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 space—meant to prevent any single strategy or composition from dominating.

In this setup, if all five players stayed together, they’d 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.

[Effect of Rite: Spirit of the Soaring Bird applied.]
[All movement speed increased…]

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 didn’t slow down—keeping 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 enhanced…]

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 couldn’t 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 helmet’s slit… that was as far as I’d get. His teammates wouldn’t simply watch their support die.

The gunslinger’s barrel was aimed squarely at my forehead. As a top-tier pro, his aim was enhanced—there was no chance he’d 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 “Fear” debuff applied. Physical defense reduced by 15.]
[Effect Source: Berserker’s Fury (ACL Igor)]

Two enemies were watching me—at my 9 o’clock was the gunslinger, and at my 5 o’clock, the berserker. The corsair might join, but I’d cross that bridge when I came to it.

Dodging bullets without momentum was nearly impossible. I used the battle priest’s body as cover, evading his retaliatory mace swings while deflecting the berserker’s 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.

‘But this time’s different. I’m confident in securing my own safety.’

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 didn’t fall, a momentary stumble was enough.

Grabbing his collar, I flipped him and slammed him onto his own double-edged axe. Although I’d aimed precisely for his heart, his armor dulled the impact.

With the battle priest I’d used as cover down, I was now in the gunslinger’s line of sight. But that was fine—I’d 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 Mamba’s body erupted in blood.

With a fragile dealer’s build, he had no chance of surviving a direct hit from a musketeer’s single-fire power. Now he had to choose—fire a few shots at me and risk death or retreat while he still could. Our Miko was still alive; if he couldn’t 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 priest’s body, pressing down until the embedded axe crushed his heart and shadow spikes burst forth.

[‘Sigma Ga-wol’ has defeated ‘ACL Pineapple’]

Next up was the impudent rookie.

“Sigma’s Ga-wol executes the battle priest and secures the first kill point!”

“He effectively restrained three of them at once, didn’t he?”

“Yes, this was a perfect example of the assassin’s value in a team fight. By diving deep and striking the heart of the enemy’s formation, he’s shifted the momentum of the game!”

“This puts ACL in a tough spot, doesn’t it? They’d likely chosen the battle priest specifically to counter Ga-wol.”

“They calculated that the priest’s durability would hold up with long-range support, but that plan just fell apart.”

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.

“Wow, Ga-wol is incredibly fast in action.”

“Even IKL’s observers, who are top-notch globally, are struggling to keep up with him.”

“Ha ha, if we’re having trouble, imagine how it feels for the players!”

Meanwhile, ACL’s 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, wouldn’t 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, ACL’s strength lay in the berserker and sword master’s powerful attacks. As long as those two were protected, the frontline would hold.

Their teamwork was excellent, and factoring in the battle priest’s respawn, he could buy them enough time.

“Jolly Roger’s Wave Riding, targeting Ga-wol.”

“He’s using a high-tier mobility skill. This is a do-or-die move.”

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 he’d merely sliced through air.

He hadn’t expected to land a fatal blow immediately, but as his blade connected with Ga-wol’s waist, a sense of unease crept in. And that fear quickly turned into reality.

“Ha.”

A look of helplessness washed over the corsair’s 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 corsair’s move entirely.

The corsair’s 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 skill—Silent Executioner, the move that had earned Phantom his nickname as North America’s nightmare—lived up to its reputation.

The blood-red lightning crashed down, shattering the sword master’s barrier, and a kill log popped up mercilessly.

[‘Sigma Ga-wol’ has defeated ‘ACL Donghae’]

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 should’ve kept the musketeer distracted.

Though Igor fought ferociously in true berserker fashion, the pro league demanded calculated coolness, not recklessness.

[‘Sigma Outlaw’ has defeated ‘ACL Igor’]

Sigma’s wall was higher than they had imagined.