LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 121
【Daily e-Sports News】
– The Traveler returns as an enemy, presenting a challenge!
– An unshakable nightmare, ACL 0:2 defeat.
– The Paladin’s dream! Review of Group D Sigma vs TLT match.
……
– Predicted victory. An unpredictable player. AT Kelberos interview.
– [Prelude Group Stage] Day 1 Summary.
– Phantom claims “Korea still lacks competitiveness.”
[Written by: Pero Pero]
[Title: Veiled Nightmare Phantom MVP Interview Full Text]
Q. You achieved a 2:0 victory against Korea’s ACL. What’s your impression?
A. It was the outcome we expected. There was a significant power difference, so it was a match we had to win.
Q. I understand that ACL is the team where Phantom had his debut.
A. (laughs) That’s right. That’s why this victory is even sweeter. It wasn’t a pleasant goodbye, so I went all out. They say revenge is a strong motivator, right?
Q. Previously, you stated that there’s no competitiveness in the Korean League. Do you still think that way?
A. Of course. Even just considering today’s ACL, they haven’t overcome their persistent issues. I’m not saying the Assassin lineup is weak. It’s a more complex issue.
Q. Sigma e-Sports has received better evaluations than before.
A. I agree. But it’s still a relative assessment. I don’t think they are at a level to be wary of yet.
Q. If there’s a player you’re especially wary of, who would it be?
A. Not much has changed from last year. If I had to pick one, it would be Insane.
……
Q. What are your thoughts on the revenge match against Kelberos?
A. Well, I heard that dude got really wrecked by an amateur in the Arena. (laughs) Just kidding.
Q. Does that mean Kelberos’ skill has deteriorated?
A. Absolutely not. If we’re talking about skill, it might be the opposite. It’s not that he’s being belittled; it’s just that a talented junior has appeared after a long time.
Q. Speaking of which, I’m curious about your assessment of Gawol. Isn’t Phantom one of the world’s top three assassins? Ripper seems to hold him in high regard.
A. That nickname is a bit shameful. But I fully agree that he’s already perfected his skills. I hope he proves it by debuting as a pro. I’m willing to help if he contacts me.
*
At this point, three players are frequently mentioned as the most famous assassins worldwide: the Ripper from England, the Phantom from North America, and the Hashashin from West Asia.
None of them have particular weaknesses, but they do have distinct characteristics.
The Ripper feels like a “team-oriented assassin.” His constant mind games reflect his unique strategies and tactics. He acts as the eyes for his allies, disrupts the enemy’s backline, and coordinates the battlefield.
In contrast, Phantom possesses a powerful one-hit capability. A timing that’s impossible to counter even if you’re aware of it. He strikes with sharp and precise attacks deep into the enemy’s psyche. His ability to create kills makes him the most “assassin-like” player.
Lastly, we have Hashashin……
[Champion’s Prelude Group D – Match 4]
[Dune Sentinels vs Sigma e-Sports]
[Battlefield: Pilgrim’s Desert]
[Rules: 5-player annihilation]
Personal combat power.
He is often considered the most skillful assassin player.
The reason why West Asia, originally a barren land for e-sports, is categorized as a “strong team” is solely due to Hashashin’s personal ability.
《 Prelude Group Stage Group D. The match between Dune Sentinels and Sigma e-Sports. 》
《 The first engagement is expected to be a clash between Hashashin and Camelian. 》
《 With moments to go, a silent law lights up the battlefield! 》
[‘Silence Law’ effect activated.]
[The caster and targeted player cannot use skills for 5 seconds.]
[Caster: DS Hashashin]
It’s a rough start.
Camelian’s plans to activate the ‘Warrior’s Spirit’ buff were interrupted right from the start. A skill cast was canceled mid-way. On top of that, she lost all cooldowns and resources.
It’s okay.
It’s not the worst yet.
Now that things have come to this, both sides must exchange blows with bare fists.
Just before the Scythe and Scimitar collide.
A cleverly twisted path of blades slithered over the Scythe like a snake.
The curved blade of the scimitar catches on the spear.
