[Log: November 3rd // Recording in Progress...]

[Log: Final Championship Scrim - All participants accounted for. Proceeding to next steps. Server synchronization underway.]

[Notification: Scrim will begin in 15 minutes. Spectator entry has commenced.]

“Ah, Wiseman! Long time no see. You’re here for a breath of American air this year, too?”

“Been tired of Hereford for ages. Needed a stroll. Missed my face? Should’ve sent you a picture. You could look at it during workouts for motivation.”

“Heh, only you crazy Brits would make jokes like that, stuffing bread between slices of toast.”

The place was buzzing like midtown Manhattan. Even though Logan found himself in a crowd of unfamiliar faces, he wasn’t alone. Strangers gravitated toward him — something that came with the territory, given who he was.

This was the notorious waiting room for the North American Scrim. People referred to it as the “meeting place” or the “reunion hall.” Not initially intended to be a social hub, it became one over time. And for a clear reason.

The North American and European high ranks gathering here was less about gaming and more a reunion for former special forces members, exchanging information and greetings.

‘So many unfamiliar faces…’

Overseas, especially here, people revealed their true selves, even through their avatars. Logan quickly identified familiar faces and those he didn’t recognize. Here, distinctions between former and current military personnel blurred, although Logan’s network didn’t discriminate much between active and retired.

GIGN, SAS, JTF-2, GROM, and others mingled, creating an almost surreal scene. A gathering like this usually only happened at the ISTC, the International Special Training Center. Memories of those times resurfaced.

There wasn’t much time until the first scrim started. Logan’s lack of interest in mingling allowed others to resume their individual activities, and some were already chatting with spectators.

“Just survive as long as possible,” Logan muttered.

If he did that, he’d likely run into Yujin. It was hard to imagine Yujin getting eliminated early, or even mid-way. Thoughts like these sharpened his focus, and his combat instincts kicked in.

It was just the first scrim, so there was no need to be overly serious. But testing the waters with a few strong punches wouldn’t hurt. Logan mentally assembled and dismantled countless scenarios, not just focusing on Yujin but also her mentees, as he’d likely cross paths with other Korean participants. He was here to gauge their abilities and take them down if necessary.

[Notification: Map Selection Complete. // High-Value Research Facility]

[Notification: Scrim begins in 7 minutes and 30 seconds.]

“…”

Of course, it had to be one of the most grueling maps — packed with enclosed spaces and ceilings everywhere. Combat indoors wasn’t new to him, but he couldn’t guarantee he’d have the upper hand against whoever he met. Nonetheless, he set his goals and prepared strategies to overcome any obstacles.

In the end, it all came down to adapting on the fly. The simpler the goal, the more ways to achieve it, but real combat was always full of unpredictable variables.

‘What should I say when I see him?’

“Glad you’re alive?”
“You’re looking better?”
“I missed you?”

Even though Yujin seemed tough on the outside, Logan knew she’d probably like any of those. But for a reunion, maybe he should go with something a bit more impactful. He thought back to the Indian Point Nuclear Plant operation. None of them knew it would be their last, and none had given Yujin proper parting words. If he’d known, maybe he’d have been better to her.

He had no intention of shedding tears when they met, but he also couldn’t guarantee his voice wouldn’t tremble. Given that, maybe diving straight into the match was the best option. Instead of fumbling through small talk, closing the distance with bullets and explosions seemed fitting.

[Notification: Spectator 'AnthonyOwens' has entered Loganthepolarbear's private session.]

[Notification: Spectator 'Laurentina' has entered Loganthepolarbear's private session.]

“...What?”

Two familiar names popped up, but it wasn’t over yet.

[Notification: Spectator 'Wellerman' has entered Loganthepolarbear's private session.]

[Notification: Spectator 'Morganandwine' has entered Loganthepolarbear's private session.]

“Where did these clowns come from? Don’t they have jobs to do?”

Logan muttered to himself, realizing this was only the beginning.

[Laurentina: Came with high hopes, but where’s our little rookie?]

[Wellerman: I’ll overlook a hug, but didn’t even meet? Should I report insubordination?]

[AnthonyOwens: Do well out there.]

[Morganandwine: It’s an honor to sit here, feeling like the main dish is missing from the restaurant XD]

“Keep your mouths shut, or I’ll boot you all before I even see Yujin.”

