Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

Chapter 634 Grand Final of the Individual Archery Tournament (Part 4)

Klaus Park's decision came as a surprise to the audience at SoFi Stadium. While the audience was expecting an epic showdown between him and the dreaded boar, the change of plans left everyone baffled, as did the meeting with Sofia and her speech.

Murmurs spread through the crowd as they tried to understand what was going on.

Finally, when Sofia went after the boar, some applauded Klaus's unexpected attitude, while others expressed their displeasure at the turn of events. That was normal, after all, no one could read what was going through his mind.

As Sofia disappeared into the trees, Klaus felt a mixture of emotions inside him. He knew that his choice could be viewed in different ways, but no matter what others thought, he was certain of his decision.

Sofia had a purpose, and he recognized the importance of that.

Emma's eyes, which had peeked in on the conversation between him and Sofia among the trees, were fixed on Klaus and shone with admiration for his decision. She didn't need to hear the whole conversation to realize the depth of what was going on.

Minutes later, as Klaus walked through the simulated forest on the SoFi Stadium pitch, he was completely focused on his senses. He was aware of the audience's reactions, but he firmly believed that he had done what was right for his strategy and to honor those who believed in him, so he didn't even beat himself up with thoughts anymore. The smell of the damp earth and the soft sounds of the birds created an atmosphere of tranquillity, contrasting with the turmoil going on in the stadium.

However, the silence of the forest was suddenly and chillingly broken.

A howl echoed between the trees, cutting through the air like a sharp blade and reverberating throughout the stadium. The sound was strangely realistic, vibrating in Klaus' ears and sending a shiver through his body. He stopped abruptly, his heart racing in response.

That howl wasn't just any howl. This seemed to be exactly the sound he was waiting for, the clue to the creature worth a substantial amount of points, the special creature he was looking for. Klaus felt a mixture of excitement and tension as the sound of the howl reverberated in his mind. He knew he had to act fast; this was an opportunity he couldn't miss.

His eyes narrowed as he struggled to locate the source of the howl, the direction. The forest around him seemed alive, every sound amplified by his keen concentration.

He couldn't allow this creature to escape or be hunted by someone else. With quick movements, he began to advance south, which seemed to be the direction of the sound, and his hurried steps were now hidden by the euphoria of the audience.

The environment seemed different now. The tall trees seemed to stare at him, as if they were aware, and the sun's rays added an element of mysticism to the scene.

Klaus moved cautiously, his mind focused on every sound, every movement. He knew he was getting closer, he could feel the creature's presence growing stronger because the sound of the audience of tens of thousands was also increasing. His heart was beating so loudly that he could almost hear it, but he maintained his outward calm as he prepared for the imminent encounter.

And then, suddenly, he saw something among the trees. Yellow eyes shone into the shadows, fixed on him.

Klaus stopped, his body tense.

It was the creature he had been waiting for: a giant wolf. Its black fur almost glowed and its stance was majestic and intimidating.

Without hesitation, Klaus took an arrow from his quiver and quickly placed it in his bow. His fingers moved with familiarity, despite the excitement pulsing through his veins. He aimed with precision, his eyes fixed on the yellow eyes of the direwolf staring back at him. With a quick, controlled movement, Klaus released the arrow, watching it slice through the air towards the wolf. However, in a display of surprising agility, the wolf moved with grace, dodging the arrow with almost supernatural agility. The arrow whizzed through the air, hitting a nearby tree with a deafening thud.

The wolf let out a low growl, its eyes still fixed on Klaus. Without wasting any time, the creature made a powerful leap and began to run towards the dense forest. Its black fur seemed to flow in the wind, its powerful muscles propelling it swiftly through the vegetation.

Then Klaus heard the sound of footsteps coming from behind him. Obviously, the other competitors heard the howl and probably had the same deduction as Klaus.

Klaus felt his heart race even faster, because he knew he couldn't let this opportunity slip away. With a roar of frustration at having lost an arrow for nothing, he lowered his bow and started running in pursuit of the wolf. His steps were quick and heavy, his legs propelling him through the low grass of the simulated forest. Branches and leaves fluttered around him as he ran, adrenaline pulsing through his veins.

The sound of cheers and shouts from the crowd in the stadium seemed distant now, drowned out by Klaus' absolute concentration on the challenge.

The forest sped past them during the chase, with the trees seeming to move in a green blur.

Klaus kept his senses sharp, looking for any opportunity he could exploit.

Then, as if fate were conspiring in his favor, the wolf leapt high to climb a rock. At that moment, his movements became predictable for a fleeting instant. Klaus took advantage of this moment, pulling the bowstring as fast as he could with the arrow nocked. When the arrow was launched with a sharp whizz, cutting through the air towards the wolf, time seemed to slow down and everyone watched the arrow's trajectory, their breath caught in anticipation.

The arrow hit the wolf in the side, just above the hind leg, and a loud howl ripped through the air, indicating that the arrow had hit its target.

A wide grin appeared on Klaus' lips as he ran to catch up with the wolf that had fallen to the ground.