each tug of the rope a pulse of unity, each foothold a promise to keep pushing forward, together.