Chapter 295
The Blue Team and the Black Team stood in a line at the starting point, ready to run as soon as the signal was given. The atmosphere among the players was quite serious.
“……”
“……”
In the tense atmosphere, someone could be heard swallowing dryly.
‘Why is this so intense?’
One player, who was relatively less immersed, gave a wry smile.
– Beep!
Without warning, the starting signal sounded.
The players from both teams, who had been highly alert, immediately sprinted forward.
The players of the Blue Team, dressed in blue, split into two groups.
The Black Team players, thinking that one of the ropes was being abandoned, soon noticed On Raon darting out alone from their left side.
“!”
On Raon, who had shown impressive sprinting skills in the short-distance finals, reached the rope before anyone else and pulled it back along the path he had come.
The Black Team players were shocked and shouted as they faced the sudden crisis of losing a rope.
“He’s taking it alone on the left!”
“Stop him!”
If the Blue Team managed to take a rope that easily, it would be a significant loss for the Black Team.
However, even knowing it was a big loss, there wasn’t much the Black Team could do.
On Raon, holding the rope, was already far ahead, and the Blue Team, which had initially split into two groups, now divided into three, had a clear advantage over the Black Team players, who had just started joining the remaining rope.
On Raon glanced at the fierce battle unfolding in the center and then pulled the trailing rope with all his might to bring it to his side.
The rope flew through the air, drawing a curve, and then slapped against the Blue Team players who were in a tug-of-war.
Although it wasn’t dangerous because it wasn’t pulled with great force, it was enough to make them flinch in surprise.
Of course, those watching from the sidelines found it hilarious.
Especially Gyun Seong-ha, who had been half-lying down while pulling the rope and got hit directly on the thigh by the flying rope, was startled and yelled in anger.
“Ouch! That hurts, you idiot!”
“Sorry!”
– Oh, is this a team kill?
– I bet he meant it.
“Who told me to do this in the first place!”
– I’ve noticed before, but this player is really shameless.
Thus, the Blue Team easily won the first round, contrary to expectations.
– In the first game, with an outstanding performance by Raon, the Blue Team wins, overturning our commentators’ predictions!
In the second round, the Blue Team maintained their original strategy but switched the direction of the rope On Raon was stealing from right to left.
“As far as I can see, no one on the Black Team is faster than Raon.”
“Let’s win, Blue Team!”
“Let’s win!”
However, the Black Team, which had not only strong but also smart members, did not fall for the same trick twice.
In the second round, a few specially selected Black Team players chased after On Raon, who was running away with the rope, until he was exhausted and managed to capture him and the rope.
“Isn’t it a bit much to have five people chasing one?!”
Even as he was being dragged away, On Raon made a desperate protest, trying to hold onto the rope to delay the Black Team players as long as possible. Ok Do-yoon, one of the special squad members, replied cheerfully.
“Ju-an hyung said that if we can capture one rope with just five people, it’s worth it!”
Ju-an, you bastard!
Earlier, he had been talking about taking care of his beloved younger brother, and now he was screwing him over like this?
In the end, the Blue Team, whose strategy was completely countered, became disorganized and lost all three ropes to the Black Team.
“I’m sorry…….”
On Raon, who had been dragged around holding onto the worn-out rope until the game ended, looked visibly exhausted as he apologized to the team.
Seeing On Raon, who had clearly worked the hardest among the Blue Team players, the seniors shook their heads with smiling faces.
“It’s okay. You did your best.”
“Yeah, thanks to you, we won the first game.”
“But what should we do now?”
“They’ll definitely keep an eye on Raon’s position.”
“I saw them chasing after him so fiercely.”
“And they’re even dressed like grim reapers……”
Moreover, On Raon’s light blue hair was so distinctive that it stood out from a distance.
On Raon, recalling how Ok Do-yoon had pointed at his head and shouted, “There’s Raon!” causing the Black Team players to move in unison, touched his hair with a dissatisfied look.
‘If I had known this would happen, I would have dyed my hair black.’
If Gwak Sang-hyun had known about this, he would have been baffled at the idea of dyeing bleached hair back to black for such a trivial reason.
In short, the problem was that they were being discovered too quickly wherever they went.
Having been assigned an important task, On Raon naturally found himself included in the strategy meeting despite not being the leader. He cautiously spoke up.
