EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 822

Dokgo Miro hinted a few times that she was training for a project, but I never imagined that it was for the OST of the upcoming hot game.

She seemed anxious that her training didn’t produce as much results but my ears opened to the beautiful tune as soon as I heard it.

She sang without any accompaniment and only her voice.

‘There wasn’t anything like this in PMH. It would’ve been mentioned at least once if there was.’

I listened to the game’s OST inside PMH and there were no vocals in that song.

Dokgo Miro clearly changed that.

Did the production company add a vocalist after seeing her in Playlist?

SZ Games is a Korean company so it’s quite plausible.

‘And players are the main target of this game. They would want to use a player’s voice.’

The game depicts a player’s adventures, challenges, and confrontations.

It fits that a player-singer is recruited for the job.

There was a notice written in small letters under the logo.

— This video was produced with the consent of the users who participated in the closed beta test.

Does the game trailer include videos of them?

While I was thinking that, Dokgo Miro’s vocals stopped and the sound of the wind was heard.

The high-quality graphics of the in-game background appeared on the screen.

Players who had just been summoned to the New World were looking around.

Then, the screen changed.

— The Blue Valley of Dawn, the First Reveal

Following the caption at the bottom, I suddenly heard the voices of users who seemed to be using the in-game voice chat.

[How long is it until midnight?]

[About five and a half minutes.]

[Let’s do some final checks. We’ll go to the boss room at 23:58 and use our light skills in a row.]

The screen got brighter and the in-game screen was shown.

It was like a screen record of the real gameplay.

The attack leader pointed to the mini-map and gave instructions.

The leader planned to take advantage of the light skill reset time to subdue the boss at once.

He ended the briefing a bit nervously.

‘I think it was the Blue Valley of Dawn server that was in the top rankings released…’

While I was trying to remember, the leader gave instructions in a cold voice.

[Let’s go in.]

The screen was illuminated as the players rushed forward.

The scene changed.

This time, instead of a player-cooperative PVE mode, an in-game PVP match was in progress.

— Purgatory Chain Arena, The Finals.

[Stop the attack, stop! Don’t aim for the small targets. They’ll summon lava again, get the lava summoner first!]

[I’m about to die. Where’s the support? Can you use a boundary skill?]

[You’re too far! I can’t reach you. Use an item. No, just go back.]

[Calm down. It’s not too late. Our points are still high.]

A mix-up ensued with a number of players clashing.

No, it seems like things were going according to one side’s plan.

The other team was playing them using telepathic communication skills.

[They’re moving as expected. They’re coming after the lava user?]

[Change positions and switch skills as soon as they come. If you get caught, use your electric skill to get rid of everyone.] 

Even though the orders were self-sabotage, the players responded with a big smile without complaints.

They wanted to win as a team.

[Check!]

The in-game screen switched a few more times in a montage.

Users can create their own avatar costumes, trade leisurely, and discover jobs.

The trailer showed players enjoying the game that the company made with their heart and soul.

I felt the game’s great potential.

I was impressed that the trailer contained mostly real gameplay instead of simple graphics.

The video soon came to an end.

— Silent Leap City, otherworld defense.

The scene changed again.

Until now, the view was from a third-person POV, but this time it was completely first-person.

I felt like I was directly in the game.

‘It’s not a device gameplay. It’s a full-dive version using VR.’

The full-dive version allows for delicate manipulation but it becomes much more difficult and requires more concentration.

It’s a mode that a few people use during the CBT.

The users in the trailer seemed to be in trouble. 

[Another floor master! Approaching from 7 o’clock!]

[Two? Can you catch him? This otherworld is changing too fast!]

[Ah… We finally broke the boss room boundary…]

The situation was urgent.

The voice chat was briefly cut off after a sigh of despair from the players.

Then, for the first time, the player in the first-person POV spoke.

[We’ll be wiped out at this rate. I’ll block them. Go get the boss.]

I almost exclaimed when I heard the voice.

It was Yoo Sanghoon!

The gameplay continued while I was stunned in astonishment.

[You’re gonna block that on your own?]

[Yes, go before I die.]

Yoo Sanghoon changed his targeting mode from automatic to manual mode.

Using manual mode increases difficulty since his attacks won’t be guided.

Essentially he has to aim and hit on his own.

‘I would’ve done the same in that situation.’

Overcoming that rise in difficulty is worth it if it improves the character’s performance.

