As with anypetitive game, the highest tier was an object of envy.


    A tier was the most objective indicator of skill that could be visually confirmed, and it was a reliable way to gauge one''s standing among others ying the same game.


    Even though the ever-expanding nature of games had caused ranked games to diversify—and with that, the prestige of higher tiers had somewhat diminished—the allure remained.


    Moreover, it was one of the minimum requirements for streamers who aimed to showcase their skills and made Dark Zone their main content.


    Conversely, this meant that streamers were rtively well-represented in the upper echelons of the rankings.


    In a way, it made perfect sense.


    A streamer was someone who provided entertainment for viewers, and to do so, they needed something to appeal to their audience.


    Exceptional gaming skills were the most straightforward advantage to showcase.


    While low-tier ranked games, with theiredic or tragic moments, had their own appeal,


    the strategic battles and thrilling victories snatched from the jaws of defeat were more akin to a well-made moviepared to the former''sedy show.


    Although such moments could ur in lower tiers as well, by general standards, people were unfortunately less inclined to pay attention to those at the bottom.


    Returning to the point, the highest tier was an object of envy.


    However, looking at it from another angle, the reason it was so coveted was because it was a hellish realm beyond humanprehension.


    As the tier increased, so did the brutalpetition. No matter how good you were, when you queued for a game, you were faced with groups of yers of simr skill, all waiting to challenge you.


    And when those who had chosen the game not as a pastime but as their future—namely, aspiring professional gamers—joined the fray, thepetition became even more intense.


    You either had to fall behind or have the skill to break through and rise.


    There were only two choices, and the answer for those given only these options was clear.


    Amidst all this, on a scorching day in August,


    <TIER 2 Promotion Match Starting.>


    "We’vee quite far... Let’s keep going."


    One yer set foot on the edge of this hellish realm.


    <ReymMysterio has donated 1,000 KRW! Thank you very much!>


    <ul>


    <li>It’s a promotion match, but you’re still taking donations? Are you that confident? Think you can handle it? Or are you out of your mind? LOL.</li>


    </ul>


    "Hey, guys. What did I do wrong, huh? Am I just someone who only eats and ys Dark Zone all day? I may have been a bit neglectful of my main job, but I’m back now!"


    <ul>


    <li>Back (half-forced).</li>


    <li>What kind of etiquette calls being dragged back by a leash a return, LOL?</li>


    <li>Fact: If it weren’t for Russ, you wouldn’t even be participating in the Asia qualifiers, let alone ying ranked.</li>


    <li>Spending fifteen hours a day scavenging is not neglect, it’s outright disdain, Kato ^^.</li>


    <li>So, does that mean the unemployed are just a bit neglectful of making money? LOL.</li>


    </ul>


    Amid the rising incredulousments, a message popped up, apanied by a grand sound, indicating that a ranked game had been found.


    Five minutes.


    It took a full five minutes to find a match for a singlepetitive game. And this wasn’t even a regr ranked match but a tournament ranked match.


    Despite being a game where everyone was aiming for the Asia qualifiers, it still took five minutes to find yers of simr skill.


    It felt a bit odd.


    Even so, considering there were hundreds of matches running in this tier, it seemed more like a matter of bad timing.


    With that thought, Kato—the streamer known as Katographer—looked at the rank match information screen that popped up.


    <ul>


    <li>[TIER 2 Promotion Match Starting.]</li>


    </ul>


    There wasn’t much excitement.


    Looking back a bit, Tier 2 wasn’t an insurmountable wall for him, but rather a gateway to pass through.


    His average skill level fluctuated between Tiers 2 and 1, and during his peak battle royale days, he even reached the highest rank, Medal of Honor, though only just.


    In other words, while others stared at the wall in front of them, he, with his past experience, was already looking at the higher mountain peaks beyond.


    The ''minimum'' qualification for participating in the Asia qualifiers was Tier 2, Rank 5, and even with exceptions, it was at least SOF 1.


    Until recently, his daily routine had been just carrying a hatchet and a pistol while stuffing valuables into his pants, but as they say, a rich man’s wealthsts for three years even after he’s ruined.


    With a confident tone, the ramp spun, and the lower hatch of the transport ne opened.


    The wind howled.


    "Alright, here we go! It''ste-season ranked, but let’s climb quickly! Let’s gooo───!"


