Ex Rank Supporting Role’s Replay in a Prestigious School

SZ Meteor Arena, where the final match is held.

It wasn't long after the main tournament had taken place, but the final match was soon to follow at the arena.

Despite the tight schedule and negative public opinion about it, there were players who found it difficult to handle long events, such as office workers or foreigners residing in Korea.

Furthermore, the progression and the matches were not bad, and due to the impressive performances by the participants, the public interest increased significantly, with positive reviews outweighing the negative ones.

Our classmates also decided to come and cheer for the final match.

Today, there were many people to cheer for.

'The opening stage will feature Dokgo Miro, in the individual finals, Yusaenghoon will play, and in the team match, Inseonoh will be one to cheer for. There are others I want to cheer for too...'

On the day the main tournament took place, the teams with Inseonoh's group, Eoreureum, and the team featuring the PvP maniac, Gwangjeonsa, and the Lava Mage, secured their spots in the finals.

In the semi-finals, Inseonoh faced the only remaining foreign team and won, while Yusaenghoon lost to Gwangjeonsa.

Gwangjeonsa directly engaged Yusaenghoon and held him down, and meanwhile, the Lava Mage used PvP skills to hunt the team members who were less experienced.

Although they gained revival experience, the situation was too tilted for the weaker players to turn the tide, even if they became stronger.

During this time, Yusaenghoon put on an incredible strength show, where the tank successfully killed the pure damage dealer, Gwangjeonsa, and joined his teammates, but the return of a stronger Gwangjeonsa soon overwhelmed them, leading to their eventual loss.

'The difference between the amateur teams who gathered to enjoy the game and the teams who trained hard to analyze and strategize against their opponents was clear. And as I watched the matches unfold, the differences between Yusaenghoon and Inseonoh also became apparent.'

If we compare the teams of Yusaenghoon and Inseonoh:

Yusaenghoon's team, though working hard, had only a few skilled members.

Inseonoh's team, on the other hand, had skilled members, but only a few were putting in the effort.

Most members of Eoreureum preferred PvE (Player Versus Environment), fighting against monsters and game-created enemies rather than engaging in PvP. However, they fought alongside the team members they had adventured with, valuing loyalty and camaraderie.

In the team match, there were some PVE elements, but it seemed some of the Eoreureum rankers weren't fond of them.

'Still, both of them exhibited different types of leadership and guided their teams in their own ways.'

While Yusaenghoon's contribution looked like he dominated the stats, his play clearly prioritized the team over himself, and it was well communicated that he was sacrificing for the team.

On the other hand, Inseonoh gave the impression that he wasn't leading his team but rather neglecting them.

However, this wasn't neglect—it was the best decision made after understanding his team members' characteristics.

In fact, it would be more accurate to say he laid a spiderweb rather than making a move.

'He made plays that contributed to the team's victory, but it still gave the impression that he was fighting alone.'

One of the most memorable moments from the main tournament was the sight of Eoreureum standing on the surface of the lake in the round of 16.

When the opposing team's members were considered to have drowned in the game, the commentators switched the screen to the view of the player sinking.

Since they were all incapacitated at nearly the same time, instead of reviving in order of death, they hurriedly discussed who should be revived first.

As a result, the screen froze for a brief moment, and because it wasn't clear who would be revived, the option 'Would you like to take the hand of the higher entity?' appeared with a translucent hand.

At that moment, neither the caster, the commentator, nor the audience focused on the option or the hand.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the scene where Eoreureum, trapped in the spider's web, locked eyes with the character who had become incapacitated.

The moment the prey caught in the web met its end was something that left a lasting impression on everyone watching the tournament.

"Jo Yi-shin, you seem to be deep in thought."

"What are you thinking about?"

While I was lost in thought watching the PlayerZ video playing on the screen above, the voices of Hwang Jiho and Cheongho reached my ears.

When I turned to look, the tigers on both sides of me were staring at my face.

They had sat like this before, but this time, some classmates wanted to swap seats. However, I decided to let the tigers do as they wished.

I wasn't sure about the others, but these two had really struggled while drinking the elixir.

So, for now, I wanted to indulge them with their stubbornness over something trivial.

I answered their questions.

"I was just thinking about the elixir."

"..."

The two tigers fell silent.

Hwang Jiho seemed to make a disgusted face as he thought about the taste of the elixir and spoke.

"You should think of something brighter and healthier."

"Yeah, Miro is coming on stage soon. Think of something nice."

At the mention of the elixir, Cheongho seemed to snap out of his daze when he said Dokgo Miro's name.

Since Cheongho returned, I hadn't had the chance to talk properly with Dokgo Miro.

When Hwang Jiho had witnessed Cheongho and Dokgo Miro meeting in the headmaster's office, he had said, 'No need to worry,' but he might have just been saying that for my sake.

'Right now, cheering for the kids comes first.'

As my thoughts started to drift in a negative direction, I forced myself to refocus.

The live broadcast was about to start.

