[Battlefield: Ruined Fortress]
[Rules: 5-Person Deathmatch (10)]
[Sigma eSports vs ACL]
The Ruined Fortress is basically a cramped battlefield.
Inbl’s arenas usually feature alleyways or crossroads, and if not, they boast vast expanses.
This was intentionally designed to prevent any specific combination or strategy from dominating.
If the five stick together, they’ll get gobbled up by some long-range sniper.
But if they only field ranged dealers, team fights become impossible.
It’s better designed to encourage mixing diverse classes for synergies.
However, in any battlefield, there’s bound to be ups and downs.
In the case of the Ruined Fortress, the short engagement distance and fixed rules of deathmatch set the stage.
With rapid respawns, battles often turn into chaos.
This is a place where classes with a high base capacity or quick adaptability thrive.
[‘Ritual: Spirit of the Flying Bird’ is in effect.]
[All movement speed increases…]
The running body cuts through the wind.
Kicking off rocks, sprinting along the moss-covered walls.
In a tilted field of vision at 90 degrees, a rope hook was thrown at a pre-marked pillar.
The running body doesn’t stop,
Maintaining the burst of speed to approach before the enemy can react.
The moment the rope is secured—pushing off with the legs, the body launches upward.
The advantage of aerial movement is silence, while the drawback is easy exposure of shadows.
So, being mindful of the sun’s position, the entry into enemy territory is made low enough to avoid detection.
[‘Whisper of the Black Moon’ is in effect.]
[All attack power, movement speed, and benefits on counterattacks are granted.]
[Some skills are enhanced…]
The top priority target is the Battle Priest in thick armor.
He’s a tough one, having sacrificed some support capability for durability.
He could even function as a sub-tank if needed.
If I can’t deal substantial damage in the first ambush, it’ll be hard to take him down.
Wrapping around from behind with both legs.
With one arm securing his shoulder to block the mace, the other arm goes for a slash at the nape.
I was butchered.
I stabbed with a dagger, tearing through the chainmail of the connector.
I even made a nick between the eye sockets of the helmet… but that’s as far as it goes.
There’s no way a teammate would just sit idly by and watch the supporter die.
The gunslinger’s muzzle was aimed directly at my forehead.
The opponent is a pro gamer from the first team with hit rate adjustments.
There’s no way they’d miss their shot.
So, I need to let go.
Unlike other assassins, I’ve got a weakness in my left leg.
In uncertain situations, there’s no way I’m giving up my limbs.
I got down from my hanging position and reassessed the enemy’s location.
The hail of bullets grazed my cheek and forearm.
[Passive: Emotional Restraint]
[You’ve gained partial immunity to the ‘Fear’ status effect. Physical defense decreases by 15.]
[Target: Berserker’s Fury (ACL Igor)]
There are two enemies watching me.
A gunslinger to the 9 o’clock position and a berserker to the 5 o’clock position.
The corsair might join in if it gets dicey, but I’ll think about that later.
In this loss of acceleration, dodging bullets is tough.
I used the battle priest’s body as a shield.
I dodged the incoming mace and deflected the berserker’s axe throw.
Supporters tend to focus on upper body defense to prevent instant death.
Typically, they stay close to allies, so they don’t face much of a mounting situation.
Hecate struggled quite a bit trying to break this habit as well.
‘But now things are different. I’m confident I can secure my safety.’
The axe I knocked away is firmly embedded in the ground.
Due to a clumsy counterattack, one foot is pushed way too far forward.
They might not realize it, but it looked like they were pleading for me to kill them.
I kicked their ankle with all my might to throw them off balance.
It doesn’t matter if I can’t knock them down in one go.
A brief stagger is more than enough.
Grabbing them by the collar, I slung them onto the double-bladed axe.
I aimed directly for the heart, but the armor slightly weakened the impact.
Now that the priest who was shielding me has fallen, I’ve also entered the gunslinger’s line of fire.
But it’s all right. I drew the attention of both enemies while binding the priest.
My allies should have gained some leeway.
[Active: Reinforce Piercing]
[You gain a reload effect for up to 4 bullets using magic. Fires bullets with powerful piercing effects.]
[Caster: Sigma Outlaw]
The gunslinger was aiming at me.
