If evaluated objectively, Luche’s skill has not yet reached the world-class top level.
While she is undeniably at the peak in the domestic league, the story changes when the scope is broadened to a global scale.
Of course, I believe that Luche can grow to a much higher level than she is now.
However, this is purely about potential. Speaking without fan bias, she is a player who stays in the upper-middle range.
If she were to face Cerberus in the semifinals, her win rate would likely be between 20% to 30%, wouldn’t it?
But that’s not why I like Luche. Recently, at a restaurant, I mustered the courage to ask her something:
– I’m curious. Why did you want to become a professional gamer?
– Hmm… It’s hard to remember the exact moment. I think I vaguely knew about this kind of world even before the accident.
– ……?
– Are you surprised? But isn’t it true? Dreams don’t always have to have grand reasons. What can you do once you’ve already started dreaming?
Only then did I realize I had asked a foolish question.
It was true. There’s no need for a grand reason to dream.
I wonder what my initial reason was for starting kendo.
If I think about it, it must have been because I watched period dramas with my parents. Back then, I was a young boy who instinctively thought swords were cool.
Later, I realized that kendo wasn’t the kind of martial art where you swing real swords, as I had imagined. But it didn’t matter. By then, I was already too deep into it to stop.
– People say that when you fall in love, everything changes. It comes without warning, unexpectedly altering who you are.
– I’m still not sure. After all, I’ve never experienced it. It’s hard to understand feelings you’ve never felt, right?
– But the more I hear about love, the more something resonates with me. Such an illogical yet destructive feeling.
– Isn’t that just like a dream?
As she said this, her soft smile appeared so radiant.
To me, as someone who had once lost myself in a dream, and someone who is starting to dream again—she was a person impossible not to admire.
Anyway, Blink was a good warm-up opponent before the match against Cerberus. A top-tier professional in Japan’s league and consistently mentioned as one of the best Mage Knights in Asia, understanding how to counter a Mage Knight was essential before facing Cerberus.
[Infinity Arena Main Tournament Round of 16 – Match 12]
[Battlefield: Boiling Lava Zone]
[Sigma Luche (Paladin) vs JWM Blink (Mage Knight)]
The battlefield didn’t favor Luche.
“Boiling Lava Zone” is a battlefield where scorching heat covers the entire map. True to its name, streams of bubbling lava flow across the field, and all fire-based spells gain a slight enhancement. This slightly advantageous environment suits a Mage Knight who uses attribute magic.
Moreover, the periodic flooding of the lava posed another problem. Such mechanics that force movement naturally favor the side with better mobility. Although Paladins do have ways to deal with this, their options aren’t as versatile compared to what Mage Knights possess.
“Right from the start, we have the two players engaging in exploration. We can already see Luche’s weapon change—a surprise. She usually prefers swords or maces, but for the first time, she’s brought a flail!?”
“That’s worth noting. Since the flail is connected by a chain, it offers a longer range compared to a mace. Additionally, it works well with divine spells, which often get bonuses.”
“True, but handling it can be challenging. The attack speed is slower, making it a more cumbersome weapon. Since this is the first time Luche has used it in an official match, it deserves attention.”
True to the commentators’ words, the flail was indeed a first for Luche. I’m confident about this—I’ve seen every match video I could find.
In her personal streams, Luche is very experimental. She practices builds, weapons, and skills that others don’t use much. Thus, her ability to adapt to meta changes is pretty high.
However, until it’s proven to be effective, she tends not to bring those experiments into official matches, so the weapons she uses haven’t been especially diverse.
“Luche seems to be moving towards the ravine area. It appears she’s trying to secure her rear or flanks to counter the Mage Knight’s superior mobility.”
“Of course, the Mage Knight’s ‘Blink’ skill is quite formidable, isn’t it? And with a player known for excelling in its use…”
“Ha! Yes, his confidence is clear from his nickname.”
The two, having found each other, immediately engaged in combat.
Naturally, the Mage Knight took the initiative with its superior range control. A fiery spear, roaring with flames, flew toward Luche, who boldly charged forward, her shield raised high. The spear collided with her shield, exploding before vanishing.
