Chapter 238 Chapter 54.4 - Archery Competition
Once, a wise man said to fear those who keep their composure even in front of nothingness as they are the ones who can adapt the most.
That was one of my favorite quotes. For some reason, as I walked to the stage where I would perform my archery, that quote came to my mind regardless of whether it fit the situation or not.
'Sigh…..'
Inwardly, I sighed, seeing all those eyes on me. Some of them were discerning, some of them happy. I even saw some young students looking at me intently.
'Why, though?'
I wondered but couldn't find the reason in my head, though neither did I have to. After all, it was just a random thought from my side.
'I see….'
After a second, the reason came instantly. They had been quiet for a while, but I guess the words that stuck upon me were still there.
As I reached the stage, I took a moment to look around, scanning the faces of those gathered on the Archer Club grounds.
The buzz of anticipation and curiosity surrounded me, and I could feel the eyes of others on me as well.
'Let's see how this goes.'
This wasn't the first time I was at the center of attention since the rumors that were spread about me before did the same. So, I was quite proud of my mental fortitude as I had been rather experienced in this aspect.
With a calm demeanor, I walked forward, the bow slung across my back, feeling familiar and comforting. I reached the center of the grounds, where Adrian awaited, his gaze assessing and expectant.
'Well, you might see what you expect.'
After all, what he wanted was an asset that he could use but, at the same time, an asset that would never be able to outshine him.
Show us what you've got, Astron Natusalune," he said, his tone neutral yet carrying an underlying challenge.
Nodding in acknowledgment, I unslung the bow from my back and felt the familiar weight in my hands. The sleek design and the smooth touch brought back memories of countless training sessions.
I hadn't been focusing on using my compound bow for a while now since I used Celestalith most of the time. But that didn't mean I neglected my archery training.
To train my archery skills only, I had no choice but to use my first bow as Celestalith's bow form is a lot destructive for its own good.
'This should be interesting.'
My eyes subtly scanned the surroundings, gauging the positioning of the mages who would be manipulating the environment during the evaluation.
I couldn't pinpoint their exact locations, but I was prepared for the challenges they might throw my way.
It was not like my target was them either, so that didn't matter that much.
'Let's make this quick.'
Taking a quick breath, I calmed myself down to the utmost perfection. My eyes were focused on my body at its peak for marksmanship.
Adrian's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, and then he raised his hand, giving the signal for the competition to begin. The atmosphere tensed, and my focus intensified.
As the competition started, two targets materialized before my eyes, strategically placed to test precision and reaction speed. My dynamic vision allowed me to immediately perceive their appearance.
'Well, well, they're not wasting any time.'
However, I chose not to act immediately.
Instead, I held back, downplaying my abilities. I didn't want to reveal the full extent of my skills from the outset.
'Considering the reaction Adrian had shown to previous contestants, this should be enough.'
After all, getting the spotlight would make things a little harder, so I analyzed Adrian's mimics and signs.
The key was to strike a balance between showcasing competence and leaving room for improvement, so in my head, I immediately formed a threshold performance I would show to optimize my thoughts.
'Let's keep it simple for now.'
I smoothly drew an arrow from my quiver and nocked it onto the bowstring, taking aim at one of the targets. The audience watched in anticipation, waiting for the release of the arrow.
'Don't make it too obvious.'
SWOOSH!
With a controlled release, the arrow sailed through the air and hit the target dead center.
THUD!
The onlookers reacted with a subtle mix of surprise and approval, but I maintained a slightly shaky expression, subtly downplaying the accomplishment to make it seem like I was nervous.
From the corner of my eye, I could see the reaction of the onlookers, and just as I had intended, aside from some of those, not many were directly impressed.
'One down.'
SWOOSH!
I turned my attention to the second target, repeating the process. The arrow found its mark, hitting with precision, and I allowed a subtle satisfaction to flicker in my eyes.
Yet, I refrained from showing too much as if I had at least the calmness of a marksman. Not getting the focus of Adrian didn't mean just getting expelled from the club.
Adrian signaled for more targets, and this time, the stakes were raised. The new targets appeared at a greater distance, and to add to the challenge, they started moving.
My eyes analyzed the situation, and I couldn't help but shake my head at the increased difficulty level.
'This is not even that hard.'
From outside, this may be hard, but for me, who had been training in the dungeons and with my newly increased stats, it wasn't as challenging as it seemed.
'Though it is not about the stats.'
The dynamic nature of this evaluation demanded not only precision but also adaptability. My gaze tracked the moving targets as I contemplated the best approach.
'Let's keep it interesting a little.'
I smoothly retrieved two arrows from my quiver, nocking them onto the bowstring. I felt like the tension in the air grew as the audience anticipated my next move, though it may have been my own delusion.
SWOOSH!
With a swift motion, I released the arrows. They sailed through the air, following calculated trajectories to intercept the moving targets.
