The frontline in the Winner’s Tournament is mostly taken by hexagon classes. It’s the most unpredictable timing for what kind of enemy might show up.
Classes with good combat ability and sustainability, like Fighters, were preferred since they keep the fluctuations low.
From that perspective, Assassins are a tough class to use as a frontliner.
They have zero self-healing abilities and are often at a disadvantage against knight-type classes.
Generally, they were just a disposable card to take out ranged classes.
Well, that’s what most people said.
But I’m not your average Assassin, am I?
There’s absolutely no asymmetric matchup with Inbl.
To talk about matchups, one must first be on an equal footing.
If there is a gap in skill, any matchup can be overcome.
As all preparations wrapped up, the system message rang out.
[……You will be deployed to the battlefield in 20 seconds.]
[IKL Summer Round 1 – Match 39]
[Battlefield: The Cradle of the Fallen]
[Rules: 4-Person Winner’s Tournament]
[Sigma eSports vs ACL]
The Cradle of the Fallen is a battlefield newly incorporated into this summer league. Unlike the original high-difficulty dungeon, it has been revamped for PVP.
Naturally, the boss monster “Father” won’t show up in person.
Instead, the AoE attacks that troubled users have now emerged as battlefield gimmicks. They’re pretty powerful, making this field a whole different ballpark from previous battlefields.
Since it poses a significant threat even in top-tier games, teams like Galaxy Gaming employ ice magicians and grapplers.
As I walked down the corridor, I heard a familiar voice.
“Warning. This entity ‘Father’ is responsible for guarding this cradle.”
“Please withdraw. Further approach will result in unavoidable forceful suppression.”
What an unpleasant dungeon it was. The tangled story and the boss monster’s gimmick made it feel dreadful. It was like ripping my past apart, and it was horrific.
Now though, it seems… I’ve definitely improved compared to before.
The fears I couldn’t overcome back then, I have now conquered.
The professional entry offers I had just sitting there were like proof of my regrets.
But now, I’m truly stepping into this match as a pro.
Today, here in the cradle, I must show proof, not just to the fallen.
“You have indeed made it. The Protector ‘Father’ will fulfill his duty.”
The Protector ‘Father’ fulfills his mission.
When the battle begins, powerful area attacks are launched across the entire battlefield.
Cold weapons like greatswords and axes, as well as high-heat lasers and magic bombardments.
The usual strategy is to hide in safe zones scattered around the battlefield.
But I began to run into the danger zone where area attacks were pouring down.
The Cradle of the Fallen without Father is a completely open battlefield.
Except for the structures of the ceiling and walls, I could see the entire field at a glance.
Starting off the standard way, there was no way to hide my position except for stealth.
With area attacks sweeping across the battlefield now.
That is, unless you count the time the Donghae Swordsman is quietly stuck in the safety zone.
“I can definitely do this. I’ve practiced it countless times.”
There are a total of 7 patterns for the area attacks in the Cradle.
Out of those, 4 are survivable patterns.
The way to distinguish them is to check the type of weapon pouring onto the field first.
This time it was spears, so it felt like a thrilling challenge.
Don’t be deceived by the sight before you.
Magic pouring down like rain. Weapons flying in nonstop.
At first glance, it seems like everything is falling randomly, but there is always a way to respond.
I will step on the memorized platforms in order and approach the enemy line.
As the ice magic poured down, I parried three swords flying towards me in succession.
I dodged two spears, and after the laser passed, I needed to grab one of the spears on the ground.
The target was the ceiling structure aiming directly at me.
I threw the spear before the arrows were fired.
There wasn’t time to check the result.
I had no choice but to believe I hit it and keep moving forward.
I closed the distance with minimal parrying.
“Intruder repulsion system overheating detected.”
“Entering readiness until cooling is complete.”
There was no way to avoid the next explosion from the ground.
It’s fine. I’m almost there.
I jumped while tying a chain to the ceiling.
Timing was slightly off, causing a bit of blood loss, but it was going to be my last attempt anyway.
Right below me was Donghae’s spawn area, so all that was left was to hold my breath and wait.
Surely this was something he never imagined.
Donghae, stepping out of the corridor, looked around.
Starting in the front, left and right. Even checking the ceiling where I might have climbed.
Since I was already behind Donghae, it was a pointless attempt.
“Stealth? You won’t make it at this distance.”
“Wrong answer.”
