[World Championship Group B - Match 6]
[Battlefield: Remnants of the Dead World Tree]
[Rules: 4v4 Elimination]
[Sigma eSports vs Falcon]

The Remnants of the Dead World Tree is a vertically structured battlefield.
The terrain of this cylindrical map features platforms attached to the walls, which can serve as footholds.
From the moment the match begins, securing the high ground is the standard strategy.

But it isn’t me, the assassin, who should be in the high ground, it’s our team’s ranged damage dealers.
Even if I get there first, it will take time for my teammates to catch up.
Filling this gap is the assassin’s primary role.

If I don’t reveal myself recklessly, the enemy’s vigilance will be heightened.
At the same time, I must maintain an angle for a quick retreat in case things go south.
I secured one of the ruined platforms and held my breath quietly.

Right in the center of the enemy team.
‘Minami’s’ longbow drew my attention.
I saw a Japanese-style longbow, much longer than the archer’s own height, a classic shape: long at the top, short at the bottom.

‘A Japanese bow, huh? It doesn’t look small. The ranged battle will be tough.’

It’s not easy to use a sniper rifle in this terrain.
The platforms that players have to move across become obstacles.
A sniper rifle, which shoots straight lines, is a weapon poorly suited for this map.

On the other hand, an archer’s bow can curve its shots.
One reason the bow still survives in a game with firearms is its ability to make curved shots.
Did Minami give up on occupying the high ground and intend to press forward with firepower and range instead?

I can’t leave it like that.
Taking down the troublesome enemy ranged damage dealer is the assassin’s job too.
I’ll move as soon as the next detection phase passes.

[Passive: Ambush]
[If you remain stationary for 8 seconds, you will become nearly invisible to most detection skills during that time. This does not stack with stealth effects.]

‘Ambush’ negates the effect of ‘Threat Detection’…

Done.
Now there’s no time to waste.

One hand gripped a sharp dagger.
The other held a long rope connected to a hook.
After confirming my escape route, I leaped toward the enemy archer.

As I got closer to the enemy, someone shouted urgently.

"Up! An assassin!"

A wide field of vision.
I wasn’t clumsy enough to be caught like that, was I?
Guess this is the global stage now, huh?

In the blink of an eye, the archer retreats, and a swordsman blocks my path.
If I get pulled into the enemy lines like this, I’m a goner.
I grab the shadow spikes that shoot out of the wall, change direction, and land on a different platform.

If the archer’s advantage is the curved shots, then his disadvantage is the slow arrow speed.
The longbow might be better, but it still isn’t fast enough to hit me.
I deflect the incoming arrow and throw a smoke grenade to obscure the enemy’s vision.

Not yet.
I can do a little more.

The samurai and swordsman are slow-moving targets.
As long as I can maintain enough distance, they aren’t that threatening.
I’ll just need to watch out for Haruka’s kunoichi and the arrows.

But in the smoke, my vision isn’t much better either.
I release a clone to try and spot the archer’s position again.

‘From the spot where I left the knife, five o’clock direction. To re-enter... I’ll need to shake off the kunoichi first.’

Haruka. The kunoichi with whom I have a cursed relationship.
She’s already closing in on me.
Even though there’s a clear difference in skill, I’m uneasy about letting her close in on me.

I crouch low.
It’s not just to avoid her eyes—more importantly, I need to feel the vibrations in the ground.
The soft sound of my footsteps echoes quietly.

Damping your footsteps is the basic skill of an assassin class.
But a human is still a heavy mass, and this battlefield is filled with dead trees.
No matter how carefully I tread, the vibrations of the ground can’t be avoided.

Like a cat, I pull my waist back.
I trust the sensation of my feet and skin, not my vision obscured by smoke.
I shoot through the air like a bullet, my knee hitting Haruka squarely in the stomach.

"Ugh...!"
"Quit dragging this out. I thought our hierarchy was already settled."

I don’t have time to deal with this woman.
I quickly slash Haruka’s neck and turn my gaze away.

I throw the hook toward where I had seen the archer.
I pull it in, narrowing the distance, but I didn’t get what I wanted.