'Not bad.'
The arrows hit the targets as they were close, and I could see some of the audience talking amongst themselves. Even some scouts had their eyes on me.
"He is quite good?"
"Not on the level of Alex, but he is certainly not bad."
"What did you say his name was?"
"Astron Natusalune."
"Let's keep tabs on him."
Hearing them proved that I was in the right direction as well.
'This level should be enough.'
Even though I didn't release them fast enough or put much force, at the very least, my technique wasn't bad, and that was my goal to show.
'I have some potential, but I am not that strong enough…'
This was the impression I wanted to convey.
SWOOSH!
After that, I fired two more arrows rapidly at new appearing targets, but this time, they were slightly off the mark.
However, my eyes didn't miss the small wind psions moving around the field. I was already well aware of that from the start, though I didn't do anything about it.
"Well, at least he could hit the targets."
"Yeah….."
This lowered my evaluation a little bit, but that was fine. It was the way Adrian checked on me, as he was the one who directed magicians so that my evaluation would lower.
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue as if to show that I wasn't expecting the arrow to miss while standing in frustration. It was an act, and I could see Adrian's change of expression, albeit it was little.
As the evaluation continued, the difficulty level escalated. The targets appeared again, but this time, the conditions changed. A strong wind swept through the archery grounds, bringing a noticeable drop in temperature.
'Nature conditions, huh?'
I felt the chill in the air, and my eyes scanned the environment. The wind, combined with the lowered temperature, added an extra layer of complexity to the test.
'This is getting interesting.'
Without hesitation, I retrieved an arrow from my quiver, my movements deliberate and focused. The audience observed, curious to see how I would handle the new challenges.
With a steady aim, I released the arrow. It sailed through the air, battling against the strong wind. However, it didn't hit smoothly compared to previous ones.
'Adapt.'
Thinking about showing a little about how I learned quickly, I adjusted my stance, compensating for the wind's influence.
SWOOSH! THUD!
The second arrow followed suit, hitting the target with improved precision. The audience murmured in response, recognizing the adaptability required for such conditions.
'Let's see how they react to this.'
The environment continued to change, keeping me on my toes. The temperature dropped even more, and the wind intensified.
'This is a true test of adaptability.'
As I faced the changing elements, my every move was observed closely by Adrian, the audience, and the potential scouts.
The evaluation wasn't just about hitting targets; it was about showcasing resilience and the ability to perform under diverse circumstances.
As if nature itself conspired against me, the conditions became even harsher. Rain joined the mix, adding an unpredictable element to the test.
The targets, now moving erratically, posed a greater challenge, and the wind intensified to a level that tested the limits of my archery skills.
'This is quite the show Adrian is putting on.'
The raindrops fell heavily, creating a dynamic and challenging atmosphere. I adjusted my strategy, considering the changing factors. The audience watched, some with fascination, while others analyzed my every move.
"I can do this."
With a 'determined' focus, I aimed at the moving targets, calculating their trajectories amidst the rain and wind.
The arrows left my bow with precision, hitting some targets with admirable accuracy. However, the erratic movements of both targets and arrows revealed the difficulty of the task.
'Let's finish with this one.'
In any case, even though I wasn't showing everything, this was also proving a good training stage for me. In front of the eyes of many people with these changing conditions.
However, rather than aiming for the target's best locations, my goal was a point I had set in my head, and I was testing myself to see if I could hit that point.
In many ways, this was a much harder task.
'Hmm?'
At that moment, a small moving object right in front of the last target caught my eye.
'This?'
It was a small insect that was even hard to see from my location with my eyes, and I doubted the others would be able to see it.
'…..'
For some reason, the desire to hit that fly passed through my head.
The wind howled, rain poured, and the moving targets danced in a chaotic display, and in that split second, the decision was made.
'My progress should be enough.'
I could use my [Eyes of Hourglass], but I wanted to see the extent of my natural capabilities without relying on skills.
"Huff….."
Closing my eyes and steadying my breath, I focused on the sensation in my hand while covering myself with mana.
Opening my eyes, I felt a heightened sense of focus. It was as if the world had slowed down, and I could perceive every little movement around me with startling clarity.
The raindrops hanging in the air, the swaying branches, and, most importantly, the small, elusive insect right in front of the last target.
The archery grounds, now transformed into a tempestuous arena, became the backdrop for this unique feat. The audience and even Adrian seemed momentarily unaware of this micro-
challenge within the larger evaluation.
With a determined focus, I released the arrow, aiming not for the target's center but for the small insect in motion.
THUD!
The arrow sailed through the air with remarkable speed and accuracy, hitting the fly with pinpoint precision.
'Got it.'
And at the end of my eyes, I could see I hit the fly, though for the target wise this was a good enough point.
'I am satisfied.'
For the first time in a while, I felt satisfied with myself.
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