NOVEL WEB Before the shock of the opening match could settle.
A storm of change swept through IKL.
It was somewhat expected.
ACL actively worked on strengthening their roster, and this season they confidently became a team to watch.
The growth of ace players has been ongoing, and the increase in weight classes through roster changes as well.
I thought they would do well, but the results exceeded expectations.
The momentum continued unbroken today.
The flash of the sword slash split the world horizontally.
The wind was cut long and faded, and even the sound was sliced, leaving silence in its wake.
In an instant, the battlefield quieted. The man, who had been burning with fighting spirit, suddenly stopped.
The divided world became a line.
The moment the line touched the man’s body, it was stained red.
His strong physique collapsed, driving a nail into the match.
“Donghae’s swordsmanship! The cool strike slices through the fighter!”
“Isn’t that cool strike of his a swordmaster’s dream? Igor’s final blow took out the last druid. As the axe came crashing down—GG!”
“ACL defeats Wild Spirits and claims their third victory!”
“This team has shown significant performance in this league… ACL is indeed strong right now.”
The league is undergoing a revolution.
Recently, the standout teams have undoubtedly been ACL and Galaxy Gaming.
Each has firmly established their position with powerful brawling and precise teamwork.
As of now, the consensus in IKL is three strong, three mid-tier, and four weak teams.
But there were still unresolved suspicions.
Recently, Galaxy Gaming rose to the ranks of strong teams by defeating Q Prime.
ACL also gained recognition with overwhelming victories against mid-tier teams.
But is it really right for these two to stand on par with Sigma?
Experts and fans think Sigma holds a strategic advantage.
However, they didn’t expect an overwhelming gap like in the early league.
It could be due to Sigma facing weak teams in a row, but it’s also true that the performances of both teams were unexpectedly good.
In esports, the underdog can rise up at any moment.
In the hearts of fans, there’s a sense of “what if” or “could it be.”
“Our commentary team will take our leave here, and we’ll see you again at the same time tomorrow.”
“Let’s wrap up today’s match with the upcoming analysis desk and player interviews.”
“This has been caster Ho-eun, and analysts Hwang Yul and Haehwa.”
As the commentary team finished their greetings, the analysis desk reviewed the replays.
I examined the replay.
The swift transitions between offense and defense unique to Swordsmen were clearly displayed in this high-kill match.
While most of the key moments of the game have passed, there’s still one favorite scene left for the fans.
Soon, a beautiful announcer appeared on screen.
“Today’s winner interview features a player showcasing the true prowess of a recent Blade Swordsman, right? We have Donghae from ACL with us. Hello, Donghae!”
“Hello.”
“Today’s match was really intense. Where do you think the turning point was? We’d love to hear your thoughts.”
“Well, um. Our team is strong in chaotic situations, and it seems the scenario we like came out well. Also, Swordsmen hit really high peaks…”
Of course, the first interview revolved around the content related to the match.
Details that only a player who participated could know emerged.
Donghae is well-known for having a special affection for Swordsmen, which made the interview particularly nutritious.
“Thank you for the great answer. We can’t skip this question either! ACL’s next match. Many people are looking forward to it; you’ll be facing Sigma e-Sports.”
With Q Prime having plummeted to the ‘mid-tier,’ a first match has been established between teams classified as ‘strong teams’ in the current summer league.
A fight that carries the meaning of proving themselves on either side.
Sigma wants to reign at the top, while ACL wants to topple the solid fortress and write their own name.
Whatever the result may be, it will hold significant meaning in this summer league.
Moreover, matches between strong teams have a massive impact on league rankings.
In the long run, it was the first step leading to the competition for the World Championship qualifiers.
“Given that Sigma is evaluated as having the best current strength, it seems you’re well prepared. I’m curious about which aspects you’ll focus on in your preparation.”
“They’re not an easy opponent, but… I don’t think they’re unbeatable. We’ll probably prepare to maximize our strengths as much as possible.”
“Thank you. Finally, do you have anything else you’d like to say?”
“Gawol, you’ll need to bring out a Swordsman in front of me at least once.”
“Yes, I really like that bold attitude. This was an interview with Donghae from ACL!”
