—"I will repeat myself. A mont ago, Resistance faction mber Taehyun Yoo arrived at the arena."
Duke Nikunbel’s voice rang out. It seed Taehyun, who had been unconscious, had returned. The Dungeon Master of Balak—the most dangerous player in the Faction War. Still, his return changed nothing.
[Flag Area A: Occupied (Blood Lion)]
[Flag Area B: Unoccupied]
[Flag Area C: Occupied (Resistance)]
[Flag Area D: Occupied (Resistance)]
[Flag Area E: Occupied (Blood Lion)]
[Flag Area F: Occupied (Blood Lion)]
They had lost Area C but had already taken Area F. If they simply held their ground for the remaining ti, victory was assured.
’Taehyun Yoo. He was certainly the one I was most wary of, but in a situation like this, swapping one mber won’t be enough to turn the tables.’
The Blood Lions held four areas; the Resistance had a re two. A coback was impossible, even with a miracle. Kanghyuk tucked the map into his tunic and rose to his feet.
"What’s the status in the other areas?"
"Two mbers are defending each, but there’s no need to worry," said faction mber Sehan Cha. "If they try to take one of our areas, either C or D will be left open. We can just retake it."
He was right. To capture an occupied area, they had to commit forces, which naturally weakened the defenses of their existing territories. The Blood Lions could simply swoop in and seize the opportunity.
"I see. Even if they target two spots at once, their own two areas will be vulnerable. Nothing to worry about."
"Exactly. Besides, we’ve already identified most of the shortcuts and passages. Even if a battle breaks out, we won’t lose."
The Blood Lion faction had the upper hand in every respect. Even with Taehyun’s arrival, the Resistance was dood to fail. Kanghyuk smiled, satisfied and certain of his victory. The mber swap was far too late. He was confident he would win this mission. No, he had already won.
[Mission Ti: 14:37]
Only fourteen minutes remained. Even moving at top speed, capturing three more zones was impossible.
’Now, what’s your move, Taehyun Yoo? No matter how much you struggle, you can’t reverse this.’
---
[Seonghwi Hyun / Lancer]
[Hyunjun Jo / Scout]
[Seungpil Seo / Shield Bearer]
[Hwantae Baek / Mage]
[Semyung Lee / Swordsman]
[Jeongmi Han / Priest]
[Eunji Ryu / Scout]
[Taehyun Yoo / Rogue]
Eight mbers in total. The party composition wasn’t bad, but with two scouts, they were short on firepower.
"Here," Seonghwi said, handing him a map of the temple. "You’re in charge now, rookie."
"Hmm. On one condition."
"We’re about to be wiped out, and you’re making conditions? You’re the one who ca in talking big about a lion hunt."
"So, are you going to hear out or not?"
The more critical the situation, the greater the opportunity. If they lost, the entire faction would be annihilated. Seonghwi had no other choice.
"...I’ll decide after I hear it."
"Just once, when I decide the ti is right, you will move the entire faction for . And we’ll put it in a contract, of course."
"You know as well as I do that a request like that is unreasonable."
"Well, if you refuse, we can just get wiped out here. I don’t care if we win or lose."
Their eyes locked as the mission clock continued to tick down. Seonghwi let his killing intent flare for a mont before sighing in defeat.
"Fine. I’ll do it. Provided we win."
"That’s good enough for ."
Taehyun offered a faint smile and turned away. Watching him, Seonghwi sensed a change.
’He’s much more composed than before. What happened to him?’
---
Taehyun took the map and studied the temple’s layout.
’Are these quill marks the shortcuts and passages? There aren’t many of them.’
Having lost the central area early on, they wouldn’t have had ti to scout properly. He had to assu the Blood Lions had already found most of them. As Taehyun looked at the captured flag locations, a doubt crept into his mind.
’Is the mission really this simple? Just capture and hold? It feels too straightforward for soone like Nikunbel. I doubt he’d design a one-dinsional ga of territory control.’
In a mission like this, if one side captured four or more flags, victory was practically guaranteed. Even if the other team retook a zone, they would have to leave one of their own undefended, and the numbers would simply even out again. Taehyun reread the mission details.
[Capture the Flag Areas.]
1. The two factions will be summoned simultaneously to the Philia Temple. The objective is to capture the flag areas and defend them.
2. The total mission ti is 60 minutes. The faction holding the most flags at the end wins.
3. Each team consists of 8 mbers with distinct classes.
4. If a mber dies, they will be removed from the battlefield for 5 minutes before being resurrected near their teammates.
5. The winning faction will receive fifteen Faction Points. Additionally, players will be ranked by performance, with rewards distributed accordingly.
6. In a match between high- and low-ranked factions, the winner will seize all points from the loser.
’The areas themselves aren’t pre-designated. Does that an the capture zones are created by the flags?’
The description only ever ntioned the flags. The core mistake was focusing on retaking ’zones’ instead of capturing the ’flags’ themselves. That was why the situation had beco so muddled.
’Area D connects to B, and C connects to F. Even if we split into two groups of four, we’d lose the fight for B and probably D as well.’
Only fourteen minutes remained, but he felt no sense of urgency. In fact, since waking from his coma, he felt calr than ever. Taehyun glanced at his new comrades, then checked his skills.
[Vital Point Strike]
[Dagger Throw]
[Backstab]
[Shadow Walk]
He lacked Stealth, the single greatest advantage of a Rogue. He had Shadow Walk, but it was useless for infiltrating alone.
