I Have a Reason to Hate Streamers

[World Championship - Semifinals]
[Battlefield: Proving Mountain]
[Rules: 5-man Elimination]
[Sigma eSports vs W Titans]

When I entered the battlefield, the snow, which had completely blanketed the ground, greeted me.
A wind blew from the deep blue sky, with tiny ice particles or snowflakes rising and touching my skin.
The thin clothing did nothing against the biting cold.

It's cold.
The chill that seeps deep into the bones is notorious among the players.
For me, who has a higher sensory adaptation than others, it felt almost as if I had climbed a mountain in the middle of winter.

To be exact, that’s how it used to feel.

But right now, it didn't feel as cold.
My body’s movements were even smoother than usual.
Like I was stretching out my body, it followed my will flexibly.

‘Strange. I feel better than usual all of a sudden.’

A dagger, familiar in weight, sat comfortably between my fingers.
Now, it felt as familiar as a longsword.

In the end, I decided to accept Luche’s suggestion.

There was no other choice.
When a teammate sincerely asks you to trust them, how could you refuse?
If I were in Luche's position and was rejected, it wouldn't just be a small wound.

Moreover... agreeing gave me a sense of relief.
It felt like I had put down a heavy burden.
The pressure weighing down on me seemed to have been much stronger than I had thought.

‘Though I said I would trust her... that doesn’t mean I should just stand still.’

Hero is a key player on the W Titans team.
It's embarrassing to say it myself, but... I also have considerable weight within Sigma.
Because of that, the requests from my teammates were within a very reasonable range.

There's no need to force myself into a sword-fighting role while enduring pain.
Just do my best as an assassin, as I've done for so long.
In the end, if the main team can stop Hero, it’ll be resolved.

Now that I agreed, all that remains is to prove it with results.
I quickly moved along the ridge.

[Passive: Calm]
[The noise associated with all actions is reduced by 65%.]
[Target: Sigma Ga-wol]

An assassin’s duty is to disturb the backlines and eliminate enemy support and damage dealers.
In short, it’s about stabbing the opponent’s vital spots or disrupting smooth team play.
How far I should go depends on the situation... but for this match, I must make them bleed.

If Luche's main force is the shield, I am the spear.
I must control Hero’s snipers, zealots, and battle priests who support him.
I stepped on scattered rocks and made a low leap. My first priority was securing a position.

The enemy’s composition isn’t very mobile, but they have snipers.
If I move carelessly just because I don’t see them nearby, I will be detected first.
Even simple reconnaissance allows no room for mistakes.@@novelbin@@

Also, the sniper’s single shot won't be able to suppress me.

I’ve already shown that in the previous match, so even if the enemy finds me, they won’t react.
Once I dig into their lines, they’ll dig a trap and wait.
Or, they might just hide and wait.

[Team member ‘Sigma Outlaw’ requests to activate ‘Operator’. Y/N]
[Accepted.]

[Combat connection range with ‘Sigma Outlaw’ significantly increased.]
[Vision sharing and signaling system activated.]

I must move with the assumption that the enemy can always see me.
I moved silently, focusing on staying airborne to avoid leaving any footprints on the snowy battlefield.
My efforts bore fruit.

As I moved along the ridge, I spotted a grayish armor.
The greatsword on their back was engulfed in multiple lights.

The red light must be a buff from the zealot, and the pale blue one is from the fighter.
The other light must belong to the battle priest.
I quickly confirmed their presence and hid behind a crevice, using it as cover.

Until the previous match, I would have prepared for direct combat, but now I’m an assassin.
The enemy is a knight, well-supported. It’s hard to win if we face off in full condition.
It’s wiser to quietly pass information to the main team.

• I found Hero. From the starting point, around the 1 o'clock direction. The distance is... about 650?
• Can you also confirm their composition?
• A zealot and a battle priest. Moving with two support members. Moving in the 5 o'clock direction. But the buff from the fighter was strong.
• They must be nearby. Got it. We’ll move as well.
• Yeah. I’ll move around a bit more.

