The crowd cheered excitedly at the description of the last challenge, and then the forest began to form in the arena, obscuring the view of both the players and the spectators, but the crowd had the advantage of being able to see through the takes of cameras that passed by on the big screens.
Competitors were instructed to position themselves at the entrance to the simulated forest. The scenery was impressive, with tall trees and dense vegetation slowly emerging. It was hard to believe that it was all just a holographic projection.
The narrator explained the other rules of the challenge: the contestants would have a limited time of fifteen minutes to explore the forest and find the five golden animals scattered around the scenery and hit them. Each golden animal gave enough points to qualify, but there were certain animals that gave more points because they needed more than one arrow to be 'killed'. The only people to qualify for the grand final would be those who managed to hunt an animal, but it was not forbidden to hunt more than one golden animal, because the final amount of points would serve to add up with all the points of the other two challenges and thus create a ranking for the grand final.
Competitively analyzed, Klaus knew that it was best not to have a ranking for the final, so no one would have an advantage, but commercially it was very good for Hónghé Holdings and the other sponsors, because it drew attention to specific people who attracted public and consequently more money. Just like when they heavily publicized Klaus' achievement in the fencing tournament to increase the revenue of the archery tournament.
As the competitors prepared to enter the simulated forest, Klaus felt a mixture of emotions. Adrenaline was running high, and he was ready to once again show what he could do.
Klaus' family were among the thousands of spectators, looking on with anticipation at what was about to happen. Chun held her hands up anxiously, while Michael watched with a serious look on his face. Ard was bouncing with excitement, barely able to sit still in his seat.
For her part, Emma, who was also in the middle of the audience, looked confident, for she knew that if there was anyone who could excel in a bowhunting competition, it was a Rise Online player, and Klaus was one of the best players she knew.
Klaus approached the entrance to the simulated forest along with the others, gazing at the dense vegetation and the common forest sounds the speakers were playing. He took a deep breath, allowing the immersion of the environment to envelop him completely. His hands wrapped tightly around the bow, and his eyes fixed on the challenge that awaited him.
The signal sounded, marking the start of the challenge, and immediately Klaus launched himself forward, his feet scraping on the ground.
'There are ten competitors for only five animals...' Which means this is the first challenge that will rely on luck as well as skill. Klaus thought to himself as he advanced through the simulated forest.
Klaus knew that luck would also play an important role in this challenge, since finding the golden animals in the dense vegetation would require not only shooting or perception skills, but also cunning and countless other factors.
The first few seconds flew by as Klaus moved among the trees and bushes, looking for clues and indications that would lead him to the golden animals. He relied on his hunter instincts and his experience in games like Rise Online to identify possible hiding places, but it was still difficult. Meanwhile, the crowd watched anxiously on the big screens, following every move of the contestants. The cameras still only showed the archers sneaking through the shadows of the forest, none had managed to find an animal.
With each passing minute, the tension grew, both for the competitors and the audience. And when the competitors stopped running, silence took over the gymnasium and, consequently, the forest.
Suddenly, amidst the silence of it all, Klaus noticed a subtle movement among the trees in front of him. He hid behind a log and watched it carefully. Klaus controlled his breathing, adjusted his bow sight and concentrated.
In the enveloping silence of the simulated forest, Klaus kept his eyes fixed on the spot where he had detected the movement. His hands held the bow firmly, his fingers precisely positioned on the string. His heart beat fast, and the tension of the moment coursed through his veins as he prepared for what was to come.
The seconds seemed to drag by, and Klaus felt as if he were in a world of his own, where every movement and sound became amplified. He could almost hear his own heart beating, the simulated sound of the wind rustling among the leaves and the other small noises of nature around him.
Suddenly, a golden figure revealed itself among the trees. It was definitely one of the golden animals he had been looking for. The animal looked like some kind of deer, with a golden sheen to its fur, and its innocent posture. Klaus held his breath, his eyes narrowing in focus. The animal looked smart, because although it was walking, it was looking around.
The archer raised his bow, lining up his sights with the golden animal. His hands were shaking slightly, because this was a difficult shot because there were so many trees between them, but he couldn't get any closer than that without risking losing sight of the deer, so he forced himself to remain calm. The world around him disappeared completely this time, and there was only him and the target in front of him.
In one fluid motion, Klaus released the arrow. It sliced through the air silently, seeking its target, and the surrounding crowd gasped, startling the animal, which jumped to the side, avoiding the sharp blow. The crowd again shouted, this time in disappointment, when the arrow missed, further frightening the deer, which began to run.
There was no time to regret the first shot. Klaus quickly took another arrow and adjusted his aim. The golden animal was agile, moving between the trees with surprising speed and increasing the distance. Klaus had a chance to calculate its movements, predict its actions and shoot. So he did, and with a low buzz, he released the arrow, which this time was accurate and hit the golden beast squarely.
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