After the initial welcome ceremony, senior members showed the new members around the venue, their steps exuding an air of authority. President Adrian explained, "In the archery club, our goal is to master the ultimate in precision and timing. This shooting range is a test of your accuracy, your ability to adapt to changing conditions, and your extremely accurate eyesight." Vice President Ilela said: "The indoor training hall is equipped with the most advanced equipment to analyze and perfect your movements. Remember, every detail is important in archery, from your stance to the way you breathe. This is an ability to become one with the bow and arrow, which requires unwavering determination." The reason why the Archery Club can be equipped with such high-end facilities is because the current "Bow Emperor" was a graduate of Arcadia College. "It seems that coming here is the right decision." Morse thought. Although he thought coming here might be a waste of time, now that he saw these facilities, it was obvious that his choice was right. As Morse listened to the introductions, he watched the members of the society demonstrate their skills, the precision and fluidity of their arrows. The atmosphere was tense yet engaging, a place where dedicated archers can thrive. There is a reason why the students showed such great skills. Because the competitive environment of this club makes those who are not capable be eliminated. To make this clear to the new members, Ilela continued, "Also, I must make it clear that Archery Club is not for the faint of heart. Our standards are high, and our expectations are even higher. We do not accept mediocrity, only excellence. Those who cannot meet our standards will not be able to stay." Then, Adrian turned his gaze to the side and said: "The way you will be eliminated will depend on your performance in the practical test. If your results are not up to our standards, we will have you take a test to test your skills and determination. Then we will decide whether you can stay in the society." When Adrian finished speaking, he looked at the students around him: "Any questions?"
“…” No one answered because no one had the courage to ask questions, and those who had the courage didn’t have any questions. "No? Very good." Seeing that his meaning had been clearly conveyed, Adrian ended his speech. "Well, before we finish, please come here to collect your ID cards," Ilaila said, pointing to the cards on the table. "This card will give you access to facilities that are only available to club members. Don't lose it, because we won't reissue it to you." As she finished her words, the members went to the table to get their ID cards. There is a simple pattern on the card, a female figure holding a bow and arrow with the bowstring fully drawn and aiming at the sky. "Now, that concludes today's activities. You may stay and train, watch the senior members' training, or leave freely," Ilela concluded, and the new members looked at each other, unsure of what to do next. And just like that, the orientation meeting ended. ...... When everyone received their ID cards, they were left alone at the club's training ground. Some of the new members seemed hesitant, not sure whether they should stay to train, observe the senior members, or just leave. “Okay, now onto the real purpose of my coming here,” I thought to myself. For me, the choice was clear. I was here to learn, to absorb as much as I could from the seniors who had already mastered the art of archery and apply it to my own practice. I headed straight for the area where the seniors were training, attracted by the opportunity to observe their techniques up close. As I approached, I saw a group of senior members practicing. Although it was Friday night and not early in the morning, there was still enough practice footage for me to observe. I focus on observing their techniques, analyzing their strengths and areas for improvement. “It’s time to use my strengths—observation and analysis,” I thought to myself. Whoosh—bang! A senior member demonstrated a serious approach to archery. His stance was steady, and every muscle in his body seemed tense yet controlled. His grip on the bow was steady, and his arrow was released flawlessly, showing the results of years of rigorous training. "Well... he relies more on strength than the use of magic," I analyzed. He was a slightly sturdy man, using a longbow, which had great tension and could exert great power.
