The first match of the opening round ultimately ended with a victory for Sigma eSports.
In hindsight, it was a predictable outcome.
The moment Gawol dismantled the Inquisitor in the blink of an eye, Q Prime’s winning strategy completely unraveled. Neither Luche nor Hecate fell for their opponents’ schemes.
In truth, it wasn’t a particularly surprising result. This matchup had always leaned heavily in Sigma’s favor. Before the game started, the analysis desk had already predicted a 9:1 chance of Sigma’s victory.
The general consensus was: if they played to their strengths, there was a possibility…
But this level of dominance had been unimaginable.
“This… match has been absolutely shocking.”
“We are simply on a different level than you.”
The game played out as if saying just that, even though Q Prime’s name hadn’t yet fallen into such disrepute.
“Holy, once a top-tier player in Europe, is now believed to be past his prime. Though he was dazzling in his earlier career, he can no longer perform at his peak level.”
“That said, no one would say that Holy lacks skill. After all, isn’t he still a formidable veteran who has beaten many of Europe’s top players?”
“And yet, the vines that once held so many aces tightly have now been broken so easily!”
Moreover, Q Prime’s Holy—formerly Acid Gaming Holy.
Had he not battled top-tier Assassins countless times before? He had even played alongside the Reaper on the same team and faced Phantom in international matches. During his peak, he managed to confine formidable figures like Cerberus and Hero behind barriers.
He was certainly not an opponent who could be taken down so easily. The physical assassin build, specifically focused on bleed abilities, was nearly a wildcard—yet its power was undeniably overwhelming.
Ho-eun commented thoughtfully,
“At first, there were suspicions that perhaps Gawol’s entry into the match was too premature.”
“Though she severely pressured Slug, her actions forced the team into a direct confrontation. Immediately after escaping the sanctuary, Gawol herself could have been in grave danger.”
“But then! She eliminated all doubt with an overwhelming performance.”
“I believe that Gawol has fully proven her worth through just this one game. The IKL needed this kind of aggressive gameplay that yields strong returns.”
It was well-known that Ho-eun held a special affection for the IKL, and her calm remarks resonated with the fans.
The second game began shortly after.
A five-person deathmatch in the Necropolis Sanctuary.
Sigma, maintaining its original roster, added Camellia to the lineup. The result was even more one-sided than the previous game, and they finished the opening match with a victory.
[Author: Slave to Hecate]
[Title: What’s been going wrong for our Hecate?]
(Attached video: Hecate saying, “I told you, I’m not that bad!”)
(Attached video: Hecate screaming, “Ahhh!”)
The Sparrow, who had consistently plagued her throughout the last season, she faced boldly and even managed to laugh.
But when her teammate Gawol came to her defense, the mere sight of her elicited a yelp.
Just look—she freezes as soon as their eyes meet and her buffs activate. Could it be that you’re getting beaten by Gawol in the dorms?
[Author: SigmaFanatic]
[Title: Did you see our team’s vlog?]
It’s still not out yet; the teaser just went up, so let’s wait together.
In the age of advanced personal media, team vlogs have become an essential part of e-sports culture.
For fans, it’s a chance to see their favorite professional gamers up close. For the teams, it’s a chance to showcase the players’ human side.
Sigma eSports, too, had received such requests from their fans, and there was no reason to say no.
Especially Sigma’s front office was notorious for working hard. Hence their enthusiasm for posting videos was quite commendable. Their schedule was stable, never random.
So, it was no big deal.
The posting of a video filmed while preparing for the Summer League was hardly a significant event. It would have been content enjoyed only by Sigma’s fans.
This was the first team vlog featuring Gawol. And if it weren’t for the shockwave of the first game, it might have gone unnoticed.
—
– Open the doorrrrr—
– Holding my breath until the pancake makes an appearance.
– FBI, Open Up!
– Who gave these guys the scoop that the video was coming out first?
– OMG it’s live NOW!
– Let’s go!
The chaos started even before the video began to play. Sigma had always been one of the popular domestic teams, but today’s fervor was extraordinary. As people’s anticipation built, Sigma’s logo appeared on screen, followed soon after by a familiar face.
Her once exhausted-looking features seemed slightly refreshed, yet she was still breathtakingly beautiful, calm yet striking.
“Hello, this is Gawol from Sigma eSports. Today, I’ll be in charge of filming the vlog, so please enjoy.”
—
Entrance to the players’ dormitory.
