[IKL Summer Round 1 – Match 38]
[Battlefield: Ruined Castle]
[Rules: 5-man Deathmatch (10 kills)]
[Sigma eSports vs ACL]
The Ruined Castle is essentially a narrow battlefield.
In Invul (Inbl) fields, there are typically side paths or forks, and if not, they possess vast expanses. It was intentionally designed so that no particular combination or strategy would dominate.
If the five members stick together, they risk being picked off by snipers and other long-range dealers. On the other hand, fielding only ranged attackers makes team fights impossible. It’s designed to encourage a mix of diverse classes that can create synergy.
However, every battlefield has its own advantages and disadvantages.
In the case of the Ruined Castle, the engagement distances are short, and deathmatches are a fixed rule. The rapid resurrection rate often results in chaotic combat. It’s a place where classes with high base stats or the ability to adapt on the fly tend to excel.
[‘Rite: Spirit of the Flying Bird’ effect is applied.]
[All movement speed increases…]
My body streaked through the wind, pushing off rocks and bounding along the moss-covered castle walls. At a sideways angle, I launched a grappling hook toward a previously scouted pillar.
The body in motion did not stop.
Preserving the acceleration allows for closing in on the opponent before they can react.
The moment the rope locked into place, I tensed my leg muscles and leaped.
The advantage of aerial maneuvers is that they are quiet, while the disadvantage is that shadows may expose your position. Therefore, I stayed aware of the sun’s position to avoid casting shadows. Approaching the enemy lines, I remained high enough to stay out of observational range.
[‘Whisper of the Black Moon’ effect is applied.]
[All attack power, movement speed, and counterattack effectiveness is beneficially enhanced.]
[Some skills are strengthened…]
The prime target to eliminate first is the heavily armored battle priest.
A battle priest who sacrifices some support abilities but is incredibly tough. If they aren’t dealt a significant blow in the first strike, they will be hard to kill.
I leapt from behind, wrapping my legs around the priest’s waist. One arm pinned their shoulder to block their mace while the other slashed at the junction between the neck and shoulder, tearing through their chainmail armor with my dagger.
I managed to score a slash across the exposed flesh at the side of their visor, but that was as far as it went. No teammate would simply let their support die.
The gunslinger’s barrel zeroed in on my forehead.
The opponent is a top-tier professional player with aim assistance.
There’s no chance the bullet will miss.
So I had to let go.
Unlike other assassins, I have a weakness in my left leg. In uncertain situations, the choice to put myself or my limbs at risk is not an option.
I detached my body from the vantage point and reassessed my enemies’ positions. Gunshots whizzed by my cheek and forearm.
[Passive: Emotional Restraint]
[Partially immune to “Fear” status effects. Physical defense decreases by 15.]
[Affected target: Warrior’s Challenge (ACL Igor)]
There were two enemies focusing on me.
The gunslinger at 9 o’clock and the warrior at 5 o’clock. Although a corsair might join soon, that’s something we can deal with later.
Without acceleration, dodging bullets becomes challenging. Using the battle priest’s body as a shield.
Deflect incoming counterattacks from the mace while repelling the warrior’s thrown axe.
Supporter classes often concentrate on upper body defense to avoid instant death. Given they usually stay close to allies, they rarely encounter grappling situations. Hecate had quite the struggle adjusting this habit.
‘The situation changes now. If you’re confident of your safety…’
The axe I knocked away earlier was still deeply embedded in the ground. Because of an awkward counterattack, the enemy was dangerously exposed. From my perspective, they might as well be begging for death.
I kicked hard at their ankle to induce imbalance. It doesn’t matter if I can’t take them down in one go; just a momentary stagger will suffice.
Grabbing their cheek, I executed a suplex, ramming their body onto the double-bladed axe. Though the blow was aimed precisely at their heart, the armor slightly blunted its effectiveness.
Since the priest I used for cover has fallen, I’ve entered the gunslinger’s line of sight. However, it’s fine. I’ve drawn the attention of two enemies who were preoccupied with the priest. This gives my allies an advantage.
[Active: Reinforced Piercing]
[Up to 4 reloads powered by magic. Fires bullets with powerful penetration.]
[Caster: Sigma Outro]
The gunslinger who was aiming at me.
