Fixing her posture wasn’t difficult since there wasn’t much to correct.
There was no denying that she was a well-trained archer. The very fact that she had come here to compete on such a big stage meant she must have performed well in tournaments before.
He didn’t tell her to deposition her head during the release since that could put her completely off balance. Something like that couldn’t be changed in a day or two. And she was close to performing in another event to be doing such crucial changes.
When it came to adjusting her fingers on the string, he was especially careful.
Finger placement develops over time. With every arrow an archer shoots, it gradually becomes muscle memory.
"I won’t change much, but lowering your hook a little will give you a clearer sight picture and a stronger pull," he said as he carefully adjusted her fingers from the front, his left eye closed.
Maya spoke up. "You won’t get the right view from the front."
Kyle nodded. "Yeah."
To see exactly what she would be seeing, the best position was behind her. Still, he hesitated until she gave him permission.
Keeping a respectful distance, he gently took hold of her hand and slowly lowered it.
He noticed her body stiffen every time he touched her. It was only a natural reaction.
Kyle did his best to keep the contact to a minimum, but some physical guidance was unavoidable.
Once he was done, he stepped back and asked, "You do realize you don’t have a proper follow-through, right?"
She looked back over her shoulder, raising a brow. "I take it that’s a bad thing?"
Kyle nodded. "It is. The moment you release the string, if you move your body right away, even the slightest movement can affect the arrow’s trajectory. So don’t rush to break your stance after the shot, okay?"
She slowly nodded, though the absent look in her eyes made him doubt she had actually heard most of what he had said.
Kyle held back a sigh and stepped away.
"Alright then. Show me."
Maya turned toward the target and picked up another arrow.
Kyle folded his arms and watched her closely.
Her footing was perfect. Her breathing was steady, controlled but not held. Her finger placement was correct, her core remained relaxed, the bow was aligned properly, and there wasn’t a single unnecessary movement.
Shuank
She held her stance even after the release, completing a flawless follow-through.
"Brilliant," Kyle said.
A faint smile appeared on Maya’s lips. "You never even looked at the target."
Kyle shrugged. "If your technique is right, your aim will follow sooner or later. Just remember what you did today. Every archer has their own way of aiming, but some things are fundamentals. Never overlook them."
Maya nodded in understanding.
Kyle was about to ask if she wanted to try shooting from a longer distance when he suddenly felt a strange shift in the air.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and an invisible weight settled over his body.
He turned toward the source.
The space before them had begun to distort.
It looked as though something had grabbed reality itself, slowly tearing it apart as the surrounding space twisted inward, leaving behind a jagged tear.
"A rift," Maya breathed, far calmer than the situation warranted.
"It’s a strong one," Kyle said, his instincts immediately taking over.
"The lack of people here must have given it the chance to form," Maya added as she stepped forward, her bow still in hand.
Then, much to Kyle’s shock, more than one figure leaped out of the rift.
"Oh, it has already matured? That’s quite an... anomalous occurrence, isn’t it?" Maya muttered.
Kyle silently agreed.
A rift wasn’t supposed to mature this quickly. Something was terribly wrong.
The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
Two monsters let out guttural growls as they crawled toward them.
Their bodies were horribly deformed, and they reeked of Absence.
"They’re Nightmares... but why do they look like that?" Kyle asked, instinctively taking a step back.
[Host, they are Berserk Nightmares. After consuming excessive amounts of Absence, they enter a berserk state and receive a temporary boost to their physical abilities. The Nightmare before you may lack the intelligence of a Majin, but its strength is comparable to one.]
Not exactly the best time to introduce a new variety of monster.
What were the chances of running into an anomalous rift break while he was simply hanging out with his brother’s girlfriend?
...Wait, no. That sounded wrong.
Then again, what was normal around him anymore?
"Let me call the base..."
SHUANK
An arrow suddenly whistled across the arena and struck the Nightmare square in the skull.
The oversized creature let out a shrill scream before its body convulsed violently.
The arrow had been infused with Genesis.
The wooden shaft might have been bearable, but the magic coursing through it certainly wasn’t.
The result was immediate.
CRUMBLE
The creature’s body began to break apart, turning to dust before fading from existence.
"Woah... was that your unique skill?" Kyle asked, unable to hide his amazement.
Maya shook her head. Without a word, she nocked another arrow and drew the string.
The remaining Berserk Nightmare roared in fury and charged at her like a rabid beast, its bloodstained fangs bared.
The sight was horrifying.
Yet Maya didn’t flinch.
Another arrow was prepared to be released
She drew and released in one smooth motion.
SHUANK
The arrow met the charging Nightmare just a meter away from her.
Driven with tremendous force, it pierced straight through the creature’s skull before embedding itself deep into the mat behind it.
The Nightmare staggered mid-charge.
Genesis had already spread through its head.
A second later, its body crumbled away, dissolving into the air as though it had never existed.
Kyle turned toward the girl.
She was already looking at him.
A dangerous glint danced in her eyes, and a faint smile curved across her lips, like a huntress eager for the chase.
"Why don’t you train me through real combat?" she asked. "I mean, they’re just Nightmares. I’m sure Senior Kyle won’t need any backup for that."
His pride was instantly provoked.
Aquilla materialized in his hand.
At that very moment, two more Nightmares leaped out of the rift.
Without taking his eyes off Maya, Kyle drew the string and released a golden arrow.
Maya’s gaze followed its path.
Just before reaching the monsters, the arrow split into two.
Each golden projectile pierced a Nightmare through the head.
Neither creature even had the chance to cry out before both were erased from existence.
Her brows rose slightly, and she gave an appreciative nod.
"That was smooth."
Then her eyes narrowed, a competitive spark flashing within them.
"But we’re not finished yet."
As if responding to her challenge, several more Nightmares poured out of the rift, accompanied by two Majins.
The two archers stepped forward in unison.
Bows rose.
Strings drew taut.
Arrows locked onto their targets.
The real showdown was about to begin.
°°°°°°°°°
A/N:- Thanks for reading. If you have been enjoying the story so far please leave a review for future readers or maybe a comment.