NexaRealm: Best in the World

The respawn chimed in as Hana and Chin-hwa materialized back into the battlefield, their figures shimmering before solidifying. The system immediately adjusted Korea's stats, signalling their full team was operational once again.

[Korea: 52 | Afghanistan: 43]

Without wasting a moment, Tae-young's voice crackled through the comms.

"We're not just taking the hill. We're taking them down. No clean retreat this time."

The team rallied, their positions quickly adjusting. Hana gripped her glaive tightly, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to make up for her earlier elimination.

"Let's make this count," she said firmly. Chin-hwa, reloading his pistols with precision, offered a curt nod. "Leave the clean-up to me."

"Stay coordinated," In-su added, his calm voice grounding the team. "We're going to box them in."

The attack began with In-su initiating a bombardment of magical projectiles, targeting Afghanistan's defensive setup. The rapid-fire bolts of energy exploded near Khalid's shield, forcing him to brace himself and create the opening Korea needed. Tae-young dashed through the chaos, weaving between bursts of magic as he closed in on Amina.

Amina, Afghanistan's Assassin, immediately went on the defensive, her dual blades spinning to parry Tae-young's relentless strikes. The two danced in a deadly exchange, sparks flying as their weapons clashed. But Tae-young's aggression was a distraction—Hana came in from the side, her glaive sweeping in a wide arc that caught Amina off guard.

"She's mine," Hana muttered, her focus unyielding.

Amina managed to block the initial strike but was quickly overwhelmed by the combined assault. With a precise thrust, Hana landed a decisive blow, eliminating Amina.

[Amina Daoud: Eliminated!]

[Korea: 52 | Afghanistan: 45]

"Korea's taking out the key players!" Celine exclaimed. "This is exactly the kind of adjustment they needed."

Meanwhile, Chin-hwa targeted Adil, Afghanistan's Marksman, who was attempting to provide cover fire. But Chin-hwa's speed proved too much. He closed the distance between them in seconds, his pistols unleashing a barrage of shots. Adil, unable to reposition in time, was forced to retreat toward the edge of the battlefield.

"Not this time," Chin-hwa murmured, switching to a burst-fire mode. His bullets found their mark, eliminating Adil before he could regroup.

[Adil Bernlitom: Eliminated!]

[Korea: 52 | Afghanistan: 47]

With Afghanistan's long-range support down, Korea turned their attention to the remaining members. Khalid and Omar, still holding the hill, were now heavily pressured as In-su's magic rained down upon them. Kyu darted in and out of the fray, disrupting Soraya's attempts to cast supportive spells.

"Khalid's shield is the last bastion of their defence!" Eric announced. "But how long can he hold?"

As Korea pushed further, Tae-young and Hana flanked Khalid, forcing him to divide his focus. Hana's glaive struck with precision, chipping away at the shield's durability, while Tae-young's strikes targeted Khalid's exposed angles.

"Kyu, now!" Tae-young called out.

Kyu activated a support skill, amplifying the team's damage output and sealing Khalid's fate. With a final coordinated strike, Khalid's shield shattered, and Hana delivered the finishing blow.

[Khalid Rahimi: Eliminated!]

[Korea: 52 | Afghanistan: 49]

The hill was now Korea's, but this time, they didn't stop at securing it. In-su unleashed a blinding area-of-effect spell, disorienting Soraya and Omar as they tried to retreat. Tae-young and Chin-hwa pursued, relentlessly chasing the remaining Afghanistan players.

Omar, attempting to shield Soraya, swung his axe in a desperate bid to fend off Tae-young. But Tae-young's agility was unmatched. He ducked under the swing and landed a critical strike, eliminating Omar.

[Omar Khelafi: Eliminated!]

[Korea: 52 | Afghanistan: 50]

Soraya left alone, tried to create distance with a burst of magic, but Kyu intercepted her. His twin blades gleamed as he closed the gap, striking with precision to end her escape.

[Soraya Aini: Eliminated!]

[Korea: 52 | Afghanistan: 52]

The moment the system announced the team wipe, the university grounds erupted in an uproar. Cheers, whistles, and even gasps of disbelief echoed through the massive outdoor arena where students, faculty, and spectators gathered to watch the game. A giant screen displayed the recap of Korea's impeccable play, replaying Chin-hwa's elimination of Adil, Hana's takedown of Khalid, and Kyu's relentless pursuit of Soraya.

"A team wipe! Korea just accomplished a team wipe in their first game!" The commentator's voice boomed, cutting through the deafening crowd noise. "Do you understand how rare that is on the world stage?!"

