He Is That Guy

[Guild] ManaOingNam: Ah LOL

[Guild] ManaOingNam: Danghani cooked up something fun, LOL
[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: Did the ult start?
[Guild] ManaOingNam: Yep LOL, 1 minute 32 seconds left

[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: Okayy
[Guild] TheHunter: No but seriously, if they were gonna do it, they should’ve put real guards on him
[Guild] TheHunter: Am I wrong?

[Guild] Staeric: LOL
[Guild] Staeric: Not wrong
Currently, ManaOing was hiding in the far corner of the eastern 12 o’clock position, channeling his ultimate. Just in case, I’d asked TheHunter and Staeric to stay by his side for protection.

It was one of the spots where a Fever Guild Mage might’ve gone, and it was definitely a prime location for sneaking around and doing something covert.
“The plan itself’s not bad.”
The Elemental Mage’s ultimate was powerful, but also notoriously difficult to use effectively.

That’s why it wasn’t typically employed in the chaotic mess that was the preliminary matches—but in this situation, it was definitely worth a shot.
Up until now, we hadn’t used the Elemental Mage’s ultimate while defending Veritas in the prelims simply because not that many players gathered at the West Gate.
The West Gate was the farthest from the city center and the terrain was tricky, so it usually got little attention. That meant fewer enemies showed up there, and strong classes like Elemental Mages were stationed at more critical gates instead.

But this time, with over 40 players crowding the West Gate, the Elemental Mage’s ultimate was just right. Of course, since it took over two minutes to cast, failing came with a big penalty… but right now we had the upper hand, so the risk wasn’t a big deal.
[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: I’ll try to keep them from getting inside
[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: But there might still be ones sneaking in

[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: If you get attacked, type in chat—I’ll come right away
[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: Please protect Oing as best you can
[Guild] Staeric: No worries
[Guild] TheHunter: Honestly I feel like I could beat most of them LOL

[Guild] Staeric: For real LOL
[Guild] Staeric: Fever players suck ass at this game
[Guild] Mocha Bread: That’s a fair pointㅇ.ㅇLOL

[Guild] Mocha Bread: But wait—is our guildmaster Sleepy?
[Guild] Mocha Bread: That’s some serious leadership
[Guild] Drink Some Water: That’s a great suggestion..^^

[Guild] Park Seungjin99: LMAOOOOOO
[Guild] SseSseSsehajago: LOLLLLLLLLLL
[Guild] Haereun: I agree..^^

After confirming everything was in place, I headed for the West Gate with Yu Chae, watching as the gauge speed had clearly slowed.
As soon as Yu Chae and I returned to the front lines, Sangdanghan and his Fever Guild crew started swarming in from the other side. I smirked and booted up the screen recorder I’d used last time.
“If they’d made a plan that solid, they should’ve executed it properly.”

Watching Sangdanghan and the Fever members charge in, completely unaware that we were using their exact plan against them, was just hilarious.
Standing calmly next to Yu Chae, I waited. Once they were close enough, I typed in the chat.
[Guild] I’m So Sleepy: Now

[Guild] ManaOingNam: Prayer meta has ended…
As soon as ManaOing repeated the same line he used in the arena, rummmbbbble— a deafening boom erupted. Dark clouds rapidly swarmed the sky as the earth trembled. Sangdanghan flinched at the sound and veered to the side, but it was already too late.
A massive meteor sliced through the clouds and came crashing down at absurd speed. Fever Guild members realized what was happening too late and scattered in panic, but it was impossible to escape the blast zone.

KWA-BOOM—!
The meteor slammed into the ground with a heavy crash, shaking the screen violently. Flames erupted, and Fever players dropped like flies.
Even the few who dodged it were left with such low HP they died to the DOT effects. Every second of the massacre was captured in my recording software.

Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!
Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!
Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!

Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!
Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!
Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!

The kill log exploded as the stagnant gauge rocketed up to 99%.
“Damn, that’s crazy strong.”
“Feels so satisfying.”

Drink Some Water and Haereun watched the Meteor drop with me, both giving their own reactions. Seeing forty characters wiped out in one blast was definitely a cathartic experience.
“Wait, is that… Danghani?”
Then one player stumbled up from the heap of corpses. Dressed in stark white from head to toe—it was Sangdanghan.

