Outmaneuvering the Shield
Atakin's strategy was simple.
Analysis showed no chance of beating the mechanical monster Lee Siwoo in a one-on-one, so have the defender—who had plenty of defensive tools—stick tight to him. Then they'd win.
The enemy was a one-man show carried by Siwoo, after all.
That was Atakin's calculation, their judgment.
Even Kim Woo-hyuk and Park Jin-woo, who were neck-and-neck with them for first place, couldn't handle this attacker. It was Siwoo.
With the defender marking him directly, there'd be no needless one-on-one risks, and Siwoo would be tied down long enough. In the meantime, Atakin's main attacker duo would punch through Saseong and end it.
Not dueling Siwoo one-on-one might bruise their pride, but they were trainees with pro contracts on the line. They knew how to shove aside petty feelings.
Damn...
And the plan worked perfectly. Siwoo couldn't hide his surprise as he poked his head out. Anyone would, with a shield-wielding defender boosting straight at them.
What do I do?
Cutting the smoke supporter to claim the high ground had been great, but facing a defender one-on-one threw a wrench in things.
The front was blocked by the defender. Cutting their supporter meant little right now. The Force Pack and main objective weren't active yet.
Push through? Or evade?
In that split second.
A storm of thoughts clashed in Siwoo's mind. Evade and he'd be playing with sandbags tied to his legs. Push through and he'd burn time.
I don't know. Evade for now.
Siwoo's choice: evade.
No room to get tied down in a defender duel.
Shwick—!
The grapple hook shot from Siwoo's wrist and embedded in the wall of a ruined building. It yanked taut, pulling his body along.
But Atakin's defender, Lee Hyuk-gyu, wasn't about to let him slip away. He fired his boosters and chased.
Shwick—!
At that moment, Siwoo reeled in the hook. Mid-air, he spun his body. Scoped in. Through the lens, the shield defender loomed.
Crackle—!
Siwoo's body glowed blue.
The telltale sign before a Force Enhancement shot.
"……!!"
Lee Hyuk-gyu flinched and raised his shield. Normally he'd ignore and charge, but Siwoo's 'Hook Shot' accuracy was 100%. No room for carelessness!
Bam!!
The bullet slammed into the shield. A smile tugged at Lee Hyuk-gyu's lips. Good call raising it. Without it, half his health would've evaporated, ruining the plan.
Tch.
Siwoo clicked his tongue inwardly. That shot should've been tough to react to, but Atakin's defender hadn't slacked for a second. Like he'd seen it coming from the start.
But.
Taking a Force Enhancement shot straight on had chewed through the shield's durability.
A defender's shield wasn't invincible.
Durability slowly recharged when deactivated, and drained slowly when active, blocking attacks.
That's why shield play was key for defenders. They had to protect the team and draw all eyes up front.
This isn't good.
And Lee Hyuk-gyu knew it best. He'd mained defender for years.
Stick close before the shield breaks.
Lee Hyuk-gyu checked his booster fuel. About 20% left. If the opponent just ran, catching him would be tough.
Not much left. But I've closed the gap too.
But Siwoo couldn't just run forever. Only he could see booster levels. He'd make a call around now.
Keep evading for an opening.
Or turn and fight through.
Shwickkk—!
Siwoo landed on the ruined building's roof, scraping it, then spun and scoped in.
Clack—!
Siwoo racked the bolt, ejecting the casing, dropped to one knee, and shouldered the rifle. No chance of a miss. Perfect aim.
Siwoo pulled the trigger.
Bang—!
In that instant, Lee Hyuk-gyu thrust up his shield.
Ting!
The shield deflected the bullet. Lee Hyuk-gyu lowered it and boosted forward. Distance closing.
But...
Wait!
No impact sound. No embed. That meant no Force Enhancement.
No way...!!
Lee Hyuk-gyu glanced at Siwoo.
He was racking the bolt again, re-aiming.
Fake out with a normal shot to bait the approach, then unleash Force Enhancement.
