Joon-ho and Min-jae had barely taken a moment to catch their breath after clearing the last room when the next surprise emerged. New mannequins popped up, but these were different. Instead of charging forward or being launched at them, they raised what appeared to be rifles. The sight froze both of them for a split second, the surreal nature of it catching them off guard.
Joon-ho's eyes darted around, searching for any possible cover or escape route. The air was tense, his mind racing as he considered his options. Min-jae, on the other hand, instinctively gripped the shield he had found earlier, crouching slightly as though preparing to weather whatever might come.
A sharp sound cracked through the air. It wasn't the typical sound of machinery but something sharper—a gunshot. Joon-ho didn't wait to think. He dove to the side, rolling behind a low obstacle. Min-jae crouched fully, ducking his head behind his shield, his knuckles whitening from the grip.
Seconds passed like hours before the two dared to peek out. To their astonishment, none of the mannequins had hit them. Instead, the mannequins that had been poised to fire lay crumpled on the ground, faint smears of brightly coloured paint visible on their forms.
"Paintball bullets?" Joon-ho muttered, still trying to process what just happened.
Then a movement in the shadows caught their attention. Both tensed for another threat, but relief washed over them as Jin-kyong stepped into the light, her silhouette unmistakable.
"You two look like you've seen a ghost," she quipped, a confident grin spreading across her face as she held up the paintball gun in her hand.
Joon-ho sighed in relief, shaking his head.
"And here I thought we were done for."
As the three regrouped, a note fluttered down from above, attaching itself to one of the fallen mannequins. Jin-kyong picked it up, reading aloud.
"Congratulations, Marksman. Your precision and ability to cover your teammates from a distance have proven invaluable. Keep moving forward, together."
The three exchanged glances, each of them realizing how these challenges were subtly reinforcing their roles and teamwork. Joon-ho as the Assassin, Min-jae as the Tank, and now Jin-kyong as the Marksman—all were stepping into their elements naturally as if the boundaries between game and reality had all but vanished.
"Guess it's my turn to stick with you two now," Jin-kyong said, slinging the paintball gun across her shoulder.
"Glad to have you," Min-jae replied with a grin, standing tall again.
Together, they pressed on, their camaraderie growing stronger with each trial they faced.
The thought of Soo-jin and Baek-hyeon rejoining their group lingered at the edges of their minds as Joon-ho, Min-jae, and Jin-kyong continued down the dimly lit path. It was hard not to imagine the dynamic shift their reunion would bring. Each of them could already guess what kind of tests awaited.
Soo-jin, the Fighter—her role would undoubtedly be tested in a scenario demanding raw strength and close-quarters combat. She was fiery and relentless in NexaRealm, and the challenge would probably require her to demonstrate her tenacity and versatility. Baek-hyeon, the Mage, would likely have a test to prove his ability to assist the team and provide balance, both strategically and emotionally.
"If they're putting us through this, you can bet those two will get their moment too. I wonder what they've had to deal with," Jin-kyong smirked as she said.
"Probably something wild," Min-jae said, shaking his head. "I wouldn't put it past the lecturers to test Soo-jin with an arm-wrestling contest against a hydraulic mannequin."
Joon-ho chuckled but couldn't help stealing glances at the rifle Jin-kyong carried, the sleek paintball gun that had saved him and Min-jae earlier. The way she held it so naturally, moving her fingers as though checking invisible triggers, piqued his curiosity.
"You've been staring at this thing for a while," Jin-kyong said, noticing his sideways glances.
Joon-ho straightened up, scratching the back of his neck.
"I mean… it's just—you handled that like it's second nature. Shooting those mannequins, hitting every shot from that distance. That's not normal, you know?"
Jin-kyong raised a brow, tilting her head in amusement.
"Why wouldn't it be? I'm a Marksman in NexaRealm. The same principles apply. Aim, anticipate the movement, and control the recoil—or in this case, the slight pressure from the paintball shots. It's just muscle memory."
"Yeah, but this is real life," Joon-ho countered. "It's not like a random person handed a paintball gun could do what you did. I mean, even I wouldn't know where to start!"
She shrugged, the smirk on her face growing.
"That's because it's not random for me. The game gave me the fundamentals. My experience there carries over. If this were a real rifle, I'd probably still figure it out faster than you could."
"Fair point," Joon-ho admitted, though he wasn't entirely convinced.
Min-jae chimed in, glancing at his makeshift shield.
"It's kind of the same with this thing. I mean, most people would look at it and think, 'What do I do with this? Hold it? Strap it on?' But the second I saw the slot, I knew exactly how to use it because of NexaRealm."
Joon-ho nodded, gripping the pole he carried.