"I'll say it again," Celine added, her tone equally incredulous. "This is unprecedented. These players are new—not veterans, not established pros, but rookies! And yet they've just achieved what even the best struggle to pull off!"

The camera panned over the roaring crowd. Students waved flags, clutched banners, and screamed chants of support. A few even jumped on benches or embraced their friends in celebration. The energy was palpable, almost as if Korea's victory was the university's victory.

Inside the gaming booths, the Korean players remained calm, though a few subtle smiles betrayed their satisfaction. Tae-young leaned back slightly, exhaling deeply, while Hana adjusted her headset, her expression steely. Chin-hwa, ever the composed sharpshooter, simply checked his equipment and prepared for the next phase.

"They're not even celebrating," Eric noted. "That's the discipline of champions. They know this match isn't over yet."

Meanwhile, in the opposing booth, the mood was starkly different. The Afghanistan team sat in silence, their faces a mixture of frustration and disappointment. Khalid had his arms crossed, his jaw clenched as he stared at the screen, waiting for the respawn timer to tick down. Amina rested her forehead against her hand, muttering something under her breath, while Adil sat back in his chair, his lips pressed into a tight line.

"This… this is unacceptable," Amina finally said, her voice quiet but laced with frustration.

Soraya, shaking her head, added.

"We got careless. Too confident after that first hold."

Their coach's voice came through the headset, sharp and direct.

"Forget what just happened. You're better than this. Focus on what's next. You still have time to turn this around."

Yet the damage to morale was evident. A team wipe at this level wasn't just a loss; it was a humiliation. For Afghanistan, a team representing a country with a proud esports tradition, it wasn't just the players who felt the sting. Their fans, who were watching live across the world, wouldn't take this lightly. Social media was already ablaze with reactions, some criticizing the team's overconfidence, others praising Korea's flawless execution.

Eric, narrating the live scene, added.

"This team wipe will be the talk of the esports world for days. Not only because it's so rare at this level, but because it was achieved by rookies against a seasoned team like Afghanistan. These players have just made history."

"And you know the headlines tomorrow," Celine said, her tone conspiratorial. "'Korea's New Generation Shocks the World.' It's already writing itself."

Back in the game, Korea's points continued climbing steadily. The team maintained tight control over the hill, their positioning perfect. The crowd's cheers only grew louder as the scoreboard reflected their dominance.

[Korea: 110 | Afghanistan: 52]

But in Afghanistan's booth, the countdown finally reached zero. Each player began to respawn, their avatars appearing back on the field. The system's announcement cut through the tension.

[Afghanistan team fully respawned.]

The Afghan players exchanged determined glances. Adil adjusted his sniper rifle, Khalid's shield shimmered into place, and Soraya clenched her staff tightly. Their earlier disappointment was now replaced by a steely resolve.

"This isn't over," Khalid said, his voice firm. "We're not going down like this."

"No," Soraya agreed, her eyes narrowing. "Let's show them why we're here."

The crowd watched in anticipation, the buzz of excitement mounting as Afghanistan prepared to launch their counterattack. While Korea's momentum was undeniable, the match was far from decided, and the next phase promised even more intense action.

The crowd's energy reached a fever pitch as Afghanistan's players, freshly respawned, regrouped at their base. The camera shifted to Khalid, the towering Tank, who raised his shield high and barked commands to his team. Adil adjusted his rifle scope, his gaze fixed on the hill, while Soraya twirled her staff, her magic flaring to life. Amina sharpened her twin daggers, her movements fluid and precise, while Omar cracked his knuckles, ready to dive into the fray.

The commentators kept the energy alive.

"This is it, everyone!" Eric exclaimed. "Afghanistan is back on the field. Can they rally and reclaim the hill, or has Korea already sealed their fate in this first game?"

"Korea's control is strong, but this is Afghanistan we're talking about," Celine countered. "A team wipe may have shaken them, but if there's one thing they're known for, it's their resilience."

On the battlefield, Korea didn't let their guard down. Tae-young and Kyu kept a vigilant watch on the hill's perimeter, while Hana and Chin-hwa, now fully reintegrated, spread out to cover key flanking routes. In-su hovered at the backline, his hands glowing with readiness to unleash devastating spells.

The tension was palpable. Afghanistan inched forward, their formation tight and deliberate. Khalid led the charge, his shield absorbing a barrage of fire from Hana and Chin-hwa. Soraya began chanting a powerful spell, while Amina darted unseen through the shadows, positioning herself for a strike.

"What will happen next?" Celine teased. "Will Afghanistan reclaim their ground, or will Korea hold the line?"