One of the distinctive features of Icarus International, particularly in the department handling Dark Zone, was their strict policy against hiring people who hadn’t played the game they were responsible for.

This was a company policy designed to ensure that employees could empathize with the game’s mechanics and the actual opinions of numerous users, all to create a more efficient and ideal Dark Zone. This policy had never changed since the game officially launched.

Regardless of gender or preferences, there were no exceptions.

Thus, five years after the launch of Dark Zone, and three years after the successful establishment of its esports scene, almost everyone working at Icarus International had become familiar with Dark Zone’s system and actual gameplay.

Specifically, as the preliminary rank matches began, they would constantly check the so-called 'super plays' that AI video editors were endlessly uploading to the company intranet. Employees even developed preferences and rankings for these clips whenever they had time.

Editing key moments from the preliminary rank matches to upload to the official YourSpace account had been part of their promotional efforts for three years. However, as interest grew exponentially with each passing year and professional gaming teams were formed, the volume of important moments had increased to a level that a few dedicated editors could no longer handle alone.

As a result, even more spectacular and captivating scenes were selected based on the preferences and choices of numerous company employees, which naturally became part of the official advertisements.

And once again, as countless users' gameplay videos were being uploaded—

"Hey, did you see the clip that got the most recommendations?"

"Yeah, I saw it. Who the heck is that person?"

"I have no idea. How could someone manage to throw a person with a shield?"

As always, Yujin was quickly becoming a hot topic, like a needle in a pocket.

It was a common occurrence.

"Hello, everyone. As always, it's Unreal here, fighting to deliver top-notch information to you. Just like last year, the official broadcast will open on Thursday, so until then, I’ll be active as an observer."

"Also, today we have a special guest here. We’re joined by Russ, a former AP pro-gamer and current sub-league coach of Reaper Infected, who will be co-observing today’s broadcast. Please give him a warm welcome!"

"Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you."

-[Unreal’s Personal Broadcast - ON AIR]

As the red light turned on and the five-minute broadcast timer that had been set beforehand expired, a flood of chats began pouring in like a wave.

Over 20,000 viewers were watching the same screen on a single broadcast. They were viewing various camera feeds hovering above the cold Arctic Power Plant map and the CCTV-style observing cameras installed across the map.

As usual, people couldn’t bear their boredom, and the absence of the official broadcast, which would start on Thursday, was also an opportunity for many streamers. So, they began streaming under the pretense of "personal broadcasts," and this quickly turned into a form of content.

Among them, Unreal’s broadcast, which had already established itself as a leader by explaining numerous Dark Zone patch notes and tips, was one that many were eagerly awaiting. And Unreal responded to this support by going ON AIR.

With over 1,500 participants in the preliminary ranks, Unreal had at least sixteen rooms to observe—he had already selected one to focus on.

As the game was about to begin and there were only three minutes left until noon, Unreal opened his mouth again to avoid any dead air.

The two began their back-and-forth dialogue.

"Preliminary rank matches. While it’s just the beginning phase leading to the Asia Qualifiers, it’s amazing to see how the number of participants increases significantly each year. This trend isn’t limited to just AP; it’s also happening with other PvP content, isn’t it?"

"Exactly. Moreover, something that many people overlook is that this is just the beginning. It’s been five years since Dark Zone launched, and only three years since the professional scene started. This means there’s still plenty of room for growth."

"If the competition is already this fierce, in a few more years, even more people will be competing for an even narrower entrance. I can already feel the sparks flying."

Simultaneously, detailed information about the map was being displayed.

The two continued speaking as if they were quite familiar with it.

"This time, we’re looking at the Aurora Power Plant map, which many of you are familiar with. It’s located between the Arctic Ocean in front and the mountains behind. The key gimmicks include avalanches, facility explosions, and toxic leaks. Despite its complex layout, it’s considered one of the best-designed maps."

"That’s right. To add to that, the map is filled with cover and detours, fitting its power plant theme, and the multi-layered structure allows for a wide variety of combat scenarios. This makes it a challenging map for beginners."

"Haha, getting used to it is always tough. From an expert’s perspective, are there any particular points to watch out for on this map?"

"It’s best to avoid narrow, one-way paths as much as possible. Especially in areas where buildings are connected, such paths are common. If you make a wrong move, you might find yourself getting flanked, so it’s crucial to pay attention to your movement routes to reduce the chances of getting killed."

"Thank you for the excellent advice!"

At that moment, the game began.

Unlike other maps, where players jump from high altitudes and deploy parachutes, this one had a system where players awakened somewhere near their designated drop zones.

About a hundred users simultaneously stood up, opened nearby crates, and began collecting items and weapons. Almost immediately, skirmishes erupted in all directions, and several screens flickered with action.

After five players were swiftly eliminated, the death toll began to rise, albeit at a slightly slower pace.

Players were gradually being kicked out of the session.

"The early competition is already intense. As many of you know, almost a quarter of the participants in the preliminary ranks are either trainees or professional gamers from the 2nd or 1st leagues. This means that one in four players you encounter is likely a pro."

"As always, Tier 2 may seem high on the surface, but it’s just the minimum requirement to participate in the preliminary ranks. I expect another brutal survival battle this time."

"Speaking of which, let’s take a look at some of the standout players in this session."

The names of a hundred participants scrolled by.

Soon, the players were arranged in order of their highest LP (League Points), and those who were active professional gamers were marked with special symbols.

Further down, the numbers and charts, including those who were active in the 1st league and the 2nd league, were displayed in detail for the viewers.

The conversation continued based on this information.

"Let’s check out the 1st league participants… It seems about eight players from the 1st league are participating in this match. Including the 2nd league, we have about seventeen pro gamers in this match. Do any of them catch your eye?"