"Same here. I'm used to wielding daggers in the game, but the pole is not that far off. Plus I experimented with many weapons before. I just had to adjust for the weight and length. And, yeah, if you hit something solid, the vibration can mess you up if you don't handle it right. It's not about strength—it's knowing how to grip it and strike without taking the brunt of the force back."
"So, what you're saying is, NexaRealm prepared us for some weird real-world survival course. Like a training ground, we didn't even know we signed up for?" Jin-kyong laughed.
"Basically," Min-jae agreed. "It's like the lecturers are trying to blur the line. Making us think less about what's game and what's real—just act based on what we know and adapt."
The thought gave them pause, the idea of merging their learned instincts from a virtual world into reality settling into their minds. They pressed forward, prepared for whatever came next, but each of them couldn't help but wonder how their remaining teammates' roles would fit into this elaborate test.
The trio pushed forward into the next room, their steps echoing off the metallic walls. The lighting was dimmer here, the air heavier with a strange sense of anticipation. As they stepped into the centre of the space, mannequins emerged from all sides, their lifeless forms jerking into position like marionettes on strings.
Joon-ho, Min-jae, and Jin-kyong froze momentarily, exchanging glances. The sheer number of mannequins was overwhelming, and with Soo-jin and Baek-hyeon still unaccounted for, it was up to them to figure this out.
"Looks like it's just us," Joon-ho muttered, gripping his pole tightly.
"Good thing we've got a system," Jin-kyong replied, already scanning the room for a vantage point. "I'll cover from above."
Without waiting for a reply, she sprinted toward a stack of crates in the corner, climbing swiftly to a perch that gave her a clear view of the mannequins below. Joon-ho adjusted his grip on the pole, stepping forward with determination.
"I'll lead. Min-jae, keep anything off my back," Joon-ho said.
"Got it," Min-jae replied, readying his makeshift shield.
The mannequins lurched forward, their jerky, unnatural movements unsettling but predictable. Joon-ho didn't wait for them to get close. With a quick step forward, he swung the pole in a wide arc, slamming into the first mannequin's torso and sending it toppling backwards.
Behind him, Min-jae blocked another mannequin's advance with his shield, pushing it back with enough force to send it tumbling.
"Don't slow down, Joon-ho!"
Joon-ho didn't need the reminder. He spun the pole expertly, knocking another mannequin's legs out from under it before jabbing it into the chest of a third. Every strike was precise, his Assassin instincts from NexaRealm guiding his movements with calculated efficiency.
From above, Jin-kyong fired paintball after paintball, each shot hitting a mannequin squarely in the head or chest. Her accuracy was uncanny, and she systematically thinned the group from afar, taking out any mannequin that got too close to Min-jae or Joon-ho.
"Two coming from your left!" Jin-kyong called out.
Joon-ho pivoted, swinging the pole low to trip one mannequin while thrusting the other end upward into the second's torso. The vibrations from the impact resonated through his hands, but he adjusted his grip to keep control.
"On your six, Min-jae!"
Min-jae turned just in time to intercept a mannequin lunging toward him. He used the shield to block the impact, then shoved it forward with a grunt, sending the mannequin crashing into a wall.
The fight felt endless, each mannequin more persistent than the last. Sweat dripped down Joon-ho's brow as he swung again and again, his muscles burning from the effort. Min-jae stayed close, his shield a constant barrier between Joon-ho and the relentless mannequins.
"Almost there!" Jin-kyong shouted from above, her paintballs running low.
The room was finally beginning to clear. The last few mannequins staggered forward, their jerky movements losing their rhythm as if they were malfunctioning. With a final swing of his pole, Joon-ho took down the last mannequin in front of him. Min-jae slammed another into the ground, and Jin-kyong fired her last paintball to finish off the straggler.
The room fell silent, save for their heavy breathing. Joon-ho leaned on his pole, his chest heaving. Min-jae wiped sweat from his forehead, his shield dangling loosely at his side. Jin-kyong climbed down from her perch, her paintball gun slung over her shoulder.
"Is it just me, or are these things getting tougher?" Joon-ho asked, half-joking, half-serious.
"Not just you," Min-jae said, rolling his shoulder. "Feels like they're trying to push us to our limits."
"They're testing our teamwork, making sure we can adapt. We've got this, though," Jin-kyong nodded.
The three of them stood together, surveying the room now littered with fallen mannequins. They knew they couldn't rest for long. The next challenge was waiting just beyond the door, and with Soo-jin and Baek-hyeon still missing, they had no choice but to keep moving forward.
"Let's go," Joon-ho said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.
Together, they exited the room, their bond as a team stronger than ever, ready to face whatever awaited them next.