IKL Summer Round 1 - Match 38
Map: Abandoned Fortress
Rules: 5-Player Deathmatch (10 Kills)
Sigma eSports vs ACL
The Abandoned Fortress was, at its core, a narrow battleground. Most Infinity Black maps featured side paths or intersections, or if not, a vast open spaceâmeant to prevent any single strategy or composition from dominating.
In this setup, if all five players stayed together, theyâd become easy prey for long-range dealers like snipers. But relying solely on long-range dealers would hinder effective team fights. The design encouraged mixing classes to build synergy.
However, regardless of design, every map had its inherent strengths and weaknesses.
The Abandoned Fortress was known for its close-quarters combat and a fixed deathmatch rule. Respawns were fast, leading to chaotic clashes. Classes with bulkier builds or adept at quick adaptations held a distinct advantage here.@@novelbin@@
[Effect of Rite: Spirit of the Soaring Bird applied.]
[All movement speed increasedâ¦]
I darted forward, weaving through the breeze. Pushing off rocks and sprinting along the mossy walls of the fortress, I spotted a pillar and threw a rope hook toward it.
I didnât slow downâkeeping momentum was essential to reach the enemy before they could react. The moment the rope caught hold, I propelled myself forward with a powerful leap.
The advantage of aerial movement was silence; the drawback, however, was that shadows became more visible. So, I adjusted my angle to keep my shadow from revealing my position, making my approach neither too low nor easily detectable.
[Effect of Whisper of the Black Moon applied.]
[Attack power, movement speed, and counter-judgment effects increased. Certain skills enhancedâ¦]
My primary target was the heavily armored battle priest.
This enemy had sacrificed some support abilities in exchange for heavy durability, capable of acting as a sub-tank if needed. If I couldnât deal significant damage in the initial strike, killing him would be difficult.
I wrapped my legs around his waist from behind, pinning one of his shoulders to prevent him from swinging his mace, while my other arm tore into the back of his neck, shredding the chainmail between armor joints with my dagger.
Though I managed to slice across his eye through his helmetâs slit⦠that was as far as Iâd get. His teammates wouldnât simply watch their support die.
The gunslingerâs barrel was aimed squarely at my forehead. As a top-tier pro, his aim was enhancedâthere was no chance heâd miss.
So I had to release my hold. Unlike other assassins, my left leg was a weak point. Offering any limb in such an uncertain situation was out of the question.
I dropped to the ground and reassessed my position. Bullets grazed my cheek and forearm as I moved.
[Passive: Emotion Suppression]
[Partial immunity to âFearâ debuff applied. Physical defense reduced by 15.]
[Effect Source: Berserkerâs Fury (ACL Igor)]
Two enemies were watching meâat my 9 oâclock was the gunslinger, and at my 5 oâclock, the berserker. The corsair might join, but Iâd cross that bridge when I came to it.
Dodging bullets without momentum was nearly impossible. I used the battle priestâs body as cover, evading his retaliatory mace swings while deflecting the berserkerâs thrown axe.
Support classes generally focused on upper body defense to avoid instant death. They tended to be near their allies, rarely in a mounting situation. Hekate had struggled with breaking that habit.
âBut this timeâs different. Iâm confident in securing my own safety.â
The axe I deflected had lodged itself into the ground. Because of a clumsy counter, the berserker had taken an overly forward stance. He might not realize it, but to me, he looked like he was begging to be taken down.
I kicked his ankle hard to destabilize him. Even if he didnât fall, a momentary stumble was enough.
Grabbing his collar, I flipped him and slammed him onto his own double-edged axe. Although Iâd aimed precisely for his heart, his armor dulled the impact.
With the battle priest Iâd used as cover down, I was now in the gunslingerâs line of sight. But that was fineâIâd distracted two enemies and restrained the priest, giving my team room to maneuver.
[Active: Reinforce Piercing]
[Reloads up to 4 rounds with magic-infused bullets that penetrate armor.]
