Remaining health: 3%
Blood was continuously flowing from my side and abdomen.

Moreover, the opponent was a legitimate Tier 1 pro gamer.
Even though Korea is considered a weaker league, Crimson is undeniably one of the ace players of the finalist team.
No matter how skilled Ga-wol is, turning the tables wasn’t possible.

[‘Eunha Crimson’ has eliminated ‘Sigma Ga-wol’.]

Yet, Ga-wol remained Ga-wol.
Even on the brink of death, he was never helpless.
Half of the Dream Painter class had fallen, and even Crimson, who survived, was not in perfect condition.

The dagger that had been discarded rolled on the ground.
It was the item Ga-wol had left embedded in his neck just before death.
There was also internal bleeding… I had to find a supporter as soon as possible.

This exchange couldn’t be called even.
The situation was still unfavorable. Even she knew the chances of victory were slim.
However, a major disaster didn’t occur where both were eliminated, and the most troublesome assassin was taken out.

Compared to the regular league, the situation was clearly better.
Back then, even when they fought together, they couldn’t kill Ga-wol.
How such a monster emerged, she had no idea, but it was an utterly terrifying opponent.

‘I wonder if the other side is holding up well. I need to join them quickly.’

Azure and Crimson were engaged in a 2v1.
That meant, with simple arithmetic, there was a 2v3 battle happening on the other side.
She thought they were probably struggling in that fight, and it was critical to join them as soon as possible.

How much did I move my bleeding body?
Crimson rubbed his eyes.

“?”

It seemed like he had been too tense.
Having just faced such a formidable opponent like Ga-wol, it was inevitable.
It was the first time he had managed to eliminate Ga-wol, so perhaps, internally excited, his focus had slipped.

But still, what Crimson saw remained unchanged.

[‘Sigma’ Camellia has defeated the Flower Observer and acquired the ‘Resurrection Flower’.]
[Bone Up Flower, Flesh Up Flower, Blood Up Flower, Breath Up Flower, and Resurrection Flower have all been gathered.]
[A dead person will be revived and join the battlefield! ]
[Target: Sigma Ga-wol (Assassin)]

Was it a dream?

Crimson’s mouth opened slightly.
It seemed his focus had slipped.

“Ah, no... This is too much...”

Full-condition Ga-wol had returned.
Even with both of them attacking, he was a difficult opponent to defeat.
In this disadvantageous numerical state, defeating him was impossible.

It felt like something terribly unfair had happened.
A sense of frustration bloomed deep inside Crimson’s heart.
This second match had effectively signaled its end.

The IKL playoffs were all best-of-five matches.
Sigma had won the first two sets, putting them at match point.
The next set could very well be the final one.

An eerie silence filled Eunha Gaming's waiting room.
The coach and coaching staff massaged the players' shoulders, offering encouragement, but… the heavy sense of defeat didn’t fade.

“You guys aren’t down, are you? The real game starts at set 3. You’ve warmed up, so now just win the next three sets and head home. It’s fine if we end up working late today, right?”

The coach, usually the most lighthearted and friendly, threw in a joke.
He probably knew well. The objective strength gap was too wide.
Just like a battle against a large army requires strategy, when the size gap is this large, there was honestly no way to win.

Still, by joking, the coach probably intended to lighten the mood.
He was telling them to relax and prepare for the next game. Even if they lost, to lose without regrets.
Behind his light words, there was a heavy sense of consideration that nobody else in the room could match.

Though he knew he shouldn’t say such things,
the weakness still gnawed at his heart.
Someone from the team spoke up.

It didn’t matter who said it.
It was a thought that existed in everyone’s heart, and it was simply voiced by someone else.

“But what if we lose?”
“It’s unfortunate. Just eat something delicious, go home, take a hot shower, and sleep well. You all tried your best. If we lost, it’s my fault.”
“You worked hard too, Coach.”
“That’s what a coach is for, to take responsibility. If you feel really bad about it, dream about slapping Coach Kim while you sleep. Don’t actually slap your hand or it’ll hurt.”

It was hard to say how effective his words were.
I don’t know how much the deep-rooted sense of defeat in the team had been alleviated.
However, a strangely warm breeze seemed to blow inside the waiting room.

