NexaRealm: Best in the World

The moment the shift began, it was almost imperceptible, a subtle change in tempo that crept up on the instructors like a predator stalking its prey. They had been pressing their offence, coordinating attacks, and trying to pin the lone man down. But now, their opponent made his first calculated move to reverse the tide.

The man abruptly stopped running. For a split second, he stood still, his silhouette bathed in the faint glow of NexaRealm's simulated moonlight. Then, without warning, he raised his hand, and a shimmering distortion rippled outward from his body.

Clones.

Perfect replicas of him materialized, five in total, each moving independently as though they were players in their own right. They didn't hesitate, darting in different directions with unnerving precision.

"Clones!" Instructor Ji-woo barked into the comms, his sharp eyes tracking each one. "He's an Assassin! Focus fire on the real one!"

"But which one is the real one?" Instructor Min-ji snapped, her shield swinging to deflect an incoming strike from one of the clones. The impact felt real, solid, forcing her to brace herself. "They're not just illusions—they can deal damage!"

"It's a bait-and-switch tactic," Instructor Dong-soo said, his Assassin instincts kicking in. "If we spread out, he'll isolate us. Stick to pairs and cover each other."

Instructor Seung-hyun grunted in agreement as he blocked another clone's attack, his Fighter role demanding he stand his ground.

"If we can figure out his pattern, we'll find the original. Ji-woo, keep an eye on movement gaps!"

Instructor Ji-woo's Marksman reflexes kicked in as he scanned the battlefield, his eyes darting between the clones.

"I'm trying, but he's using the terrain to blur their tracks. They're indistinguishable!"

The instructors moved defensively now, their tight coordination forced into a reactive stance as they tried to adapt. The clones were relentless, striking from blind spots and fading away before they could be eliminated.

Finally, one of the clones lunged too close to Instructor Min-ji. With a calculated swing of her shield, she shattered it into a cloud of digital particles.

"Got one!" she shouted triumphantly.

But her victory was short-lived. The moment the clone disappeared, the real man emerged from the shadows behind her. Before Instructor Min-ji could react, he struck, forcing her to drop back.

"Min-ji's exposed! Cover her!" Instructor Dong-soo shouted, leaping into action.

The instructors scrambled to regroup, the man's strategy now apparent: use the clones to sow chaos, then exploit the confusion to strike at key players.

"I think we've figured him out," Instructor Ji-woo said, narrowing his eyes. "He's relying on Assassin skills. That means—"

Before Instructor Ji-woo could finish, another twist emerged. The clones that had been destroyed suddenly reappeared, stronger and faster than before. This time, they weren't just attacking—they were defending the original, moving as a unit to create openings for him.

"What the hell?!" Instructor Seung-hyun shouted, his Fighter instincts faltering for the first time. "They're evolving?!"

"Is this even part of the game mechanics?" Instructor Min-ji asked, her voice tinged with frustration as she deflected another coordinated strike.

"It doesn't matter!" Instructor Dong-soo yelled. "We adapt or we fall. Focus on survival!"

But the cracks in their strategy were showing. The instructors were no longer the hunters; they were the hunted. The man's relentless assault, combined with his clones' ever-changing tactics, left them scrambling for solutions.

For the first time in years, the instructors felt the familiar sting of pressure—the kind they hadn't experienced since competing in the World NexaRealm Championship. Back then, it had been a battle of equals, a test of endurance and wit. Now, it was something far more daunting.

The HUD objective loomed ominously in their vision: SURVIVE.

And as the man and his clones closed in again, it became clear why. This wasn't a fight they could win. It was a lesson in what it felt like to lose.

The instructors pressed on, their comms buzzing with increasingly tense chatter. They had dealt with difficult enemies before, but this fight was descending into an entirely different realm of complexity.

Instructor Ji-woo raised his rifle, targeting one of the clones darting through the battlefield. It moved like an Assassin, nimble and evasive, yet as he landed a shot squarely on its chest, the clone barely flinched. Instead, it turned toward him, wielding a shield that shimmered with faint, defensive energy.

"Did that... clone just block me?" Instructor Ji-woo muttered in disbelief.

"It's protecting the others!" Instructor Min-ji shouted as the shield-bearing clone intercepted her charge, standing firm like a true Tank. The massive shield absorbed her strikes, holding its ground while another clone—a Fighter this time—lunged at her exposed side, forcing her back.

"That's not possible," Instructor Dong-soo hissed. "No Assassin should have Tank capabilities!"

"Then why is it using one of your roles, Dong-soo?!" Instructor Seung-hyun growled, his Fighter instincts flaring as he deflected yet another coordinated assault.

