In LIL, positioning was an issue that everyone constantly brought up.

[The freaking junglers sure have it good these days, huh?]

[ADC’s little tools should just stay quiet during laning phase.]

[Top-laners are a different breed.]

The conflict between positions ran deep. The more one got into LIL, the harder it became. Players eventually specialized in one or two roles. Once they did, switching later was brutally difficult.

Many ended up identifying with their role. They took any attack on that role as an attack on themselves. Supporters often got beaten up like the neighborhood punching bag. They carried a lot of resentment.

[You climbed as ADC’s little tool? It doesn’t count then~]

Being called a tool was a slur for the support role. Supports, by nature, assisted the team. Most treated them like they weren’t even players, just tools. They considered it a replaceable position that anyone could do.

Unlike other lanes, supports didn’t farm minions. The barrier to entry was also low. When one taught a friend the game, they usually made their friend play support. Despite that, supports tended to talk the most in-game.

The majority treated supports as the lowest for plenty of reasons. The real reason, at its root, was simply because it wasn’t fun.

— Support is boring as hell

— Ugh, support again...

— Damn it, got stuck on support

— Ha... the world has changed. Back in the day, last pick shut up and played support. Now you’re spinning some random roulette?

Because it wasn’t fun, the high-skill players with the loudest voices refused to play it. The role mostly went to less experienced players with little influence. Then, when their team started winning, they would get excited and start bragging recklessly even to the enemy team. That image got cemented.

Survival mode had a similar role: the tank. Since Survival mode didn’t have lanes, positions were effectively decided by champions.

‘A meat shield. Me, a meat shield...’

In Survival, a tank basically had to eat bullets in the early and midgame. Did that mean they had no impact? No, if anything, tanks often contracted first and could heavily influence the win rate.

‘It’s so damn boring.’

It still suffered the most fatal weakness in any game.

Almond was right next to him, eyes blazing, and ordering him to be a tank. “T-Tank... you’re picking tank, right?”

MeowMeowPunch didn’t have the guts to suddenly pick something else. “Y-Yeah... I, I guess I have to.”

[Hammer Paladin — Ulte]

In the end, he swallowed his pride and contracted the Hammer Warrior Ulte. Actually, Ulte was called the Hammer Paladin. Champions that had been designed a long time ago sometimes got reworked like this with their entire skill mechanics changed.

“With nails and a hammer, anyone can be corrected.”

Thanks to that, Ulte had become useful in more ways than one.

‘But it only matters if my team knows how he works.’

The foundation of his mechanics relied on teamwork.

MeowMeowPunch asked carefully, “Um... Mr. LazySoldier, do you know how Ulte got reworked?”

‘If he doesn’t, we’re screwed.’

When Ulte threw a nail at an enemy, someone had to strike it and drive it in. Ulte couldn’t hammer it in himself, so an allied marksman had to hit it instead. The effect would result in extra damage to the enemy, plus healing for both Ulte and the ally who struck it.

‘It’s basically closer to a support mechanic.’

In the end, the key was how well the marksman could land those nail hits. The marksman’s understanding of Ulte mattered.

Almond clearly had no idea. “Ulte? Ultimate? What ultimate?”

— He has zero clue lol

— Of course, he doesn’t know

“Ulte the Hammer Paladin.”

“Oh, I know. That’s Tako’s main champion.”

— Ooooh

— It’s different now though

— Still, he remembers this lol

“Right, but he’s changed into the Hammer Paladin now.”

Almond blinked. “He got promoted?”

“Yes.”

— LOOOOOL promoted, what the hell

— That’s such an Almond way to understand it

— Promoted lmao

In the actual lore, Ulte really did get promoted within the order.

“It’s true. Story-wise, that’s what happened.”

“Oh...”

— Deduction? Almondoyle!

— Fyi: hilariously, it’s actually true in the lore.

— The funny part is it’s real lol

— Why is this real?

— Damn

“What you need to know is I’m going to throw nails. And you have to hit them. All of you. Got it? Bros? Yeah?”

Almond and Bubblegum were already moving instead of listening.

As if to settle everything, Almond only said, “Tank, go in front~.”

— This is insane lol

— LOL

— He just calls him tank lol

— Paladin? What’s that? Just tank

— LOOOOOOL

— Your name is just tank now...

***

After that, they all reached level 6. MeowMeowPunch, who had been wielding a blunt weapon, became Ulte. Scream Kicker, who had wielded a staff, suddenly swapped to a greatsword mid-run and became Gigant Machine.

Scream Kicker blinked, utterly bewildered. “W-Why am I Gigant Machine?”