[Caster: Sigma Outlaw]
The gunslinger who had been aiming at me was hit as Mambaâs body erupted in blood.
With a fragile dealerâs build, he had no chance of surviving a direct hit from a musketeerâs single-fire power. Now he had to chooseâfire a few shots at me and risk death or retreat while he still could. Our Miko was still alive; if he couldnât kill me, the score would stand at 2-0.
Mamba chose to take cover, while the berserker was still tangled up with Luche. I confidently stepped on the battle priestâs body, pressing down until the embedded axe crushed his heart and shadow spikes burst forth.
[âSigma Ga-wolâ has defeated âACL Pineappleâ]
Next up was the impudent rookie.
âSigmaâs Ga-wol executes the battle priest and secures the first kill point!â
âHe effectively restrained three of them at once, didnât he?â
âYes, this was a perfect example of the assassinâs value in a team fight. By diving deep and striking the heart of the enemyâs formation, heâs shifted the momentum of the game!â
âThis puts ACL in a tough spot, doesnât it? Theyâd likely chosen the battle priest specifically to counter Ga-wol.â
âThey calculated that the priestâs durability would hold up with long-range support, but that plan just fell apart.â
With their support down, ACL now had to fall back to avoid further losses. But Ga-wol was already merging back into the fray.
His next target was Donghae, the sword master. Rather than going after the weakened gunslinger, he aimed to eliminate the ace who could still change the tide. His small frame dashed across the ruins.
âWow, Ga-wol is incredibly fast in action.â
âEven IKLâs observers, who are top-notch globally, are struggling to keep up with him.â
âHa ha, if weâre having trouble, imagine how it feels for the players!â
Meanwhile, ACLâs corsair, Jolly Roger, was calculating his moves. It was his role to manage the flow of the battle in this composition.
Donghae, already hampered by Camellia, wouldnât last long if Ga-wol joined the fight. One had to die, but who would it be?
The seasoned pirate quickly reached a conclusion.
The sacrifice had to be him. Strategically, ACLâs strength lay in the berserker and sword masterâs powerful attacks. As long as those two were protected, the frontline would hold.
Their teamwork was excellent, and factoring in the battle priestâs respawn, he could buy them enough time.
âJolly Rogerâs Wave Riding, targeting Ga-wol.â
âHeâs using a high-tier mobility skill. This is a do-or-die move.â
Wave Riding was a utility skill that allowed the corsair to control the battlefield, even covering the entire map in the cramped Abandoned Fortress. His cutlass swung straight at Ga-wol.
It struck true.
With no resistance. As if heâd merely sliced through air.
He hadnât expected to land a fatal blow immediately, but as his blade connected with Ga-wolâs waist, a sense of unease crept in. And that fear quickly turned into reality.
âHa.â
A look of helplessness washed over the corsairâs face as he let out a disheartened sigh.
When had it happened? There was no need to wonder.
In such a fleeting moment, Ga-wol had even adjusted his trajectory to execute his decoy perfectly. There was no other explanation; he had read the corsairâs move entirely.
The corsairâs head turned to the side. At the edge of his vision, he saw the silver-haired assassin ready for a final strike.
Leaping high, Ga-wol descended in a crimson arc. The skillâSilent Executioner, the move that had earned Phantom his nickname as North Americaâs nightmareâlived up to its reputation.
The blood-red lightning crashed down, shattering the sword masterâs barrier, and a kill log popped up mercilessly.
[âSigma Ga-wolâ has defeated âACL Donghaeâ]
The tide had turned in an instant. Jolly Roger gritted his teeth, but the situation only worsened.
Two were dead, and one had been deceived. While the berserker held an advantage over the paladin, a 2-on-3 scenario had persisted too long. At the very least, they shouldâve kept the musketeer distracted.
Though Igor fought ferociously in true berserker fashion, the pro league demanded calculated coolness, not recklessness.
[âSigma Outlawâ has defeated âACL Igorâ]
Sigmaâs wall was higher than they had imagined.