"Of course. If we go by ranking, there’s Corvus from Xi, Mikael from Reaper Infected, Axymand from Clear Sky, and Mars from GEARUP… and many others following them. It’s an impressive lineup."

"As a fellow Reaper Infected player, could you analyze the playstyle of pro gamer Mikael? I’d appreciate it if you could share some general insights that others might find useful as well."

"Well… he’s solid. He never lets his guard down in any situation. Instead of focusing on increasing his kill count, his main strategy is safe play and securing kills in certain situations."

Amid explanations, quantifications, and charted information, the conversation flowed quickly.

Despite being half-improvised, with no pre-made script, the two continued their Q&A seamlessly, thanks to their long-standing experience in the gaming industry.

Whenever a significant play was observed on one of the observing cams, they explained it from a pro gamer’s perspective, showing why 20,000 viewers were flocking to this non-official broadcast.

As the number of remaining players dwindled to below 70, the cam popped up a screen showing a particularly high-interest scene.

The two immediately focused on the screen and began speaking.

"Ah, the observing cam is now showing a place where a battle is expected… There’s a player who has entered the dormitory building to move to another structure. They’re moving incredibly fast, but someone’s already trailing behind them."

"Their movements are very swift. But looking at the expected movement route, it seems someone is already waiting at the pathway leading to the power plant. It’ll be tough to break through."

"This is a common scenario. We call it a 'sandwich,' right? I’ve heard this is the most common situation where players get eliminated at this level. Is that true?"

"Of course. At this stage, most players are skilled in combat, so they tend to aim for maximum gain with minimal effort. Using someone else’s hand to deal with an enemy isn’t a bad strategy either."

"Thank you for your kind explanation. Now, let’s check the usernames of the players involved in this situation…."

He waved his hand.

At the same time, Unreal, who had been speaking without pause, suddenly stopped.

Because he saw some very familiar letters on the screen.

"It’s Yujin—Yujin! And below is Mikael! Yujin is exposed to a 1v2 situation!"

-What??? What’s happening????? -Is something big coming? Something huge? Is it really happening???? -Wow, I was planning to nap while watching, but now I’m wide awake, LOL -Yujin vs. Mikael OMG This is going to be epic LOL -My heart’s suddenly racing like crazy LOL

Excitement soared in an instant.

Although she was still stuck in the mid-tier of Tier 2, the mysterious player, Yujin, who had recently been the subject of rumors about her unreal skills, was a name that was already spreading.

And below her was Mikael, the second professional gamer mentioned by Russ, who was among the top 1st league players.

Suddenly, this unexpected match-up, with its unpredictable outcome, was setting Unreal, Russ, and the 20,000 viewers ablaze with anticipation.

Meanwhile, the screen showed Yujin trapped in a hallway, pinned between enemies due to the gunfire from the end of the corridor.

With his mind cooled by the tense situation, Unreal spoke up first.

"Oh no, Yujin is in a really dangerous situation right now! From what I can see, there doesn’t seem to be a way to avoid the grenade that’s coming her way! There’s an enemy camping ahead, and Mikael is behind! Is there any way she can overcome this predicament?"

"Well… I’m not sure. Yujin does have a smoke grenade, but the structure of the area ahead is very similar to the hallway she’s in now. This means that even if she uses it to move forward, the situation won’t change much."

"I see, will she be able to get through this…!"

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!

In the meantime, the screen showed an intense firefight, and Yujin, without much hesitation, pulled out the smoke grenade from her pouch and threw it. The sound of it rolling and the smoke grenade going off were drowned out by the gunfire.

However, no one noticed this.

As the smoke began billowing from the hallway, Unreal and Russ could only repeatedly express their confusion about what Yujin was trying to do.

Meanwhile, Yujin quickly concealed herself in the smoke at the end of the corridor, while Mikael threw a grenade toward the hallway entrance.

Confusion filled the broadcast.

"Oh, Mikael’s grenade didn’t go in deep! No, it seems like he didn’t even try to throw it deep! Why is that!?"

"It looks like Mikael couldn’t pinpoint Yujin’s exact location. So he threw the grenade toward the last place where gunfire was heard."

No one knew what Yujin was aiming for, but the result was clear.

She survived, Mikael lost his advantage, and the grenade’s explosion provided an opportunity for the enemy to close in on him.

However, Mikael was not careless. Even if he encountered a corpse, he wouldn’t die; he pulled out a ballistic shield with his left hand and slowly began to clear the angles.

If it had been an ordinary player in front of him, Mikael would have secured a kill by this point.

But Mikael wasn’t so lucky.

Thud!

A heavy sound. And a guttural groan.

Yujin, who had rammed into Mikael’s shield, quickly snatched the pistol from his hand and tossed it to the ground. Then, twisting her body, she grabbed his arm and threw him to the ground. While everyone was left dumbfounded by the sudden move, she efficiently finished off the prone opponent.

For the first time, silence fell over the broadcast as everyone struggled to process what had just happened.

"Wait, what just happened…."

-What did I just see? What did I just see? What did I just see? What did I just see? -What the hell, Yujin, you crazy woman, take it easy LOL -Today… she mercilessly crushes another budding sprout… -This person wwwww doesn’t know when to stop wwwwwwwww -WTF LOL Did you catch a disease where you die if you don’t win???

Meanwhile, elsewhere—

Bang!

"Surprisingly, there are quite a few people trying to engage in close combat…."

She was calmly dealing with another opponent, having smashed their chin with her rifle’s stock in close-quarters combat, sending them flying before finishing them off while they were stunned.

As always, Yujin was cruising smoothly.