[World Championship Group B - Match 1]
[Battlefield: The Mountain of Proof]
[Rules: 4-player Deathmatch]
[Sigma eSports vs Dune Sentinels]

The mountain of proof, covered with white snow.
The body, now at speed, faced the cold wind head-on.

I had been searching the battlefield for a while, but I hadn’t found my target yet.
I hadn’t joined the main team, nor was I targeting our enemy’s rear.
This meant that they had likely chosen to lie in ambush.

No matter who I faced, I always had the advantage in mobility.
When conducting a standard reconnaissance, that was an absolute advantage.
So, it wouldn’t be unusual if they chose to hide and play a psychological game instead.

When calculating their movement time, this was the spot they would attempt an ambush.
The Mountain of Proof is full of crevasses.
I launched some throwing knives into a few places where they might be hiding.

[‘Fangs of the Serpent’ effect active.]
[For 10 seconds, throwing weapons remain lodged in the enemy’s body.]

The answer was in the area where I had scattered the knives.
I threw a rope dagger into the spot where the blade was lodged,
and quickly pulled it back, closing the distance.

From the snow, a figure sprang out—an assassin in sand-colored hood.
It was Hashashin, a figure I had grown tired of seeing over the past few weeks.

Even though I had initiated the engagement at the timing I wanted, the tempo was still similar.
From the moment I was spotted, it seemed they had prepared for this encounter without hesitation.
The two blades clashed in the middle. Our kicks collided but failed to connect.

It seemed as if we had both activated our buffs at the same time.

[‘Whisper of the Black Moon’ effect active.]
[All attack power, movement speed, and counterattack benefits are enhanced.]
[Some skills are enhanced...]

Facing each other directly, I realized it.
The evaluations people had given were quite accurate.

They had said his swordplay was excellent?
It definitely felt like he handled his sword at a high level.
Especially in moments where blades met, he knew how to use psychological tactics.

The scimitar’s blade curves inward.
This makes it easier to land a cutting strike but makes thrusting less suitable.

However, when the blade’s angle is changed,
it takes on the form of a pickaxe, piercing through the defense in one move.
I had seen him make several attempts at targeting vital points with that curved blade or trying to disarm my dagger.

‘Not to mention, his vision is wide. His defense is solid.’

Even with a dagger flashing right before my eyes, he didn’t miss a single movement of mine.
He had a clear understanding of the terrain as well, so leading him into a crevasse was impossible.
He wasn’t easily fooled by fakes, and his counterattacks were sharp.

Every step forward,
and every time I tried to retreat, even one missed timing could result in my neck being pierced by his blade.

In terms of attack range, I was at a disadvantage.
But in mobility and speed, I had the upper hand.
Our strength was fairly even.
The outcome would depend on who could exert more force and weight in their strikes.

The problem was that my opponent was Hashashin.
I wasn’t talking about the pro gamer nickname, but the game class of Hashashin.

Hashashin is a class more specialized in close combat than an ordinary assassin.
Its identity lies in skills that instantly allow the player to take the rear of nearby enemies.
In combat, I had to be ready for any direction—front, back, left, or right—not being safe anywhere.

"Truly impressive. You’re the third."
"Who were the first and second?"
"Kelberos. And Hero."
"Do you give low ratings to fellow assassins?"
"Not as a pro gamer, but as a wielder of weapons."

Ah, I see what he meant.
Even if the translation was a bit off, I understood.
It meant he was recognized purely for his skill in handling weapons.

Reaper and Phantom were more tactical, not so much relying on brute force.
They weren’t the type to push through purely with physicality or technique.

As we exchanged a few words, I could see the curved tip of the blade aiming for my neck.
There was no need for overreaction. At this angle and distance, it wouldn’t be a fatal strike.
At worst, it would graze my skin? I could maintain my advantage while targeting his tendons.

I made a favorable exchange for myself.
But there was no way Hashashin would back down so easily.
From now on, I had to make sure not to miss even a single movement of his eyes.

The direction of his sword wasn’t in the position to counter my attack.
At the same time, I sensed a faint golden light beneath my feet.
It was the precursor to his "Call of Paradise" skill, which lets him move behind a close opponent.

That meant now was the time.