Let’s fight without regret. Let’s throw everything we have into it, and even if we lose, let’s have a match we can smile and say “we gave it our all.”
In the softened atmosphere, the coach gave his final feedback.

The previously tense Nabillera loosened up.
Crimson held Azure’s hand, and Fiesta warmed his fingers with a hand warmer.
Artisan and Nare prepared for the next match in their own ways.

And the long-awaited third set.
Eunha Gaming ignited their fighting spirit.

[IKL Summer Playoffs Final - Match 3]
[Battlefield: Moonlit Fortress]
[Rules: 6-person Occupation Battle]
[Defenders: Sigma eSports]
[Attackers: Eunha Gaming]

An Occupation Battle is a rule with a time limit.
Victory is achieved by successfully defending the core inside the fortress until the time runs out.
The defenders have the advantage of terrain but have a long respawn cooldown, while the attackers have a quick respawn cooldown and must exploit it to break into the enemy’s position.

And Eunha Gaming threw themselves into the battle, risking their lives like they were expendable.
With the fast respawn came equally fast deaths.

[‘Sigma Camellia’ has defeated ‘Eunha Artisan’.]
[‘Eunha Azure’ has defeated ‘Eunha Nabillera’.]
[‘Eunha Azure’ has defeated ‘Sigma Camellia’.]

Eunha Gaming advanced, sacrificing their lives.
Camellia killed the leading horseman, but Nabillera interrupted.
The two fighters, who had been in combat, met their end simultaneously from Azure’s area attack.

You guys are strong, I’ll admit it.
So, I’ll throw my petty pride aside and choose to kill you by any means necessary.

Eunha Gaming seemed to say that.
Azure and Crimson, without caring about their teammates' damage, fired back with full force.
They cleared the path with the bodies of their comrades and slowly, step by step, advanced.

Even the two sisters were no exception on this death march.

[The enemy is preparing the high-level magic ‘Inferno’.]
[Warning: Move away from the target area to avoid lethal damage.]
[Caster: Eunha Crimson (Pyromancer)]

At the moment I entered to assassinate Azure,
The Ice Mage, the team’s ace, didn’t defend herself.
Instead, she blocked my retreat with a thick ice wall, using her own life as bait to bind my feet.

As the flames of her younger sister consumed her,
Azure, with her body alight and health fading, shot me with her freezing magic.
As a result, I couldn’t fully avoid the aftermath and had to retreat.

The revived cavalryman drove the horse with full force.
Under the fluttering banner, all those who bled moved forward.
The two teams’ Paladins collided, and Nabillera’s Tuhee broke through the firewall and entered.
Mounting Hekate, she was shot and killed.

The dream that Tuhee couldn’t achieve was inherited by the cavalryman.
The powerful hooves of the horse killed Hekate, and the cavalryman finished off the remaining opponents.
Even the horse, without its rider, charged fiercely before being shot down.

- Such ruthless bastards…

Outlaw spoke in disbelief.
The situation wasn’t necessarily bad. Even if they advanced with death as the price, there was still a lot of time before the core would be reached.
In comparison, time was flowing mercilessly.

The objective strength gap didn’t shrink either.
Neither Luche nor I were opponents that could be defeated by one or two enemies.
With Hekate’s support, I regularly cut down the sister mages.

Luche pierced the Paladin’s neck with her sword.
The speechless cavalryman grabbed Camellia’s body and disappeared into the flames.
Crimson, nearly out of magic, teleported to the rear and attempted to use a suicide spell but was killed by a rain of arrows.

Even while stabbing Tuhee’s back with my dagger, I couldn’t help but admire their fighting spirit.

[Remaining Time: 12.19 sec]
[Core Health: 100%]

Eunha Gaming’s advance continued until it was clear that the game had essentially been decided.
Even if we were wiped out, the game could not be won.
Azure, with no health or magic left, tried to attack with a staff but was suppressed by me.

Azure, lying on the ground, finally sighed deeply.

“Congratulations on your victory. You’re truly terrifying. I wouldn’t want to meet you in the World Championship.”
“Thank you. You… no, you seniors were amazing too. I mean it.”
“This is the first time I’ve been treated like a senior. I’m frustrated about losing, but I can’t say I feel bad about it.”

[Time has run out. The core defense was successful.]
[Victory achieved.]
[Congratulations to ‘Sigma Ga-wol’ for winning the IKL Summer League.]