    Jump.


    The transport ne, capable of carrying dozens of people, shrank to the size of a palm, and the researchplex below—once as small as matchboxes—rapidly grewrger.


    With a crisp sound, the parachute opened. As his descent slowed, he saw people who hadnded before him rushing into buildings.


    A few secondster, he followed the same process.


    "Okay, since this is a promotion match, I’ll focus a bit more. As I always emphasize, prioritize skills when looting, everyone. This is a tournament rank, so decent weapons are readily avable. If you really want to use your main weapon, you can call for a supply dropter."


    With skilled hands, he opened the crates around him.


    As he said, the crates were filled with fully assembled firearms, ammunition, cash, and bulletproof vests, seemingly ced there to encourage quick engagements.


    He immediately equipped himself and picked up a well-set-up light machine gun. Around him, fights were already breaking out.


    After scanning the surroundings, he spoke while moving.


    "As you all know, skills have activation zones. The early fights in higher-tier matches are basically psychological warfare in these areas. But be aware, item spawns around these zones, aside from cash, are really stingy."


    In short, two choices were presented:


    Do you choose weapons first, gather enough money, and then fight against those who have unlocked their skills?


    Or do you unlock your skills first, and then fight against the swarm of yers and others who have also unlocked their skills?


    Since the skills were quite powerful, the survival rate was roughly even regardless of the choice. EMP grenades, which could counter this, only appeared in thete game, so there was no worry about imbnce.


    ───!!!


    With a press of the trigger, a satisfying gunshot rang through the air.


    Sliding, running, and walking alternately to manage his stamina, Kato aimed and fired at an enemy who suddenly popped out from around a corner.


    Because it was a high-tier ranked game, the opponent’s reaction was swift, but even a small difference could determine life or death.


    In an instant, bullets crossed paths, and the enemy in Kato''s sights was the first to enter a dying state, ending the initial encounter.


    He finished the enemy off with a few more shots, grabbed the necessary items, and moved on.


    "Obviously, you shouldn’t bother with finishing moves when there are enemies swarming everywhere. But if you suddenly need to use the bathroom, just trigger the execution animation and go."


    <ul>


    <li>Summary: Kato needs to use the bathroom.</li>


    <li>Such a ssy way to suggest dodging^^.</li>


    <li>This guy… precision!</li>


    <li>Even if he carries junk in his pants all the time, his aim is still on point.</li>


    <li>In other games, this would be mid-Grandmaster, so don’t die here, LOL.</li>


    </ul>


    It was true.


    Despite a few hups, he quickly swept through the area at a speed that made the recent intense battle seem irrelevant. It didn’t take long for the kill count in the top-right corner to start climbing again, just like in the early game.


    Even though his skills might have waned from ying other modes, by this point, even the viewers who had been criticizing him earlier were now constantly expressing their amazement.


    It all flowed naturally—using avable resources to corner enemies, clearing out potential hiding spots, and sometimesunching unexpected attacks from unconventional positions.


    Through skill, map knowledge, or pure intuition, he orchestrated the game like assembling a puzzle to create the scenario he desired.


    Although things didn’t always go as nned, he could always think of ways to ovee the situation.


    And, of course, he never forgot to throw in some lip service to show respect to his opponents.


    "Maybe it''s because it''ste-season, or perhaps it’s because it’s a promotion match… Everyone’s really good. Normally, I could y through this part with ease."


    <ul>


    <li>Looks like all the serious yers are flocking to leave an impression before the qualifiers.</li>


    <li>This is why I don’t y tournament rank, LOL.</li>


    <li>Even if you’re talking nonsense, at least do it properly, LOL.</li>


    <li>So this is where all the bulk sales of conscience on secondhand sitese from, huh?</li>


    <li>I’m a Tier 2 local, and I can confirm that all my peers agree,,,,~~~</li>


    </ul>


    However, despite Kato’s words, the roughly 3,000 viewers watching his stream already knew.


    No matter how much he praised his opponents, the skill gap was clear. Despite exining half the time, he was still mowing downpetitors like leaves in the wind.


    Moreover, the ongoing donations and voicementary at this stage were almost like hidden indicators of Katographer''s confidence and skill.


    Even in a section where others struggled to climb, Kato maintained focus despite the distractions of donations and iplete concentration.