“How about we do it like this this time?”
* * *
After a brief strategy session.
The Blue Team players, who had turned to face the audience as if plotting something, turned back to face the Black Team players.
“Pfft!”
“What’s with them?”
Over fifty Blue Team players looked like they had all been swallowed up by blue hoodies.
– Is this the clone technique we saw earlier?
– It seems even more upgraded than before.
– Wow, the Blue Team is really trying to confuse the opponents!
They mixed and mingled amongst themselves, constantly changing positions to make it difficult for the opponents to identify them.
The Blue Team players, with only their eyes visible and their hoodie strings tightened to secure their view, appeared entirely serious about winning, making the scene even funnier.
– The Blue Team didn’t seem to get this disheveled up until last year…….
– I’m curious about what happened.
– Now! Can the Blue Team, who have sacrificed their faces, defeat the Black Team?
“……”
As the much-anticipated final round approached.
An unprecedented tension filled the air.
– Beep!
The signal to start the battle was given.
Immediately, the Black Team players concluded that the Blue Team, despite wearing hoodies, hadn’t changed their strategy much from the previous round.
Even with his face covered, it was clear that the person sprinting towards the right rope was On Raon.
‘Again, Raon is taking one rope, while the remaining Blue Team players split to capture the other two ropes…….’
The Black Team players, running towards the right rope, quickly shifted their focus to support the remaining ropes, just like in the previous game, while those who had dragged On Raon before charged towards him.
At that moment, top-tier players like Rai, Seo Moon-gyeol, and Gyun Seong-ha from the Blue Team stepped in.
“!”
“What the hell?!”
Seemingly just pulling the middle rope, these players quickly moved to support On Raon as the Black Team players approached.
“Blue Team, move!”
Simultaneously, the remaining Blue Team players holding the middle rope swiftly moved to support the left rope at Rai’s booming signal.
The transition, as previously discussed, was smooth and fluid.
As a result, the Blue Team, with their strong minority, faced an ordinary minority, and with their majority, faced the Black Team’s minority.
The Black Team players sent to capture On Raon, who wasn’t particularly difficult to catch alone, weren’t particularly strong. Hence, the Blue Team’s elite players easily overpowered them and protected the right rope.
“Hold the right!”
“Black Team, the right!!”
The Black Team players, who had been holding the middle rope, quickly moved to the left rope, but the victory had already tilted in favor of the Blue Team.
– Blue Team! Blue Team…!
– Black Team needs to hold on till the end!
– Beep! Beeeeep!
– Game~ over~!!
With the guerrilla tactic working successfully and capturing the left rope as well, this year’s strategic tug-of-war winning team was.
– Blue Team! Congratulations!!
– Wow, what an upset.
* * *
“I feel like my body has been torn into five pieces.”
The three rounds of strategic tug-of-war were five times more exhausting than any other game or event held today.
“Is this what they call dismemberment…….”
“Stop exaggerating.”
“Ban Yo-han, be quiet. Good job, rookie.”
Anyway, the long day was almost over with just the basketball finals and relay race remaining.
This year, the Blue Team had achieved quite good results overall, including winning the cheerleading contest and strategic tug-of-war, especially in team events.
There were particularly intense battles against the Black Team.
The production team seemed to recognize this, as the commentators had been enthusiastically stirring up the rivalry between the Black Team and Blue Team.
The Black Team, who had faced an unexpected defeat in the strategic tug-of-war, seemed determined to make a comeback in basketball.
Ban Yo-han and Seo Moon-gyeol from Orca were also preparing for this match.
“Do well.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t get hurt.”
“Don’t worry.”
This time, Seo Moon-gyeol was starting, while Ban Yo-han stayed on the bench.
The commentator speculated that the Blue Team’s coach intended for Ban Yo-han, who had a keen eye for the game, to stay on the bench first to get accustomed to the situation.
Thanks to Jing Xiao, who had sprained his wrist during the strategic tug-of-war and was temporarily out receiving treatment, the basketball game turned out to be tense and thrilling enough to keep even those unfamiliar with the sport on the edge of their seats.
Then, in a moment.
“!”
Seo Moon-gyeol, who had leapt into the air, lost his balance and twisted awkwardly as he landed on someone’s foot, causing him to stumble.