The second match was a six-player annihilation battle in the Pilgrim’s Desert.
There were no distinct paths in this vast battlefield, making it difficult to predict the assassin’s entry routes. With the expansive battlefield came numerous variables.
Our team deployed Rika as a ranger, focusing on countering the enemy wizard alongside our sniper.
Given our slight advantage over the previous match, this one concluded more one-sidedly in our favor.
With backup from the two long-range dealers, I assassinated Azure, piercing the heart of the enemy team and ending the game.
Thus, our match against Galaxy Gaming, our toughest rivals, concluded 2-0.
The remaining matches went relatively smoothly, and our team’s momentum remained strong. Across the league, with a total of 45 matches involving 10 teams, the first round ended after every team had fought once. Sigma secured the top position without a single loss, solidifying our standing.
【Daily eSports News】
– [Special Report] First Round Recap! Results of Great Changes?
– Is Sigma eSports Dreaming of an Undefeated Season?
– Azure: “In the second round, we aim to stop Sigma’s winning streak.”
– Who will advance to this year’s World Championship? We review the status of each league.
– The Meta Shift Brought by a Single Assassin.
– [Summary] The Revival of Non-Mainstream Classes? A Guide to Changes for the Second Round.
At the halfway point of the regular season,
After each round, the league takes a one-week break for preparation for the next round.
For players, it is also a time to rest from the grueling schedule and analyze data from previous matches.
Most importantly, a patch update from the game developers is incoming,
Though during league play, major patches are rarely introduced.
Patches are only applied when urgent balance adjustments are necessary.
Such patches are typically released after the conclusion of a round or at the end of an entire competition,
As the current league schedule was set considering the timing of major patches.
Thus, we couldn’t simply rest.
The season was not yet over.
Effort doesn’t always guarantee success, but complacency will surely snatch away opportunities.
During lunchtime, after the morning practice, Luche was eating a salad across from me.
I popped a small cherry tomato into my mouth.
Its tangy juice spread across my palate.
“What do you think about the guardians?”
“They’re better than before, but still far from ideal?”
“Yes? The evaluation feels a bit nuanced.”
“Maybe they’re not the best fit for our team. We’re strong in melee combat, so their usage is too restricted.”
In this patch, non-mainstream classes received significant buffs.
There wasn’t a drastic shift in dominance, however.
Classes that haven’t been favored for a long time usually have structural issues beyond mere performance, and Invulnerability cannot easily solve such problems.
There will be no perfect, flawless class in this game.
This principle is evident in the developers’ patches.
The patch preserved the critical flaws of each class but enhanced their strengths.
There are now more conditional roles that can be used depending on enemy compositions, player tendencies, battlefields, and rules.
With the addition of more classes, the variables in games will surely increase.
And naturally, it’s not the players’ responsibility to grasp everything.
While we won’t completely disregard these changes, there’s no need for excessive fixation.
We have supervisors, coaches, and analysts to ease this burden.
So, for now, we’re just exploring these changes occasionally with Luche.
As usual, practice remains our primary focus.
“Shall we review after lunch?”
“Sure.”
My enthusiasm made Hecate slightly nervous.
Who in this game have I killed the most?
Honestly, it’s hard to recall.
My style of play has always been focused on PVP.
While I haven’t counted specifically, I’ve killed more players than meals I’ve eaten.
The advantage of being a freelancer is the ability to control workload. In other words, if there’s work to do, I can keep going endlessly.
Therefore, it’s difficult to answer who I’ve killed the most.
A few names do come to mind, though they aren’t precise.
With the condition of “recent months,” however, I can be clear.
In recent months, the person I’ve killed the most is Hecate.
All Sigma players constantly train against me.
But Hecate, the support player consistently identified by our coach and supervisor as needing improvement in survivability, trained especially hard.
So, it was inevitable that something like this would happen eventually.
“I can’t take it anymore!”
Resurrected Hecate exclaimed, on the verge of tears.
“This is too much! Even two wizards can’t survive against you, let alone fighters and inquisitors. How am I supposed to survive that?”
“Hmm…”
“You don’t have to answer. I get it! Playing with you does make me improve. Honestly, other assassins feel easier these days. That’s why I’ve stayed quiet until now!”
Her arms were shaking with frustration.
Her priestess staff tapped the ground repeatedly, making jingling sounds.
“You should understand what it’s like to be constantly hit without retaliation! Can’t you be a little kinder?”
“Well… I can somewhat understand. I’ve definitely gained a lot as a professional, but mental resilience isn’t always rational, is it?”
“Of course, I’m not hurt as much as you probably are—though I’ve tried not to complain too much. But constantly getting beaten makes me doubt myself!”
Outro, who had been listening nearby, chimed in.
He was the next most frequently defeated after Hecate.
As I think about it, his arguments are valid.
I had assumed that he could persevere with time.
Perhaps I was too complacent.
Even during my player days, only my friend practiced with me.
Which is why I never had someone I could truly call a buddy until now.
Was I excessive?
Should I consider other forms of training now?
It’s frustrating that the path to our goals feels so distant.
“So, what do you suggest we do?”
“We’ll keep training. I have pride as a professional. I won’t admit to being that weak. But there’s one thing we need to address properly.”
“Alright, speak up.”
“You try being in my position! Back in my amateur days, I played an assassin. I might not be as good as you, but I’m not completely terrible. So, let’s see how it goes when you put yourself in my shoes!”
Fortunately, Hecate’s spirit wasn’t delicate.
If this is what satisfies her, then I have no objections.
A smug smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
“Sure. But no complaints if the outcome isn’t what you expect?”
“Of course. Losing to an assassin as a priestess would be too embarrassing for any excuse.”
“Outro, why don’t you join in and clear some frustration too?”
“Alright, let’s do it.”
[Training Mode]
[Battlefield: Shadow Arena]
[Rules: Duel]
[vs Sigma Hecate (Assassin)]
Seems like luck is on Hecate’s side today.
The randomly chosen battlefield happened to be the Shadow Arena.
A place commonly known as the assassin’s home ground.
The only lighting in the arena comes from the torches on the walls.
When all the torches go out, the battlefield becomes pitch black, with their ignition happening irregularly.
It becomes harder to track an assassin’s location.
Also, finding and ambushing the enemy first is an assassin’s specialty.
It won’t take long for Hecate to come looking for me.
‘Handling a weapon other than daggers feels a bit awkward.’
It’s been a while since I’ve held anything other than daggers.
The priestess outfit issued for training today feels strange as well, and the priest’s staff.
Even the jingling sound from the staff feels foreign.
For an assassin, such noisy accessories are only hindrances.
I suppressed the urge to use detection in the combat situation since Hecate, as an assassin, would find it difficult to pinpoint my location.
Let’s practice putting ourselves in each other’s shoes.
I aim to get as close as possible to Hecate’s circumstances.
That said, I’m not planning to make it too easy on her.
Using stealth via the ashen moon buff modestly was the right move.
Focusing movement around pillars and ceilings to suppress sound was also wise.
Yet, I should have paid more attention to the torches’ positions. My shadow is visible.
[Active: Spirit Barrier]
[A protective shield that blocks a certain amount of damage is generated.]
Hecate’s attack was blocked by the barrier once.
The shield broke instantly, but it bought me a little time.
Enough for my staff to knock Hecate’s arm away.
“Didn’t we agree not to complain?”
“What? Wha…?”
