Under Watchful Eye

The game room loomed before them, its sleek, state-of-the-art design inviting and intimidating. The instructors stood by the entrance, their postures firm and gazes steady, while the students shuffled nervously in a loose group. The announcement that Director Hye-su would observe their progress had left many with dry throats and jittery nerves. A faint gulp broke the silence, drawing a soft chuckle from Hana, though even she couldn't fully mask her unease.

"Alright, listen up," Instructor Dong-soo's voice cut through the tension. "You're about to show Director Hye-su what you've learned. This isn't just about your skills—it's about teamwork, strategy, and execution. So, take a deep breath, focus, and give it everything you've got."

The students nodded, some more eagerly than others, as the doors to the game room slid open with a low hum. Inside, the room was as dazzling as they remembered: a blend of holographic displays, advanced control stations, and digital terrains that could mimic any environment.

Director Hye-su and her secretary, Hae-won, were already inside, standing near a central console. The Director's piercing eyes swept across the group as they filed in, her expression unreadable but undeniably commanding.

The students lined up instinctively, their backs straightening as if by some unseen force. The instructors took their places by the walls, giving the floor to Director Hye-su.

"This is your stage," she began, her voice sharp and clear. "Your training has brought you here, but now I want to see the results firsthand. You will compete, not just against each other, but against yourselves. Show me why you deserve to represent us."

A charged silence followed her words. Each student felt the weight of her expectations settle on their shoulders, and yet, beneath the pressure, there was a spark of determination. This was their moment to prove themselves.

"Teams will be formed based on your initial groupings," Instructor Hye-won explained, gesturing to the monitors where the team rosters were displayed: Team 1, Team 2, and Team 3. "Prepare yourselves. The simulation begins in five minutes."

The students exchanged glances, the tension mingling with excitement. The countdown had begun, and the game room buzzed with the energy of impending action.

The three teams logged into NexaRealm, their screens lighting up with the vivid, dynamic virtual world. Familiar terrains, both fantastical and grittily realistic, began to materialize before their eyes. Each student was at their designated station, the glow of their monitors reflecting their focused expressions. Despite the cool, conditioned air in the game room, the tension was palpable as the magnitude of their challenge sank in.

Team 1—Tae-young, Hana, Kyu, In-su, and Chin-hwa—settled in first, their seats grouped toward the front. Tae-young, their unspoken leader, exchanged a nod with Hana, the fiery strategist of their group. Kyu, silent as always, adjusted his headset while In-su and Chin-hwa quietly went over their roles.

Behind them sat Team 2—Joon-ho, Soo-jin, Jin-kyong, Min-jae, and Baek-hyeon. Their dynamic was a little more boisterous, with Joon-ho cracking a nervous joke that earned a light punch on the shoulder from Soo-jin. Jin-kyong's sharp eyes scanned their screens, already formulating a plan, while Min-jae and Baek-hyeon gave each other a determined fist bump.

Finally, Team 3—Kang-dae, Hyun-ae, Sang-hee, Hi-ah, and Kyung-mi—claimed their seats at the back. Kang-dae's steady presence anchored the group, while Hyun-ae, ever alert, double-checked their gear setup. Sang-hee's fingers hovered over the controls with excitement, and Hi-ah whispered something to Kyung-mi, who nodded with a faint smile.

Their opponents? The instructors themselves.

Instructor Dong-soo, the Assassin. Instructor Ji-woo, the Marksman. Instructor Seung-hyun, the Fighter. Instructor Min-ji, the Roamer. And finally, Instructor Hye-won, the Mage. Together, they formed a formidable team, one that had never taken on all three student teams at once. The instructors, clad in their virtual avatars, appeared on the screen, towering and exuding an aura of unyielding confidence.

But even they knew that this wouldn't be as straightforward as before. The students they faced today were not the same inexperienced individuals who had first stumbled into this place. They had grown—sharpening their reflexes, enhancing their coordination, and learning to think on their feet. This would not be a battle of overwhelming force, but a clash of strategy, adaptability, and wit.

"Let's see if you can put your training to use," Instructor Min-ji said through the comms, her tone teasing but laced with challenge.

"Don't hold back," Tae-young replied, his voice calm but resolute, speaking on behalf of all three teams.

The countdown timer appeared on their screens.

3…

2…

1…

The match began.

