"And we are live!" Eric's energetic voice boomed as the virtual battlefield of Elimination Blitz materialized before the audience. The holographic display showcased the sprawling map of Cliffside Confrontation, a perilous terrain of jagged cliffs, winding paths, and precarious ledges that promised intense close-quarters combat.
Celine chimed in, her voice smooth yet brimming with anticipation.
"Welcome back, everyone. The second match in this best-of-five series is finally underway, and the stakes are higher than ever. The game mode? Elimination Blitz. This is where strategies are traded for split-second decisions, and hesitation can cost you the game."
"Exactly, Celine," Eric added. "No holding back, no safe zones. The team with the highest kills when the timer hits zero wins the round. Passive play? Not an option. We're on the world stage here—playing scared won't win you matches, and it certainly won't earn you respect."
The camera panned over the Afghan team's spawn area. Their newly revamped lineup looked sharp and ready, a perfect fit for the chaotic nature of this mode. Khalid and Amina had stepped out, replaced by Yusuf and Rami, both Fighters, rounding out the hyper-aggressive composition with three Fighters, a Mage, and a Marksman.
Eric leaned forward, analyzing the change.
"Afghanistan is doubling down on aggression. No Tank, no Assassin—just pure offensive firepower. With Yusuf and Rami joining Omar, this triple-fighter setup means they'll be all over the map, looking to force engagements and overwhelm Korea with sheer numbers in every skirmish."
"They're playing to their strengths, no doubt about it," Celine remarked. "Their Mage, Soraya, and Marksman, Adil, will be providing the mid-range and long-range damage, while the Fighters create havoc up close. It's a bold move, but if any team can make it work, it's Afghanistan."
The camera then shifted to Korea's side. Team 2, composed of Joon-ho, Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Min-jae, and Baek-hyeon, appeared calm and focused. Their roles mirrored the first team's balance: Assassin, Fighter, Marksman, Roamer, and Mage.
"Korea, on the other hand," Eric noted. "Has stuck to their traditional lineup. No surprises here. Their second team is just as balanced as their first, which means they'll be looking to play the long game—capitalizing on coordination and timing rather than raw aggression."
"It's a stark contrast. Afghanistan's unpredictability versus Korea's consistency. But in Elimination Blitz, can a balanced lineup keep up with a team that's built for chaos? That's the big question," Celine nodded.
As the match began, both teams immediately fanned out across the map, taking up positions to scout and set up their opening moves.
"Afghanistan is wasting no time!" Eric exclaimed as the trio of Fighters—Yusuf, Rami, and Omar—moved swiftly along the eastern edge of the map, cutting through the narrow paths like a pack of predators. "They're splitting into pairs, with Soraya and Adil holding back to cover the centre."
"Korea, on the other hand, is taking a more cautious approach," Celine observed. "Joon-ho and Soo-jin are moving together along the western flank, while Jin-kyong and Baek-hyeon hold the centre. Min-jae, their Roamer, is acting as the bridge, ready to support either side as needed."
"But caution can only get you so far in this mode," Eric pointed out. "At some point, Korea will have to meet Afghanistan head-on. The question is—who's going to land the first blow?"
The answer came quickly. On the eastern side, Afghanistan's Fighters encountered Joon-ho and Soo-jin near a chokepoint, and the first clash erupted.
"Here we go!" Eric's voice rose as the skirmish unfolded. "Yusuf dives in with a devastating ground smash, forcing Joon-ho to backflip out of range. Meanwhile, Rami is already closing the gap on Soo-jin, swinging his dual axes in wide, punishing arcs."
"Joon-ho is buying time, darting in and out of cover while Soo-jin holds her ground. But they're outnumbered, and Afghanistan's relentless pressure is forcing them into a defensive position," Celine added.
Across the map, Adil and Soraya rained down damage from the high ground, forcing Korea's centre duo to stay pinned.
"Korea is being squeezed here," Eric noted. "Afghanistan's aggression is dictating the pace, and Korea's balanced lineup is struggling to keep up."
But just when it seemed like Afghanistan had complete control, a subtle shift occurred. Min-jae, Korea's Roamer, had quietly manoeuvred behind the Afghan Mage and Marksman, using the chaos of the frontline skirmishes as cover.
"And here comes the counterplay!" Celine exclaimed as Min-jae unleashed a crowd-control ability, stunning Soraya and Adil for a crucial few seconds.
"That's Korea's coordination coming into play," Eric said. "Min-jae's disruption is giving Jin-kyong and Baek-hyeon the opening they need to turn the tide in the centre."
