NexaRealm: Best in the World

"Here we go, ladies and gentlemen!" Eric's voice boomed with excitement as the countdown faded from the screen. "The first match of Group D in the Asia Bracket has officially begun. It's Korea versus Afghanistan in King of the Hill. Remember, the first to hold the hill for 200 points takes the win!"

Celine chimed in, her tone equally energized.

"And this is where strategy reigns supreme. Will we see a full-frontal assault from either team? Or will it be a game of patience and precision? Let's break it down."

The screen shifted to showcase both teams' movements from a bird's-eye view. Afghanistan wasted no time; Khalid led the charge toward the central hill, his massive shield shimmering with a faint glow as he activated his defensive skill, Aegis of Fortitude. Behind him, Amina darted along the flanks, her daggers gleaming under the dense canopy. The Mage, Soraya, positioned herself just outside the hill's radius, her hands already glowing with the anticipation of a fiery barrage.

"Classic Afghanistan," Eric remarked. "They're going for a stronghold approach right off the bat. Khalid on point, Zahir covering the area with ranged support, and Amina scouting for an opening to punish Korea's advance."

Meanwhile, Korea's movements told a different story. Instead of rushing directly to the hill, they split into two groups. Tae-young and Hana veered off to the left flank, while In-su, Chin-hwa, and Kyu held their position slightly further back, surveying the terrain.

"Interesting," Celine noted, leaning closer to her monitor. "Korea isn't rushing the point. They're playing cautiously, possibly looking to counter Afghanistan's setup. This is a risky move in King of the Hill, where every second on the clock counts."

"It's not unknown, but it might pay off. Look at Kyu—he's staying further back than most Supports would. Could Korea be relying on its unknown capabilities to surprise its opponents? And Tae-young, their Assassin, is clearly up to something sneaky on the left side," Eric nodded.

As Afghanistan reached the hill, Khalid planted himself firmly at its centre, raising his shield to signal his team that the area was secure. The golden aura surrounding the hill began to pulse as the point timer activated.

[Afghanistan: 10 points.]

"First blood to Afghanistan in terms of points," Eric announced. "But look at Korea—they're not biting just yet. Tae-young and Hana are circling wide, while In-su and Chin-hwa seem to be coordinating an attack from range. And Kyu… well, Kyu is still a wildcard."

Suddenly, a blast of magic erupted from the treetops as In-su unleashed a devastating Arcane Barrage, scattering Afghanistan's formation and forcing Soraya to break concentration.

"There it is!" Celine exclaimed. "Korea is making their move! In-su disrupts the defence, and here comes Tae-young with Hana right on his heels!"

The Assassin and Fighter duo darted out of the underbrush, Tae-young landing a precise strike on Soraya while Hana engaged Afghanistan's Fighter in a heated clash. The hill turned into a chaotic battlefield as both teams clashed for control.

"This is the kind of action we were waiting for," Eric said, his voice brimming with excitement. "Afghanistan came in strong, but Korea's adaptability is already shining. The question is, can they maintain this momentum and wrestle the hill away from Khalid's iron grip?"

As the camera zoomed in on the skirmish, the crowd watching from the Game Building roared with anticipation. The match had only just begun, and both teams were already pushing themselves to their limits.

Adil crouched behind a fallen log near the hill's edge, his keen eyes peering through the scope of his longbow. His target was clear: disrupt Korea's advance with a single, well-placed arrow. His finger hovered over the drawstring, his breathing steady as he waited for the perfect moment. But just as he spotted In-su moving into position, a blur shot into his peripheral vision.

Bang! Bang!

The distinct crackle of modified pistols echoed through the jungle, and Adil instinctively rolled to the side, narrowly dodging the blazing projectiles. Chin-hwa had arrived—and he wasn't interested in a Marksman's duel from afar.

"Close combat?!" Adil muttered under his breath as Chin-hwa closed the distance with startling speed. Korea's Marksman, wielding a pair of sleek, custom pistols, moved with the agility of an Assassin, each step calculated to keep Adil on his heels.

Adil scrambled to create space, losing an arrow mid-dodge, but Chin-hwa sidestepped it with ease.

"You're not getting the high ground today," Chin-hwa quipped, firing another volley of precise shots that forced Adil to retreat further from the hill. The pressure was unrelenting, and for the moment, Adil found himself outmatched.

"Chin-hwa's pushing Adil hard!" Eric exclaimed from the commentary booth. "This isn't your typical Marksman duel. Chin-hwa's speed is making it impossible for Adil to stabilize his aim."

"And that's a huge boon for Korea," Celine added. "With Adil pinned down, Afghanistan loses a crucial piece of their ranged pressure. But let's not forget—Afghanistan has Soraya, and her Mage abilities could turn the tide."

Meanwhile, Soraya stood at the base of a rocky incline, her staff glowing as she began casting a powerful area-of-effect spell. Arcane sigils shimmered in the air as the temperature around her dropped, signalling an incoming Frost Cataclysm.

