Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Chapter 620  Creativity versus Technique

"Next competitor: Max!" The narrator announced, and the eyes of the crowd turned to him.

Max had done very well in the first two challenges, surprising the audience with his amazing improvisational skills and his ability to shoot more than one arrow at the same time. However, this time he couldn't do that, because every arrow was important.

So Max took a deep breath, visualizing the targets on the pillars. He remembered Emma's words and used them to focus. Concentrating on Emma's words, he adjusted his posture and breathing. His hands weren't shaking, they were steady and so he felt confident to release the first arrow, feeling the vibration of the string passing through his fingers. The arrow sliced through the air, flying high into the air, and as it began to fall, it was clear that it wouldn't hit, and indeed it didn't. The arrow fell a meter away from him. The arrow fell a meter away from the first target.

Max frowned, feeling the pressure build up inside him. He knew he had no more room for error. He breathed again, trying to push away the frustration. He could hear the crowd's breathing, the anxious whispering that ran through the room.

"Come on, Max!" he muttered to himself, readjusting his stance and focusing on his goal. He took the second arrow from the quiver and held it for a moment, feeling its weight and its potential, clearly visualizing the path it should take.

This time, he controlled the momentum, feeling the string stretch under his fingers. Max closed his eyes once more, blocking out everything except his own determination. He took a deep breath and, opening his eyes, let the arrow fly. The second arrow left the squarely. The crowd was silent, watching, waiting.

string like a whisper, drawing a curve in the air. Max kept his gaze fixed, following the arrow's trajectory until it hit the second target squarely. The crowd was silent, watching, waiting.

The air seemed to freeze as the arrow followed its trajectory, but once again, the arrow missed the first target.

Max forced a nervous smile. His confidence had been shaken, but he couldn't let it get the better of him. He still had three arrows left.

"You can do it, Max." he whispered to himself, blocking out all external distractions. He took the third arrow from the quiver, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling the energy of the crowd, transforming it into determination.

This time, he adopted a more relaxed posture, allowing his muscles to move freely. He inhaled deeply, feeling the air fill his lungs and then exhaled slowly, releasing all the tension. When he opened his eyes, determination shone in his gaze. Max looked at the targets and visualized everything. He had confidence in his abilities, and despite previous mistakes, he refused to give up.

Feeling the texture of the steel under his fingers, he took another deep breath. His concentration was intense, as if he were trying to connect with the bow and arrow.

The crowd watched in silence, waiting anxiously for the next move.

Max adjusted his stance, raising the bow with elegance and determination above his head. He lined up the arrow with his gaze fixed on the target, blocking out everything around him. The instant he released it, he felt a familiar sensation. The crowd held its breath as the arrow followed its course. And then a muffled sound echoed through the place as the arrow once again missed its target. This time, gasps erupted.

Now there were only two arrows left. He knew he had to hit at least one target to have a chance of qualifying for the grand final. The pressure was on, but Max didn't let it distract him.

Once again, he adjusted his stance, aligning the arrow with the target. He pulled the string and released it. The arrow took off like a thread of hope, cutting through the air imposingly. However, hopes were soon dashed when it too missed the target, echoing with a muffled thud on the wall behind him.

Max felt the frustration and weight of disappointment weighing on his shoulders. He was struggling against the disbelief that was beginning to set in. It was as if all eyes were on him, not just those of the crowd, but also his own, full of self-demand. He took a deep breath, remembering Emma's words again. Her words were like an anchor, keeping him connected to the confidence he needed to regain. He allowed himself to feel the disappointment, but didn't let it overwhelm him. Max knew he had one last arrow, one last chance to prove to himself and everyone else what he was still capable of.

Max looked at the lone arrow in his quiver, feeling a mixture of anxiety and determination. The crowd murmured among themselves, some expressing compassion, others skepticism. He closed his eyes once more, blocking out all outside noise, and sank deep inside. He breathed slowly, feeling every beat of his heart, every inch of his body.

Max opened his eyes and everything around him seemed more distant, as if nothing else mattered. The targets were in front of him, the spectators had become blurry specks, and all that mattered was that moment. He adjusted his stance one last time, feeling the strength of the bow in his hands, the tension of the string under his fingers. His breathing was calm, his muscles ready to act.

When he released the last arrow, it flew, cutting through the air with speed. Max followed her up to the bow she formed at the top with his gaze, feeling her every movement as an extension of his own will. And then, before the audience even saw what had happened, a smile of triumph and relief spread across Max's face. Just like that, with a solid impact, the arrow hit the center of the first target.

A hush came over the crowd, and after a moment, everyone celebrated, but although Max was inside the TOP5 with this last hit, there were still five more competitors left to compete.