“It’s definitely not my style, but the way he uses his muscles is definitely different.” I compared the two in my mind, thinking about my own stance. Analyzing his style, I recognized his body type—strong and stocky, better suited to the high draw weight of a longbow. This strategy prioritizes strength, reflecting a body type with well-developed pectoral and biceps muscles. In contrast, I have a leaner build, better suited to a compound bow. I made a mental note of the unique muscle distribution required for this archery method. But that doesn't mean I can't use it. With the right training, I'm sure I can adapt it to my own style. However, this archery method also has an obvious disadvantage, which is that it relies too much on muscles and makes the body less flexible. This means that he is more like an archer who focuses on high-firepower sniping. "But if I can compress this style to my upper body while maintaining flexibility, this style can definitely be adapted to other fighting styles." I made a note of this and continued to observe. Next, I turn my attention to the technique of another senior. Her movements are fluid, like the grace of a dancer. Her stance adjusts with each arrow released, revealing a flexible and adaptive archery style. Muscles like her obliques, glutes, and quadriceps seem to work in unison as she shoots, keeping her balanced even in the motion of an arrow. She is training in the center of a square training room filled with moving targets and projectiles fired at her to test her skills. "This dynamic fighting style reminds me of the ancient horse archers," I thought to myself. Although I am a gamer, I like to study the art of war, and the horse-riding fighting style of the ancient horse archers always impressed me. I turned my attention to this senior member again and began to analyze her. "She does have good dynamic vision. But this style doesn't suit her." Although her movements are fast, her perception of the environment and moving targets is somewhat insufficient, so she wastes a lot of energy dodging arrows that she noticed at the last second. However, it seems that she has also noticed this and is trying to improve her style. I pondered the versatility of her style and how her reliance on different muscle groups meshed with her choice of recurve bow. Her long, flexible frame allowed her to take full advantage of the bow's agility. Comparing her stance to my own, I began to think about the balance between power and technique. "Even though she hasn't fully mastered this style yet and needs to improve her situational awareness, the way she uses her body to move quickly is really nice. I can clearly see the difference between the two styles." I thought as I took note of the advantages of each style. Finally, my attention shifted to another senior member. His movements were quick and purposeful, demonstrating a deep understanding of his equipment. His movements activated muscles like the brachialis, extensor carpi radialis longus, and infraspinatus, executing each movement with precision for control and accuracy. There was a sense of purpose in the senior's stance, and no extra energy was wasted in his every move. His style focused on precise target shooting and rapid bursts of fire. His training was clearly centered around accuracy and quick reflexes, and I admired his discipline and timing. I couldn't help but marvel at the way he quickly released the arrows, as if he were firing a gun. "Such precise shooting skills." I immediately memorized his body movements in my mind. Seeing that it was getting late, I prepared to leave because I still needed to do some training before taking a break. However, just as I was about to leave, I saw a figure in the corner of the training ground. That's the vice president, Elela. Whoosh—whoosh— The arrows flew out quickly, and each one hit the target accurately. But what impressed me most was not her posture or other skills, but her use of magic. "That's amazing." This is the first time I've seen anyone other than Irina and Eleanor use magic so skillfully. However, these two people are monsters in the use of magic. "It seems that the senior members are really powerful." Her movements were as smooth as if they were carefully choreographed, each movement was purposeful and smooth, and she made almost no unnecessary movements, seeming to know her body's limits very well. "That's the ideal -- knowing your body and adapting your technique to it." I recalled the figure I had seen in the moonlight, his figure, his movements similar, but better. Each of his steps was incredibly efficient, with no time wasted. "As a magic book designed specifically for me, it is guiding me. Now I understand it more deeply." I pondered. Seeing her and the other senior members perform really gave me a clearer perspective on my role. As I continued to watch Illara, I could feel the mana around me grow cold. She is using ice-attribute magic and infusing it into the arrows. "It seems that she has been able to infuse a certain type of mana into her arrows. This is a skill that has been taught since the second year of school. The fact that she can do this shows that she is very talented in this area." This means that she didn't spend much time practicing, but she was able to master the technique, which is a testament to her talent. Whoosh—click! When the arrow she infused with ice-attribute mana hits the target, energy gushes out from the arrowhead, completely enveloping the target.
whoosh——boom! With an explosion of fire, the frozen target was blown to pieces. I saw a faint smile on her face, as if she was satisfied with her results. Her archery skills are a perfect combination of efficient muscle use and superb mana control. Each arrow with special attributes can fly to the target quickly and accurately without deviation. Illera's skill in her field is undeniable, especially her mastery of mana. Her combination of skill and mana makes her stand out as a true master of archery. Just as I was about to leave, I felt her eyes rest on me briefly. She glanced at me and then nodded in recognition. "It seems that she can at least appreciate other people's abilities." Then she turned back to her training, and I ended my observation. With new insights, I left my observation position and entered the indoor training hall provided by the society. With my in-depth knowledge of various styles, I couldn't wait to start my personal training. Inspired by the performance of senior members, I focused on perfecting my stance, strengthening my mana control, and improving the accuracy of my shooting. The archery club’s training grounds have become a haven for self-improvement and I am determined to improve and evolve my skills.