Dae-eun sat casually on a stair tread, waving lightly with a charming smile tipping her tilted head.
“Since I’m new, I thought it would be good to show how well I’m adjusting to the team. Also, I’ll try to showcase some of the training we do.”
—
– Aren’t new players supposed to be getting beaten up by the seniors?
– Newbie? Seriously?
– She took out Holy in under a minute—what kind of a newbie is she? Haha!
– Oh wait, Hecate hasn’t been hit yet!
– Her vibe was unmistakable, only someone who had taken a few hits could carry it like that…
—
The brief introduction ended, transitioning scenes smoothly. When the screen came back up, we were inside Sigma’s dormitory.
More specifically, in the 8th-floor lobby, well-known to fans.
Dae-eun sat on the couch, handling the camera as she briefly panned around.
The subtitles were questions from the PD.
—
– Are you adjusting well to dorm life?
“To be honest, I’ve always adapted easily to new environments. And this place is far better than my old home, so it’s been very comfortable.”
– How’s your relationship with your teammates?
“Lu-cha and Camellia look out for me a lot. I’ve also practiced and blended well with the others.”
– That post about Hecate shouting ‘Save me!’ caused quite a buzz.
“Oh, we resolved that amicably.”
—
Dae-eun nodded.
“On the topic, why don’t we head directly to the practice room? Hecate will be there too. We’re working very hard,” she added warmly.
—
Hecate’s survival issues had long been pointed out.
Especially in international matches.
The Priestess class itself doesn’t lend itself to survival advantages, but even accounting for that, the death of a support character was always detrimental to the game. Her role in the team’s loss against Hashashin in Prelude was undeniable.
I don’t think this is solely Hecate’s fault.
We have understood the problem. There’s intention to improve, and considerable effort has been put into it. If it hasn’t worked yet, it means the approach has been wrong.
“So, this was my conclusion. Maybe it’s because she has never completely experienced death?”
The reason Hecate dies so easily can be summed up in one word: complacency. She doesn’t recognize the situations where her safety is not assured.
Better than panicking and being unable to act, but still, this is problematic.
The reason is clear.
International battle experience isn’t something you gain easily. And in the domestic scene where she faced local Assassins… it was “enough,” so the issue didn’t surface.
Now the solution becomes simple.
Make her fully understand that she can die at any time and place.
There is no safe zone once the game starts, and team members cannot absolutely guarantee her protection at all times. Instilling a bit of “humility” into Hecate’s gameplay will secure a minimum level of stability.
During the vlog filming, I had just finished a training session with Hecate during her break.
Recently, she worked on the timing of an assassin’s ambush, and now we were focused on close combat.
—
[Durable Branch]
[Category: Weapon (Dagger)]
[Item Grade: Common]
A particularly tough branch found rolling on the mountain trail. Even in its unprocessed state, it provides a perfect grip. Unfortunately, it ends in a blunt tip.
[Item Effect: +3 Attack]
I swatted her staff away. Kicked her ankles hard, making her fall. Then I slammed her abdomen to prevent her rolling away, finally tapping her forehead with the end of the “dagger” branch.
It splattered some blood, but didn’t kill her.
The reason for using a branch instead of a dagger? She could continue training without needing to pause even if the attacks would have been fatal in the game.
Of course, my stats are still the same so the impact would hurt.
But shouldn’t pro gamers endure this kind of pain? I’ve heard her assimilation rate is 24.6%, so it probably wasn’t that bad for her.
“I told you not to lose focus, didn’t I? That’s dying number one.”
“No, I didn’t lose focus!”
“You shouldn’t be focusing all your attention on attacks coming from above. The pressure points might be concentrated in your torso, but your stance depends on your legs. Always keep both legs firmly in place.”
I extended a hand to help her up, not intending to torment her. Once I confirmed she had regained her stance, I attacked again.
With not a moment wasted, the training resumed.
For about 30 minutes, the session continued like this. By the time Hecate took her bathroom break, I had finished filming the vlog with the PD.
“Are all the recent training sessions like this?”
“Not always. It’s only during free practice that I’m focusing heavily on helping. Your improvement brings me great joy.”
Later, the edited version of the vlog included an interview with Hecate.
“Gawol… she’s a good team member. She has stamina. Why does a newbie have more stamina than me? Her endless gaming stamina, which makes me feel self-loathing—should I say staying idle feels worse? Am I garbage? But continuing to train like this feels like death…”
