NoveLight ™
[Daily eSports News]
[Author: PeroPero]
[Title: Full MVP Interview with Phantom from Veiled Nightmare]
Q. You scored a 2-0 victory against Korea’s ACL. How do you feel?
A. "It was as expected. There was a significant gap in strength, so it was a match we had to win."
Q. I understand ACL was the team where Phantom first debuted.
A. "(Laughs.) Yes, that’s right. That makes this victory all the sweeter. It wasn’t a pleasant farewell, so I gave it my all. They say revenge is a powerful motivator."
Q. You previously mentioned that Korean leagues lack competitiveness. Is that still your view?
A. "Absolutely. Take today’s opponent, ACL, for example. They haven’t managed to overcome any of their fundamental issues. I'm not just talking about their weak assassin lineup; it’s more complex than that."
Q. Sigma eSports seems to be viewed more favorably than before.
A. "I agree, but it's a relative improvement. I still don’t see them as a serious threat."
Q. Is there any particular player you consider a threat?
A. "Not much has changed from last year. But if I had to pick one more, it would be Insane."
Q. Any thoughts on the rematch with Cerberus?
A. "Hmm. I heard he had a rough time against an amateur in the Arena. (Laughs.) Just kidding."
Q. Are you implying Cerberus’s skill has declined?
A. "Not at all. If anything, I’d say the opposite. It’s less about him being weaker and more about an exceptionally skilled junior emerging."
Q. And how about Ga-wol? As one of the world’s top three assassins, surely you have an opinion. Reaper seems to hold him in high regard.
A. "That title is a bit embarrassing. But I’d fully agree that his skill is already well-developed. Beyond that, I'd like him to debut as a pro and prove himself directly. I'd be willing to help if he reached out."
At this point, three players are considered the world’s most famous assassin-style players:
Each of them has unique strengths, although none have significant weaknesses.
Reaper is best known as a “team-oriented assassin.” His psychological tactics are woven into his unique strategy and planning. As the eyes of his team, he disrupts the backlines and controls the battlefield.
On the other hand, Phantom delivers powerful, sudden strikes. Even if his attacks are anticipated, they’re almost impossible to counter. With the ability to create kill opportunities on his own, Phantom is the most “assassin-like” player among them.
Lastly, there’s Hashashin…
[Champion's Prelude Group D – Match 4]
[Dune Sentinels vs. Sigma eSports]
[Arena: Pilgrim’s Desert]
[Rules: 5v5 Elimination Match]
In individual combat ability, Hashashin ranks as the most technically skilled assassin among players worldwide.
West Asia, once a barren land for eSports, is now home to a "top-tier" team, solely due to Hashashin's prowess.
“The Group D match in the Prelude stage features Dune Sentinels against Sigma eSports.”
“The first clash is likely to be between Hashashin and Camellia.”
“As expected, they’re already within range. The Law of Silence activates right from the start!”
[Under the effect of "Law of Silence."]
[For five seconds, the caster and target cannot use skills.]
[Caster: DS Hashashin]
Not an ideal start.
Camellia had intended to activate her “Warrior’s Spirit” buff, but her attempt was blocked from the outset. The skill activation was canceled midway, and to make things worse, she lost both her cooldown and resources.
"It's fine. It’s not the worst-case scenario yet."
Given the situation, both sides would have to exchange blows with only their base abilities. Just before the clash between the warrior’s crescent blade and the scimitar, Hashashin’s sly, snake-like sword path traced over the crescent blade.
The curved blade's tip caught on the spear shaft for just a moment, dragging Camellia's strike aside. She barely managed to evade the decisive strike aimed at her arm.
"I almost didn’t react in time!"
Hashashin is undoubtedly slower than Ga-wol. She’d needed complete focus to keep up with Ga-wol, but here, she could manage the pace. His gaze matched his blade’s path without any mind games.
However, his mastery over the blade was dangerous in itself. Just when she thought she’d successfully blocked an attack, death loomed right in front of her.
Scimitars are notoriously tricky to counter. Like an axe, their curved blade can act like a hook, and even a slight twist can change the angle of the strike. The desert nomads of old used curved blades for these very advantages.
[Under the effect of “Frozen Flame.”]
[Within a 2.5-meter radius of the crescent blade, “Frost Burn” effect slows all enemy attack speeds...]
After several rounds of exchanges, Camellia arrived at a grim conclusion:
Hashashin was not an opponent she could defeat on her own. She had trained hard against assassins, but the skill gap was just too wide. Against players of such caliber, her spear simply couldn’t reach.
"It's nothing new."
She had never defeated Ga-wol, and the problem wasn’t just failing to overcome that wall; she hadn’t even fully grasped its height.
Had Ga-wol fought her at full power during their last encounter? If that was indeed his best, how long would it take to catch up? And once she conquered the assassin Ga-wol, could she ever face the swordsman Ga-wol?
The distance was daunting. So high and vast that it left her breathless.
She was like a frog that had left the comfort of a small well, intoxicated by its own talent, only to find itself in a vast, uncaring world.
But the frog thought:
"The world beyond is beautiful."
"I’m so glad I mustered the courage to step outside."
Camellia fiercely swung her spear. Initially, she’d intended to draw the fight out in attrition, but she changed her mind. She knew this wasn’t an opponent she could stall.
"If I'm going to lose, I’ll lose in the most disgraceful way possible!"
Not all defeats are equal. She launched a frenzied assault, casting aside all thoughts of what came next. Her spear, wielded with desperation, tore through the air.
The wounds multiplied. Hashashin’s sword calmly whittled down her life with each exchange. Blood spilled onto the sands, staining the desert red.
The more familiar Camellia became with Hashashin’s blade, the more he adapted to her spear. Predictably, the one standing on higher ground had the advantage.
Eventually, as if freezing the entire desert, all movement ceased.
Hashashin’s sword pierced Camellia’s neck, carving through her chest and abdomen. A crimson line marked the trail, and blood gushed over her collapsing form.
[“DS Hashashin” has defeated “Sigma Camellia.”]
Despite his victory, Hashashin’s expression remained somber.
"…Seems I held back too much."
His calculations were off. Camellia wasn’t the only opponent he had to face. To conserve his skills, Hashashin had “held back,” and it had worked – though it took too long.
Analyzing opponents before a match is standard practice, and Hashashin knew it well. Sigma’s deadliest player might be Camellia, but their true ace was Luche.
In the Prelude Group D, Sigma ultimately won 2-1 in the series.