[Combat] Used Demon’s Blessing. Magic attack power increased by 2,500 for 10 seconds.
[Combat] Used Hagenti’s Curse. Casting speed increased by 50% for 15 seconds.
Just because the damage wasn’t high didn’t mean it wasn’t landing at all. By cycling through every available self-buff and launching a relentless assault, the opponent’s health began to steadily dwindle.
Whether they were flustered or simply lacked a proper defensive skill, RedOrangeYellowGreenBlue was struggling and taking every hit head-on. Meanwhile, this side had a much better sense of impact with each strike.
Killer: Heading over there now.
Once the enemy’s HP dropped below 30%, NodeMaster’s name started appearing in the combat log. Looked like they had come to rescue their ally.
“They’ll use Companion’s Salvation, right?”
Killer: I’ll be ready.
“If they use it, we strike immediately!”
Companion’s Salvation was a skill that swapped positions between a designated party member and their guardian while granting 3 seconds of invincibility.
The current map was perfect for hiding. If they used the skill, RedOrangeYellowGreenBlue would end up switching places and their movement skill would be off cooldown, meaning they’d bolt immediately. They’d likely retreat, heal up somewhere, and return.
In PVP, even the smallest mistake could flip the tide of battle in an instant. A single misstep and you’d be dead before you even realized it. Having pushed them this far, there was no way Sa-yoon was going to let this slip.
He focused intently on every little movement his opponent made.
“…Why aren’t they using it?”
But the skill never came.
NodeMaster rushing over mid-fight with Killer was a clear sign they were aware of the skill’s range. They were trying to swap places with an ally within 20 meters.
Killer: Looks like they didn’t bring the skill.
Ah, so it was that. One of those moments where you think you slotted a skill, but turns out, you didn’t.
It was a common mistake. Even Sa-yoon had instinctively pressed a skill he had removed in the previous match, messing up his combo.
But someone who played with such calculated tactics making an error as basic as forgetting a core skill?
Even as doubt crossed his mind, Sa-yoon’s fingers continued pressing the keyboard with precision.
The rhythmic clicks of his mechanical keyboard filled the air as Chasa unleashed a series of colorful attacks. The skills landed cleanly, carving away at the opponent’s health.
“Less than 5% HP left.”
It was down to a final hit. As Sa-yoon activated a shield and started casting, the enemy raised their own shield in response.
[Combat] ‘RedOrangeYellowGreenBlue’ has used Indomitable Mirror.
Seeing the magic reflection skill, Sa-yoon instantly canceled his cast. Instead, he rushed straight at his opponent.
Chasa fearlessly charged in, and the flustered fake-rainbow swung their lance at him.
A Warlock had only one melee skill—one physical attack.
[Combat] Used Invasion. Deals 5,423 damage to the enemy.
[‘RedOrangeYellowGreenBlue’ has been defeated.]
[Gained 300 points.]
[Victory!]
[Gained 23 battlefield points. Ranking has increased.]
Two hours until the battlefield closed.
The ranks had shifted—first and second place had swapped.
***
[Warlock] 1st place shifted
(Cygnus_1st_place_real-time.jpg)
“Guys, our server’s ranking just changed.”
“Snapped a screenshot the moment I saw it.”
“WARLOCK IN FIRST PLACE!!!!”
“Only 2 hours left!”
(Comments: 73)
Holy sh*t, no way.
No way.
Finally… TTTTTTT
Warlock boom incoming.
Wait, is the score difference between 1st and 2nd place just 1 point? Damn.
This is gonna be a bloodbath until the end.
L I was watching here and there, and the rankings flipped when there was still a 20-point gap. Looks like the top two fought it out.
L Yeah, and now Chasa seems to be grinding nonstop to widen the lead? I keep seeing them in the waiting room.
L If Chasa wins 1st place, I hope they share their character customization settings.
L Nah, keep dreaming.
L Like that’s gonna happen.
L Why are there so many fashion nerds playing Warlock? Every time a new outfit drops, it’s the first thing on the Warlock forums, lmao.
L Honestly, half the Warlock players probably joined because the attack animations and weapons look cool.
L No lies detected. Some of them are basically running a fashion collector side hustle.
I saw so many comments on the Warlock forum, thought some drama went down, rushed in—turns out it’s just Warlock hype.
L For real, never seen this many comments here before.
L Tbh, I don’t even play Warlock, but this forum is the most fun out of all the class boards lately, so I stuck around.
L Yeah, the discussion here is the most active these days.
L Might as well roll a Warlock now.
L You got a personal grudge against me or what?
L Wow, that’s harsh. TT
Honestly, how many days has it been? Is this even what the Warlock board is for? I’m so sick of this.
L If you don’t like it, just don’t click.
L Lmao, coming all the way in just to complain.
L Professional whiner detected.
L I’m not tired of it at all, it’s thrilling every time I see an update.
L Screw this, I’m out.
L Lol see ya~~
***
[Warlock] Status update: Still holding 1st place.
Score gap increased.
Now a 13-point lead.
Is this really happening? Are they actually gonna take 1st place?
(Comments: 23)
What the hell is going on? The whole first page is off-topic. Thought I clicked the wrong board.