“What the…?!”
I stabbed both sides of his neck with my dual daggers.
Stabbed the underside of both sides of the neck.
A look of utter confusion on his face.
But it seemed he decided to let the questions wait for later.
One of Donghae’s hands reached for my arm, while the other elbowed my side.
Is the reaction good enough?
The swordsman belongs to the warrior class.
It goes without saying that his strength stats are superior to mine, and he has the advantage in physique as well.
If I get caught, it’s likely game over.
I draw my dagger to keep the enemy’s hand in check.
I fly upwards along the chains I had tied earlier to escape.
The sword energy did trail closely after me, but blocking it wasn’t too difficult.
“How on earth?”
“Just exactly the method you wouldn’t believe.”
“Seriously, can we use such tactics here?”
“Eventually, everyone will find out anyway.”
It’s a unique situation because it’s a battlefield that hasn’t been out for long.
Whatever I can think of, others can think of too.
It’s just a matter of speed.
Sitting on a tactic thinking it’ll be useful later will only serve to benefit others.
Plus, it wasn’t meaningless.
Haven’t I received a pretty good return?
Red blood dripped from my dagger.
[‘Cutting an Artery: Additional Damage’ effect has successfully activated.]
[An enhanced bleeding poison effect is applied to the enemy.]
I’m quite satisfied with the first result.
The swordsman’s class only makes sense when he deflects attacks.
His natural resilience is just slightly above that of an assassin.
It wasn’t as good as when enhanced by the white moon, but it was still a clear strike to a vital point.
That should have been a pretty effective hit.
Kicking off the ground, I charged back into the fray.
*
Donghae was out of breath.
As the assassin’s dagger pierced his thigh, his blade aimed for her abdomen.
The opposing dagger clashed with his blade.
The paths of the swords twisted, barely missing the thrust.
As if paying for a clumsy counterattack, a throwing knife lodged itself in his knee.
“Is this crazy? Is it really this hard to face an assassin?”
Normally, swordsmen have a slight superiority against assassins.
In principle, they shouldn’t be that tough of opponents.
Yet against Gawol, even swinging a sword properly felt like a monumental task.
Every attack was consistently blocked.
No, it wasn’t just a minor problem.
He hadn’t even started a proper attack, and he was already being thwarted.
As if she could see through his very intentions with just his ready stance, Gawol had prepared for a counter.
Donghae felt like he was stepping right into the jaws of a beast.
Moreover, this person… is horrendously annoying!
“Your stance is a mess. It really sucks.”
“I didn’t ask you.”
“Is it your first time using a real sword? You need to adjust to my body to draw blood.”
When watching on a broadcast, I didn’t realize.
There were many players who excelled at trash talk, and some had stronger remarks than Gawol.
Even though they were good at provocation, it left me wondering, ‘Is that really all there is to it?’
But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Donghae was genuinely feeling scratched inside.
Provocation isn’t something that can succeed just by speaking well.
You need to know how to forcibly pull out what the opponent doesn’t want to show to shake their emotions.
And Gawol was playing a game where she could see right through him… Every word she said sparked his frustration.
“Oh, that’s not how a swordsman does it.”
“…Ugh.”
“You have no clue about how to hold a sword.”
Stay calm. If you get caught up in that, it’s really the end.
He was, after all, a first-string professional gamer carrying the team as an ace.
Donghae managed to compose himself.
He’s not a fool.
The strong opponents he’s faced in international matches were on a different level, and Gawol was the monster that had defeated them.
He abandoned the thought of winning alone a long time ago.
In these situations, you should play for the team.
Force them to exhaust themselves and lose.
That was his plan from the start.
“But what do I do if my attacks just don’t land?”
He was prepared to sacrifice a bone if it meant gaining some meat.
Yet reality was just giving away bones.
It was infuriating how the sword only sliced through the air.
Not to mention, even time wasn’t on his side.
“Intruder repulsion system cooling complete.”
“Protector Father. Resuming mission.”
White lasers began to heat up the battlefield.
Hearing Father’s voice meant a widespread attack was coming.
Gawol had survived an area attack before.
A skill she couldn’t replicate.
In one way or another, the mechanisms of this battlefield were no longer in his favor.
If he messed up, Gawol, who hadn’t lost her buffs, would meet the next opponent.
Time was already fixed for the next contestant.
He had to pull off something, anything.
Donghae made his bold move.
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