But before the spell could fully manifest, a blur of movement cut through her line of sight. Kyu appeared, his twin blades gleaming as he dashed straight at her, his unassuming demeanour replaced by a ferocious intensity.

"What the—?" Soraya barely had time to react before Kyu lunged, his first strike aimed at disrupting her focus. Forced to cancel her spell, she swung her staff defensively, but Kyu parried effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise.

"Wait a second!" Celine's voice rose in astonishment. "That's Korea's Support? With dual blades? He's fighting like an Assassin out there!"

"Kyu's role might be labelled as Support," Eric chimed in. "But look at how he's playing. This is calculated aggression. He's keeping Soraya completely occupied, and without her magic, Afghanistan's core strategy is falling apart."

Soraya's frustration grew as she struggled to fend off Kyu. Each of his strikes forced her further away from the hill, isolating her from her team. His relentless attacks left her questioning everything. This isn't a Support. This is a predator.

With Adil pinned down by Chin-hwa and Soraya unable to contribute to the fight, Afghanistan's defence was beginning to crack. The hill was no longer as secure as Khalid had hoped, and Korea's strategy was proving to be more dynamic than anyone had anticipated.

Korea's momentum was undeniable. With Chin-hwa driving Adil further from the battlefield and Kyu relentlessly pressuring Soraya, the hill was left vulnerable. Khalid, Afghanistan's captain, bellowed orders as he blocked a devastating swing from Hana, Korea's Fighter, his shield absorbing the brunt of her strength.

"We can't hold it!" Khalid growled through gritted teeth, his voice cutting through the chaos of battle. Amina darted past him, her daggers flashing as she attempted to flank In-su, Korea's Mage.

But In-su was prepared. A flick of his wrist sent a fiery explosion surging outward, forcing Amina to abandon her approach. The shockwave left her disoriented for a moment too long, giving Hana the opening to close the distance and swing her glaive in a powerful arc. Amina managed to evade the worst of the blow, but her health bar visibly dipped—a clear sign of Korea's growing dominance.

"Korea's coordination is incredible!" Eric exclaimed. "They're systematically dismantling Afghanistan's strategy, leaving no room for recovery."

"Look at Kyu," Celine added, her tone equal parts awe and disbelief. "He's not just shutting down Soraya—he's controlling the pace of the match. Afghanistan can't regroup with him forcing them into separate corners of the battlefield."

Realizing the futility of their position, Khalid slammed his shield into the ground, creating a temporary barrier that halted Korea's advance.

"Fall back!" he roared. "Regroup at the lower quadrant!"

The command echoed across the battlefield, and Afghanistan's team moved with military precision. Khalid and Omar, the Fighter, formed a defensive line as Amina darted between them, covering Soraya's retreat. Adil, still under pressure from Chin-hwa, loosed a parting shot before disappearing into the dense foliage below.

As Afghanistan withdrew, Korea seized the moment. Hana and Kyu moved to secure the hill, while Chin-hwa, now freed from his duel with Adil, positioned himself on the vantage point. In-su chanted a quick incantation, summoning a series of defensive wards around the perimeter to prevent an immediate counterattack.

[Korea has secured the hill! Score: 1–23.]

The NexaRealm system's announcement reverberated across the battlefield and the viewing area. The audience erupted into cheers and gasps, the sound carrying even to the players through their soundproof headsets.

"They did it!" Eric exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat. "Korea has taken the hill, and with that, the momentum of the match shifts heavily in their favour."

"But it's far from over," Celine cautioned. "Afghanistan's retreat isn't a surrender—it's a calculated move. They're regrouping, likely planning their counteroffensive. And with their cohesive teamwork, they're more than capable of turning this around."

On the hill, Korea's players took a moment to assess the battlefield. Hana stood near the edge, her glaive resting on her shoulder as she surveyed the terrain below.

"That wasn't easy," she admitted, her voice steady but tinged with caution.

"We've only just begun," In-su said, his tone calm as he adjusted his robes. "Stay sharp. They'll come back stronger."

Chin-hwa nodded from his perch, his pistols already reloaded.

"Let them come. We're ready."

At the hill's centre, Kyu knelt, his twin blades crossed over his knees as he caught his breath. His stoic expression betrayed no sign of exhaustion, but his eyes scanned the horizon, watching for the inevitable counterstrike.

In the commentary booth, Eric and Celine continued to hype up the action.

"Korea's strategy is something we've never seen before," Eric said. "This combination of calculated aggression and adaptability is what makes them such a wildcard in this championship."

"And let's not forget," Celine added. "This is just the beginning of the match. Afghanistan has plenty of time to regroup and retaliate. The question is: how will Korea handle the pressure when it comes?"

As the timer for the next phase of the match began ticking down, the hill fell into a tense silence. Korea had claimed the point, but the battle was far from over. With Afghanistan regrouping for their next move, the true test of both teams' resilience and strategy was yet to come.