L Lmao, bro, why are you back after so long…
L Warlock hit #1 in the faction rankings.
L No way.
L Here, check this (link).
L ??????????????????
L LOOOOOL, this was exactly our reaction a few days ago.
L Yo, you guys should’ve shouted this from the rooftops! You were just enjoying this hype all to yourselves??
L My bad, I slacked off.
8 minutes left, still holding 1st place.
***
[Warlock] Fashion alert: Already hyped for the new outfit animations for Warlock
Yeah, this is definitely jumping the gun, but whatever.
Honestly, out of all the top players, not a single one is gonna upload their full character design on the image board.
Especially for Warlock animations—no one ever posts proper clips.
(Comments: 11)
Because they weren’t Warlocks to begin with.
Bartender, one big bowl of delusion soup, please.
L I already drank a whole bucket after reading this.
Praying for their 1st place victory.
As of today, I officially withdraw my mere support for Chasa. From now on, we are one. Any attack on Chasa is an attack on me.
L Breathe, dude, breathe.
L All the fashion nerds are holding a meetup here, huh?
***
[Warlock] 1st place live ranking update
(Cygnus_1st_place_real-time.jpg)
10 minutes left!!!!
No rank changes.
(Comments: 332)
Dkg dkg (heartbeat sound, getting nervous).
Dkg dkg.
Is everyone parked before the meetup?
L If you’re in the top 50, your spot is safe.
5 minutes left.
Must be nerve-wracking as hell.
Wait, is that score real? 99,000 points???
L That’s what I’m saying!
L Damn, they must’ve been grinding like crazy. Whew.
Send Cha Sa-yoon to the national assembly.
4 minutes left.
The score gap is closing—it’s now a 6-point difference.
(Image attached)
??? Did 2nd place just gain 8 points in the last 6 minutes?
L Yeah, they suddenly kicked into high gear.
3 minutes left.
Wait?
Hold on.
Yo, the rankings just flipped.
30 seconds left.
It’s a 1-point difference.
What the hell is this?
Holy sh*t….
Ah….
Yo, but isn’t this kinda weird? How do you gain 15 points in just 5 minutes? That’s five consecutive wins. Unless the enemies walked in naked and just died on purpose, this shouldn’t be possible.
***
[1st Place: NodeMaster – RedOrangeYellowGreenBlue – 99,714 points]
[2nd Place: Chasa – Killer – 99,713 points]
…What just happened?
Sa-yoon rubbed his dry eyes and looked at the monitor again. The numbers hadn’t changed. He hadn’t misread them.
Killer: Hyung.
“Wait a second.”
Just three minutes ago, he was still in first place.
After reclaiming the top spot, Sa-yoon had been keeping an eye on the rankings. NodeMaster’s team seemed shaken by their previous loss, as their score hadn’t changed for about ten minutes. After that, they had only gained three points here and there.
Even three minutes before the deadline, when he checked for the last time, he was still in the lead. The score gap was small, but considering matchmaking and battle durations, there was no way the rankings could flip in such a short time.
And yet, after finishing his final match, as the battlefield closed and the rankings were finalized, he saw it—second place.
“…Second place.”
A vision of his custom outfit reward slipping away flashed before his eyes. If only he hadn’t run into that one opponent who dragged the match out unnecessarily… If only he hadn’t slacked off at the start… No, he should have just gone all out from the very beginning…
Pointless regrets flooded his mind, and he let out a hollow breath. What was the point of all that effort now? A wave of crushing reality set in.
How long had he been awake? They say everything depends on your mindset, but as soon as he recognized his exhaustion, his stiff neck and aching body joined forces with the overwhelming sense of defeat.
Killer: Hyung, something’s off with them.
Killer’s voice echoed as if coming from underwater. The shock of losing first place numbed his focus, making the words barely register.
Killer: If you calculate how they gained points just now—
“Killer.”
His voice, thick with exhaustion, came out in a hoarse rasp.
“I’m too tired. I’m gonna rest now.”
Killer: ……
“You did great. Kept grinding because of me. I need to sleep for a bit.”
Even to himself, his voice sounded pitifully weak.
Killer: Yeah, you did well, hyung.
“Yeah… you too.”
Guild chat was buzzing with messages, but Sa-yoon didn’t bother checking. He simply logged out.
Stumbling toward his bed, he collapsed onto it. Weeks of accumulated exhaustion weighed down on him like a crushing force.
Mii-ong.
Sesame, who had been sprawled comfortably in the center of the bed, was now nudged aside. Unbothered, the cat pawed at him, demanding attention. As expected of a true feline, completely indifferent to its owner’s fatigue.
“You’re not even a black-hearted beast, so why don’t you know gratitude…?”
Mii-ong.
The cat, not understanding human complaints, continued to insist. Too drained to resist, the lifeless owner absentmindedly petted the soft fur until he drifted off to sleep—without even turning off the lights.
It wasn’t until Sesame, realizing that no amount of scratching would bring back the comforting strokes, settled down and pressed against him that a faint glow illuminated the dark room.
His phone, casually tossed to the side of the bed, lit up.
[Killer]: Hyung.
[Killer]: Something’s weird about them.
[Killer]: [Link]
But with no one there to check, the screen dimmed and faded into darkness once more.
