Chapter 136: Chapter 136

"Good evening, viewers. Welcome to the IKL Summer! I’m your host, caster Hoeun, here to bring you coverage of this monumental first match."

"I'm Haehwa, your commentator for this event."

"And I’m Hwang Yul. Looking forward to spending the day with you."

The familiar voices of the broadcast team filled the air. Teams and players might rise and fall with each season, but the broadcasting crew remained largely unchanged. It made me wonder if they, rather than any star player, were the true faces of this league.

Some voices became so ingrained in memory that reading the words alone conjured their sounds in my head. Hoeun’s voice had that effect on me.

“This summer season, we’ve already had a lot of buzz, and today’s opening match promises to deliver, doesn’t it?”

"Yes, indeed. We have Sigma eSports, last season’s Spring champions, facing the traditional powerhouse, Q Prime."

"Just hearing that makes me anticipate a fierce battle. So, what are your assessments of each team’s strength?"

“Sigma eSports hardly needs an introduction. They’ve always been a formidable team, and with Ga-wol joining, they’ve addressed any previous weaknesses.”

“Q Prime, on the other hand, has undergone some changes. Though they lost Traveler, they gained Holy and Slug, so we’re in for a distinctly new playstyle.”

Two weeks had flown by. This was our last chance to prepare before the Summer League. I spent that time honing our team synergy and pushing everyone to their limits.

From my perspective, it was time well spent. There was still a long road ahead, but I had no regrets. Even if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t be able to push myself harder than I already had.

Other players occasionally flinched when they saw me. But they’d adapt. …Though, it might take Hekate a bit longer.

“What should we focus on in this match?”

“It’s going to come down to Ga-wol and Holy. Since both teams rely heavily on their aces, the role of the Inquisitor is bound to be pivotal.”

“The outcome of ‘Sanctuary of Judgment’ could drastically shift the flow of the match.”

“They’ll likely use it on Ga-wol, which makes me curious to see just how well he’ll perform in a one-on-one scenario.”

The skill “Sanctuary of Judgment” was the reason the Inquisitor class was labeled as an anti-carry type. Its effect? It removes both the user and a designated opponent from the battlefield. The only way to leave this one-on-one field is for one of them to die or for the duration to expire.

From an old movie, it earned the nickname "Room of Truth." Its limitations meant it was usually used to drag in a melee ace from the other side. However, it didn’t pair well with warriors, so it was almost certain they’d target either me or Luche.

The screen in the waiting room changed, and Luche placed a hand on my shoulder.

“The battleground’s been set. Shall we go? It’s Daeun’s first debut.”

At Sigma, before each match, we had a ritual where the players gathered their hands together.

Watching that ritual in broadcasts had always stirred envy in me. I’d always wanted to experience it myself, and now, finally, I got the chance.

The rallying cry was simple—a single, spirited “Fight!” Yet, in that moment, it felt as if a surge of energy flowed through me.

My vision briefly darkened, and then I smelled the salty scent of the sea.

[IKL Summer Round 1 - Match 1]

[Battleground: The Place Where the Storm Sleeps]

[Format: 4-Person Elimination]

[Sigma eSports vs. Q Prime]

The murky darkness of a shipwreck graveyard lay before us.

The moment the match began, cold rain drenched my head. Rainwater in the eyes can be a nuisance during battle, so I pulled up my hood and chose one of the wrecked ships to advance toward.

There was no need for words—everyone knew their roles. Outlaw moved in the opposite direction with his sniper rifle, while Luche and Hekate headed for the largest wreck at the center.

[Team member ‘Sigma Outlaw’ has requested ‘Operator’ activation. Y/N]

[Approval granted.]

[Your communication range with ‘Sigma Outlaw’ has greatly expanded, enabling vision sharing and signaling.]

“Looks like they’ve got an assassin on their side too. Think you’re good?”

“I’ll handle it. What about you? Assassins are never easy to deal with.”

“I could beat them with just one dagger.”

“Noted. My apologies for worrying.”

Q Prime’s composition lacked a support, so their sustain would be weak. We also held an advantage in range with our sniper. If the match turned into a drawn-out battle, we’d surely win.