The battle commenced with a dramatic opening as all three teams and the instructors loaded into NexaRealm's virtual battleground. The map was a sprawling jungle with winding pathways, dense foliage, and strategic choke points, ideal for tactical plays. The instructors, seasoned and well-coordinated, immediately took control of the jungle, securing key buffs and vision points.

Team 1, led by Tae-young, started strong by prioritizing control of their lane. Tae-young's Assassin skillset allowed him to roam freely, catching Instructor Min-ji off guard near a river crossing. However, Min-ji's Roamer abilities shone as she absorbed damage and escaped with minimal health, leaving Tae-young frustrated.

Team 2 demonstrated excellent synergy as Joon-ho and Soo-jin coordinated a devastating ambush on Instructor Ji-woo, the Marksman. Ji-woo's precision shots forced Joon-ho to retreat, but Baek-hyeon, the Mage, stepped in with a perfectly timed spell, securing a kill. This small victory boosted their morale.

Meanwhile, Team 3 struggled to hold their ground against Instructor Seung-hyun's relentless Fighter tactics. Sang-hee's Mage abilities managed to fend him off temporarily, but Kang-dae, playing as a Roamer, had to tank most of the damage to protect the team.

The instructors, despite facing pressure, regrouped and launched a coordinated strike. Dong-soo, the Assassin, eliminated two players from Team 1 in a swift backline assault. This forced Teams 2 and 3 to reconsider their strategies, as the instructors hadn't lost their edge.

As the match neared its climax, all three teams combined their efforts for an all-out assault. The coordination was sloppy at first, with overlapping ultimates and missed opportunities, but eventually, they managed to overwhelm Instructor Ji-woo. The instructors found themselves on the defensive for the first time, visibly impressed by the students' progress.

The key turning point came when Min-jae from Team 2 used his Roamer abilities to engage the instructors in a massive team fight. His initiation created an opening for Kyung-mi and Jin-kyong, the Marksmen, to rain down damage from a safe distance. However, the instructors' experience shone through as they tactically retreated, baiting the students into an ambush that turned the tide back in their favour.

The battle was intense, with both sides trading blows and showcasing their growth and skill. The students, despite their best efforts, realized that defeating their instructors would require not just teamwork but also the ability to adapt quickly to unforeseen strategies.

Outside the game, in the observation room, Director Hye-su and her secretary, Hae-won, stood silently in front of a massive screen. The monitor was split into sections, showcasing the live gameplay, individual performance data, and team statistics. Every movement, every decision, and every ability cast by the students and instructors was tracked and analyzed.

Hae-won glanced sideways at Director Hye-su, hoping for some positive sign. But there was none. Director Hye-su's expression remained as sharp and unyielding as ever, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her piercing gaze scanned the numbers on the screen: reaction times, efficiency percentages, coordination metrics. Everything pointed to the same conclusion—this performance was not up to par.

"Look at the delays," she said finally, her voice cold and clinical. "Team 3's response time in lane rotation is 12% slower than expected. Team 2 hesitated during crucial moments, overlapping skills unnecessarily. And Team 1... their Assassin should have had better map control. This isn't good enough."

"The synergy has improved since their initial training, but it's clear they're still far from where they need to be," Hae-won nodded, typing notes rapidly on her tablet.

"Improvement means nothing if it's not enough to win," Director Hye-su retorted, her tone carrying the weight of authority. She gestured at the screen. "Look at the instructors. Even against overwhelming odds, they're adapting, exploiting the students' weaknesses, and turning the game around. That is what I expect from our trainees. Excellence. Anything less is unacceptable."

The scene on the big screen shifted. The students had regrouped for one last coordinated push, but their execution faltered. Their communication wasn't seamless, and the instructors capitalized on the confusion. Within moments, the simulated battlefield was cleared of all student avatars, leaving the instructors victorious.

The observation room fell silent. Director Hye-su crossed her arms, her gaze hard and unrelenting.

"They're not ready. If this were a real competition, they would have been annihilated."

Hae-won hesitated before asking.

"Do you think additional training regimens are necessary?"

Director Hye-su didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned and walked toward the window overlooking the facility grounds.

"Unfortunately, we don't have enough time to change anything," she said finally, her voice steely. "If they don't learn to push beyond their limits, they'll never reach the level we need. Maybe we can do something."

As the gameplay replayed on the screen, Hae-won made a mental note: the Director wasn't just disappointed—she was determined to push these students harder than ever before.