[Active: Silent Executioner]
[You descend from a high point and deal significant damage to the surrounding area.]
[All enemies in range are silenced. The attack range and silence duration are proportional to the distance fallen, with a back attack bonus.]
[Minimum attack range: 0.5m / Minimum silence duration: 0.05s]

This is a skill typically used from a high point.
It’s Phantom’s source of kill potential—essentially the assassin’s highest damage skill in theory.
But I used it while on the ground, so the crimson effect appeared weakly before fading.

Of course, the damage was negligible.
But it was enough.

The silence entered at just the right moment, interrupting Hashashin’s skill.
The movement to attack my back failed immediately.
With the plan falling apart, a major opening appeared.

By sacrificing my main skill, I scored a significant hit.
I couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.

"Ugh...!"

Even during this exchange, his counterplay was impressive.
I aimed to injure his neck, but in a split second, he pulled back and narrowly avoided my attack.

But that wasn’t the end of the fight.
He probably knew that. In a fight of this level, one small mistake could determine the entire outcome.
I gripped my dagger tighter and left a long wound from his solar plexus to his abdomen.

As he tried to target my flank, I caught his wrist and blocked it.
If I finished him by aiming for his heart—

It didn’t seem likely.
This location was near where Hashashin had set up his ambush.
During the fight, I used a common technique of luring the opponent into a position I desired.
And Hashashin had used this very same tactic several times in past matches.

‘I’ll wait for one more opportunity.’
The places I couldn’t see clearly were behind me and above.
Right now, I suspected an attack from above.

As expected, several golden spears dropped from above toward me.

This time, I couldn’t afford to finish him off.
Without hesitation, I retreated and threw a knife.
As I attempted to escape, Hashashin’s sweeping strike had to abandon its pursuit.

Bleeding, Hashashin repositioned himself.
He tightened his grip on his dagger.

[Commentary: Both teams are fiercely battling it out. Sigma eSports seems to be gaining a slight advantage.]
[The situation is definitely different from Prelude. There’s a sense of stability now.]
[Back then, Camellia only barely held on, but now, Ga-wol is holding strong.]

The one-on-one battle between the two assassins on the outskirts of the snow-covered mountain.
The commentators couldn’t keep up with their words, having to focus on the monitors with wide eyes.
The experienced commentators couldn’t help but hold their breath as the fight intensified.

With a wound on his cheek, Ga-wol stepped back.
The counterattack came in the form of a sharp kick. Hashashin dodged it as expected, but it wasn’t the end.
The snow on the ground near them was scattered, obstructing his vision.

Ga-wol seized that fleeting moment.
Black thorns shot up, and his hidden body aimed for the lower body.
The dagger struck his foot and, with his body, the shadow melted into the ground.

Where Ga-wol had disappeared, the sand-colored blade pierced the air in vain.

[Commentary: At this point, it’s practically an art.]
[If Ga-wol had hesitated for just one second, that last attack could have dealt a fatal blow.]
[Has anyone ever cornered Hashashin this perfectly before?]
[It’s even more evident because they share the same assassin class. This matchup is filled with sharp tactical moves.]

The fight, which seemed like it wouldn’t end anytime soon,
was now clearly decided.
The victor was all but certain.

The snowy mountain, once all white, was now stained with red blood.
It was clear which of the two had the advantage.
Hashashin clutched his bloodied abdomen, while Ga-wol kept a steady distance, continuing the battle.

[Commentary: Hashashin is wearing down. Ga-wol is playing a ruthless and cunning game.]
[As Kelberos once said, he fights like a lion, but with the cunning of a fox.]
[That’s exactly right. He never loses his caution, despite his overwhelming skill.]
[In IKL, he was known for his destructive path, but he has always been the type to find the optimal path to victory.]

Ga-wol never gives up any significant injuries.
He doesn’t engage in exchanges that seem like they won’t benefit him.
Instead, he chips away at Hashashin’s health, using poison and bleeding.

Eventually, the opponent’s weaknesses will emerge.

Dune Sentinels are practically a one-man team with Hashashin.
Their main team’s strength is significantly weaker compared to other strong teams.
Time is on Ga-wol’s side.

[‘Sigma Luche’ has defeated ‘DS Asim’.]