Blood burst from Mamba’s body.
There’s no way a frail dealer could withstand the full firepower of a musketeer.
It’s impossible for anyone to absorb all that power.
Choose. Try shooting me a few bullets and see if you die, or retreat quietly.
We have a Shaman alive. If you can’t kill me, it’s a score of 2:0.
Decision made, Mamba chose to take cover while the Berserker struggled to shake off Luce.
I confidently stepped hard on the Battle Priest’s body.
The axe buried in the ground went crunch, crushing the priest’s heart as shadow thorns erupted.
[‘Sigma Gawol’ has taken down ‘ACL Pineapple.]
Next up is the cocky junior’s turn.
*
《 Sigma Gawol takes down the Battle Priest, earning the first point! 》
《 Did you just tie up three people instantaneously? 》
《 Yes. We witnessed a true display of an Assassin’s value in a team fight. They pierced deep into the enemy’s core and turned the tide of the game! 》
《 This makes things a bit delicate for ACL, doesn’t it? They must have picked the Battle Priest mindful of Gawol. 》
《 With the Battle Priest’s defense, they should have been able to endure with ranged support. That calculation just fell apart. 》
The Supporter’s assistance has ceased.
ACL finds itself in a situation that requires caution before additional damage occurs.
But from the back, the Assassin immediately joins in.
Gawol’s target is the Donghae’s Swordsman.
It makes sense to eliminate the ace who could be a variable rather than the weakened Gunslinger.
The small figure dashed through the ruins.
《 Wow, Gawol looks really fast right now. 》
《 The IKL observer is known worldwide for their skills, but it’s the first time I’ve seen them struggle like this. 》
《 Haha. If we’re struggling like this, imagine how hard the players are working! 》
Meanwhile, the Corsair ‘Jolly Roger’ was racking his brain in ACL.
He was in charge of battlefield coordination in this setup.
Donghae, already caught up by Camelian, wouldn’t last long if Gawol joined in, leading to an additional death.
If someone has to die, who shall it be?
The seasoned pirate quickly reached a conclusion.
The sacrifice here has to be himself.
Though currently detached from the others, the powerful attacks of the Berserker and Swordsman were originally meant to handle ACL’s close combat.
As long as he doesn’t lose those two, their formation won’t crumble.
Never surrender.
Two people with outstanding breath, even he acknowledges that.
Considering the resurrection of the Battle Priest, it’ll buy us plenty of time.
“Jolly Roger player is surfing toward Gawol!”
“Using the top-tier mobility skill. Is this a challenge?”
Surfing turns the Corsair, a melee class, into the conductor of the battlefield. In the cramped Ruined Fortress, it’s even possible to traverse the entire field.
The cutlass swung mercilessly, splitting Gawol’s body.
Yeah. Split. Without any resistance. As if cutting through empty air.
I never thought I’d inflict a fatal wound from the start. So when the blade touched Gawol’s waist, he actually felt uneasy. That unease, as expected, became reality.
“Ha.”
The expression of the Corsair became one of despair. A pitiful sigh escaped naturally.
When did it start? There was no need to even think about that.
Even a fleeting moment felt precious at this point. Gawol used her clone while twisting her movement in this moment. It could only be interpreted as completely read.
The Corsair’s head turned to the side. At the end of his vision, the silver-haired Assassin was already preparing a strike.
The body jumped high, falling with a red trajectory. The nightmare of North America. A skill akin to the Phantom’s identity. “The Executioner of Silence” lived up to its name.
The blood-red lightning fell to the ground. The Swordsman’s blade barrier shattered mercilessly, and the kill log that he never wanted to see showed up cruelly.
[‘Sigma Gawol’ has defeated ‘ACL Donghae’.]
The battlefield tipped in an instant. The Corsair gritted his teeth, but the situation just spiraled into worse.
Two are dead, and one has been deceived. The Berserker has an advantage over the Paladin, but the 2:3 situation dragged on for too long.
At least he should’ve diverted the Musketeer’s attention.
Igor burned with frenzy, true to his class. But the Pro League was a battlefield where cool-headedness was required, not madness.
[‘Sigma Outlaw’ has defeated ‘ACL Igor’.]
The wall of Sigma was much higher than they thought.
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