That said, their frontline was undeniably strong. They’d likely try to break through Luche’s guard with the grappler and then take him down with the Beast Hunter’s firepower.

Their Miko, while technically a support, focused on offensive skills. If we faced a surge of concentrated firepower, she might not be able to protect Luche effectively.

The basic tactic was to wear them down from a distance. But there was one problem: the presence of Sparrow, their assassin. If Outlaw went down, we’d lose the advantage of our team composition.

This made my role clear. I’d need to deal with either the assassin, our biggest threat, or the core damage dealer, the Beast Hunter.

[‘Rite: Spirit of the Martial God’ effect applied.]

[Maximum mana and recovery reduced, but all attack power and…]

[Cast by: Sigma Hekate]

Just before I moved out of Miko’s casting range, Hekate’s buff reached me at the perfect timing. Her skills were flawless, although her survivability could be a weakness.

With everything ready, all that was left was to hunt down the enemy. In this game—in all of Infinity Black—there was no assassin faster than me.

I sprinted forward at full speed, and soon, I spotted the enemy squad.

No time to hesitate. I slipped out of their view, moving along the outer hull of a wreck, then used the Operator system to alert the team.

"Enemy spotted. Inquisitor, Beast Hunter, and Grappler are here. No sign of Sparrow. Moving in now."

“How the hell are you so fast… Alright, got it.”

[You marked the enemy’s location for your team.]

[‘Sigma Outlaw’ has disengaged ‘Operator’ support.]

[‘Fang of the Serpent’ effect applied.]

[For the next 10 seconds, thrown weapons will not dislodge from the target’s body.]

Outlaw would inform Luche once his cooldown allowed. No hesitation—I threw a rope dagger into the Beast Hunter, confirming the blade hit, then pulled myself toward him with a leap.

The core dealer of the enemy team had lost his protection, and the gap between us closed rapidly. But there was still one obstacle in my way.

Slug, a pro who used to play in North America. He’d faced ambushes from Phantom and was an A-grade dealer.@@novelbin@@

This had to have been a surprise attack, yet the Beast Hunter quickly regained his composure and aimed his modified shotgun at me.

‘Identify the muzzle position.’

With a grappler nearby, he wouldn’t have loaded buckshot. No matter how well he aimed, it would hit his ally. The loaded rounds were undoubtedly Slug shells.

I didn’t deflect it but positioned my dagger to align with its trajectory. A sharp clang echoed, the signature sound of a parried attack.

“…!”

“Hmm. Blocked?”

The distance had closed enough for my dagger to reach him. To interrupt his next attack, I slashed his wrist, severing the artery, then stabbed his neck twice.

Lethal strikes, yet… would they be enough to kill him? A normal human would be dead, but he was a player character—a superhuman. Cutting off his lifeline wouldn’t be so simple.

I wasn’t close enough to the grappler, but I had already neared the Inquisitor considerably.

[‘Mark of the Sinner’ effect applied.]

[You’ll take additional damage from the Inquisitor’s attacks and become a target for certain skills.]

For now, I was satisfied to have reduced the strain on my team.

I’d planned to cut both of the Beast Hunter’s eyes, but I only managed one. The moment I damaged his other eye, his figure disappeared.

[You have become the target of ‘Sanctuary of Judgment.’]

[You are transported to the sanctuary with the caster and cannot escape until the duration expires or the caster dies.]

[Caster: Q Prime Holy]

The relentless rain vanished, though the stench of blood lingered thickly in the air. This was no longer the salty sea but the oppressive, blood-soaked confines of a “sanctuary.”

If a paladin’s sanctuary resembled a holy temple, an Inquisitor’s sanctuary looked like a torture chamber—branding irons, a blood-stained iron maiden, and various torture implements.

Holy’s equipment was a round shield paired with a longsword—a setup that sacrificed some guard strength for speed and range. It was clear he’d customized this gear with me in mind.

“I’ve heard you were impressive, but you’re beyond my expectations.”

“It’s too early to be surprised.”

Did he really think I’d come here without knowing? There’s no time to waste—I’ll finish this in one blow.