"Who's he?"
"I don't know."
"The instructors also bowed to him."
The players talked to each other as Viktor's presence had stolen the mini-event. A few astute ones had noticed through Asta Bow Viktor's status that he was related to The Imperial House.
Although Viktor hailed from the weakest house, he was the head of it.
Therefore, he was a descendant to whom everyone in The Warmonger Empire should pay the utmost respect.
He was Your Majesty.
The mage instructor at the scene—Randal—stepped out of the line to speak directly to Viktor.
Inwardly, he wasn't pleasant about him being here.
'A weakest weapon user steals spotlight because of his royal heritage... he doesn't deserve any of it!' Randal thought as he approached Viktor. Viktor had stolen so much attention because the guards had bowed to him. Those hadn't even glanced at the instructors before as they were directly under The Emperor himself, regardless of their weapons.
Randal cast a fake smile at Viktor. "Glory to Your Majesty Of The Asta Bow Household!"
Shouting Viktor's surname and his weapon aloud, Randal's voice boomed across the training grounds. It had the desired effect, as many players had lost interest in Viktor.
A bow was the weakest weapon.
Viktor wasn't stupid not to notice Randal's intent.
Behind that loyal mask was a clown looking down at him.
Randal continued, "Has Your Majesty come here to support the archers in the weekly event?"
Audible snickers and laughter resounded from various circles. Mages, swordsmen, and spearmen were the loudest despite the latter's instructors not daring to be as bold as Randal. Those instructors also kept their lips shut.
Viktor smirked.
He stepped closer to Randal and heavily slapped his cheek.
BANG!
The echo of it resounded much louder than Randal's declarations. It entirely silenced the scene, as the highly esteemed instructor from The Asta Orb and Staff Household had been utterly shamed.
Randal caught his cheek and glared at Viktor. All his will was spent on holding back the sonata of curses and humiliation that he could have easily said to disgrace the man before him.
Alas, he couldn't do that.
"May... I know how I have... offended... Your Majesty?" Randal spoke through his teeth.
Viktor tilted his head. "I just wanted to slap your face. Don't mind me."
'Don't mind you?! You utter disgrace of The Warmonger Empire! Your entire family is weaker than the main wall's catapults!' Randal inwardly screamed.
Viktor sneered. "Continue your business as usual. I'll speak with you later. You two included." He stared at the swordsman and spearmen instructors.
Those were the most famous classes in The Warmonger Empire, and their players could be seen everywhere.
Ronald and the two other instructors bowed. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
If it weren't the public domain, these two could have ignored Viktor's request.
In fact, they probably wouldn't have to be so official and formal with him.
Randal also knew at the back of his head that Minerva was a close supporter of Asta Bow for some stupid reason, like a friendship with their previous head. He recalled that and decided not to deal with Viktor anymore.
Minerva was too powerful and influential. Even The Emperor respected her.
Viktor turned his head in Jake's direction.
The first confrontation had already unfolded over there.
-
"You're still a parasite of the training grounds... has your level even dropped?" Jake approached Welshy with this set of provocative words.
He smirked at the man.
Three stabilizers protruded from the riser like branches—one in the middle and two at either end. The arrow rest was also in the middle, protruding like a new mysterious piece and providing Jake with better accuracy and smoother release.
At last, the long-desired sight had been made.
Jake had successfully melted the legendary gem he'd picked up from Ender and turned that into an oval sight. It also jutted out around the middle, and its effects were marvelous.
It increased Jake's range three times. It was that splendid modification.
Standing in the crowd, Aaron gazed at the bow with a wide smile. "It's a masterpiece that can only get better with Jake's experience, different resources, and more installments!"
Viktor stood still with his arms crossed. He seriously stared at Jake.
Ingrid was also caught off guard by the bow's appearance.
It was not so simple to make those modifications.
Jake, however, had successfully done them.
She wasn't the only one to notice the different kind of bow—the onlookers also wondered about it.
"You ready to die, Archer?!" Welshy shouted as he stood across Jake.
Jake smirked, "Just start the duel."
The duel system of the training grounds ensured that no one would lose levels and items. It was a proper way of training here.
Once the system began the duel between them, Welshy waved his staff and conjured a wind barrier around himself.
"Come and get me, then! Your arrows will fall at my feet!" Welshy spitefully shouted as his robes and hair fluttered within the wind domain.
It was a simple skill to protect a mage from mass-area attacks. That said, it was perfect against archers and their arrows, as wind was a common thing for archers to look out for.
'It might seem like he must have taken some lessons... but that's common sense. I refuse to give any credit to this parasite,' Jake thought. 'He has been looking down on archers all this time. I must defeat him with a standard archery.'
With that said, Jake inwardly shouted, 'The Formless Soldier!'
Jake entered his first form, which was modified based on his experiences. His legs were no longer joined. He put one ahead and one behind, entering a different kind of soldier form. His back was still straight, and he put a lot of it into his form. He stood tall and confident.
His presence sharpened tenfold. It was a combination of his first and fourth form!
The archers, who were worried about another shameful event, got goosebumps. That reaction made them no longer concerned about Jake; rather, an unusual sense of confidence sprouted within them.
Ingrid and Viktor unconsciously curved their lips up.
Aaron felt tingles and nostalgia in his heart.
Jake inhaled deeply.
He pulled the golden bowstring, drawing the highest anchor point in his life. It was because his bow was this long! The limbs were so long that he could pull the bowstring much more and add more weight!
Jake released the arrow.
It whistled—the melody of Jake's soul—the cry of the beast within him!
The arrow flew past Welshy's Wind Domain as though it never existed and lodged deep in his forehead.
Welshy fell onto his knees, shock draping his face. He couldn't believe what had just occurred. How could his high intelligence stat and rare skill of a wind domain not even stop an archer's arrow? It didn't make a sense!
Just how much strength and dexterity was behind that single arrow?!
Jake sneered. "You're worth a single arrow."
[You have defeated a player—Welshy Lv. 30]
He tilted his head and stared at El Boss Queen. "He wasn't enough to bring up even one of my bow's skills. Ya up for a challenge? El... Boss... Queen?"
The woman stepped out of the crowd and took Welshy's spot.
She hit her left palm with her right fist.
"You will be fun to beat," El Boss Queen sneered.
Jake briskly smiled at her. "I like your confidence... let me devour that, too."
He was like a hungry beast!