590 Targets
That afternoon, the sun shone with a contagious intensity in the blue Los Angeles sky, bathing the surroundings of the Staples Center in radiant light.
Thousands of people crowded around the entrances to the gymnasium, and the venue was enveloped in an electrifying atmosphere as it hosted the most anticipated archery competition of the year.
The Staples Center was prepared to hold 20,000 spectators, but the grandeur of the event was almost overwhelming and there were many people outside the arena as well, which forced the city to close the streets.
The backstage corridors of the gymnasium, wide and brightly lit, were filled with many archers from different parts of the country, all sharing the same passion for the sport. The walls of the halls were adorned with vibrant banners and portraits of some of these talented archers, and Klaus was not one of them, because his talent was a sudden discovery.
With each passing moment, Klaus felt the magnitude of the event more, inspiring him to make his own mark.
In the center of the gymnasium, which usually hosted ice hockey and basketball matches, was a large shooting stand with several spectacularly detailed lanes, recreating diverse landscapes, from lush forests to vast deserts. This was a great example of how technology could enrich such a simple sport.
Equipped with the latest archery materials, the stands were veritable arenas.
As the competitors prepared, the stands at the Staples Center filled with excited spectators. The joyful noise of chatter and laughter reverberated through the galleries, and the anticipation of the crowd was almost tangible. The audience was diverse, bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds, united by their passion for archery. Many wore T-shirts bearing the names of their states, while others held signs and banners in support of some archers. The crowd's overwhelming energy swept through the stadium like a wave of enthusiasm.
As the lights at Staples Center slowly dimmed, infectious music filled the room, heralding the official start of the competition. The crowd erupted in cheers and enthusiastic shouts, celebrating that the archers were about to enter.
For his part, Klaus checked his bow and arrows with meticulous attention, making sure everything was in perfect order for the competition. Unlike the others, he didn't seem nervous. In fact, a quiet determination shone in his eyes. His heart was beating in time with the music, and his mind was focused on what was to come.
As the competitors finally entered, they began one by one to make their way to their lanes, a reverent silence falling over the crowd, as if everyone was holding their breath in anticipation of someone. Soft lighting highlighted each archer, and giant screens displayed images of the competitors.
The moment Klaus was focused by the lights and saw his own image projected on the screens, the arena erupted in shouts of elation, which surprised him, but he just gave a lopsided smile and walked to his place in the stand.
Klaus took in his surroundings. He could feel the energy of the crowd, the mix of emotions that filled the air.
Finally, with all the competitors in their respective stands, the tense energy in the stadium reached its peak.
"Once again, here we are, Caio. And who would have thought that one day I would narrate an archery championship..." said the narrator, on the official broadcast.
"That's it, Peter, and what an exciting competition we have ahead of us! For those who don't know, archery is the sport that demands the most precision and control, and we're about to see some of the best archers in the country in action. The crowd is excited, the competitors are ready, and the atmosphere here at the Staples Center is simply electrifying!" replied the commentator.
"Absolutely, Caio! And look, there he is, Klaus Park, the highlight of the NIST Tournament so far. He who captured everyone's attention with his incredible skill in the Team Fencing Tournament and unfortunately couldn't take his team further even after defeating four members of South Dakota by himself. Will he be able to maintain this outstanding performance and take the championship title this time?"
"That's the big question, Peter. Everyone is watching Klaus, but we have other talented archers here as well. The competition will be fierce for sure. Besides, everyone you are seeing is just the first round archers, tomorrow we will have the second round and on the fifth and last day of the tournament we will have the grand final, involving the ten best archers in the country."
As the narrators discussed their expectations for the tournament, the tension in the gymnasium only increased.
The first event of the round was simple. In each lane of the stand, 30 targets would appear, one after the other, at an average distance of 30 meters. Each of the archers had a time limit of 3 minutes to hit the targets and whoever succeeded before the time ran out would receive a bonus in the total score. This was a common challenge, no wonder Klaus was used to it because he always competed amicably with the staff of the Archery Department.
The timer was about to be triggered, and Klaus knew that every second would be crucial to get as many points as possible. He took a deep breath, blocking out all distractions around him, focusing only on his muscles. With the correct position and the bow firmly gripped in his hands, the timer started counting down.
"3... 2... 1... Go!" echoed a robotic voice through the speaker, and Klaus wasted no time.
Quickly, he deftly pulled the bowstring, aiming at the first target that came into view.
His arrow flew towards the target and hit it in the center, exploding it and making it stand out to the crowd.
Without hesitation, Klaus cocked another arrow and fired again. The second arrow found the target that appeared next to the first, and so he continued, in a relentless sequence of precise shots.
The crowd around the stand erupted in ecstasy, cheering with surprise at each hit Klaus made. He was buoyed by the contagious energy, seizing every second to hit as many targets as possible. His mind was in tune with his body, and he moved with impressive agility, switching between targets fluidly.
Klaus was using a light compound bow, which was heavier than a regular light bow, but which also provided him with better stability. He was slower with this bow, only the difference was not glaring.
Time seemed to distort for Klaus, because he was completely immersed in his task.
15 of his targets were hit in just a minute and a half, he was on track for the points bonus. The competitors parallel to his lane began to feel pressure and gritted their teeth with nervousness.
As the clock ticked down, Klaus showed no signs of tiring. At a breakneck pace, he kept firing, each
arrow hitting its target with millimeter precision.
When the timer indicated that there were only 30 seconds left, Klaus still needed to hit five targets to reach the maximum score. Therefore, he needed to shoot an arrow every five seconds to avoid hitting the time limit.
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