The topic of whether ‘ranked games have any utility at the professional league level’ has always been a controversial one.
While there are people who leave behind thousands of game records each season, there are also those who have claimed victory with an exceptionally low ranked record.
Therefore, even with players who aren’t particularly ranked high, it’s not uncommon to find such cases despite their personal prowess.
As the scores climb, it’s only natural that you start encountering stronger opponents.
It’s about time we’d meet a pro gamer who’s parked themselves at lower ranks.
No. In fact, we’ve already met a couple of times.
As they haven’t interfered with our gameplay as allies, it’s been easy to take it in stride.
The viewers seem pretty pleased too.
In any case, games featuring professional gamers elevate in quality.
Though I thought I wouldn’t be too surprised by whom I’d meet…
I hadn’t anticipated this scenario.
[Team White]
– Falcon Haruka (Kunoichi)
– Cilmeogisiga (Draconian)
[Team Black]
– Gawol (Assassin)
– ACL Dong-hae (Swordsman)
The Japanese Kunoichi who once fought me in a bloody duel has returned.
Since the queues are separated by servers, this means she specifically came to the Korean server.
And considering that she’s matched up with me… Can this really be called a coincidence?
“Seriously, why is Haruka paired here?”
“I’ll kill Gawol who knocked me down. That’s all I’ve been thinking since the start.”
“I’ve come back stronger (for real).”
“Falcon’s been on a good streak lately.”
I heard she joined a professional gaming team after the Arena.
Falcon is treated as a prestigious team in Japan too.
So, is it about time for them to leave for Prelude as well?
I don’t know.
She must have come here for a reason.
If we meet in a game, we should fight.
After entering the battlefield, our team seemed a little dissatisfied.
I couldn’t help but chuckle as I kind of understood why.
“Did you expect enemies?”
“Not really… Actually, yes. I just wanted to experience a good match.”
“Well, let’s make the best of it this time. Our opponents won’t be easy either.”
ACL is a team that finished second in this league.
It’s clear that they’ve benefited from the fall of Q Prime, a traditional powerhouse.
But the team itself has gained significant recognition for rising in level.
Particularly, their semifinal match against Galaxy Gaming was hailed as an outstanding game that surpassed all expectations.
Now that Traveler has transferred to a UK team, ACL is considered to be the most likely candidate to fill that void.
And Dong-hae is one of the two key players leading ACL.
Given that he uses a swordsman character, my attention was certainly drawn to him.
It’d be great to have a match with him in advance.
Well, there’ll probably be a better opportunity sometime in the future.
“Shall I go to the left?”
“Then I’ll take the right.”
With pros on the team, it was unnecessary to engage in complicated discussions to set our strategy.
It’s always good to have a pro on your team.
Good players tend to evolve their strategies towards a few similar directions, but bad players can be wildly unpredictable.
They are not opponents that can be predicted by my logical circuits.
[Rank Match – Black 541 RP]
[Battlefield: Boiling Lava Zone]
[Rules: Duo]
The ‘Boiling Lava Zone’ is a battlefield that includes a mechanic for growth through monster hunting.
It’s generally a place that allows for diverse strategies but, in the present 2:2 situation, the strategies tend to be simpler.
Our decision was to split up, each of us covering one direction.
Once the plan was set, all that remained was to act. I and Dong-hae immediately ran in the agreed directions.
“Is the opposing Dragon Fighter a streamer?”
“Yes, but it seems he’s not streaming right now.”
“Then he’s just a ranked gaming ghost.”
“??? Why does someone with a nickname like ‘Rice-eating Knight’ play ranked?”
“His nickname doesn’t match his playstyle.”
After running for some distance over the dark surface, the sight of monsters meant that I had reached the halfway point.
If I started hunting now, we could open a gap in scores, but I decided against it.
Killing monsters now wouldn’t yield a significant growth difference.
On the other hand, my current position information was quite valuable.
There’s no way any enemy could outrun me, so I decided to advance a bit further to intercept.
The start was luckier than expected.
Hiding behind a rock at a good moment, within seconds, I heard the slight sound of footsteps that could only be detected by an assassin.
“They’ve arrived.”
One sound was enough to confirm their position.
As the enemy approached, I aimed for their side.
While setting my voice to be audible to my enemy, I dashed out with my utmost speed.
[“Whisper of the Black Moon” effect active.]
[All attacks, movement speed, and counter judgments will benefit.]
[Some skills will be enhanced…]
“Long time no see?”
The body charging in from the side.
Given the opponent’s readiness with their blade, their reaction was quick.