— LOOOOOOOL

— LOL for real

— That’s the Lord’s charisma

— He just got shoved into it lol

— The sudden weapon swap is killing me

And so, the team ended up with three tanks. The only one left was the gun user, CrispyCrispy.

‘N-Next is me, isn’t it? He’s not going to make four tanks, right?’

CrispyCrispy trembled, terrified that he’d be forced to play tank.

“Now, let’s go hunt the Abyss Shark.”

The Abyss Shark was hugely important in Survival. They had to defeat it properly. If CrispyCrispy didn’t show something, he would become a tank. He gripped his gun with hardened resolve.

‘Huh?’

BOOOOM!

A blazing fireball came flying in from behind.

‘Damn it.’

CrispyCrispy reacted and dodged somehow.

BOOOOM!

From the spot where the fireball hit, more fireballs surged up like living creatures.

‘Spirits?’

They were fire spirits.

‘Ignite!’

[Ignite — Wildfire]

[Lv. 7]

Ignite, a Champion who controlled fire spirits, had launched the fireball.

‘Level 7?!’

Their level was high. Maybe because of that, a ridiculous number of fire spirits poured out.

“Hooeh!”

“Ptooey!”

Countless spirits spat at CrispyCrispy. Naturally, they spat out scorching fireballs.

Pffwoom!

[HP: 91%]

CrispyCrispy’s health took a hit.

He sprinted forward for dear life. “E-Enemy! Behind us!”

“Behind?!”

His teammates whipped around in shock. In Survival, getting flanked was the worst possible situation. Marksmen were fragile, but usually moved from the rear since they dealt high damage. A flank forced them into the most disadvantageous kind of fight. The enemy knew that too and chased with gleeful momentum.

The Ignite player made a bizarre noise, flailing both arms wildly. “Krarrararararara!”

[Fire Pillar]

BOOOOM!

A fire pillar erupted across CrispyCrispy’s route, reshaping the terrain.

“Uh, uh?!”

That alone blocked his escape. Every time Ignite cast a skill, more fire spirits spawned.

“Hooeh!”

“Ptooey!”

The fire spirits kept spitting out tiny fireballs nonstop while making weird sounds.

‘This is insane.’

CrispyCrispy lost his way. He wanted to resist and shoot back.

‘N-No. This isn’t possible.’

The moment the ambush fireball hit, he already gone into panic mode. He couldn’t think straight. In the first place, he couldn’t win against multiple contractors. Besides Ignite, the enemy also had Shield Warrior Krave and Sniper Ran. They were all level 6.

Wooooong!

In the distance, he could see Ran’s mana gathering.

“I will fulfill the contract sealed in blood.”

‘A-an ultimate skill?’

The enemies came out swinging from the start. Ran fired his ultimate skill.

‘This...’

The attack fully targeted CrispyCrispy. He would die.

“Fall back! CrispyCrispy!” someone shouted.

[Bubblegum]

“G-Gum?!”

Bubblegum prepared to cover him. CrispyCrispy genuinely felt moved to see that Bubblegum really did take care of his fans!

“I’m going! Flying Punch attack!”

At the same time, Ran’s attack came flying in.

BOOOOM!

It hit CrispyCrispy dead-on because Bubblegum had used a completely different skill from what he confidently shouted.

[Iron Body]

[For 3 seconds, gather strength while Immobilized, reducing damage taken by 50%. When the skill ends, dash a distance equal to the damage received.]

Wooooong...!

Bubblegum stood in place with his guard up. CrispyCrispy, who had trusted him and kept firing, ended up taking Ran’s ultimate straight to the face.

“Y-You lunatic! Why would you trick your own team?!”

— This is insane LOL

— AHAHAHAHA

— He didn’t trick him... he’s just incapable.

— Where did the Flying Punch go? LOL

— He tricked himself too

— He mixed up the order lol

BOOM!

CrispyCrispy got hit mid-shout again.

[HP: 51%]

His health plummeted catastrophically.

Bubblegum panicked. “Uh... uh. Wait, that’s not right?”

Flying Punch was supposed to come out first. Then, Iron Body would block the attack. He had cast them in reverse and paid a heavy price.

Pffwoom!

[An ally has fallen.]

CrispyCrispy exploded on the spot.

— LOOOOOOOL

— Damn it lol

— He’s basically the Grim Reaper

— What even is this lol

“Hold formation! Bruisers, front! Mages, back... Huh?”

“H-Hey, we’re all tanks, you idiot!”

Almond’s team had completely forgotten their own positions. Only Bubblegum had popped out earlier.