The enemy split their forces.
Proving Mountain has many places to hide.
The crevice I’m currently using, and if you look carefully, there are small caves and pits.

It’s a pretty decent environment for ambushes or rear attacks.
But it won’t be that easy. I’ll make sure to interfere.

Sigma eSports’ sniper.
Outlaw’s scope was aimed right at the center of Hero’s helmet.

If I wanted, I could shoot anytime.
Since I haven’t fired the first shot, the enemy likely hasn’t figured out Outlaw’s position yet.
The angle is perfect, so if I use high-speed ammo, they won’t be able to react in time.

But my finger didn’t pull the trigger.

The image of Ga-wol deflecting the enemy sniper’s bullet from the previous match came to mind.
Now, there’s nothing to distract Hero’s attention.
If the opponent were that easy to wound, Ga-wol wouldn’t have insisted on a sword fight.

Outlaw’s play has always prioritized safety.
That’s why his low performance in risky situations was often noted.
Being overly afraid of risk was always like his Achilles’ heel.

And so, one summer day...
He had once opened up to me.

• A player who can’t perform a super play? One who can never be a hero? That’s a bit harsh.
• On the other hand, it means someone who supports the backline well... but I don’t think you’re hoping for such blunt words.
• You can’t move unless you have a basis for your play? Then, go find it yourself.
• Don’t wait for the opponent to throw it at you. You have to dive deeper.
• If you show something, it means there’s something you want to hide, right?

Let’s think a bit further.
The ones who blatantly revealed their positions were Hero and the two supports.
I still haven’t found the enemy sniper or the fighter.

The safest play would be to confirm the enemy’s positions without firing.
What’s the best play?

If it’s hard to target Hero directly, then the next priority is obviously the two supports.
The battle priest’s shielding is concerning, but with the sniper’s firepower, I should land a few effective hits.
I’ll fire a few shots and move; that should be safe.

The likely locations of the enemy sniper... Ah, I see.
Outlaw looked around again.

• Luche, sorry, but how long can you last against Hero alone?
• Well, I won’t know until I try. I won’t die easily.
• That’s enough. I think the fighter might be near me, so if Camelia can slip away and take them out, that would be great.
• Are you sure about that?
• Well... I have my reasons.

W Titans’ starting point is relatively forested.
There are many places where a sniper could hide, so Outlaw had deduced around five possible locations.

In contrast, Sigma’s position isn’t so good.
The sniper points are not far apart.
If I think there’s no accurate information, it’s likely they’ll form a rough circle.

The fighter has a body even more agile than the root-class brawler.
Though not as agile as an assassin, if prepared, they could easily take down a sniper.

If Outlaw dies, the two melee classes will likely start attacking the main team.
The enemy sniper would be the last surviving ranged dealer, manipulating the game.
If Ga-wol is troublesome, they can just take out the fighter and have a 2v1 escort.

The enemy team has a skilled sniper.
I must have roughly guessed their position.
If I fire, the fighter will come.

• Sounds good. Let’s go for it. I’ll hold on as long as I can.
• Thanks for trusting me. I’ll finish up and be back with support.
• No, you’re the one who suggested it. Your reasoning was convincing. I was just begging Da-eun to trust me, so...

Outlaw’s eyes widened for a moment.
Luche doesn’t usually joke during matches.
But the voice coming through the operator clearly contained laughter.

I think I understand why.
It’s the moment to prove oneself to others.
It’s burdensome, but there’s a sense of excitement.

Outlaw pulled the trigger.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself—then realigned the sights.

• Alright, I’ll shoot as soon as you’re ready.
• Yeah. Just before I face Hero.

Minutes later, the two knight-class players clashed as the distance closed.

At the same time, several gunshots rang out.
Outlaw’s bullets poured down like a torrential rain, overwhelming the previous evaluations.
It was a wild, aggressive barrage, mocking all the previous assessments.