Blood erupted from Mamba’s body.
It’s impossible for a fragile dealer to absorb the full impact of a musketeer’s single shot. Make your choice: take a few bullets and die or retreat safely. Our healer is still alive. If they fail to kill me, the score will be 2-0.
Having made a decision, Mamba chose cover, while the warrior was preoccupied trying to shake off Luche. This allowed me to stomp down hard on the fallen priest’s body. The axe embedded in the ground broke through with a loud crack, piercing the priest’s heart while shadow thorns erupted beneath us.
[‘Sigma Gawol’ has defeated ‘ACL Pineapple’.]
Next is the overconfident protégé.
*
<Team Sigma's Gawol secures the first point by eliminating the battle priest!>
<Aren't we seeing a moment where she just locked down three opponents at once?>
<Yes, this is a textbook display of an assassin’s worth in a team fight. She struck deep at the enemy core and reversed the game’s flow!>
<Given this development, the situation has become rather awkward for ACL hasn’t it? They likely picked the battle priest to counter Gawol.>
<The battle priest's defenses were supposed to endure with ranged cover. That calculation has just been shattered.>
The support’s assistance has been cut off.
ACL needs to regroup before inflicting further casualties.
But the assassin will immediately join from the rear.
Gawol’s target next is Dong-hae the swordsman. It’s calculated to eliminate the ace variable rather than the already weakened gunslinger.
The small and swift figure darted between the ruins.
<Wow, looking at this, Gawol is truly fast.>
<The IKL observer, who is known worldwide for his skill, seems to be struggling for the first time.>
<Haha. If it's this hard for us, imagine how it must be for the players.>
Meanwhile, the corsair Jolly Roger from ACL has been pondering a strategy. After all, he was responsible for field coordination in this combination.
Kamelia already has Dong-hae pinned down.
With Gawol about to join the fray, it’s unlikely they’ll endure this pressure without additional deaths.
But which member must necessarily sacrifice themselves?
The seasoned sea raider swiftly reached his conclusion.
It has to be him.
Though currently detached from the team for tactical reasons, the close-range battles for ACL ultimately rely on the powerful offensive capabilities of the warrior and the swordsman.
They wouldn’t falter as long as those two remain.
They have an impeccable synergy that even he acknowledges.
Considering the respawn time of the battle priest, this should buy the team enough time.
<Captain Jolly Roger is surfing waves toward Gawol.>
<He's expending his top-tier mobility. Is he challenging her to a duel?>
Wave riding empowers corsairs to become field coordinators in close combat.
Enough to traverse the entire narrow field of the ruined castle.
The cutlass swung without restraint, splitting Gawol’s body.
Yes. Splitting it.
Without any resistance.
As if cutting through empty air.
He wasn’t expecting to land a fatal blow from the beginning.
Which is why, when the blade touched Gawol’s waist, he felt an unsettling sensation instead.
That unsettling feeling turned into harsh reality.
“Hmph.”
The corsair’s face revealed hints of despair.
An involuntary sigh of misery escaped his lips.
Since when? That didn’t matter now.
In the blink-of-an-eye situation they were in, Gawol twisted her path and deployed a decoy. This could only mean she had been fully anticipated.
The corsair’s head turned to the side.
And at the edge of his vision, the silver-haired assassin was already preparing her strike.
Her high jump fell in a crimson arc.
The nightmare of North America and Phantom’s quintessential skill.
The ‘Silent Execution Platform’ lived up to its name.
A deep red thunderbolt hit the ground.
The swordman’s protective barrier shattered, and the unwanted kill feed mercilessly ascended.
[‘Sigma Gawol’ has defeated ‘ACL Dong-hae’.]
The situation turned drastically in a heartbeat.
The corsair gritted his teeth, but the situation only continued to spiral towards the worst.
Two deaths, and one tricked.
Even though the warrior holds an advantage against the paladin in terms of synergy, the 2:3 situation dragged on for too long.
At the very least, they should have drawn some attention from the musketeer.
Igor went berserk in accordance with his class,
but the pro league is a field requiring cold clarity over fiery rage.
[‘Sigma Outro’ has defeated ‘ACL Igor’.]
Sigma’s wall was much higher than they had anticipated.