Scream Kicker, now Gigant Machine, pressed a hand to his forehead. “Right. Damn it...”

‘What do we do?’

A tank’s role wasn’t actually that easy. Stepping up and holding space felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable for players who often played damage dealers. Wasn’t that why Almond, when he had a shield, only attacked from the back?

Almond shouted from behind, “Gigant! To the front!”

— This is insane lol

— Why is he so confident?

— God, that’s so irritating lol

— You’re not going either! lol

“Y-Yes, sir!” Gigant Machine, half out of it, activated a skill.

[Greatsword Hook]

Whoooong!

He hurled a hook-shaped greatsword forward. If it caught an enemy, it would drag them in. If it didn’t, he charged forward himself.

Ruuuumble!

The massive Gigant Machine kicked up dust as it got yanked along by the hook.

“W-Will this... work?”

Not used to tanking, Scream Kicker wasn’t even sure this was the right play. Enemies were everywhere, and he was diving straight into them. Sure enough, the assault poured in.

Thud!

The Shield Warrior’s barrier stopped him cold.

BOOOOM!

A fire pillar roasted him, and Ran’s shots piled on top.

BOOOOM!

“N-No, why am I the only one getting hit?!”

Strangely, Bubblegum wasn’t getting touched at all. The bombardment focused entirely on Gigant Machine.

“Uwaaaah...?! T-This isn’t right?”

Bubblegum was off to the side, getting dragged around by his own fists and flailing uselessly. The enemy had no reason to waste attacks on him.

“Are three tanks even a real comp?!”

Gigant Machine felt like he would die.

[Rope Movement]

Fwoooosh!

‘Huh? When did he get here?’

Scream Kicker jolted in shock.

At some point, Almond had slipped past him. Then, Almond slipped past the enemy Shield Warrior too and fired at Ignite.

[Frost Arrow]

He froze Ignite with the elemental arrow from Rope Movement.

Swoosh! Bang!

Almond landed three shots and swapped elements again.

[Wind Arrow]

The last arrow was wind.

BOOOOM!

Ignite’s health instantly got shredded.

[HP: 37%]

The Ignite player raged like his blazing avatar. “Y-You cheating bastard! Kill him!”

“That’s Sori! Shoot Sori!”

BOOOOM!

As expected, the enemies switched targets to Sori.

Slice.

Red blood sprayed everywhere.

“A contract that smells like blood...? I don’t hate it.”

Sori’s ultimate skill activated. It triggered off the elemental arrow she had fired moments ago.

[Wind Possession — Silent Hunt]

[All traces of Sori will disappear. Unless an enemy hits her, she will not be found. Duration: 7 seconds.]

Fwoosh!

Almond vanished from sight.

“Uh...?”

Something unbelievable happened. First, all of the enemies’ attacks missed. If they couldn’t see him, landing hits wouldn’t be easy. That part made sense.

[Enemy Eliminated!]

BOOOOM!

Ignite suddenly died.

[Double Kill!]

Ran, who had been in the backline, also died. It didn’t end there.

[Triple Kill!]

The enemy assassin champion, who hadn’t even clearly appeared, also died.

‘H-He did that... alone?’

One of the enemy players outright fled. “Aaah! Run!”

Now, only the Shield Warrior facing Gigant Machine remained.

“Huh?”

The Shield Warrior turned around awkwardly before glancing back at Gigant Machine, not knowing what to do. His damage dealers had just been deleted.

‘Now!’

Gigant Machine swung his greatsword down.

[Crush]

BAM!

This heavy strike stunned the enemy. That brief crowd control was enough. Almond returned with Rope Movement and loosed his arrows in a torrent.

[Wind Arrow]

Bang!

The Shield Warrior’s health evaporated.

Almond was about to fire the final Wind Arrow.

“LazySoldier...!” Someone tried to congratulate him on his quadra kill. “Finally!”

BOOOOM!

However, Bubblegum’s iron fists snapped the Shield Warrior’s jaw sideways.

[Enemy Eliminated!]

[Bubblegum → BlahBlah]

Bubblegum got the kill instead.

“Whoa! I can play Bart now, right?! Huh?”

Almond looked at the runes the enemy had dropped. “Let’s add one more tank.”

The team’s expressions hardened, especially CrispyCrispy, who was a rune spirit.

— LOOOOOOOL

— ? LOL

— Is this comp real? Four tanks?? Lol

— Is CrispyCrispy lagging? Why is he frozen lol

— Is this a save Bubblegum mission or what? Lol

— This is insane lol

— Tank-for-revenge lol