As the camera zoomed out, it became clear that Korea was adapting to Afghanistan's aggression, using calculated plays and precise teamwork to keep themselves in the game. The tension in the arena was palpable as the timer ticked down, signalling that the real fight was only just beginning.
Afghanistan quickly took to the Cliffside Confrontation map as if it were their home turf, their hyper-aggressive strategy perfectly suited to the map's rugged design. The towering cliffs and treacherous pathways left little room for escape, playing directly into their hands.
After the initial clashing, both teams retreated safely and regrouped. Now, the Afghan Fighters, Yusuf, Rami, and Omar, split into two pairs. Yusuf and Rami roamed the upper pathways, exploiting the high ground to ambush unsuspecting opponents, while Omar patrolled the narrow mountain trails below, cutting off any escape routes. Soraya and Adil held their positions near the centre, raining down consistent damage with pinpoint accuracy. The synergy between their roles was seamless, and it showed in their movements, calculated and deliberate.
"Look at this!" Eric exclaimed as the camera panned to Yusuf and Rami, perched on a narrow ledge overlooking a critical choke point. "They're using the high ground to their advantage, turning this rugged terrain into a death trap for anyone trying to pass."
"And it's working. Korea's second team is struggling to find safe paths across the map. Every narrow bridge, every cliffside trail—they're all potential ambush zones," Celine added.
The first elimination of the round came when Joon-ho and Soo-jin, trying to regroup with their team, ventured too close to the eastern cliffs.
"Yusuf strikes again!" Eric shouted as Yusuf launched a devastating leap from the high ground, catching Joon-ho completely off guard. His impact shattered the fragile footing, causing Joon-ho to stumble dangerously close to the edge.
"Joon-ho tries to recover," Celine narrated. "But here comes Rami with a follow-up strike! And—there it is! Joon-ho is out!"
The holographic scoreboard was updated immediately:
[Joon-ho Kang: Eliminated!]
[Afghanistan - 1, Korea - 0.]
The audience erupted into cheers and gasps as Joon-ho's avatar dissipated, leaving Korea at an immediate disadvantage.
"And just like that," Eric said, his tone almost admiring. "Afghanistan takes the lead. They're making every inch of this map work in their favour."
Korea, now down a player, was forced to adapt. Soo-jin managed to retreat, but not without taking considerable damage. Min-jae moved quickly to provide support, his shielding abilities buying just enough time for Soo-jin to escape into a safer area of the map.
"Korea is regrouping," Celine observed. "They're clearly trying to reset and find a way to counter Afghanistan's aggressive positioning, but it's not going to be easy with this map working against them."
Meanwhile, Soraya and Adil maintained control of the centre, their long-range attacks making it nearly impossible for Korea's Mage, Baek-hyeon, to set up any counterplay. The narrow trails meant there was little room for manoeuvring, and Baek-hyeon found himself constantly dodging Soraya's arcane projectiles.
The tide momentarily shifted when Min-jae, Korea's Roamer, orchestrated a clever flank. Spotting Adil overextended, Min-jae looped around one of the cliffs and used his stunning ability to freeze the Marksman in place.
"Min-jae with the opening!" Eric shouted. "This could be Korea's chance to even the score!"
Baek-hyeon seized the opportunity, casting a powerful AoE attack that overwhelmed Adil, eliminating him before Soraya could intervene.
"Adil is down!" Celine exclaimed. "And Korea brings it back to even—one elimination apiece!"
The scoreboard updated:
[Adil Bernlitom: Eliminated!]
[Afghanistan - 1, Korea - 1.]
However, Afghanistan wasn't about to let their momentum falter. Yusuf and Rami quickly adjusted, descending from the high ground to rejoin Omar in the lower trails. Together, the three Fighters launched a coordinated assault on Korea's remaining frontline players, Soo-jin and Min-jae.
The narrow pathways worked against Korea here. With no room to retreat, Soo-jin was forced into a desperate last stand. She managed to fend off Yusuf momentarily, but Rami's relentless aggression overwhelmed her defenses.
"Soo-jin is down!" Eric yelled as the scoreboard updated again.
[Soo-jin Kim: Eliminated!]
[Afghanistan - 2, Korea - 1.]
"And that's the power of this aggressive composition," Celine added. "Afghanistan is using the map to isolate Korea's players, forcing them into tight spaces where they can't escape or reposition."
With time ticking down, Korea found themselves on the back foot, scrambling to find a way to counter Afghanistan's dominance over the map. The audience was on the edge of their seats, the tension palpable as the round continued to unfold.
Afghanistan had made their statement—they were here to fight, and they weren't backing down. The rugged terrain of Cliffside Confrontation had become their playground, and Korea would need every ounce of teamwork and strategy to turn the tide.