NoveLight ™
[Author: SigmaFan]
[Title: Sigma's Undefeated Victory, Only 2 Matches Left to Go]
(Attached video: Ga-wol vs Nabillera)
This is it!
Ga-wol is at his peak today.
Let’s keep this up!
[Comments]
[Author: Winston L. Potter]
[Title: Looks Like Boston Assassin Championship is Coming]
(Attached photo: Archer emerging from seawater)
(Attached photo: IKL Summer Regular League Rankings)
You’ve probably seen some of this if you watched World Champs or Prelude, right?
Sigma eSports is the team that entered the Arena with the last championship winner.
Being Korean, they entered IKL, and now they’re shaking up the ecosystem there.
(Attached photo: IKL Summer Finals 1:0 Score)
(Attached link)
They’re in the finals right now, so if you're curious, go check it out.
It’s surprisingly fun.
The Korean scene has been a bit lackluster for the past few years, but today, their level has clearly improved a lot.
Sigma’s good, but the opposing team is no slouch either.
[Comments]
[Author: Anonymous (621.493)]
[Title: I Seriously Think Sigma Is Scary]
(Attached video: Arena Finals, Ga-wol the Swordmaster vs Cerberus)
(Attached video: Arena Group Stage, Ga-wol vs Reaper)
Forget everything else, just that teabagging girl alone makes Sigma not something to underestimate.
You might think, “Wasn’t she just a flash-in-the-pan player from Arena?”
But that’s absolutely not the case.
(Attached photo: Han Da-eun with crutches)
She wasn’t even a trainee during the Arena days.
This was officially revealed during her personal broadcast.
She couldn’t even dream of going pro because of her leg issues.
But even as an amateur, she showed that kind of potential, and now she’s in a team sponsored by Sigma.
It’s based in Korea, but don’t be fooled by that. Their capital is on par with North America.
Of course, she must have had professional training, and Sigma’s players and team synergy have significantly improved.
Luche has also received high praise, and her current form is unrecognizable compared to before.
If you don’t prepare for them, Sigma might cause a disaster at World Champs.
[Comments]
In recent years, Korean teams haven’t been seen as major threats in international competitions.
The days when Korea ruled over eSports are long gone.
Sigma and Q Prime sometimes made it to the round of 16, but that was about it.
They were at a disadvantage even compared to teams in Europe or North America, let alone Asia.
No one watches the finals of weak leagues.
If they ever face off in an international match, that’s when people tune in to see what’s up.
But this Summer League is a different story.
“Ga-wol’s crack play was the highlight of this match.”
“The presence of an assassin at critical moments is huge. Looking at the competition between the top international teams, there’s always an attempt to create endless variables, and we saw that side of it here.”
“On the other hand, Galaxy Gaming’s preparation wasn’t bad. Summons are generally used as barriers for mages, but didn’t they turn that recognition around?”
“Sigma probably thought they needed to enter as soon as possible, so they pulled out the lancer and priest combination, but they were properly countered.”
It’s an overwhelming record that’s hard to find in any league. The unstoppable force.
Sigma eSports’ strength is practically proven now.
eSports figures from around the world have been watching the game closely.
The first to feel this shift were undoubtedly the commentators.
Veterans who had spent more time in the arena than most players.
Ho-eun, the official caster for IKL, scanned the arena.
The crowd was filled with eager fans, each holding up signs for their favorite players.
Some cheers were so intense, it seemed inappropriate for the camera to capture.
Ho-eun’s eyes moved between the crowd.
‘That person... They must be a coach from AT. Is that the infamous Cerberus’ scout? Wow, brings back memories.’
This used to be a common sight—coaches coming to the arena to observe their opponents more clearly.
The game could be watched on video, but it was hard to fully gauge a player’s presence or see their focus.
From small things like how long a player could maintain focus to whether they showed any mental weaknesses that would affect their team’s performance.
There was a lot of information that could only be confirmed with one’s own eyes.
With the fall of the Korean league, such scenes had become rare, but today, it was none other than Cerberus’ AT that moved first.
This clearly showed that Sigma was recognized as a “strong team” or “opponent to be wary of.”
That silent acknowledgment shook Ho-eun’s heart.
It felt like the dawn was returning to the decaying IKL.
Soon, the analysis desk wrapped up, and it was time for him to return.
Ho-eun raised his voice, more excited than usual.
“Finally! The IKL Summer Playoffs Finals! The second set is ready to go!”
“This Summer Playoffs has been filled with unusual strategies.”
“The upcoming match is highly anticipated. Especially, Azure has always been known for coming up with unique builds…”
The two analysts took turns sharing their thoughts.
Now, it was time for professional analysis and predictions.
Ho-eun looked at the Sigma player waiting room.
The coach was giving intense feedback, while the players listened attentively, relaxed.
Among them, Ga-wol had a bright, pretty smile on her face.
It was a nice expression.
It wasn’t just because her beauty stood out, but because it truly reflected happiness.
Lately, Ga-wol had been showing smiles often in the waiting room.
To others, it might not be noticeable, but for Ho-eun, it was surprising.
The Ga-wol he first saw was always a cold, calculating competitor.
Especially when she chose Swordmaster in the finals of Arena, her face seemed to bring out all the darkness within her.
Ga-wol, and Han Da-eun, didn’t know what “victory” truly meant.
Of course, they didn’t know what wounds they carried deep inside.
But Ho-eun knew they were slowly overcoming them.
So then... could they ever be seen again?
In the grand final of Infinity Arena, when Ga-wol handled the Swordmaster while smiling brightly.
Ho-eun felt a strange sense of anticipation.
There was still much to do, so his eyes returned to the arena.
“The players are entering the field.”
“Hekate looks really cheerful lately. Didn’t she seem pretty down at the start of the league?”
“I imagine there’s been good team care. Rumor has it she’s become really close with Ga-wol.”
“The players are ready. Let’s confirm the battlefield and the rules.”
The most critical moment in an Inbl match.
The players, and the fans watching, held their breath for a moment.
A river with red water appeared.
The sky seemed to mix a vermilion sunset with a dark, deep night.
Ironically, the battlefield that would soon be drenched in blood was covered in beautiful flowers.
For Ho-eun,
For the Korean fans watching the match, this battlefield held a lot of meaning.
“This battlefield is the Seocheon Flower Garden. It’s been a while.”
“It’s not a likely battlefield, but it should be a visual treat.”
The Seocheon Flower Garden is a battlefield inspired by Korean mythology.
It lies between the living world and the afterlife.
In line with the myth, depending on how you use objects, you could resurrect fallen allies or call in reinforcements from outside.
What’s important is the reason why such a battlefield exists in Inbl.
Each year, the winning team of the World Championship receives special rewards.
The first year, it was a cosmetic costume. Sometimes new classes were introduced, or new battlefields created.
Yeah, the Seocheon Flower Garden was made to commemorate Korea’s World Championship victory.
It’s a place that signifies the “last golden age” for IKL’s fans.
The twilight of the new dawn had arrived.