He must’ve barely survived using his Warlord dodge skill and defensive items, but his HP was hanging at around 10%. I approached him, holding the staff I got back from MelodyCode.
[All] I’m So Sleepy: Wow
[All] I’m So Sleepy: You actually dodged that?

Mimicking the exact words Sangdanghan had typed to me when he stole my staff, I watched his HP continue to drop from DOT damage. Refusing to be outdone, he shot back:
[All] Sangdanghan: You f**king psycho LOL
[All] I’m So Sleepy: Why are you mad, LOL

[All] I’m So Sleepy: It’s just a game
[All] I’m So Sleepy: You’re way too invested…
I intentionally cast the weakest skill I had. The gem on my staff glowed a pale blue.

[All] I’m So Sleepy: Ah
[All] I’m So Sleepy: Nice plan, by the way
[All] I’m So Sleepy: I used it well

With that, I fired the spell. Zap— it landed squarely, and Sangdanghan’s character was knocked backward and collapsed, dead.
Chojeonyeok Guild has earned 10 points!
Progress points have been maxed out!

The prelim match has ended!
You have defended the city from Fever Guild!
As soon as Sangdanghan died, the gauge filled completely, and the prelim match was officially over.

I got my staff back and got revenge. A perfect victory.
[MelodyCode: What the hell]
[MelodyCode: So it really was yours??]

[I’m So Sleepy: Yep]
[MelodyCode: F**k—wait a sec]
With the prelim match against Fever wrapped up, I finally had a proper chat with MelodyCode. When I explained that the staff had originally been mine, she responded in complete disbelief.

[MelodyCode: So, wait, you’re telling me]
[MelodyCode: You kept murdering me just for a damn staff?]
[I’m So Sleepy: Yep]

[MelodyCode: LOL]
[MelodyCode: That’s so f**ked up haha]
[I’m So Sleepy: LOL]

Honestly, I could understand where she was coming from. MelodyCode was just an unwilling victim caught in the middle of all this.
Still, it wasn’t like I owed her any guilt. The ones who crossed the line were Fever Guild members who killed me and stole my staff just because I turned down their guild invite.
And besides, MelodyCode didn’t even want the staff in the first place. I was just taking care of it for her—technically a win-win.

[I’m So Sleepy: You should’ve picked a better guild]
[MelodyCode: LOLLL]
[MelodyCode: You’re right but god you’re annoying..haha]

[MelodyCode: I mean honestly, your guild]
[MelodyCode: Isn’t exactly normal either, is it?]
[I’m So Sleepy: LOL]

[I’m So Sleepy: Yeah but at least]
[I’m So Sleepy: We don’t have any thirsty losers obsessed with girls]
[MelodyCode: Uh huh…]

[MelodyCode: That’s true but]
[MelodyCode: Still pisses me off, f**k LOL]
[I’m So Sleepy: What about you?]

[I’m So Sleepy: You staying in that guild?]
[MelodyCode: Nah]
[MelodyCode: I’m quitting the moment prelims are over]

[I’m So Sleepy: LOL]
[I’m So Sleepy: Smart choice]
Neither of us bothered to delete the friend request we’d already sent.

Thanks to MelodyCode, I got the staff back easily and even found out Fever’s plan. From the guild’s point of view, she was practically a benefactor.
[MelodyCode: Hey]
[MelodyCode: You ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ should probably be careful?]

[I’m So Sleepy: ?]
[MelodyCode: Based on what I’m seeing in guild chat]
[MelodyCode: Looks like they’re trying to start shit over the staff you took?]

[I’m So Sleepy: What kind of shit exactly?]
[MelodyCode: It’s just starting to come up now]
[MelodyCode: Not sure how it’s gonna go yet…]

[MelodyCode: But they asked how they lost the staff]
[MelodyCode: I said you kept killing me and it dropped]
[I’m So Sleepy: Yep]

[MelodyCode: So… I figure they might try to make a fuss about that?]
Ah. So now Fever knew I deliberately kept killing MelodyCode to get the staff back.
“Well, if that’s all it is, I’ve got nothing to worry about.”

It’s not like I did any of this without knowing how it’d play out.
Fever really does act exactly how I expected. It was honestly starting to get boring.
Smirking as I tapped my lips, I typed back without hesitation.

[I’m So Sleepy: Got it]
[I’m So Sleepy: But yeah, just let them cry about it LOL]