No wonder the next arrow didn’t come.
The moment I exited the smoke, two swords came at me from both sides.
They used my knowledge of the archer’s location against me. The swordsman and samurai had set up a trap.

The momentum is already built.
There are no obstacles to change my direction.
It’s physically impossible to dodge.

This is it.
By now, my teammates should have secured the high ground.
It would be the stupidest thing to be greedy and die.

I melt into the shadows and escape from the enemy lines.
The swordsman, who had been watching me, muttered in disbelief.

"Assassins are just unfair, really."

As Ga-wol made his way out of the enemy lines, Luche took a deep breath.

A different weapon than usual was in her hand.
Despite ample practice and testing, she still felt nervous.
Nevertheless, her hand holding the weapon didn’t shake a bit.

It was a plain throwing spear.
It had no special effects, just a sturdy hunk of metal.
But it was worth pulling out.

[‘Rite: Blessing of the Martial God’ effect activated.]
[Max mana and healing are reduced, but all attack power and…]
[Caster: Sigma Hekate]

[‘Sharp Eye’ effect activated.]
[All attack power and armor-piercing increased…]
[Caster: Sigma Rika]

As soon as Ga-wol entered the range, the team’s buffs activated.
Then, at the moment when her muscles were fully tensed,
Luche shot a flash from her hand.

Yes. It was a flash.
There’s no other way to describe it.

The throwing spear, encased in the holy white light of the paladin, flew straight as an arrow.
It reached Falcon’s lines.
Though it didn’t hit anyone directly, it was enough to make the enemies flinch.

The spear broke through the obstructing terrain and reached its destination.

[Commentary]
"Wait, what’s that? Can a paladin’s throwing spear really be this strong?"
"The Remnants of the Dead World Tree is literally a dead tree, so terrain destruction is common here… But I never imagined the spear would have such power."
"You can really feel that Sigma eSports has sharpened their skills!"

The destruction was much greater than expected.
Confidence swelling, Luche pulled another spear from her back.
As she aimed the tip, the ranger’s bowstring pulled back endlessly.

As magic-infused arrows began to rain down like a storm, Falcon’s archer began to retaliate.

The ranger is a classic North American-style damage dealer.
Even without support, the archer can take care of his own survival.
On the other hand, the archer with the Japanese bow focuses purely on range and power, so trying to win a firefight is hopeless.

However, Luche’s throwing spear definitely became a game-changer.

The second spear hit the samurai.
It wasn’t a perfect hit, but it broke the guard, and blood spilled.
We must stop that ridiculous powerful spear as soon as possible.

[Commentary]
"Now Falcon’s in trouble!"
"The balance is off. Falcon’s team doesn’t have a support."
"They came here thinking of a short-term fight, but it’s a disadvantage if they both get hurt!"
"Falcon is speeding up, and Minami’s archer is firing regardless of exposure, pushing the firepower forward!"

In most wars, the team that secures the high ground has the advantage.
But it’s not always guaranteed.
The high ground offers no escape.

If a battle breaks out, it will certainly become a chaotic close-quarters fight.
Falcon’s victory plan came from this.

Sigma, with assassins and paladins as their aces, can’t win by ranged damage alone.
So, with the firepower of the archer, they can push the enemy into a corner.

Meanwhile, the melee dealers who’ve closed in will settle it with a single strike!
There’s no escape. They’re about to resolve everything in one final confrontation!

But… Falcon is actually losing the firepower battle.

[Commentary]
"Actually, Luche doesn’t have many spears left. There are only two left now."
"With that level of firepower, it’s likely she’s run out of points to keep investing in more spears."
"If Falcon can calmly discard the spears and close the distance, they still have a chance to win."
"But here’s the problem. Falcon doesn’t know that!"

Eventually, the samurai, in a rush, made his decision.
He charged full speed, taking the hit and slashing through the flying spear with his sword.
Even while taking arrows, he became the vanguard.

Once Luche had used up all her spears, there was no longer a need for her to stay behind.
The paladin, glowing white, faced off with the two swordsmen.
The ominous hum of the halberd filled the air.