Before they could piece together the puzzle, a sudden flash of light caught the corner of their vision. Instructor Ji-woo barely had time to shout, "Cover!" before the crack of a rifle shot rang out. The bullet grazed his arm, the force of it sending him staggering backwards.

"Marksman! Where?!" Instructor Min-ji barked, swivelling her shield toward the direction of the glint.

In the distance, one of the clones crouched in a perfect sniper stance, a sleek rifle in its hands. Its shot had come from an angle none of them anticipated, a testament to the kind of precision and control only a skilled Marksman could execute.

"This doesn't make any sense!" Instructor Ji-woo snapped, taking cover behind Instructor Seung-hyun. "How is one man pulling this off?!"

"It's not just one man," Instructor Seung-hyun said, his voice low and tense. "Look at the clones—they're not just mimicking roles. They are those roles."

And he was right. At one point, the rifle-wielding clone disappeared into a cloud of smoke, only to reappear moments later in the guise of a Mage, hurling fireballs that sent the instructors scattering. Another clone unleashed a barrage of rapid, devastating strikes with Fighter-level strength, while the shield-bearing one continued to hold the line like an unbreakable Tank.

"This isn't an Assassin," Instructor Dong-soo finally said, his voice tinged with dread. "This is something else entirely."

"A new class?" Instructor Min-ji asked, panting as she fought off yet another coordinated assault. "But that's... that's not possible, is it? NexaRealm doesn't have—"

Her words were cut off as another blast of magic nearly toppled her.

Then it hit them all at once.

"The students," Instructor Ji-woo muttered, his voice carrying a weight of realization. "Director Hye-su mentioned they were developing something new, didn't she? An all-role player."

"That's insane," Instructor Dong-soo said, shaking his head. "NexaRealm doesn't allow for hybrid classes. Every player is locked into a role for balance."

"But this isn't a standard role," Instructor Seung-hyun said, his tone grim. "It's self-invented. A player who's mastered all roles, merging them seamlessly into one. And if this guy's the prototype..."

"We're fighting an all-role," Instructor Min-ji finished, her voice laced with disbelief. "No wonder the objective is 'survive.' There's no way to beat this."

Their comms fell silent for a moment as the realization sank in. This wasn't just another match. It was a demonstration. A message.

As the clones shifted again, adapting with almost frightening intelligence, the instructors knew this fight wasn't about proving their strength. It was about understanding the limits of what they thought was possible—and learning just how far beyond those limits their opponent stood.

The viewing room was silent, save for the faint hum of the screens displaying the chaos unfolding in the match. The instructors—beacons of experience and teamwork—were being systematically dismantled by the lone man and his clones. The sight had left the students awestruck, their earlier casual banter replaced by stunned expressions.

For most of them, this was a moment of revelation. The idea of a single player embodying every role was unheard of, an impossibility in the structured balance of NexaRealm. Yet here it was, playing out before their eyes.

"An all-role," Jin-kyong murmured, leaning forward. Her usual confidence was replaced by a mix of awe and scepticism. "How does that even work? Is it like… unlocking all the skill trees? That would take years."

"Not just years," In-su replied, his sharp mind racing to analyze what he was seeing. "It's not about just having the skills. It's about mastery—using them as if you were born into each role. That's what makes it terrifying."

Hana frowned, crossing her arms as she watched the clones seamlessly switch between roles, each action precise and purposeful.

"So... this is the kind of thing Director Hye-su was talking about. The reason why she's been pushing us so hard."

Amid their speculation, Kyu sat silently, his expression unreadable as he watched the match. While the others exchanged theories and whispered questions, his eyes stayed locked on the screen.

But those who knew him well—Tae-young, Chin-hwa, even Hana—could see the faint shift in his gaze. It wasn't just admiration; it was something deeper. Shock. Perhaps even inspiration. For the first time, Kyu saw a glimpse of what the director's vision for him could mean. The lone man wasn't just an opponent. He was the pinnacle, the goal, the ultimate realization of everything Kyu had been training for.

"Hey," Joon-ho nudged him, breaking the silence. "You okay, Kyu? You're staring pretty hard."

Kyu didn't answer, but his grip on the edge of his chair tightened. The room around him seemed to fade, the man on the screen occupying his full attention.

At the front of the room, Director Hye-su stood with her arms folded, watching both the match and her students' reactions. Her secretary, Hae-won, gave her a questioning glance, but the director only smiled faintly.

This was the beginning of something greater.

If her plan worked—if Kyu could rise to the challenge—this new role, this all-role, could give them a critical edge in the World NexaRealm Championship. And from the look in Kyu's eyes, she knew he understood that too.

"Let's see," she murmured under her breath, her smile deepening. "Let's see just how far we can push this."