The clock ticked relentlessly, each passing second hammering down on Team 2 of Korea like a war drum. Afghanistan led the eliminations with a score of 7 to 4, putting them within arm's reach of sealing the second match of the best-of-five series. For Korea to stay in this game, they needed three eliminations to tie and force overtime, or four for an outright, last-second victory.
The map—a jagged canyon with narrow pathways and high ridges—had been merciless. Afghanistan's revised lineup of Soraya, Adil, Omar, and their substitutes, Yusuf and Rami, thrived in its terrain. They controlled the high ground with deadly precision, leaving Korea's Team 2—composed of Joon-ho, Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Min-jae, and Baek-hyeon—scrambling to adapt.
"They're holding all the choke points," Baek-hyeon muttered, his tone heavy with frustration as he crouched behind a crumbling pillar for cover.
"And they've got two Fighters to brute force any opening we make," Jin-kyong added, her voice sharp as she adjusted her crossbow. "We need a play, and we need it now."
Joon-ho's voice crackled through the team's comms, low and focused.
"Min-jae, how much damage can you soak up?"
"Enough to make them mad," Min-jae replied with a wry grin, raising his shield as a volley of bullets clanged off it. "Just say the word."
Baek-hyeon's eyes narrowed, his fingers glowing faintly as he began preparing a spell.
"If we're going to do this, we need to isolate Soraya. She's the anchor. Without her, they'll lose their ability to lock us down."
"Easier said than done," Soo-jin muttered. She was tucked behind a large boulder, watching as Omar and Rami patrolled the ridge above, ready to collapse on anyone who dared cross their line of sight.
"We're running out of time. Three eliminations or it's over. Let's do this," Jin-kyong exhaled deeply.
Joon-ho outlined the plan swiftly: Min-jae would push forward, drawing their attention and baiting out their spells. Baek-hyeon would follow up with crowd control, locking down the Fighters to create an opening. Soo-jin and Jin-kyong flank from opposite sides, forcing Afghanistan to split their defences. That would leave Joon-ho to close in on Soraya, who had positioned herself on a ledge, raining down spells with impunity.
"Let's go," Joon-ho said. His voice was calm, but his movements were a blur as he disappeared into the shadows, preparing to strike.
Min-jae charged forward, his shield raised high as Yusuf and Rami immediately zeroed in on him.
"Come on!" he roared, slamming his shield into the ground and creating a shockwave that staggered his opponents.
Soraya reacted instantly, unleashing a barrage of arcane missiles that slammed into Min-jae, but he held firm, his health bar barely budging.
"Baek-hyeon, now!"
Baek-hyeon raised his staff, releasing a cascade of ice shards that encased Rami and Omar's legs in frost, halting their advance.
"They're frozen! Go!"
Soo-jin didn't need to be told twice. She leapt into the fray, her blade catching the light as she struck at Rami with precision and ferocity. At the same time, Jin-kyong fired a barrage of bullets from her elevated position, forcing Adil to retreat and defend himself.
Joon-ho moved like a shadow, scaling the canyon wall with agility and speed. Soraya didn't see him coming until it was too late. With a flash of steel, he struck, his daggers finding their mark.
[Soraya Aini: Eliminated!]
[Korea - 5, Afghanistan - 7.]
"Elimination! Korea takes down Afghanistan's Mage!" Eric grabbed ahold of his mic.
His voice boomed across the arena as the crowd erupted in cheers. The score shifted to 7–5.
But the battle was far from over. With Soraya down, Afghanistan's formation wavered, but their Fighters were still a force to be reckoned with. Yusuf broke free from the frost, charging at Baek-hyeon with a roar.
Min-jae intercepted, his shield clashing against Yusuf's massive axe.
"Not today!"
"Two more eliminations," Jin-kyong said, her voice steady but tense. She reloaded her rifle, her eyes scanning for a weak point.
Soo-jin, her breathing heavy but her resolve unshaken, gripped her weapon tightly.
"Let's end this."
The final moments of the match would test their limits. Could Korea pull off the impossible and claim victory, or would Afghanistan's lead prove insurmountable? Time was ticking, and every decision, every action, would define the outcome.
Eric's voice boomed through the arena, crackling with intensity as the final moments of the match unfolded. The stakes couldn't have been higher.
"With five minutes remaining on the clock, Korea still trails Afghanistan by two eliminations," Eric announced, his tone riding the edge of excitement. "They've got to make every move count if they want to stay alive in this match. Remember, there are no ties in Elimination Blitz—one team walks away victorious, and right now, Afghanistan has the upper hand."
Celine chimed in, her voice smooth yet laced with tension.
"That's right, Eric. Korea needs two more eliminations to force an overtime extension, and three to secure the match. But let's not forget Afghanistan has dominated the map control and leveraged its lineup effectively since the start. This won't be easy."
