It was time to descend once again onto the battlefield.

Only a few days had passed since the fourth round of the Siege of Winterfell, where HOH managed to secure a swift and straightforward victory: Their opponents stood no chance against rivals of different calibers and with a notable numerical advantage.

But that was in the past, because today they had to focus on the fifth and penultimate round of this season. During the march toward the battlefield, the leader of the Grombold alliance let slip a few words: "Today will certainly be tough. We don't know who our opponent will be, but since we're coming off three consecutive victories and are very close to the top of the leaderboard, we can expect a challenging match." The wise leader was not entirely wrong; today's opponent had to be a top alliance that would give them a run for their money.

Neik was aware of this and happy about it. Facing increasingly stronger opponents was what he desired, and he couldn't wait for this match to begin. However, his enthusiasm was dampened when he discovered who their enemies would be for the day. Upon their arrival on the battlefield, they saw the majestic red and gold banners high in the sky. It was...

N3O

Indeed, just like in the first round, they were once again waiting for them: N3O!

Among the most challenging opponents to face in the Siege of Winterfell, masters in these events, who after already defeating HOH in this season's first round, continued their journey securing victories after victories, bringing them face to face once again.

Within their ranks were warriors of incredible prowess such as Meridianos, UrCandy, or B3nni, who individually could overpower any opponent in their path. The match for HOH would be the toughest of their season.

After a quick reconnaissance, another detail became clear not to underestimate: once again, the rivals appeared with a full 100 out of 100 members, the perfect number signifying their determination to win today's challenge.

Grombold didn't mince words with his allies: "Winning today will be extremely tough, but we'll give it our best shot." After all, N3O was the worst possible opponent to face in SoW; their dedication, strategy, and group combat made them the most formidable alliance despite not being the strongest overall.

Raindrops fell on the battlefield, the sky was stormy, and lightning tore through the clouds, as if it were an omen.

The beginning of hostilities saw both alliances dividing between Hot Springs and Armory, where Neik's group (Winterfell), under the command of Depravity, was also headed.

Initially, the two alliances were evenly matched.

The long clashes began on the wet ground outside Armory. The battle between the two alliances was fierce; both were determined to emerge victorious from this match. However, in the end, the greater number of warriors present in N3O's ranks at this last position ensured their conquest of it, and the members of HOH had to retreat back to their base.

On the other side of the map, however, the battle was entirely different...

The greater number for HOH ensured their conquest of it.

The opponents heavily focused on buffing Armory, leaving Hot Springs to their rivals, which would be crucial in a prolonged match.

After the initial phase of clashes, there was an advantage towards N3O, who not only secured Armory but also gathered their troops near Winterfell to claim the first loot. The roads to it were well guarded, where they rightly decided to concentrate all their forces.

In response, the leaders of HOH decided on a surprise move: to attack Base 2.

The leader's idea was to cut off the loot delivery route in an attempt to snatch it from the enemy's hands.

Initially, Grombold's idea was good; the rivals didn't expect such a move and were caught off guard. However, heroically, the N3O members at the position held out until reinforcements arrived. The most formidable warriors arrived before the loot to fight off the lurking HOH members and reclaim the position!

In this way, the first loot went to the bases of N3O!

"The idea was good, but the opponents are clearly prepared for every eventuality," Neik said to the leader. The match was progressing optimally for N3O, with complete control of Winterfell and Armory, where HOH decided to make another attempt at conquest. The attack buff was crucial against such a strong opponent today, and perhaps they could catch them off guard.

However, it proved ineffective. The enemy groups were well divided between Winterfell and Armory, leaving Hot Springs exposed since these two together provided a significant advantage with the loot and the buff adding to their strength, making them unbeatable for many of the HOH members.

As soon as they won the challenge in the building once again, they decided to push towards Base 3, one of the few still in the possession of the rivals.

The battle in it didn't last long; it took little time for N3O to conquer this building as well.

With many of the HOH members having to return to base to regroup, the siege of the rivals in Base 3 was lethal. Neik was one of the few members present in it when they were assaulted and defeated by the strong enemy army.

At this point in the encounter, after the midpoint phase, the leaders of HOH made the most difficult decision: to accept the enemy's superiority and the inevitable defeat. There was still the sixth match that would give them the chance to achieve a decent final placement, and conserving their energies for it was the wisest decision, and everyone agreed.

The victory of the match went to... N3O!

MVP's

The best players of the match were:

Xoica for HOH, stood out alongside Grombold and Oni Fae. Among them, Xoica resisted enemy attacks the best and inflicted as much damage as possible, truly incredible.

UrCandy for N3O, as widely expected, was by far the best fighter in their group. Facing him in one-on-one encounters was challenging for any member, no matter how prepared.

Deservingly, N3O defeated HOH once again in the fifth round. Siege of Winterfell was their battleground, and anyone who faced them emerged battered from the challenge. For Grombold's group, a few days of rest were on the horizon before the sixth round, the last of the season. Would they be able to conclude their journey with one final victory?