Chapter 30: Fail a Dive, Pay the Price

1.

Huff, huff…

Each breath released white clouds into the air.

The bone-chilling cold stung my ribs.

Steam rose from open wounds, and ice shards fell from the frozen gaps in my blood-crusted armor.

Ha… ha…

Teeth chattered from the cold.

He bit his blue lips, glaring at the figure ahead.

Amid countless soldiers, a lone Black Knight stood.

The snow around him was already stained crimson.

Hoo…

Numb fingers, creaking knees, shoulders heavy as iron weighed down his body.

The soldiers fighting alongside him were all dead.

Retreating now would mean heavy losses.

‘But you have to survive to fight another day.’

Exhaling sharply, he crouched low.

Boom—!

Kicking the snow, it exploded upward.

Snowflakes scattered, cloaking the air like white fog.

Sheathing his sword, he drew a battle axe from his waist and hurled it forward.

Whoosh—!

Its trajectory blurred in the blizzard.

‘Just a moment. This should hold them.’

Accuracy didn’t matter—it was a feint to stall the enemy.

Gritting his teeth, he squeezed out his remaining strength and ran.

Soon, a turret loomed in the distance.

“———!”

Words were inaudible, but soldiers frantically waved their arms, their gestures growing clearer.

‘What… are they trying to say?’

The knight adjusted his helmet, frowning. Their lips and gestures sharpened.

“…Behind?”

The moment he understood—

Boom—!

A deafening roar from behind. Reflexively turning, he felt something cold and thin graze his neck.

His vision flipped. His body collapsed, spinning in the air.

A falling head.

Before his consciousness faded, the last thing he saw was black flames swallowing his body.

—

2.

『First Blood』

The victory announcement echoed across the battlefield.

I smirked, having cleared the lane, and began recalling.

– Damn~~~~~~

– That was insane lol

– Nailed it right at max range lol

– Ult was sick

– So freaking cool.

Checking the chat while recalling, the reaction was solid.

Even I thought that fight was pretty good.

“It wasn’t like this with Elena-nim. The enemies suddenly got way better.”

I bought items while chatting with viewers. Spending all my gold, I headed back to the battlefield.

“Anyone know the enemy’s tier?”

– Checked a match history site, looks like Dia 1-2?

– For real? That’s almost Master level

– Considering it’s still provisional, that’s insane MMR,

– A few more wins, and you’ll get matched with Masters???

Reading the chat, it was indeed high-tier.

Makes sense—Platinum players would’ve died before I got my ult.

‘Tougher, but not impossible.’

I could still handle it.

Though, closer to Challenger, splitting focus with streaming might get tricky.

I reached the battlefield. The lane was pulling back since I’d pushed earlier.

In the distance, the white-armored enemy hero glared at me, eyes full of killing intent.

‘Betting on level 6 for a fight.’

Slicing their neck earlier forced them to save spells.

They’d hit level 6 soon, unlock their ult, and make a move.

‘Gotta preserve HP.’

The enemy hero, Cerion’s ult made them briefly invulnerable, then dealt AOE damage when it ended.

The lane was pulling back, and Cerion was slowly pushing.

Probably gathering siege minions and soldiers to kill me.

‘High chance they called their jungler.’

I checked the map. No sign of the jungler.

“Anyone know where the jungler was last seen?”

I asked my team via voice chat. Silent until now, they responded.

[Last seen mid, heading top.]

[Confirmed.]

“Thanks.”

– lol

– Look at them react to a girl’s voice lol

– Unbelievable, ffs lol

– Simps going wild, huh???

“It’s a tower dive.”

A dive to kill an enemy near their turret.

Tough due to turret damage, but successful dives yield big rewards.

Cerion’s ult, with its invulnerability, was perfect for diving.

Everything pointed to me as the target.

‘If I know their plan and don’t counter, I’m an idiot.’

Time to move. They might interfere, but the jungler wasn’t visible.

Now was my chance.

「Shadow Slash」

Weaving through allied minions, I swung my greatsword horizontally, sweeping through enemy soldiers.

「Oath of the Strike」

Using my second skill, soldiers with swords and shields collapsed.

“You bastard!”

As Cerion thrust their sword at me, I activated my skill.

「Dark Leap」

Their blade sliced through air.

My body, cloaked in darkness, slipped behind the minions.

‘Just clear the lane.’

A dive required minions to tank turret shots.

Top and jungler could force it, but only if my HP was low.

My HP was near full, and all spells were up. Clear the lane, and they wouldn’t dare try.

“What now? Lane’s almost gone.”

I stepped forward, killed minions, and retreated as skill cooldowns reset.

– Nothing they can do

– Could raw dive, I guess

– Doubt they’d be that stupid?

– If top and jungle are duo, they might force it ㅇㅇ

The last archer minion approached the turret. As our siege cannon aimed—

Boom—!

A roar from behind.

I ducked low without looking, chills running down my spine from the piercing sound.

Crash!

A massive spear smashed the wall beside me, scattering debris and ringing with a dull metallic clang.

‘A split-second slower, and I’d be hit.’

Looking up, Cerion charged at me.

Our cannon, having taken out the archer, swiveled. A shot exploded against Cerion’s armor.

Boom—!

Cerion emerged through black smoke, sword raised skyward.

「Dark Leap」

Too late to dodge on foot, I used my skill, cloaking myself in darkness and slipping behind the turret.

Boom!

As the second cannon shot fired, a white glow erupted from Cerion.

‘Their ult!’

「Shadow Slash」

I stood still, sword in hand, blade darkening.
As Cerion charged straight at me, I swung.

Clang—!

Blocked by their protective shield, Shadow Slash dealt no damage. That wasn’t the goal.

Thud!

The impact pushed Cerion back, rolling across the ground.

‘Knockback was the plan.’

Cerion scrambled up, but melted snow made the ground slick.

Boom!

Another explosion sent them tumbling again.

‘They’re out of the fight.’

Turning, I saw a man with a giant spear glaring at me.

He transformed into a tiger and vanished into the jungle.

‘Gone.’

Their top laner was half-dead. No way they’d keep diving.

– Wow, she countered that lol

– That was close

– High-skill players know how to use blind spots

– How’d she dodge that?

– Insane reaction lol

Glancing at the chat, I kicked off the ground.

Far off, a battered Cerion limped through the snow, black soot making them stand out.

They escaped far. Gotta give them props for that.

‘Not sure if I can reach.’

Worth a shot.

【Flash】

I used my spell. My vision blinked, and Cerion’s back drew closer.

「Judgment Strike」

Certain I could hit, I unleashed my ult.

Power surged through me as I leaped, my blade wreathed in black flames.

Boom—!

A gust erupted.

Cerion turned late, our eyes meeting.

“Wha—”

Slash!

The blade sliced their neck the moment they saw me.

I sheathed my sword upon landing.

Their body collapsed, head falling, blood spraying, staining the snow red.

“Cut.”

Fail a dive, pay the price. Right?