Down on the battlefield, chaos reigned as Korea pressed forward. Min-jae led the charge once again, his shield held high as Yusuf and Omar threw everything they had at him. Ice shards from Baek-hyeon's spell shattered against the rocky terrain, creating brief moments of cover as the team repositioned.
Jin-kyong's bullets flew true, pinning Adil behind a boulder as he struggled to return fire. The Marksman duel had been a test of patience and precision, but Jin-kyong's relentless pressure was finally starting to show results.
"Afghanistan's Marksman is pinned down," Eric observed. "If Jin-kyong keeps this up, she could tilt the balance in Korea's favour."
Meanwhile, Soo-jin danced through the fray with ruthless efficiency, targeting Rami. The substitute Fighter's aggression had been a thorn in Korea's side, but Soo-jin's relentless assault forced him into a defensive stance.
Then it happened. A perfectly timed strike from Joon-ho, his daggers flashing like lightning, cut through Rami's defences. The Fighter faltered, his health bar plummeting as a devastating critical hit sealed his fate.
[Rami Abdul: Eliminated!]
[Korea - 6, Afghanistan - 7.]
"Elimination! Korea takes down Rami!"
The crowd erupted into a deafening roar as the score shifted to 7–6.
"And there it is!" Eric exclaimed, his voice climbing with excitement. "Korea eliminates Rami, bringing them within one of tying the score. What a clutch play from Joon-ho, their Assassin!"
Celine's analysis followed swiftly.
"This is a pivotal moment, Eric. With Soraya already down and now Rami eliminated, Afghanistan is starting to lose their grip on this match. Their remaining players need to regroup fast if they want to hold onto their lead. But Korea smells blood—they know this is their chance."
On the battlefield, the energy shifted. Min-jae roared, raising his shield to block another flurry of attacks from Yusuf.
"We're not done yet!" he bellowed, charging forward to push Afghanistan back.
Baek-hyeon seized the opportunity, his staff glowing as he prepared another devastating area-of-effect spell.
"Stay close!" he shouted to his teammates, frost magic swirling around him.
Celine's voice dropped an octave, adding a note of urgency.
"Four minutes left. Korea is inching closer, but time is not on their side. Afghanistan still has the lead, but can they hold out under this relentless assault?"
The camera feed shifted to show Adil and Yusuf scrambling to regroup, the pressure mounting as Korea's coordinated assault left them little room to breathe. With every passing second, the tension climbed higher, the arena pulsating with the energy of thousands of fans who knew they were witnessing something special.
The game was on a knife's edge, and Korea was closing in.
The battlefield seemed to tremble under the weight of the teams' determination. Korea, surging with newfound energy, pushed Afghanistan to the brink. Min-jae continued to spearhead their charge, his shield absorbing blow after blow as Yusuf and Omar desperately tried to hold the line.
Baek-hyeon unleashed a freezing gale that swept across the terrain, forcing Adil and Soraya to scatter. The icy winds slowed their movements, giving Jin-kyong the opening she needed. Her bullet shot through the storm, grazing Adil's shoulder. He ducked behind cover, narrowly avoiding a lethal hit, and the system deemed he is still playable.
"This is the moment Korea's been waiting for," Eric declared, his voice crackling with anticipation. "One more elimination, and we're heading into overtime!"
But Afghanistan wasn't about to fold. Yusuf roared, his massive sword cleaving through the air as he charged straight at Min-jae. The Tank braced for impact, his shield ringing like a bell as Yusuf's strike connected. Sparks flew, but Min-jae held firm, buying precious seconds for his teammates to reposition.
"Afghanistan isn't backing down, Eric. Yusuf is holding the frontline like his life depends on it—and it might if they want to hold this lead. But can they keep Korea at bay with the clock winding down?" Celine's voice was tense.
The camera panned to Joon-ho, his Assassin slipping through the shadows, unnoticed amidst the chaos. His daggers gleamed as he stalked his prey, eyes locked on Soraya. The Mage was distracted, her focus on weaving a protective spell for Adil.
"Joon-ho's positioning could change everything," Eric noted. "If he lands this elimination, we're looking at overtime—or maybe even a comeback victory for Korea."
And then the screen erupted in light as Baek-hyeon unleashed another spell. The ice burst scattered shards across the battlefield, obscuring everyone's vision. When the glow faded, all eyes turned to the scoreboard.
But the numbers remained frozen. The match clock ticked down ominously, each second feeling like an eternity.
"We've got less than two minutes now. Will Korea pull off the impossible? Or will Afghanistan hold firm and claim their first match of the night?" Eric's voice dropped to a hush.
"The tension is unbearable. Both teams are giving it everything they've got. At this point, it's anyone's game," Celine added.
With the battlefield in chaos, both teams are poised on the edge of triumph and disaster. Would Korea find the miracle they needed? Or would Afghanistan cement their lead in the series? The answers lay just beyond the clock's relentless march toward zero.