No overload from a normal shot meant faster reload. Tighter timing!
Damn...!
Boosting in, Lee Hyuk-gyu desperately raised his shield.
Bang—! Bam!!
Luckily, he read the tell in time and blocked. But with durability so low, one more chance left.
Before that!
Shwickkk!
Lee Hyuk-gyu burned his last booster to land on the roof. No time to regroup. Shield up, he charged.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—!
Flames spat from the SMG in his off-hand. Bullets ricocheted off the floor in sparks.
Damn.
Crackle!
Siwoo, Force-enhanced, dashed diagonally. Bullets whizzed past by a hair.
Not good.
Can't aim to push through. Evade? No, time's tight. Force Pack and main objective activating soon.
"Guys, I'm tied up here? Better avoid early fights!"
Siwoo mashed his in-ear and briefed.
"Got it!"
"We're good, you focus there!"
Good—friends had breathing room. Makes sense; Atakin lacked a supporter and defender now.
Then...
Focus here.
Hiss!
Siwoo, who'd been diagonal-dodging bullets, slammed to a halt. Spun smoothly, wrist aimed at Lee Hyuk-gyu.
Shwick—!
Grapple hook fired. Lee Hyuk-gyu reflexively shielded. Clank! It stuck.
"……?"
Lee Hyuk-gyu blinked. What? Not running or aiming—instead hooking the shield? Bizarre call.
Shwick—!
Siwoo yanked the hook, rocketing toward Lee Hyuk-gyu. He aimed his SMG. But too fast.
"……!!"
Siwoo closing in. Lee Hyuk-gyu still couldn't read him. But one thing to do: pull the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—!
Siwoo's health chipped away. He dodged some, but the fixed trajectory made full evasion impossible.
And in that moment.
Siwoo dropped low, released the hook. Aimed through the wide gap between Lee Hyuk-gyu's legs. Slid right through.
Shwickkk!
"……!"
Lee Hyuk-gyu looked down.
Siwoo glowed blue all over.
Force Enhancement shot.
As their bodies crossed, Siwoo shouldered his sniper rifle. Finger squeezed the trigger.
Bang—!
The up-angle bullet pierced Lee Hyuk-gyu. A Force Enhancement one at that. Lethal. Half his health gone!
"Insane...!"
Lee Hyuk-gyu paled in shock.
Can't burn Force recklessly to pierce the shield.
So why pierce at all? Force a gap instead.
That was Siwoo's read.
Damn it!
And it hit perfectly.
Lee Hyuk-gyu spun, SMG aimed. No time for shield. Siwoo most vulnerable now!
"……!!"
But what he saw: Siwoo, already aimed. Body glowing blue.
Planned this from the start!
Chills ran up Lee Hyuk-gyu's spine. Siwoo had baited panic with the surprise hit, chaining into the next.
And Lee Hyuk-gyu saw it.
The faint smirk on Siwoo's lips.
Bang—!
His head exploded, health bar zeroed.
Siwoo chuckled lightly, racking the bolt.
Clack.
The spent casing bounced off the roof.
Done.
Siwoo exhaled in relief. That wasn't easy. Heart still pounding, fingertips tingling like they were shaking.
But it worked.
Thrilling.
This is why he sniped.
"Defender down. How's it looking?"
Calming his chest, Siwoo asked.
"……Not great. Sorry."
But the situation wasn't good.
Lost both skirmishes over Force Pack and main objective.
"Sorry, Siwoo."
"Main squad lost..."
"Ugh, shouldn't have gone like this..."
Friends apologized in defeated tones.
Without Siwoo, they never stood a chance against Atakin's main squad—even sans defender. Siwoo's presence dwarfed theirs team-wise.
"It's fine. Reset from the start."
Siwoo didn't mind. Main squad losing was expected. Atakin's attacker duo were beasts; he knew that.
"Go slow from now. Support incoming right away."
Down both objectives—dire straits—but too early to quit.