On the official streaming channel, over 3 million viewers were flooding the chat with the names of the teams or players they supported, eagerly waiting for the broadcast to begin.

Even though it was a non-professional league and the broadcast hadn't even started yet, to see this many viewers gathering already was a testament to PlayerZ's popularity.

For Yusaenghoon, who was aiming to become a professional gamer, and for Dokgo Miro, who was still without a team, this was a huge opportunity.

Pop!

With about 30 seconds ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) remaining before the broadcast started, all the lights in SZ Meteor Arena went off, except for the timer screen.

As 10 seconds passed, the stage gradually began to light up, and the audience's cheers grew louder as the countdown reached zero, and a hologram in the shape of a massive door appeared.

PlayerZ's users immediately recognized what the door was. Y@o-u-r* sup#po-r.t@ at MV!^L&EMP^YR ke@e+ps the s^er+i$e^s# g%o%i!n@g%.

It was the door players encountered in the prologue, when they fell into another world.

'They've staged the prologue for the performance.'

In the prologue and tutorial, players learned about the world and controls and eventually opened the door to Zeta.

Using screens, lighting, holograms, and lasers, the performance artists created a stunning visual display, almost like an energy user casting spells, creating a magnificent effect to open the stage.

For those familiar with PlayerZ, this brought back fond memories and immersion, while it intrigued newcomers to the game.

When the door failed to open, a player finally appeared who would be the one to open it.

The performance began with vocals.

The audience, recognizing the vocalist, cheered once again.

It was the voice of one of the players I wanted to cheer for today.

"It's Yeoraehun!"

In a light that seemed to fall from the sky, Yeoraehun descended from the catwalk near the ceiling onto the stage.

Had he been a normal person, he might have been injured, but as a player with exceptional abilities, Yeoraehun landed without a scratch.

He seemed to have used an item to assist his landing, but at the same time, his abilities subtly created an aura around him.

Yeoraehun began to sing immediately after landing.

Despite the dramatic entrance, his pitch was flawless, and even when he started rapping quickly, the beat didn't waver in the slightest.

'I heard that his overseas activities have increased so much that domestic performances may be difficult.'

Yeoraehun was one of the singers involved in the PlayerZ OST, and his debut single had entered the top ranks on international charts, gaining immense popularity abroad.

Hearing his live performance after so long was an overwhelming experience.

My playable character, Yeoraehun, who had died in the plot due to a conspiracy in Flimago, was now on stage as a globally popular musician.

Yeoraehun was the perfect player to express the moment when the door to Zeta was opened through song.

Wooaahh!

As Yeoraehun struck a final pose in mid-air, the door began to open, and as he exited, the stage brightened further, and the hologram of Zeta appeared.

When the door was halfway open, Yeoraehun's performance ended, and calm background music, like the sound of wind, began to fill the stage.

This track was one of the most famous songs in PlayerZ and could be heard on the login screen.

And the vocalist of this song was none other than Dokgo Miro.

Paaa!

Amidst the holograms depicting players starting their adventures in Zeta, Dokgo Miro emerged.

Hidden behind numerous holograms, Dokgo Miro became impossible to ignore as soon as he began to sing, his presence overwhelming.

Despite other holograms and the dancers still occupying the stage, it was hard to take your eyes off Dokgo Miro unless you paid very close attention.

'I was worried about performing right after Yeoraehun, but it turned out to be unnecessary.'

Few could step on stage and exude such presence right after an international star like Yeoraehun.

Now, the version Dokgo Miro was singing was a full version of the song, different from the teaser in the trailer, the login screen, and the performance during the finals.

The two verses and the highlight were arranged to best highlight Dokgo Miro's clear and powerful high notes.

Dokgo Miro was singing a song for the players who had started their journey and battle in Zeta, each with their own goals.

Having gained attention with a runner-up finish, slowly being forgotten, and then reviving his dream through participating in PlayerZ's OST and his performance in the exhibition match, this song was a perfect fit for Dokgo Miro.

'Once the interview is done, it won't be an exaggeration to say this is Dokgo Miro's debut showcase.'

It seemed PlayerZ had fully planned Dokgo Miro's stage, and some overly immersed fans were even wiping away tears.

It felt like a moment from when they first played and enjoyed the game.

And as Dokgo Miro's song ended, a new door began to open on the stage.

It seemed that another 'one who opens the door' was about to appear, besides those already on stage.

The door opened four times, and each time it did, the audience erupted in cheers.

Beginning with Yusaenghoon, the finalists to compete for the championship emerged.

Only after Dokgo Miro naturally passed the spotlight to the protagonists of the day did he turn his head toward our class.

"Yusaenghoon and Seonoh are out!"

"Look, Miro is looking over here!"

"Oh no, we're not ready to be on camera yet!"

The classmates, realizing Dokgo Miro's gaze, started to panic.

'Did he know we were here from the start? He's looking this way. No, more accurately, at Cheongho...'

As soon as Dokgo Miro spotted Cheongho, he gave a bright smile.

It was a smile I couldn't replicate, free of any shadow.