Forward Sniper Gambit
Before the game begins, a blue barrier blocks the way forward. Siwoo takes a deep breath and slips into meditation.
'Deathmatch is pure chaos—a format where snipers struggle to shine. But with the battlefield set in Mekatera City, opportunities should abound.'
Deathmatch boils down to who racks up kills first. In a team game like Overlant, numerical superiority is no joke.
Of course, that doesn't mean the outnumbered side is doomed. Individual skill can turn the tide, flipping the script in dramatic fashion.
But overall, their team's prowess falls short here.
They'd dominated the first set, sure—but the opponents were pro academy trainees from a league club.
'So how should we play this?'
After prolonged meditation, Siwoo arrives at his answer.
'No choice but to go Forward Sniper.'
Deathmatch demands frenzy, but pushing a sniper upfront is suicidal—it throws away the position advantage entirely.
Yet high risk means high reward.
A Forward Sniper dominating the vanguard would shatter Rising's morale and deliver massive game advantages.
Saseong's standard Deathmatch setup was 1-4: one assassin attacker grabbing objectives while the main squad holds the central Force Pack. But a slight tweak wouldn't hurt. His friends always built their strategy around him anyway.
Plus, the enemy picked a smoke supporter. They'd blanket every sniper perch from the jump.
The counter? Forward Sniper, no question.
"Guys, let's try Forward Sniper this round."
Siwoo speaks up.
"You sure? Their assassin attacker and rush comp look brutal."
Han Jiyeon sounds worried.
The foes were stacked for close-quarters brawls: rush defender and melee attacker. One slip in the Forward Sniper push, and the game was toast.
"It's fine. Trust me."
Siwoo is confident. He'd already clocked that Rising couldn't handle him.
"Okay, Forward Sniper? Hell yeah. Let's roll with it."
"BigSIU's gonna nail it, right?"
"Siwoo's always proven it with results."
Park Jongsu and the rest—Kim Jeongin, Lee Jinseong—don't object. They'd seen Siwoo up close, trusted him implicitly.
The higher the skill ceiling, the clearer your foes' limits become. Universal truth.
Amateur high schoolers or not, Park Jongsu was top-tier Grandmaster, while Kim Jeongin and Lee Jinseong held high Master.
They knew Siwoo's caliber—and how he outclassed Rising's trainees by miles.
"Alright, let's do it."
Han Jiyeon hesitates briefly, then nods. Siwoo flashes a small smile and dips his head.
Deathmatch! Eliminate your opponents!
The battle kicks off.
"Let's go! Jinseong, grab that objective and yell if a fight pops."
"Got it."
"Jongsu, don't overcommit. Focus on holding our team."
"Roger."
"Jeongin, keep shields on me and Jongsu. Ignore mine."
"Okay!"
They split into 1-4 formation.
Lee Jinseong peels to the flank for team-buff objectives.
The main squad—including Siwoo—advances down the central lane for a frontal clash.
And then, something drops from the sky.
Shwaaa—!
'Right on cue.'
Siwoo nods. Smoke grenades, blanketing every prime sniper spot. Exactly as predicted.
Sniper influence halved. Position selection is a sniper's lifeblood.
But...
"Whoa, they're all flanking!"
Lee Jinseong shouts urgently.
Rising had swung wide to cut off the solo objective hunter.
Rising's unforeseen gambit. Lee Jinseong, isolated on the flank, gets picked off.
Lee Jinseong apologizes.
"Sorry, should've backed off the second I bumped 'em."
"Nah, who could've seen that coming?"
Flanking for objectives happens, but pros rarely favor it. Sure, those buffs regen health/force or amp attacks—but breaching entrenched foes is a grind.
Hence 1-3-1 or 1-4 splits. Attacking beats defending, everyone knows.
Saseong misses minor objectives but secures the central Force Pack zone.
'What's their angle?'
Siwoo can't read Rising. Even with their attacker down, rushing back after objectives leaves them outnumbered anyway.
Half the plan worked: Jinseong gone, Forward Sniper neutered. Did they predict it?
'No clue.'
No time to puzzle it out.
"They're coming!"
"Just snagged Red Buff and charging!"
They skipped flank objectives, cherry-picked short-fight buffs, and stormed the center.
Bad news.
Saseong down to four post-Jinseong. Rising five-strong, Red Buffed, ambushing hard.
Worse: Siwoo, who should hang back, is forward for the push.
'...This is a nightmare.'
Minus Siwoo, they couldn't match Rising's skill. Pro academy material, after all—first set aside.
Park Jongsu's elite Grandmaster, sure—but tiers aren't everything. He'd fold against Kim Do-hyun.
Bam—!
Defenders clash. Kim Do-hyun's hammer meets Park Jongsu's shield. It doesn't last.
Scraaaape—!
Kim Do-hyun activates Force Enhancement.
His body gleams blue.
Body enhancement.
Consume Force for instant strength/agility boost. Overlant basics, alongside acceleration.
Before Park Jongsu counters, his shield flies back.
"They're in!"
Daggers and gauntlets slip through: assassin attacker, melee attacker. Force-boosted speed.
Target: Siwoo, only.
"Don't let 'em touch Siwoo!"
Park Jongsu activates late, yells. Kim Jeongin—shield supp extraordinaire—steps up.
Clang—!
Shield blocks the gauntlet. Assassin remains.
"Blocked one!"
"Siwoo!"
Han Jiyeon cries out. Her scope snaps to him. Save him at all costs—lose Siwoo, lose the game!
But against her fears—
Whoosh—!
"...!!"
Siwoo's torso bends fluidly, dagger glancing past. Blade whispers by, paper-thin margin.
The assassin's move whiffs.
'What...?!'
Rising's assassin, Lee Sung-pil, eyes bulge. One hit needed—missed!
That acceleration? Un-dodgeable. Gale Slash, assassin trait—300% swing speed boost.
Plus Force Enhancement.
How fast? Unmeasurable, but certain: inhuman reaction required.
'Insane reflexes!'
Lee Sung-pil chains in shock. Blade arcs, traces light.
Whoosh—!
Curving edge scatters afterimages. Follow-up. But it slices air. Siwoo backsteps out of range.
Click.
Sniper scope locks on. Siwoo's trigger finger twitches.
"What the—?!"
In that instant, Lee Sung-pil wonders: How to dodge that shot?
Nothing. Post-Gale overcommit, backswing locked.
Bang—!
-100% HP
Lee Sung-pil's head snaps back, health bar empties. Too fast for Force or shield cover.
Recoil pushes Siwoo back; he flips airborne, lands clean.
The barrel spits fire relentlessly.
Freshly rejoined Lee Jinseong unloads too. Dam broken, Saseong's counterflood roars.
Ambush flops spectacularly.
Siwoo's focused barrage crushes Rising; even the deep melee attacker drops like Lee Sung-pil.
Kim Do-hyun, late to grasp it, bites his lip.
'...Knew he was a monster, but this level?'
They'd committed to sniping the sniper: minimal objectives, dive with two attackers.
That plan? Fizzled.
One sniper, Lee Siwoo, with impossible movement.
'He's beyond academy level. Pro starter material.'
Had to admit it now.
Lee Siwoo.
Bang—!