"Hey! What are you doing? We’re running out of ti!" Seungpil urged, having finished his preparations. The others said nothing, but their expressions showed they agreed.
Taehyun, however, simply checked the remaining ti and sat down on the floor.
"What? You’re not moving? There are only thirteen minutes left!"
"We wait a little longer."
"That’s insane! We have to retake those zones now! If it ends like this, we lose!"
"You talk too much," Taehyun said flatly. "Be quiet."
Humiliation flooded Seungpil’s face. Outside this mission, he was an A-rank Dungeon Master. Yet this newcor was looking down on him, threatening him.
"Gah! I can’t take this! I was a fool to trust you!"
"Wait," Seonghwi warned. "I won’t permit you to act alone."
"Damn it, Seonghwi! Why are you siding with him? If we just listen to this guy, we’re going to lose for sure!"
"...If you don’t want to die, you’ll wait," Seonghwi commanded, his gaze as cold as ice.
Seungpil flinched and slumped back down. "Damn it all. We’ll die if we lose anyway. What the hell is he planning?"
He continued to grumble, but he obeyed. That was good enough. Taehyun gave Seonghwi a slight smile of gratitude, but Seonghwi’s expression remained grim, clearly displeased with the situation. And so, the mbers of the Resistance continued to wait.
---
[Mission Ti: 11:21]
Two long minutes passed. The team grew anxious, so beginning to tremble. Only Hyunjun and Seonghwi remained composed. The tension was so thick it felt like soone might break ranks at any mont.
’Ti to get moving.’
Taehyun leisurely stretched his shoulders and stood up. He couldn’t keep them waiting any longer.
"We’re moving out. You, the shield bearer, you’re up."
"Now you’re dropping the formalities? You want to take the lead?"
"No. You and I are going to run around the temple. You need to die before five minutes are up, so be prepared."
"W-what?!"
Seungpil, who had been readying his shield, froze in confusion. The other mbers stared at Taehyun, dumbfounded. Only Seonghwi watched with a questioning gaze. Taehyun pushed Seungpil’s back, urging him on.
"No ti. Let’s move!"
"W-wait! What are you trying to do?!"
"Shut up and let’s go. The rest of you, wait here. And Seonghwi," Taehyun said, pointing at their flag as he hurried off, "please take care of that."
He was asking him to protect their capture zone. Seonghwi nodded silently, then looked back at the flag.
’...The flag.’
He had been so focused on the zones that he had never really looked at the flag itself. Understanding dawned, and Seonghwi stared in the direction Taehyun had disappeared.
’Don’t tell ...?!’
---
—"They’re finally moving. Taehyun Yoo and Seungpil Seo have been spotted on the path to Area B!"
The report ca from the mbers in Area B. Kanghyuk scoffed at the news. Only two of them?
"Pathetic fools. They must have sent only two to avoid losing their current zones, but it’s useless. What about the other areas?"
—"No one here."
—"Sa here."
—"All clear on this end."
They hadn’t sent anyone to Areas A, E, or F. To capture a zone, one had to remain undisturbed for thirty seconds. Even if a battle dragged on, there was no chance of them retaking anything.
’What is this? Sending only two people. Do they really think they have a chance?’
Excluding Taehyun and Seungpil, six mbers remained. Assuming three were guarding each of their two zones, they didn’t have the numbers to launch a recapture. Kanghyuk felt a growing sense of unease as he continued to receive reports from Area B.
---
"First, we need to check the shortcuts in the temple. We’re going to be passing through the capture zones, so get ready."
"Damn it! I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’d better not fail!"
Taehyun’s destination wasn’t the capture zones themselves. His real objective was to map the hidden routes within the temple. The two of them charged toward Area B.
"They’re here! Fire!"
"Idiots. What do they think they can do with just two people?"
The two Blood Lion mbers on guard duty responded imdiately. Seungpil blocked the incoming arrows with his shield and charged straight past them.
"Whoa! Where are you going, you lunatics!"
"Th-they’re just passing through?!"
They ran right past the Area B flag. The two guards blinked in confusion before reporting to Kanghyuk. anwhile, Taehyun and Seungpil, having bypassed Area B, confird a hidden shortcut and entered Area E.
"There they are! Don’t miss this ti! Kill them!"
"Orders were not to pursue! Just injure them!"
Once again, the waiting Blood Lion mbers attacked. Seungpil blocked a volley of fireballs and charged at the two of them. The battle was about to begin. The Blood Lion mbers tensed, preparing their skills. At that mont, Taehyun kicked off the ground and leaped.
"He’s... com... ing?"
The guards were too stunned to speak.
He landed on the other side in a single bound and fled into the next corridor without hesitation. While the two guards were distracted, Seungpil followed Taehyun and vanished.
"Pant, pant... Where to now?!"
"I’ve got the routes mapped out. We’ll check the last two areas, and then we do it!"
"Do what?!"
"What do you think? We die."
From Area B to E. From E to A. From A to F. Taehyun and Seungpil systematically ran through the vicinity of each area.
"What the hell are you two thinking?" Kanghyuk shouted as they ran past him in Area A. "You know a coback is impossible! Hey! At least listen to before you—"
They ignored him completely. Upon reaching Area F, the two finally threw themselves into the fight.
"F-finally fighting back, huh? Good. I’ll kill you in one—"
"Please, kill !" Seungpil begged. "Just kill already!"
"Y-you’re insane!"
And so, with seven minutes left on the clock, Taehyun and Seungpil died.
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