    That alone proved a lot.


    Driving around in his vehicle, Kato spoke again.


    "Wow, we’re down to 32 people already. You guys saw that, right? If you do well in the early game, there’s no need to struggleter. Kill points that affect RP are pretty much the same no matter where you get them."


    Instead of hunting down every enemy holed up in fortified positionster on, it was better to get as many kills as possible while everyone was on equal footing in the early game.


    An effective strategy for ranking up that everyone knows but few can execute.


    There’s a reason why it''s only passed down verbally.


    ───Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!


    "What the heck is that?"


    But in the midst of this, hundreds of rounds of lead rained down from a second-story window of a nearby mansion. The uracy and firepower were brutal.


    Holes started appearing in the car, and the vehicle UI in the bottom-left corner began turning red.


    The fuel tank must have been hit, as the fuel level dropped rapidly, and the tires were blown out. Kato himself was also hit by a few bullets, reducing his HP to halfway.


    His instincts sent a troubling warning.


    "I need to take that guy out. If I leave him alone, he’ll cause troubleter."


    <ul>


    <li>Wow, they’re good with those lead shots.</li>


    <li>Look at the car getting wrecked after a few hits, LOL.</li>


    <li>Is it time for another house-clearing tutorial? Another house-clearing tutorial? Another house-clearing tutorial?</li>


    <li>This guy knows how to draw aggro, LOL.</li>


    <li>Okay, now get out before the car blows up.</li>


    </ul>


    Screech.


    Kato didn’t so much get out of the car as he did almost throw himself out,nding some distance away from the mansion. Themotion had attracted attention, and noises could be heard nearby.


    Since he had exited out of sight from the window that had been shooting at him, he wasn’t too worried.


    He quickly formted a n to safely enter the mansion and spoke.


    "You can’t parkour up this house, but there should be a staircase by the storage area. I’ll throw some grenades and shbangs, then rush in."


    ───Rat-a-tat-tat!


    Just as he said this, another burst of machine-gun fire erupted from the second floor. Whoever was inside was clearly busy with the fight.


    It was the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack.


    With a click, the pins of a grenade and a shbang dropped to the ground, and a split secondter, shockwaves spread from the second floor.


    Kato quietly moved around to the back of the house, passing through the cluttered storage area into the building.


    ‘Why are there so many fishing supplies here?’


    He pushed aside any distracting thoughts.


    He had thrown the grenades, so the enemy inside would know someone wasing. But Kato had the element of surprise, and he needed to act before the enemy could react.


    He ascended the stairs quickly but quietly.


    Rat-a-tat-tat!


    Was this person thick-skinned or just oblivious? The machine-gun fire continued from the second floor, but it was toote for suspicion.


    Kato had yed enough games to be familiar with theyout of houses.


    The continuous gunfire masked the sound of the shbang pin being pulled, but just a few secondster, with an ear-splitting explosion, Kato stepped onto the second floor.


    No.


    He tried to step.


    ───!


    "Ugh!"


    Thud.


    For some reason, just as he was about to storm the second floor, something tripped him, causing him to fall hard.


    The tter of his gear and steel hitting the wooden floor echoed loudly.


    He tried to get up quickly, but…


    "The attempt was good, but youcked a sense of urgency."


    "Ugh, argh…!"


    Srrk.


    Something thick wrapped around his leg, and with a heavy weight pressing on his back, he couldn’t move anything but his arms.


    At the same time, something tightened around his neck.


    Something sharp, unbreakable.


    As Kato’s vision began to blur, he caught sight of something at the end of his gaze.


    It was a machine gun, casually mounted by the window.


    And there was something... like a string connected to the trigger.


    Only then did Kato realize what it was and what was strangling him.@@novelbin@@


    It was fishing line.


    ‘Wait, that means…!’


    "Having plenty of materials for traps is a good thing."


    As death approached, the situation became clear.


    The machine gun had been rigged to fire continuously, bluffing to make it seem like someone was still firing without care for the surroundings.


    But to think they’d go for direct strangtion like this...


    "Goodbye."


    Bang.


    The next moment—a gunshot that pierced through his eardrums—and Kato was thrown back to the lobby with a death certificate that read "headshot."


    "…What the hell just happened?"


    Of course, he hadn’t quite managed to bring his dignity back with him.