Logan wasn’t thrilled, but they were all excited to see their resurrected rookie. Despite their attempts to hide it, their eagerness was apparent.

[Notification: Scrim for November 3rd Final Championship Preparation is now underway.]

He was back. And he was ready.

Indeed, he had returned. Not as the hesitant, unpolished Dice from a year ago, but as a participant in the Final Championship, sharpened again and again by Yujin’s relentless grindstone. The Dice of November 3rd stood there, clad in the mixed emotions of excitement, anticipation, apprehension, and fear.

It had been a long journey. As the hatch of the transport plane opened and people began parachuting out one by one, a flood of memories from last year washed over him. He recalled how he’d gone in unprepared and crashed hard against the wall that was the scrim, shattered in every sense of the word.

And here he was, in the same High-Value Research Facility map he’d encountered the first time. It felt like a seamless extension of the past.

But this time was different. It had to be different.

There was no room for obsession or doubt. He had to let go and trust in everything he’d learned.

BOOM!

The hatch opened, and a blast of cold air rushed in. The dim, misty view of the research facility came into focus, eerily quiet, as they all began jumping out in sequence.

The time that followed felt dreamlike. As they disappeared into the base one by one, juggernauts took over the surface, making it a de facto forbidden zone. But Dice paid it no mind, moving through the facility, gathering supplies.

“Hah…”

The type of weapon didn’t matter, as long as it wasn’t cumbersome to handle. Ideally, he was looking for an SMG or assault rifle with armor-piercing rounds. Sure, he came across some sniper rifles too, but that wasn’t what he was after.

And there was something more important than that today.

[Notification: Skill Activation Zones will deploy in 3 minutes.]

Skills.

As Yujin had explained, skills were the ace up the sleeve in these scrims, especially fitting for a stage like this. They offered the only reliable way to gain an edge over opponents — if used correctly.

He wasn’t lacking in ability. Yujin had drilled him thoroughly, and he was confident he could finish in the upper ranks by applying everything systematically. But the goal this time was beyond mere survival.

Everyone here had been honed to near perfection, either through rigorous training or countless combat scenarios. They had brought their old skills into this virtual reality, with reflexes, decision-making, and tactical insight honed by endless repetition.

But skills were different.

Tatatatatata!

The faint sound of gunfire in the distance didn’t pull him from his thoughts.

The truth was, Yujin had taken him under her wing and shared a plethora of creative ways to use skills. In just a few weeks, they’d trained extensively, exploring all eight maps, identifying the optimal skills for each.

For Dice, the right setup for this High-Value Research Facility map was the Nanomachine Oxidizer and the Bombardment Drone. A setup designed for aggressive offense.

It was time to move.

Whiz!

“Whoa…”

The bullet that zipped past his ear forced an involuntary gasp, a mix of relief and surprise. If that shot had landed on his head… He quickly counterattacked, having already secured a gun and armor. The thud of a grenade clattering against the wall brought his attention back.

He braced himself for an ambush. But he’d been through this before. He grabbed his own grenade and rolled it a few meters ahead, where an enemy figure appeared.

“Goodbye.”

BOOM!

The flash was blinding, followed by a storm of shrapnel. His opponent barely had time to react before he was sent back to the lobby.

The Skill Activation Zone was now live, and chaos had erupted everywhere. Clearing out everyone wasn’t feasible, and waiting for them to clear out on their own wasn’t an option either.

Time to put Yujin’s advice to the test.

‘If things aren’t going your way, flip the table. The variables that arise from that are up to you to handle.’

And so he did.

The control room was surprisingly empty, with not even a booby trap to worry about. He stepped inside, loaded a fresh clip, and sprayed bullets across the panel, tearing into it until smoke and sparks began to fly.

After a few seconds, the gunfire around him ceased, and a foreboding voice echoed from the speakers above.

Exactly as he had hoped.

[Warning: Irreparable damage detected in Lower Level 2, Zulu Sector Control Panel.]

[Warning: Security will arrive in 2 minutes to assess the situation. Researchers should vacate the area within 1 minute or remain prone with identification visible. Failure to comply may result in immediate neutralization.]

It was now a race against time.

He exited the room, making his way to the Skill Activation Zone displayed on a nearby PDA. Most players around here would likely flee. But Dice wasn’t most players. He’d dealt with worse. His gut told him that success was within reach.

So—

“Heh.”

Move along, all of you. This place isn’t for the faint-hearted.