As the weight of the weapon swings, it pauses for a moment.
The decisive slash aimed at her arm — Camelian barely avoided it.
Whoosh!
“I almost couldn’t react…!”
She’s definitely slower compared to Gawol.
While she could barely keep up with Gawol’s tempo, this one was manageable.
The gaze directed towards her attack wasn’t mismatched with the actual blade path, and there wasn’t any psychological game making her feel toyed with.
But the mere fact that she wields the blade was too lethal.
She thought she had blocked, yet death lurked right beneath her.
The curved blade is a tricky weapon to face.
It can be used like a hook due to its axe-like curve, and just a slight twist of the blade changes the point of impact.
There’s a reason nomads of the ancient desert used curved blades — they pack a certain advantage.
[‘Frost Fire’ effect activated.]
[All enemies within 2.5m of the scythe receive the ‘Frozen Flame’ effect, reducing all attack speeds…]
After exchanging blows several times, Camelian arrived at a cold conclusion.
Hashashin is not an opponent she can defeat alone.
Even though she trained endlessly against assassins, the skill difference is too vast to overcome.
Against those called top-tier players, her spear is still sheathed.
Hmm…
There’s nothing unexpected about it.
Camelian has never beaten Gawol.
It’s not merely about failing to cross walls; she can’t even measure how high Gawol’s wall is.
Was the Gawol she fought a few days ago truly at full strength?
If it was full power, how long would it take to catch up?
After finally defeating Assassin Gawol — would she be able to face Gawol wielding a sword?
So far away…
It’s overwhelmingly high and distant, leaving her breathless.
A frog, content in its ability within the well, emerged into the world outside.
The well was small and cozy, but the vast world offered no comfort to the little frog.
But the frog thought…
How beautiful this outside world is.
I’m so glad I mustered the courage to come out.
Camelian swung her spear fiercely.
Initially, she aimed to delay or exhaust, but she shifted her strategy.
She understood that such tactics wouldn’t work against this opponent.
If I’m going to lose anyway, I’ll lose in the ugliest way possible!
Not all defeats are the same.
An assault that doesn’t consider the aftermath.
With a desperate spear armed with the assumption of losing, she fiercely attacked.
Injuries increased.
The more they clashed, the calmer Hashashin’s blade cut away at the enemy’s life.
The warrior’s blood turned the desert sands crimson.
As Camelian became accustomed to Hashashin’s blade, Hashashin too became accustomed to her spear.
Unsurprisingly, the one standing on higher ground can observe their opponent more easily.
Then, at one moment.
The chilling aura that threatened to freeze the entire desert came to a stop.
Hashashin’s blade pierced Camelian’s neck, slicing through her chest and abdomen.
A red line showed signs of trauma. Blood gushed forth as the previously defiant female figure collapsed.
[‘DS Hashashin’ has defeated ‘Sigma Camelian’.]
Though victorious, Hashashin’s expression was not bright.
“…I must have overdone it.”
Calculations went wrong.
The target Hashashin needed to defeat was not just Camelian.
He had to face the next opponent and thus planned to conserve several skills — which he managed to do to some extent.
However, too much time had passed.
Analyzing each other before a match is basic.
So Hashashin understood well.
While Sigma’s sharpest blade is Camelian, their ace remains Luce.
Hashashin, an outlier in power.
The strength of the ‘Dune Sentinels’ who lost their strongest weapon is two levels beneath Korea.
His team lacked the ability to take on a player like Luce.
[‘Sigma Luce’ has…]
[‘Sigma Luce’ has…]
A paladin drenched in blood approached, his once pure white armor now stained.
At a numerical disadvantage, the knight faces a basic matchup disadvantage against an assassin.
Luce’s condition didn’t seem too bad at a glance.
“I need to step up my pace next time.”
It appears he’ll have to concede this match.
Yet he thought about it — right until the end, he didn’t set down his sword.
Soon, the final confrontation began, and the peninsula’s paladin survived until the very end.
However, they couldn’t win the next match.
On that day, Sigma faced a 1:2 set defeat.