The opening match ultimately ended in Sigma's victory. In hindsight, it was almost inevitable.

The moment Ga-wol demolished the Inquisitor, Q Prime's entire strategy unraveled. Neither Luche nor Hekate fell into their traps.

It wasn’t a shocking outcome. From the start, Sigma was the clear favorite. Before the game began, the analysts had already placed Sigma’s chances at a decisive 9:1.

There was always a slim chance if Q Prime could leverage their team composition's strengths, but nobody could have predicted this degree of dominance.

"This match... was truly shocking."

It was as if Sigma was saying, "We're on a different level from you." And yet, Q Prime's reputation hadn't fallen so low as to expect such a one-sided outcome.

"Holy has been considered past his prime in Europe for a while now. He was once a brilliant player, but he’s no longer performing as he did back then."

"Still, no one would dare say Holy lacks skill. He's a veteran who’s beaten formidable European contenders up until recently."

"And yet, Holy, who has long ensnared countless aces, was effortlessly outmaneuvered!"

Q Prime's Holy. He was once known as Acid Gaming Holy.

It wasn’t his first time facing a top-tier assassin. He’d even played on the same team as Reaper and had clashed with Phantom in international tournaments. During his prime, he had held Cerberus and Hero within the confines of his sanctuary with ease.

He wasn’t supposed to fall so easily. Although a martial arts-focused, bleed-specialized assassin like Ga-wol was an unusual challenge... the sheer power was undeniable.

Hoeun slowly shared his insights.

"At the start of the match, I wondered if Ga-wol's entry might have been too reckless."

"Although he pressured Slug considerably, it forced his team into an all-out battle. Ga-wol himself could’ve been at risk right after escaping the sanctuary."

"But then! His overwhelming performance put all doubts to rest."

"I believe Ga-wol has proven his value in this single match. IKL needed a player who could deliver such sharp, high-reward plays."

Hoeun’s deep attachment to IKL was well-known, and his calm remarks resonated with the fans.

Soon after, the second match began.

It was a five-person deathmatch in The Sanctuary of the Dead. Sigma maintained their existing roster but added Camellia. The result was even more one-sided than the first match, securing a decisive victory for Sigma in the opening round.

[Post by: Hekate'sDevoted]
[Title: What’s going on with our Hekate?]

(Attached Video: Hekate - "See, I told you I’m not that useless!")
(Attached Video: Hekate - "Eek!")

Sparrow had been tormenting her since last season, but she managed to defend herself with a smile.

And then she let out an "Eek!" the moment Ga-wol, who came to protect her, arrived. Just look at how she immediately started buffing as soon as she made eye contact with him. Is she getting bullied by Ga-wol back at the dorm?

[Comments]

• “My eyes widened seeing her fend off an assassin on her own.”
• “How would she get beaten by a guy who can barely use one leg? LOL”
  　└ “Hey, don’t be so harsh!”
  　└ “Right? If anyone’s hitting, it’d be Ga-wol.”
• “She seems a bit off mentally, but she’s gotten really good in the game.”

[Post by: SigmaLoyal]
[Title: Did you see our team's vlog teaser?]

Actually, it’s not out yet, but it’s been announced, so let’s wait together.

[Comments]

• "Ooh!"
• "I’m on my way!"

In this era of personal media, team vlogs have become an essential part of esports culture.

Fans get the chance to see their favorite pro players up close. For teams, it’s a way to showcase the players' personalities. Sigma had received many requests from fans and had no reason to decline.

Sigma’s management, especially, was known for being unusually diligent. Their eagerness to upload videos was remarkable, with a steady release schedule.

Under normal circumstances, this would’ve just been something for Sigma fans to enjoy.

However, this was Ga-wol’s first appearance in a team vlog. Combined with the shock of the opening match, the excitement was through the roof.

• "Open the doorrrrrrr!"
• "Holding my breath until Ga-wol’s butt appears on screen."
• "FBI, open up!"
• "Who told these idiots it was an exclusive release?"
• "Here comes my adult content."
• "Alright, let’s go~."

The video hadn’t even started, yet the anticipation was already buzzing. Sigma had always been popular domestically, but today’s hype was extraordinary. As the Sigma logo appeared on screen, a familiar face filled the frame.

