The sky above the LuTech compound had turned gray, thick with low clouds that seemed to press down on the complex like a warning.
Within the arena, tension simmered, not from enemies across the map, but from the glances exchanged between teammates, whispers trailing through locker rooms, and the quiet sense that something was shifting.
Especially between Shen Wanqing and Reign.
The unspoken understanding between them, once so electric, now sat like static in the air. Heavy. Buzzing. Uncertain.
The Announcement
"Tomorrow marks the Top 30 Elimination Bracket. Duos will be randomized. Trust no one."
The moment the words were said, the players reacted.
Some panicked. Others strategized.
Reign remained still.
But Wanqing noticed the subtle tightening of his jaw.
And then she saw her name flash across the pairings board.
Player: QingQingSnipes Partner: VnX.Dagger
Her blood went cold.
Flashback – Four Months Ago
Back in the local qualifier scene, VnX.Dagger or real name Han Yi, had been a rising sniper known for cutthroat plays and an ego that filled every room.
He once asked Wanqing to throw a match in exchange for a guaranteed spot in a minor league team. She refused.
He made sure she didn't qualify.
But now, he was back. Smiling like a predator.
"You still twitch slightly before you fire," he said when they crossed paths in the prep lounge. "Good to know some things haven't changed."
Wanqing walked away.
But dread followed her like a shadow.
Elsewhere – Reign's Confrontation
Reign sat alone in the strategy room, replaying the message from the unknown sender again.
"You're letting your emotions compromise you again."
He finally replied.
Reign: "Say what you came to say."
Unknown ID: "You know Dagger isn't random. Someone's testing you."
Reign: "Testing what?"
Unknown ID: "Whether you'll protect her or eliminate her."
Reign froze.
Because the sender wasn't a stranger. It was someone from his past team.
Someone who remembered Seoul. Someone who still had influence.
He stood slowly. His fingers curled into fists.
The Duo Scrim – Dagger & Wanqing
The match dropped in Erangel, dusk mode, high fog, and reduced visibility. Coordination was everything.
From the first second, Wanqing knew something was off.
Dagger refused to listen to the callouts. Took sniper loot she'd marked. Shot warning shots at her just to "test her reaction time."
And in the 12th minute, he intentionally exposed her location to an enemy team through voice proximity chat.
Two enemy grenades flew into the house where she was hiding.
She barely escaped alive.
The coaching booth noticed. Cameras caught it. Commentators went quiet.
And Reign?
He was watching.
After the Match – Locker Hallway
Wanqing stormed out, bruised but not broken.
Dagger followed casually. "Don't look at me like I'm the villain. This is how the big leagues work. No place for loyalty or love."
She turned sharply. "You ever talk about love again, I'll put a bullet between your eyes, in-game or out."
Behind her, another figure stepped into view.
Reign.
Dagger looked at him and smirked. "Ah. The prince shows up. Does she know who you are?"
Reign said nothing.
Just stared. Calm. Cold.
But Wanqing saw it , the flicker of something else. Not rage.
Guilt.
Late Night – Wanqing's Room
The door clicked open.
She looked up from her desk. Reign stood there, unreadable as ever.
"I should've told you about Dagger," he said.
"You knew he was dangerous."
"I thought you'd be okay."
She stared at him. "Why?"
"Because you're better than him."
The silence stretched.
Then she asked softly, "Why do you keep choosing me?"
His answer was quiet.
"Because when I look at you, I remember the version of me I lost. Before everything broke."
Wanqing stood. Walked toward him.
For a moment, the fog between them cleared.
And though no one said it, they both knew:
This wasn't just about survival anymore.This was about choosing each other.
Even when it hurt.
Even when it risked everything.