Just before contact, the enemy turned into a wooden stump and reappeared a few meters away.
One survival skill down.
This initial ambush was worth it already.
The hand seal held at his lips.
The Kunoichi took a deep breath and exhaled, propelling streams of bright blue flames through the air.
[“Ghost Flame: Breath” has imprinted the mark ‘량(蜽)’.]
[For 30 seconds, the fire resistance decreases by 18.]
[When the four marks of ‘귀인량혼 (Ghostly Soul)’ are completed, critical damage can occur.]
I fiercely kicked the remaining wooden stump.
The futile wood was instantly reduced to ash, but the essence of the act was to push myself out of the range of the ghostly flame.
Still, my fire resistance had significantly dropped.
For a typical Kunoichi, the reduction would have been 12.
This clearly indicated that Haruka had built herself around flame-based attacks.
Sure enough, the tool Haruka subsequently drew out was not a kunai, but a katana.
The long blade carried an eerie flame.
“Please focus for a moment.”
A opponent that can fight while chatting is not to be underestimated.
Taking a light breath is my own ritual for clearing my thoughts.
With a clearer mind— I deflected a few incoming throwing stars.
I wouldn’t have expected anything less.
By drawing attention upwards, the next move was bound to come from below.
Violet energy rippled from the ground, and Haruka sliced horizontally at knee level.
The flame trailing from the blade surged.
It was an excellent attack, but the enemy was wrong.
My lower half was a priority to protect, so my lower section defense verges on obsessive.
My body immediately took to the air, leaping off Haruka’s shoulder.
I had intended to stamp on her face, but she adeptly absorbed the move, preventing me from achieving it.
[“The Weakened Curse’s Liquor imprints the mark ‘혼 (魂)’.]
[For 30 seconds, fire resistance decreases by an additional 8.]
The flames followed the trajectory of the blade once more, spreading.
The high flames caught on the hem of my clothes, producing the smell of burning.
Though I could attempt a counterattack now…
I’ll endure it one more time.
Using the flames as a smokescreen, a direct stab rushed toward me.
A chilling wind accompanied the sharp blade as it aimed for my heart.
[“The Piercing Stab imprints the mark ‘인 (人)’.]
[For 30 seconds, fire resistance decreases by an additional 6.]
“Hmm, this is accurate.”
Originally, I intended to completely evade.
But the sword’s energy dispersed into a sword qi, lightly cutting beneath my chest.
Stack-based characters are troublesome for this reason.
Even with the smallest touch, three stacks are already stacked.
I intended to strike at the abdomen as the blade retracted.
But my arm got pushed aside and only grazed her side.
My first counterattack resulted a bit disappointingly.
Her ability to parry is significantly better than before.
Well, that’s how it goes.
If pros get hit once, they usually devise a method to deal with it.
“Straight repeating patterns would be disappointing.”
“Just testing. If I fell for it earlier, I’d be the disappointed one.”
Isn’t it my turn to find this sniping fun?
I changed my dagger grip.
The hand reversing the grip thrust inward again.
Haruka’s choice was to step back one pace and avoid it.
It was reasonable. She could have exchanged wounds with me, but it would have involved some losses.
Still, it left a slight regret.
“Alternate names for rational judgments can be textbook judgments.”
“Most of the time, they don’t fail, but they’re equally easy to predict.”
One step into the left flank again, forcing her back, preventing her from jumping by extending a shadow.
The place that connected this time— was where my shurikens were previously deflected.
“If you just use them, you’ll react. Should I twist it a bit?”
I sprayed the smoke directly in front.
Using the decoy clones I placed in sight and the thrown stars as markers, I shadow-stepped while obscured by the blocked vision.
Taking advantage of the obscured view, I grabbed her from behind.
“…!”
“You’re quick-witted. We’re of the same assassin style, aren’t we?”
Still, it’s too late.
Even though I can’t end it in one go, grabbing you from behind at this point secures critical damage.
Besides, you’ve already lost your decoy trick from earlier.
I swung the sword piercing next to my chest down.
Before she could turn around, grabbing her neck, I ripped her intestines out.
At that moment, a rough wind blew, and a large shadow loomed on the ground.
If I stay here, I die.
The moment I withdrew without hesitation, a powerful impact spread dust everywhere.
Right. This match has been 2v2 Duo mode from the start.
Naturally, the Draconian with wings joins the fray faster than our sword-using ally.
Though Haruka looked offended, what can she do?
“Nice. Even if you’re weak, you should all rush in.”
“……”
I chuckled and realigned my dagger.