*
[Author: ㅇㅇ(961.94)]
[Title: So what’s the current strength of ACL?]
Do they stand a chance against Sigma?
I see quite a few people seriously thinking ACL can win.
Igor and Roger are at that level?
Or is it because Donghae is getting better?
Honestly, I have no idea;
[Comments]
– Don’t think about the last season, that’s a total mess.
– The mercenaries that came in match really well with Donghae.
– I found the last puzzle piece.
└ For real, it feels like that.
[Author: ㅇㅇ(741.121)]
[Title: Honestly, Gawol is still overreacting.]
I didn’t like how they were making such a fuss during the opening match.
Q-Prime was a prestigious team when the Traveler was around.
Now, they’re just playing around in the mid-tier.
How long are they going to keep sucking up to that event tournament win?
Well, okay, I admit 1v1 is something.
Kelberos won too, and if Hero has also won, that’s fair.
But Inbl is a team game, right?
What on earth have they proven to be shouting about?
Do you honestly think just because they got that girl, Sigma will win the World Championship?
Get a grip.
You guys just got eliminated early from the Round of 16 not long ago.
You’re not world-class.
[Comments]
– So is ACL world-class?
└ More credible than those coming from streaming communities.
……
– So was Holy an unreliable career? Haha.
– Has this guy ever been hit by Gawol?
└ That actually feels possible;
└ Ah!
[Author: 흰스사이파란줄무늬]
[Title: Summer League Gawol Hehe Collection.list]
(Attached photo: Gawol, emphasized butt photo1)
(Attached photo: Gawol, emphasized chest photo1)
……
(Attached photo: Gawol……)
Sick of fighting over stupid things, just watch something sexy.
[Comments]
– Thanks.
– She’s the woman who will be my mother.
[Author: 검스는20데니아]
[Title: Reasons why Sigma will win tomorrow’s game]
[Recommendation count: 148]
(Attached photo: Han Da-eun’s armpit)
This Gawol fox-ting is debuffing before the match starts.
Once hit by this debuff, it’s hard for guys to move.
When a male clone stands up, he has to bow down like an animal.
With the male-dominant ACL, it’s hard to beat Sigma..
[Comments]
– Play a fair match, you bitch.
Even if the sky splits in two, time will flow as it flows.
The time fans have been looking forward to has finally arrived.
“Finally, the day has come. This match is expected to be the most fiercely contested of the week, right?”
“Sigma e-Sports vs. ACL. It’s a battle between teams currently on a three-game winning streak!”
“Today, someone’s winning streak will definitely be broken.”
“By now, Galaxy Gaming might be smiling. If strong teams fight early, it helps them maintain their rankings and they can even peek at hidden cards.”
The waiting players appeared on screen.
Although not officially acknowledged, the pro gamers with shining appearances often catch the camera’s eye.
This tendency becomes more pronounced the better the skills and the higher the popularity.
Sigma, with Luce and Gawol together, could be considered a regular feature for camera operators.
Gawol waved her hand in her signature playful gesture to greet the viewers.
“Earlier, the analysis desk predicted a 6:4 outcome, right?”
“Yes. However, ACL might feel wronged too. There could be comments like, ‘We’re fighting really well this season. Why are we being underestimated?’”
“It seems like Igor must have sharpened his blade, as he met Luce during the arena and got knocked out in the second qualifier. It’s a chance for revenge.”
“Alright, the time for the two teams to clash is approaching. We’re revealing the battlefield and the rules.”
The viewers’ screens displayed the worn-out ruins.
Though crumbled in places, the thick stone walls formed a large circle around the area.
With unkempt buildings and relatively flat terrain, the battlefield felt a bit cramped for 10 players to run wild.
The rules state it’s a 5-person deathmatch.
However, the target kill count is merely set at 10 kills.
“This is a pretty rare combination.”
“It seems like an environment that ACL would welcome. It’s narrow and flat but has lots of obstacles. Plus, deathmatches tend to induce chaotic fights.”
“But Sigma has something to say too. The maximum kills for a deathmatch is quite low. Life is extremely valuable in this match. It looks like Gawol, with her high kill potential, will have a chance to shine.”