The Paladin class is one capable of supporting and healing allies.
This is a fact that is often overlooked, but the "allies" in this case naturally includes the Paladin themselves.

The class itself doesn't have any overwhelmingly unique strengths.
If I had to point something out, it would be its broad, hexagonal stat grid.
With mass and broad shoulders, it's a tank with solid utility capabilities.

Thus, the Paladin’s performance in direct combat is by no means weak.
Luche even favored playing the Paladin in one-on-one arena matches.
There was a reason why it continued to be used even at the competitive level.

[If another team had played this match, our commentators would certainly have said this.]
[It's a very arrogant strategy. It suggests that the opponent is being underestimated.]
[If this strategy fails, it will be seen as a disastrous blunder! But… judging from the results so far, it's working.]
[Sigma’s leap this Summer League has been extraordinary, as we've mentioned several times.]
[Now, where is Sigma headed? This match will provide the answer.]

A shield glowing with white light swung horizontally.
A single strike, perfectly timed, landed.
Tuhee’s movement came to an abrupt halt, as if trapped by chains.

Using mass and shoulder plates as weapons, I launched a physical assault.
I shoved Tuhee’s body away, then swiftly shifted my other arm behind like drawing a bowstring.

Clearly, Tuhee was preparing to thrust.
Her body instinctively prepared to dodge, but before her sword could strike, it was the flash of light that shot out first.
The light lingered for only a moment, but that instant was enough to cause a slight misstep.

Luche’s sword pierced Tuhee’s ribcage.
With the sword acting as a lever, she was thrown to the ground.
The shield aiming to strike Tuhee’s face was blocked by a protective barrier.

Though Tuhee had the Bard on her team, there was no one supporting Luche.

[Camellia and Hekate are heading towards the Flower Observer for the kill.]
[Since the warrior has good parrying skills, catching them shouldn’t be too hard, and Eunha Gaming is already tied up.]
[Luche and Ga-wol are currently engaged in a 2v1 battle. If neither of them can be taken down, it will complicate things for Eunha Gaming!]
[Honestly, it doesn’t seem easy for Tuhee to take down a Paladin, especially since Luche has always been known for her solid play...]

Despite fighting two opponents, I didn’t easily lose ground.
Although the matchup wasn’t ideal, the use of the shield was on a whole different level.
The barrier was raised just a half-beat quicker than Tuhee’s movement every time.

Though I would have preferred to leave Luche and move on,
The Bard and I had been paired specifically to counter Ga-wol, and that proved to be the issue.
If Tuhee had been fast enough, she might have been able to escape Luche’s grasp, but the Bard wouldn’t be able to outrun her.

No matter how strong Luche was, it would be impossible to secure a kill against two opponents.
But I was certain I wouldn’t die.

Time was definitely on Sigma’s side.
Whether Camellia dealt with the Flower Observer or I joined Ga-wol for a numbers advantage,
The overall strategy of the game had already been calculated to be a few steps ahead.

Of course, I hadn’t thought it through this far.

[What… What is this?]
[Haha. I’ve been broadcasting Inbl for so long, but I’ve never seen anything like this.]
[An S-Class assassin is highly valuable in the professional league, but it seems like this player could excel no matter what.]

A blue light poured out of the blooming lotus flower.
As the light hit the ground, it exploded, sending flower petals flying.
The following aftershock carried a faint floral scent mixed with the acrid smell of burnt ash.

In the sky, a translucent Azure Dragon hovered, ready to incinerate anything in its path, while the ground beneath the flowers radiated a blue aura.
It looked more spectacular and destructive than the spells of most mages.
But fear had no place here.

The main skill of the Dream Painter class was, after all, one mixed with Break Dream (파몽).
Those dazzling spells were just an elaborate setup to stack Dreamstack, a buildup for the true attack.
As long as I didn’t get hit by the core attack, my assassin’s body could withstand the flashy illusions.

‘And it’s… slower than I thought.’

There were gaps wide enough for me to slip through between the bursts of light.
I didn’t need to dodge; I could cut straight through the path.
I weaved through the magic and slashed the mouth of the descending Azure Dragon.

The Waterdrop Flower blooming on the ground was a warning of an impending explosion.
It seemed to have predicted my path and laid the trap, but it had underestimated me.