Yoo Sanghoon knew that he could do it.

[…Let’s go!]

The other attackers left Yoo Sanghoon and ran toward the boss room.

Left alone, Yoo Sanghoon began a desperate fight.

[Check the debuff. Someone has level 4 poisoning. Level 5 would be dangerous.]

[Ax incoming! Ax! Careful!]

[The poison is blocking my view! I can’t see in front. Where’s the ax? Use a clear-up skill, come on!]

[You’re at Level 3 poisoning, it’s not dangerous yet. Trust me and keep using your attack skills to 2 o’clock.]

[The tanker will die if this takes longer. Keep the cycle going!]

[We’re almost there. Focus!]

Yoo Sanghoon faithfully blocked the floor master even though his teammates’ voices sounded hectic.

The screen slowly darkened as if to signal that the character was almost dead, but Yoo Sanghoon didn’t give up.

The moment the floor master raised his sword toward the stumbling Yoo Sanghoon…

Fwaaaat!

In an instant, the enemies in front disappeared into particles of light.

The others defeated the boss enemy.

The sun rose from the other side of the sea and jubilant voices poured out.

[Clear! We did it!]

[Really…? We cleared it?]

[It was a clearable level! We did it!]

[Yeaaah!]

Among the cheering players was the tanker Yoo Sanghoon who faced two floor masters alone.

Behind the message announcing him as the top contributor, his teammates gathered.

As the screen got brighter, the scene switched and Dokgo Miro’s voice was heard again.

As soon as the song stopped, the game slogan and title were slapped on the screen with a bang.

— Players’ Respect and Victory

— PlayerZ

The game was called PlayerZ, or PZ for short.

It’s surprising that two students from our school appeared in the trailer of PlayerZ, one of the most successful media of this time.

I was stunned, but I decided to message Dokgo Miro first.

I sent words of praise and appreciation and Dokgo Miro seemed relieved.

Maybe I was the first one she showed this to.

[Me] I wanna hear the full version.

[Dokgo Miro] I’ll let you know once it’s out.

[Me] Sounds good.

[Me] Can I send this link to the others?

[Dokgo Miro] Sure.

I thought it would be less nerve-wracking for her if someone else sent the link.

I sent it to someone who wasn’t in my class too.

[Me] (Link)

[Jang Namwook] What’s this link, Euishin-ah? I’ll check

[Jang Namwook] Oh? It’s the PlayerZ game that Sanghoon plays. Oh, so they’ll have an open beta test soon. There were a lot of cadets waiting for it. Are you interested in the game too, Euishin-ah?

[Me] Watch it first.

[Jang Namwook] Huh? Okay, I’ll watch it.

I was interested in the game, but Yoo Sanghoon’s cameo is why I sent it to our group message room.

Jang Namwook immediately recognized Yoo Sanghoon’s voice.

[Jang Namwook] The guy at the end is Sanghoon! Sanghoon-ah, is it really you?

[Yoo Sanghoon] Yea.

[Jang Namwook] Woah, the manual mode looks really difficult. How did you do that? You must’ve played the game a lot to manipulate it like that.

The beginning was enough of a compliment, but the latter turned into nagging.

Yoo Sanghoon didn’t do so well in the test this time.

‘But his practical test grades got better.’

I’m guessing that PlayerZ users would improve their real-life practical skills.

It’s the same logic as drivers practicing through high-end driving simulators.

‘But nitpickers will always be there.’

Although it was fiction, some are uncomfortable that it included concepts like otherworlds.

But in reality, FPS games are almost always based on reality or events that actually happened.

Regardless of this noise, I’m sure PlayerZ is going to be a hit.

* * *

Days after the PlayerZ open beta test trailer was released.

I was on the way to the first quarter student representative meeting.

“Hey, about Miro’s song, the student association people asked me several times if there’s a full version. They’re all looking forward to it.”

Kim Yuri brought up Dokgo Miro’s song.

Her singing was well-received and made existing fans excited.

Unfortunately, the attention was more focused on the game itself rather than her short solo.

‘But it’s still a big opportunity.’

This is such a big project.

I just hope that she’ll take the opportunity well.

While talking, Kim Yuri suddenly checked her device and stopped.

“…Euishin-ah, do you want to stop by the gym for a while?”

There wasn’t much time before the meeting started, so why the sudden suggestion?

Kim Yuri showed me a hologram.

Hani and Jin Jungmok were warming up for a martial arts sparring match.