Her features were slightly less weary, her appearance breathtakingly beautiful and composed.

"Hello, I’m Ga-wol of Sigma eSports. Today... I’ve been assigned to record the vlog, so please bear with me."

The camera showed Sigma’s team dorm entrance. Sitting on the stairs, Han Daeun waved with a gentle smile, her head tilted slightly.

"Since I’m a newcomer, I wanted to show how I’m adjusting to the team and give a glimpse of my training."

• "Since when do rookies go around beating up their seniors?"
• "Rookie?"
• "The rookie who took down Holy in one minute, LOL."
• "Hey, Hekate hasn’t been hit yet."
• "The vibe she’s giving off feels like she’s been through a few rounds."

The screen quickly transitioned. The next scene was inside the Sigma team dorm.

Specifically, the lobby on the 8th floor, now familiar to fans as well as the players. Daeun sat on a sofa, picked up the camera, and briefly panned around the room.

Subtitles displayed a question from the PD.

PD: "Are you adapting well to dorm life?"
“Yes. I’ve always been good at adapting, and this place is so much better than my previous home. I’m very comfortable.”

PD: "How are things with the other players?"
“Luche and Camellia take care of me a lot, and I’ve gotten a lot of practice with everyone.”

PD: "Hekate’s recent post asking to be saved has been trending."
“Oh, we had a good conversation about that.”

Daeun nodded calmly.

"Let’s head over to the practice room, shall we? Hekate should be there right now. We’re really putting in the effort."

Hekate’s survival skills had been an ongoing concern.

The issue was especially pronounced in international tournaments. While the Miko class was inherently disadvantaged in survivability, losing a support was a severe blow. Hekate’s performance had partly contributed to their loss against Hashashin in Prelude.

I didn’t think the problem was solely Hekate’s fault. She was aware of her weaknesses and was putting in considerable effort to improve. If she still couldn’t resolve the issue, it meant the method was flawed.

"My conclusion was simple: she just hasn’t truly experienced death yet, right?"

Hekate’s tendency to die quickly boiled down to one thing: complacency. She didn’t recognize when her safety was compromised. While it was better than freezing up from fear, it was still a problem.

The reason was clear. Experience in international matches wasn’t easy to acquire, and against domestic assassins, her current level had been "enough."

Now the solution was clear.

She needed to internalize that she could die anywhere, anytime. When the game starts, no place is safe, and the team’s protection isn’t absolute. Adding a bit of "humility" to her playstyle would provide a minimum level of safety.

During the vlog shoot, I grabbed Hekate, who was on a break, and started training. Recently, I’d been teaching her close-quarters combat, having previously focused on assassin ambushes.

[Sturdy Branch]
Type: Weapon (Dagger)
Item Grade: Common

A particularly sturdy branch found on a mountain trail. Despite being unprocessed, it has perfect grip. The blunt end is its only flaw.

Item Effect: Attack +3

I grabbed Hekate’s staff, swatted it away, kicked her ankle to trip her, and pressed her abdomen to keep her from rolling. Then, I jabbed her forehead with the branch’s tip.

Some blood splattered, but she didn’t die. That’s why I used a branch instead of a real dagger. Even lethal moves wouldn’t kill her, allowing us to continue training on the spot.

Given my unchanged stats, the impact might’ve been strong. But any pro player should handle this much. I’d heard Hekate’s synchronization rate was 24.6%, so it probably didn’t hurt too much.

"Didn’t I tell you to stay focused? You just died once."

"I was focused!"

"When an upper attack comes, don’t focus all your attention on it. Most vital spots are in the upper body, but your lower body supports you. Keep your legs steady."

Since my goal wasn’t to torment her, I helped her back up. The training resumed with zero time wasted.

After about 30 minutes, Hekate went to the bathroom, and I finished filming the vlog with the PD.

"Is this kind of training normal lately?"

"Not always. I only concentrate like this during free training. I’m really happy it’s helpful."

In the edited video, Hekate’s interview was added.

"Ga-wol… is a good teammate. He’s got amazing stamina. Why does the rookie have more endurance than me? Watching him game nonstop makes me feel, ‘Am I trash?’ but training with him... it feels like I might die…"