A different assassin might have fallen for it, but I was the fastest assassin in this game.
And now, with the White Moon buff, my stats were boosted, making it all the more achievable.
As long as I didn’t lose track of the flower sequence, I had no need to dodge.

Once again, I closed the distance.
With the wounds already inflicted earlier, this time, I had to secure the kill.
I replaced my dagger with a solid chain in my hand.

Crimson’s eyes widened, likely in disbelief.

“Chain scythe?”
“No way. This isn’t a weapon you can just pull out at any time.”

Would I really be foolish enough to engage in a ranged battle with mages armed with a chain scythe?
If that were the case, I’d better just let a sniper replace me.
It was really just a solid chain. Nothing more, nothing less.

But it was indeed the right weapon to use against them.
I aimed for Azure’s weapon. Now was the time to use the strength I had conserved earlier.
I wrapped the chain around the blue spear. In return, I exposed my side to Crimson’s spear.

[‘Dreamstack’ effect activated.]
[For each stack, physical defense decreases by 1%...

I must have been stabbed deeper than I thought.
The wound wasn’t smooth, as if it had been torn open, worsening the damage.
In truth, even without this attack, I already had quite a few wounds accumulating.

It was no surprise that the Dreamstack had built up dangerously.
I was now at the point where my life was in real jeopardy, but there was no turning back.
Without risk, I wouldn’t gain anything.

I’ve endured worse pain before.
A little skin being torn wouldn’t create an opening for me.
While controlling the spear with the chain, I parried Crimson’s attack.

Try to swing as you will.
I would use everything to my advantage.

As Azure pulled the spear back, I used her momentum to get closer.
I inflicted wounds on her back and, when I pushed her away, I used that power to dodge both of their attacks.
When I misjudged the force, I even twisted the trajectory to provoke a misfire from our own team.

“This is actually more fun than I thought. It’s like riding a rollercoaster.”
“You crazy…!”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Calling me crazy? That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?
Honestly, I’m having a pretty good time.
I haven’t been to a theme park since I got hurt.

How many times did I swing around, tied to Azure’s spear, as Crimson’s Break Dream skill cooldown reset?
Now was the time to go for the decisive strike.

I threw the mark at Azure, but it merely grazed her skin, missing.
From the opposite side, Crimson’s spear approached, radiating an ominous aura.
If I got hit, I’d die. So, I just had to avoid it.

[‘White Moon Contract’ effect is deactivated.]
[The enhancement effects have disappeared...]
[All Shadow-type skills are now available.]

When using the White Moon buff, martial assassin classes cannot use Shadow skills.
The duration is quite long, and the effect won’t wear off unless forcibly deactivated.
Thus, Shadow skills are generally not invested in when using this buff.

However, in principle, it’s not that they can’t be used at all.
By forcibly deactivating the buff, the restrictions on Shadow skills are lifted.

As I released the chain, I moved with the shadow I had thrown earlier.
Azure’s back was fully exposed, and Crimson had just used a major skill.
Even without the Moon buff, killing a defenseless mage was no challenge.

I stabbed her right shoulder as I pulled out a new dagger.
I stabbed her side and ribs a few times,
If I didn’t sever her throat now, I had ensured she would die from the bleeding.

The remaining time was a bit tight.
I might be hit if I’m not careful.
I couldn’t afford to waste time on second guesses.
Even if I die here, it will benefit my team, so I continued relentlessly.

I grabbed her hair, forcibly opening her neck.
I stabbed the dagger in several times before retreating to avoid Crimson’s attack.
Time… was definitely running out.

[‘Critical Targeting: Internal Organs’ effect activated successfully.]
[The ‘Unstoppable Bleeding’ effect is...]

[‘Eunha Crimson’ has been eliminated by ‘Eunha Azure’.]

I didn’t fully avoid the attack.
And these sisters… how much venom do they carry in their hearts?
The younger sister’s spear pierced through her older sister’s abdomen, then struck me.

As the stacks I had accumulated exploded, my health bar plummeted.
It seemed to have manifested as internal injuries, and blood spurted from my mouth.
Throwing up blood is an unpleasant feeling. The taste was overwhelmingly foul and metallic.

But… even after taking that hit, death hadn’t come for me yet.

[Remaining Health: 3.94%]

Then, I must fight more.
I can still move, so I will keep going.