Three spears flew in succession, followed by another three. Finally, multiple fire arrows rained down from the sky. All the magic attacks were stably blocked by her shield.
However, the Paladin’s guard gauge isn’t infinite, and Blink’s class is a Mage Knight—not a Wizard.
“Instant counterattack, Blink!”
“It looks like the shield can’t hold up…”
“I’ll block it.”
Such a basic Mage Knight attack pattern. Striking with a sword at the moment the concentrated firepower lands is something even normal defense struggles with. But Luche isn’t one to fall for such a straightforward tactic.
Surely, the Mage Knight had prepared for the next move as well.
A bright holy light descended upon Luche, providing a brief invincibility window. The sword strike was effortlessly blocked, but the Mage Knight’s well-timed magic followed up. Luche countered with a rising wall of divine light, the thick barrier holding firm before the magic struck through.
She slammed her shield into the ground, dispersing holy energy. Her flail swung toward the Mage Knight, now slowed by the holy effect. The trajectory was precise, but the weapon’s inherent speed held it back.
“Hmm, maybe a mace would’ve been better…”
If her just-now attack had been a mace, it might have struck home, even if just barely. An ineffective hit is better than no hit at all.
On the fiery battlefield, holy and arcane magic collided. The result was predictable: defensive and support-oriented holy spells versus offensive-focused fire magic. With the battlefield providing bonuses to the Mage Knight, it wasn’t a fair fight.
The only saving grace was the Paladin’s remarkably high magic resistance, preventing Luche’s health bar from dropping significantly despite the attacks.
It wasn’t a good situation, but that was all.
“Blink’s attacks are quite flashy. Fire spells dominate, so keeping vision seems challenging.”
“Looks like Luche needs a chance to turn the tide.”
“Guard Break! The formerly sturdy shield has finally hit its limit!”
The situation was slowly tilting in Blink’s favor. Yet, Luche’s eyes betrayed no sign of wavering. The chat and commentators were all discussing her disadvantage.
Luche always counters her opponent’s attacks in the most optimal way. But excelling in defense doesn’t equate to excelling in fighting.
More specifically, she’s at a numerical disadvantage.
Though she’s improving steadily, Luche’s fighting style is far from perfect. In situations like this, when the opponent has more resources, we often see her slowly worn down.
Of course, that’s also a common trend among tankier classes.
The Paladin’s unique skill recovered some of the guard gauge, but the Mage Knight still had ample magic power.
All Blink needed to do was to knock her shield down again. The crossfire of magic and slashes quickly drained her shield’s strength, and the Mage Knight aimed for Luche’s abdomen.
“Hmm?”
Again, I felt like I had been bestowed a gift.
At the moment the fiery blade pierced through her armor, Luche’s flail wrapped around the Mage Knight’s arm in a spiraling motion. A technique I was quite familiar with—it was the same trick I used against a Reaper in the group stage.
A Mage Knight has no instantaneous survival skill like the Fog Mage’s “Mistify.”
There’s no perfect class in Infinity Black. Casting spells requires incantation, and incantations break if the caster takes significant damage. This is why Mage Knights must always fight from a distance.
To be caught like this is their worst-case scenario.
“Luche has grabbed the opponent!”
“A fast follow-up with a throw! This is big!”
“Wow, Luche! This is why you brought the flail! You’re showing it off thoroughly!”
“Reminds me of last week’s match with Gawol, doesn’t it?”
The bulky shield crashed down upon the fallen Mage Knight. The mass of the tower shield combined with the Paladin’s strength made it a blow too powerful for the Mage Knight to endure, and Blink’s health bar dropped dramatically.
Still, it wasn’t an identical situation. While I couldn’t untangle multiple chains from my scythe, Luche’s flail was limited to a single loop. Blink attempted to create distance once more.
But Luche didn’t allow it.
When she called for light, light descended upon the battlefield. The blazing light prevented the Mage Knight from escaping successfully. If the light was divine punishment, the flail strike was mortal retaliation. Mage Knights aren’t tough enough to survive a hit from such a heavy metal object.
Even though the fight wasn’t yet over, Luche’s move had certainly turned the tides.
